good morning. happy first day back to school, starting the second semester <3 may the Lord give you strength, clarity, diligence, & peace today! i’m sitting at my desk this morning, looking out at the fields & distant hills. fog covers the sky, the sun isn’t too shiny, & it feels like it could be one of those days... school starting again, routine kicking back in, feeling a little restless, tired, hungry, maybe even sad. but — thousands of geese fly over my house, squawking a

jan 4, 2026 2026! wow! happy Lord's day! today has been so simple & peaceful. i am blessed to enjoy another day with my family, glorifying the Lord & fellowshipping with other believers! i hope you all had the best sunday. let's get started, shall we? i haven't been in a posting mood recently, so i just thought i'd give this a go. just a simple, small post of my recent obsessions & things i've been loving! similar to a happy list, but a bit different. i’ve been in such a phas

dec. 12, 2025 by lily collard & julie from the moonlight wanderer aww, hi again friends! today's post is a bit different - and extra fun - since it's a collaboration. i teamed up with julie from the Moonlight Wanderer to share what we each eat in a week & how we stay active. even though we’re around the same age, our weeks look pretty different—different schedules, different foods, different movement styles. that’s kind of the point. neither of us eats “perfectly,” neither o

it is that time of year & this post is long overdue ** i didn't just find it in my drafts ** when the days have been cooler, and the sunlight softens, sweaters move from basic to essential. There’s nothing like wrapping yourself in a soft, warm knit that feels like a hug — plus, sweaters are perfect for layering or wearing on their own. here are 7 sweater styles that should be in your rotation this season. the classic chunky knit there’s something timeless about a chunky kn

I’ve been bouncing around my usual favorites and trying a few new spots lately, from Topeka to Kansas City to Manhattan. Some of these places feel like home, others feel like little discoveries, but all of them deserve a proper shoutout. If you’re chasing the perfect cappuccino, a dreamy matcha, or a slice of pure cheesy glory, here are my latest food-and-coffee finds. Messenger Coffee + Ibis Bakery - Kansas City, Missouri Oh my goodness. Messenger <3 This is one of those pl

happy december, friends! it's that gorgeous time of the year when the eggnog is simmering, national lampoon's christmas vacaction is playing on the tv, the sun goes down below the hills at exactly five o'clock, people begin their christmas shopping, and coffee gets better & better. I think I forgot to do a november happy list, but oh well. it's december now <3 so here I go! grab a cozy blanket, warm drink, & enjoy. slow, peaceful mornings with a warm coffee lil walks through

This is long overdue, but here we go — my Boston trip recap (July 14–17). It was part vacation, part work trip for my dad, which meant my mom, sisters, and I got to spend four-ish days exploring one of the dreamiest cities. Boston has everything I love: energy, architecture, and food (lots of food). Day 1: Travel + First Taste of the City Taking off from the KC airport We left bright and early — first flight at 10:30 am to Baltimore, Maryland (had to double-check what state t

This week had such a good mix of my usual comfort spots and a little adventure. I started back at Barker on Mass Street in Lawrence on...

Sept. 12, 2025 It’s officially time for fall posts (even though it’s not actually fall quite yet), and today I have some cute aesthetics...