Learning to love myself

My Dreamy Book Escapes: When Even a Tawdry Romance Can't Save Me From a Book Slump Let me tell you something about me: I LOVE a good romance novel. And when I say love, I mean LOVE. Give me a deliciously tawdry romance with a swoon-worthy hero, a heroine who can hold her own, a little danger, a little drama, and enough passion to make me fan myself. I'm here for it! I've been a romance reader for as long as I can remember. I fell in love with the genre when I was just a girl, and I haven't looked back since. Books have always been one of my favorite ways to escape the world for a little while. One of my favorite authors is Christine Feehan. There's something about getting lost in her paranormal worlds that hits differently. I love the combination of romance, danger, supernatural elements, and those intense relationships that make you want to keep reading just one more chapter. You know the kind of book I'm talking about. The one where you tell yourself you...

Finding My Way Back to Me: One Week at a Time Have you ever looked at your life and realized that somewhere along the way, you stopped making time for yourself? You spend so much time being there for other people, handling responsibilities, and trying to get through whatever life throws at you that you forget about the person who needs your attention the most: YOU. I've been there. Life has a way of changing us. Sometimes we experience losses that leave us trying to figure out who we are all over again. Sometimes we spend so much time being strong for everyone else that we forget we're allowed to have difficult days, too. I've been on a journey of healing, learning, and trying to understand myself better. It's not always easy, and I certainly don't have all the answers. But I'm learning that I don't have to have everything figured out to take the next step. That's part of why I started this blog. I wanted a place where I could be honest about life...

Just Say No: Why I Don’t Borrow (or Lend) Money — Even to Family Let me say it plain: no. You should never borrow money — especially from family. That might sound harsh, but it’s coming from someone who’s learned the hard way that money and blood don’t mix . I don’t borrow money from anyone. Not from family. Not from friends. Not even in an emergency. If I’m down bad, I deal with it . If I’m hungry, I skip a meal or two. Hell, I’m fat — I can afford to miss a plate or two. It’s not about pride. It’s about peace. See, when you borrow money, you invite expectations, guilt, and judgment into your life. Suddenly, every family gathering has tension hanging in the air. Every phone call feels like a debt collector in disguise . If I choose to give money, that’s one thing. I can do that with a clean heart because I already know who I’m dealing with — the ones who always have their hand out, never bring anything to the table, and somehow always have a story to tell. I accept them for w...