Little Miss Me Blog

November 5th, 2025 Here’s my opinion no one asked for. I read that Vogue article — the one claiming that “having a boyfriend is embarrassing.” And I’ll be honest, my first reaction was irritation. It felt like another think piece trying too hard to sound profound about something pretty simple. Some people post their relationships. Some people don’t. Either way, it’s fine. It doesn’t need to be dissected or branded as a cultural crisis. But as I kept reading, I realized what really rubbed me the wrong way wasn’t the argument — it was the tone. That smug little undertone that makes sincerity sound naïve. As if loving someone out loud automatically disqualifies you from being self-aware. And I just… don’t buy that. I don’t think cynicism is empowerment. I don’t think pretending not to care makes you interesting. And I definitely don’t think detachment should be mistaken for depth. Because here’s what I know: You can be your own person — wildly independent, creative, opinionated — and still be proud of your relationship. You can love someone deeply without losing yourself in the process. The two aren’t opposites. They can exist in the same sentence, in the same life. If loving someone out loud makes me embarrassing, then so be it. Because happiness isn’t cringe. And detachment is definitely not emotional maturity. Maybe empowerment isn’t about who can shout the loudest about being alone. Maybe it’s about standing in your truth — quietly, confidently, and without irony. So what; maybe having a boyfriend is embarrassing but know what is equally as embarrassing shaming those who proudly claim their relationships and don’t fear expression. #ModernFemininity #EmotionalMaturity #Vulnerability #RelationshipCulture #LittleMissMe #vogue #ishavingaboyfriendembarrassing #theartoflivingbeautifully

November 3, 2025 June 28, 2023 — The Day I Stopped Feeling Guilty for Moving On There’s a box that sits quietly beside her grave — inside it, a journal for anyone who visits to write down their thoughts. It’s filled with fragments of love, loss, and memories left behind by the people who still stop by. For two years, I couldn’t bring myself to go back. I don’t think it was because I’d forgotten — maybe I just didn’t know what I’d say after so much time. But on June 28th, 2023, I finally went back. I sat down on the cool bench, opened the notebook, and began to write without a plan. The words came out unfiltered — about choices, change, and the strange passage of time that makes grief feel both far away and close all at once. I admitted that I used to feel guilty for not visiting more, for not carrying the sadness more visibly. For a long time, I thought healing meant forgetting, and that letting go of pain somehow meant letting go of love. But sitting there that day, I realized how untrue that was. Love doesn’t vanish when the grief softens — it just finds quieter ways to exist. It lives in the person you become. It lives in the lessons you carry forward. Three days later — July 1st — marked the anniversary of her passing. But it’s also the day my cousin’s daughter was born. That little girl is two now, full of sass, stubbornness, and wild independence — all the things that used to make us laugh about Kellie. There’s something strangely beautiful about that. The same day that once felt unbearable now holds life again. It feels like proof that the universe knows how to balance loss with renewal, if only you wait long enough to see it. I think about that visit sometimes — how I walked away lighter, not because I had moved on from her, but because I’d learned to carry her differently. Grief no longer felt like a weight to bear but a reminder of how deeply I once loved. June 28, 2023 was the day I stopped feeling guilty for moving on — and started feeling grateful that I had lived enough to.

November 2, 2025 🌷 The Art of Becoming: 10 Things I Wished I Knew Sooner in My 20s Your twenties are a strange kind of in-between—where everything feels like it’s happening all at once and not fast enough. You’re trying to build a life while still figuring out who you are, chasing stability but craving spontaneity, healing old wounds while creating new memories. Some days, you feel unstoppable. Other days, you feel lost in the noise of becoming someone you’re still getting to know. I’ve spent most of my twenties learning through experience—the kind that humbles you, cracks you open, and softens you at the same time. The nights that ended in laughter and salt air, the mornings that began with coffee and clarity, the moments that reminded me how fragile and fleeting everything really is. If I could sit across from my younger self, I wouldn’t tell her how to do it differently. I’d just tell her this: growth isn’t a finish line, it’s a rhythm. It’s the art of showing up for yourself, again and again, even when you’re still learning how. Here are ten things I wished I knew sooner in my twenties. 1. Consistency beats intensity. 2. You’re not behind. 3. Energy is currency. 4. Healing isn’t linear. 5. Love should feel calm, not chaotic. 6. You don’t have to rush through your life. 7. Not every friendship lasts forever—and that’s okay. 8. Rest is productive. 9. Rejection redirects. 10. You’re allowed to change your mind. Your twenties aren’t meant to be mastered; they’re meant to be felt. They’re messy and beautiful, filled with lessons you only learn by living through them. One day you look back and realize you weren’t lost—you were just becoming. #theartoflivingbeautifully #littlemissyou #littlemissme #newjersey #artist #art #blog #november #twenties #life #growth #healing

October 23, 2025 Fruitful Details Lately, I’ve been inspired by fruit, of all things. Maybe it’s the way color deepens this time of year, how fall seems to ripen everything it touches. Apples blush a little redder, pears turn to gold, grapes grow dusky with that muted autumn haze. The air itself feels painterly, like the world is softening at the edges. There’s something mesmerizing about how fruit carries time on its skin—the speckles, the soft bruises, the faint wrinkles forming like fine lines of a life well-lived. Each mark feels like a quiet testimony to growth and change, a reminder that beauty and impermanence often exist side by side. I’ve found myself drawn to their shapes and shadows, the way light pools over a pear’s curve or glows through a slice of orange. Fall has a way of slowing me down, asking me to notice these small things—to find art in the simple, the fleeting, the ordinary. #theartoflivingbeautifully #littlemissyou #littlemissme #newjersey #art #artist ##blog #post #fruit #october #autumn

📍Milton, New York October 18th, 2025 There are places that feel like they’ve been waiting for you — quiet, unbothered corners of the world where time slows down just enough for you to breathe. That’s exactly how Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa felt the moment we arrived. Nestled in Milton, New York, this hidden gem sits on acres of gardens, ponds, and storybook meadows that look as though they were painted by hand. The property feels like stepping into a tucked-away world — part secret garden, part countryside dream. We spent the morning wandering past weeping willows that draped themselves into mirrored ponds, where ducks floated lazily through speckled lily pads. The alpacas on the property (yes, alpacas!) quickly became part of the charm, their calm curiosity adding to the feeling that this place runs on its own soft rhythm. Up the hill, the red barn stole my heart. Its weathered exterior gives way to an enormous renaissance-inspired painting of a woman and a swan, surrounded by cherubs. It’s the kind of art that makes you stop mid-step — bold, mysterious, and a little bit romantic. The Inn itself feels like home in all the best ways. Our room glowed in the morning light, the windows framing the gardens like living paintings. Evenings were spent under warm lamplight with a bottle of wine nearby, the soft hum of the fireplace making the world outside fade to a comfortable blur. And then, of course, there was the food. Delectable doesn’t even begin to cover it — every plate was crafted with intention, from the locally sourced ingredients to the thoughtful presentation. The cocktails were equally charming, as were the people who poured them — every staff member we met greeted us with genuine warmth, making the stay feel personal. There’s something about Buttermilk Falls that lingers — a calm you carry home with you. It’s a reminder that magic isn’t always loud or glittering. Sometimes, it’s in the ripple of a pond, the sway of a willow, or the quiet comfort of waking up beside someone you love in a room filled with morning light. #weekend #getaway #weekendtrip #spa #newyork #hudsonvalley #buttermilkinnandspa #theartoflivingbeautifully #littlemissme #blog

📍Long Valley, New Jersey September 23, 2025 There’s a special kind of joy in settling into a moment that feels both welcoming and unhurried. Being with your best friends, letting the conversation flow so easily it feels like breathing. The laughter, the shared memories, even the pauses — all of it becomes its own kind of comfort. Pair it with a quiet walk, where the path winds through scenery touched by the changing season. This time of year — when the air holds both a chill and a softness — the trees begin to turn, sunlight filters through the branches, and the world feels just slow enough to notice. It’s the perfect in-between season ritual: sharing words, laughter, and silence that feels just as full. Because sometimes, living beautifully is as simple as sunshine and a good conversation with your best friends. #BestiesDayOut #FriendsWhoFeelLikeFamily #TogetherIsBetter #SoulSisters #ForeverFriends #FriendshipGoals #theartoflivingbeautifully #littlemissme #littlemissyou #newjersey

📍Morristown, New Jersey September 23, 2025 There’s a certain kind of confidence that comes from slipping into an outfit that feels like you. Not the safe choice, not the expected one, but the one that makes you stand a little taller, smile a little easier, and remind yourself that fashion is meant to be fun. For me, it’s this mix — a cozy oversized sweater paired with a skirt that catches the light with every step. Casual meets sparkle, comfort meets statement. It’s proof that you don’t have to sacrifice ease for elegance or personality for polish. The best outfits let you feel both at home in yourself and ready to take on whatever the night holds. Fashion has always been more than clothes. It’s an expression, a mood, a little daily art form we carry on our bodies. And life’s far too short to shrink yourself into something dull. When you dress in a way that excites you — even just for yourself — it’s a reminder that joy can be woven into the everyday. So here’s to outfits that feel like a celebration. To comfort that doesn’t mean boring. And to choosing sparkle, always. #fashiongram #style #nightoutfit #life #tooshort #sparkles #littlemissme #littlemissyou #theartoflivingbeautifully #morristown #newjersey

📍South Street Creamery, Morristown, New Jersey September 21, 2025 There’s something timeless about an ice cream shop. The neon glow above the door, the hum of conversation inside, the rows of cones stacked like sculptures behind the glass — all of it holds a quiet magic. At South Street Creamery, that magic feels especially present. It’s not just the homemade flavors, though the mint chocolate chip was as creamy and refreshing as I hoped, or the playful choice of gummy bear toppings that made me smile. It’s the ritual itself: choosing a flavor, sitting down side by side, and leaning into the shared acceptance that sometimes indulgence is the point. In a world where we’re often rushing toward what’s next, a scoop of ice cream invites us to slow down. To savor. To be present with one another in a way that’s both simple and profound. Sharing a sweet treat is more than dessert — it’s a small bond, a gesture of togetherness that lingers long after the bowls are empty. That’s the art of living beautifully: finding beauty not only in milestones, but in the everyday sweetness of saying yes — to laughter, to connection, and yes, to an extra scoop. #southstreet #morristown #newjersey #icecream #sweettreat #littlemissme #littlemissyou #theartoflivingbeautifully

📍 Scotch Plains, New Jersey September 12, 2025 There’s a certain kind of beauty in watching friendships grow alongside you. In college, nights together meant crowded frat basements, music shaking the walls, and takeout from your favorite place. In our late twenties, those nights looks a little different – home-cooked meals, wine poured slowly, and the comfort of knowing you’re sitting at a table with people who’ve witnessed every version of you. The meal itself becomes a reflection of this shift. Salmon glazed in the oven, a fresh salad tossed with color, couscous stirred patiently – dishes that speak less of convenience and more of care. The Food fills us, but it’s the stories shared across the table that linger; career milestones, new homes, engagements, heartbreaks, and quiet moments of growth. It’s easy to think of beauty as something to chase, but nights like this remind me that beauty also lives in the in-between. In the way friendships carry us from one chapter to the next. In the laughter that loops back to old memories while still making space for new ones. The art of living beautifully isn’t about extravagant gestures. It’s about sitting at a table, fork in hand, glass raised and knowing you’re not navigating life alone. #dinner #friends #newjersey #littlemissme #littlemissyou #theartoflivingbeautifully

📍 Beach Haven, LBI, New Jersey September 06, 2025 The art of living beautifully. Beauty isn’t just found in grand gestures or curated perfection. It’s stitched into the smallest of details – the way morning light hits your coffee mug, the messy stack of half read books in your room, the laughter that lingers long after a night with friends. Living beautifully to me, is less about chasing an aesthetic and more about noticing the art in the everyday. As an artist and a teacher, I’ve always believed that creativity doesn’t belong only in the studio. It spills into the way we dress, the meals we make, the conversations we keep. It’s in the rituals – lighting a candle before you unwind, walking a little slower to catch the leaves changing, writing down a thought before it escapes. Beauty happens when we let ourselves slow down long enough to see it. This blog will be my way of capturing those moments – the big, the small, and everything in between. It’s about sketching the life I’m living, one page at a time, and sharing the inspiration, reflections, and little joys that make it feel full. Because the art of living beautifully isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about choosing, every day, to notice, to create, and to keep saying yes to the things that make life feel like art. #lbi #beachhavennj #theartoflivingbeautifully #littlemissme #littlemissyou