Simply Magnolia

Hey mamas! I am working on a brand new devotional project close to my heart, and as I’m writing, I keep coming back to one truth: we need each other and Jesus.

Whether you are currently rocking a newborn at 2 AM, navigating the toddler "negotiation" phase, or watching your big kids spread their wings—you have gained wisdom that someone else needs to hear today.
I want this devotional to feel like a warm cup of coffee and a big hug from a friend, and mom who gets it.

So, I’m asking, as a mom too: please message me for more details on how to be included in this wonderful devotional-to-be. I would absolutely love to have your voice in this.

Yes! Keep the Sabbath Holy! 🙌

For 3 years now since taking over, y’all have welcomed Harlem Java House into your routines, y’all’s conversations, celebrations, coffee dates, & even y’all’s Sundays. & because you’ve supported us so generously, we wanted to share this news with y’all directly, especially those of you who have made Sunday mornings at The Java House part of your weekly rhythm.

🧡 Beginning in July 2026, Harlem Java House will be closed on Sundays. 🧡

This wasn’t a business decision. In fact, Sundays have become one of our busiest days, which also means we would be taking a loss.

But over the past several months, Sang and I have felt increasingly convicted to honor a weekly Sabbath and trust God with what happens when we do. As business owners, that’s not always an easy decision, but we believe it’s the right one for our family, our team, and this season of life.

One of the lessons we’ve been learning is that not everything depends on us. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is step back, abide, and trust God with the rest. We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but we’re excited to follow where He leads!

Thank you for supporting our family, our team, and this little coffee shop in Harlem. Thank you for your understanding, and thank you for helping us build something far greater than a business.

Starting this July, we’ll be open Monday through Saturday only.

But!!! Best believe that when those doors open each morning, we’ll still be here doing what we’ve always loved doing: to serve all people well and continue creating a place that feels good to be home!!!!!! 🧡🥺

With so much gratitude,

Shann & Sang

Happy Hump day!

What a nasty morning we had, but the sun is popping out now ☀️

Here's a little list of my favorite things!

The Tupperware Testimony

My little family and I are in the stage of unpacking and moving into our new temporary home. If you've been in this situation, then you know how absolutely frustrating everything can be. People look at you the wrong way, or the slightest hiccup in the plan can ruin your mood in a nanosecond. Or you can be like me and have no juice left in your system and completely lock yourself out of your house when you run out for a few groceries. AND then, have to get your husband to leave his 30+ drive at work to come rescue you and your mom and 9 month old from the 80 something degree summer heat. It hasn't been the best day, today. Thank you Lord for your unending grace in my life!

Then there's the issue of organizing your kitchen. And of course, the Tupperware. Again, if you're like me, then you hoard them all. Lids, containers, even turkey meat containers. You never know what you'll need them for, right? Especially if you've got little ones...they could make perfect like sensory bins or organization tools. The only problem after setting them all up? They get disorganized and discombobulated real quick.

As you clean and set up your designated Tupperware cabinet or drawer in the kitchen, you think to yourself, "this time they WILL be organized. I WILL clean them and put them together immediately afterwards." Moment of silence for all of us who actually thought that was going to happen. Me included, haha. I thought about this "perfect Tupperware cabinet mantra" just an hour ago before I put my little man down for a nap. How we strive to have a perfect and spotless section of our kitchen and then realize how quickly our life takes over and it becomes messy and a burden.

Now, compare this to your relationship with God. Typically we strive to have the perfect relationship with Him. Talk to Him every chance we get. Worship Him as often as we can. Thank Him daily for His goodness in our lives. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a perfect and spotless relationship with God. However, it's kind of impossible. And not because He makes it to be. It's because WE MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE.

The book of John is a wonderful description of how we as humans can be selfish, worldly, greedy, lustful, and lack Christ-like behaviors. We are called to obey His commandments (John 5:2-3), not love worldly things ( 1 John 2:15-17), and love one another as He loved us first ( 1 John 4:19-21). If you can sit here and tell me right now that you have not done any of things, then you are not a truther! ( If you watched Drake and Josh, then you know what I'm saying.) The days are hard, long, and honestly we forget to pray or worship out to God sometimes. We completely take advantage of the blessings we encounter everyday without giving Him thanks. We start "throwing in our Tupperware lids in the cabinet" when we originally had it planned out and organized down to a T. We just sit back and drift on with our routines and make excuses to avoid "Him" time, or simply forget.

So what's the point of this little spiel? Number one: to tell you - life is hard. God knows this. He still loves you and cares for you UNCONDITIONALLY. From the moment you were formed in your Mamma's belly, to the moment you meet Him in Heaven! (Yay!) He's yours. You're His. (Read Romans 5:8) Number two: keep following Him and spreading His good news everywhere you go. Keep doing what you're called to do via the Ten Commandments and all the important words of the Bible. Even though you might be slacking some days, keep pushing on. Make time for Him. Clean up your Tupperware cabinet more often. He wants you to talk to Him. Cry to Him. THANK HIM. John 15:4 says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."

We simply cannot live on this Earth without His grace and goodness surrounding us. Even on 'those' days when we don't deserve a lick of it from Him. And what a blessing that is because if He actually saw my Tupperware cabinet in a few weeks, He'd be embarrassed.

Hope you all have a blessed and fruitful week, friends. I love you. And more importantly, God loves you.

New item in the shop this morning!
Peace Like a River art set! Six prints for $3.00!

Happy Friday!

ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ꜰᴜɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴜᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴇᴇʙɪᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ (ʜᴏᴘᴇꜰᴜʟʟʏ ɴᴏᴛ ʟᴀꜱᴛ) ɪꜱꜱᴜᴇ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ- ᴍʏ ᴍɪɴɪ ᴍᴀɢᴀᴢɪɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ 13 ᴘᴀɢᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴜᴛᴇɴᴇꜱꜱ, ᴀ Qᴜɪᴢ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʏ2ᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍɪʟʟᴇɴɴɪᴀʟ ꜰᴜɴ. ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ꜰʀᴇᴇ, ɪ ᴅᴏ ᴋɪɴᴅʟʏ ᴀꜱᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴀ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴏɴ ꜰʙ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ᴅᴏᴡɴʟᴏᴀᴅ ɪᴛ.
𝒢𝑜 𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓀 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓈𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓁𝓎𝓂𝒶𝑔𝓃𝑜𝓁𝒾𝒶𝑔𝒶.𝒸𝑜𝓂 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓃𝒻𝑜!
(Making you work for it this time! You gotta go to the source for it! ;) )
𝓑𝓣𝓦:𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓪𝔃𝓲𝓷𝓮.

And lastly, if you think this magazine is cute- you should check out my first ever devotional: the Lemon Grove!

Let's talk about

WORRY

It comes up when we least expect it. Your heart races with nerves, you try to physically and mentally prepare for the unknown...

Thankfully we can cast all fears and nerves to Him!

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."- 1 Peter 5:7

Whatever season you find yourself in, pray through it. He'll guide you every step of the way.

✨My next project ✨

Creative Prayer: an interactive space for worship

Think: activity book for grown ups meets cute and trendy scrapbook/journal. It has creative, Biblical prompts while still making Worship and prayer time fulfilling for the Lord. I have included cut apart pages, coloring, thought-provoking questions, and ultimately- a FUN book for you to grab when you need a burst of creativity in your time with God.

I'm so excited to put this out there. Still working out the kinks but just know this is truly an exciting work in progress for me to share with you!


❤️