Okay, so now Iโm going a little deeper into each episode ofย With Love, Meghan, because I want to highlight all the things I connect with and a few I donโt.
One thing I have to say right up front: Black women are not a monolith.
We might share some experiences, some style, even some facial features but, that doesnโt mean we think or live the same way.
And honestly, no other race or ethnicity seems to get as much criticism for simply having different tastes.
But this isnโt a post about that.
This is about With Love, Meghan and what Episode 1 brought up for me.
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The Guest Experience: Food, Comfort, and Little Luxuries
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In Episode 1, Meghanโs friend Daniel comes to visit, heโs a makeup artist and someone she clearly cherishes.
She wants him to feel completely at home.
And that? I felt that deep in my soul.
I am that woman. ย I want my guests to feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for.
(Although unlike Meghan, sometimes I donโt invite people over because I know I wonโt be able to give them the experience I want them to have. ๐ )
When my mom first came to visit us in Minneapolis after we moved into our house, everything wasnโt fully set up yet.
I didnโt have the full โduchessโ guest experience readyโฆ but the core was still there:
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A comfortable place to sleep
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Thoughtfully stocked bathroom
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Chargers available
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A nightstand with a reading light (because my mom, like me, is a night reader)
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Hospitality, to me, is all about the little things.
I want you to leave my house full, well-rested, and feeling like you mattered.
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And of course, no one leaves my kitchen without a little something delicious โ usually something quick, homemade, and always seasoned with love. Garlic Dust (which you can find here!) is one of my secret weapons for that. ย The same care that goes into welcoming my guests is the care that goes into every Tasty Tinยฎ blend.
I loved seeing Meghan lean into that same energy, even making homemade bath salts for Daniel.
(Side note: I make bath salts too, although I donโt take many baths lately , small tubs and busy life!)
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The Honey Moment and My Real-Life Spin
One moment that blew my mind?
Meghan has her own beehive.
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Listenโฆ I donโt have a beehive.
I donโt have beekeepers.
But I do prioritize local honey โ it tastes better, supports small farmers, and (maybe) helps with allergies.
When my family and I shop at farmersโ markets, I always seek out local honey producers.
We use it in:
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Homemade salad dressings
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Tea (especially my husbandโs morning tea)
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Sweetening things more naturally
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And after seeing Meghanโs gorgeous honey tea setup, you better believe Iโm about to upgrade my tea service at home.
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The One-Pot Pastaโฆ and My Pasta Philosophy
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For dinner, Meghan makes a beautiful one-pot pasta.
Hereโs where I differ:
Growing up, we had spaghetti every week.
And in my house, sauce and pasta were served separately because everyone liked their own ratio.
So while I thought Meghanโs one-pot pasta looked amazing (and Iโve made my own before โ photo coming soon, slightly over-saturated but still gorgeous ๐ )โฆ
One-pot pasta isnโt my everyday go-to.
Why?
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I like controlling my sauce-to-pasta ratio.
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Pasta sitting in sauce tends to get mushy when reheated.
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If youโre eating it all at once? Amazing.
If youโre reheating leftovers? You need extra sauce on hand, trust me.
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Dessert and Cozy Mysteries (A Very Me Moment)
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For dessert, Meghan and Daniel make a gorgeous lemon-honey cake.
It immediately made me think of something special from my own life:
Iโm a huge fan of cozy mysteries โ think Murder, She Wrote meets charming small towns and delicious food.
One of my favorite things about cozy mysteries?
They often include recipes at the end of the book. (Yes, recipes!)
That idea โ tying food, love, and storytelling together โ resonates so deeply with me.
And it reminded me of the time I baked Limoncello cakes for all my neighbors at Christmas.
I made about ten mini bundt cakes, wrapped them beautifully, and delivered them as gifts.
Not expensive.
Just thoughtful.
(And yes, the recipe is on my blog here if you want it! Itโs not my original recipe, but itโs a good one.)ย
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Final Thoughts
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What With Love, Meghan showed me, and what I try to live, is that creating small, beautiful moments matters.
Whether itโs a homemade bath salt, a perfectly brewed cup of tea, or a simple pasta dinner made with love...
hospitality isnโt about perfection.
Itโs about intention.
And that, my friends, is a value we should all sprinkle a little more of into our lives. โจ
With Love...
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