How I’m celebrating even though I don’t feel like celebrating

 ## 🎀 Today is My Birthday… and I Chose to Create Instead

Today is my birthday.

Fifty-nine years old.

And if I’m being honest… it didn’t start out feeling like something to celebrate.

There’s been a lot sitting on my heart lately—fear, uncertainty, medical appointments, and the quiet weight that comes with waiting on answers no one ever wants to hear. Oncology has a way of making everything feel louder and heavier at the same time.

Add in real life—money stress, an empty bank account, trying to keep a household running—and it would have been very easy for me to spiral today.

And for a minute… I did.

But then something in me shifted.

Instead of staying in that place, I got up… walked into my dining room—which, let’s be honest, is currently a whole situation—and I started creating.

Not because everything is okay.

But because I needed something to be.

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## ✂️ Chaos, Coffee, and a Couple of Dogs Supervising

Lincoln was nearby doing his usual “I am emotionally supporting you by existing” routine…  

and Tucker… well, Tucker was being Tucker—probably plotting snacks and blanket domination.

Nothing about the moment was perfect.

But it was real.

And right there, in the middle of all of it…

I made my very first custom notepad.

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## 💛 It Wasn’t Just Paper

When I held it in my hand… something changed.

It wasn’t just paper.

It was proof.

Proof that even in the middle of fear, I can still build something.  

Proof that even when everything feels uncertain, I can still create something steady.  

Proof that I am not done.

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## 💻 From My Dining Room… to Something Bigger

I have an upcoming surgery that will keep me out of work for at least a couple of weeks, and I don’t have the luxury of just “waiting it out.”

So this… this is me doing what I can with what I have.

Not perfectly.  

Not fearlessly.  

But faithfully.

And because of that, I’ve decided to start offering these custom-made notepads as part of my Dixie Dust Design Co. collection.

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## 🛍️ Birthday Pre-Release (Local First 💛)

Before these go into my shop, I’m doing a small community pre-release.

👉 Custom-made 5x7 notepads  

👉 30 pages  

👉 Personalized name option  

👉 Made to order  

Birthday price: $6 each  

(They’ll be $8 once listed online)

Local pickup available.  

Uber courier or shipping available (additional cost applies).

👉 Visit the shop: https://dixiedustdesignco.com/

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## 💌 Come Hang Out With Me (Freebies Included)

If you’ve been following along, you know this journey is about more than just products—it’s about faith, rebuilding, healing, and finding beauty in the middle of real life.

I’d love for you to be part of that.

👉 Join my mailing list for:

- Fun freebies  

- Printables  

- Behind-the-scenes peeks  

- First access to new drops  

(Sign-up info coming soon on the site 💛)

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## 🌿 If You’re Struggling Too…

Today didn’t become a celebration because everything is great.

It became a celebration because I chose not to quit.

If you’re in a place right now where things feel heavy, uncertain, or just plain hard… I see you.

Maybe today isn’t about fixing everything.

Maybe it’s just about creating something anyway.

One small thing.  

One step.  

One decision not to give up.

That’s where I’m starting.

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## 🙏 A Prayer for Today

Lord,

Today I come to You exactly as I am…  

tired, uncertain, a little afraid, and still trying.

You see the things I don’t say out loud.  

You know the weight I’m carrying, the questions I don’t have answers to yet, and the places where fear tries to creep in.

Thank You for meeting me in the middle of it.

Thank You for the strength to get up today.  

For the creativity to make something out of nothing.  

For the reminder that I am not done.

As I face what’s ahead—the appointments, the surgery, the unknown—  

I ask for peace that steadies my heart and quiets my mind.

Provide for every need.  

Open doors I cannot open on my own.  

Bless the work of my hands, even when it feels small.  

And remind me that nothing I create, nothing I go through, is wasted in Your plan.

Cover my home, my family, and yes… even the little dogs who never leave my side.

And if anyone reading this prayer is hurting too, meet them right where they are.  

Give them strength for today, and hope for tomorrow.

I trust You… even here.

In Jesus’ name,  

Amen.

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*Happy birthday to me. 💛

Prayers from the Porch Swing: Broke but not Broken

Alright… I’m just gonna say it the way I feel it 💛

I’m tired.

Not sleepy tired…

I’m talking about that deep, soul-level tired of trying to hold everything together while life just keeps life-ing.

Bills don’t stop.

Responsibilities don’t pause.

And some days it feels like no matter how hard you try, you’re still one step behind.

And somewhere in all of that… we’re supposed to “just trust God.”

But let me ask you something real:

Do we actually know what He promised us when it comes to provision?

Or are we just out here hoping for the best and stressing the rest?

Because I got tired of that cycle.

So I did something about it.

I created a 30-day workbook centered around God’s promises for provision—not the fluffy, feel-good kind… but the kind you can actually hold onto when real life hits.

This is about:what God actually says about providing for you

how to stop living in constant financial stress

• how to recognise when He’s already showing up (even in small ways)

• and how to shift from “I hope this works out” to “I trust God will handle this”

And no—this is not a “get rich quick with Jesus” situation 😌

This is about:

👉 discipline

👉 trust

👉 showing up daily

👉 and letting God meet you in the middle of your real life

Now here’s the part I really wanted to tell you…

I don’t want to do this alone.

So I’m putting together a small, real-life Bible study built around this workbook.

Not churchy. Not complicated. Not time-consuming.

Just intentional.

Here’s how it’s gonna go:

• I’ll send you the workbook (free—because this isn’t about selling you anything)
• You go through it during the week on your own time
• Then once a week, we get on Zoom for about 30–45 minutes

We’ll talk about:

• what hit us
• what challenged us
• where we’re struggling
• and most importantly:

👉 “How did God provide for me this week?”

Because I promise you… once you start paying attention, you’ll see Him moving in ways you missed before.

And let me set the tone real clear so there’s no confusion:

✨ Pajamas are welcome

✨ Blankets are highly encouraged

✨ Bring your coffee, Diet Coke, or whatever you sip on

✨ No makeup required

✨ No pretending your life is perfect

We are not doing fake over here.

This is real life, real women, real conversations, and real prayer.

I’m only inviting a few people I genuinely love, because I want this to stay small, safe, and honest.

If you read this and think

,

“Okay… yeah. I actually need this.”

Then come on.

But if not, no pressure at all.

And ...because sometimes we need more than a pep talk and a prayer whispered through clenched teeth, I made you a free printable God’s Provision Cheat Sheet with matching Scripture Cards. Something pretty, practical, and full of truth for the days when your faith needs a little backup.

Get your Cheat Sheet and Scripture Card Freebies Here!

Just know this…

You don’t have to keep doing life stressed, overwhelmed, and wondering how everything is gonna work out.

There is another way to live.

And I’m choosing to walk it out.

You can too.

Love Ya Fam

Maggs💛

Meet Esmi’s Box & Bougie Scoops: The Sister Company That’s About to Change the Game (and It’s Not Bulk Junk)

Okay… let me introduce you to something brand new that has my whole heart.

We’ve officially got a sister company to Dixie Dust Design Co., and she’s fancy:

Esmi’s Box & Bougie Scoops.

But before I say anything else, I need to make one thing crystal clear:

This is Esme’s company.

Esmi’s Box & Bougie Scoops is HER brand — her baby, her vision, and her name for a reason. I’m building this venture with her as a partner, and I’m honored to do it, but I never want there to be confusion about who this belongs to.

It’s a sister company to Dixie Dust… which means we’re connected, we collaborate, and we share a creative foundation — but Esmi’s Box & Bougie Scoops is Esme stepping into her own, and I’m standing beside her while she does it.

What we’re building (and how it’s going to grow)

We’re starting with curated boxes — themed, cozy, intentional boxes that feel like a hug, a deep breath, and a little sparkle all at once.

And once we get our rhythm, there’s a strong possibility we’ll expand into a monthly subscription box for women who want a surprise delivery of joy on a regular basis.

And then… once the foundation is solid and we know what you love?

We’ll graduate into Mystery Scoops.

Surprise bundles. Limited drops. A little more spontaneous. A little more “you never know what you’re gonna get,” but you DO know it’s going to be good.

What makes us different (this part matters)

If you’ve ever opened a “curated” box and thought…

“This is cute… but it feels like someone bought a bunch of bulk stuff and threw it in a box.”

Yeah. We’re not doing that.

No Temu. No bulk junk. No filler.

Every box will contain high-quality, handmade, custom items — and a huge part of what makes that possible is this:

All of our graphics and designs are created by me through Dixie Dust.

So when you see our shirts, totes, journals, notebooks, stickers, keychains, and other goodies — you’re not getting generic graphics that someone bought off Temu or copied from Etsy.

You’re getting original artwork I created specifically for our brands.

And here’s the key word:

EXCLUSIVE.

That means the graphics used in Esmi’s Box & Bougie Scoops products are only used in our boxes and our items and are not for sale anywhere else.

Not in a digital bundle. Not in a random Etsy listing. Not on some marketplace.

If it’s in an Esmi box, it’s ours.

Here are a few examples so you really get what I mean:

We may do keychains — but they’ll be custom with our exclusive graphics.
We may do journals or notebooks — but they’ll be designed with artwork you won’t find anywhere else.
We may do totes, shirts, stickers, cards — all with exclusive designs created for our brand story.

Everything we do is meant to feel boutique, intentional, and personal — not mass-produced.

And yes… we’re showing the process.

We’ll be doing TikTok Lives where you’ll actually see us producing items, pressing designs, assembling products, and packing boxes.

Because we’re not hiding behind a warehouse vibe. We want you to see the real work, the real care, and the real heart that goes into each box.

How I met Esme (and why she’s my God-given daughter)

Esme and I were coworkers at first.

And then life happened — hard.

Not long after I met her, she suddenly and unexpectedly lost her mother. And if you’ve ever watched someone walk through that kind of grief, you know it doesn’t just hurt… it rearranges you.

And I felt her grief deeply — because I know that kind of loss. I lost my own mother at the age of 15 in a horrific car accident. So when Esme’s world cracked open, it wasn’t something I could stay emotionally distant from. That kind of pain leaves a mark, and it also creates a tenderness in you toward someone walking through it.

Somehow — and I don’t say this lightly — God placed me in her life right when she needed someone steady.

I didn’t replace her mother. No one could. But I showed up the best way I knew how, and over time I became a safe place — a mother figure presence when the world felt like it had shifted under her feet.

And while I was being that for her… she became something for me too.

Because life can leave empty spaces in you — holes you don’t always talk about out loud. Places where love should’ve been easier, safer, more consistent… and wasn’t.

Esme filled one of those spaces with her presence, her loyalty, and her love — in a way that I will always be grateful for. She brought warmth into a place that had been aching, and she did it without even trying.

That’s why I call her my God-given daughter.

Because she wasn’t assigned by biology. She was assigned by God.

Where to find Esme

If you want to follow Esme and watch this brand come to life, here’s where she’ll be posting updates:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588259675322
Website: www.shopesmis.com (currently in production — coming soon)

What happens next

Right now, we’re in build mode: choosing themes, sourcing materials, creating exclusive designs, and building our first curated drops.

Our very first curated box is brewing… ☕✨
A little luxury in every box.

And when the time is right, we’ll roll into subscriptions and graduate into Mystery Scoops — with surprise bundles and limited drops that feel like joy in a box.

Final word

If you’ve been here a while, you know I don’t do fake.

So let me say it plainly:

This isn’t “just a business.”
This is a story.
A healing story. A rebuilding story. A God story.

And I’m honored you get to watch it unfold with us.

With love,
Maggie, Lincon, Tucker (uhm...introduction coming in a future post), and Esme 💜

Why I Created 50 High-Protein Single-Serve Cheesecakes (And Why You Don’t Have to Give Up Dessert to Get Healthy)

Let’s go ahead and say it out loud.

I am not giving up cheesecake.

I’ve survived too much in this life to sit in a corner eating dry lettuce while pretending I don’t want dessert. And if you’ve ever tried to “be healthy” while silently grieving the loss of sugar, carbs, and joy… you know exactly what I’m talking about.

That’s exactly why I created The Single-Serve Sweet Spot: 50 High-Protein Cheesecake Recipes.

Because I refuse to believe that becoming healthier means becoming miserable.

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The Real Reason Behind This Cookbook

This book wasn’t born in a Pinterest kitchen with perfect lighting.

It was born in real life.

In the middle of:

• Hormone shifts

• Weight loss attempts

• Medical wake-up calls

• Learning to care for my body instead of punishing it

I needed something that felt like comfort…
but didn’t wreck my progress.

So I started experimenting.

High-protein.
Lower carb.
Single-serve.
Southern flavor.
No guilt.

And slowly… one ramekin at a time…
this little cookbook came to life.

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Why Single-Serve?

Because discipline is easier when you don’t have a whole cheesecake staring at you from the fridge at 10:47 PM.

Single-serve recipes mean:

✔ Portion control
✔ Fresh every time
✔ No “just one more slice”
✔ Built-in boundaries
✔ Still feels indulgent

It’s not about restriction.

It’s about structure.

And structure sets you free.

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What’s Inside the Book?

FIFTY. Recipes.

From:

• Caramel Latte

• Brown Sugar Vanilla
  
  

• Blueberry Crumble

• Banana Pudding

• Key Lime

• Chocolate Cherry

• Maple Cinnamon

• And so many more

Every recipe is:

✔ High-protein
✔ Lower-carb
✔ Designed for real women
✔ Simple ingredients
✔ No weird health-food nonsense

You can have cheesecake and still respect your goals.

Both can exist.

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And Because I Love You…

I created a FREE 3-Recipe Sample Pack.

Yes. Free.

Three of my favorite high-protein cheesecake recipes so you can try them yourself before committing to the full cookbook.

You can grab it right here:

👉 Get the Free 3-Recipe Sample

Sign up for the Dixie Dust email list and it’s yours. Sign up at Dixie Dust Design Co.

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Ready for the Full Sweet Spot?

If you’re ready for all 50 recipes…

You can grab the full digital cookbook on Etsy right here:

👉 The Single Serve Sweet Spot

It’s instant download.
No waiting.
No shipping.
No excuses.

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Final Word (From One Woman to Another)

You do not have to choose between discipline and dessert.

You can be strong.
You can be healing.
You can be getting healthier.

And you can still eat cheesecake.

And that, my friend, is the kind of balance I believe in.

With love, sass, and a fork in hand,
Maggie 🍰✨

A Galentine’s Valentine’s Watch Party: Wuthering Heights, Besties & Buttered Popcorn(An update from Her Most Chaotic Grace, the Viscountess of Clear Lake & Buttered Corn)

I should begin with an apology.

Dear reader, it has been a hot minute since I last appeared here — and for that, I beg your pardon. Life, as it so often does, swept me up, shook me around a bit, and then promptly insisted I grow in the process. But fear not. I return bearing updates, popcorn plans, and a very dramatic Valentine’s proposal.

First — the life bits.

Since we last spoke, I’ve officially moved to Clear Lake City with my bonus daughter, and I am happy to report: no drama. Only peace, laughter, and the kind of calm that makes you realise how loud survival mode actually was. Life feels quieter now. Kinder. Like something has finally settled into place.

We also adopted Tucker, who has seamlessly assumed his role as Lincoln’s bonus brother. Lincoln remains the senior statesman of the household, but Tucker has brought youthful chaos, extra cuddles, and a noticeable increase in toy-related negotiations.

In other thrilling adult news, I am finally facing the dreaded dental situation (if you know, you know), and yes — I have an appointment on the books. Courage was summoned. Adulting occurred. Applause is welcome.

And perhaps the update I’m most proud of: nine days smoke-free and counting. No cravings. Not one. Which honestly feels like sorcery, divine intervention, or both — but I’ll take it.

So yes. Life has been moving. Quietly, steadily, kindly. And now that things feel lighter, it felt like the perfect time to return here — and to Valentine’s Day — with intention.

Before we go any further, introductions must be made, because no household worth its salt exists without a bit of ceremony.

Allow me to present Tucker.

Tucker is a King Charles Cavalier Cavapoo, a dog I have been politely (and not-so-politely) begging my daughter to gift to me for three full years. After much resistance, she finally succumbed — as one eventually must when destiny insists. Tucker is now the little brother, despite being nearly twice the size, of Sir Lincoln Floofaloof, the caramel-tipped Havanese who has long ruled this home with quiet authority, impeccable floof, and a gaze that suggests he is perpetually disappointed in our choices.

Tucker, meanwhile, arrived with enthusiasm, confidence, and the undeniable belief that he belongs everywhere, at all times. He has therefore been formally knighted.

Sir Lincoln Floofaloof, First of His Name — Caramel-Tipped Havanese, Keeper of Blankets, Guardian of the Couch, Supreme Floof of the Realm, Ruler of Side-Eye and Silent Judgment.

Lord Tucker James Pawsington — King Charles Cavalier Cavapoo, Duke of Big Feelings & Unreasonable Zoomies, Protector of Snacks, Heir to All Treats, Younger Brother by Title, Older Brother by Mass. Titles subject to expansion as his confidence grows.

The boys are adjusting. Lincoln pretends that he just tolerates him, however, despite his dignified protests, Lincoln appears quietly content to have Tucker as a cohort. Tucker adores him and assumes the cohort role with unquestioned enthusiasm and absolutely no respect for personal space. Balance, as ever, is being negotiated.

“The Lords of the Household, retired for a nap, after ruling the morning with distinction.”

And then there is Esmeralda.

She did not arrive in my life through family ties, but through something quieter and far more intentional. We met as coworkers. Not long after, she lost her mother — a loss that rearranges a person in ways words cannot fully capture. And while no one ever replaces a mother (nor should they), sometimes God places people beside one another so the weight is not carried alone.

Somewhere along the way, she became my bonus daughter, and I became her bonus mom — not by design, not by obligation, but by shared life, shared meals, shared laughter, and the simple decision to show up for one another. Now our evenings are filled with cooking together, lingering at the table longer than planned, movie nights, Bridgerton binges, and the kind of closeness that comes from finally feeling safe enough to exhale. It is not loud. It is not dramatic. It is deeply, profoundly good.

Which brings us to Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day has a way of insisting upon itself — couples, pressure, expectations, prix-fixe menus that cost more than your peace. And while romance is lovely, this year I found myself craving something different. Something softer. Warmer. Infinitely more buttery.

Enter Galentine’s Day.

A celebration of friendship, of chosen family, of women gathering not to impress but to feel. To laugh. To sigh dramatically. To whisper commentary in the dark like proper ladies with opinions. And if we were going to do this, we were going to do it properly.

If one is going to spend Valentine’s evening experiencing emotion, one must commit fully. Wuthering Heights — starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi (yes, that Jacob) — promises longing, obsession, romance, heartbreak, and what I can only describe as cinematic emotional damage. This is not background noise. This is a clutch-your-chest, dramatically-sigh, “why are men like this?” kind of film. Which makes it perfect for a Galentine’s watch party.

A movie watch party removes the pressure from Valentine’s Day entirely. No awkward small talk. No forced romance. Just shared reactions, synchronized gasps, and collective judgment of fictional decisions. There is something deeply comforting about sitting beside your people in a dark theater, knowing you’re all about to experience the same story — together. It turns Valentine’s Day into a shared moment, not a performance. And that, dear reader, is my love language.

Naturally, I created an invitation — because when the Viscountess hosts, she commits. I wanted it to feel romantic but not saccharine, dramatic but playful, celebratory without being couple-centric. Think roses, heart balloons, warm lights, and just enough sparkle to whisper: this is a night worth leaving the house for. Besties welcome. Feelings optional. Popcorn mandatory.

We shall be attending Cinemark Nasa & XD on Saturday, February 14th. The film begins at 8:15 PM, and yes — we will be seated in time for previews. This is non-negotiable. Tickets are available online at Cinemark, and here is your friendly Viscountess-approved tip: joining Movie Club earns you one free ticket and 20% off concessions, which feels like a gift from the heavens because snacks are not optional — they are essential.

Valentine’s Day does not have to look one particular way. It can look like friendship, laughter, healing, growth, and a bucket of popcorn drenched in butter. Love shows up in many forms. Sometimes it shows up as your best friend sitting beside you, whispering commentary while fictional characters make questionable life choices on a very large screen.

And honestly? That is a Valentine I will happily accept.

With affection,

The Viscountess of Clear Lake & Buttered Corn 💖🍿

Brother Amen’s Bomb-Ass Pecan Pie

Brother Amen’s Bomb-Ass Pecan Pie

A Southern classic with real-life sass, zero shortcuts, and no shame.

If you’re from New Orleans or Texas, you already know:
pecans don’t play.

They don’t whisper. They don’t “hint.”
They show up bold, buttery, and unapologetic — just like the women who bake with them.

This pie was born somewhere between a craving, a kitchen that smelled like heaven, and a stubborn refusal to water anything down for the sake of being “polite.”

And yes… it’s bomb-ass. 💁‍♀️🥧

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🌿 Let’s clear something up (because honesty matters)

The styled visuals you may have seen floating around this pie — those dreamy, cinematic moments — were created just for fun.

But the recipe card you see here?
That’s my real pie, baked on my real stove, in my real kitchen, with a recipe that’s 100% mine.

No shortcuts.
No “Pinterest lies.”
No shame.

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🥧 How to get the recipe (easy mode)

I didn’t type this recipe out for a reason.

Because sometimes you don’t want to scroll, swipe, or squint —
you want something you can print, save, or stick on the fridge.

👉 Right-click the recipe card image below to save or print it.
That’s it. That’s the whole system.

(If you’re on mobile, tap and hold.)

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☕ A few things I will tell you

• This pie pairs beautifully with coffee, strong opinions, and people who don’t apologize for dessert.

• Vanilla ice cream is optional… but encouraged.

• If someone asks for the recipe, you’re allowed to smile smugly and say,
  “It’s a family recipe.” 😌

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💬 From my kitchen to yours

This isn’t just about pie.

It’s about making things the way you like them.
About choosing flavor over approval.
About remembering that joy doesn’t have to earn permission.

Bake it.
Share it.
Guard the last slice if you need to.

Grace covers crumbs too.

— Maggs, Floof, and Brother Amen 🤍

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📌 P.S.

If you want more cozy, sassy, real-life goodness, you can always find me over at

Dixie Dust Design Co. — where faith, family, and a little audacity live happily together.