Breaking mental barriers during social isolation

I wanted to share my experiences during this period of physical distancing/social isolation in hopes of connecting to those that I haven't seen in a while, or even those that I might never meet in person. I hope this helps you feel less alone. I have been suffering from anxiety and what felt like mild depression for a long time. I fell out of my routines and felt like I had no energy, but I continued...

Read More

Thoughts On Accountability

If you're a writer, then you've definitely come across the phrase "Write what you know" at least once. Whenever I heard or read that in the past, I'd ask myself, "What do I know?" I knew my stories, places I had been to, my childhood, my memories with friends and family, and my relationships. I only knew my life. Looking back at what I've written, I'm glad I was able to use this blog as...

Read More

A Belated Spring Break Recap

The view from my second floor apartment this past week oddly varied from snowy and bleak to sunny and perfect. If you're a true Chicagoan, you know that this is nothing new when it comes to our springs (summer usually makes up for it... usually). March was an extremely busy month for me, since I moved apartments thanks to the help of my wonderful friends! I didn't manage to do much writing, and my...

Read More

Life Lessons Learned From Fairytales

I've always been fascinated by myths and stories of princesses, knights, evil queens and magical creatures. Granted, I've become absolutely obsessed with ABC's "Once Upon a Time" that it's become my newest Netflix binge (how can you not fawn over the gorgeous Josh Dallas??). But besides the beautiful actors, perfectly played roles and fantastically witty dialogue, there's actually a very relatable...

Read More

A Short Guide to Giving Yourself Grace

There is much to be said about being able to know how things will turn out. For me, there's a sort of thrill I secretly get in knowing what to anticipate. This is probably why I love watching my favorite movies over and over again until I can practically recite every single line, or why I choose the same Italian restaurant to dine at after hours of contemplating which popular new place to check...

Read More

Snow in October

https://www.instagram.com/amberibarreche/  Like last year, I decided to write another reflection post right before my birthday. I'll be turning 27 in exactly one week, and this year I am feeling a very similar, yet very different way about growth and change. Perhaps you will agree with me and will find solace in this post, but if you don't agree, that's OK too. I found my first white hair...

Read More

Chasing Away Some Summertime Blues

This summer is just about halfway done but it's honestly been one of the best that I've had in a while. Mainly because I've gotten to do just about everything that I wanted, both happily on my own and with my favorite people. I have to give a shout out to my friend Jessica, the creator of Ari Rose Body Care. If you love smelling amazing and support organic, cruelty-free, sustainable, and hand-made...

Read More