My Intentional Mess: Blog Posts
When it comes to my life, there are so many messes that occur on the regular. I’m here to share how to bring intention to them. Welcome to the anti-highlight reel of My Intentional Mess.
I’m an optimistic-realist striving to make the most of life when shit gets real. My Intentional Mess is a space to share the ups, downs, and everything in between as I navigate personal development, career changes, and the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
I’m a wife to a career firefighter and mama to two beautifully sassy girls. After 10 years of teaching high school English, I took a leap of faith and switched careers (learn more about my story here). It’s been a wild ride rebuilding my identity and balancing all the roles we, as women, juggle.
Here, you’ll find honest stories about my journey, tips for personal growth, and reflections on making intentional choices even when life gets messy. Whether you’re a young woman carving your future or a wise woman like me finding your way after a major life change, join me in this journey of self-discovery and growth.
Let’s embrace the mess and grow together!
-
Motherhood Burnout: I Don’t Know How to Fully Rest Anymore
Sometimes while running errands I will sit in the car for a full 10 minutes before I get out to go into the store. It serves no real purpose. I’m not finishing an important phone call or scheduling something on my phone. The sound of silence is my comfort. I don’t set out to do…
-
The Small Luxuries That Help Me Remember Who I Am in Motherhood
Lately, the small things I crave most are the ones that help me feel like myself outside of motherhood. Joy looks different than I thought it would. Small luxuries I lust after… Espresso because it takes me back to cafes in Paris and a slower pace of life. Iced Tea from anywhere that I didn’t…
-
Losing Yourself in Motherhood: I Don’t Want to Disappear
Every Tuesday, I go to a high-energy dance class that somehow manages to kick my butt and lift my mood at the same time. But this particular Tuesday? I didn’t want to go. It had been a long week. My body felt tired. My motivation was gone. So I casually told my girls I was…
-
Why Living in Survival Mode Doesn’t Work: Staying Soft in a Season that Keeps Asking for More
During the weeks we were helping care for my grandmother in hospice, living in survival mode felt necessary. There were medications to track. Visitors to update. Logistics to manage. I remember one night sitting on the couch and listening to the rhythmic hissing and puffing of the oxygen machine. The house was quiet, but my…
-
What the 90s Asphalt Challenge Taught Me about Community and Burnout
When is the first time you felt embraced by a community? For me, it was during the summers of my youth on walks home from the pool. “Mama, how are you doing that? Aren’t your feet burning?“ No sweetie peatie, my feet aren’t burning at all. In fact, back in my day, we used to…
-
Grieving a Dog with Kids: What Helped Us Heal Together
The Mess of Grief: Losing our Sweet Kane Our sweet silver-lab, Kane, went to be with God. Now my youngest prays, ‘God, help Kane shine bright in heaven.’ Saying goodbye to our silver-lab Kane on my daughter’s 10th birthday was a different kind of grief—and now we are trying to find peace in the mess…
-
Storm Chasers for Life: Vibrant Emotional Resilience
Embracing the Unknown: Faith in the Storm Thunderstorm season is upon us! The messy unknowns—will the power go out? Do the flashlights still work? Will the wind topple a tree or the rain flood the basement? So much potential for chaos…and still, I love a good thunderstorm because I always find faith in the storm.…
-
Wet Footprints and Messy Joy: Why You Should Reclaim Play
There are wet footprints all over my kitchen floor. Why? It’s sprinkler season, y’all. Sprinkler Season and “Hitting the Tramp” Earlier this month it was still a little too chilly for the pool, but my wild girls were all about that sprinkler life. A trampoline sprinkler, to be specific. My sweet friend got it for…
-
Maycember: The Most Overlooked Mental Health Crisis of the Year
The Mess of May, also known as Maycember. Everything happening at once. Birthdays, Mother’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, School Ending, Field Day, Warm Weather Outings, Summer Plans, Graduations, Spring Sports, Dance Competitions. Burnout in Disguise May is when burnout comes dressed like celebration. It looks like joy—balloons, cupcakes, sunny field days—but underneath, so many of…
-
Messy Growth: A Yellow-Dust Life or a Beautiful Disaster
Ah yes. Spring is here, the messy growth, the smell of poop wafting in the air (embracing growth during discomfort is essential), and to add to that? A powdery yellow dusting of pollen. Covering every available surface, including my dog whenever he goes outside to pee. He doesn’t seem to care, but the yellow tinge…
