The dove opens the portal of transformation.

The cormorant guides the descent into depth.

The heron keeps me steady in the liminal space.

And the blue jay returns me to the strength of my voice.

I do not seek meaning in myth alone. I watch the land. I listen to their flight. I gather their feathers as offerings. I thank them in silence.

These birds are not symbols.

They are relationships.

And they are teaching me how to live.

At the end of last year I started replacing those patterns with meditation. If I have two hours free in my day, I meditate. If I have one hour, I meditate. If I have fifteen minutes, I chose stillness. And something profound has shifted.

Loneliness among women is rising. Even in lives filled with social interaction, the depth is often missing. It's not uncommon to have dozens of online friendships but feel unsure who to call when your heart is heavy. Or to be surrounded by people in real life and still feel like you're performing.

There’s a voice that lives in the mind, subtle but persistent. It second guesses our instincts, imagines worst case scenarios, and replays conversations long after they’ve ended. It’s the voice of overthinking and future tripping, and it often masquerades as protection. But what it really does is keep us in a cage of hesitation.

Too much screen time doesn't just exhaust the eyes. It throws off our circadian rhythm, our body's internal clock that governs sleep, hormonal cycles, and cellular renewal. When our rhythm is disrupted, so is our ability to restore. Sleep becomes shallow. Hormones become erratic. And our skin, which regenerates most during deep sleep, begins to show signs of stress: dullness, breakouts, premature lines.

We’ve been taught to treat our skin like a battleground—to fix, fight, and erase every blemish, rash, or patch of dryness as if it’s an enemy. But what if your skin isn’t the problem? What if it’s simply trying to tell you something?

Before opting for paralysis in the name of beauty, it’s worth asking: Is the trade off worth it? Because while smooth skin may be the goal, connection is the foundation of human existence—and that’s something no wrinkle is worth losing.

And when you see a blue jay? Take it as a sign. A nudge from nature, asking: Where are you holding back your voice? Where do you need to speak louder? Your words have power. Your voice carries energy that can shift not just conversations, but entire environments. Like the blue jay, you were born to be heard.

If you're battling persistent acne, your skincare routine might not be the only culprit. Your makeup tools, especially brushes and sponges, could be secretly contributing to your breakouts. Makeup tools can harbor bacteria, oils, and product buildup that get pressed into your skin with every application—leading to clogged pores, inflammation, and stubborn blemishes.

The question isn’t about how to eliminate pain—it’s about how we approach it. How do we hold discomfort without letting it break us? How do we grow from it, instead of feeling crushed beneath it?

There’s a quiet moment that many women have experienced—walking into a room and feeling another woman’s eyes sweep over you. The unspoken glance, the look that sizes you up from head to toe. It's an ancient ritual of social hierarchy, a silent assessment of appearance, presence, and status. And while it might be subtle, it can leave an imprint.

But here’s the truth: those glances do not define you. They are not a measure of your worth, beauty, or value. More often than not, they are a mirror reflecting someone else’s internal dialogue, their own insecurities, comparisons, or conditioned beliefs about what it means to be enough.

Makeup can be a form of self expression, creativity, and fun- but for many, it has also become a daily expectation rather than a choice. The pressure to always appear polished can make the idea of going makeup free feel vulnerable, even uncomfortable. But stepping into your natural beauty doesn’t have to feel like a radical act. It can be an empowering journey toward self trust and confidence.

If the idea of going without makeup feels intimidating, here’s how to ease into it, embrace the benefits, and find balance between creativity and authenticity.

Every time we choose not to engage in gossip, we shift the collective energy. We create spaces where people feel safe, where trust can grow, where sisterhood is strong. We step into our own power, not by dimming someone else’s light, but by shining our own.

If words are spells, let’s make sure we are casting the right ones. May our voices build, may our speech bless, and may our words be tools for something greater than tearing others down.

The beauty industry has mastered the art of illusion—not just through flawless marketing campaigns, but in the way it presents products as clean, ethical, and safe while quietly packing them with microplastics, endocrine disruptors, and pore-clogging fillers. The truth is, many of the ingredients in everyday makeup and skincare do more harm than good, both to our bodies and the environment.

Let’s break down what’s really in your makeup bag and how to make informed choices that align with your health, values, and sustainability.

For those who have built their presence online, there is an opportunity to shift the narrative. Imagine if people with a platform spoke openly about the struggles behind the screen. If beauty spaces became places of true expression, not unattainable ideals. If sustainability conversations centered on meaningful change, rather than just aesthetic trends.

Pretty Skin Bitch has always stood for rejecting comparison culture and the toxic cycles it feeds. Instead of seeing beauty as something to compete for, we believe it is something to cultivate within. Instead of chasing an impossible ideal, we advocate for embracing our own evolving, real, and raw selves.

Every action we take, every decision we make, becomes part of the story we leave behind. Legacy is not just for the famous or those with wealth—it is woven into the fabric of everyday life. The things we support, the habits we maintain, the way we show up in relationships and community—all of it contributes to the mark we leave on the world.

Yet, we rarely stop to ask ourselves: What kind of legacy am I building through my choices?

Some plants show up in your life exactly when you need them. Cleavers (Galium aparine) isn’t one you go out looking for-it finds you, clinging to your clothes, your garden, or even sprouting from a forgotten pot. In my case, it was a forgotten pot on the other side of my garden. This wild, sticky plant is more than just a stubborn hitchhiker. It’s a powerful detoxifier, a symbol of connection, and an herbal ally for the skin and lymphatic system.

Teas are a simple, affordable way to nourish your body, hydrate your skin, and calm your mind. This vibrant blend of nettles, lemon balm, hibiscus, mango, pineapple, strawberry, orange, safflower, and marigold delivers deep hydration, essential minerals, and skin loving antioxidants in every sip. Whether you're looking for stress relief, digestion support, or an immune boost, this tea makes wellness easy, refreshing, and budget friendly.