Hello From Here: Volume 1

Winter notes from my camera roll

Somehow it’s March and it feels as if spring is peeking at us but not ready to say hello. In all honesty, I'm thankful for the slowness of this season, for Saturdays with no plans when I wear my PJs until 2 pm and let my brain rest. The fight to not be on autopilot is a constant battle of feeling like I'm not doing enough and yet have no capacity for more.

As the trees are still bare and the cold weather lingers for a bit, I'm grateful for the possibility of realigning my posture. So, hello from here.

Think of this as my seasonal postcard to you. These pictures are reminders of the people, places, and things that made me pause, breathe, and be grateful.

From left to right:

1. Chai/coffee date at Café Don Juan with my cousin, BFF, and life sister, Keyla

2. Brooklyn being cute because she wants something—probably a banana

3. Made granola from scratch and felt like an adult

4. Wednesday night dinner at Flower Child because we didn’t want to cook

5. Flowers for Val’s birthday celebration, which she named Camp Valerie, and now I need to find a proper name for my birthday :)

6. Waffle bar before we gathered for breakfast and heartfelt conversations

7. Watercolor painting session at Camp Valerie

8. Thankful for Puerto Rican sunsets

9. La isla del encanto

1. Sweet reminder on the sidewalk

2. Random selfie because it randomly started snowing—you can tell I don’t know how to take selfies

3. Winter Trail at the Whitewater Center

4. Chai tea in the new mug I got at Target because I needed a proper teacup

5. Fried chicken sandwiches at Bossy Beulah's (10/10)

6. Adding coconut to my yogurt for the sake of feeling tropical at 35°F

7. Winter blooms around the neighborhood

8. Huevos rancheros for Saturday morning breakfast

9. Proper selfie in Charleston, brought to you by Keyla

1. The dreamiest Christmas dessert table by our lovely friends

2. The superwoman, friend, and visionary behind Camp Valerie—give her 24 hours and she can turn anything into a Pinterest board

3. Happy campers after 48 hours of good food, laughter, some tears, and so much love

4. Drew & Ellie Holcomb concert for our anniversary celebration—I loved them before but now I'm president of their fan club

5. I started using index cards to write down my prayers

6. The sun confirming I should go to the gym at 6 am

7. Walking around a plant shop trying to become a plant person, TBD

8. Celebrating the girl who made me a big sister, and the one I text to ask what's cool now

9. Brooklyn taking a nap as I work to pay for her toys

Talk soon,

Stella