With Rome only a week away, I’ve been thinking a lot about how important it is not to postpone love, curiosity, or joy . Romance isn’t something we wait on—it’s something we offer ourselves, day by day. Life is far too precious to keep setting things aside, whether it’s a dream vacation, telling someone you love them, or showing yourself  that same tenderness. Intimate romance is lovely, of course… but I’ve learned that romancing ourselves is just as beautiful. It’s in the li

There is something about Italy that feels like it has been quietly calling my name for years. The art. The stone streets. The light that seems to glow even in photographs. And this March, I finally answer. Not in a rushed, checkbox sort of way. But slowly. Intentionally. With walking shoes, a medium suitcase, and a very open heart. Amalfi? She deserves ten days all her own — and she will have them. Just not this year. Portugal is waiting for me later this year, and Amalfi wil

Valentine’s Day makes me smile. Not because I believe February 14th holds some mystical claim on love. But because love — real love — is far more interesting than a holiday. This year, I am spending Valentine’s Day in a chapter I didn’t expect to last this long. My solo chapter. And here’s the truth: It is bringing me more peace… and more happiness… than I ever imagined it could. Do I long for someone to kiss? To reach for my hand across a table? To wrap his arm around me whi

I didn’t watch the Super Bowl halftime show last night, but I woke up to such a wave of opinions — sharp, angry, and honestly exhausting opinions — that I finally sat down with a cup of tea and watched Bad Bunny’s performance . And do you know what happened? I smiled. I felt my shoulders loosen. And my feet wanted to dance. It made me wonder: What exactly are people so angry about? Because from where I sit — a conservative woman who has lived a lot of life, who has known deep

A cozy, wholesome way to use your sourdough discard — and fill your home with the most heavenly scent. There’s something so comforting about creating a recipe that turns “extra” into something extraordinary. That’s exactly what these breakfast bars do. They’re a beautiful way to use your sourdough discard instead of wasting it, and they come together with real, nourishing ingredients that make your whole kitchen smell like cinnamon, citrus, warmth, and home. These bars are te

by MaryNell — written from the heart, with love, curiosity, and science There’s something incredibly powerful about learning how our daily choices shape the future of our hearts and minds. Food, movement, and small, steady habits have enormous influence. This isn’t about fear. It’s about confidence, prevention, and taking ownership of our life’s story. Below is a roadmap to help you become the director of your own long, healthy lifetime. ❤️ Foods That Support Arterial Health

I went to my endocrinologist today, and for reasons I don’t fully understand, every visit with her seems to open a tender place inside me. Maybe it’s because she’s one of the few people who has witnessed the full arc of my medical journey. Maybe it’s because sitting in that exam room reminds me of the truth I rarely give myself permission to say: I have endured a tremendous amount of trauma. On the drive home, I listened to Chapter 8 of Dr. B’s new book, Plant Powered Plus, w

Why Turmeric & Magnesium Glycinate Are Two of the Kindest Gifts You Can Give Your Body If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey of healing, rebuilding, and learning to truly listen to my body, it’s that the simplest things often make the biggest difference. Food, rest, rhythms, gentle nourishment — the things our grandparents would’ve recognized — still have the most profound impact on our well-being. And today I want to share two of my very favorite “quiet powerhous

There’s a particular kind of magic in the moments before the snow begins to fall — that hush in the air, the stillness, the invitation to slow down and savor what’s right in front of us. Today, my granddaughter is watching soft flakes drift down over Lake Oconee, and my parents are looking out over the golf course in Augusta, watching their backyard turn into a quiet winter painting in WestLake. And here in Mount Pleasant, the cold has settled in — crisp, clean, and full of p

There’s something powerful that happens when you choose to listen to your body — truly listen. Not with fear, but with respect. Not with dread, but with a quiet understanding that your body has carried you through every storm you’ve ever survived. And when you’ve faced cancer… when you’ve looked it in the eye and said, not today, not ever again… you learn that strength isn’t loud. It’s steady. It’s patient. It’s the way you keep moving forward even when the uncertainty tries

A reflection on love, loss, clarity, and the quiet courage to begin again Sometimes healing doesn’t come with fireworks — it comes in quiet moments, like watching snow fall outside your window and noticing that your heart is finally telling you the truth. This is a story about love, loss, clarity, and the gentle courage it takes to choose yourself again… even when part of you still aches. It’s for anyone learning to let go with grace — and hold onto hope with both hands. Ther

The Secret Life of Microbes, SCFAs, and Your Body’s Beautiful Ability to Begin Again If you’ve ever slipped into a weekend of sugar, stress, travel, or ‘convenience’ eating and suddenly felt puffy, moody, bloated, or “off,” you’re not imagining it — the gut responds fast. But here’s the part I love even more: When you nourish it again… it responds just as quickly. Sometimes within hours. Often within a few days. Almost always within a week. Today, I want to walk you through w

Using Food Alone — and a Little Awe for What Your Body Can Do If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this long, winding path through surgeries, healing, and rebuilding my insides from the ground up, it’s this: Your gut is always trying to love you back. Even when life gets chaotic. Even when you’re stressed, tired, traveling, grieving, or grabbing ‘convenience’ foods. Even when your organs have had to reinvent themselves — the way mine have. And yet, the gut is surprisingly fra

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about biscotti — those crisp, elegant little cookies that somehow make an ordinary morning coffee feel like a moment. The word biscotti literally means “twice-cooked,” and that second bake is the magic step that draws out most of the moisture. It’s why biscotti stay fresh longer than nearly any other baked treat… though if you don’t plan to enjoy your homemade batch within two weeks, tuck them into the freezer once they’ve cooled overni

Why it happens, how to handle it, and a little reassurance from someone who’s been there . If you’ve ever taken off your Omnipod or Dexcom and suddenly found yourself in what looks like a crime scene straight out HBO’s ‘The PITT’… you’re in good company. These little surprise bleeders can feel dramatic, messy, and honestly a bit shocking — especially when they appear out of nowhere on an otherwise calm morning. The good news? They’re common, they’re usually harmless, and they

Living Without a Pancreas, Trusting Your Gut, and Learning from Sourdough One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this wild, beautiful life-after-pancreas is that our bodies are always working for us — even when the rulebook gets rewritten. And trust me, mine has been rewritten from cover to cover. When you live without a pancreas, your entire inner world shifts — your hormones, your digestion, the way your hunger feels, the way your blood sugar behaves. And yet somehow, y

There are moments in history that reshape what it means to live. For millions of us around the world, the discovery of insulin is one of those miracles. And for the last three years, I find myself thinking about four extraordinary men whose determination, brilliance, and deep compassion changed the course of human life forever. This year, especially, I’ve been reflecting on just how close the world came to losing people like me — long before our stories even had a chance to u

Today is my Whippleversary — January 24th — a day I’ll always remember, and a story I’ll always carry with a full and grateful heart. Seven years ago, in 2019, I rolled out of surgery with more tubes than style points… and still managed to throw up my arms like a tiny-but-mighty superhero. Then came eight rounds of chemo, long days, long nights, and an 18% five-year survival rate staring me down like a bad Dr. Seuss villain. But y’all know how this story goes. I thunk my thou

A gentle closing to the Sleep & Sanctuary Series We all have those nights — the restless ones, the late ones, the emotional ones, the I-know-better-but-here-I-am ones. Sometimes it’s work, sometimes it’s the people we love, sometimes it’s travel, sometimes it’s preparing a loaf of sourdough that keeps us up until midnight (guilty), or sometimes it’s simply life doing what life does. But here’s the truth I want you to hear softly and clearly, the way you’d whisper it to someon

A cozy, coastal-calm guide from someone who has tried… a lot of things, so you don’t have to. If you’ve ever stood in the “sleep aisle” at Whole Foods or Target with a lavender spray in one hand and magnesium gummies in the other, wondering if you’re being scammed or saved… welcome. You’re in excellent company. I’ve tested the lotions, potions, gadgets, lights, masks, and all the pretty promises. Some truly transform your nights. Some are sweet little luxuries. And some? Well