Dash of Sass: Let’s Stop Trying to Be Right & Just Be Real

I’ve been in a bit of a creative slump lately that has definitely affected my writing and tweeting and posting. I’m not sure why, but every summer around this time, I hit a creative wall. And because I don’t really have anything brilliant to say, I stop saying anything at all. When I saw this beautifully perfect quote by Brian Andreas, it occurred to me that perhaps I don’t have to say anything brilliant. Or » Read More

Things I’m No Longer Apologizing For

Last weekend I posted something on my personal Twitter page that a lot of people disagreed with. I got hate tweets for two days about it, which was baffling to me, because when did having a differing opinion become so offensive to people? Are we all supposed to be cookie cutter versions of one another, never having or voicing a contrasting idea or thought or viewpoint or opinion? How boring would life be if that » Read More

Dash of Sass: Be Who You Really Are

Today I hereby give you permission to feel exactly how you are feeling without apologizing or stifling or excusing or resisting. I give you permission to drop the politeness and the masks and the sugar-coating and just be REAL. To stop wasting time justifying and rationalizing and analyzing and just say what you mean and mean what you say. To accept yourself in all your brave, broken beauty and to stop trying to pick up » Read More

Dash of Sass: 40 Days to Feeling Good

I’ve realized over these past few weeks (as I’ve been dealing with some challenges) that I’m not very nice to myself. I am kind to others, supportive of others, encouraging to others…but when it comes to myself, I can be really harsh and unforgiving and completely lacking in grace. Examples of negative self talk:
“You look terrible today.””You’re so weak. Why does something so stupid bother you?””You’re never going to be normal and happy, like everyone » Read More

Make Friends with Your Singleness: A Lesson in Grace from the GE Ideas Monster

I’ve been haunted by the General Electric “Ideas Monster” since I first saw him (her?) in a commercial a few months ago. If you haven’t seen this commercial and you have no idea what I’m talking about, click here. (You really need to see it before you read the rest of the blog.)

The commercial has stuck with me so powerfully, I can’t seem to shake it. Today I started wondering why. So I watched the » Read More

Day 18: Day 18: If You Could Have a Conversation With Your Younger Self, What Would You Say?

I started this blogging challenge over a year ago and I’ve only worked my way up to Day 18…though the timing of writing this particular blog is so perfect, I can’t help but believe that even in our busyness and forgetfulness and procrastination, God’s timetable still manages to have its way with us.

I’ve just finished reading Every Bitter Thing is Sweet by Sara Hagerty, and though she’s married with five kids, I saw so many » Read More

Dash of Sass: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay

Who can relate to the struggle to show yourself grace and the tendency to beat yourself up for having a bad day or an off moment? After coming out on the other side of a very challenging few months, I am finally able to see the greater purpose of seasons of struggle: Nothing makes a person more sensitive and compassionate and forgiving of the plight of others than actually stepping into that person’s experience. I » Read More

Dash of Sass: Girl, You’re Amazing…Just the Way You Are

Makeup and spanx and hair extensions and photo shop and airbrushing and false eyelashes and plastic surgery and Botox and on and on and on. There are so many ways to cover and conceal and trim and blur and enhance who we are. And don’t get me wrong. I’m a fan of a few of these things. (Especially hair extensions. Why does my hair grow a half an inch every 3 years?!? Okay I’m exaggerating » Read More

Dash of Sass: Why a Bad Relationship Can Be a Blessing

If you’ve been single for any amount of time, you’ve been in at least a few less-than-ideal relationships (that’s my polite way of saying horrible relationships) and the temptation can be to grow weary and frustrated and even disillusioned when true love seems to very elusive. However, dear friends, there is no better way to really figure out what you’re looking for from life and especially from love than by experiencing what you don’t. The » Read More

A Lady Never…

In honor of the release of my brand new book, I’ve Never Been to Vegas but My Luggage Has, I thought I’d put together a list of the Top Ten Things That a Lady Never Does, inspired by the book. So read, share, enjoy…and feel free to add your own thoughts about what a lady does (or doesn’t do) in the comments below! And also grab your copy of the book now anywhere books are » Read More

Something wonderful is on the horizon
Life doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only
Something wonderful is on the horizon
Turn Toward the Sun CoverLife doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only