The Little Things That Hold Me

Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is remind yourself of the simple things that bring you joy. The small comforts. The soft loves. The tiny things that make you you.

So here’s my heart, unfiltered ...A snapshot of the things that make me smile, feel safe, feel held. The things I look forward to when the days feel heavy and the world feels loud.

I’m just a girl who loves…

• Starbucks... ☕️Iced white mochas, caramel macchiatos, and shaken espressos (especially the hazelnut one). And of course, always topped with vanilla sweet cream cold foam for that extra cozy sweetness.

• Cold, quiet winter days-❄️ the kind where time slows down and everything feels soft and still and magical. Give me fuzzy socks, soft lighting, and something warm to sip.

• Shaved legs- 🧴the kind where you just got out of the shower, put on lotion or oil up your legs and slip into fresh pajamas. It’s the little things.

• Fresh sheets and bedding -🛏crisp, clean, and perfectly tucked. Nothing hits quite like crawling into a bed that feels brand new.

• My husband’s cuddles- 🫶my head on his chest, his arms wrapped around me. It’s safety. It’s a home with a heartbeat.

• Honesty that feels safe-not just truth, but kindness, softness, and someone who makes you feel heard even in the hard moments.

• BoxyCharm hauls💄- because opening a pink box of beauty surprises feels like a mini Christmas morning. A gift to me- from me.

• Hiking with a clear mind🌳-nothing but trees, fresh air, and deep breaths that feel like therapy.

• Stuffed animals 🐻 - like the Baby Yoda and teddy bears my husband has gotten me over the years. I keep every single one. They aren’t just plush toys - they’re memories, milestones, pieces of comfort. I even have Lexi Puppy, one of the stuffies from my late Nana. Some things you just hold onto forever, because they held you first.

• Cruises 🛳-drink in hand, room service delivered daily, a clean room everyday and laughter echoing through every hallway. It’s sunshine, fun, and freedom. No chores, no clocks, no responsibilities-just ocean views, family memories, and the sweet escape of real life left behind for a while. My favorite part? The serenity deck. Top of the ship. Laying in those round pod loungers under a dark sky full of stars. Cold air brushing your cheeks. Silence all around. Just me, the wind, the stars, and God. My solitude. My peace.

• Family who shows up🫂- the kind who check in, send the text, remember your heart, and don’t make you beg for love.

• Traveling 🎫and wandering -planes, road trips, packed bags, and that feeling of going somewhere new.

• Airports 🛫-coffee in hand, suitcase in tow, anticipation buzzing. Something about airports always feels like the beginning of something.

• God ✝️ - my anchor, my peace, my reason I made it this far. He never lets go.

• Bubble baths 🛁 - with candles, spa music, and time to breathe. They help soothe my pain and calm my mind.

• Towel warmers 💆🏼‍♀️ -because stepping out of a hot bath or shower and into a warm towel is elite-level self-care.

• Pineapple 🍍- sweet, refreshing, and just a little tropical joy in every bite.

• Barnes & Noble 📖- especially with a Starbucks inside. There’s nothing like flipping through pages of books with a cold iced latte in hand, tucked into a cozy corner booth.

• My fur babies 🐾- Shadow, Zen, and Nova. My shadow. My comfort. And my companion. They remind me daily how deep love can be.

• CBD and consistency 🍃- both have brought me peace when my body and mind felt anything but.

• My heating pad/Ice 🧊- Best friends on flare days. Reliable, comforting, and always there when I need relief.

• Lip balm 💄 - always within arm’s reach, always necessary, always used.

• Christmas 🎄- the glow of the tree in the quiet of the night. The sparkle of lights. The smell of cinnamon rolls baking. The warmth of family, gifts, and love all around. Hot cocoa in hand, music in the background.

Most of all, the message. The reminder that like Is God is the light in our darkness...The lights on everyone's homes light up the streets In the darkness of the winter.

• Mai Tais 🧉- fruity, fun, and carefree. They taste like... vacation.

• Dainty tattoos 💉 - permanent pieces of beauty that tell a story on my skin.

• Pinterest📱 - filled with who I want to become, what I want to create, and the life I dream of building.

• Essential oil warmers🪔- filling the room with calm, soft scents like eucalyptus and Lavender.

•Amazon packages 📦That's all.

• The Twilight series -🩸comfort, nostalgia, and a little bit of that high school magic you never forget.

• Car washes 🚘 and detailing days-because nothing feels quite like driving a clean car that smells brand new.

• Nickleback 🎶-Some songs just hit the soul in the right way. Love soft alternatives throwbacks.

• Panera’s chipotle chicken avocado melt-it's warm, crispy, cheesy perfection.

• Organizing my space - because when my space is clean, my mind breathes better.

• Shopping sprees and Chick-fil-A nuggies with fries- plus their cookies and cream milkshake. Yes, please.🍦

• Cook Out - a southern comfort we fell in love with after moving to North Carolina and Virginia. We’ll miss it when we move back to Florida one day. Their freshly made BBQ-style food, crispy chicken quesadillas, juicy chicken tenders, golden cheese curds, and rich, creamy real ice cream shakes are a little slice of drive-thru heaven.

• Thunderstorms ⛈️-sometimes I bring an umbrella, but other times I toss it aside and let the rain wash over me. Live a little.

• NF lyrics 🎵- raw, real, and straight to the heart. He gets it.

• To-do lists ✍️📝- they help organize my chaos and give structure to my mind.

• Mani/pedis -💅a reset for my soul and my self-image. Self-care at its cutest.

• Massages -💆🏼‍♀️ they unwind the pain I’ve been storing in my body.

• Spotify playlists 🎶🎵-the soundtrack to my life. Mood-matching magic.

• Perfect Brows -I used to get them done professionally, but now I do them myself at home during my weekly facial. It’s become a ritual.

• Baking therapy 🧁-mixing, measuring, waiting, and then the smell of warm comfort filling the kitchen.

• Candles🕯- smelling them, picking them out, lighting them. I buy way too many and I love every single one.

• Breakfast dates🥞 -my favorite kind of morning routine, especially if it includes pancakes or French Toast.

• Hotel nights -🏨white sheets, fluffy pillows, the quiet hum of peace. Plus the comfort of knowing someone else has cleaned the space -shout out to the maid service.

• Sleeping nude- 🌬 it helps regulate body temperature, improves sleep quality, and just feels freeing. Less fabric, more peace.

• Skin care routines 🧴-always after my daily shower and especially during my weekly facials. It’s how I pour back into myself.

• Devotionals and self-care books -📚📖both feeding my spirit and reminding me to keep going.

• Comfort shows -🦇 Buffy, Angel, Smallville, TVD, Friends. They hold me when life is too loud.

• Sushi nights🍣- paired with a cocktail and date night with my husband. It’s our reset.

• Girls days - 🤼‍♀️with my mom or my bestie. They make life lighter.

• Hugs from my mom -🫂🤗 nothing compares.

• Cookie Crumbl 🍪-warm, thick, soft-centered cookies that feel like joy in every bite.

• Tropical Smoothie Café - 🍌🍓the Bahama Mama smoothie, peanut butter banana chai smoothie, chicken pesto flatbread, and maple kissed sweet potato bites. It’s flavor, freshness, and happiness in a cup and In a box!

•Chinese food-🥡🥠 Sweet and sour chicken and white rice...Orange Chicken and Fried rice...Eggrolls..

Crab 🦀 Rangoons!! If you know, you know.

—

Because I’m just a girl who loves deeply ..

Who heals slowly...

Who holds joy tightly...

And this little list?

It’s a soft place to land.

Now it’s your turn!!

Make a list of the things you love...

The moments that bring you peace...

The routines that calm your spirit...

The quirks that light you up...

Then… do more of them

Lean into them

Let joy be your daily practice

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Scripture to end with:

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." James 1:17

Kristen, Unfiltered Xo 💋