“The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind.”
Considering the Paradoxical While Enjoying Whole30 Taco Stuffed Potatoes
"Accepting oneself does not preclude an attempt to become better." Flannery O'Connor I consistently struggle with knowing when to accept something about myself as opposed to when to push myself a little harder. As a general rule, I fail to accept pretty much anything as immutable and tend to be somewhat self-critical. Over the past few years in particular, I have spent considerable time discovering the value of knowing myself better in order to build a life structured upon my own nature rather than fighting against it. And in many ways this has allowed me to better understand what I really like or want and to care less about what…
Spring Cleaning and a Paleo Enchilada Casserole
I am absolutely pumped about the fact that it is officially spring AND feels like it outside! Although summer is decidedly my favorite, I am happy with pretty much anything that doesn't closely resemble winter, so no snow on the ground and above freezing temperatures has been a welcome change after a long, cold winter. The crocuses and tulips my grandfather planted at our house over 20 years ago are all coming up and serve as beautiful sign of better days to come. As we start to work on things outside the house, I know that I would really like to be able to preserve those perennials as
Three Ingredient Paleo Cherry Pie Bars
I vastly underestimated how much I would LOVE being a homeowner. As someone who tends to take commitments pretty seriously, owning a home has always been one which sounded a bit overwhelming. Yes, although I realize that homes can always be sold and you can still move if you ever wanted to or needed to - it still seemed like a scary commitment. However, after we have been living here for about a month and a half, we have been hard at work making upgrades to the house and it has been tremendously rewarding and fun. I now totally get everyone's obsession with all things HGTV,
What I Read Last Month :: December and January
It's time for a "here's what I read last month post!" And actually - it's a "here's what I read the last TWO months" post. With everything being so in flux at the start of the year, I never got around to sharing my December booklist until it was so late in the month, that I decided it would be better just to wait to combine it with January's now. Although there is no shortage of things to keep me busy when at home in the new house these days, I have thankfully had some quality reading time while
Systems > Goals
For as long as I can remember, I have been a goal oriented person. I think I have always enjoyed the process of outlining objectives and throughout my academic and professional endeavors have learned many of the "right" ways to set goals. I've spent a lot of time contemplating SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Bound) and validating that that I have an actual aim rather than a loose dream, wish or hope. But recently, I've been challenged to reconsider the way that I think about goal setting as I learn
1 Percent and Whole30 Tuna Tapenade
We are officially homeowners now! And we celebrated with a big home improvement and décor shopping trip with my sister and her boyfriend over the weekend after attending the Detroit Auto Show the day before. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE looking at (and who am I kidding - buying) home styling things, but often struggle to just get started in the decision making process. It feels like such a commitment to pick bedding, a new light fixture, a paint color, or… pretty much anything! The possibilities so quickly seem to go from endless to narrow with one decision on a "statement" item. Anyway, this time around I was actually quite pleased with…
Gaining Perspective over Spitjack Sweet Potato Toast
It has already been SIX weeks since we left Cork. With a week on the Queen Mary 2, a week in Providence visiting my in laws, Christmas, unpacking and reconnecting with family, and this week in Boston for work – we’ve been so busy that it’s nearly impossible to believe that that much time has already passed. I really don’t know if I am even fully aware of the fact that this isn’t something temporary yet, but I do know it feels bittersweet. I’m so excited to be here with my family, in our new home (which we officially close on today! Although thankfully we’ve been living here already), and…
Whole30 Swordfish Salmoriglio and the Good Kind of Comparison
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…
