Tag: Believe in Yourself

Wild Rice Retreat in Bayfield, WI – Food & Place Alert.

Here is the blog that everyone is so curious about because I went off on my own trip to a place that doesn’t really fit my past travels. I decided to go into ‘hiding’ for my birthday this year. 31 never felt so personal and it was very much needed for myself. This birthday was a mix of emotions, lets just say the last 8 years have been spent with love, but this year was a little different… still with love. Just different.

Every weekend in June up until mid July, I had an event and it was back to back drinking, being social and long active hours/late late nights. No complaints, I made sure to live my summer up. Something I haven’t been able to do in a long time. I wanted something quiet, calm and to be with myself for one weekend. I was looking at all sorts of retreats and came across Wild Rice Retreat. It wasn’t as expensive as the others and I could also drive to it instead of having to pay extra for a flight and rental. Flight prices are a little insane right now. Wild Rice Retreat was also running a 5 year anniversary promo, so that also sealed the deal. Let’s get into the greatness of my weekend at Wild Rice Retreat! ♡

TRAVEL

Wild Rice Retreat is in Bayfield, Wisconsin about a 9-12 hour drive from Grand Rapids, Michigan depending on the route you take and if you hit traffic. I chose to drive there for cost and I simply wanted to be able to drive to and stop at whatever caught my interest.

On my drive to the retreat, I chose to drive out of Michigan, through Indiana to Chicago, Illinois to Madison, Wisconsin and up to Bayfield, Wisconsin. I left at 3 or 4 am and did not hit traffic at all, so it was only a 8-9 hour drive. Something I’m use to when driving to Minnesota. I did stop to take a nap in Chicago, so I was on the road for 12 hours total. This route took me on a tour of Wisconsin. I can say that I have seen about 70% of Wisconsin now. Wisconsin has a lot to offer in the northern region. I would have loved to stop in some of the towns to explore. The towns were on the lake and beautiful. One thing I did not like about this route was the last 3 hours of the drive. The last 3 hours has you driving through these smaller towns on a freeway, going from 50 mph to 25 mph. I’m a Michigander, we go 80 mph everywhere!!! I was trying so hard to not speed and to not get mad at how slow everyone was. I was getting irritated for sure, but nice towns did help me a little.

On my way back home from the retreat, I chose to drive the other route, so essentially I drove in one big circle. This time I drove along the northern part of Wisconsin into to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, passing through Marquette, Michigan over to the Mackinaw Bridge to enter the Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and to Grand Rapids, Michigan. I also got lucky and did not run into any traffic at all. 90% of this route was along the lakes, like your driving on the highway and can see the lake the whole time. This only took me 8 hours, but I stopped at a lot of the scenic rest stops or overlooks to take in the beautiful views and spend a little bit of time on the beaches. Bonus: I got to see the sunset on the lake. I’m a sucker for a sunset by the water (take notes men). I have only been in the UP once, so it was super cool being able to drive through and see why everyone raves about it. I agree with them. I was also able to stop at 2 different spots to admire the Mackinaw Bridge before driving on it personally. There were so many moose crossing signs though. I was a little scared, but thankfully didn’t have to deal with moose. The speed limit in the UP is 80 mph, even faster than our 70 mph in the LP, so I was a happy girl.

LODGING

Wild Rice Retreat has a few lodging options for you to choose from for your time there. All the lodges are these beautiful, wooden, Scandinavian inspired stays where they can accommodate 1-8 people depending on what you choose. I was looking between the Ricepod or Nest for just myself. I chose the Nest for the extra sq ft, the king bed, the separate sleeping and living quarters, sofa and kitchenette. The Ricepod was more like a studio where it’s one big room, while the Nest felt more home like. I also stayed for 4 nights and 3 days, so I wanted something more. The lodges are in separate villages and while yes, you do have neighbors, it’s not wall to wall like hotels. You truly feel like you are in your own home. Every lodge also includes a mini fridge, sink, microwave, portable stove top, rain fall walk in shower, oversized windows, an outdoor balcony or patio and wifi. Don’t even get me on the Parachute Egyptian cotton linens, towels and robe they provide. That robe, I could have lived in forever.

If you noticed in the photos, you don’t see a television at all. That’s right, the lodges are television free. It’s a retreat for your mind, body and soul, so they cut out the technology to help. However, they do have free wifi for those who need to do work. If you know me, you know I’m a huge sucker for huge windows and letting the sun in my space. I woke up early every morning to the sun and started the day feeling so refreshed. It was probably the best sleep that I have had in a while. I can be such a homebody, it was perfect. Plus I had to be a homebody a bit that weekend. Since it’s located in Bayfield, Wisconsin, basically the tippy top of Wisconsin I was only a lake away from the fires happening in Minnesota and Canada. The air quality was pretty bad there and you could see the smoke/fog/sot. My eyes would get irritated if I was outside too long sometimes. My Nest provided for me.

AMENITIES

What attracted me in choosing Wild Rice Retreat was the amenities that are included or the extra options to be added on during your stay. The retreat is about nurturing individual creativity, human development, and meaningful connections. Just like the lodges, the amenities also ground the mind, body, and soul.

Dining/Food

A lite breakfast, brunch and dinner are all included during your stay. Yes, you read that right – all included. Food was served buffet style at Root, the onsite kitchen. They kept the nourishing mission throughout the retreat, the kitchen included. Wild Rice does farm to table, so all the food you get is fresh and only the best. They cater to all sorts of dietary needs and restrictions. Everyday, I went to all three meal times and tried everything they put out. Not one bad thing, I loved it all. Not only were there fires causing bad air quality, but bad lettuce going around causing illness. So I was super excited that the retreat grew their own vegetables and I wouldn’t have to skip the wonderful salad spreads they provided. Water, hot tea, and coffee are available all day at Root for all guest and alcoholic beverages and mocktails are available for purchase. You do receive 1 complimentary mocktail ticket upon your arrival.

Brunch and dinner are different everyday and some of my favorites were: the gluten free midnight brownie, the lemon parsley chicken, fish cakes with yogurt dill garlic dip, ponzu roasted salmon, the apple cake, kimchi egg scramble, roasted vegetable hummus wrap, summer chicken salad wrap and all the house made vinaigrettes with the salad stations, carrot ginger, tomato, berry and house.

Wellness and Movement

There are plenty of wellness amenities included with your stay like a 24/7 sauna with a rain fall shower room and an outdoor fire pit and cold plunge bucket. It is it’s own building and every guest has access to it by using their lodge keys. It’s very spacious and with the open hours you can time it out just right to get the sauna and shower room all to yourself!

There are also daily wellness and movement classes to sign up or drop in for, most are free and a few have a class fee. Every week classes are changed and every day offers various classes to attend. The class schedules are on their website. I had a list of classes to drop in, but I ended up doing none due to being too comfortable in bed and taking to to enjoy my Nest. I also bought a lot of activities or crafts with me to do just in case the air quality canceled any of the outdoor classes. I know I was there to relax, but I caught up with some things I needed to do for my job. It was still relaxing enough, I didn’t want to leave.

Some classes that caught my interest: Morning intention setting, new dawn vinyasa, cultivating vitality: a mid-summer well-being check in, the breathing experience, somatic float aerial yoga, pilates & stretch, self guided forest bathing, grief and gratitude fire ceremony, chakra balance, mixology mocktail, and summer nature therapy walk.

Adventures

Wild Rice Retreat has a few trails to walk along Lake Superior, Marty’s Landing to sit at and adore Lake Superior and some patios with seating with a higher view of the lake. All very beautiful. I visited Marty’s Landing and walked partial on the trails. I know I’ll be back and hopefully when there’s no air quality issues.

The town of Bayfield is not very far from Wild Rice and you can drive over to explore it. From what I drove through, it looked very charming. I’d very much would love to explore the area as well in the future.

My trip to Wild Rice Retreat was what I needed and I would recommend it to everyone. Take time to be with yourself, take time to slow down. This trip wasn’t the typical Sally travel, but it helped me personally in many different ways. I wish I had a discount code to give out to my blog readers, but I do not. I wrote this because I really loved it at Wild Rice Retreat and share all that it has to offer. Please check them out for your future travels. Until the next adventure ♡

Write Down 10 Things You Love About Yourself.

I have been giving myself mini monthly goals and ‘Write down 10 things you love about yourself’ has been one of those mini goals to do. I’ve been putting it off for a while and honestly it’s because I felt like it would be hard for me to come up with 10 different things without having to look up some ideas. If I couldn’t list those off the top if my head, then what would that mean? Would it mean that I don’t love myself enough? Would it mean that I need help? I didn’t want to fall into that way of thinking, so procrastination. I finally tried it and I was able to list my 10 things one right after the other. I love myself a lot more than I gave myself credit for. Here’s to this silly little journal prompt, you should try it too ♡


10 Things I Love About Myself (in no order):

·𖥸· ─ I am a hard worker. I work the hours that I’m scheduled plus more. I don’t call off my shifts unless it’s really needed. Sometimes when work should be covered, I still work it. Even when I’m not at work, I am working.
·𖥸· ─ I’m pretty cute, as in i’m a cute person. I’m not referring to my looks, but it’s more of my personality or aesthetic. I basically am Hello Kitty in a human form.
·𖥸· ─ I am a good friend. I pride myself in those who I keep around and in my circle. I do what I can for my friends whether it’s physical or emotional. I support my friends in what they do in all forms. I have a crazy work schedule, but I do try to make it to events and my friends’ life moments. I’m here to support their endeavors and will spread the word around or share what they post. I try to be a safe space for them to come to with no judgement unless they ask.
·𖥸· ─ I’m an independent person. It’s true, I am just a girl, but I’m an independent one. If something goes wrong, I am the one fixing it or finding solutions the best I can without asking for help. I do love that about myself, but it can also be my weakness. I’ve been an independent person for what feels like my entire life, so it also is hard for me to ask for help. I do know that I can depend on myself though. I provide for myself in my daily life and can afford the luxuries in my life. I’m not rich by any means, so don’t get any ideas there LOL.
·𖥸· ─ My ability to do solo adventures. I’m not sure if it’s been noticeable, but I’ve been doing a lot of solo adventures. If this was 4 years ago, I would have just stayed home and not even go to events by myself. I wouldn’t even go to a restaurant by myself back then. I do all of that on my own now. I don’t miss out on events just because I have to be by myself. I actually really do enjoy my own company, I enjoy it so much that I’ve been doing solo trips out of the state and still having a great time.
·𖥸· ─ I’m passionate. I’m passionate my hobbies, I’m passionate about certain things like topics and views. I’m passionate about love, my friends and family.
·𖥸· ─ I am strong enough. I am strong enough to keep moving on and moving forward on things I choose to do or from events in my life. I’m strong enough to not let bad or negative things stop me from being myself. I’m strong enough to know I needed help and seek out therapy on my own. I’m strong enough to accept that I am broken in certain areas of my life and tend to them.
·𖥸· ─ Drive. I didn’t realize this until a friend pointed it out (thank very much). I also love the drive that I have. I’m looking to be better, do better, feel better always and I try my best to always be better. I’m constantly working on myself in many different ways, i’m also always looking into new things to do or trying new things. My drive is strong.
·𖥸· ─ Emotionally intelligent. Not everyone can be emotionally intelligent and sometimes being emotionally intelligent can also be bad. I can feel small and big feelings. I can feel simple and complex feelings. I can let myself feel, then express it in words. I can be open to understand the emotions or feelings of others. I make space and hold that space for others and myself.
·𖥸· ─ Last one on the list, but I am me. I love me, I am Sally. I know who I am and have not changed my authenticity to try to compete or to be better than anyone else. I don’t change who I am to try to impress others or to fit into peoples lives. I understand that I’m not everyones favorite and people will dislike me, hate me, think i’m annoying, think whatever of me and I’m completely fine with that. I myself don’t like every person I meet either, that’s just life. Everyone gets the same me, 100% authentic Sally.

I wrote everything in a journal first, then typed it in the blog. I won’t lie, I feel a little self centered sharing my list out there, but you know what? Why should I be scared to be self centered? What will a list of what I like about myself do? I’m wish more people shared what they loved about themselves. I want people to be happy about themselves and I want more people to celebrate themselves. It’s absolutely fine to be about you. Show yourself some love too. ♡

Slowing It Down, November.

Slow it down, November. Read it again, slow it down, November. I have been quiet and yet not quiet at all. It’s very confusing unless you are in my day to day life, but thats okay. I went crazy with going out in October, but this month, I really just want to be left with less sound and less company. I want to take more moments for myself and have quiet moments, so I can hear my own thoughts and moments – sober. Yes, sober.

It’s an easy habit for me to fall into drinking to mask feelings and I’ve been very open about this with myself in the past. The past few months, I was falling into that darker path, so November I wanted to slow down and sit with my feelings, thoughts, moods, etc. Slow it down. I’m not perfect, but I’m not going out 4X a week to a bar either. In November, I’ve gone out about four times vs. twelve times. I call that progress.

With November, my goal is to sit with myself (sober, of course) and feel my feelings, feel my hurt, feel my happiness, feel my thoughts and then give all of that a safe & thankful space to heal in. I hate that I’m in the same spot as previous years, I really do, but I’ve learned that I have a lot of love to give and a lot of love. I will always have love, thats who I am and who I will always be. I’m coming to terms with that. Slow it down.

I am trying to take a step back to not find myself, I know who I am, but to ground myself again. I can definitely say that I lost a piece of myself throughout the year. I know I fought with myself a lot this year to find a peace, when I was only stepping over my own boundaries. Slow it down and build yourself again. I’m choosing to do the work that I need to do, even if it feels the worse. Even if it feels the opposite. You just have to do it. Of course, I want to do all things with love, but I’m just learning that life really doesn’t work that way. Not everything can be done in love or with love. That’s a hard lesson to learn, but it doesn’t make you less of a loving person or that your love is or was any less. Slowing things down this month allows me to process what my mind knows, but what my heart still wants to deny. I can tell there will be more slow down months in the future. I have a lot of work for my heart to catch up with. I’m going to take my time to make sure I’m doing it right this time. Let me marinate in my feelings for a while, they need their time as well.

Solo Date: Detroit, Michigan ♡ – Food & Place Alert

Hello SALLY ♡ THINGS readers! If you follow me on any social platforms, you might have noticed that I have been out more and doing more solo. Lately, I have been pushing myself to do more things solo and forcing myself outside of my comfort zone. This has been something that I’ve been working on for years and years now. When I turned 30, something really clicked and I just see life in a new perspective. I get to be “selfish” by standing on my boundaries and choosing better. You only get older, so live your best life. Stop holding yourself back. One of the best advice I ever got was to date yourself. ♡

My original plans did not work out, but instead of just staying home I decided to make new plans. The week of, I decided to buy Jonas Brothers concert tickets in Detroit. I am a long time fan of the Jonas Brothers, ever since 2005/06. I’m very blessed that I have the privilege of being able to do things so last minute. I took this day to date myself. I explored, adventured, spoiled myself and got to sing and dance my heart out to the Jonas Brothers. I have only been to Detroit a couple times and never have I’ve driven or really explored the area, so this was very brand new adventure for me. Come explore the east side of Michigan with me!

My first stop of the day was two hours away to Moose Pastry & Tea in Novi, Michigan. Moose is a pastry shop that has tons of buns and sandwich-like options. I’m never really on the east side of the state, but when I find myself over here I try to grab some goodies. My go to buns are the Garlic Hotdog Bun, Moose, Doraemon, and Piggy (Buta). The pastries are all a good size and price! I believe all the buns I got were only $3 each. I bought a bag full to take home with me.

Garlic Hotdog Bun: Filled with hotdog and pork floss (dried, shredded pork) topped with garlic butter

Moose: Our signature animal! Filled with blueberry cream cheese richness.

Doraemon: Come and test our ability to recreate the famous Japanese manga character, Doraemon. This delicious pastry has a creamy custard filling and
a cherry on top

Piggy (Buta): Our strawberry jam filled bread is the perfect reason to PIG out

Down the street from Moose is this place called MIRAI – Coffee, Bubble Tea, and Stationery. Yes, it has all those things plus more! I was surprised at how much seating they have for the cafe side. They also had a lot of gashapon machines and a decent amount of mini claw machines! I got a hot vanilla latte to keep me going, it was an early morning & late night day. I also won two little plushies from the mini claw machines. I couldn’t resist!

I was all over the east side of the state. My next stop was to OVERRATED in Clinton Township, Michigan. The store is located in The Mall at Partridge Creek. I found this store on tiktok and everyone kept saying that they had tons of blindboxes, so you know I made sure to visit. I bought a Sanrio fruit keychain plush blind box and a snowglobe Studio Ghibli blind box. Let’s say I was very satisfied with my pulls! Can we get an OVERRATED over on the west side? They also sell authentic Labubus, Sonny Angels and Smikis. OVERRATED really does have it all!

Not the final destination, but the final city. HELLO DETROIT! (located midtown Detroit) At this point I was on the road more than I was visiting places. There’s a lot of construction happening on that side of the Michigan, but what’s new? 40 minutes later, I made it to Hihi, a super cute store with all the Sanrio plushies and merch that you can think of. At Hihi, they have some items that were only released Japan or Korea, so it was very cool to see those items in person! They sell more than just Sanrio, like Bearbricks, Toki Doki, Pusheen, Pokemon, etc. The prices here are a little higher, but you do have to consider the out of country items and how much it cost for them to get them here.

What is a solo date without a nice wine and dine? Choosing where to eat was a challenge for me because Downtown Detroit has so many good places to choose from and let’s face the real fact, I’m a girl. It’s very true. We have a hard time deciding what we want to eat! I wanted to splurge on myself and try something new. We live to eat and not eat to live, right? I decided on Experience Zuzu for: 1) easy parking 2) menu items and 3) aesthetic. Parking was pretty easy, even with the blocked roads for a jazz festival and all the construction going on downtown. I was having cravings for a really good steak or lamb chops, which all three options had, but what really caught my eye was the Sailor Moon Mai Tai. I’m a sucker for cute things. Since I’m a sucker for cute things, I saw photos of the interior of Experience Zuzu and knew they would be the place I would eat it.

Experience Zuzu has a very fun vibe the moment you walk in and it was perfect to get me concert ready. There’s lots of reds, golds, and metallics. I sat at the bar and was blown away at the set up. I bartend myself, so I LOVE seeing how other bars are at other places. The bar itself, like the table, has built in LED lights and the table changes colors as you eat. The music they play is the perfect mix of edm house, it was a great time. I got the Sailor Moon Mai Tai, which came in a cute Artemis cup; the Waygu Beef Gyoza, 10/10, very rich in flavor and melts in your mouth; and the Prime Miso Lamb Chops, full of flavor and tender. I would recommend Experience Zuzu, so if you’re ever in downtown Detroit area give them a try!

Sailor Moon Mai Tai: Bacardi Anejo Rum, Macadamia Orgeat, Lime, Mint, Orange Blossom

Waygu Beef Gyoza: Wagyu Beef Dumplings, Garlic Chili Crunch, Sweet Citrus Ponzu

Prime Miso Lamb Chops: Tableside Grill Presentation, Red Onion + Mint Salad, Pickled Cucumber, Shishito Pepper, Fingerling Potatoes, Miso Anticucho Sauce

Before heading to the Jonas Brothers concert, I drove and ran around downtown to try to find a portable battery because my phone was dying and my car charger takes forever to charge. That was the adventure of my life because why did I have to go to FOUR different locations until I found a power bank? I even got a parking ticket, RIP. Nothing like being stressed right before a show, right? This caused me to get to Little Cesars Arena a lot later than I wanted to be and I still had to find out parking around the arena.

I’m not sure if you guys are aware, but this Jonas20: Greetings From Your Hometown Tour is super important because not only is this their 13th tour, but it also celebrates their 20 year anniversary as a band! It’s a huge milestone, especially since the band broke up for a bit. If you love them, you know how it is. As I was in line for their specialty drink, Boys Like Girls were closing out with ‘The Great Escape’. It took me back to middle school days. Russell Dickerson was the hometown guest for this show and Marshmello played a set mid concert, so there was a little rave break. Then at the end, Detroit got all the Jonas men (Paul Kevin Jonas Sr & Franklin Jonas) on stage singing ‘When You Look Me In The Eyes’. Even though I was by myself, I had the best time singing and dancing with thousands of people around to my favorite boy band. To describe what a Jonas Brothers show is like, a room filled with thousands of feral women, ready to jumpship LOL. Nick sang “ReeeEEEeEeED DReeeeEEssSSS” and the crowd went wild, Joe took his jacket to show a shoulder and the crowd went wild, Kevin played a little guitar solo and the crowd went wild. Look, WE LOVE HOT DADS, what can we say? I’ll also admit that I did cry when they first came out on stage. These boys are seriously so talented with voices from heaven. Listening and watching them on tv in 2005 to seeing them live for the second time in 2025. It’s been a great 20 years of music and to many more ♡

Burning Up’
“Slip into the LAVA with the Joe Bros Hurricane”
Captain Morgan, Barcardi, Passion Fruit, Orange Juice, Lime Juice, Grenadine in a Red Flame Glass & Light Up Ice Cube.

Once you got your drink, you got to choose from three different stickers and OF COURSE I needed the one that said “Greetings from Camp Rock Bar”.
How Iconic.

I see more concert trips to Detroit in my near future and more solo dates. Do what you love for yourself and don’t let anything stop you from experiencing life! It’s fun to be with friends, but it can also be fun being with yourself too. Date yourself and give yourself love. Until the next adventure, live your best life and live for you ♡

@sallynohands

Not in my vlogging era cause I never finished this 😂 I visited Overrated in Clinton Township, Hihi in Detroit, ate lamb chops at Experience Zuzu and then to the Jonas Brothers concert 🙂‍↕️ It was a great day #vietnamesegirl #detroit #solotraveler #jonasbrothersconcert #healingenergy @Jonas Brothers @Nick Jonas @joejonas @Kevin Jonas @Franklin jonas

♬ Noite de Verão – ya-su

Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025.

Yes, SALLY ♡ THINGS blog is still up and running for 2025! The end of the year and start of the new year blog is finally here. I told you that I was playing blog catch up. Since I’m a little behind, we get this cute 2-in-1 post ♡

Goodbye 2024.

In the beginning of 2024, I was parked on the top level of my college’s parking ramp just sitting in my car. Not having a good day at all. I was super emotional about a million different things, both positive and negative. I think I skipped my classes that day because I could not stop crying. I remember it was raining. That day I decided to try to calm my emotions down by journaling and instead of writing about my emotions, I tried to put my focus on what my goals and intentions were going to be for 2024. Writing about something that would bring more positivity forward was the mood that I wanted to try to set. That day I journaled two entries ‘2024 Goals and Intentions‘ and ‘2024 Blog Idea List‘. I think I ended up journaling in my car for three or four hours.

For 2024 Goals and Intentions, I wanted to come up with goals that were deeper than things like exercise more, get up early, drink more water, etc. I wanted the goals to be things that would help me become a better me and help with personal growth. Then when I came up with the goals, I wrote the intentions behind them or how I wanted to go about it. That way it wasn’t just a silly little self care goal, it now held a deeper meaning. I suggest everyone to do the same because it holds more value, is more meaningful and personable to yourself. It gives you a greater feeling when you complete it as well. Out of 16, I was able to cross off 10 goals that I completed in 2024. I call that a win and look, a win is a win!

A few completed goals with their intentions:

୨୧ Take more photos and videos. Print them out, save them, make montage videos, post them or whatever! I want to capture more memories and save/store them so they can be accessible in the future when I’m older.
୨୧ Live life/Be more present. Especially family, they are so important. Be more present in life. Live! Take in moments. Love life again. Don’t over work anymore and don’t over school. Live your best life Sally!
୨୧ Love and happiness ♡ I want to be more loving in everything and I want to remember 2024 as happy. The last few years have not been remembered quite well as happy, so this year will change. Let go of things that don’t belong and be okay with that.

For 2024 Blog Idea List, this was a list of topics that I wanted to blog about and write for the year. It was a list that I could come back to look at for ideas. I came up with 33 different topics and I wrote about 14 of those, but some topics have multiple blogs written about like travel blogs or food adventures. Don’t get me wrong, I do love my food and travel blogs, but some new content is on the way. A little less than half is not too bad, but it’s time to do better this year and I can’t wait to get back into blogging a little more often. I still have this blog “project” or series that I started last year, but I’m still working on writing it. It might not be finished this first half of the year, but my goal is to finish it this year or at least be able to post the first two parts.

Hello 2025.

Welcome 2025! My start of the new years was spent at The Armory with Kaskade and Sullivan King in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I spent my New Years in the most “Feral Festival Sally” way, so you can take that however you want, but I had a really good time. Maybe a little too much fun cause I woke up with gum in my hair the next morning. I have the funniest theory on how the gum got there too. Let’s just say this: I’m a headbanger girly with super long hair and there were a lot of gum chewers around. My hair is known to SNATCH PEOPLE! I also attempted to eat grapes for the New Years, but we did it sooo wrong. Yes, we were able to sneak in grapes at the venue somehow. I ended up being rave mom and passing them out to make sure my friends ate something during the rave. I think I ate 2-4 only, but this was all after the count down. So we all ate grapes to survive the rest of the night basically. It’s so funny to look back at the videos from that night. Thank you Minneapolis for a New Years that I’ll never forget!

For 2025, I want to do the same method with my goals and writing their intentions. I’m planning to repeat the same list and add new ones. I’m hoping to can accomplish more goals this year than I did in 2024. My vision for 2025 is to always live my best life, to be happy, love always and to be better. It’s another year to build the life that I want and deserve. I went in to 2025 as the same me, but a more experienced me. Still the same person, but I have something different about me. I’m still learning if it’s a good or bad thing or if it’s just a phase. This year I am digging deeper into myself and I’m protecting myself more than ever before. I’m also going into things with a different perspective. I posted this before and I’ll say it again here:

If you saw me, you absolutely did see me. If you heard me say something, I absolutely said it and said it with my chest. I’m done with playing the high road. We are not hiding in 2025. Respectfully ♡

I promise that I will be out here living my life for myself. Take it as my ‘villain era’, me setting up more boundaries, or me seeking my full potential, whatever. I said it here.

Here are a few goals and the intentions behind it, that I would like to see myself accomplish in 2025. It’s from both the 2024 and 2025 list.

୨୧ Healing. I want to heal all the parts of me that have been through the ringer over and over again. I want to heal the parts of me that easily get triggered. I accept that if the healing means I end up feeling hateful, then that’s how it ends up. I can’t end everything on love all the time, no matter how much I want that. Let it go and let things play out the way that it does. I was able to do it once, I know that I definitely can do it again. Be at peace and be comfortable and fine with that peace.
୨୧ More journaling and blogging. I know that journaling and blogging helps me with all my emotions, so why deprive that outlet from myself? I’m a person who feels a lot and holds all those feelings. Release it, stop holding on to them for so long. Let them go. I also love to journal and blog, it’s good for me. I have made connections with others through it. I’m no savior, but I’m a person and being a person speaks loud volumes.
୨୧ Love and happiness ♡ This is the 2025 revised version. I want to still be more loving in everything and I want to remember 2025 as happy. The love this year is more me orientated. I choose that love for me, I choose that happiness for my life, for my future. Whatever that looks like, but it’s self focused vs. what I did before. I worked on myself to reach an ‘us’, but this year I’m working on myself to reach a me. If an ‘us’ happens to appears this year, then that is something that fits around me and not the other way around. (No tea here, sorry. ‘Us’ is not a specific person, it’s general use.)

2024, you were wrong, but you were right to be wrong. Goodbye 2024.
2025, your new life is going to cost you your old one. What is meant for you, you simply cannot lose. Hello 2025.

November & December ’24 Mini Writings.

November and December seem to be one big blur to me with all the holidays, a little promotion/added position at work, end of the school semester and other personal things. I do remember November just being a huge heart tugger for me. A lot of love and sadness all in one. Although I was kept very busy until a week into January 2025, I was able to post a little more mini notes than the last few months and that I am happy with! I’m playing catch up with my blog and all the other SALLY♡THINGS social platforms this month, but more will be on the way ♡

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

I loved to my core, and you tried to find love within.

– sally.things

Tuesday, November 12,2024

“I feel even closer to you now. You always let me talk about how I feel.”

– sally.things

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Allow flowers to grow in between the concrete of your grief.

– sally.things

Friday, November 29, 2024

I am safe within my own love. I forgive myself for over giving to others.

– sally.things

Monday, December 9, 2024

People can still see the light in you, even when you can’t.

– sally.things

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

“Someone dreams about what it will mean to be with someone like you.”

– sally.things

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Give yourself some grace & find some peace in the truth.

– sally.things

July is m i n e.

Repeat after me, ‘July is mine.’ July is m i n e.
Yes, I believe in it whole heartedly because it’s my birthday month. Cancer season is here ♡ Every year I just feel so recharged when July comes around. I wanted to write out some affirmations and intentions that I would like for this July. I’m entering the last year of my 20’s next week, so I’ve been thinking a lot of where I would like to see myself, what I have already accomplished and the progress of what I’m working on.

July Intentions

Making mindful intentions for the month is a great start to bettering yourself and setting a foundation to creating self love and space for yourself. Setting intentions are like gentle goals for yourself. Which I am all here for! If this is new to you, here are mine. Always take what you need, my blog is just as much for you as it is for me ♡

✿ I accept myself as enough. I’ll admit that this is a hard thing to do for myself even if it might look different on the outside to others. I want to accept, fully accept, where I’m in my life especially with the pressures of society telling me where I should be at, at my age. I want to keep accepting that how I look is enough. I need to keep reminding myself to accept my worth and nothing left. I am enough.
✿  Everything I need is within me. I have the power and strength inside to control my own outcome. I am the one that decides my day and how it’ll turn out. I am the one who controls what bothers me or what stresses me or what I let happens. My outcome will be loving, peaceful, strong, and happy.
✿ I intend to love unconditionally. Love for myself and for others. To love myself unconditionally and other means to love without expecting a repayment or condition. I have enough love to pour and pour.
✿ Live with purpose. Live with meaning and be present in life. To be present in life and to enjoy the joyous moments will give a purpose. Then living with purpose will bring you more joy. Full circle. I intend to live my life and enjoy the journey as I go.

July Affirmations

Affirmations are things you can say daily to set your mood and start your day. It gets you in a more positive mindset and can be used as motivators for your intentions above. We speak affirmations out loud to put it into the world, so the world can give it back to us. Yes, speaking to yourself is okay! Here are mine for this month, again, take what you need and like ♡

✿ I stay open to feel calm and peace whenever I need.
✿ I attract positivity and happiness into my life.
✿ My potential is limitless and I choose to thrive, no matter what gets in my way or happens.
✿ My heart is open to giving and receiving love.
✿ I choose to focus on what I can control and I let go of what I cannot.
✿ I release stress and embrace peace, allowing my body to function optimally.
✿ I trust the journey of healing and transformation.
✿ I am deserving of love, happiness, and all good things life has to offer.
✿ I embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

I hope July brings adventure, excitement, and happiness to everyone. We’re halfway through the year, so remember to pause and celebrate your progress and your achievements. Take some time to plan the 2nd half of your year. Only take the valuable lessons you learned from earlier this year and leave the rest behind. We don’t need to carry everything, all the time. Enjoy the long summer days and all that it has to offer. Prioritize yourself! ♡
Repeat after me, ‘July is m i n e.’

January & February ’24 Mini Writings.

Not so many to start the year off with and that’s alright. I’ve actually been a little shy to write down my thought and share them lately. I know there’s no need to be shy, but there will more mini writings to come in the next few months. ♡

January 20, 2024

“Slow and steady wins the race” & will also show you truth.

– sally.things

January 25, 2024

Live your truth.

Dig deep down and decide who you are and live in your truth.

What things are you going to let define you?

What things will you let take space up in your mind?

What image are you going to hold up?

– sally.things

February 8, 2024

Breathe in and breathe out.

Breathe in and breathe out.

Soak everything in.

And just enjoy the moment.

– sally.things

February 18, 2024

You deserve healthy love from yourself too.

– sally.things

September & October Mini Writings.

These two months were quite hard on me, but here I am. Still here, still standing, still living, still loving, still going. Physically exhausted, mentally stronger and overall more kind and gentle to myself. ♡

September 2, 2023

Let them.

Let them try to ruin you and your day.

You know you haven’t played in any fire lately.

They are doing it out of their own insecurities about you anyways.

– sally.things

September 10, 2023

“Listen before I go.”

– sally.things

September 16, 2023

Once you let go, you let go over and over and over again.

You let them go when you go to the grocery store and don’t buy their favorite snack. You let go of them when you eat at your guys’ favorite restaurant and decide to order something different. You let them go again when you do things out of your normal routine that involved them.

You’ll be letting them go in many different ways, in many different places and a million different times.

– sally.things

October 8, 2023

Keep on laughing, smiling and finding little joys in things.

The little things will eventually become big and you’ll forget about all the worries of the past.

Love life in the present.

– sally.things

October 12, 2023

I deserved a kinder goodbye. One that wasn’t ruined by deceit.

One that didn’t get competed against or used for someone else’s needs.

One that wasn’t used by another and rubbed in my face.

I deserved a goodbye that was only meant for you and me.

– sally.things

October 24, 2023

I’m dancing with all my emotions and giving each and every one of them their time to shine.

We’ll dance until we can’t dance anymore.

Love, sadness, grief, gratitude, heartache, happiness, and more.

What a lovely ball.

– sally.things

October 25, 2023

Read these words and think of me.

Remember all the love and think of me.

Now read these words: think of me for once.

– sally.things

Angel Energy.

Angel energy.
When that phrase became popular, immediately it sat and stuck with me. Angel energy is calming, healing, peaceful, and unconditional loving. Everything that I wish to be or wish to have. It’s what I wish I had more than enough of for myself and then some to pass on to others. A higher frequency or vibe that others can feel when they meet me. I want that. I want the peace. I want healing. I want calm. I want to unconditionally love so much that it radiates.

A permanent reminder of my lessons. A constant reminder of who and how I want to be. A check-in reminder of where I am and where I need to go. A reminder of who I use to be. Angel energy, I believe I was once almost there before. I’ll be there again, but better.

Calm. Peaceful. Healed. Unconditionally loving.

˚₊‧꒰ა ໒꒱ ‧₊˚