LIVING REAL BLOG

Stories of transformation

from exhausting love

to authentic living

Old holiday check box used as a gift, with a post-it note joking ‘O’Boy!! A box of checks!’ representing holiday spending humor.

One Gift Guide to Rule Them All: Choosing Presence Over Pressure authenticity living real aloha – resilience empowers authentic living personal growth saying yes Dec 01, 2025

A real look at holiday spending, obligation, and the one thing I bought.

For the last couple of months, I’ve been paying close attention to my spending. Not restricting — just noticing.

Noticing what I reach for, what I tell myself I “need,” and what all the holiday noise tries to convince me I’m ...

Starting Where I Am: Living Real in Real Life living real aloha – resilience empowers authentic living Nov 30, 2025

Because the only honest place to begin is the place you’re actually standing.

I’m starting this series from the exact middle of my life — not the polished version. Not the “all cleaned up and figured out” version. Just the real one.

The one where caregiving still echoes in familiar places.
Where g...