Where this Mum Began
Hello Bloom
🌼 Where This Mum Began
January 31, 2026
Today is the last day of the first month of 2026, and whew — January has been one of the longest months of my life. For reference, I’m 41 years old, so I’ve lived through a couple of mango seasons. Still, January 2026 somehow managed to feel like an entire year packed into just 31 days.
Why did January feel so long? Well, if you asked ten different people, you’d get ten different answers. Everybody’s 31 days look different. We all have our own routines, responsibilities, and in 2026… a whole lot is going on. Life is life-ing.
For me, January included confirmation of a change that’s been hovering on the horizon for a long time. Not just a couple of decades — closer to three. At 41, I’m changing my relationship with everything and everyone who has access to me.
Now, don’t get it twisted. This is not an “I’m cutting everybody off” page. Absolutely not. It’s actually the opposite. This season is about acceptance — accepting people, situations, and relationships exactly as they are. And that mindset is how Coastal Chrysanthemum was born.
So… what is a Coastal Chrysanthemum?
Who is she?
Can you be one?
Honestly, that part is an individual choice.
This Coastal Chrysanthemum is me — Chrysanthia.
I’m 41. I have a personal relationship with Christ. I’m a summer ’80s baby. I’ve been married to my high school love for 21 years. I’m a mom to three: an almost 20-year-old daughter, a preteen daughter, and an older elementary-aged son. I’ve worked for the federal government for almost 20 years — which feels important to say — but I’ve also been working somewhere in some capacity (paid or volunteer) since I was 13 years old.
My mom passed away when I was six. My father, who raised us, died in 2015 after a brief and aggressive fight with cancer. I’ve been raised in South Florida since I was six, did all my schooling and college in Florida, spent a few years as a military spouse, lived in Atlanta for several years, and eventually made my way back to Florida — this time Central Florida. Orlando.
Disney Days
Life in Central Florida meant annual passes, practical joy, and making memories in between responsibilities.
Writing this introduction took longer than I expected. I didn’t realize how hard it is to describe yourself without centering your identity around who you work for and what you are to other people. The wife. The mother. The employee. The responsible one. The dependable one.
So that brings me back to the question:
Who am I?
Let’s rewind a bit — back to the chrysanthemum.
My parents named me Chrysanthia, partly because of a family tradition of “C” names, and partly because they loved chrysanthemum flowers. Chrysanthemums carry different meanings across cultures, but they often symbolize resilience, seasons, joy, and blooming.
Growing up, my name was always a conversation starter:
“That’s a long name.”
“Isn’t that a flower?”
“Your parents really love chrysanthemums.
” And occasionally — “That’s a really pretty name.”
I didn’t know any other Chrysanthias growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, so I spent a lot of time in my own lane. Turns out, that was practice.
Fast-forward back to now.
Coastal Chrysanthemum is about blossoming — and since I’m in my forties, I guess we’ll call it a second bloom. I’m transitioning away from everything I thought I had to be and giving myself permission not to know everything. I’m removing expectations — mine and everyone else’s — and creating space to just be.
This blog is an invitation to ride along.
Now, the coastal part.
I’m a Floridian. Through all my travels (which we’ll get into later), I’ve learned I’m a coastal girl. Not necessarily beachfront — just somewhere that the beach is within a couple of hours. In 2023, my husband and I finally made it to California, and it became very clear that my coastal preference comes with conditions: beaches, palm trees, mostly sunny days, and mild winters and summers.
Florida checks most of those boxes… except the humidity. Honestly, Florida does not care about seasons. Spring, summer, fall — it’s all just hot. As I’ve gotten older, the humidity started forcing me to reconsider this whole beach thing.
I’ve visited other coastal states, but California keeps calling me. The weather. The topography. The redwood forests and sequoia trees. Snow-capped mountains. West Coast beaches. Sunsets that feel intentional.
So that’s what we’re doing.
We’re moving. We’re changing jobs after 20 years. We’re bringing our kids — and our almost three-year-old, nine-pound Shih Tzu — with us. We’re searching for a lifestyle that’s not quite suburban, not quite rural, rooted in intention, and very much on a budget (proud Aldi shopper here).
This space will hold my thoughts, lessons, prayers, inspiration, motivation, discounts (because I like to shop), and the honest process of navigating change. A lot of us are in transition. Some of us are in waiting.
I’m definitely in a season of waiting — and that’s where we’ll head next, with The Daisy Mum.
Until then, I’m praying for love, health, joy, and power — now and forever.
Till next time, mums. 🌼 — Chrysanthia
Mums Balance and Peace
Mum balance: staring at the waves, pretending I’m deep in thought, but mostly thinking about lunch.
A Perfect Sunset
Me, a California sunset, and a gentle reminder: I don’t have it all together… and that’s exactly the point.
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Hi
About Me
Hi, I’m Chrysanthia — a wife, mom, mommy, ma, or occasionally a 'bruh' (when they have me messed up), and lifelong learner navigating life after forty. Rooted in Southern culture with a broad perspective, I approach the world with curiosity, a dash of awkward everything, and a love for all moments big or small. From Central Florida to California, I’m exploring second blooms, raising my kids, finding balance, and savoring sunsets, mountains, and the quiet that comes when you pause long enough to notice life unfolding. Thank you for being here. 🌼 I invite you to explore, reflect, and grow along with me.
“God, allow us to walk in power, not in survival.”
— Chrysanthia
The Coastal Chrysanthemum
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