Ella Shawn
Abandon One Fear, and Try Self-Discovery!
What is your deepest fear? This is a question I ask myself regularly, especially when I find I'm getting too comfortable in my daily life. Asking this question is the boost that jump-starts my...
The Truth About Falling in Love
Like most little girls, I grew up reading fairytales. Most of the stories were about a princess who needed rescuing by her fated love, prince charming. Others were more like lessons about being nice...
Why My Non-Christian Family Still Celebrates Christmas
For the longest time, my husband and I stayed true to our Christian roots and values. We woke our girls up early on Sunday morning, dressed them in overpriced dresses - which they all...
In Honor of International Artist Day :: The Becky Newell Artist Collective
Did you know there is an International Artist Day? Yes, that's a thing! International Artist Day is on October 25, and this year, I would like to celebrate by telling you all about the...
The Happily Married Woman?
November 21, 1998. I was living alone in my one-bedroom apartment in West Columbia while working toward my undergrad degree from UofSC. My boyfriend of six years came over for dinner. I made his...
What Happens in Vegas…Is a Rite of Passage
My husband and I have been entrusted with the care and guidance of three beautiful, divine feminine souls. When our first daughter was born, we were only twenty-five and clueless about taking care of...
Sleep, It Does a Body Good!
Did you know that May was Better Sleep Awareness month? I certainly did not. I didn't even know a specific time had been set aside to raise awareness of the importance of getting better...
The Magic of Gardening
As a child, I didn't value walking out into my backyard and entering a field overflowing with pretty much anything a child could want if it grew from a seed in the earth. My...
A Labor of Love :: A Room of My Own
The year was 1998. The month was November, and I was a couple of days away from turning twenty-four. I was also only a couple of days away from losing the freedom of having...
How Yoga Helps Me Love and Accept My Bodies
The first time I was told my body wasn’t good enough, I was six years old. My mother was braiding my hair alongside her sister, who was braiding my cousin’s hair. She had long,...
The Three-Ingredient Pie Recipe That Will Change Your Life
My husband and I were sitting in our dining room eating the sweetest watermelon we've had all season. While doing so, we got into a discussion about following your own path and knowing when...
How I Survive the Bite of the Wolf
February 15.
For most people, this is simply the day after Valentine's day. A day to buy cheap chocolate that's been deeply discounted to make room for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter candy. But February...
Why COVID-19 May Be Good for the Earth
It's 12:34 p.m. on a Monday afternoon. My husband and I are sitting in our family room watching the news.
Okay, let me be a little more honest. My husband was watching the news. I...
Top 10 Sexiest Desserts for Valentine’s Day
My husband and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day back in February of 1993. We were seniors at Lower Richland High school and had been dating for about four months. My mom said I...