Ania Ray

A moment for the hat.

My best friend from high school gifted it to me and it tells me two things:

1. My actions are showing my intentions: to live intentionally, to stop rushing through everything, and to be present with where I am and who I’m with.

2. I appreciate a great hat when hair washing day was definitely yesterday. 🤭

Would you wear this hat?! 👌

Somewhere between “Wow, you’re *already* two and a half” and “Wow, you’re ~only~ two and a half” 🥹

Soaking up this season for all it’s worth.

I’ve had the chance to be in the presence of some magnificent places.

So imagine my pleasant surprise at feeling pure summer Ania HAPPY driving into Chicago this evening. It had just rained, so the city was glittering. The drive on I-55 holds way too much of my story. Makes so much sense why my next novel is set in Chicago. How can it NOT be? I need a place to put all this love.

I’m feeling much better. The hardest part of the detox I’m on is done. I cut caffeine and sugar cold turkey (i know) amongst a hold of other things and am enjoying the reintroduction of greens and cruciferous veggies.

After getting back from Milwaukee with my little fam (such good quality time in a little Chicago 😉), I got to enjoy Zen yoga with my high school bff and then she took me to an amazing Japanese restaurant that could cater to my “yes, seriously, only sea salt with protein” requests (day 5 of 28, woo! I’ll share more in my monthly newsletter on the 23rd).

In short — Cheers to people who get you, cities that light you up, and dang good weekends with people you love.