Carrie's Handmade Essentials

Soften Word of the Month: Soften Soften — to release what you’ve been bracing against and allow yourself to be held. Scripture:“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Prompt:Where in your body are you holding tension that no longer needs to be carried? Tiny Ritual:As you apply your skincare this morning, let your shoulders drop. Unclench your jaw. Take one slow breath and whisper,“It’s safe to soften." Rest is not a reward for finishing. It is a...

Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing the best you can. Hello beautiful souls, This week doesn’t need your sharp edges. If your body already feels braced, jaw tight, shoulders lifted, pause for a moment. Let this week begin with softening, not striving. A simple way to soften today: After cleansing your face, warm a few drops of oil or balm between your palms. Press it gently into your skin instead of rubbing. Let your hands linger. Breathe slowly. This isn’t about fixing your skin, it’s...

Ritual of Rest: Christmas Edition In this Ritual of Rest: Christmas Edition, we slow down and reflect on the quiet way peace entered the world. Inspired by Luke 2:19, this gentle, faith-filled pause invites you to release pressure, soften your breath, and receive rest — even in the middle of the season. Hello Beautiful Souls, As we come to the last days before Christmas, I wanted to send something a little quieter than usual. Not a list.Not an announcement.Just a pause. This season can feel...

In the middle of a busy Christmas week, I created a short, quiet episode just for you. Today’s Commonplace Minute — Christmas Edition is an invitation to slow down and reflect on what is worth treasuring. Inspired by Luke 2:19, we pause like Mary did, to ponder, to notice, and to keep the moments that matter. It’s gentle.It’s simple.And it only takes a minute. Press play when you need a quiet pause — and write down one thing you don’t want to forget this Christmas. You may not be where you...

Reflect Word of the Month: Reflect A gentle, grounding start to the week Before you dive into your week — before the emails, the errands, the expectations — there is a sacred invitation to pause. Not to plan. Not to produce. Just to be still and reflect. Mondays are for fresh starts… and extra coffee. Reflection isn’t about analyzing everything; it’s about creating space in your heart before everything rushes in. “Before the day begins, choose what kind of heart you want to bring into it.”...

Hi friend, This week has had its own rhythm — a few calm moments, a few hurried ones, and maybe even a moment where you felt God tug at your heart in the quiet. As we move deeper into our month of Reflect, I want to invite you to step into a soft pause… not to analyze or push, but simply to be present with yourself and with Him. Sometimes reflection is less like looking into a mirror and more like sitting beside still water — letting the surface settle until clarity comes on its own. Let’s...

Reflect Word of the Month: Reflect Reflect - pause and notice where God is moving in your life. Scripture: “Search me, God, and know my heart.” — Psalm 139:23 Prompt: What is God inviting you to notice this week? Tiny Ritual: Take one slow breath while applying your morning skincare and whisper, “Help me pay attention today.” “We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.” — John Dewey Some weeks feel like a blur.Between work, home, responsibilities, and emotions,...

Carrie's Handmade Essentials The Inspired Path A Journal to Rekindle Your Spark and Lead You Back to Clarity As Christian women in business, we carry a beautiful calling—but also a lot of weight. Between managing daily tasks, dreaming big dreams, and trying to stay aligned with God’s direction, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or stuck. Sometimes the ideas feel scattered. Sometimes motivation fades. Sometimes clarity feels just out of reach. If you’re in that season, you’re not alone—and you...

Carrie's Handmade Essentials a gentle start for the week A gentle start for the week Mondays often greet us with long lists, full calendars, and a familiar sense of “here we go again.” But beneath all of that, there is an invitation to reconnect with what truly matters. Not everything deserves your energy. Not every demand deserves your yes. Not every urgency deserves your peace. This week, reflection becomes a filter — a way to sift out the noise and return to what is meaningful. Word of the...