My supposed-to-be-annual list of favorite things—this time divulging how I accidentally lost 20 pounds & started dating a Catholic. — No one waits with bated breath for my annual roundup, but I know in my heart that I let you down by skipping last year’s. January is supposed to be the time you evaluate your goals, chart new habits, and in my case, pretend to be a lifestyle blogger. Unexpectedly…

Life lessons from the guy who gave me a fresh song & a fabulous first date (but not a second). — As a kid and young adult, I’d heard people repeat some variation of this relationship maxim: dating is data. The more you date, the more you learn about what you need from a partner. I used to cross my arms in obstinate disagreement. (This was mostly because I’d never dated…

A life of reckless generosity & love. — A year ago today, I got a text at 7:45 AM telling me one of my closest friends was gone. It was a rite of passage: the first death of someone I loved. I didn’t tell very many people. Each time I went to tell someone, it felt like I…

My annual collection of miscellaneous favorites. — Me, I’m all about staying power. So it warms my heart to look back on my last couple year-end roundups & see that not only do I still stand by the practices/products I shared, but I continue to actively rep them: I’m still wearing scrunchies, still using HabitBull & neck…

Little things that made my life better this year. — 1. Time-restricted feeding (aka intermittent fasting) Inspired by the research of Dr. Satchin Panda, I set the goal at the beginning of 2018 to practice time-restricted feeding (TRF) at least 5 days a week. I aimed to consume all food/drink within an 8- or 10-hour window each day, fasting from everything except water for the remaining…

Diary of a stubborn singer-songwriter — “For those of you just joining us, my name is Alma,” I rattled off into the mic. “If you like what you’re hearing, I’ve got some CDs over there”—I gestured to an imaginary merch table at my left—“and some business cards if you’re looking to connect. …

No clickbait here, just a few discoveries that made my life better. — 1. Your muscles hate you for all that computer & phone use, so get an electric neck massager. Along with daily neck stretches & torso stretches, my massager has worked wonders on my comfort & sleep. I used to only sleep through the night about once every two years; now I sleep through the night once a week, & the nights in between aren’t as bad either.

In the era of Be Yourself, I get frustrated reading quotes about authenticity because they promote a doctrine of stasis: “You’re perfect, don’t ever change.” That’s horrible advice. Do change. Do grow. Face your faults, get better. A person can be perfectly authentic, but maybe they’re authentically immature, authentically arrogant…

The story behind the first song on The Travel Size EP—& why it’s still a little uncomfortable for me to listen to — I knew The Travel Size EP would be different. Not in a redefining, new-year-new-me kind of way, but I knew it would take me on a short vacation from the human nature themes that had come to be my artistic trademark. That’s partly because, if we’re being real, the songs…