There’s a moment — a quiet, undeniable click — when you finally reach the “it’s not me, it’s you” stage of letting go. That’s the moment real freedom begins. Looking back, it’s easy to remember the fun parts, the photos where you looked adorable together, the way outsiders thought you were the perfect fit. But when you let the highlight reel fade, you can feel the truth underneath: the times you were hidden, placed last, made to feel small, or asked to shrink so someone else

There’s something that happens when a series finds you at exactly  the right moment — when it brushes up against memories you forgot were still sharp, and hopes you didn’t realize were still glowing softly under the surface. Watching Love Story  has been that for me. I was alive when John and Carolyn were dating and married, and I remember with heartbreaking clarity the night their plane went down. That tragedy left its mark on the world — but this series, their love story, r

There’s an old saying that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger , and I think many people toss that phrase around casually. But some of us… we become living proof of it. Strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s steady. Sometimes it’s tender. And sometimes it shines brightest when the world around us is dim. It’s easy to shine in the daylight — anyone can look bright when everything feels effortless. But shining in the dark? That takes something different. Something earn

Some evenings unfold so strangely you almost have to laugh at the universe’s plot twist. Today was one of those days here in Charleston — rainy, unexpected, and full of little moments I never saw coming. So tonight, I’m leaning into something simple and soothing: packing for my trip to Italy, turning on Hulu, and making two delicious, throw-together recipes that are perfect for a quiet night at home. Nothing fancy. Just comforting food, a soft pause, and the reminder that som

Italy Itinerary – Rome • Florence • Venice Day 1 – Arrival in Rome Base:  Albergo del Senato (by the Pantheon, Rome) Morning / Early Afternoon 10:30 AM – Land in Rome (FCO) Go through passport control, collect luggage, and transfer into the city (taxi or pre-booked car). Arrive at Albergo del Senato Drop bags (room may or may not be ready). Freshen up in lobby/bathroom if needed. First Coffee & Orientation Walk across the piazza to Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè  for: Espresso / cap

My last full day in the Floating City — a day to wander, breathe, and let Venice leave her mark on me. Some days are for plans. This one is for impressions — soft, beautiful imprints that only Venice can make. No tickets, no urgency… just a woman and a city falling quietly, sweetly in love. Morning — A Slow Start & A Walk Toward the Accademia I’ll begin my day with breakfast at H10 Palazzo Canova , savoring one last slow Venetian morning. Around 9:00–9:30 AM , I’ll head out o

My second full day in Venice: galleries, slow canals, and the kind of wandering that stays with you. Today is my gentlest Venetian day — art that stirs, bridges that whisper, and a neighborhood that feels like slipping into the softest version of myself. Dorsoduro has a way of making you feel at home… even when you’re thousands of miles away. Morning — A Soft Start + A Walk Toward Art I will enjoy breakfast at my sweet home base, H10 Palazzo Canova , savored slowly before hea

My first full day in Venice, where history, beauty, and a little Venetian enchantment meet. Morning Light + A Stroll Toward San Marco I’ll wake up in my lovely home base, H10 Palazzo Canova , and enjoy a slow, bright Venetian morning. No rush — just that gentle anticipation of a big, beautiful day ahead. Everything today is walkable. Venice is a city built for wandering, and I plan to let myself enjoy that fully. After breakfast at my hotel, I’ll begin my walk toward St. Mark

From Renaissance sunrise to the magic of the lagoon There are some travel days that feel like passages rather than transitions — soft doorways between who you were yesterday and who you’ll be by nightfall. Today is one of those days. A final morning wrapped in Florentine warmth… and an evening carried by the quiet shimmer of Venice. Morning in Florence — A Gentle Goodbye I’ll begin the morning around 7:30 AM  with breakfast at Hotel L’Orologio Firenze , sipping my tea and tak

My Last Full Day in Florence Today feels like a chapter I’ve been walking toward for a long time — a day made of marble, masterpieces, sunlight on the Arno, and the kind of inner clarity that only arrives after you’ve healed pieces of yourself you once thought might stay broken forever. I am not surviving anymore. I am expanding. 8:15 AM — Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia I’ll begin the morning at the Galleria dell'Accademia , standing before David  — marble courage made

If Rome is where I began to trust my compass, Florence is where I’ll learn to follow my curiosity with both feet on the ground and my heart wide open. Day Seven is a day I’ve dreamed about — the kind that feels stitched together with history, beauty, and maybe a little bit of magic. Morning: Walking to the Duomo for My Brunelleschi’s Dome Climb From Hotel L'Orologio Firenze , I’ll walk to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore  — a gentle 10–12 minute stroll through elegant F

There’s something almost poetic about a travel day that doesn’t feel like a disruption but instead feels like a bridge. My last morning in Rome will be exactly that — a gentle transition between one city I’ve loved deeply and another that has been quietly calling my name. A Soft Roman Morning I’ll wake up inside Albergo del Senato , my beloved nest beside the Pantheon, and savor one last slow, Rome-soaked morning. A lingering breakfast, a final cappuccino, and a little time t

My final full day in Rome will be where everything I’ve seen, learned, and felt begins to settle into the softer corners of my heart. After four days of extraordinary art, ancient history, and tear-worthy beauty, Day Five will be my invitation to breathe, savor, and simply be in the Eternal City. Morning — Quiet Wonder at the Baths of Caracalla ✨ Taxi to the Baths of Caracalla My day will begin at the Baths of Caracalla, one of Rome’s most soul-stirring archaeological sites.

Today is meant to feel gentle at the start, full of flavor and charm in the middle, and absolutely breathtaking by the evening. It’s a day that unfolds like a ribbon — soft, colorful, and entirely Roman. 🌤 Morning: Slow, Charming, and Full of Heart Leaving the hotel → A soft 8–10 minute stroll to the Jewish Ghetto I'm told there’s something about beginning the day in the Jewish Ghetto  that feels like opening a book quietly and lovingly. The early sun warms the stones, baker

There are some days in life that feel like they’re stitched together with threads of awe—and my third morning in Rome will begin just like that. I’ll slip out of my hotel before the rush, coffee in hand, the city still stretching awake. There is something tender about Rome at dawn… as if all the centuries hush themselves long enough to let you hear your own heartbeat. My first stop is the Vatican Museums, a place that holds more beauty than the mind can fully process. It’s no

Some evenings in life feel like they’re meant to become memories, and this one — a slow, golden-hour wander through Villa Borghese followed by a twilight entry into the Galleria Borghese  — is already stitched into my heart before I’ve even arrived. If you ask me, this is the perfect way to meet the Borghese: softened by a garden stroll, steadied by a breathtaking terrace view, and then swept into a world where marble turns to skin and myth turns to movement. I will cry, I’m

There’s something quietly powerful about stepping into a day early, unhurried, and ready. This timing feels like a gift — more light, more space, more me. Rome loves to bless the early wanderer, and I have a feeling this morning will become one of those memories I’ll hold onto for years. Morning — Where Ancient Rome Opens Its Arms 10:15 AM — Colosseum Full Experience (Arena Level) I will leave my hotel around 9:15 AM to give myself a little time to stroll, take photos, and pe

There’s a kind of magic that happens the moment your feet touch Roman ground. Even through the sleepiness of an overnight flight, the excitement wins. It always does. I’ll land at 10:30 AM, drop my bags at Albergo del Senato , and let the city guide me into my first day—softly, sweetly, and with just enough structure to feel intentional. This will be my gentle arrival. My invitation to awe. ☕ A slow beginning, with coffee that hugs you back Once my bag is in the hotel’s care,

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

This weekend in Augusta reminded me just how blessed my life is. I spent time with my parents, shared a meal with my brother and sister-in-law, and my daughter, son-in-law, and my sweetest little best friend—my granddaughter—drove over from Atlanta to be with us. At only 22 months old, my granddaughter is the funniest person I know , and her bright little spirit fills every room with joy. I could not imagine my life without her. Being her Honey has changed me. She sees only t