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I'm not a huge souvenir person. At least, not in the traditional sense. You probably won't find me buying a shot glass, a snow globe, or a T-shirt that says "My friend went to Las Vegas and all I got was this lousy shirt." Instead, I like bringing home things that help me remember a place long after I've unpacked my suitcase. The first thing I almost always buy? A magnet. It's simple, affordable, and every time I walk into my kitchen, I get a tiny reminder of somewhere I've b

If you had asked me a few years ago what my favorite skirt style was, I wouldn't have hesitated. Maxi skirt. Long, flowy, comfortable, and most importantly, it covered everything I thought needed covering. My legs? Covered. My thighs? Covered. My hips? Covered. There was something comforting about a maxi skirt. It felt safe while still being cute, and as a plus-size woman trying to navigate fashion, that combination was hard to beat. I owned several. And honestly, I still lov

This year, I'll finish my second master's degree—this one in Higher Education. Sometimes people ask me why... Why go back to school again? Why take on more classes, more assignments, and more late nights after already earning a graduate degree? The answer is simple: I want to help people in more ways than one. My first graduate degree was started full of doubt...Can I even do this? Will I fail? So, I took the chance. My goal has always been to create more opportunities to se

As much as I love a bold print and a great swing dress, sometimes you want something a little more whimsical. A little more romantic. A little more "main character walking through a garden" energy. And when that mood strikes, there is one brand that immediately comes to mind: JessaKae. If you've never seen their dresses before, prepare yourself. They're gorgeous. The kind of dresses that make you stop scrolling. The kind of dresses that make you immediately start imagining oc

There are great fictional characters. There are beloved fictional characters. And then there is Uncle Iroh. If you've watched the animated show Avatar: The Last Airbender, you already know what I'm talking about. Uncle Iroh isn't the strongest character in the series. He isn't the youngest. He isn't the fastest. He isn't the main character. And somehow, he steals every scene he's in. What makes Iroh so special is that he understands something many people spend their entire li

When I tell people I love Las Vegas, they usually assume it's because of the casinos. It isn't. In fact, gambling is probably one of the least interesting things about Vegas to me. What I love about Las Vegas is that there is always something to do. No matter how many times I visit, I never run out of things to explore. One day I might be exploring Red Rock Canyon, surrounded by stunning desert landscapes that feel completely different from anything I see back home. The next

There is something magical about a matching set. Maybe it's because it looks effortlessly put together. Maybe it's because someone else already did the hard work of coordinating the outfit. Or maybe it's because every time I wear one, I feel like I have my life together—even when I absolutely do not. Whatever the reason, I love a matching set. And honestly, I wish I had embraced them sooner. For years, I thought matching sets weren't for me. As a plus-size woman, I worried th

Last year, I got fired from a job. At the time, it felt devastating but I also had a sense of relief that surprised me. I questioned everything about myself. My abilities. My worth. My future. It felt like a giant neon sign pointing to all the ways I thought I had failed. But looking back now, I can see something I couldn't see then. I had already lost myself long before I lost that job. Somewhere along the way, I lost my confidence. I started playing small. I stopped speakin

A bit ago, I had the opportunity to attend a pelvic floor workshop at Taylor Physical Therapy & Wellness, and honestly, it was one of those experiences that leaves you wondering why nobody talks about this stuff more often. Like many people, I rarely thought about my pelvic floor. In fact, unless someone specifically brought it up, I probably never thought about it at all. But after attending the workshop, I quickly realized how much this often-overlooked area of the body imp

Everyone has a favorite superhero. Some people love superheroes because of their incredible powers. They can fly, run faster than light, control the weather, or lift entire buildings. And then there's Iron Man. A man whose superpower is essentially being smart enough to build his own. That's exactly why he's my favorite. Unlike many superheroes, Tony Stark wasn't born with extraordinary abilities. He wasn't bitten by a radioactive spider. He didn't come from another planet. H

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. I love exploring new places, trying new foods, meeting new people, and creating memories that will last long after I unpack my suitcase. But traveling in a plus-size body comes with its own set of challenges that many people never have to think about. Before a trip even begins, there's the mental checklist. Will the airplane seat be comfortable? Will I need a seatbelt extender? How much walking is involved? Are there activities wi

I never thought crop tops would become a staple in my wardrobe. For the longest time, they represented everything I thought I wasn't supposed to wear. Crop tops were for confident people. Crop tops were for thin people. Crop tops were for people with flat stomachs. At least, that's what I told myself. As a plus-size woman, I spent years learning how to dress in ways that minimized my body. Every fashion article seemed to focus on hiding, slimming, elongating, and disguising.

When most people think about wellness, they picture green smoothies, yoga classes, meditation apps, and step counters. And while I enjoy a good yoga class, my favorite form of wellness looks a little different. It comes with a teapot. And usually a scone. I love afternoon tea. Not just because I love tea, which I absolutely do, but because it forces me to do something I struggle with naturally...Slow down. We live in a world that constantly pushes us to be productive. Answer

Every now and then, you stumble across a place that feels special from the moment you walk through the door. For me, that place is Oasis at the Mill. Not far from downtown Winston-Salem. It's one of those rare spaces that immediately makes you feel welcome. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and thoughtfully curated in a way that encourages you to slow down and simply enjoy being there. Of course, the tea is incredible. Whether you're a longtime tea enthusiast or just beginnin

If you've spent any amount of time around me, you'll probably learn two things pretty quickly: I love cute clothes. And I absolutely love pandas. At this point, it's become a running joke among my friends and family that if something has a panda on it, I probably want it. But the more I think about it, the more I realize there might be a reason I've always connected with them. Pandas don't seem to be in a hurry to be anything other than themselves. They're soft. They're round

Last summer I went to Jamaica. Like many vacations, I spent weeks planning what I would pack. But unlike many of my previous trips, I made a decision before I left... I was going to wear the swimsuits I actually wanted to wear. Not the ones that hid the most. Not the ones that made me look the smallest. The ones I liked. So I packed a different swimsuit for every day of the trip. Some were bikinis. Some were bright colors. Some showed more skin than I would have ever been com

Let's get one thing straight: As a millennial, I will probably always own a pair of skinny jeans. They survived the side-part debates, the Gen Z fashion critiques, and countless trend cycles. At this point, they're practically part of my personality. But owning skinny jeans doesn't mean I'm restricted to them. For years, I thought it did. I was convinced that wide-leg pants were not for me. In my mind, they would make my legs look huge. I pictured myself looking like I had tr

Being a plus-size woman in the workplace can be complicated. Not because we aren't capable. Not because we aren't qualified. But because we're often navigating expectations that have nothing to do with our actual job performance. For as long as I can remember, I've been aware of my body in professional spaces. Will this chair fit comfortably? Does this outfit look professional enough? Am I being taken seriously? Do I look "put together" enough? These are questions many people

When I was younger, I thought I would have figured it all out by now. I thought my 30s would arrive with answers. Confidence. Certainty. The perfect career. The perfect relationship. The perfect body. Especially the body. For years, I treated my weight like a temporary situation. I wasn't fat—I was just fat for now. I assumed that by the time I reached my 30s, I would have become the version of myself I had spent so much time imagining. The thinner version. The after picture.

Birthdays used to make me think about all the things I wanted to change. I'd make lists of goals, promises, and plans for the person I hoped to become just like your typical New Year's resolutions. I'd tell myself that this would be the year I finally lost the weight, became more confident, took more risks, or stopped worrying so much about what other people thought. And while there's nothing wrong with wanting to grow, I've realized something as I've gotten older: The greate