Fall and winter are soup season for me. This week, I used my beautiful new cast iron cauldron from Smith&Clark to make one of my favorites- chicken corn chowder. This is a very simple soup that involves mostly just pouring ingredients into a pot and letting it all simmer together. It is warm, filling, and has just a little bit of heat from the addition of a whole jalapeno and some red pepper flakes. It is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner but tastes like it took all day to

I am so excited for October. It is my favorite time of year. I have actually set a goal this month to do something to celebrate Halloween every day. Today my husband and I ran to Homegoods in search of a new mixing bowl and found that they have already started to make room for the holidays and are discounting Halloween! It reminded me of just how important it is to slow down and appreciate the season you are in. This month is all about ghosts, witches, and the anticipation of

I wanted to share a few thoughts with you on the importance of spreading kindness. I genuinely believe that giving and receiving love and kindness is the true source of lasting happiness, peace, and joy. Everything that we have, want, work for and dream about, comes back to what will make us happy and happiness is born of love and kindness. For me, this belief operates on both a practical, everyday level and a spiritual one. I view the core energy of the universe—God, Godde

Halloween is my favorite holiday. I l enjoy gathering with family for Thanksgiving. I have so much fun filling my kids stocking., I get excited about planning out what I will resolve in the new year and I appreciate sharing all kinds of love on Valentines day. Halloween though, is in my heart all year long. I wait for Halloween to hit the stores with baited breath, and I usually have a theme for the year in mind. This year has been about cauldrons and ghosts for me, but I am

There is a special magic that begins to stir as the calendar turns toward fall. The air feels less heavy, just a little fresher. Though the sun can still beat down and temperatures may still climb, there are cooler breezes, the first hints of bright color in the leaves, and a growing yearning for hot tea and warm sweaters. Windows can finally be opened, at least at night, allowing fresh air to move through every corner of the home. Perhaps it is time to add an extra blanket t

Over the summer my husband and I listened to Tony Robbins Money: Master the Game. (The provided link is an Amazon Affiliate link).Though much of the information related to specific websites and organizations is out of date, the book was full of valuable information. My husband and I are pretty late to the game of investing outside of our retirement accounts. We are just starting to dip our toes in these scary waters and do not want to lose more than we can afford. This book w

Labor Day has come again. A day meant to celebrate the contribution of workers (and I do try to remember this and honor this as I deeply believe that every job is important and worthy of respect, a living wage, and the opportunity to create a joy filled life), it signals additionally the unofficial end to summer. Today I am looking back on what I have accomplished in this past season, the celebrations, vacations, and relaxations. Every season I create a vision board- I will

Lets celebrate autumn!

I have been spending time this summer learning a new craft called Kinusaiga (Japanese Fabric Patchwork Without Sewing). I am still very much a beginner but I am so excited about it I wanted to share it anyway. I have written out some Step-by-Step Instructions for anyone else who might want to try this versatile, beautiful art form. Materials Foam board (1/4–1/2 inch thick) or a pre-made kinusaiga board (I discovered that I could buy this at Lowes and they would actually cut i

Trying to find my midweek joy today in the face of struggle. My uncle died yesterday. We had a difficult relationship because we didn't see eye to eye over most things. However, he was my mother's younger brother and she loved him unconditionally so I always tried to do the same. His death is making the pain I still feel over her passing three years ago feel fresh. So where do I find joy today? Obviously the Daily Grind launch will be fun, so I am grateful for that, but in my

Summer is upon us. The heat and humidity, the long sunny days, the kids who are out of school and ready to play, all bring a sense that this is time to relax and enjoy. For so many of us there are specific memories and emotions that summertime brings, of barbeques, picnics, and laying by a pool or on the beach. When we are young, it feels like all of our time is our own, and opportunities for fun and excitement are always at hand. For me, I remember playing freeze tag and hid

The Healing Power of Meditation: Bee Breathing, Om Humming, and Mantras I have been reminded lately of the power of meditation as a daily practice. Stress is such a big part of everyday life, and often we do not even realize how much it is affecting us. Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years […]

It is easy to get bogged down in our world- it seems like we are surrounded by violence, inequity, anger… you get the picture. I do not want to ignore any of these problems. It is important to me to help where and when I can, and to try to have a positive impact on […]

Romanticizing daily life is one way that I try to find joy. For me, that means I have a ridiculous collection of mugs and cups for my daily coffee, more jewelry than anyone really needs, and a collection of beautiful journals, notebooks, and sketch pads that I actually use. There are other, far less materialistic […]

What is personal growth? To me, personal growth means becoming a better, more aware, more capable version of yourself over time. It is not becoming a perfect person, or changing your personality, or even emulating the people you admire. It is learning to be true to yourself and living a life that is satisfying and […]