diff --git a/lua/core/mappings.lua b/lua/core/mappings.lua
index 8ba5d92a..b7c10ede 100644
--- a/lua/core/mappings.lua
+++ b/lua/core/mappings.lua
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ M.bufferline = {
       -- close buffer + hide terminal buffer
       ["<leader>x"] = {
          function()
-            nvchad.close_buffer()
+            require("core.utils").close_buffer()
          end,
          "   close buffer",
       },
diff --git a/lua/core/options.lua b/lua/core/options.lua
index 26727c7c..05e3c764 100644
--- a/lua/core/options.lua
+++ b/lua/core/options.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 local opt = vim.opt
 local g = vim.g
 
-g.nvchad_theme = nvchad.load_config().ui.theme
+g.nvchad_theme = require("core.utils").load_config().ui.theme
 
 -- use filetype.lua instead of filetype.vim
 g.did_load_filetypes = 0
@@ -86,4 +86,4 @@ vim.schedule(function()
 end)
 
 -- load user options if the file exists
-nvchad.load_config().options.user()
+require("core.utils").load_config().options.user()
diff --git a/lua/core/packer.lua b/lua/core/packer.lua
index 126f9ab0..ceaecf5d 100644
--- a/lua/core/packer.lua
+++ b/lua/core/packer.lua
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ M.options = {
 }
 
 -- merge overrides if there are any
-M.options = nvchad.load_override(M.options, "wbthomason/packer.nvim")
+M.options = require("core.utils").load_override(M.options, "wbthomason/packer.nvim")
 
 M.run = function(plugins)
    local present, packer = pcall(require, "packer")
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ M.run = function(plugins)
    end
 
    -- Override with chadrc values
-   plugins = nvchad.remove_default_plugins(plugins)
-   plugins = nvchad.merge_plugins(plugins)
+   plugins = require("core.utils").remove_default_plugins(plugins)
+   plugins = require("core.utils").merge_plugins(plugins)
 
    packer.init(M.options)
 
diff --git a/lua/core/utils.lua b/lua/core/utils.lua
index 95beb4b9..ba94f862 100644
--- a/lua/core/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/core/utils.lua
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-_G.nvchad = {}
+local M = {}
 
 local merge_tb = vim.tbl_deep_extend
 
-nvchad.close_buffer = function(force)
+M.close_buffer = function(force)
    if vim.bo.buftype == "terminal" then
       vim.api.nvim_win_hide(0)
       return
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@ nvchad.close_buffer = function(force)
    vim.cmd(close_cmd)
 end
 
-nvchad.load_config = function()
+M.load_config = function()
    local config = require "core.default_config"
    local chadrc_exists, chadrc = pcall(require, "custom.chadrc")
 
    if chadrc_exists then
       -- merge user config if it exists and is a table; otherwise display an error
       if type(chadrc) == "table" then
-         nvchad.remove_default_keys()
+         M.remove_default_keys()
          config = merge_tb("force", config, chadrc)
       else
          error "chadrc must return a table!"
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ nvchad.load_config = function()
    return config
 end
 
-nvchad.remove_default_keys = function()
+M.remove_default_keys = function()
    local chadrc = require "custom.chadrc"
    local user_mappings = chadrc.mappings or {}
    local user_keys = {}
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ nvchad.remove_default_keys = function()
    end
 end
 
-nvchad.load_mappings = function(mappings, mapping_opt)
-   mappings = mappings or nvchad.load_config().mappings
+M.load_mappings = function(mappings, mapping_opt)
+   mappings = mappings or M.load_config().mappings
 
    -- set mapping function with/without whichkye
    local map_func
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ nvchad.load_mappings = function(mappings, mapping_opt)
 end
 
 -- load plugin after entering vim ui
-nvchad.packer_lazy_load = function(plugin, timer)
+M.packer_lazy_load = function(plugin, timer)
    if plugin then
       timer = timer or 0
       vim.defer_fn(function()
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ nvchad.packer_lazy_load = function(plugin, timer)
 end
 
 -- remove plugins defined in chadrc
-nvchad.remove_default_plugins = function(plugins)
-   local removals = nvchad.load_config().plugins.remove or {}
+M.remove_default_plugins = function(plugins)
+   local removals = M.load_config().plugins.remove or {}
 
    if not vim.tbl_isempty(removals) then
       for _, plugin in pairs(removals) do
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ nvchad.remove_default_plugins = function(plugins)
 end
 
 -- merge default/user plugin tables
-nvchad.merge_plugins = function(default_plugins)
-   local user_plugins = nvchad.load_config().plugins.user
+M.merge_plugins = function(default_plugins)
+   local user_plugins = M.load_config().plugins.user
 
    -- merge default + user plugin table
    default_plugins = merge_tb("force", default_plugins, user_plugins)
@@ -154,8 +154,8 @@ nvchad.merge_plugins = function(default_plugins)
    return final_table
 end
 
-nvchad.load_override = function(default_table, plugin_name)
-   local user_table = nvchad.load_config().plugins.override[plugin_name]
+M.load_override = function(default_table, plugin_name)
+   local user_table = M.load_config().plugins.override[plugin_name]
 
    if type(user_table) == "table" then
       default_table = merge_tb("force", default_table, user_table)
@@ -165,3 +165,5 @@ nvchad.load_override = function(default_table, plugin_name)
 
    return default_table
 end
+
+return M
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/alpha.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/alpha.lua
index 840cafde..6a57bd67 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/alpha.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/alpha.lua
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ options.buttons = {
    },
 }
 
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "goolord/alpha-nvim")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "goolord/alpha-nvim")
 
 -- dynamic header padding
 local fn = vim.fn
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/bufferline.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/bufferline.lua
index b6f62da1..f554a54c 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/bufferline.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/bufferline.lua
@@ -65,6 +65,6 @@ local options = {
 }
 
 -- check for any override
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "akinsho/bufferline.nvim")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "akinsho/bufferline.nvim")
 
 bufferline.setup(options)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/cmp.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/cmp.lua
index c587eb1d..36baf27d 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/cmp.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/cmp.lua
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ local cmp_window = require "cmp.utils.window"
 
 cmp_window.info_ = cmp_window.info
 cmp_window.info = function(self)
-  local info = self:info_()
-  info.scrollable = false
-  return info
+   local info = self:info_()
+   info.scrollable = false
+   return info
 end
 
 local options = {
@@ -96,6 +96,6 @@ local options = {
 }
 
 -- check for any override
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "hrsh7th/nvim-cmp")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "hrsh7th/nvim-cmp")
 
 cmp.setup(options)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/icons.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/icons.lua
index 7a92dd32..c3f3ba0c 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/icons.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/icons.lua
@@ -118,6 +118,6 @@ local options = {
 }
 
 -- check for any override
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "kyazdani42/nvim-web-devicons")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "kyazdani42/nvim-web-devicons")
 
 devicons.setup(options)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/lsp_installer.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/lsp_installer.lua
index 000f5363..2e0cef91 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/lsp_installer.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/lsp_installer.lua
@@ -31,6 +31,6 @@ local options = {
    max_concurrent_installers = 20,
 }
 
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "williamboman/nvim-lsp-installer")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "williamboman/nvim-lsp-installer")
 
 lsp_installer.setup(options)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/lspconfig.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/lspconfig.lua
index f123ac5d..c8f8ab56 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/lspconfig.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/lspconfig.lua
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ M.on_attach = function(client, bufnr)
    client.resolved_capabilities.document_formatting = false
    client.resolved_capabilities.document_range_formatting = false
 
-   local lsp_mappings = nvchad.load_config().mappings.lspconfig
-   nvchad.load_mappings({ lsp_mappings }, { buffer = bufnr })
+   local lsp_mappings = require("core.utils").load_config().mappings.lspconfig
+   require("core.utils").load_mappings({ lsp_mappings }, { buffer = bufnr })
 end
 
 local capabilities = vim.lsp.protocol.make_client_capabilities()
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ lspconfig.sumneko_lua.setup {
 }
 
 -- requires a file containing user's lspconfigs
-local addlsp_confs = nvchad.load_config().plugins.options.lspconfig.setup_lspconf
+local addlsp_confs = require("core.utils").load_config().plugins.options.lspconfig.setup_lspconf
 
 if #addlsp_confs ~= 0 then
    require(addlsp_confs).setup_lsp(M.on_attach, capabilities)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/nvimtree.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/nvimtree.lua
index c1bda953..e2866b15 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/nvimtree.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/nvimtree.lua
@@ -78,6 +78,6 @@ local options = {
 }
 
 -- check for any override
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "kyazdani42/nvim-tree.lua")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "kyazdani42/nvim-tree.lua")
 
 nvimtree.setup(options)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/nvterm.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/nvterm.lua
index 5e13ec28..581e4c4a 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/nvterm.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/nvterm.lua
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ local options = {
    enable_new_mappings = true,
 }
 
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "NvChad/nvterm")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "NvChad/nvterm")
 
 nvterm.setup(options)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/others.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/others.lua
index 433560b8..e44ee329 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/others.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/others.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 local M = {}
 
+local load_override = require("core.utils").load_override
+
 M.autopairs = function()
    local present1, autopairs = pcall(require, "nvim-autopairs")
    local present2, cmp = pcall(require, "cmp")
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ M.better_escape = function()
       keys = "<Esc>",
    }
 
-   options = nvchad.load_override(options, "max397574/better-escape.nvim")
+   options = load_override(options, "max397574/better-escape.nvim")
    escape.setup(options)
 end
 
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ M.blankline = function()
       show_first_indent_level = false,
    }
 
-   options = nvchad.load_override(options, "lukas-reineke/indent-blankline.nvim")
+   options = load_override(options, "lukas-reineke/indent-blankline.nvim")
    blankline.setup(options)
 end
 
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ M.colorizer = function()
       },
    }
 
-   options = nvchad.load_override(options, "NvChad/nvim-colorizer.lua")
+   options = load_override(options, "NvChad/nvim-colorizer.lua")
 
    colorizer.setup(options["filetypes"], options["user_default_options"])
    vim.cmd "ColorizerReloadAllBuffers"
@@ -149,7 +151,7 @@ M.signature = function()
       padding = "", -- character to pad on left and right of signature can be ' ', or '|'  etc
    }
 
-   options = nvchad.load_override(options, "ray-x/lsp_signature.nvim")
+   options = load_override(options, "ray-x/lsp_signature.nvim")
    lsp_signature.setup(options)
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/statusline.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/statusline.lua
index 4c850a90..65959015 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/statusline.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/statusline.lua
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ options.icon_styles = {
    },
 }
 
-options.separator_style = options.icon_styles[nvchad.load_config().plugins.options.statusline.separator_style]
+options.separator_style = options.icon_styles[require("core.utils").load_config().plugins.options.statusline.separator_style]
 
 options.main_icon = {
    provider = options.separator_style.main_icon,
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ options.current_line = {
    hl = "Feline_CurrentLine",
 }
 
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "feline-nvim/feline.nvim")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "feline-nvim/feline.nvim")
 
 local function add_table(tbl, inject)
    if inject then
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/telescope.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/telescope.lua
index 46374922..15bd8007 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/telescope.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/telescope.lua
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ local options = {
 }
 
 -- check for any override
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "nvim-telescope/telescope.nvim")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "nvim-telescope/telescope.nvim")
 telescope.setup(options)
 
 -- load extensions
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/treesitter.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/treesitter.lua
index b576b3f3..a6e6483e 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/treesitter.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/treesitter.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@ local options = {
 }
 
 -- check for any override
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "nvim-treesitter/nvim-treesitter")
 
 treesitter.setup(options)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/configs/whichkey.lua b/lua/plugins/configs/whichkey.lua
index c2487bbe..023327fa 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/configs/whichkey.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/configs/whichkey.lua
@@ -34,15 +34,17 @@ local options = {
    },
 }
 
-options = nvchad.load_override(options, "folke/which-key.nvim")
+options = require("core.utils").load_override(options, "folke/which-key.nvim")
 
-local mappings = nvchad.load_config().mappings
+local utils = require "core.utils"
+
+local mappings = utils.load_config().mappings
 local mapping_groups = { groups = vim.deepcopy(mappings.groups) }
 
 mappings.disabled = nil
 mappings.groups = nil
 
-nvchad.load_mappings()
-nvchad.load_mappings(mapping_groups)
+utils.load_mappings()
+utils.load_mappings(mapping_groups)
 
 wk.setup(options)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/init.lua b/lua/plugins/init.lua
index 0c3d16df..78bdaaa7 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/init.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/init.lua
@@ -71,9 +71,7 @@ local plugins = {
       config = function()
          require("plugins.configs.others").gitsigns()
       end,
-      setup = function()
-         nvchad.packer_lazy_load "gitsigns.nvim"
-      end,
+      setup = require("core.utils").packer_lazy_load "gitsigns.nvim",
    },
 
    -- lsp stuff
@@ -81,7 +79,7 @@ local plugins = {
    ["williamboman/nvim-lsp-installer"] = {
       opt = true,
       setup = function()
-         nvchad.packer_lazy_load "nvim-lsp-installer"
+         require("core.utils").packer_lazy_load "nvim-lsp-installer"
          -- reload the current file so lsp actually starts for it
          vim.defer_fn(function()
             vim.cmd 'if &ft == "packer" | echo "" | else | silent! e %'
@@ -107,9 +105,7 @@ local plugins = {
 
    ["andymass/vim-matchup"] = {
       opt = true,
-      setup = function()
-         nvchad.packer_lazy_load "vim-matchup"
-      end,
+      setup = require("core.utils").packer_lazy_load "vim-matchup",
    },
 
    ["max397574/better-escape.nvim"] = {
@@ -202,9 +198,7 @@ local plugins = {
 
    ["folke/which-key.nvim"] = {
       opt = true,
-      setup = function()
-         nvchad.packer_lazy_load "which-key.nvim"
-      end,
+      setup = require("core.utils").packer_lazy_load "which-key.nvim",
       config = function()
          require "plugins.configs.whichkey"
       end,