A little Chaos + Cookies = Comfort

Hi friend —

Let’s talk about comfort. Not the kind that comes from an inspirational book or a yoga mat (though I love both), but the kind that comes from warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies pulled fresh from the oven. The kind of comfort that smells like home and tastes like everything is going to be okay — even if it’s just for a moment.

This has been my go-to cookie recipe for forever — soft in the center, chunky, not too sweet and full of that melt-in-your-mouth magic that makes the world feel sweeter.

I love food and love to cook/bake! I have a lot of recipes that I’m going to share and I don’t normally put exact measurements. I’m more like a season to taste kind of chef, but for baking its essential to have correct measurements and ingredients..so here you go. Enjoy!

Be Well Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (or whatever feels right)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars until fluffy.

3. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Mix gently.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet mixture and stir just until combined.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips

6. Scoop dough onto the baking sheet — tablespoon-sized balls, spaced apart like they respect boundaries.

7. Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers still look a little soft.

8. Let cool just enough to not burn your tongue. Eat two..maybe three and share.

I love these cookies because they’re simple. They’re nostalgic. They don’t require perfection. And because sometimes, healing looks like baking a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies and eating them. Whether you share them or keep them all to yourself (no shame), I hope they make you feel happy and safe! Enjoy!

Be well + bon appétit,

Melissa

A little about me lately

I started this Substack to fulfill a decades long dream of succeding at a blog. Lol. In all honesty, I was craving a space to be real and imperfect — a space to just begin. A space where the messy middle could be celebrated just as much as the big wins! A space to be honest and tender about being a work in progress. A space to give support and receive it.

I’m 46….turning 47, mom of 3, partnered with my love of 25+ years, and somehow it still feels like I’m just beginning. I’ve been the go-getter, the people-pleaser, the dreamer, the supporter, the leader, and the overthinker. I’ve had big wins and I’ve also hit rock bottom — more than once.

I’ve lived a lot of life. The kind where you bounce between joy and grief, certainty and doubt, peace and possibility. And through it all, I’ve learned how to hold both: gratitude for what is and hope for what could be.

In 2024, I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma — a chronic, slow-growing, but treatable cancer. In a short amount of time, I gathered enough strength to fight the disease and came out thriving! My diagnosis and healing journey wrecked havoc on my nervous system. I’ve always been into “wellness”, but this season invited me into deeper, daily work — the kind that isn’t about being perfect or endlessly productive, but to feel safe in my own skin, my body, and every area of life.

And still…I dream.

I dream of healing, writing, creating things that matter, building a heart-centered and profitable business, and supporting others in feeling good and living well. I dream of soft mornings and big ideas. Of a life that’s both grounded and expanding. Even as I rest in deep contentment, my spirit still leans toward what’s next — not out of lack, but out of love.

This blog is my way of honoring both: the contentment and the dreams, the pain and the play, the fear and the fire. Here you’ll find reflections on life, unlearning, health, healing, lessons, creativity, grief, resilience, and the messy beauty in between.

Thank you for being here. Truly. Whether you’re facing your own diagnosis, navigating uncertainty, quietly chasing a dream, or want to supporting someone else on their journey — I hope this space feels collaborative, fun and like a little pocket of peace.

Namaste + C’est la Vie,

Melissa

Clear the Air

I bought two Air Doctor AD3500 and it has been life changing for our home. There are so many purifiers out there, and it was so difficult to chose. After much research, I have found “the”one for you. This Air Doctor is the best bet for the cost and can clean a large space. It captures fine particles like no other, runs pretty quiet on auto and is so easy to use. My son is allergic to basically everything (pollen and dust). Since we’ve purchased the Air Doctor, his sinus’ have never been so clear!

The Air Doctor unit outperforms everything else at its price point! For maintenance, I spend approximately $150 a year to replace the filters on 2 units.

If you have been wanting to purchase an air purifier look no further! Puchase here. #ad #commissionearned

Does this support the life I'm trying to create?

Do you have quotes or questions that help you gain inspiration when your down in a funk?

Does this support the life I’m trying to create?

This question has helped me live with intention for quite some time now. As I got older, time started flying and the day to day life got overwhelming. So many things….work and kid’s school and sports schedules, self-care, birthday parties, philanthropic work, coffee, lunch, dinner dates, vacations, exerise and workout plans…all the things. It becomes a lot and some things that are so important get put behind the back burner. I quickly began to realize how important it was to make good use of my time. To live with more intention and be mindful l with all that I was doing and who I was spending my time with.

Sometimes, it’s hard to make decisions. I set goals and intentions for myself daily and get side-tracked. I get sucked into scrolling through social media, watching tv or doing some kind of mindless activity that I’ve come to find that I was actually wasting my time and not living intentionally. I got into the habit of constantly asking myself this question prior to making my daily plans and taking part in my day. It helps me to be mindful, to live with purpose and live towards my dreams daily.

Simple Tweaks to Replace Your Limiting Beliefs

If you feel like you are not where you want to be in your life or you are challenged by stress and overwhelm, it is likely that you are struggling with some limiting beliefs. Once you identify your limiting beliefs, you can eliminate them and learn to change your state in an instant. If you want more in your life, you must acknowledge that and be ready to take action! You got this!

10 Things Efficient Moms Do Before 8am

If you know us or visited our work before, you know that we are true advocates for setting up your mornings for success…….having a morning routine and setting up your day for intention and action! Here are 10 things efficient Moms do all before 8am…..some even earlier or before their kids wake up. Consider adding some of these actions into your morning routine. Guaranteed to uplift your spirits, create more time for yourself, and/or better your relationships with your friends, family and clients!

1. Drink a glass of water

2. Open your curtains/blinds

3. Turn on essential oil diffusers

4. Make your bed

5. Tidy up the house

6. Journal

7. Plan and schedule

8. Pray or meditate

9. Body Movement - exercise, stretch

10. Eat a balanced breakfast

For more info about starting your day more efficiently, join our FREE workshop: Create a Morning Routine that works for you.

How To Use Be Well Planner

Hi All!

I wanted to explain how to use our Daily Be Well Planner Worksheet in a little depth. I created Be Well Planner because I wanted one simplified planner that would help me not only consistently work toward my dreams no matter how busy life got but also end each day feeling like the day had been a success. Success to me is the process you live to get to your dreams. I wanted to include components in the planner to make living your dreams daily simple. To be/live well we need to…account for these 6 components in our day.

1. Organization - Be organized and have a consistent morning routine (sets the tone for the day).

2. Gratitude - Practice gratitude. Express/write it. Studies show its good for mental health, lasting effects on the brain, etc. It can instantly change your mood.

3. Awareness - Be aware of your be, do and have. Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? Where you want to go? What do you want to have? We need to be aware of what our dreams are so that you can create the life you want to live. State your dreams as if they already happened. When you know and when you express it as if it already happened, it supports the life that you are creating. Examples of dream statements:

   I am an exceptional wife and mom.

   I am debt free and have 1 million in the bank.

   I sold 24 homes in 12 months.

   I added 10 new sales reps in my downline.

   We need to get in the habit of asking ourselves daily, does this support the life I’m trying to create in all that that we do daily. 

   After you are aware of your dreams, you need to focus on one dream for however long it takes you to fill it. To be it, make it happen! So pick one dream and that is the main focus until you be/live it! Yes you still have other things to do, but we are talking dreams, lifestyle.

4. Self Care/Body Movement - It is SO important to take care of you and schedule your self care. It’s also extremely important to implement some body movement into your schedule. Body movement is so important for your well being. What impacts our body impacts our brain. Exercise is essential to mental wellness. By moving your body, you can instantly change and boost your brain functions and structure. It helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and improve enhanced cognitive functioning and energy. It is essential to move your body daily. Take breaks, move your body. Schedule it and if you have to set your alarm as reminder to get up and move. Hydration is also key. Log your water intake.

5. Connect - Personal and/or business connections. It is SO important to connect with others. Connecting with others can make your life better from other peoples support, knowledge and their skill and you can help others with your gifts. Goes for both personal and business. Make meaningful connections. List who you will be connecting with that you already know or have met. Follow up could be work and/or personal, then get it on the schedule. How will you make new connections for the day? It is important to make consistent new connections. Lastly its important to nurture your connections (old and new.) Plan to make meaningful connections and get it on your schedule.

6. Implement - Put your schedule into action. To be successful is the process! DO THE WORK , then end every day by reflecting on went well and preparing for success the next day.

I hope this helps. My team and I are always here if you have any questions. Write a comment below or shoot us an email at support@bewellstationery.com. We get so fired up about the planner and all it’s benefits and love to see you all…..be well and live your dreams daily! =)

Importance of a Morning Routine

Pre-Covid I always had a pretty rock solid morning routine. Was up and at ‘em at 4:30 am every day. Not gonna lie, this time has been hard. A very hard season. Just before lockdown, on March 6th, our lives were forever changed as we suffered the devastating loss of my 19 year old niece. The lockdown made it easier to be home to grieve together and it was nice to have a break from our crazy schedules and all the hustle and bustle.

I always thought of myself to be a pretty positive person, but yowzers it felt like it was one thing after another and another and another. It still is. Just got some more disheartening family news two weeks ago and now Kanye is running for President. Wth?!? This year has been wild and as much as I want to write it off, I can’t. I am determined to seek the good and continue to try and live my best daily. One day at a time, as best as I can. To spread love and kindness. To learn new things. To create and to share with others.

To be honest, its been a lot of back and forth with this mentality, its been rough and hard to get motivated and get up to do the work. As most of you know, I am a Los Angeles based Realtor® and own a coaching business. It was tough to get up, to do the work and implement any ideas. I hid for days, weeks and months not just from others, more importantly from myself. Pre-Covid and grief, I was beginning to work on something new and exciting. It took the back burner for months. Determined to come out of the funk I was in, I started to hike again and listening to my inspirational podcasts again. I remembered the importance of having a morning routine. I knew my routine would be very different, but I had to get back to it.

It took sometime, but I think I’ve nailed my Post-Quarantine (…well not quite over yet) morning routine. I wake up at 530am, drink water, turn on my diffusers, journal, plan my schedule, get my sweat on, water my plants, make a cup of coffee, have a nourishing breakfast, shower and get to my schedule. Making this little change and staying committed to my morning routine along with my goals have 10X my days. I have been extremely inspired and I’m SO excited to announce that I will be launching Be Well Planner in a PDF version soon! It has helped me and my clients get back on track through this pandemic. It is the only planner that won’t let your self-care or your big dreams get buried by your to-do list.

Have you been able to get back to your morning routine? What are your must haves in the morning? Let me know in the comments below. xoxo.