Mariah Parriott Arana

🧋 Happy International Coffee Day!

Fall feelings, Florida temperatures…so we’re keeping the coffee iced. 🤎

This homemade Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso has brown sugar, a little cinnamon, vanilla, and all that lovely foam. Add your favorite milk and watch those pretty swirls happen.

A little shake, a cute straw, and suddenly an ordinary coffee break feels like a treat. 💕

Grab the recipe on the blog: https://unapologetically-diverse.blogspot.com/2026/10/brown-sugar-shaken-espresso-little.html

Are you team hot coffee or iced coffee—even in fall? 👇

October feels a little different this year. 🍂

Our family is stepping into a new chapter, and somewhere in the middle of all that change, I realized I am too.

For years, I’ve had a running list of things we’d get to “when we have time.”
-Redo the house.
-Fix things at the ranch.
-Actually mend the fences instead of patching them—literally AND figuratively. 😂
-Have people over.
-Plan the ridiculous theme night.
-Take the trip.
-Wear the outfit.
-Read the book.
-Make an ordinary Tuesday feel like something worth remembering.

And I’m starting to realize that “having time” might be a myth.

Life stays busy. Whether you’re working 9–5, running a business, raising kids, caring for family, starting over or just trying to keep up with the laundry—there will probably always be something that needs your attention.

So maybe the goal isn’t finding more time.
Maybe it’s making room for the things that make our lives feel like ours.
That’s what I want October at Unapologetically Diverse to be about.
Good food. Gatherings. Fall fashion. Home projects. Books and movies. Halloween. Camping. Adventures. Discoveries. And probably a few things we haven’t planned yet.

Not a perfectly curated fall.
Just actually being present for the one we get. 🤎
What’s something you’ve been saving for “when I have time”?
Maybe October is a good month to finally make room for it.

🍂 The full Letter From the Editor — “A Different Kind of Fall” — is now on the blog. Follow the Discovery Link to read the full version and see what we’re getting into this October.

Discovery Link: https://unapologetically-diverse.blogspot.com/2026/10/letter-from-editor.html

This September has me looking around the house and suddenly seeing everything. 😂

The unfinished project. The cluttered spot I keep walking past. The cabinet that desperately needs attention. And, naturally, the brand-new project I'm thinking about starting before I finish any of those.

So I'm doing a Florida Fall Home Reset—but not the picture-perfect, transform-your-whole-house-in-a-weekend kind.

I'm starting with a much simpler question:

What would make our home feel better right now?

Clean before buying more.
Shop our own house for things we already love.
Get the kitchen ready for more cooking.
Start transitioning the garden.
Finish at least ONE lingering project.
And most importantly, actually enjoy our home while we're still working on it.

Because a home doesn't have to be finished to feel good.

I put my whole September reset—and the very realistic rules I'm giving myself 😂—together on the blog.

🍂 Discover The Florida Fall Home Reset: Making Home Feel Good Again:
https://unapologetically-diverse.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-florida-fall-home-reset-making-home.html

And tell me: what's ONE thing in your house that's driving you crazy right now? Maybe we can all get one thing crossed off the list this week.

Keep Discovering.

😂 “My housekeeping style is best described as… there appears to have been a struggle.”

And apparently, some of our college freshmen have adopted the same philosophy. 😂

Parents… have you made that first visit to your college freshman’s dorm room yet? You dropped them off with clean sheets, organized drawers, fresh towels and every intention that they would keep it that way.

And now? Things may already be getting a little… questionable. 😳😂

Melaleuca must have known.

🧹 The Dorm Room Cleaning Bundle is the Monthly Feature Special and comes with 7 products for tackling everything from toothpaste-covered mirrors and coffee spills to mystery stains, wrinkled clothes and that “What exactly is that smell?” situation.

You’ll get Clear Power Glass Wipes, Sol-U-Guard Botanical Wipes, Tough & Tender Wipes, Sol-U-Mel 3-in-1 Cleaner + Mixing Bottle, and Revive Fabric Freshener & Wrinkle Relaxer + Mixing Bottle.

✨ Choose your Revive fragrance: Original, Sea Salt & Vanilla, or Tropical Fruits & Floral

Available through September 30th while the special lasts!

Perfect for a college care package… or, you know, those of us whose own homes currently suggest there may have been a struggle. 🙋‍♀️😂

Want one? Send me a message and I’ll help you get it!

September is always a funny little season in Florida.

The calendar says fall. The stores are covered in pumpkins. The internet has apparently moved directly into sweaters, fireplaces and soup.

And we're still sweating. 😂

So this year, I'm not trying to make September look like somebody else's version of fall.

I'm calling this month Harvest & Home.

For me, “harvest” is about more than what comes out of a garden. It's looking at what we've been working on, what we've learned, what's working and what we want to carry into the next season.

And “home”? Well... ours is definitely a work in progress.

There are rooms to finish, things to organize, a yard and garden to work on, food I want to make, books I want to read and probably another project I'll start before finishing the last one. 😂

But I'm learning that I don't have to wait until everything is finished to enjoy the life we're creating.

This month on Unapologetically Diverse, we're talking home projects, Florida fall gardening, rustic seasonal food, books, beautiful old things, products and ideas actually worth sharing, and all the unexpected discoveries that happen in between.

And there's something new coming too. 🎙️

I'm finally sitting down to begin recording the first pieces of the Unapologetically Diverse podcast.

No giant polished launch. I'm going to start talking, telling stories and sharing discoveries—and we'll see what this thing becomes.

September doesn't have to look like fall somewhere else.

We're going to enjoy the season we're actually in while making room for the one that's coming.

Welcome to Harvest & Home. 🍂

Keep Discovering,
Mariah

https://unapologetically-diverse.blogspot.com/2026/09/letter-from-editor-harvest-home.html

Every August feels like a fresh start to me.

More than January 1st ever has.

Maybe it's because so much of my life has been measured by the school calendar. New classrooms. New routines. New goals. Another chance to begin again.

Now that Alfonso is back in the classroom, I find myself slipping into that rhythm too. Summer adventures are giving way to meal prep, planners, projects, football, jeans, and all the little routines that somehow make life feel grounded again.

Don't get me wrong—I love summer. The camping trips, the late sunsets, the beach days, and every excuse to stay outside just a little longer. But I've also learned that every season deserves to be lived intentionally, not simply rushed through.

This month on Unapologetically Diverse, we're embracing a fresh start together.

You'll come along as we:
🍂 Transform a World History classroom into a museum.
🥗 Prep healthy meals for busy weeks.
👚 Transition our wardrobes into "Florida fall."
🌿 Get the garden ready for a new season.
🏡 Create simple systems that make everyday life a little easier.

If August feels like your reset button too, I think you're going to enjoy what's coming.

✨ Read the full blog here: https://unapologetically-diverse.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-reset-why-this-feels-like-second.html

I'd love to know...does the New Year feel like January to you, or has back-to-school always felt like the real beginning of a new chapter?

I think it's safe to say I've developed a full-blown lemon 🍋 & lavender 💜 obsession.

It all started with the Melaleuca Lavender collection... and somehow it has snowballed from there. Now I'm hunting down lavender everything.

✨ Lavender body wash? Already found it.
🧁 Lavender might be making an appearance in my baking.
🕯️ The diffuser has been working overtime.
📌 And yes... I may have started an entire Pinterest board dedicated to this little obsession.

Can we also talk about these backgrounds? They're absolutely gorgeous and make me smile every time I pull one up.

Sometimes it's the little things—a favorite scent, a cozy color palette, or a collection you didn't know you needed—that make everyday routines feel a little more special.

So tell me... what's your current obsession? Lemon, lavender, both... or something completely different?

💜 Discovery link if you're curious about the Melaleuca Lavender collection: https://www.melaleuca.com/productstore/cleaning-and-laundry/ecosense-lavender-cleaning-bundle

Some things earn a permanent spot in my hiking pack... this is one of them. 🥾🌿

Between mountain biking and hiking at Airline Mountain Bike Park, the Carolina heat definitely put us to the test. I always pack the essentials—water, a buff, snacks... and one little product that has become a must-have: Neora Hydrating Facial Mist.

Don't let the size fool you. This little bottle packs a refreshing punch! After a few hours on the trail, a quick spritz instantly helps my skin feel cool, hydrated, and refreshed without feeling sticky or heavy. It's small enough to slip into my hydration pack, backpack, purse, or carry-on, making it one of those products that's easy to bring everywhere.

Some products are nice to have... this one has become one I don't leave home without.

✨ Discovery Link: https://arana.neora.com/us/en/shop/Hydrating-Serum-Mist/1197_US

What's one item that's always in your hiking pack, no matter where the trail takes you?

Sometimes you just need to lace up your hiking shoes and see where the trail takes you.

I spent the morning exploring the Papertown Express Trail at Chestnut Mountain Nature Park, and it was such a great way to start the day. The trail was well maintained, mostly shaded, and full of beautiful mountain scenery around every turn.

One of my favorite parts of traveling is finding places like this. They're usually a little quieter than the big attractions, and you get to experience an entirely different side of an area.

As someone who lives in Florida, I'll never get tired of mountains. Every chance I get to hike one is a good day in my book.

Have you ever hiked at Chestnut Mountain, or do you have another favorite trail I should add to my list for next time?

🥾🌿⛰️

Can we just take a minute to appreciate how good this was? 😍

I stopped by Pisgah Bakehouse for breakfast and ordered their Squash Onion Tart with cheddar cheese and oyster mushrooms. It was one of those things that was so much better than I expected.

The flaky crust, the roasted vegetables, the cheddar...everything just worked together. It was rich without being too heavy and packed with so much flavor.

In fact, I liked it so much that before I left, I bought two more to take with me so Alfonso and I could have them for lunch later. (Zero regrets. 😂)

One of my favorite parts of traveling is finding little local bakeries and restaurants like this. They're the places you remember long after the trip is over.

If you ever find yourself in the Brevard, North Carolina area, Pisgah Bakehouse is absolutely worth a stop.

✨ Discovery Link: https://share.google/Lw1m0r99Vpkn3EONM

Now I have to know...what's the best thing you've ever stumbled across at a local bakery? 🥐🥖🍰