A Little Bit Of Me | Lifestyle Blog by Charnita Fance

Going plant-based sounds great, right? Lots of veggies, fruits, whole grains, and beans. It's supposed to be super healthy and good for you. But then you start thinking about the cost. Two people, seven days, all whole foods, and under $75? That sounds like a challenge, maybe even a magic trick! I mean, have you seen the price of some of those fancy plant-based meat substitutes or organic berries in winter? It can feel like you need to win the lottery to eat well. But here’s the good news: you don't need magic, just a few smart moves and a little planning. I've been there, staring at an empty fridge and a not-so-empty wallet, wondering how I'd feed myself, let alone another person, for an entire week without breaking the bank. The secret to an  affordable whole-foods plant-based (WFPB) diet  for two isn't about cutting corners on nutrition, it’s about choosing your ingredients wisely, using smart shopping strategies, and getting a little creative in the ki...

Sometimes, as adults, we make things more complicated than they need to be, especially when it comes to big, important topics like faith and prayer. We might get caught up in the “how” or “when,” forgetting that for kids, it can be as simple as having a chat. That's exactly what I found so refreshing about Tanner Olson's All The Things I Say To God (Learning to Pray Anytime, Anywhere) . It cuts through all the grown-up noise and gets right to the heart of what prayer truly is for a child: a natural, ongoing conversation with God. I remember thinking about how children approach things, full of curiosity and wonder. They ask a million questions, and they tell you all sorts of wild and wonderful things. This book perfectly captures that childlike freedom of expression and applies it to talking with God. It’s not about following strict rules or using fancy words; it’s about opening up and sharing whatever is on their hearts, big or small. Disclosure: I received this item free in ex...

For most of us, email is a never-ending stream, a digital tidal wave that can feel impossible to keep under control. We spend way too much time sifting, sorting, and just trying to figure out what needs our attention. You might be using Gmail or Apple Mail, and they're okay, but what if there was a different way? A way to bring the power of Notion, this incredibly flexible workspace, to your inbox? That's where Notion Mail comes in, and honestly, it changes the game. It's not just about sending and receiving; it's about building a system that works for you , right alongside your notes, projects, and everything else you manage in Notion. I've been exploring how to really make Notion Mail sing, and I want to share some tips and tricks that I've found super helpful for taming the email beast and getting things done. Imagine your email wasn't just a long list of messages, but something organized, prioritized, and even automated . That's the promise of int...

Let's talk about reading. We all do it, or at least, we should! And in today's world, reading often means reading on a screen. For the longest time, if you wanted to read a book electronically, you pretty much had one option: a tablet. Think iPads or Android tablets. They're great for lots of stuff, right? Watching videos, playing games, checking email, and yeah, reading books through an app. But then came dedicated eReaders , like the Kindle or Kobo. These devices were built with one job in mind: reading. So, if you're looking to get a device primarily for reading ebooks, you might find yourself wondering, "Why would I get a dedicated eReader when my tablet can do that plus a million other things?" It's a fair question, and honestly, it comes down to what kind of reader you are and what you value most in your reading experience. Picking the right device for reading ebooks can feel a little confusing with so many options out there. On one side, you hav...

Oh boy, LinkedIn. We've all been there, right? Scrolling through our feeds, seeing posts that make us pause and think, "Did I really just read that?" It's the platform for professionals, the place where we're supposed to put our best foot forward and network our way to success. Source: Pixabay But lately, there's been a whisper, a growing feeling that maybe, just maybe, LinkedIn has a bit of a cringe problem. I mean, I try to keep it professional, share some positive vibes and interesting articles, and connect with my actual colleagues. But after seeing what's out there, I've had to ask myself, have I been contributing to the cringe? Even the job search part, which is supposed to be a main feature, feels like a chaotic mess with endless competition and sketchy listings. It makes you wonder what's really going on. The Rise of the LinkedIn Cringe So, where does all this cringe come from? Based on what I've seen and r...

I don't know about you, but sometimes I need a little something to get me going. Maybe it's a busy morning, a long afternoon slump, or just a day where my brain feels a bit foggy. While coffee is the go-to for many, I've found something else that offers a nice lift with some extra perks. It's called Yerba Mate, a traditional South American drink. People have been drinking it for hundreds of years down there, and it's becoming more popular in other parts of the world now, and for good reason. It's not just a tasty beverage; it packs a punch when it comes to health benefits. I've been looking into it, and I wanted to share what I've learned about why this might be a good addition to your routine, whether you sip it like tea or take it another way. Source: Wikimedia Commons The cool thing about Yerba Mate is that it's made from the leaves of a plant called Ilex paraguariensis . It's got some unique stuff in it that researchers are finding can do som...

I've been spending some time with the NIV Application Study Bible, Third Edition, and it's a magnificent Bible. If you're looking for a Bible that helps you connect God's Word to your everyday life, this one is definitely worth checking out. It's more than just a book with verses; it's designed to help you understand what the Bible meant back then and what it means for you right now. I've found it to be a really practical tool for growing in my faith. Disclosure: I received this item free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own. What's Inside This Bible? This Bible is packed with features aimed at helping you understand and apply Scripture. It includes thousands of study notes that come from the popular NIV Application Commentary series. Think of these notes as helpful guides that explain what a passage meant to the people who first read it, and how those ancient truths are still relevant to our lives today. You'll find differe...

I recently received a copy of The Message Student Devotional Bible: Psalms to check out, and I'm happy to share my honest thoughts on it. I have to say, I really enjoy this book. Psalms has always been one of my favorite parts of the Bible; it feels incredibly real and relatable. And The Message translation is great because it makes reading the Bible feel so natural. Putting these two together in a devotional Bible designed for students felt like a wonderful combination. Getting into this book felt easy and welcoming. It wasn't intimidating or overly complicated. It felt like it was made for young people trying to navigate faith and life at the same time. This edition promises to help students connect with the Psalms in a fresh, personal way. The tagline "God Wants to Meet You in these Pages" really captures the accessible and personal feel of this Bible. Disclosure: I received this item free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own. Why This Bi...

You're probably here because you love cozy life sim games. You know, those relaxing 2D worlds where you can build a life, maybe decorate a cute house, and just chill out? Games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing paved the way, and now we're seeing new contenders popping up. On May 1st, two new games arrived almost at the exact same moment: “To Pixelia” and “Little Sim World.” Talk about a direct matchup! Both promised a cool 2D world to live in, but they looked pretty different when you dug a little deeper. I wanted to compare them side-by-side to help figure out which pixelated life might be the best fit for you. The Basics: What Are These Games? Let's start with the core ideas and how they were launched. This helps set the stage for understanding what makes each game tick. What's the Main Point? To Pixelia is calling itself the “ultimate life simulator.” Its big idea is giving you tons of freedom to chase whatever dreams you have in a city called Pixelia. You ca...

If you're anything like me, you might have a few Bibles sitting around your house. Maybe one you got as a kid, one you use for church, and perhaps one you intended to use for deeper study but haven't quite gotten around to. I get it. Life is busy, and sometimes picking up the Bible feels a bit overwhelming. Where do you even start? How do you figure out what it all means? That's where a really good study Bible comes in handy, and I recently spent some time with The Open Bible, New King James Version, from Thomas Nelson. And let me tell you, it's got some cool stuff going on. When I first got my hands on this Bible, the first thing I noticed was just how nice it feels. You can really see the quality. It's sturdy, well-made, and just feels good to hold. You know how some books just feel cheap? This isn't one of them. It feels like something you'll have for a long, long time. The cover material, the way the pages are bound — it all speaks to a level of craftsm...