If you’ve ever picked up a Dan Brown novel and thought I wish he’d just get to the point, Steve Berry might be your guy. 📚 The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry This is my first Steve Berry read, my book club selected it, and I'd like to read at least one more before I decide to scroll by his name. And I will say the other book club members did not like it...at all. The premise alone is enough to keep me turning pages: a disgraced Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, moments from ending his life, gets pulled into a 500-year-old mystery tied to Christopher Columbus. Was Columbus Jewish? Did he hide something in Jamaica that still matters today? Berry makes you want to know. Fair warning … the first half is setup. You’re meeting characters, getting your bearings across Florida, Vienna, Prague, and eventually the mountains of Jamaica. It’s not slow exactly, but the payoff is definitely back-loaded. Somewhere around the halfway point, the quest feeling kicks in and you stop putting it down. Berry does something I genuinely appreciate: he includes a Writer’s Note at the end that separates fact from fiction. I almost read it first. Several reviewers said they do exactly that, and honestly, I get it. The history of Columbus … all we realize we don’t know about the man .. is fascinating on its own. Less wordy than Brown, better researched than most, and a solid ride once it opens up about halfway through.

Happy Friday, friend 💛 Before you rush into weekend mode… pause for just a second. Not everything that’s waiting for you is urgent. Not everything deserves your energy. So here’s your gentle Friday reminder: 👉 You get to choose what fuels you… and what drains you. This weekend, instead of trying to do everything... and I'm talking to YOU who wants to do ALL the selfcare and workouts and nutritional things in one weekend to catch up for the days you didn't to them... try this: - Do one thing that makes your body feel cared for - Do one thing that gives your mind a little quiet - Do one thing just because it makes you smile That’s it. Not a full reset. Not a total overhaul. Just a soft, intentional shift back to yourself. And if you feel that little tug of guilt for slowing down? Let that be your sign you really need it. We’re not doing burnout as a lifestyle anymore. We’re choosing steady. Gentle. Sustainable. 💬 Tell me… what’s ONE thing you’re doing this weekend that will fuel you instead of drain you?

Hey Beautiful!💛 I was thinking about something this morning while I was making my coffee… I don’t really do affirmations. You know, the ones you’re supposed to repeat over and over hoping they magically stick? Yeah… those never quite felt like me. But what does work for me? Mantras. Not in a “say it 50 times perfectly” kind of way… More like little reminders I come back to throughout the day. Especially when I feel myself drifting. This year, my word is Anchor ⚓ So throughout the day, I’ll catch myself and think: “Come back to Anchor.” “Stay anchored in this moment.” “Anchor yourself before you react.” The words might shift depending on what’s going on… But the intention stays the same—to steady myself, to stay present, to not get pulled in every direction. Because let’s be honest… life will pull you. Your thoughts, your to-do list, other people’s energy—it’s a lot some days. And that’s when I come back to it…Anchor. ⚓ Not perfectly. Not all at once. Just one gentle reminder at a time. So if affirmations haven’t really been your thing either, maybe try this approach. Something flexible, real, and that actually supports you in the moment. 💬 I’d love to hear if you have a Word for the Year and are using it like this...

Happy Monday, beautiful 🤍 Before you rush into the week, I want you to pause for just a second and ask yourself one simple question: “Is this fueling me… or draining me?” Your thoughts. Your conversations. Your to-do list. Even the way you talk to yourself. Not everything deserves your energy. This week, try this: 🌿 Do more of what fuels you (even in small doses) 🌿 Gently step back from what drains you 🌿 Give yourself permission to choose peace over pressure You don’t need to overhaul your whole life today… Just make one tiny shift toward what feels better. That’s how momentum starts 💫 💬 Tell me—what’s one thing you’re choosing that fuels you today?