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Okay. You caught me.
I don’t have a real blog this week. So what?!

No deep life lesson. No curated essay. Just me… showing up. Because while I may not always have the perfect words lined up, I am consistent. And I figure showing up imperfectly is better than disappearing altogether, right?

So let’s just catch up. Here’s a little peek into what I’ve been up to lately:

The Garden

We started a pepper garden this year and it’s thriving! We’re talking a full-on pepper parade: bell, gypsy, serrano, jalapeño, habanero… and wait for it… ghost pepper. That’s right. I have a ghost pepper plant that is in bloom. Also, a scorpion pepper. I’m not saying I’m a spice queen, but I’m definitely flirting with danger here.

We’ve been turning these little firecrackers into some chef’s kiss salsas. Hot Ones… call me.

On top of that, we joined a little neighborhood swap group where everyone shares their extras. It’s wholesome, it’s refreshing, and it finally feels like a slice of community in our corner of the world.

Renovation Reality

Renovations have… slowed. A bit. Okay, we’ve hit the brakes hard. After a year of blood, sweat, and “why did we think we could do this ourselves?” – the entire first floor is basically done. The kitchen got a little refresh (the big reno is still chilling in the future), and the upstairs? Yikes. Carpet. Everywhere. Still.

The to-do list includes vinyl floors, paint, and general chaos. But for now, we’re prioritizing rest. We did get a brand-new roof recently, and it’s glorious. And an exterior paint refresh is on the horizon. Send positive vibes.

I’m Going OOO

The last time I took a break from work was for my scleral buckle surgery in December 2024. It didn’t exactly scream “vacay.”

So I officially marked myself Out of Office from June 23–30. I’m packing a bag and heading off the grid (sort of). Where am I going, you ask?

That’s one secret I’ll never tell… xoxo, Gossip Girl.

HAHA, kidding. I’ve been holding onto that for a while now. Felt like now was the moment.

But in all honesty, I’m headed to Alpine. It’s been way too long since I got to really spend time with family. A couple short visits a year just doesn’t cut it. I can’t even remember the last time I spent a full week there. So this little escape? Feels like a dream.

That’s all I’ve got for now. We’ll see what kind of inspiration strikes next week. Maybe I’ll mark myself OOO from The Daily Rae too. You’ll find out when I do.

Until then ❤️

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Browse the blog archives for more vibes — there’s a little bit of everything here.