Cali Joy's Journey

09/06/2026

This summer has brought many lows but we still had some milestones for our girl.

After getting her tonsils removed she took off with her eating and became so independent with feeding herself 🫶🏿🙌🏿

08/31/2026

Hotel 1000 Seattle gave us luxury, views, relaxation, and entertainment all in one stay. And we needed it all after the week we'd had, and to celebrate our 10th anniversary.

We love when a hotel has everything you need that you never have to leave: spa, amazing restaurant, luxurious rooms, date night game experience, and even a pop-up bar (with St.Tropez vibes open through 10/11)

We didn't leave the hotel too many times but when we did we took advantage of the amazing location for some waterfront vibes and a quick walk to Pike Place Market.

One of the best parts was that we ate every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar and did not have a bad meal. The seafood, steak, breakfast, cocktails… 10/10.

We can't wait to book our next trip to Hotel 1000.

08/30/2026

I’ve been on a mission to find a hobby that has absolutely nothing to do with being productive.

Something that pulls me away from work, motherhood, responsibilities…and honestly, my phone. 😂

Lately, that’s been coloring.

It forces me to slow down, focus on what’s right in front of me, and give my brain a break from constantly thinking about what needs to happen next.

As busy women, so much of what we do has a purpose attached to it. I’m learning I need things in my life that don’t need to accomplish anything. Things I do simply because they bring me a little peace.

So I found a corner in my room, pulled out my coloring book, and started creating that space for myself.

And somehow, my little hobby became ours. 🥹

The kids started joining me, and I think it’s the longest either of them has ever sat and colored. Just another reminder that they’re always watching what we do—and apparently, they wanted in on Mama’s little pocket of peace too.

And you know what? I don’t mind sharing this one with them. 🤎

Busy mamas and my ladies whose cups are FULL, what’s something you do just because it brings you peace?

08/25/2026

WNBA game with the kids > any other weekday plan. 🏀💛💚

We took the kids to a Seattle Storm Kids Day game and they had SO much fun! Dancing in the aisles, cheering louder than us (we taught them well 😂), and basically refusing to sit down the entire game.

This is why we love experiencing sports as a family. It’s not just about the game—it’s the music, the energy, the crowd, and watching the kids take it all in.

They’ve been asking us nonstop when we’re going back, so I think it’s safe to say Storm games are officially on our family favorites list. 🔥

We’re making it a point to explore more of Seattle as a family, so more adventures are coming! 👀

08/25/2026

For a long time, I thought if something mattered to me, I needed to give it my attention all the time.

Career. Marriage. Kids. Friendships. Myself. Goals. All of it.

Eventually, I realized I wasn’t short on time as much as I needed to get clearer about what deserved my attention in the season I was actually in.

My newest essay is about learning to stop measuring my life day by day and start building weeks that feel more aligned with what matters most.

If you’re an ambitious woman trying to grow your career, raise your family, and still make room for yourself somewhere in the middle of it all, this one is especially for you. 🤎

Read the full essay on my Substack and come join the conversation.

Everything important doesn’t have to be important at the same time.

08/23/2026

Life has knocked us down a few times, but we always find a way to get back up.

Before kids, we did it for ourselves. Now, we do it because we want them to see what it looks like to keep moving forward, even when life gets hard.

And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that life doesn’t stop just because you’re going through a hard season. Work still needs you. Kids still need you. Life keeps moving, even when part of you wishes you could hit pause.

So when life hits, I find the love. I find my outlet. I find my people. I give myself space to feel whatever I need to feel, and then I move forward at my own pace.

Not because I always feel strong, but because I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about never getting knocked down. It’s about knowing what helps you get back up.

And these days, we have two little people watching how we do it. 🤎

08/22/2026

Last month we were looking for answers. This week, we still are—just with a few more twists and turns along the way.

I originally filmed this video last month to bring you behind the scenes of what some of my “sick days” from work look like as a medical mom. Appointments, tests, asking questions, advocating, and waiting for answers for our Cali girl.

Little did we know how much life would change after I filmed this.

Lately, I’ve realized the waiting might be one of the hardest parts. Waiting for answers. Waiting to know if something is working. Waiting to hear that your baby is okay.

So much of our journey with Cali has been this constant dance between pushing and waiting. Knowing when to ask another question, make another call, and advocate for what she needs—and knowing when we’ve done everything we can and simply have to wait.

That second part has never come easily to me.

Because when it’s your child, you want to DO something. You want to fix it, move things forward, and find the answer. But sometimes there’s nothing left to do except love her, find some peace in the uncertainty, and trust that we’ll know when it’s time to push again.

For now, we’re still asking questions, still advocating, and still waiting on some answers. But we’re also taking it one day at a time, finding joy where we can, and loving on our Cali girl through all of it.

Thank you for continuing to love her and cheer her on through every twist and turn. 🤎

08/18/2026

I’ve shared so much of Cali’s story here, but I’m ready to make room for another part of me too.

The woman building a career. The manager learning to lead well. The mom figuring out who she’s becoming while still wanting more from life.

I started a new Substack, The Life in Between, for women navigating career, motherhood, leadership, identity, and everything in between.

My first essay is my origin story—the season that changed how I think about ambition, success, and who I was becoming.

Cali will always be part of my story, but this space lets me share more of the woman her journey helped shape.

If that sounds like your season too, I’d love to have you there. 🤎

Read + subscribe free at the link in the comments.

https://faleshajohnson.substack.com/p/the-moment-my-life-split-into-before?r=2isb4s&utm_medium=ios