Stella Sanders can’t shake the sweet habit of

cigarettes

Stella Sanders, a Los Angeles mom, got a chance to sit down with us and discuss her ten
absolute favorite things in this world. Though she had a hard time picking ten, it’s the
simple life that Stella enjoys, and the few things that make her Stella was how we got to
know her. Here’s what she came up with:

1. My husband, Blake

I would do anything for my husband, which anybody would say, but he was one person in my
life who really saved me after losing my entire family. After knowing nobody for years, almost,
besides my roommate in New Orleans at the time I met Blake, I had finally found someone to
trust who cared about me and showed it. We met because I was applying for a job as a secretary,
and I got the job because I had good handwriting. Small, ten-second conversations with Blake
turned into going out to eat a few times a week, which turned into moving to Boston together and
thus, starting our new life together. I have no regrets in the years we’ve been together, and I
wouldn’t change a thing.

2. My daughter, Kennedy
My daughter Kennedy is the only other person I would die for besides Blake. She’s my angel,
and I always want the best for her. When I see her trying to be someone she is not, I always want
to be there to remind her of her true self, because I don’t want to lose the amazing person that she
is. She can be hard to keep track of, both literally and figuratively, meaning that she is always
changing what she wants to do, and even though she hasn’t found what she really loves, I’m here
to support her for whatever it is.

3. Going to Loretta’s house

My neighbor Loretta quickly turned into my friend upon her, her husband, and her little girl
moving in across the street. As nobody in the neighborhood wanted to associate with her, I felt
the need to at least introduce myself one day, so I decided to bring over a cake. Handing it to her,
she was a little confused because the cake was lopsided, but we laughed about the awkwardness
of that moment in the following months. I now enjoy going to her house while my husband is at
work.
 4. Cigarettes
I sure do love a good smoke on a cool LA night. Because of everything that I experienced in my
childhood, I sometimes get stressed to a point where I can’t shake it and smoking really helps me
take the edge off when my mind revisits those traumas. I do want to set a good example for my
daughter, so I always say I’m going to quit before she grows up so as not to set a bad example,
but as I’ve said before, “it’s terribly difficult to quit. All the best things are.”

5. Gin and soda

This is my drink of choice wherever it serves. The syrup of the soda mixed with the kick of gin
brings my senses up to feeling more alive as soon as it touches my lips, and I feel like myself. I
love how complete and like myself I feel whenever I have one in my hand. I’ve even gone as far
as making one for myself after dropping my daughter off at school, just to reward myself a little
bit. I’ve always had a bit of a sweet tooth since I was a girl, so liquor alone has never been a
great taste to me.

6. Math
I’ve always loved school, and my favorite subject has always been math. Not only am I good at
math, but I really do enjoy it. I was a reserved child, so the numbers always gave me a great
sense of comfort. It’s the main reason I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, because I want those
whose shoes I was once in to enjoy splitting up and putting together numbers as much as I do.

7. Sitting at the pool

Usually every day, I’ll drop Kennedy off at school and then continue with my morning routine,
which consists of coming back home and unwinding for a little while to clear my head. I prefer
laying on a float in the pool rather than in a lounge chair on the side. Sometimes, I feel foolish
wrapping a towel around myself after being ready to go inside, because I’ll step out and not have
a single drop of water on my body.

8. Taking charge

My whole life, I was always a very shy girl. Losing my entire family was not a helping cause of
that matter, because I really wanted to shut the world out for a long time and lost a lot of social
skills. It wasn’t until I married and became a mother that I realized I had more control in my life
than I thought I did. Because it held me back for so long, not being able to speak out and control
situations was something I needed to change about myself, which is why my current better
ability is one of the best parts about me.

9. Going on drives
Because I get bored around the house a lot, I really enjoy getting out and letting my thought
process expand. I’ll take my car out and familiarize myself with areas that I’ve never explored,
or I’ll revisit areas I’d enjoyed driving through in the past. Los Angeles is such a great city for
exploring, and living here is like living out a dream compared to the small town where I grew up
in Louisiana.
 10. Sweet tea
I don’t always fancy gin and soda, because it is not always time to drink. My housemaid,
Yolanda, will fix up a glass of sweet tea for me on the usual, and it makes number 10 on my list
because of how refreshing it is. The sweetness reminds me of the good parts of my childhood. I
feel a great comfort when sipping on a glass as I spend time with my family.