Some years don’t need a highlight reel to matter. This is a reflection on a transitional year filled with quiet growth, creativity, rebuilding after burnout, and learning to move slower without guilt.

Mornings and I have had a complicated relationship, but lately I’ve been trying a slower, cozier start. In this guide, I share my real vs. ideal routine, why slowing down matters, and 5 simple rituals—from warm drinks to creative sparks—that make every morning feel like a gentle side quest.

Junk journaling is my favorite creative ritual—a cozy blend of memory keeping, sustainability, and play. Using scraps, ephemera, and everyday “trash,” I turn simple moments into meaningful keepsakes. Here’s why I love junk journaling and how it helps me slow down, create without rules, and see beauty in the little things.

Discover the quiet power of small daily rituals—coffee, tea, reading, walks—and how they anchor us in a fast-moving world.

This week was busier than usual, but in the best way—full of thrift finds, family time, and slow moments at home. I’m sharing three little joys that made my summer week feel a bit sweeter and reminded me that happiness really lives in the in-between.