Tackling Life and Culture in Your Grit and Grace Life

Thank Sarah Hale (One Strong Woman) for Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving became a national holiday at the height of the Civil War—a most unlikely time to set a day aside for reflection and proclamation of one’s thankfulness. Yet President Abraham Lincoln did exactly that. Indeed, he was a brave man to declare this celebration in a season that seemed to have very little to be thankful for. But what is often overlooked is the woman behind the effort to make this a holiday worth celebrating. As is often true in life there is a “behind the scenes” lady of persuasion, a humble yet determined crusader of a concept. Sarah Josepha Hale’s Pursuit of Education Sarah Josepha Hale was born in 1788 to Captain Gordon Buell and Martha Whittlesay Buell. Having been educated […]

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feeling stressed out? 5 tips to stay calm

Feeling Stressed Out? Here Are 5 Tips to Stay Calm

By Rachel Hagstrom / Health & Beauty, Life & Culture

What are the life events that can leave you stressed out or assessing your life as a whole? Presently for me, it’s the milestone birthday quickly headed my way. It has caused me to dwell on the concept of time and the warp speed at which it seems to be running. Based on recent conversations I’ve had with others on the cusp of milestones or new seasons, I know I’m not alone with this realization. It makes no difference if we’re referring to the actual seasons of the year, a particular age, or the seasons by which we categorize our lives (think of labels such as singlehood, parenthood, empty nester, divorce, illness, etc.). A by-product of living in our modern age are seasons that are fluid,

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woman dabbing lotion on her face after a shower as one of the recommended skincare hacks for women

Want to Look Younger? 5 Skincare Hacks for Women of Every Age

By Caroline Beidler / Life & Culture

My son looked up from his car seat, legs like noodles. “Mommy?” “Yes, sweetheart?” “What are those bumps on your face?” I looked in the rearview mirror and touched my cheek and realized that I had broken out. Yes, I still get pimples in middle age. It’s one of the many hideous things no one tells you about until you are living it. Similar to perimenopause (please look this up), forehead 11’s (also look this up if you are under 35), and any number of physical things that happen as we age. Since turning 40, I’ve become obsessed with skincare hacks. Still not sold on the whole “medical spa” thing, I’m relying on other methods to get that youthful glow back along

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brunette woman in front of a christmas tree holding the perfect gift

22 Gift Ideas for Every Woman In Your Life

By The Grit and Grace Team / Life & Culture

Giving the perfect gift isn’t always an easy endeavor, we know. Usually, the best gifts for women are ones that meet us where we’re at in life and help make our days easier, smoother, or just more comfortable. That’s why we asked our team of writers to give us ideas for things they would love to receive based on their current season of life. So, check out the ideas we’ve curated below to find something that makes the lady you cherish feel cherished! Merry Christmas from us to you! For the Active Woman This sports bag has room for everything she needs to rock her workout. Filled with pockets (every woman needs more pockets), this duffle has space for it all. Shoes,

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9 Easy Holiday Recipes for People Who Hate to Cook

By Meaghan Dawson / Life & Culture

We all love the holiday season. It’s filled with fun, friends, and family. Oh yes, and food. We all love the holiday food. But what happens when you get an invitation to a party that says “Bring a Dish to Share” and you hate to cook? Sure, you can just run by the grocery store and grab a quick pre-made vegetable platter. It’s always an easy and pain-free option, but it’s also not the tastiest or the most festive, is it? Lucky for you, there are some amazingly simple and delicious holiday recipes out there for even the most reluctant of cooks. And to ease the pain of adding one more thing to your to-do list this busy holiday season, here at

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young girl smiling with hand covering her mouth

The Joy Series: I’m Inspired By My Daughter’s Strength in the Face of Her Autoimmune Disorder

By Rachel Hagstrom / Life & Culture

What started as a silly game became a lifeline amid waves of sickness. We stood outside the chapel and waited for the choir to stand up so my daughters could carry candles down the aisle. My 8-year-old approached me, studied my stomach, and planted three kisses on my belly. Our friend Sammy noticed and raised her eyebrows. I knew what she was thinking. ”No, I’m not pregnant,” I smiled. My daughter motioned for me to bend down so she could whisper in my ear. “Your tummy’s hurting, isn’t it, Mom?” she asked. I nodded. “I can tell.” Chronic Battles I battle chronic gastrointestinal disorders with flare-ups that often appear at inopportune times. My family and I are so accustomed to them at

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mom helping little girl put christmas tree ornaments on their tree

Christmas Tree Ornaments: The Perfect Trip Down Memory Lane

By Brianna Barrett / Life & Culture

The last few years have felt weird to most of us. The holiday traditions that we once looked forward to have changed—some slightly, some dramatically. Gatherings moved outdoors or stopped altogether. In the chaos and crazy of the holidays, I always find a sense of peace during this time, especially in recent years. I have one family tradition that I just couldn’t stop and I plan to pass down through multiple generations: the collection of meaningful Christmas tree ornaments. Many years ago when I was a teenager, I started collecting ornaments, which was a huge improvement over the shot glass collection I had started. (In my defense, those were inexpensive gift store buys.) These ornaments came from places I had visited, people

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For the Girl That’s Single During the Holidays

By Jessica Harris / Life & Culture

November through February marks perhaps the most dreaded season in the life of a woman who is single during the holidays. We kick off with family gatherings at Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving, and, without fail, as we go around the table listing what we’re thankful for some doey-eyed friend gazes lovingly at her new groom and says, “I’m thankful for my husband. He’s so amazing.” Then there’s the “plus one” you never have for the office Christmas party. The week spanning Christmas and New Year’s might as well be dubbed National Engagement Week as the social media feeds from countless friends will be filled with romantic carriage rides, kisses under the mistletoe, smooches at midnight, and shiny new rings. The new year brings

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woman reading a book and holding a cup of coffee

Ready to Change Your Life? Read These Books by Our Grit and Grace Life Writers

By The Grit and Grace Team / Life & Culture, Featured

At Grit and Grace Life, we strive to bring you great articles every day. Over the years, we’ve had the honor of sharing practical tips and helpful wisdom with our readers. We couldn’t do this without our team of talented writers. Like you, these women are learning to navigate the ups and downs of life with grit and grace. What you may not know is that many of our writers have dug a bit deeper and written books that can help you (or someone you love) on your journey. Are you ready to change your life? Below are a few to help you get started. The Last Ordinary Hour: Living Life Now That Nothing Will Ever Be The Same by Kathy Izard Whether your

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view of family's sneaker-covered legs lined up next to each other with a vast mountain landscape background while visiting travel destinations in the U.S.

The Places You’ll Go! Must See Travel Destinations in the U.S.

By Darlene Brock / Life & Culture

“Oh, the places you’ll go.” I’m sure you’ve read that book by the incredible Dr. Seuss a time or two, perhaps for your enjoyment or that of the littles in your life. You may have embraced it as a child, dreaming of all the unique and exciting things you wanted to see. After reading to your children, I’m sure you have offered this: “The world is a special place, and it’s yours to explore.” But has life distracted you since the reading? We often think it’s too much work to load up those kids to show them what that means. Well, it’s not! The memories created are too important at these special travel destinations. I’ve traveled extensively and had the chance to

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6 Things You Should Do to Protect and Advance Your Career

By Clare Marlow / Work & Money, Life & Culture

Are you struggling to advance your career? The biggest mistake you can make is not something you goof up on the job, like forgetting part of your pitch during a client presentation or getting caught complaining about your boss at the coffee station (although this is a big no-no for every employee). The biggest mistake you can make in your career is the one you make against yourself. It’s underestimating your value, doubting your ideas, shrugging off praise that’s well-justified, or settling for a lower salary than you’re worth. It’s taking a so-so job when you know your education and experience qualify you for a better one—or jumping on an offer for advancement simply for the title rather than taking the time

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woman with hat looking thoughtfully over the top of her laptop with her chin resting on her hands wondering if she's wasting time trying to be perfect

Why Trying to Be Perfect Is a Waste of Time

By Twyla Franz / Life & Culture

You’re trying to be perfect and you wonder if you’re doing it right. The way you stack all the things into your day and hope they don’t topple. The way you climb into bed exhausted and get up early to repeat everything. What if you’re wasting your time? Prioritizing the wrong things? Saying the wrong yeses and noes? Your life is full, and also not. But you don’t have time to get that honest. There’s a dishwasher to empty before you pack lunches, start dinner, switch the wet sheets over to the dryer, check the school folders, sign up for that committee. If you’re as easily distracted as I am, you try to do everything at the same time. No wonder you

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These 4 Things Have Helped Balance My Life

By Amy Saxby / Life & Culture

When I went back to work full time, I was determined to conquer the ever-popular phrase “work-life balance.” I figured I could do it all and do it well! I wanted to juggle all the balls at once with none of them falling. However, after many years of working, God has brought me to a place of realizing that there is no such thing as equally balancing work and life. This truth has brought me freedom and rest. “Balance” means: 1) a state of equilibrium 2) an equal distribution of weight This goal of equilibrium would require the different spheres of our lives to measure up equally so that all our time and effort is balanced. For me, that would mean my

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7 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score

By Clare Marlow / Work & Money, Life & Culture

We recently had to put a new, expensive tile roof on our house, and we didn’t have enough to pay for the entire job, so my husband and I applied for a home equity line of credit. When we went to meet with the banker, she coolly informed us that my credit was better than Kevin’s, so my name would go first on all the documents. Of course, I had to gloat a little. We both have excellent credit, so I’m not sure why my score was over 800, and his was lower (although still excellent), but it was a sweet little opportunity for some momentary teasing. Credit scores, however, are not a topic to be taken lightly. Most of us, especially

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little boy wearing homemade airplane wings made of cardboard as a halloween costume

Money Was Lean, But My Dad Pulled Off the Best Halloween Costume

By Amanda-Lee Pitzer / Life & Culture

When I was 6, the country was going through a recession that put my dad out of work. My mom, an oncology nurse, went back to work—and on night shift—for the shift differential that kept my brother and I happily going about our little lives. My dad found odd jobs that included selling vacuum cleaners at the local Price Club (think vintage Costco) and truck driving while he looked for “real” work. For my mom, this meant meeting up with her in the evenings in the nurse’s lounge for a quick dinner and recap of my day while she ran in and out between patients. I remember going into her room during the day to find her sleeping, with dark towels my

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fashionable woman in a dress with a blue coat over her shoulders and sunglasses and a hat embodies the art of dressing for yourself

The New Elements of Style: Dressing for Yourself

By Kristen Bailey / Life & Culture

In today’s fast-paced world, fashion trends come and go at lightning speed. But there’s a shift happening—a growing movement towards sustainability, individuality, and embracing what we already have in our closets. Y2K style is making a comeback with Gen Z, while millennials are sticking to their beloved skinny jeans. Amid these diverse trends, the truth about fashion lies in the power of adapting old elements into something new. The fashion world is evolving, forging new elements of style with the importance of quality basics, the ethical handling of fast fashion, the allure of secondhand shopping, and the empowering essence of dressing for ourselves. The New Elements of Style There is power in quality basics. Timeless and well-made basic pieces are the foundation

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What It’s Really Like to Have a Child With ADHD

By Author Anonymous / Life & Culture

I ran inside before the car even pulled away from the curb. Letting them see me cry was not an option. Whether they could tell by my anxious pace or the slope of my shoulders, I’m not sure. But I needed the space, the separation, to cry. Really cry. Looks Can Be Deceiving I am a tangled mess of emotions. I felt like a failure, my nerves frayed, and my ego constantly bruised. I needed the space to let it all out, in choking heaps of sobs. I needed to grieve the “normal life” and “normal child” fantasy that has been slowly eroding for 12 long years. My son looks “normal” on the outside. He’s very good-looking. He dresses nicely. There is

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