Once, for Christmas, my four sisters and I drew names for a gift exchange. My sister Mary was surprised, I think, when I told her the "boring" gift that I had in mind: an atlas. I wanted an atlas. Because I wanted the world. To this day, I love maps and traveling, but am not {currently} at a stage in my life when I can go very far. … [Read more...]
Oh dear, I fear I missed the Eclipse.
Alas, the solar eclipse was neither total nor partial for this Minnesota family. We had clouds, clouds and more clouds, with just one or teensy random peeks at the pac-man-like appearance of the sun. We were giddy regardless, as evidenced by this Facebook video: ...because a solar eclipse is a fun and familial … [Read more...]
{Selfish} Gains
I'm being somewhat tongue-in-cheek with this blog post's title, because I have to admit that the more improvement I make in achieving some of my goals, the more I tend to obsess about them! It's a win-win-lose scenario: 2 Steps Forward (i.e. logging 15,000 steps, making a great new recipe from the Trim Healthy Mama book, reading two more … [Read more...]
On Celebrating my Independence
(From this Blog ;-) ) So here I am, sheepishly admitting that 30 Posts in 30 Days is SO not a doable goal at this time. Did you win the bet? What do I owe you? I blame this crew for giving me a solid push off the good-resolution wagon: ...because we went camping on Sunday and wouldn't you know? I totally forgot to pack my … [Read more...]
Back in the (Blogging) Saddle Again
Alrighty, then, I'm just gonna do it. ("It" being write a blog post.) My posting average is very low these days--only two, maybe three posts a month—but I would like very much to get back in the habit (i.e. saddle) of writing—so I am going to try the ol' One-Post-a-Day-for-30-Days. Encourage me, please! Or don't and merely think … [Read more...]
That Time that Netflix Gave Me the Finger
Warning: This post contains two extremely gory images from the zombie comedy "The Santa Clarita Diet". If blood and dismemberment are offensive to you, as they are to me, you may want to click away. That said, I include these images to make my point. Disclaimer: I'm a member of the Netflix Stream Team, which means that I get a year's worth of … [Read more...]
First Retreat and then Attack: My Thoughts on the Women’s March
Happy Monday-following-one-of-the-most-surreal-Saturdays-I've-had-in-a-long-time! Here are my thoughts on the "Women's" March that took place in Washington and around the country: 1. I don't agree with 99% percent of their sentiment and rhetoric. 2. We as a nation are deeply divided. 3. I am much, MUCH happier when I avoid the … [Read more...]
Making Memories, DAVANNI’S Restaurant Style
Being a frugal (i.e. dirt poor) blogger... I am always happy to review local restaurants in exchange for a gift card or three. This is to the advantage of both my family and...um....me. My kids get snockered up on pizza & breadsticks... And I get to satisfy my overwhelming need to be … [Read more...]
Room with a View
An Election Day Meditation Autumn in Minnesota continues to be absolutely gorgeous. This picture was taken a few days ago. It's a shot of my bedroom from the kids' playground out back, where I was taking a break from going down the slide with my 3-year-old. (Note: as a creaky 50-year-old, I needed to take lots of breaks!) Looking … [Read more...]
A Simple Woman’s Daybook
For Today... I am trying to live my life one day at a time. I was a little—okay, a lot discouraged last night because of missing my family and wanting to be there at this time of transition. (My mom's been moved into a nursing home.) I went to bed sad but woke up hopeful. That has to be grace, don't you think? Outside my … [Read more...]
