TALKING OVER COFFEE

I’ve made a point not to let this blog turn into recordings of my day-to-day life. I can’t imagine anyone would really care about how I spend my time, and to be honest, I’m not sure I want to admit the details! But today is going to be a reflection of my thoughts. This week I took 5 days of vacation. I’ve never had “paid vacation” until now – but   Read More ...

After a few weeks of planning and endless weekends of working, we finally finished our kitchen remodel! I’m proud to say we did it all ourselves…with the exception of an electrician who wired some new outlets and my Dad who helped with the plumbing. For a grand total of $1,656, we: Installed 6 feet of base and wall cabinets Installed a matching countertop Sanded, primed and painted all the cabinets   Read More ...

Dear Future Me, In one year, I want to read this letter again. I’m writing it so I can remember how I feel right now. If my future self is anything like my past self, I won’t want to read a long letter, so I’ll try to keep this short. HEALTH I have big expectations for myself. When I read this letter again (in 2013), there are a few things   Read More ...

I was reading an article the other day about self-improvement, and I learned that being a better person isn’t really definable, because a lot of it is in our head. But if you make a few changes in your life, and you feel better about yourself as a result, then isn’t that “self-improvement” on some level?  Below is a list of my self-improvement goals. Maybe you’ll feel inspired to make   Read More ...

They say you sleep a third of your life, unless you only get five hours a night…Then I suppose it’s a fifth of your life. But regardless, when you sleep this much, it would be nice to be in a comfy bed, right? Pretty compelling argument for someone who sells mattresses. At that point, the mattresses practically sell themselves. I’ve been ready for a new bed for some time now.   Read More ...

My best friend and I made these recycled glass jar lanterns for my wedding reception last year. They added so much drama to our outdoor space. Recycled glass jar lanterns are great additions to any backyard or patio and super easy to make! Time Needed: 15 – 30 minutes Materials: Cleaned & dry glass jars (jelly jar, spaghetti sauce jar, etc) Copper wire Scissors Tea Candles Dirt or Sand STEP   Read More ...

Every year, I try and make at least one homemade mulberry rhubarb pie using my mother-in-laws yummy pie crust recipe. I don’t know if I like it so much because it’s all harvested from the land, or if it’s just because it’s the only kind of pie I make… but it’s my favorite! (picture above is from last year) Our dogs love mulberries too… Check it out here. What You   Read More ...

Last week my work partner and I had a photo shoot for Warrior Lacrosse and Brine Lacrosse. We worked with Detroit local photographers Brad Stanley and Nathan Garcia. Very happy with the shoot!

I’ve decided it’s time to start writing again. I’ve also decided to let this blog be more about my life than just general  articles. After an extremely busy few months, it’s time to get back into the online world! Plus, I’ve got some exciting things happening that I can’t wait to document. Here’s a general breakdown of the changes that are happening or just happened: 1. New Job (already happened)   Read More ...

I’m no Mother Teresa, but I’ve volunteered my time to some good causes in the past. Not all causes are created equal, and through my good and bad experiences, I’ve learned a few things: It can seem thankless. What seems insignificant to you can be huge to the “big picture”. Give what you can, but put yourself first.   —————————–   It can seem thankless. When you decide to donate your time   Read More ...

When you let someone into your life, you’re choosing to participate in a game of give and take. More than that, you’re taking a chance on that person. You’re giving them the opportunity to be the one who brings joy when you’re sad, who listens when you’re troubled, and who holds you when you’re vulnerable.  You’re choosing to be that person for them, too. It’s a partnership. But today, people   Read More ...

Snowpocalypse, Snowmageddon, Thundersnow – call it what you wish, the point is that if you live in the Midwest, it’s coming tonight whether you’re ready or not! Have you ever heard more hype about a storm that wasn’t in the tropics? Schools are closing before a flake of snow has even fallen, businesses cancelling appointments scheduled months in advance… Will it really be Snowpocalypse 2011, or are the weathermen mistaken.   Read More ...

Note: This is a hateful article on hating. Is it acceptable, since I’m directing my hate for good? You tell me. When you’re not happy with a situation what do you do? Talking about it can be a good start. You might call it complaining…But heck, complaining feels good. We’re all guilty of a good venting session now and then. In fact, it’s healthy to let your feelings out. But   Read More ...

My husband and I have been craving hummus for a long time now, and we finally found time one night to whip some up. We forgot the tahini! This is a super important ingredient, in my opinion! We picked some up at the store and added it later though. The only real prep is mincing garlic, other than that it’s all in the blending. …And in the taste-testing. I forgot   Read More ...

Two Words: Big Hats. I know winter is just beginning, but I can’t resist calling out some of my favorite fashion accessories that I hope to see next summer! The first one on my list, aside from fanny packs, which you can read about in my previous post, Resurrection of the Fanny Pack, is BIG HATS. Big. Beautiful. Hats. Here’s a few more incase you’re still not on board. Using   Read More ...

If you’re looking for the catch-all answer to happiness, I’m not going to pretend to have it. But I did have an epiphany today and I’d like to share my experience to help you when happiness feels far away. It all began with my broken laptop and my journey to the closest Apple store – which happens to be in the mall, a place I almost never go. On my   Read More ...

Now that it’s dark at 5pm, how will you spend your time? Here are a few things you can do indoors that’ll have you feeling accomplished by Christmas. Get Crafty Peruse your old hobbies, such as painting. What about those craft projects you always wanted to do, but never got around to? Here are a few that come to my mind: Scrapbooking (Snapfish.com has some fantastic deals for photo prints)   Read More ...

When you’re at the bottom, you can only go up. The saying “shit happens” isn’t exactly the most elegant of phrases, but it rings true everyday. Unfortunately, dwelling on a misfortune tends to only make you feel worse. On the other hand, completely brushing it off could result in denial and irresponsibility. So what to do? 3 steps to recover from a “shit happens” situation. Acceptance Accept that it happened.   Read More ...

There comes a point in everyone’s life when money is tight. When you don’t have a lot of cash flow, you don’t have to change your whole lifestyle. Instead, try living frugal - my way. Stop going to the movies Everyone says to go matinée, I say give them up all together – at least until you’re back on your feet. Get Netflix instead. For $8.99/month, you get one rental out at   Read More ...

When I’m feeling down, there are a few things I do that seem to make me feel a little better. Perhaps they will also work for you. 1. Smile, even if you don’t mean it Just try it. Look in a mirror if you have to. Smiling releases endorphins that will raise your spirits. 2. Call a friend to confide in Real friends WANT to be there for you. They   Read More ...

Looking Forward No matter what stage we’re at, we will always be looking to the next big thing. When we were kids, becoming old enough to drive was the only thing to look forward to. After that, it was graduating, getting laid, moving out, etc. Things just seem to happen, one after the other – career, marriage, children, debt, vacations, retirement. Life will continue down the same path unless we   Read More ...

Are you introverted or extroverted? Sensing or intuitive? A thinker or a feeler? And more importantly, why does it matter? When starting a job a few years ago, I was asked to take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the test, it’s a series of questions that measure a persons psychological preferences when it comes to making decisions and perceiving the world around them, resulting in a   Read More ...

What’s the first thing you do when you suspect you’ve got a cold? Take some Vitamin C, right? Maybe pop a couple of Zinc lozenges?  Works like a charm, right? Wrong. While listening to Fresh Air on NPR last month, I sat in disbelief while Dave Davies (NPR contributor), spoke with Jennifer Ackerman, Author of, “Ah-Choo! The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold”. Here are a few things I took from   Read More ...

This is not a joke. The fanny pack may not be “back” – but it’s been looking very fashionable lately. I’m not talking about those neon colored, nylon things you saw in the 80s and 90s – I’m talking about leather, brushed-metal studded purses that are worn on your hip. (LEFT) This cute gal shows just how fashionable these “hip” accessories can be. Whether it becomes a staple in your wardrobe or   Read More ...

Feeling low on energy? There are a few things you can do right now to change that. Take a cold (or cooler) shower Eat Healthy Form consistent sleep habits Exercise Drink water No more naps Get out of the house Don’t wear pajamas around the house Keep a tidy dwelling Get some sun Think you can stick to this list? You’d be surprised what it can do for your energy levels. Below   Read More ...