Being back in my hometown after so many years is very strange. While some of the streets, stores, and faces are of course familiar, there has been A LOT which has changed. The city has definitely been in growth mode over the past 10+ years and my once or twice annual pilgrimages hardly gave me the opportunity to see all that was new each year, not to mention the cumulative effect. Everything is familiar, but little is the same. Grand Rapids is all grown up now. And although I kind
Identifying “Hot Points” and Perfecting Whole30 Pomme Anna
Transitions are tough. I am so excited to be back in Michigan, close to family and working on our new home, however, I am still working on feeling settled. Of course there are still boxes to be unpacked and renovation projects which will just take time, but moreover I feel a bit dazed and transient. But I do know that we'll get there. In the meantime, my biggest challenge proves to be remaining calm. I hate clutter, mess, and an unsettled routine. And although I find it relatively manageable to maintain my regular healthy habits when it comes to eating and exercise, I often struggle to maintain a positive outlook…
Future Discounting :: Why Getting Started is the Hardest Part
For me, and many others as I understand it, getting started really is half the battle. Whether it's due to perfectionistic tendencies and anxiety about making a wrong first step (me) or some other variety of procrastination, just getting going can be a big hurdle to overcome. I have written a few times (here and here) about what is referred to as "tomorrow" logic or our tendency to discount what we do today because we are going to do XYZ tomorrow. When we think about our future selves, we typically see them as more virtuous and superior to who and what we are today, which t
My 19 for 2019! And a Whole30 Salmon and Brussel Sprouts Salad with Lemon Cashew Dressing
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! As one of thosetypes of people who always loves any chance for a fresh start, I especially love a brand new year and usually try to capitalize on the psychological advantages that the blank slate provides. And in light of all that's going on this year with the big move back across the pond, becoming homeowners and settling into life in Grand Rapids - it feels like this year is especially turbocharged! However, although I am a resolutions and habit fanatic, I know that many others are decidedly not. And because there are as many different perspectives on goal setting and resolutions as there are individuals out…
Taking Advantage of Temporal Landmarks and Enjoying Paleo Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes
Over the past week onboard the Queen Mary 2, I've had a bit of time to reflect on the year - what went well, what did not-so-much and think about what I want to do with our fresh start back home. Although I really love the process and "doing" once I get started on something, whether that's making a presentation for work, writing a blog post, undertaking something artistic, or soon designing and decorating a new home, I often feel quite overwhelmed by a totally blank slate. However, since I know that a lot of research shows that a big change like a move, a different career, or a new…
My “Personality Project” and Paleo Zucchini Brownies
“One tree is like another tree, but not too much. One tulip is like the next tulip, but not altogether. More or less like people—a general outline, then the stunning individual strokes.” - Mary Oliver As I prepare to move back to the US, there are a lot of not fun things that need to happen - the packing, the administration of closing accounts and opening new ones, and most obviously leaving behind some of the best friends I've ever had. It's been a lot of work and a bittersweet experience so far, but of course there are many things on the other hand to look forward to - including…
Superpowers and a Super Easy Whole30 Tuna Zoodle Casserole
If you could have any superpower what would it be? According to a quick Google search - the most common responses are usually superhuman agility, the ability to fly, being able to read minds, invisibility, superhuman intelligence or immortality. On a slightly more practical level, many people seem to wish that they were blessed with the ability to be in more than one place at the same time or that they always had the right words to say. As a general rule, I'm not a big fan of these kinds of questions (which is the reason why the daily brainstorming sessions are still going strong to stimulate my creativity and levity!),…
Gratitude and a Whole30 Fall Chicken and Butternut Squash Salad
Happy Thanksgiving - one of my favorite holidays of all! It's one that brings people together simply for the purpose of being together and reflecting on the many things that we have to be grateful for. In light of our rapidly approaching date of departure, we celebrated our third annual Irish Friendsgiving a little early this year and today I am enjoying a less hectic day of work with a lot of packing on the side. Moving, as stressful and onerous as it can be, always presents a great opportunity to reassess one's possessions and eliminate or reduce clutter - something I genuinely enjoy. And it provides the opportunity to…
Dealing with Seasons of Stress and a Whole30 Fajita Chicken Protein Salad
Stress is a crazy thing. There are million and one proverbs, clichés and admonitions about how going through times of trial and tribulation bring out one's true colors or show what someone is made of. And while that's all true, valuable, and potentially reassuring - it often doesn't feel like it (or like it matters) in the moment, nor do I always like to be reminded of that fact. I've mentioned before that my own personal, very unattractive natural tendency when I am out of time, patience, or energy is to become a "dictatorial steamroller." Since I am aware of this proclivity, I try to pay attention to the times…
Broaden-and-Build, the Benefits of Positivity, and a Whole30 Chicken Chili
I would consider one of my strengths to be my ability to both formulate and execute a plan. I LOVE planning - everything from meal plans to barre choreography, from vacations to my wedding, and everything in between. I would consider one of my weaknesses to be my strong distaste for not knowing what to expect. I'm not great at "going with the flow" and just seeing what happens when it happens. In fact, "not great" hardly scratches the surface. I loathe being in the dark and thus ill-prepared for anything of importance. Thus the logistics of moving and such a big transition have my anxiety levels above optimum at…
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