Today I turn 36 and I’m welcoming this new year with a refreshed perspective. As my children grow and I share their stories less often, the label “Lil-Kid-Things” no longer captures everything I want to say. It began to feel limiting, a category that boxed in my full story rather than letting it breathe.
I will continue to share moments of parenting, but they will sit alongside other passions: social justice, fitness, travel, silly anecdotes, and movie reviews. For a long time I’ve felt like a lifestyle blogger wearing mom-blogging clothes that never quite fit. It’s time to get comfortable in my true voice, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Why just is a joy stealer
I’m on a small crusade against using the word “just” to minimize my life and achievements. I’m not talking about justice; I deeply believe in justice. I’m talking about the habit of “justing” myself—shrinking accomplishments by tacking on the word “just.”
At a conference I was trying to explain my blogging goals to another woman. I said I wanted to create an online space that didn’t feel competitive but instead offered encouragement to women. I remember saying, “I never want anyone to feel like they aren’t enough or that being ‘just a mom’ or ‘just working’ is somehow failing at life.” Then I laughed and added that “just” felt like a four-letter word. That phrase stuck with me and helped steer the direction of this blog.
Over the years I’ve found myself minimizing with phrases like: “I’m just a stay-at-home mom,” “I just work part-time,” or “I just used a mix instead of baking from scratch.” At first it feels humble or like a way to avoid awkwardness, but it slowly chips away at confidence. The insidious effect is that I start to believe my best is never enough—that I should simply try harder. I’m choosing to stop playing that game.
Stop downplaying what makes you awesome
I’ll never forget a phone interview last fall. I was excited to share that I had just finished my first half-marathon. The moment I was congratulated, I immediately reflexively downplayed it: “Well, it’s just a half-marathon. You should hear about the marathoner in my family who runs internationally and raises thousands for charity.” With a single “just,” I deflated my own accomplishment.
The truth is accomplishments don’t cancel each other out. There’s room for many kinds of achievement—big or small, personal or public. Every success deserves recognition on its own terms. Saying “just” can make us overlook the simple, meaningful things that build our lives. After months of thinking and refocusing, I’ve decided to reclaim my online space as a reminder that “just” is a joy stealer. I’m done minimizing my life.
What makes me awesome
I am many things: a daughter, a wife, a mother, a friend, and an author. I can change a flat tire. I bake from scratch sometimes; more often, a box mix does just fine. I love to cook and I love eating out. I enjoy decorating my home and doing crafts, and some days I don’t care at all. I care passionately about politics at times and other days can only manage HGTV. I laugh loudly, cry when moved, exercise, overeat, crave more sleep, and desperately need travel. I am forever planning a Disney trip. I notice small joys and get excited easily.
In nearly eleven years of writing, I’ve grown in some ways and stayed the same in others. The internet has offered incredible support and, at times, harsh criticism. I choose to highlight the good here. This re-focus of the blog is a gift to myself, and I hope it’s a gift to anyone who needs to hear these words: stop downplaying what makes you awesome.
There’s one thing I can’t deliver through words: cake. If I could, I’d bring the best $2 box mix I could find and bake it myself. I’ll keep sharing honest stories, encouragement, and a little imperfect joy from this point forward.