#1 Gel X Nails

This hobby came to fruition when I got tired of spending money on going to nail salons  just to have them do simple designs and solid color nails (my favorite) while struggling to hold small talk. Thus, I decided to take matters into my own hands and order everything I needed to do my own nails, which looking back, is one of the best decisions I have made. Not only because it is a very beginner friendly process but because I've saved about $500 since November of 2025, as well. Now every three weeks when I get to sit down in my office, the world melts away as  I practice a small act of self care. I love pampering, but there is something so different about creative expression through nail art, specifically having my nails correspond to my mood, the season, or upcoming events. You can tell a lot about a person's life simply by looking at their nails. Mine are coral pink right now. Girly. Summer-y. Free spirited. 

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#2 Baking

What I love so much about baking is that I never do it for myself. The biggest reward that comes from this is the smiles on other peoples' faces and seeing the empty platter that was once filled with my creations. More than that, I love it when my boyfriend holds my face between his hands and tells me "you did such a great job" after I bring dessert over to his house. There is something divine in the act of baking as well; I feel as though it brings out my feminine nature: my warmth and desire to nurture. Every ingredient added with precision (or not), the patience of allowing the creation to rise and develop in the oven is an effort made toward showing kindness and care. Not only is this a creative outlet for me, but it is an opportunity for me to show up for others in my life. Baking for others is a way of saying "I see you. I thought of you. I love you." That's what it has always been about for me. I hope that everyone who ever tastes one of my treats senses that with every bite they take.

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#3 Gardening.

Are my flowers dead yet? Yes. But only because I forgot to have someone water them while I was on vacation. Still though, there was something majorly therapeutic about waking up, walking onto my patio and watering my celosias. Thinking deeper, gardening is the act of giving or withdrawing life from something, cultivating life  or depriving it of life. You look at the plant in front of you and get to decide how you steward its life and liveliness.  There is something far greater to it than a chore, there is something pure and powerful to it too. It just requires patience. 

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#4 Makeup

My alone time is sacred to me. It is my primary "think time." Here is exactly what I have learned about the art of makeup as a result of my introspectiveness. Inspired by my Summer 2026 Elle magazine, featuring an article about Marc Jacob's makeup line, I began to understand that once makeup is used as a medium of disguise rather than self expression and creativity, the whole plot has been lost. I find that when I use makeup to conceal what I deem imperfections on my face, I actually feel less beautiful and less myself. When I walk out of my house, there is always an underlying desire to wipe off everything on my face and try again with the "less is more approach." I heavily dislike the feeling of makeup caked onto my face, the feeling of hiding or pretending to look one way. Thus, I opt for a different route. From using a shade of blue eyeliner or mascara to bring out my brown eyes (since blue is opposite on the color wheel) or adding a touch of Huda Beauty's Pink Guava blush to emphasize the rosiness in my face, the products and tools I use are mechanisms  to bring out the characteristics that I find beautiful, whether unconventionally or not. I am fearfully and wonderfully created in the image of God, including all of my unique ethnic and hereditary features. Those things should be celebrated and brought to light through makeup rather than concealed to conform to society's ideal image of woman. 

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#5 Coloring

I really got into coloring when I went to my weekly therapy sessions and felt extremely restless, as if sitting still and telling someone my deepest inner thoughts was going to kill me. After being told I could bring my own art supplies or fidgets, I, naturally, went onto Amazon and bought a children's coloring book. The one that has large, satisfying coloring sections rather than fine intricate details for adults. Ew. Even now that I'm past my therapy sessions, I still find myself flipping open that book when I need a moment to clear my head. Now there is a difference between coloring and drawing for me. With drawing I am the type of person that will be too hyper fixated on making sure the lines and shading is just perfect, no flaws. With coloring, I can let my mind fade away and just zone out filling in shapes with colors. With drawing I am focused on the task at hand. With coloring I can think about anything and everything but the task at hand. Pick your poison, I guess. 

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#6 Reading

Sometimes I feel like my head is a whirlwind, constantly buzzing with thoughts for the good and the bad. That's why there is something deeply joyful and fulfilling about sitting down to read a book, because . reading puts exact words to the emotions that once felt indescribable. Greatest of all, I, most of the time, end up enlightened when I give my book the time of day. My favorite thing to read every day to feel fulfilled? Scripture. John 1:1 says that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Thus, reading the Bible daily is life giving. Science shows that reading your Bible four or more times a week significantly affects emotional health and habits. For example, when reading the Bible four or more times a week, it has been reported that loneliness drops by 30%, the viewing of porn decreases by 59%, and alcoholism drops by 57%. Reading and meditating on scripture goes far beyond thought and belief systems, the impact outpours into areas of our lives that seem impossible to change on our own.

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That's it. There is no more to be said other than that these activities enlarge my will to become more of an interesting and competent person. All six hobbies drive me toward a greater self understanding and idea of how to stay slightly grounded, and will, therefore; be continued in my daily life into the far future.

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1 Cor 13: 4-7,

Katie Dellota