Dear Mother,

06/30/2026

Spring Goddess Gathering With my sweet soul sisters Amanda Alappat Brandi L33 Kat | Photographer Meridith Mcmaster-Megna At Columcille Megalith in Bangor, PA.

06/30/2026

I attended my first village prenatal gathering.
It was empowering, nurturing, and nourishing — for my body, my mind, and my spirit.

Pregnant women gather with midwives, doulas, and mothers who’ve walked this path before us. In this sacred, intimate, warm space, we open our hearts to honest conversation, gentle support, and shared wisdom. We ground ourselves with deep breaths. We trade stories like treasure. We remind each other: you are not alone.

What it does for my heart:
My body isn’t betraying me.
It’s doing something ancient and holy. Something primal, and beautifully normal.
Fear turns into trust.
Mothers who birthed before me share their raw, real stories. Not polished versions — the truth.
I hear it three times over: “I was scared too… but my body knew what to do.”
And with each story, my nervous system softens. My shoulders drop. My baby feels safer.
From invisible to seen.
At the OB, it’s 15 minutes, paper gown, out the door.
In circle, for two whole hours, I am the center.
People ask, “How is your spirit today?” not just “Any bleeding?”
Isolation melts into belonging. Pregnancy is tender, and here I am held — not fixed, just witnessed. My heart relaxes. Less cortisol for my blue onesie boy.
From doubt to recognition.
“Who am I now?”
The circle answers for me: “Sol, you’re already a fierce protector.”
“The way you explain your linea nigra to Mia — you’ll be such a gentle teacher.”
Pregnancy brain makes me forget my strength. The circle mirrors it back until I remember: I am still me. Just more. I tap into the mother lineage.
Grandma-energy aunties. Mothers of five. First-time mamas with wide eyes.
When they lay hands on my belly and speak blessings, I feel every woman who ever birthed before me standing behind me. That’s ancestral medicine. That’s belonging.

My intuition grows louder.
In the quiet, with hands on my belly, I hear my baby.
The noise fades. I remember I already know how to love my baby.

Blessing and protection rituals matter.
Pregnancy opens me wide. I feel everything more deeply.
Rituals give those big, wild feelings somewhere soft to land.

And Mia… my sweet big sister, is seen too.

04/16/2026

Celery Root Velouté

1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the celery root seasoned with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes. Pour the milk and chicken stock and bring the soup to a simmer. Cover,reduce the heat and simmer until the celery root is tender, about 20 minutes.
2. Purée the soup, preferably using an immersion blender. Stir in the mustard and seasoning, salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, drizzling each portion with a little bit of olive oil and sprinkling with a pinch of piment d’Espelette. Top each bowl with a slice of bacon 🥓.

3 tablespoons tablespoon salted butter
1 celery root peeled and cut into small cubes
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups whole milk
3/4 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Extra virgin olive oil
Piment d’Espelette or mild chile powder
6 slices bacon cooked until crisp

📸: Steven CW Taylor
Venue 🌳: The Apiary
With Karina Puente
Culinary Art: Sol Sim-Baffi .ny

03/23/2026

03/23/2026

03/23/2026

Photo .bythehearthside .blackbird.photography

Place birthed by

Art

03/01/2026

Surrounded by beauty, I find my grounding in inspiring women, in self-love, and in the embrace of my own flaws. I had the honor of collaborating with the luminous .rose.photo , whose lens captures life’s essence, to celebrate the Fire Horse year and honor the color red – a potent symbol of Dear Mother (母). Her photography weaves a spell of warmth and intimacy, infusing every frame with depth and emotion.

In harmony with visionary , who birthed The Red Rose Temple – a sanctuary where sisters converge, connect, collaborate, and bloom.
As the culinary artist of Dear Mother,
I weave art, design, and flavors into our brand’s fabric, crafting spaces that nourish the soul and spark creativity. Here, amidst kindred hearts, I find clarity, inner wisdom, strength, softness, and the beauty of all beings – gifts from my sisters, for which I’m eternally grateful.

The Red: “It’s the beginning. It’s a passion. It’s a life. It’s a birth. It’s blood.”

02/19/2026

Mid Jan to Mid Feb

12/08/2025

12/08/2025

Walnut paneled powder room Interior Photography