Rooted Reflections | May 2026
Welcome to my first Rooted Reflection. This one is probably the one I’m most excited about because it’s the first here on my new blog. Creating a space like this has been on my heart for some time, but it recently felt like the right time to finally take this leap, and right in time for my 28th birthday.
My special day was a rainy one, but that’s not something I mind. My husband, Beau, had to work in the morning, so I spent the first half of my day enjoying some me time. I explored Central Market, bought myself flowers, picked up a tiramisu from the bakery, and tracked down the ingredients I needed to make myself a special lunch. Steak, fries, and a cola - but make it healthy. I treated myself to special grass-fed and finished wagyu New York strip steak, Folkland Cajun Spice fries with a side of Portland ketchup, and a crisp SiBi Organic Cola. Easily the best steak I’ve ever had in my life. I got snuggled up in my favorite throw blanket with a good book, and was pleasantly surprised when Beau got home earlier than planned to spend the afternoon together.
I’m someone who isn’t the most comfortable receiving gifts, but I absolutely love to give them. The friends and family in my life made me feel so special, loved, and truly just known by surprising me with things that were just so me. It's deeply important to me to be known by those around me, and I feel incredibly blessed, on my birthday and every day, to have that.
Starting a new year of life has naturally led me into a season of reflection. I'm not entirely sure what these monthly reflections will become yet, but that feels fitting for a first one. For now, here are a few things that stood out from May.
Reading
I’ve been getting back into reading, making a point to slow down, get away from all the screens around me, and get lost in a good book. This month I got to read The Night We Met and Say You’ll Remember Me, both by Abby Jimenez. Abby is one of my favorite authors, her stories are romantic comedies, but also carry heavy themes that keep me on the edge of my seat. I breeze through these books because I can’t put them down, and miss the characters once I finish. This pair of books was really fun to read, because it revolves around the same friend group, but each story focuses on a different couple, their love story, and challenges. And as an animal lover with a menagerie of pets at home, I’m obsessed with animal sidekicks and love that they get a special place on the spines of the book. Not to mention Abby’s TikTok is incredible, I knew of her and her dog Stuntman Mike before I read her books.
Wellness
I’ve been so incredibly fascinated learning about circadian biology, the benefits of the sun, and how to take the best care of the little clocks in our bodies. I’ve been making it a point to spend some time soaking up the rays of the sunrise and the sunset, and it’s already made such a difference in the quality of my sleep.
Two of my favorite podcasts both covered it with different guests recently:
In the Kitchen
This month I have been absolutely obsessed with my Trust Me on This One toast, you can find my recipe here. So quick, delicious, savory, and light but filling. Even if you’re not a fan of sardines on their own, I think it’s worth a try!
Things I Tried
This month, Beau and I both got to visit a holistic dentist! I loved learning, asking questions and seeing what set this type of dentistry apart from the traditional offices I’ve been to in the past. At the dentist’s recommendation, I also bought an electric toothbrush. After some research and a recommendation from a friend, I settled on the SURI 2.0 Electric Toothbrush right in time for their anniversary sale. I try to minimize my plastic exposure as best I can, and this toothbrush makes it easy with their plant-based, castor oil bristles.
Adventures
This month has been filled with trying new places. I got to enjoy meals with friends at Flower Child and True Food Kitchen (Dallas), I love going to restaurants that I can feel good about eating at. Feast your eyes on TFK’s Spiced Carrot Cake. I also got to spend time in nature exploring Arbor Hills Nature Preserve (Plano). Even though the morning was gloomy, the greenery and wildflowers of north Texas spring are my absolute favorite. I also got to have a sweet pre-birthday lunch with my friend Claudia, at one of my favorite restaurants, Le Margot (Fort Worth). I indulged in the Surf and Turf Eggs Benedict and I’m still dreaming about it.
Favorite Find
My favorite find of the month is without a doubt the Avocado Organic Cotton Throw from Costco. We’re currently working on our natural fiber swaps around the house, but I’ve been having a hard time finding something quality in the price range I’m looking for. This blanket is 100% cotton, machine washable, GOTS certified, and comes in a light tan color with the option of blue, green, or brown stitching. Although it’s a few dollars less to purchase in the warehouse, even at $32.99 online this is an absolute steal. I bought myself the brown one, loved it so much my mom bought me the green, and I went back and got the blue so I could have them all. With the weather we get in Texas, this blanket is the goldilocks of throw blankets for me: not too thin, not too thick. Juuuuust right.
Looking back, May felt like a month of new beginnings. A new year of life, a new blog, and plenty of new things to learn and explore. I'm excited to see what finds its way into next month's reflection.
