My son just got his first phone. Within a week, we had more rules for that little rectangle than we have for anything else in the house — including our cat, Smokee.
Screen time limits. App restrictions. No phones at the dinner table. And the big one: the phone charges on his desk overnight, not under his pillow, not "just for my alarm, I promise." Every night before bed,
Author: Crystal
Hi, I'm Crystal! Mother of 1 human, 3 cats, and a glorified housewife to a fantastic man. Let's have fun and enjoy life together!
She was just there. And then she wasn't.
That's how it feels, even when you know it's coming — even when you've watched them slow down, sleep more, eat less. Even when you've had fifteen good years together. The absence hits like something physical. You reach for them out of habit and remember, and remember again.
My cat, Sushi, passed away a couple of days ago. Fifteen years old. She
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If you've been holding off on a big purchase, now is the time. Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs June 23–26 — that's four full days of deals exclusively for Prime
There's something deeply satisfying about pouring a drink and knowing the story behind it. From a whiskey legend reclaimed from history to a tequila built for "the hotties," these three Black-owned spirits brands are proving that great liquor and great storytelling go hand in hand. Here's a rundown of what they're pouring — and why it matters.
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
If you only learn one liquor history lesson this year,
Juneteenth isn't just a day off or a cookout (though, no judgment if it's also that). It's a chance to put your money where your mouth is. One of the easiest ways to do that this week: skip the mall and shop small from Black-owned creatives on Etsy instead. Below are nine shops worth your cart, spanning jewelry, art, home goods, hair care, and books.
Lingua Nigra — Handcrafted Jewelry
Chicago
If you've been looking for a simple, guilt-free way to put your dollars where your values are, let me introduce you to an app that's been quietly changing the game: Miiriya.
Think of it like Amazon or Etsy — but built specifically for Black-owned businesses, by a Black woman, for the community.
What Is Miiriya?
Miiriya is a one-stop marketplace app where Black entrepreneurs, artists, and sellers can list and sell their fashion,
If you've been anywhere near the bookish corner of the internet this week, you already know. And if you haven't, let me catch you up, because this one has me genuinely irritated.
A small business called Allie Rose Co. announced on June 3rd that they had secured a trademark on the phrase "Hot Girls Read." The application — filed back in August 2024 — covers bookmarks, stickers, book covers, notebook
My son has a group of friends I absolutely adore. They’re funny, creative, loud in the best way, and they pile into my living room like they own it — which, honestly, they kind of do at this point. Some of them are gay. Some identify as non-binary. All of them are just… kids. His people. Our people.
I didn’t set out to raise an inclusive kid. I just tried
June 1, 2025
It starts every May without fail. The camp registration emails, the activity sign-up deadlines, the well-meaning questions from other parents: "So what are you doing with the kids this summer?" And right alongside all of that comes the quieter pressure from the other direction — the think pieces about unstructured play, the nostalgia for long summers with nothing to do, the gentle implication that if you over-schedule