Category: Archive

Taking time to relax and enjoy life is so important. This weekend my adventures included fresh flowers from a pop-up stand, coffee from a local shop and enjoying the pressence of animals after a rodeo I volunteered at.

Today, my husband and I, along with our dog Bella, took a stroll through a local park. We were lucky enough to spot this precious flock of geese and were able to watch the goslings get into the lake.

This time last year I started a small herb and vegetable garden. This year I decided to expand my horizons and it grew quite a bit. And I am very happy to report that it so far is going well.

If you had told me a couple of years ago gardening would have become my newfound hobby, more than likely I would have laughed because I have anything but a green thumb… But like with most things in life, a little patience, practice, and research strides can indeed be made to accomplish goals.

Working in my garden and witnessing each plants’ growth every day has become a scarid task. Even if it is for just a few moments, I leave my garden each day feeling refreshed because for those few minutes I can block out the white noise presented in daily life. It has become the way I meditate in the summer and one of the ways I practice self-care.

For many people, myself included, it can be so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but it is so important to take at least a few moments out of each day to relax, let go and appreciate the simplistic joys the world has to give.

I want to encourage anyone reading this to find your happy place and a task that is so scarid no about of white noise can disturb you.

I love the holiday season for many reasons, but my favorite thing about this time of year is the food and treats that come with it. I truly enjoy cooking and baking for my loved ones. There is nothing like sharing some of your favorite baked goods with the ones you love.

Every year growing up, my father and I spent countless hours in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies. And although this year we weren’t able to do it together, I was happy to carry on the family tradition.

This baking season was made even more special after finding my Grandmother’s original spritz cookie recipe. While it is not pictured here, I hope you visit my Cooking With Love page to view the recipe card and put it to good use with your loved ones.

Enjoy the simple things my friends, and have a very Merry Christmas.

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“Once you start appreciating life, that’s when you realize how much you truly have to live for.”

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The past two weeks have been unbelievably crazy for my husband and me. Neither of us had much time to sit, relax and appreciate the little things that make our lives worthwhile. This weekend we made it a point to do all the little things we love like having a cup of coffee on our back porch, working in the yard and baking; and it honestly couldn’t have been a better weekend.

Remember to appreciate the little things folks, because that’s what makes life worth living.

Something I don’t talk about very often is being the wife of a law enforcement officer and how, at times, that can be trying. What has proven to be the most challenging is the ever-changing and opposite schedules, and finding time to make sure we have quality time together. But recently we have been making it a point to take walks together which our beautiful dog Bella has very much enjoyed. This evening on our walk it started to rain out of nowhere when we were at the farthest point from our home, and it couldn’t have been more fun. While we were absolutely soaked when we arrived at our porch I am convinced a good session of playing in the rain is good for the soul and helps keep a marriage strong. Like I have said before it’s the simple things in life that bring you the most joy.

Recently had the opportunity to visit South Fork, Colorado. My husband and I decided to take the time to do a two-hour trial ride through the Rio Grande National Forrest.

This week was full of new adventures and craziness for my husband and myself. I started a new job working in children’s programming at a local library and started making moves for a future career—I rolled the dice and submitted an application for graduate school. My husband also had an insane week and we weren’t able to spend a ton of quality time together because when we were both home we were tying up loose ends from work or doing household chores. But on this very rainy Saturday morning we made it a point to do something we both love: drinking coffee and supporting a local business. During our coffee date we discussed that it’s the little things that make life worthwhile, like having a cup of coffee and some time to talk about everything and nothing all at once.

Monday afternoon my husband came home from work and like most nights we ended up at Home Depot. This trip we managed to purchase a new grill! Which was all very exciting until we realized the assembled model was not going to fit into the SUV … Therefore we went with the unassembled version that came in the box.

After dropping it off at the house my husband left for an evening meeting and I went to work determined to put it together. Two and a half hours later and a few FaceTime calls with my father it was finished. And I can honestly say I feel I am a better person for it.

Tuesday evening I took the opportunity to not only use the new grill but also make a new recipe I had never tried before, pork steaks. Which is apparently a St. Louis favorite that as a Tennessee native I had never had before. But with a little guidance from my mother-in-law I was able to not only throw it together but it turned out better than expected and was also approved by my St. Louis native husband.

All of this has reminded me the importance in taking chances and trying new things, because it allows you to grow … Even if it’s in the simplest of ways.