Trying to Thrive in the Wrong Window? Same.

The other day I wandered into the sweetest little plant shop called Deep Rooted—you know the kind… cozy, green, full of earthy energy and that fresh, leafy smell that makes you feel like maybe, just maybe, you’ve got your life together.

Fast forward to me spending way too much money and being entirely too excited about building my little jungle… classic.

While I was checking out, I started chatting with the girl working there. I told her—half laughing, half admitting defeat—that I love the idea of plants… but keeping them alive? Totally different story.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been told:
“You’re not good with plants? Just get succulents! They’re foolproof. Anyone can keep a succulent alive.”

Apparently… I’m not anyone.
Eight succulents later… all dead.

I followed the watering instructions. I tried the “ignore them, they like that” approach. Then I tried the “maybe they’re thirsty” approach. Nothing worked.

Turns out, there was one tiny detail no one bothered to mention.

The sweet plant shop girl casually let me in on the secret:
Succulents actually need heat to survive. Not just warmth—actual, direct heat. A sunny windowsill. A sun-drenched spot. Without it, they’re basically doomed, no matter how perfectly you water (or don’t water) them.

My entire belief system crumbled for a minute.

Then it clicked.

We do this everywhere.
We live by advice, stories, and so-called “common sense” that’s supposed to work for everyone… but when it doesn’t work for us, we start thinking we’re the problem.

• “You need to wear blue because your expert color chart says you’re a ‘Winter’ — even if you don’t love the color or feel like yourself in it.”
• “If you just lose 10 pounds, you’ll finally zip up that tight-fitting dress for your friend’s wedding and feel amazing.”
• “You have to wear high heels all day at work to look professional, even though your feet hurt and you want to scream by noon.”

I’ve been there.

After my third baby, I walked that road hard.
It was one of those beautiful, messy, emotional seasons where everything felt up for grabs.
I was 80 pounds heavier. Drowning in body shame. Untangling myself from old religious beliefs I’d carried my whole life.
Trying to remember who I even was.

And in the middle of all that, I latched onto the one thing I thought I could control: my weight!
I told myself, If I just lose the weight, everything else will fall into place.

So I jumped on the bandwagon everyone was raving about.
Intermittent fasting. The thing that “works for everyone.”
I got extreme with it. Stuck with it nearly a year. Lost all 80 pounds.

On paper, it looked like success.
But my body was exhausted.
My hair was falling out.

My hormones were a mess
I was hungry, foggy, frustrated… sitting alone in my bedroom while my family ate breakfast, wondering why I felt worse, not better.

What I really needed wasn’t another diet or a stricter routine.
My body—and my whole self—needed something deeper: self-love, acceptance, the courage to use my own voice, tuning into my desires, and the bravery to put myself first.

Whoa—that’s a lot! And it’s way more complicated than just following an eating program.

But all I kept hearing was, “If you just do this one thing, you’ll be happier.”

Obviously, it didn’t work.

That’s when it finally landed…
The problem wasn’t me.
The method just didn’t fit. It didn’t nourish me. It didn’t work for my body, my spirit, my life.

Same story as the succulents.
The method wasn’t bad—it just wasn’t designed for the conditions I was living in.

We try to force ourselves to thrive in conditions that don’t actually support us… and then blame ourselves when it doesn’t work.

Maybe the advice was never meant for us in the first place.
Maybe the conditions weren’t right.
Maybe the thing we were told would be “easy” was never aligned with who we are, how we’re wired, or what we actually need.
And maybe the other options were always there… they just didn’t get our attention, because no one talks about them.

The plant shop girl pointed me toward a few other plants.
Ones that aren’t trendy or obvious.
But they thrive in environments like mine.

We overlook so many parts of ourselves because they’re not the popular choice.
We twist ourselves to fit conditions that were never built for us.
We waste so much energy thinking we’re broken… when maybe we were just trying to make a succulent live in the wrong window.

That lesson sticks way longer than any plant ever could! 🌿

What you might not realize is your style is probably doing the same thing!

If your closet feels more like a headache than a hangout spot, it’s because you’ve been trying to squeeze yourself into a look that’s just not you.

Picture ditching the closet chaos, clearing the clutter, and actually having a little fun getting dressed again!

That’s exactly what Stripped Down Style does — it’s your shortcut to a simpler closet, a style that feels like YOU, and confidence that turns heads (in a good way).

No more stressing over what to wear or digging through piles of clothes that don’t feel like you.

Stripped Down Style is your first step to a glow-up—clearing the crap, unlocking your bold, badass style voice, and kicking outdated rules to the curb.

You’ll:

• Trash the closet chaos and keep only what makes you feel like a total boss.
• Discover your unique style vibe that’s loud, proud, and 100% YOU.
• Ditch the “shoulds” and rock your authentic look with zero apologies.

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