Olivia

09/08/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉 Princec Rizwan, Kouakou Stephane Francelin Kouame, Boga Camara, Holy Burna, Shammi Rana Shammirana, Winfred Hall

09/07/2026

Hi how are you? 👋👋👋

09/04/2026

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09/04/2026

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09/03/2026

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09/03/2026

The Art of Eating Alone - And Why Last Night Was The Best Dinner I've Had in Months 🍝✨

Let me be honest with you. For the longest time, I was that girl who would never eat alone at a restaurant.

I thought people would stare. I thought it would look... lonely? Sad? Like I didn't have anyone to go with?

Last night, I decided to prove myself wrong. And oh my God, I'm so glad I did.

I booked a table for one at that little Italian place downtown that I've been wanting to try for months - you know, the one with the dim lights, the velvet chairs, and the candles on every table. The place that always looks so romantic from the outside.

I got dressed up for MYSELF. Not for a date. Not for anyone else. I put on my favorite emerald green satin top, my little gold "A" necklace, did my hair big and curly the way I like it, and I walked in there like I owned the place.

The host smiled and said, "Just one?" And I said, "Yes. Just one. And I'm going to have the best time."

And I did.

I ordered the spaghetti pomodoro. The one you see in this picture. It came out steaming, with fresh tomatoes, basil, and that smell... you know that smell when real Italian food comes to your table and you just KNOW it's going to be amazing?

For the first 10 minutes, I was on my phone. Out of habit. Scrolling, checking messages. Then I stopped. I put my phone face-down and I just... ate. Slowly. Really tasted it.

I twirled the pasta on my fork. I watched people around me. A couple on a first date that was clearly going well. Two best friends laughing so hard they were crying. An older man reading a book with a glass of red w**e. No one was looking at me thinking "oh, poor girl alone." Everyone was just living their own evening.

That's when it hit me. How much of our lives do we put on hold because we're waiting for someone else to do it with us?

How many dinners have I not had? How many movies have I not seen? How many trips have I not taken because I was waiting for a boyfriend, or a friend to be free, or for the "right time"?

USA culture tells us we always need to be with someone to be happy. But last night, sitting in that burgundy booth, with that perfect plate of pasta, I felt more at peace than I've felt in a long time.

Eating alone is not lonely. It's powerful.

It's you saying: "I deserve a nice dinner even if it's just me."
It's you saying: "My company is enough."
It's you saying: "I don't need to wait."

And can we talk about the food freedom? When you eat alone, you can order WHATEVER you want. No sharing. No "do you want to split something?" No judging if you want extra cheese or if you slurp your spaghetti a little too loud. I ate that entire bowl. Every single bite. And I enjoyed every second.

I think every woman in America should do this at least once a month. A solo date. Dress up, go somewhere nice, order what you love, and just be with yourself.

We spend so much time taking care of everyone else - our job, our family, our partners, our friends, our social media followers. When was the last time you took YOURSELF out?

So this is my challenge to you today:

This week, take yourself out. It doesn't have to be expensive. It could be coffee. It could be pasta like me. It could be a taco truck. But go alone. No phone for at least 30 minutes. Just you and your food and your thoughts.

I promise you'll learn something about yourself.

Last night I learned that I'm actually really good company. That I laugh a lot even when I'm alone. That I really, really love tomato spaghetti. And that I don't need to wait for anyone to give myself a beautiful evening.

If you've ever had a solo date, tell me your story in the comments. Where did you go? How did it feel? I want to read every single one.

And if you've never done it, would you try it? What's stopping you?

P.S. For all the girls asking - my top is from Zara last season, and my necklace is from Etsy. And yes, I will drop my full self-care solo date routine + my favorite affordable date night looks on my blog soon at story8s.blogspot.com - so many of you asked for it after my last post!

With love and a very full belly,
A

09/01/2026

Bowling night but make it fashion. 🎳💖

This is your sign to stop waiting to be "perfect" and just GO.

I used to be the girl who would sit on the side at the bowling alley. Worried about how I looked throwing the ball, worried if my shoes matched, worried if people were staring. Last night I said, forget that.

I walked into the lanes with my pink ball, my favorite vintage tee, my pink shorts, my lucky rainbow bowling shoes, and my big curly blonde hair taking up all the space it wants to. And I felt UNSTOPPABLE.

Let's talk about this look for a second because I'm obsessed:

The tee: A little cropped white "BonVina" graphic tee. It's giving 90s baby doll but make it 2026. Soft, comfy, shows a little confidence.

The bottoms: My go-to pink athletic shorts. Comfort is queen. If you can't move in it, you can't win in it.

The layer: Denim shirt tied around the waist. Classic trick my mom taught me. It cinches you in, it's practical, and it instantly makes any outfit 10x cooler.

And the shoes... I mean, COME ON. The shoes. Rainbow vintage rental-style bowling shoes. Why should bowling shoes be boring? I found these and knew they were meant for me. When your feet are happy and colorful, your whole game changes.

But this post isn't really about clothes. It's about energy.

The neon lights, the sound of the pins crashing, the sticky floors, the bad pizza that somehow tastes amazing at a bowling alley - there's no place in America that feels more nostalgic and free than your local bowl.

For that one game, I wasn't thinking about work, or bills, or my Instagram, or what anyone thinks of me. I was just a girl, holding a bright pink 12-pound ball, focused on those 10 pins at the end of the lane.

And I realized: Life is a lot like bowling.

Sometimes you get a gutter. Sometimes you think you're aimed perfectly and you completely miss. Sometimes you try too hard and you foul. But then... sometimes you get a strike. And that sound? That perfect crash when all 10 pins fall down at once? Nothing beats it.

You have to be willing to look a little silly. You have to get into that wide stance, stick your tongue out a little in concentration, and just THROW. You can't get a strike if you never let go of the ball.

I saw a little girl watching me last night. She had curly hair just like mine. Big, beautiful, wild curls. She was hiding behind her mom's leg. I walked up to her after my turn and said, "Want to try my pink ball? It's lucky." She smiled so big.

That's what it's about. Representation. Joy. Letting little girls see that you can take up space, be loud, be blonde, be curvy, be quirky, be exactly who you are and still be the coolest girl in the bowling alley.

To every girl who ever felt like she didn't fit in: This lane is yours. Put on the silly shoes. Pick the brightest ball. Wear the pink shorts. Tie the jacket around your waist. Let your hair be huge.

We are not here to be perfect. We are here to have fun. We are here to knock things down and cheer really loud when we do.

My final score last night? 128. Not my best, not my worst. But my confidence score? 300. A perfect game.

So tell me:

1. What's your go-to bowling ball color? I'm team pink forever, but I'm thinking of getting a glitter purple one next.
2. What's your highest bowling score ever? Be honest!
3. Should I post a little tutorial on how I style my curly blonde hair for humid places like bowling alleys? It was FRIZZ-PROOF last night.

If this photo made you smile, share it with your bowling bestie. Let's start a PINK BALL CHALLENGE. Go bowling this weekend, wear something that makes you feel confident, take a pic in your power stance like this, and tag me.

Let's bring back retro bowling nights in the USA. No phones, no drama, just neon, good friends, and pink balls.

See you at the lanes.

08/15/2026

Chasing Sunsets & Finding Myself

I didn’t plan this trip.

Three weeks ago I was sitting in my apartment in Chicago, scrolling through photos of beaches while it was 28 degrees and snowing outside. My coffee was cold. My to-do list was 40 items long. And my heart felt… heavy.

Not sad heavy. Just _stuck_ heavy.
You know that feeling? When you’re doing everything “right” — work, bills, gym, reply to texts — but you still feel like you’re missing something?

So I did something impulsive. Something I haven’t done in years.
I booked a flight. One way to the coast. No itinerary. No meetings. No deadlines.
Just me, a white sundress, a big straw hat, and the hope that the ocean could wash off the noise.

And wow.

The moment my feet hit this sand, something shifted.
The air here smells different. It smells like salt, freedom, and “you don’t have to be perfect today.”
The waves don’t rush. They come in, they go out. Over and over. No panic. No deadlines. Just rhythm.
I think I forgot what rhythm feels like.

Living in the USA, we’re taught to hustle.
We’re taught that rest is something you earn after burnout. That taking a day off means you’re falling behind. That your worth is tied to your productivity, your inbox zero, your follower count, your promotion.

But standing here, with the sun on my skin and no WiFi for 20 feet, I realized how much of my life I’ve spent performing instead of living.

This dress? I bought it because it made me feel light. Not because it was “trendy.”
This hat? It’s to protect my skin, but also to remind me to slow down and shade myself from the pressure.
This walk? No steps tracked. No content calendar. Just walking because the water looked pretty.

And that’s the point I want to make today, especially to my people in the USA who are running on empty:

*You are allowed to take the trip.*
*You are allowed to wear the dress that makes you feel good.*
*You are allowed to do nothing and still be enough.*

We spend so much time curating our lives for other people.
For LinkedIn. For Instagram. For family group chats. For “what will they think.”
But who are we when no one’s watching?

For me, right now, I’m this:
A woman who loves the way her hair gets wild in ocean air.
A woman who is learning that softness is not weakness.
A woman who is choosing peace over perfection, even if it’s just for one week.

The USA is beautiful because it gives us options. We can build careers, start businesses, go to school at 40, move across the country, reinvent ourselves. But with all those options comes pressure. The pressure to always be optimizing. Always be “on.”

I don’t want to be “on” today.
Today I want to be present.

I want to feel the sand between my toes and not think about email.
I want to watch the palm trees sway and not think about my 5-year plan.
I want to remember that joy doesn’t have to be productive.

If you’re reading this from New York, Texas, California, Florida, or anywhere in between — I see you.
I see the late nights. The side hustles. The caregiving. The student loans. The “I’m fine” texts when you’re not.

Can I invite you to do one small thing this week?
Not a 2-week beach trip. I know that’s not realistic for everyone.

But maybe:
- Take a 20-minute walk with no podcast. Just you and your thoughts.
- Wear the outfit that makes you feel confident, even to go to Target.
- Say no to one thing that drains you.
- Sit in the sun for 5 minutes and do absolutely nothing.

Rest is not laziness. Joy is not a reward. Peace is not something you get after you finish everything.

Peace is a choice you make in the middle of everything.

This beach taught me that. The ocean doesn’t apologize for taking up space. The sun doesn’t ask permission to shine. The palm trees don’t stress about growing “fast enough.”

So why do we?

I’m not quitting my job. I’m not moving to an island forever. I’m going back home next week.
But I’m going back different.

I’m going back with the reminder that I can create little pockets of this feeling anywhere. In my kitchen. On my commute. In the 10 minutes before bed.

To every woman who’s been told she’s “too much” or “not enough”: You are exactly enough. Right now. In your sweatpants. In your work blazer. In your white dress on a beach.

To every man who thinks he always has to be strong and have the answer: It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to feel. It’s okay to just _be_.

To everyone chasing the next milestone: Don’t forget to enjoy the view on the way up.

This photo isn’t about the dress. It’s not about the beach.
It’s about permission. Permission to choose yourself.

So here’s my question for you:
*What’s one thing you’ve been putting off for “someday” that you could do this month?*
A trip? A nap? A conversation? A boundary?
Drop it in the comments. Let’s hold each other accountable to choosing ourselves.

Because life is short. And the ocean is waiting. 🌊

With love from the coast,
[Your Name]

P.S. If you need a sign to book the trip, take the class, start the business, or just take a day off — this is it. Consider this your sign.

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08/12/2026

Dinner, Confidence, and Pasta That Doesn't Care About Your Diet

Tonight’s mood: satin, spaghetti, and zero apologies.

I walked into this restaurant in NYC with one goal. Good food. Good lighting. And a reminder to myself that joy doesn’t have a size.

Look, I’m going to be real with you for a second.

For years I thought I had to “earn” nights like this.
Earn the pasta.
Earn the dress.
Earn the seat at the table.
Earn the right to take up space.

I spent so much of my 20s in the USA chasing a version of myself that the internet told me to be. Smaller. Quieter. Less hungry. Less loud. More “aesthetic.”

And you know what? I was miserable.

Because here’s what nobody tells you: You can lose the weight, get the job, hit the goals… and still feel like you’re waiting for permission to live.

Permission to eat the carbs.
Permission to wear the green dress.
Permission to smile in a photo without sucking in.
Permission to be soft AND powerful at the same time.

So I stopped waiting.

# # # # *Let’s talk about the pasta, because the pasta matters*

This isn’t just spaghetti. This is a bowl of “I’m done dieting for the male gaze.”
This is marinara with a side of “my worth is not measured in calories.”
This is twirling noodles on a fork and remembering that food is supposed to taste good and make you feel good.

In America we’ve been sold this lie that self-control means self-denial.
That being healthy means being hungry.
That being confident means being 10 pounds lighter.

But have you ever noticed that the people who seem the happiest aren’t the ones tracking every bite?
They’re the ones who ordered what they actually wanted.

So tonight I ordered what I wanted.
And it was delicious.

# # # # *And let’s talk about the dress, because the dress also matters*

This green satin top? I almost didn’t wear it.
Why? Because we’re taught that certain clothes are only for certain bodies.
That if you’re not a size 2, you should cover up. Blend in. Make yourself smaller.

But I’m tired of shrinking.

I’m tired of the narrative that confidence is only allowed if you look a certain way.
I’m tired of “body positivity” only being for people who already fit the mold.
I’m tired of waiting until Monday to start living.

So I wore the dress.
I sat in the booth.
I let the candlelight hit my face.
And I remembered something important:

*Your body is not a before picture.*

It’s not something you have to fix before you deserve nice things.
It’s not something you have to apologize for at restaurants, at the beach, in photos.
It’s the thing that carries you through this life. It deserves silk. It deserves pasta. It deserves to be celebrated.

# # # # *The truth about confidence in the USA in 2026*

We scroll. We compare. We see 1000 perfect, filtered lives before 9AM.
And it’s easy to feel like we’re behind.

Behind on career.
Behind on body goals.
Behind on “having it all together.”

But what if “having it all together” is a scam?
What if the goal isn’t perfection?
What if the goal is presence?

Presence at dinner with yourself.
Presence when you laugh so hard your stomach hurts.
Presence when you choose rest instead of hustle.
Presence when you decide that you are enough, right now, exactly as you are.

I didn’t always believe that.
I believed the comments.
I believed the ads.
I believed that if I just worked harder, I’d finally feel worthy.

But worthiness isn’t something you earn. It’s something you claim.

# # # # *3 things I learned sitting at this table tonight:*

1. *Joy is not a reward. It’s a right.*
You don’t have to lose 20 pounds to deserve pasta.
You don’t have to get the promotion to deserve the dress.
You don’t have to “be productive” to deserve a night out.
Joy is not the prize at the end. It’s the point.

2. *Your body is not the enemy.*
It’s carried you through breakups, through job interviews, through all-nighters, through grief, through growth.
Talk to it like you’d talk to your best friend. Feed it. Move it because it feels good, not because you hate it. Dress it in things that make you feel alive.

3. *The world will always have an opinion.*
About what you eat. About what you wear. About how you take up space.
Let them have it.
You’re busy living.

# # # # *To the girl reading this in Ohio, Texas, California, New York…*

Maybe you’re on a diet that’s making you hate food.
Maybe you’re avoiding photos because you don’t “look right.”
Maybe you’re waiting for the day when you finally feel confident.

That day is today.

Order the pasta.
Wear the thing.
Post the photo.
Take the trip.
Say yes to the dinner.

Not when you’re smaller.
Not when you’re richer.
Not when life is perfect.

Now.

Because life is happening in these small moments. In the candlelight. In the first bite. In the laugh with the server. In the decision to choose yourself.

# # # # *So here’s my challenge to you:*

This week, do one thing that your “future self” would do.
But do it now.

Book the reservation.
Buy the outfit.
Eat the dessert.
Say the thing.
Take the picture.

Stop waiting for permission. You’re the one who gives it.

The USA tells us to hustle, to grind, to optimize every second.
But what if the most revolutionary thing you can do is slow down and enjoy your dinner?

What if winning looks like this:
A full belly.
A peaceful mind.
People who love you.
And the guts to live out loud.

That’s the kind of rich I’m chasing.

So cheers to us.
To the girls who are done shrinking.
To the nights that feel like a movie.
To the pasta that tastes like freedom.
To the version of you that’s learning, slowly, that you were worthy all along.

What’s one thing you’re done waiting for? Drop it in the comments. Let’s hype each other up. 👇

And if you needed this reminder today: You are beautiful. You are enough. And you deserve the damn pasta. 🤍

With love,
From my table to yours

P.S. Save this for the days you forget. And tag a friend who needs to hear that she’s enough too.

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08/11/2026

Hi 👋👋👋