In honor of Halloween, I thought I’d talk today about REAL fear—not the silly, “fun” fear that comes from watching creepy black and white films (like Wait Until Dark) or dressing up in gory costumes–but REAL fear: the kind that keeps you up at night wondering what you’re doing with your life (or what you’re …
Uncultured No More!
I would venture to say that I’ve become a pretty decent cook over the past three years— That is, unless you’re judging me on ethnic variety. Pot roast and potatoes? Check. Creamy white chili and anything with bacon? Check check. Venture outside of the typical white, middle-class cuisine? Hmmm… It’s not that I don’t like …
True Love Isn’t a Fairy Tale or Even a Country Song
In ten days, Matt and I will have been married exactly two and a half years, and you know what? I’m learning more and more about what true love means every week. Take two weekends ago, for example–we had just gone to our appointment with the dentist, and we were both looking forward to getting some …
A Spooky Spider Halloween Party (+ Game Ideas)
Each year, my mom throws a huge Halloween party for all her grandkids (and for us). This year’s theme? A Spooky Spider Halloween. With Halloween being this Thursday, I thought I’d break down what a successful spider party looks like (in case you want to steal some last-minute ideas). Step One: Have everyone don …
On the Edge
Lately, I’ve been feeling on the edge about something just under the surface. I don’t know any other way to explain it—I feel like something is about to happen or change or appear in my life that I didn’t expect. Maybe it’s because not much has changed in my life over the past year and …
Be Astonished
One of my favorite poets ever–Mary Oliver–once penned these lines: “Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” So here, in no particular order, are a few things I’ve been astonished at recently: *I am astonished that lately, random cats and babies seem to be drawn towards me like never before. …
Are You Making Time for Pleasure?
Five years ago, I wrote a post about chocolate-covered strawberries that was not really about chocolate-covered strawberries—it was all about not saving life’s pleasures or little special things for some “better” day in the future that never seems to come. It’s a lesson that was hard-won: six and a half years ago, I lost my …
Five Day Breaks Call For the Red Pants & Tackling Nagging Tasks
Only three days in, and my five-day weekend has already been pretty amazing: Not only have I managed to squeeze in some fun (fall photo walk, pumpkin carving, and a trip to an antiques store followed up with lunch at Herm’s Inn), but I’ve also managed to cross quite a few items off my “Nagging …