What’s one series installment you’re excited f What’s one series installment you’re excited for this year? πŸ“š
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After the dramatic ending of The Ballad of Never After, I’m counting down til the release of A Curse for True Love! 🦊 I need to know what happens next because I’m going absolutely nuts right now πŸ˜…
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I’m also so excited for Foxglove, The Brothers Hawthorne, This Cursed Light, and Threads of Power - a few series continuations that I just know are gonna be phenomenal! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are any of these on your radar? πŸ‘€
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Do you plan to read romance books during Love Mont Do you plan to read romance books during Love Month? 🀎
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Pretty much my entire TBR this month is just cute romances and I can’t wait to dive in πŸ“– 
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Some of the titles I’m most excited about:
πŸŽ“ Begin Again by Emma Lord
πŸ“š Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
🌻 In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
πŸ’• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
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Have you read any of these or are any of them on your TBR? πŸ“
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What are your favorite high seas adventure books? What are your favorite high seas adventure books? πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ

If I’m being totally truthful, I haven’t read that many of them BUT I just finished my reread of All the Stars and Teeth and was reminded how much I love it 😍 I need more books like this! 🌊

Give me recommendations for books with pirates, mermaids and sirens, island curses, and other high seas goodness βš“οΈ

Have you read All the Stars and Teeth? πŸ§œπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

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How would your favorite book character take their How would your favorite book character take their coffee? β˜•οΈ
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My favorite fictional character of all time is Genya Safin from the Grishaverse 🀍 This badass Tailor has a taste for the finer things and would absolutely drink a deliciously dark roast with notes of cherry, walnut, and rich chocolate 🀀 I think she would enjoy a café au lait -- drip coffee with steamed milk -- that David prepared for her in a drip coffee contraption of his own making 🫢🏼
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Did I go way too in-depth on this just because I love these characters and coffee a little too much? πŸ™ˆ Maybe I did, but it was fun πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
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How do YOU take your coffee? 🀎
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What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️ It What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️

It was absolutely wonderful to end 2022 with Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 😍 I don’t like to pick favorites when it comes to my top authors, but this adorable fake dating romance may very well be my favorite book by her! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

I’m a seriously picky romance reader, but Abby’s blend of sweetness and substance never ceases to amaze me and Yours Truly was no exception 🀎 Just like her previous novels, this one made me cry my eyes out as I saw bits and pieces of myself in each of the characters πŸ₯Ή It was just SO GOOD, y’all, and you can find the full review on my blog! 🫢🏼

Are you planning to pick up Yours Truly when it comes out in April? πŸ“– Have you read any of Abby’s other phenomenal romance novels? πŸ₯°

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What was the last book you read in one sitting? πŸ’

Honestly, it’s not very often that I finish a book in one day - either because I find myself too busy or I just can’t concentrate for such a long period of time πŸ˜…

BUT every once in a while, I have a weekend day where I can just fully sink into a story and enjoy it from start to finish without distractions πŸ“– That’s what I did with BEACH READ last Sunday and it was wonderful πŸ₯° I read it when it first came out, but this time, I really got to enjoy it in a new way - and I couldn’t put it down! πŸ™ˆ 

If only I could have more days like that πŸ˜‚ Have you read Beach Read or anything else by Emily Henry? β˜€οΈ

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Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Today is my third bookstaversary, friends! 🀎 I can't begin to express how thankful I am for this wonderful community and how it has impacted my life over the last three years πŸ₯Ή
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As many of you know, I was a full-time fashion blogger for over five years and somewhere along the line, I found that I just didn't love it anymore πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ I wanted to find somewhere I could truly be myself and spend more time talking about fantasy novels, crisp autumn mornings, a great cup of coffee, and how to achieve the ultimate cozy lifestyle β˜•οΈ
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I joined bookstagram in 2020, thinking it would just be a fun little hobby to have on the side while I continued my fashionista hustle... and a year later, I rebranded EVERYTHING to The Espresso Edition πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I've made talking about books and coziness my full-time gig and I couldn't be happier about it 😍
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Thank you all for welcoming me to this wild and wonderful corner of the internet πŸ™ˆ Cheers to tons more bookish goodness! πŸ“š
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How long have you been on bookstagram? πŸ“±
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Would you take the protagonist of your current rea Would you take the protagonist of your current read for a cup of coffee? β˜•οΈ
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There have been quite a few characters I've read about this month who I'd love to sit down and chat with over a hot bev πŸ₯°
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However, from my current reads, I would NOT take anyone from Jade Legacy (because you never know who might end up unaliving), I'd definitely take both Kell and Lila from A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm not entirely sure I'd enjoy coffee with Katniss from The Hunger Games (since she's not the most exciting conversationalist), but I'd absolutely love chatting it up with Alina from Shadow and Bone! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Have you read any of the books I'm currently reading? πŸ“š
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What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the originals? πŸ“š

This past year, I either began or finished a few spin-off series that I found myself enjoying even more than their predecessors πŸ™ˆ The Dreamer Trilogy (the first of which is featured here) BLEW ME AWAY even though I just *sorta-kinda* liked The Raven Cycle 😱 But there I was, sobbing my eyes out at the end of Greywaren 😭 So freaking good! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

Typically I’m all about the OG series (like Shadow and Bone), but every once in a while, there’s a really great spin-off or continuation that I wind up just loving! 🀩 I’m excited to discover even more this year πŸ—“οΈ

Have you read The Dreamer Trilogy yet? πŸ’­

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #thedreamertrilogy #calldownthehawk #theravencycle #theravenboys #fantasybooks #spinoffseries
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Lifestyle · February 23, 2022

How Being Diagnosed With a Chronic Illness Altered My Life

This post was originally published in September 2018. It has been updated to reflect what my life with a chronic illness looks like right now.

These are the confessions of a gastroparesis-sufferer. A what sufferer? Gastroparesis. A chronic digestive disease. A disease that I live with.

On New Year’s Day of 2015, I wound up in the emergency room. I hadn’t been able to keep any food in my stomach for 24 hours, and I was miserable. This wasn’t the first time I’d dealt with stomach ailments. In fact, I’d basically been living with an ongoing “stomach ache” since I was in preschool. We just didn’t know what was causing it. I’d stopped eating dairy, been tested for celiac, and tried a “healthy diet” more than once. However, I also had the lining of my stomach ripped at 16 from an acne medication, a serious bout of mono, and a severe eating disorder that lasted for several years. Let’s just say, I wasn’t exactly kind to my stomach, and the repercussions were much more extreme than I expected.

After a slew of medical examinations, my gastroenterologist suggested a gastric emptying scan. Nutshell version: they make you eat some radioactive eggs (I thought I was going to become a superhero), then lay you beneath a camera, which follows the radioactive material through your system. I was told that while most individuals can process something that simple in around 30 minutes or less, my digestive track would take 3 times as long – or longer. Now imagine having to process a steak dinner or something much heavier. Needless to say, it all made sense why I was experiencing such severe pain immediately following even the smallest of meals. Not to mention the intense nausea that stuck around like an unwanted guest all the time.

The diagnosis was official: I had gastroparesis.

This scary-sounding disease has altered my life drastically since that diagnosis. At first, I believed I’d be able to get back to normalcy after allowing some time to “heal.” How wrong I was. The bad news got worse when I discovered my allergy to the only FDA-approved medication for this disease, along with numerous food allergies that prevent me from typical gastroparesis diets. I had hoped for some sort of relief, but instead, I came to the realization that this was going to be a central part of my life for an indefinite period of time.

After starting jobs only to lose them a couple months or weeks later (due to the constant need to call out of workΒ sick), I decided to start looking for something to do from the comfort of my bed. This is when blogging chose me. I already had a following on Instagram, so I took the time to research and launch my website and over the past 7 years, I’ve turned it into a full-time business (*Disclaimer: after rebranding to book blogging at the beginning of 2021, I no longer made a full-time income with this blog. However, it is still a source of income and I still do it full time, though my primary job is social media management). I never though my illness would provide such a blessing, but I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to do what I love every day.

Do I still experience the symptoms?

Yep. Every day I wake up with tear-inducing pain ripping through my gut. I have to give myselfΒ at least an hour to sit in bed before actually getting up and moving about, because of the discomfort. Each time I eat, it hurts. Sometimes, I can physically feel a knot the size of a fist on my stomach, where the food hasn’t properly digested. Every couple of weeks, I’ll have a “flare up” of excruciating pain that keeps me bedridden for days at a time. During these periods, the nausea is so intense that only 2-3 foods sound even somewhat pleasant to me. Sometimes, I’ll get mini flare-ups while I’m out and about, and they typically result in calling off whatever I’m doing, and going straight to bed (or to my car to curl up in a ball if a bed isn’t readily available).

What can I do to cope?

Honestly, not much. I don’t say this to be dramatic. The reality is that there’s no true relief. I can take my nausea medication. I can pray for the pain to cease. But sometimes I just need to cry it out, then stay in bed to wait it out. I’m not sure if this will ever justΒ go away, so I’ve learned to “deal with it” the best I can, and keep living my life.

But I look just fine! (Cue every spoonie ever rolling their eyes at how often they hear this).

Often, diseases aren’t seen by the human eye. Mine is one of those. The only time it’s noticeable is when I’m losing weight due to my inability to eat comfortably, or when my skin is wrecked because of the lack of gut health. I also don’t want to spend 90% of my time complaining about my stomach, so I put on a brave face for social media and do my best to enjoy time with friends. However, I’ll often cancel photoshoots, postpone lunch dates, or leave parties earlier because of my symptoms acting up. I do what I canΒ when I can, and let my body rest on the days that are just a little too hard.

Gastroparesis sucks, but it doesn’t define me – or does it?

I’m oddly thankful for this illness, because, without it, I may have never begun this blog. I try not to let it take over my entire life, but it’s a huge part of the picture, and it’s had a massive role to play in who I am today. So I’m going to keep pushing forward, hoping for a cure, but also working towards my dreams and goals – never letting it hold me back. It willΒ only propel me forward! This is why I chose such cheery photos to go along with this post. I’m working to keep that smile on my face, no matter what!

Do any other fellow spoonies (people with chronic illnesses) read this blog?

In: Lifestyle · Tagged: chronic illness, gastric emptying test, gastroparesis, gastroparesis-sufferer, spoonie, stomach disease, what is gastroparesis

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Comments

  1. Renee || Getting Fit Fab says

    September 21, 2018 at 9:32 AM

    I’ve never heard of this gastro-disease, how awful. The pain you’re talking about sounds similar to what I experienced when I had open ulcers on my stomach lining and esophagus. That really sucks that you can’t take the medicine because you’re allergic to it and the diet. Whew, rough girl. But you’re right if you didn’t have this we wouldn’t be able to read your blog or see these fabulous outfits. Keep smiling! <3

    Reply
  2. Donna says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:08 AM

    Amazing how you worked hard to find the good out of an unbelievably challenging illness. So proud of you. Keep fighting!

    Reply
  3. Jheelam says

    August 20, 2019 at 9:25 PM

    You look so cheery and glowing in all of your pics, it definitely showed that you’ve taken this horrible disease by its hand and came away victorious. More power and good health to you. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  4. Stefanie says

    September 21, 2018 at 10:34 AM

    You are so strong Steph!! I hope one day they find a relief for you that helps you cope with the pain and nausea! But it’s crazy and amazing how something so terrible has led you to something so great! Always proud of you!! <3

    Reply
  5. September says

    August 20, 2019 at 9:26 PM

    You still need to explain the term spoonies!

    Reply
  6. Donna says

    September 21, 2018 at 2:21 PM

    Amazing how you worked hard to find the good out of an unbelievably challenging illness. So proud of you. Keep fighting!

    Reply
  7. Jheelam says

    September 21, 2018 at 2:32 PM

    You look so cheery and glowing in all of your pics, it definitely showed that you’ve taken this horrible disease by its hand and came away victorious. More power and good health to you. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  8. Sarah Lindner says

    September 21, 2018 at 2:58 PM

    I have never heard of Gastroparesis. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us and how you work through the pain daily. I can’t imagine how you must feel everyday. I hope they find a cure one day!

    XOXO
    Sarah

    Reply
  9. September says

    September 21, 2018 at 3:10 PM

    You still need to explain the term spoonies!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      September 23, 2018 at 6:01 PM

      the word itself is linked at the bottom of the post in pink πŸ™‚ just click it to learn more!

      Reply
  10. Kim says

    September 21, 2018 at 3:35 PM

    I have never heard of Gastroparesis but it definitely doesn’t sound fun. Thank you for sharing your story and I’m so glad you are coping with it. Hopefully a cure is on the way in the future!

    xoxo,
    Kim

    Reply
  11. Avani says

    September 21, 2018 at 6:19 PM

    Oh.. No. I had never heard of this before. Surely doesn’t sound like fun

    Reply
  12. Kileen says

    August 21, 2019 at 5:47 PM

    I’m so sorry to hear babe. It definitely sounds life changing and I pray and hope that you will find some sort of relief soon. Sending you lots of love and positive vibes!

    Kileen
    cute & little

    Reply
  13. Beth says

    September 21, 2018 at 10:24 PM

    I think it is awesome that you are able to take this very uncomfortable fact of your life and focus on the positive. I also hope that one day a medication will be approved for this that you can take.

    Reply
  14. Kileen says

    September 22, 2018 at 1:07 AM

    I’m so sorry to hear babe. It definitely sounds life changing and I pray and hope that you will find some sort of relief soon. Sending you lots of love and positive vibes!

    Kileen
    cute & little

    Reply
  15. Amanda says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:08 AM

    I have never heard of Gastroparesis before. Thanks for sharing your story -hopefully this post will help someone else that has it too.

    Reply
  16. Amanda says

    September 22, 2018 at 12:38 PM

    I have never heard of Gastroparesis before. Thanks for sharing your story -hopefully this post will help someone else that has it too.

    Reply
  17. Jasmine Vargas says

    September 22, 2018 at 5:59 PM

    underneath that beautiful smile, you sure hide any pain issues you are having. I hope that one day you can find some relief to all of this. I’m a baby when I am bloated, I can’t imagine dealing with that.

    Reply
  18. Mollie says

    August 20, 2019 at 9:26 PM

    Omg Stephanie – I had no idea you we’re going through this! I’ve never heard of Gastroparesis before, but it doesn’t sound fun πŸ™ I am so happy that through all the pain and lost jobs you were able to find blogging and take it into a full time career, and one that work around your own schedule. I hope they make a new medicine that you aren’t allergic to! Thank you for being so open and sharing your experience with this disease!

    xx Mollie
    http://www.molliemooreblog.com

    Reply
  19. Mollie says

    September 23, 2018 at 1:12 PM

    Omg Stephanie – I had no idea you we’re going through this! I’ve never heard of Gastroparesis before, but it doesn’t sound fun πŸ™ I am so happy that through all the pain and lost jobs you were able to find blogging and take it into a full time career, and one that work around your own schedule. I hope they make a new medicine that you aren’t allergic to! Thank you for being so open and sharing your experience with this disease!

    xx Mollie
    http://www.molliemooreblog.com

    Reply
  20. Stephani says

    September 23, 2018 at 1:33 PM

    Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. I cannot imagine how difficult and challenging this could be but you seem so strong and I am so glad you’ve found an outlet that makes you happy – something you can do from home!

    Reply
  21. Ada says

    September 24, 2018 at 4:31 AM

    I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it is to deal with this. Thank you for sharing your story!

    Reply
  22. Liz says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:08 AM

    Oh my goodness! I have never heard of this before! You are such an inspiration and I think it’s amazing that you are bringing light to this!

    Reply
  23. Laura || Walking in Memphis in High Heels says

    September 24, 2018 at 9:25 AM

    This is such an amazing story! It’s so true that just because we can’t see that your suffering physically doesn’t mean you aren’t suffering. I am so glad that it’s lead you to blogging and a life that can be altered to be able to work with this disease and push through it. You keep smiling girl!

    Reply
  24. Deborah says

    September 24, 2018 at 10:33 AM

    Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your last point actually really stood out to me. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis and while people say she “looks fine” it’s the invisible diseases that can really get a person.

    Reply
  25. Liz says

    September 24, 2018 at 11:17 AM

    Oh my goodness! I have never heard of this before! You are such an inspiration and I think it’s amazing that you are bringing light to this!

    Reply
  26. Megan says

    September 24, 2018 at 4:05 PM

    I have never even heard of this disease before your post. Thank you for enlightening us and making us aware.

    Reply
  27. Laura says

    September 24, 2018 at 4:43 PM

    I am so sorry to hear that you’ve been experiencing this sort of pain since preschool. I had never heard of this before and I can only imagine how painful it is as you’ve described it quite well. Invisible diseases can be just as hard to cope with as those that are out in the open. Sending you lots of hugs and thanks for sharing your story!

    xo, Laura

    Reply
  28. kelly Fordon says

    September 25, 2018 at 12:34 PM

    This definitely puts things into perspective for me. For as long as I can remember I’ve experienced some kind of stomach discomfort (nothing too crazy, just sensitivity.) I couldn’t even imagine going through this kind of pain every day. Sending good vibes your way!

    Cheers x

    Kelly

    Style Hacks for Fall

    Reply
  29. Jasmine Boswell says

    August 20, 2019 at 8:40 PM

    okayyy you are the absolute cutest!!

    Reply
  30. Jasmine Boswell says

    September 26, 2018 at 8:48 PM

    okayyy you are the absolute cutest!!

    Reply
  31. Avani says

    August 20, 2019 at 9:25 PM

    Oh.. No. I had never heard of this before. Surely doesn’t sound like fun

    Reply
  32. Kim says

    August 20, 2019 at 9:25 PM

    I have never heard of Gastroparesis but it definitely doesn’t sound fun. Thank you for sharing your story and I’m so glad you are coping with it. Hopefully a cure is on the way in the future!

    xoxo,
    Kim

    Reply
  33. Stephani says

    August 20, 2019 at 9:26 PM

    Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. I cannot imagine how difficult and challenging this could be but you seem so strong and I am so glad you’ve found an outlet that makes you happy – something you can do from home!

    Reply
  34. Sarah Lindner says

    August 20, 2019 at 9:26 PM

    I have never heard of Gastroparesis. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us and how you work through the pain daily. I can’t imagine how you must feel everyday. I hope they find a cure one day!

    XOXO
    Sarah

    Reply
  35. Stefanie says

    August 20, 2019 at 10:24 PM

    You are so strong Steph!! I hope one day they find a relief for you that helps you cope with the pain and nausea! But it’s crazy and amazing how something so terrible has led you to something so great! Always proud of you!! <3

    Reply
  36. Molly | Transatlantic Notes says

    February 23, 2022 at 9:47 AM

    I really appreciate how you’ve explored your experiences in this post; it was an education to learn about gastroparesis as I’d not heard of it before. It sounds like you have an incredibly resilient attitude about it all and I found that so encouraging. Thank you for sharing this!

    Reply
  37. Jaya Avendel says

    February 23, 2022 at 3:45 PM

    I cannot imagine living with a chronic illness akin to yours, though I experience it so poignantly through your well-told story! That you do what you can when you can and remember to keep smiling and finding positives is a wonderful attitude to adopt and stick to.

    I have Lyme’s Disease. I discovered I had it after suddenly developing a fever that lasted three days. Now I am able to manage it with herbs and supplements, but it does not affect me as drastically as yours affects you.

    Thank you for sharing this amazing personal tale!

    Reply
  38. Neely Moldovan says

    February 24, 2022 at 1:40 PM

    As a fellow chronic illness gal I applaud you! I had no idea. But I know so many benefit from you sharing your story!

    Reply
  39. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    February 25, 2022 at 10:09 AM

    That sounds so difficult to deal with! It’s amazing though that a chronic illness pushed you in a different direction to start your own career path! That’s like the ultimate lemons and lemonade!

    Reply
  40. Lizzie says

    February 25, 2022 at 2:09 PM

    Thank you for sharing this! I knew that you had it but didn’t quite understand the extent. I have many food allergies so I definitely feel you on the eating thing. It’s so frustrating to not really know what’s going on and then to have to drastically change your lifestyle because let’s be honest, food is central part of our life and not many people understand when these things happen. I’m glad that it did bring about the blog as a positive from this experience but I sure do hope you get some relief in the future <3

    Lizzie
    http://www.lizzieinlace.com

    Reply
  41. Donna Whitman says

    February 26, 2022 at 12:06 AM

    I’m so sorry that you have had to deal with this most of your life, my sweet daughter, but I have watched it grow you, strengthen you, and shape your destiny as a writer and a manager for multiple businesses, including mine! You have more creativity in your little pinkie than so many and you use those talents to help others. I am amazed at what you accomplish from your bed, but I’m more amazed by who you are. An amazing, powerful, thoughtful and loving woman. What a force you are, Stephanie. I’m grateful to be your mom.

    Reply
  42. Corinne says

    February 26, 2022 at 6:08 AM

    Oh my word, this sounds awful, I’m so sorry you go through this on a daily basis. I hope there are some medical advances soon that allow you to love more comfortably.

    Reply
  43. Simona says

    March 5, 2022 at 10:15 AM

    I know you mentioned a few times on some of our recipe posts that you are allergic to this and that ingredient, but I had never understood just how serious this was! Cristina mentioned you were struggling with a condition, but again, as someone who has a stomach made of iron (that’s how I like to call my babe) I couldn’t really understand. With the years, and the many terrible things I have fed it, my once-called iron box is now a little sorry for itself from time to time, but I do hope your situation can improve, even if just a little bit. Taking your time to respond to your body, though, is the best example we should all take from this.

    Reply
  44. Tina says

    March 29, 2022 at 7:24 PM

    I’m so glad I fumbled upon your post. I have been struggling for 5 years with symptoms that I was struggling with. I’ve had every test that can be ran & reran…. About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with Jackhammer Esophagus & though β€œThank God they finally found something!” Although I was sure there was more going on with me & I was dismissed by the doctors. Well finally I continued to Not remain silent & the one test that had Never been done was finally done. I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis. I also have a lot of food allergies & I’m learning that I just can’t do the food list that they suggest. I am truly struggling & need help navigating through this. If you could share any avenues for me to find things to eat I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you for sharing your story.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 30, 2022 at 8:36 AM

      I’m really glad you were finally able to receive a diagnosis that led you to some true answers! I know how challenging that process can be. Unfortunately, my food allergies are really bizarre (avocado, apples, turkey, potatoes, onion, pineapples, soy, pistachios, turkey, green beans, etc.) so despite having seen nutritionists to help with a “gastroparesis diet,” I really have to just eat what I can when I can rather than maintaining a specific formula. However, you may benefit from seeing someone in that field to help you navigate foods that will help you, especially if your food allergies are more along the lines of “normal” (gluten, dairy, nuts, fish, etc.) because they can definitely form a diet that’s more specific to that!

      Reply

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Book Review: Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

Welcome to The Espresso Edition, a cozy lifestyle blog. Looking for book reviews, hygge home decor, or comfortable and classic outfit ideas? I've got you covered.

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What’s one series installment you’re excited f What’s one series installment you’re excited for this year? πŸ“š
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After the dramatic ending of The Ballad of Never After, I’m counting down til the release of A Curse for True Love! 🦊 I need to know what happens next because I’m going absolutely nuts right now πŸ˜…
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I’m also so excited for Foxglove, The Brothers Hawthorne, This Cursed Light, and Threads of Power - a few series continuations that I just know are gonna be phenomenal! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are any of these on your radar? πŸ‘€
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #onceuponabrokenheart #theballadofneverafter #thecursefortruelove #bookseries #fantasyseries #2023books #fantasybooks #yafantasy #fantasyreader
Do you plan to read romance books during Love Mont Do you plan to read romance books during Love Month? 🀎
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Pretty much my entire TBR this month is just cute romances and I can’t wait to dive in πŸ“– 
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Some of the titles I’m most excited about:
πŸŽ“ Begin Again by Emma Lord
πŸ“š Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
🌻 In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
πŸ’• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
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Have you read any of these or are any of them on your TBR? πŸ“
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #valentinesday #lovemonth #romancereader #cartooncoverromance #februarytbr #romcombooks
What are your favorite high seas adventure books? What are your favorite high seas adventure books? πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ

If I’m being totally truthful, I haven’t read that many of them BUT I just finished my reread of All the Stars and Teeth and was reminded how much I love it 😍 I need more books like this! 🌊

Give me recommendations for books with pirates, mermaids and sirens, island curses, and other high seas goodness βš“οΈ

Have you read All the Stars and Teeth? πŸ§œπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #allthestarsandteeth #piratebooks #mermaidbooks #highseasadventure #fantasybooks #duology
How would your favorite book character take their How would your favorite book character take their coffee? β˜•οΈ
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My favorite fictional character of all time is Genya Safin from the Grishaverse 🀍 This badass Tailor has a taste for the finer things and would absolutely drink a deliciously dark roast with notes of cherry, walnut, and rich chocolate 🀀 I think she would enjoy a café au lait -- drip coffee with steamed milk -- that David prepared for her in a drip coffee contraption of his own making 🫢🏼
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Did I go way too in-depth on this just because I love these characters and coffee a little too much? πŸ™ˆ Maybe I did, but it was fun πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
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How do YOU take your coffee? 🀎
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #grishaverse #shadowandbone #thedarkling #genyasafin #leighbardugo #perfectespressopour #coffeepour #favoritefictionalcharacter #favoritecharacter #favoritebookcharacter
What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️ It What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️

It was absolutely wonderful to end 2022 with Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 😍 I don’t like to pick favorites when it comes to my top authors, but this adorable fake dating romance may very well be my favorite book by her! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

I’m a seriously picky romance reader, but Abby’s blend of sweetness and substance never ceases to amaze me and Yours Truly was no exception 🀎 Just like her previous novels, this one made me cry my eyes out as I saw bits and pieces of myself in each of the characters πŸ₯Ή It was just SO GOOD, y’all, and you can find the full review on my blog! 🫢🏼

Are you planning to pick up Yours Truly when it comes out in April? πŸ“– Have you read any of Abby’s other phenomenal romance novels? πŸ₯°

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#cozyaesthetic #bookreel #bookcommunity #cozyreel #cozytime #bookishreel #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #aestheticreel #coffeecoffeecoffee #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #yourstrulybook #abbyjimenez #romancereader #cartooncoverrromance #2023bookrelease #bookreview
What was the last book you read in one sitting? πŸ’

Honestly, it’s not very often that I finish a book in one day - either because I find myself too busy or I just can’t concentrate for such a long period of time πŸ˜…

BUT every once in a while, I have a weekend day where I can just fully sink into a story and enjoy it from start to finish without distractions πŸ“– That’s what I did with BEACH READ last Sunday and it was wonderful πŸ₯° I read it when it first came out, but this time, I really got to enjoy it in a new way - and I couldn’t put it down! πŸ™ˆ 

If only I could have more days like that πŸ˜‚ Have you read Beach Read or anything else by Emily Henry? β˜€οΈ

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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #beachread #emilyhenry #romancebooks #romancereader #contemporaryromance #cartooncoverromance #perfectespressopour #rereading
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Today is my third bookstaversary, friends! 🀎 I can't begin to express how thankful I am for this wonderful community and how it has impacted my life over the last three years πŸ₯Ή
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As many of you know, I was a full-time fashion blogger for over five years and somewhere along the line, I found that I just didn't love it anymore πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ I wanted to find somewhere I could truly be myself and spend more time talking about fantasy novels, crisp autumn mornings, a great cup of coffee, and how to achieve the ultimate cozy lifestyle β˜•οΈ
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I joined bookstagram in 2020, thinking it would just be a fun little hobby to have on the side while I continued my fashionista hustle... and a year later, I rebranded EVERYTHING to The Espresso Edition πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I've made talking about books and coziness my full-time gig and I couldn't be happier about it 😍
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Thank you all for welcoming me to this wild and wonderful corner of the internet πŸ™ˆ Cheers to tons more bookish goodness! πŸ“š
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How long have you been on bookstagram? πŸ“±
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#cozyaesthetic #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookstagrammer #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstaversary #readersofig #booksta #bookblogger #bookishblogger #cozylifestyle #bookshelves #shelfie #readergirl #girlwhoreads #meetthebookstagrammer #facebehindtheaccount #newprofilepic
Would you take the protagonist of your current rea Would you take the protagonist of your current read for a cup of coffee? β˜•οΈ
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There have been quite a few characters I've read about this month who I'd love to sit down and chat with over a hot bev πŸ₯°
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However, from my current reads, I would NOT take anyone from Jade Legacy (because you never know who might end up unaliving), I'd definitely take both Kell and Lila from A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm not entirely sure I'd enjoy coffee with Katniss from The Hunger Games (since she's not the most exciting conversationalist), but I'd absolutely love chatting it up with Alina from Shadow and Bone! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Have you read any of the books I'm currently reading? πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #bookcharacters #bookboyfriend #bookgirlfriend #bookcharacters #fantasybooks #yafantasybooks #adultfantasybooks
What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the originals? πŸ“š

This past year, I either began or finished a few spin-off series that I found myself enjoying even more than their predecessors πŸ™ˆ The Dreamer Trilogy (the first of which is featured here) BLEW ME AWAY even though I just *sorta-kinda* liked The Raven Cycle 😱 But there I was, sobbing my eyes out at the end of Greywaren 😭 So freaking good! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

Typically I’m all about the OG series (like Shadow and Bone), but every once in a while, there’s a really great spin-off or continuation that I wind up just loving! 🀩 I’m excited to discover even more this year πŸ—“οΈ

Have you read The Dreamer Trilogy yet? πŸ’­

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #thedreamertrilogy #calldownthehawk #theravencycle #theravenboys #fantasybooks #spinoffseries
What are some of your favorite stand-alone fantasy What are some of your favorite stand-alone fantasy books? βš”οΈ
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Crazy enough, my very favorite book of all time is a stand-alone fantasy 😱 If you don't listen to a single other book recommendation I have this year, that's fine, but *please* read Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer 🌲 It is absolute perfection! 🀌🏼
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Some of my other favorite stand-alone fantasy books:
🌿 THE NATURE OF WITCHES
✨ THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE
πŸ— THE STARLESS SEA (on audiobook)
πŸ’€ THE BONE HOUSES
πŸŒ™ WINTERWOOD
πŸ’” HEARTLESS
πŸ¦‰ WILD IS THE WITCH
πŸ•―οΈ GALLANT
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Have you read any of these books? πŸ“– 
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #fantasybooks #standalonebooks #standalonefantasy #sffbooks #yafantasybooks #adultfantasybooks

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