It’s been awhile since my last update on Have Dog, Will Drive! Soon, I will share more about the rollercoaster of a summer that Grace and I have had. You can also tune into our podcast, which is the best place to get updates these days. But I still really love blogging and plan to always keep this space alive :)

The reason I’m popping in now is to share a post that accompanies our latest podcast episode, all about making old-school, midwestern-style, church potluck-esque salads.

“Salad” is actually not the operative word here.

This whole idea started a couple of months ago when Grace posed a question to Instagram: What is the weirdest salad you’ve ever had? People wrote in with all kinds of crazy things, like Snickers salad, hot cheeto salad, strawberry pretzel cream cheese salad, “frog eye” salad, and more. Then it became a running joke on the podcast. Grace wanted to do a “salad episode” where we talked about the weirdest salads we could find, and did some taste testing. Honestly, I thought it was too weird and people would think we’d really lost the plot. But I was slowly proven wrong…

I got SO many messages about fond church potluck salad memories. Probably more than any other topic we’d floated, our listeners wrote in via email, DM, etc., to say they wanted a salad episode!

Right around the time we started thinking it might actually be time to do this, we noticed that we hit 100,000 downloads on Under Our Roof. YAY! It’s such an honor to know that people tune in each week, and I get a little bit emotional when I think about the fact that we’ve actually gathered a little community through this fun project. We’ve even met some of our listeners in person! And I’d LOVE to do more of that.

Anyway, the 100,000 download mark seemed like the perfect time to do a salad episode to celebrate. So as of the time this blog post goes live, you can hear all about our experimental “cooking” day!

Because we wanted to offer some kind of visual component for this one, I decided to dust off the blog and share some of the photos. The best way to fully experience The Salad Episode is to listen to the podcast and then also check out these pics. I’m also sharing the recipes (and a couple of extras below) in case you want to try to recreate this! I really hope you enjoy this weird podcast/blog digression :)

Orange Fluff Salad

Recipe (sent in by a podcast listener—thanks, Lauren!):

ORANGE FLUFF SALAD

8 oz frozen whipped topping, thawed

3 oz package orange gelatin mix, just the powder

16 oz of 4% fat cottage cheese, small or large curd will work

14 oz can mandarin oranges, drained

1 cup mini marshmallows

Combine the thawed whipped topping and orange gelatin powder together in a large bowl and stir until combined.

Add in the cottage cheese, mandarin oranges and mini marshmallows and gently fold in until mixture is combined.

Enjoy right away or chill covered in the fridge until ready to serve.

The orange fluff salad was probably the weirdest thing we made. Not my personal favorite (you can hear more about it on the podcast), but apparently very authentically church potlucky. I grew up in a church where such things were not on the menu, haha.

Grace loved it!

Next up…

Pea ‘n’ Peanut Salad

Linking the recipe here—from Taste of Home.

We knew we wanted to do one fully savory/salty salad, and peas seem to be ubiquitous in a lot of these kinds of recipes. This one has just a few ingredients: peas, roasted peanuts, red onion, celery, bacon, and a dressing made from Italian dressing + mayo.

This one was great!! The only thing I would have changed is making my own homemade Italian-style dressing, but I wanted to be true to the recipe making it for this challenge. The finely chopped red onion and celery add crunch (along with the bacon + peanuts). It was overall just a great side dish I thought.

Then for a super dessert-y salad, we made…

Snickers Salad, a.k.a Candy Bar Apple Salad

The recipe for this one is linked here, also from Taste of Home.

This might have been the salad that sounded the weirdest to me when I was first rounding up some recipes. But it ended up being really delicious!

The ingredients are all things I would normally eat on their own—Snickers, apples, cool whip, vanilla pudding. Mixed all together and set in the fridge for a couple of hours, and it was actually a delicious crunchy sweet velvety treat. Still weird, but good!

We spent such a fun morning creating these concoctions, tasting them, and recording the podcast episode.

I’m going to leave you with a couple of extras. First, Lauren, our listener who sent in the Orange Fluff recipe, also sent the following recipes:

LUTHERAN SALAD

2 sm. pkgs. lime Jello

2 c. hot water

1/2 pkg. miniature marshmallows

1 c. crushed pineapple, drained

1 c. cottage cheese

1 c. Cool whip

1 c. walnuts, cut fine

Dissolve the Jello in hot water. When Jello begins to set, add the remaining ingredients. Decorate the top with maraschino cherries if feeling wicked. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.

(I've also seen this done with shredded coconut mixed in. Go crazy!)

---

STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD

2 c. crushed pretzel sticks, coarse

3/4 c. melted margarine

1/3 c. sugar

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese

1 c. sugar

1 9-oz pkg Cool Whip, thawed

1 lg. box Strawberry Jello

2 c. boiling water

2 10-oz. pkgs sliced sweetened strawberries, thawed

Preparation

Combine pretzels, margarine and 1/3 cup sugar and press into bottom of 9 X 13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool. Combine softened cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Mix until well blended. Fold in whipped topping. Spread on top of pretzels and chill. Dissolve gelatin in boiling water; add strawberries. Chill until partially set. Pour over cream cheese layer. Chill until firm.

Lastly, a link to my all-time favorite Martha Stewart coleslaw recipe. We reference it in the podcast episode, so I wanted to include it here. I can’t take credit for it, but I have made it dozens of times for Grace and it’s a staple for summer celebrations. I’m not a “coleslaw person”—wouldn’t normally order it at a restaurant or anything. But I CRAVE this coleslaw. Don’t skip out on the grated onion, trust me. If you can, chop all the veggies yourself—I’m convinced that pre-shredded, dried-out cabbage and carrots is the culprit behind a lot of mediocre coleslaw.

Happy salad making!

There are many reasons why springtime is my favorite season of the year. But one of them is definitely loquats.

If you’ve never heard of this little fruit, I’m sure you’re not alone. They are not sold commercially pretty much anywhere in the United States. In fact, this LA Times article has a fascinating story about what is believed to be the only commercial planting of loquats in the US (located right near me in Malibu, California). Apparently they can sometimes be found in farmer’s markets, but I’ve never seen them.

In our neighborhood, they grow EVERYWHERE. The streets are littered with them. They only grow and ripen a few weeks each year, but in April, it’s basically raining loquats in Southern California. They’re surprisingly common all over the world, despite being very under-the-radar. They originated in China, where they are sold still on the branch, tied with decorative string. In Japan, they are prized, and sold in white boxes like candy or jewels. And they are popular in Italy and Australia as well.

But, they spoil very easily, and oftentimes the “best” fruit looks dented and bruised—that actually makes it sweeter! But also less appealing in a supermarket.

I had never heard of them or tasted one until moving to Southern California, but now it is one of my most special yearly traditions to pick a harvest of ripe loquats and bake a crumble every spring.

This past week, that’s exactly what I did. I’m on such a happy high from eating these delicious gems, which taste like a mix between plums, apricots, cherries, and peaches. Today I want to share my recipe with you—and you might be surprised to find that they grow near you! I loved reading this article from one of my mom’s favorite magazines, Garden & Gun, about all of the places they can be found in the American South.

This is the loquat recipe I’ve used the past couple of years, and I have to say it is absolutely delicious. 10/10! Adapted from Allrecipes.com.

Ingredients:

~8 cups fresh loquats, de-seeded and cut in half (skins still on)

Juice of 2 lemons

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 cup all-purpose flour (I actually used type 00 flour this year because I was out of regular, and it was still delicious… this is a very forgiving recipe)

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Small pinch of table salt

7 tablespoons butter, very cold, and cut into pieces or grated

First, you pick your loquats, if you are lucky enough to live near a tree.

Second, wash, de-seed, and cut up the loquats.

Each loquat has large, glossy seeds in the middle—around 1 -3 seeds per loquat. Apparently there are some seedless varieties, but that is not the kind that grow near me.

Third, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Fourth, toss the cut and cleaned loquats with the juice of 2 lemons.

Fifth, transfer the loquats to a large pot/saucepan on medium-low heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, until they become really juicy and start to break down. Stir often.

Sixth, whisk together the cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of cornstarch, then add it into the simmering loquats. Stir until combined and simmer for a couple minutes—this will start to get thick like pie filling!

Seventh, heat a cast-iron pan (empty) in the 400 degree oven for about 5 minutes. Take the cast iron out, add the loquat filling.

Eighth, mix together the rest of the ingredients: flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and cold butter in small pieces. Combine thoroughly with a pastry cutter or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse, wet sand.

Ninth, cover the loquat filling evenly with the brown sugar mixture and then put the cast iron pan back in the oven.

Tenth, bake for about 25 minutes until bubbling and golden.

Let cool for about 20 minutes, but serve while still warm. Recommended: vanilla ice cream on the side!

Omg, writing this post makes me sad that my loquat crumble is all gone. It’s the most special dessert of the whole year, because (a) it’s so delicious, but also most critically (b) it can only be made in a very tiny window in April each year.

I love slowing down and making my life special by marking the changing of the seasons with rituals and traditions like this. The loquat crumble is incredibly special in our little family, and making it helps me feel connected to the earth around me. So wild to think that all of the fruit (lemons included) grew within walking distance of my house! I love living in Southern California so much.

If you can get access to loquats, I hope this post gives you some inspiration to try them if you haven’t already! In the future, I would also love to try making loquat jam and loquat cocktails.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I love a good home-cooked meal. And I honestly really enjoy making more complicated things—IF I have a good amount of time in the evening. For me, spending 2 hours in the kitchen making something special and beautiful is a great way to unwind. I know a lot of people might not relate to that, but it is one of my passions!

BUT this post is not about that. This is about a meal I’ve been making recently that checks every box that I need on certain weeknights. It is quick, it is easy, it is healthy (tons of veggies and a bit of protein), and I find myself craving it.

I don’t even know what the name of this dish would be. It’s basically a big bowl of pasta with sauce, but you just use roasted vegetables instead of any pasta! I don’t know why I’ve never done this sooner, but it’s strangely DELICIOUS.

I almost feel silly making an entire blog post about this, because it’s one of those no-recipe recipes. There are no measurements. This is all you do:

1. Roast vegetables. Anything you like. My personal favorites are Romanesco (a green cousin of cauliflower—TRUST me on this. It’s one of my favorite veggies ever), regular cauliflower, zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, green beans, the list goes on. In the pictures I’m using Romanesco, zucchini, and bell peppers. I roast them for maybe 20 minutes at 415 degrees with just some olive oil, salt, and pepper.

2. Meanwhile, heat some sauce in a saucepan until it is lightly simmering. This is where you really want to go for quality. I know you can make your own sauce of course, but this is for an easy weeknight meal. In my opinion, Rao’s Arrabbiata (which is like a spicy marinara) is the best of the best. They sell it at most groceries, at least where I live.

3. Slice and cook some type of sausage—it can be vegetarian “sausage” links, chicken sausage, regular Italian sausage, whatever. Lots of options for every diet at most grocery stores.

4. Once the vegetables are roasted, put them on a plate and cover with the hot Arrabbiata sauce (however much you like).

5. Add the cooked sausage on the top.

6. Finish it off with a squeeze of lemon, drizzle of olive oil, and some flaky sea salt.

I don’t know why, but this is such a satisfying, filling, & delicious meal to me. It’s way more simplified than what I normally cook, but it’s so nice to be able to throw it together really easily. I also feel like I’m getting tons of veggies and enjoying the comfort of a big bowl of pasta, but without the heaviness and tiredness that can come with digesting a bunch of carbs.

Enjoy!!

I haven’t written a wish list/gift guide in awhile, but with my thirtieth birthday coming up in a couple of months, I thought it was high time! In the past I’ve written my personal wish lists as general gift guides because (a) it feels weird to write an entire post just about things I want, and (b) I like to think my tastes would appeal to people in a similar phase of life :) So, if you’re reading this and you happen to be looking for a thirtieth birthday present for me, here are some ideas. And if you’re shopping for your wife/sister/girlfriend/mom/bestie/etc., I hope this will give you some inspiration! A lot of these would be great for Mother’s Day (May 9) and for your Taurus/Gemini/Cancer/Leo babes with upcoming birthdays.

Here’s what’s been catching my eye lately (not in any particular order):

1. Set of Wine Glasses

We got a beautiful set of wine glasses as a wedding gift, and to be honest we’ve already broken half of them. I realize that might not be the biggest endorsement toward giving me MORE wine glasses, but I think breaking things is just part of life and they are replaceable :) So I would really love to upgrade with a set of six nice wine glasses. This set from Williams-Sonoma looks perfect ($84 for 6).

2. Gold Jewelry Staples

The older I get, the more I like to simplify my jewelry based around nice staple pieces. In general, I only wear gold (rather than platinum, silver, etc.). My engagement and wedding ring are gold and I just think yellow gold is so pretty and classic. For my thirtieth birthday I would love to add some simple gold jewelry that I’ll keep forever (I think this is a great gift for a lot of people for big birthdays, graduations, and life milestones). Here are a few pieces I love:

White Sapphire Trio Necklace

Three stones for three decades?! Love. (Mejuri, $295)

Crescent Necklace

Slightly more affordable but lovely, simple staple necklace (Mejuri, $70)

Pearl Hoops

I absolutely love these, and pearl is my birthstone! These would be a great gift for any June babies with pierced ears. (Mejuri, $90)

Crescent Moon Ear Climbers

These are so fun! (Sequin Jewelry, $68)

“Emma” Hoops

These seem like the perfect combination of chunky yet lightweight. (Shop Ange, $38)

“Jordan” Chain Choker Necklace

I’ve been looking for something like this for awhile, and this one seems like the perfect weight/length. (Sequin Jewelry, $118)

3. Classic White Sheets

I am a big lover of crisp white sheets, which obviously need to be replaced every few years. I would love to get another set—these Brooklinen sheets (in white, King size) would be absolutely perfect. ($160 for a King set)

4. My Favorite Underwear

I have a bunch of these pairs of underwear and they are ALL I wear! I can never get enough! They have so many super pretty colors. This is an easy gift where you can get one pair ($22) or a whole set, for either a “stocking stuffer” type gift or a whole array. Also, I personally do not think it’s weird to give underwear to people as gifts… my sister and I give each other these pairs all the time because we love them so much! These are a “one-size-fits-all” situation, which I realize is not going to be 100% accurate, but they happen to fit me really well and are a very stretchy material.

5. Candles

I go through phases of being really into candles. Well let me tell you… I am VERY INTO them right now. But I don’t have many. It’s the kind of thing that I find hard to treat myself on, but would love to receive as a gift. I bet a lot of people feel the same way, so unless you know the person you’re buying a gift for doesn’t like scented candles, this is a pretty safe one to make someone smile!

I’m kind of picky about candles. Here are a few that I love and/or have read great reviews of that I trust:

Diptyque - the gold standard; you cannot go wrong with this. My favorite scents are BAIES, TUBEROSE, and ROSES. ($68 each)

Boy Smells - Slow Burn. This is a perpetual favorite of a lot of people. ($39)

Matte Gallery - Sun Burn. My godmother often has this burning in her house, and it’s just so good! Ethereal. ($45)

Otherland - Canopy. I’ve not smelled this one yet, but I’ve heard enough people talk about it that I would love to try it! It has fig notes, which is a big plus for me. ($36)

Roen Candles - Ojai Nuit. I REALLY want to try this one! It is named after Ojai, my favorite town (and where I will be spending my thirtieth birthday), so this would be a perfect gift. They have a bunch of candles named after different areas in Southern California, so pick the one that matches a place you (or the recipient of your gift) love. ($28)

Also, as a side note, I would love to get a wick trimmer (this one is sold by Boy Smells, but they’re sold pretty much everywhere). I think a wick trimmer would be a really nice add-on to a gift if you are giving someone a candle.

6. Super Plush Dog Bed

I guess this is kind of a gift for my pets, but seeing them happy makes me happy! And I bet many pet lovers feel the same way. I have one 15-pound dog and one 65-pound dog, but they both really like to lie in big dog beds. The ones I have are a few years old at this point and feeling a bit deflated. I love these options:

Casper (size large, $229)

Jax & Bones (size large, $178)

Orvis (size large, $189)

7. Gummies!

In terms of a birthday treat, gummies are one of my favorite things to get as a gift. I am definitely that girl that wants gummies, Swedish fish, jelly beans, etc. on Valentine’s Day instead of chocolate. I have always loved gummies and fruit candies more than any other candy, so this is a “last but not least” item on my list!

I am in love with this rainbow “bento box” gummy set from Sugarfina, which includes rainbow bears, heavenly sours and baby butterflies.

Also, Dylan’s Candy Bar has bulk gummies you can order online and my mouth is watering reading through the list.

I hope this list gives you some gift-giving inspiration for the upcoming birthdays and special occasions in your life!

It’s halfway through the month and I’m just now blogging my goals… whoops! The good news is that I’ve had them written down in my journal since the last day of March. But I do like to document them here as well, and now I’m finally getting a chance.

I always get a bit of high this time of year. I am a spring and summer girl through and through, and every single April/May it feels better than I remembered it would. I majorly get the winter blues, and I just feel like myself again in the springtime.

Here’s how I did in March:

• Map out my ideal day/week and try to base my daily schedule around that as much as possible (yes and this is changing my life! I want to blog about it in detail soon)

• Personal writing project (progress, but not perfect)

• Reorganize and spring clean the guest room/my office (sort of…. I feel like I got it clean during March but then ended the month with it messy again! I’ve been working on a lot of projects, so it’s kind of an ever-evolving workspace right now)

• Replace our smoke detectors (yes!)

• Go to the beach (yes, so beautiful!)

• Make a Spring bucket list (yes—I posted it on Instagram)

And here is what I’ve been working on in April:

• More of my personal writing project

• Cut my hair

• Repaint our front door

• Do some at-home yoga

• Celebrate Easter (done, it was very special this year!)

• Pick loquats in my neighborhood and make a crumble (I did this last year and am excited to do it again)

• Celebrate Willie’s birthday

I hope you’re having a lovely month of April, whether it’s spring or autumn for you!

I can’t believe February is already almost over. Grace and I have said this on our last couple of podcast episodes, but I think February 2021 has been one of our busiest months EVER. Both of us, for different reasons. In such a short month, we packed in a ton of work and exciting growth, but I’m kind of ready to say goodbye to this very hectic month. And I’m SO excited that March will mean all of the new beginnings of Spring!

I’m happy to say that I did well on my February goals! Here’s a recap:

• Don’t check email or social media for the first hour of every day - not 100% of the time, but most of the time and it made the biggest difference in my day! I can’t believe I didn’t start doing this sooner.

• Enjoy a quarantine Valentine’s Day - yes, sweet and simple. We were honestly too busy to do that much, but that’s okay because it’s all for really good reasons.

• Support Grace through the release of her EP - I think so! Grace says yes :) I’m so, so proud. Over half a million streams now and it hasn’t even been out for a month yet!

• Drive to see snow and the ocean at some point this month - no. There is no way this could have happened. I barely had time to eat 3 meals a day, haha.

• Tweet a few times - yes! Follow me on Twitter here.

• Create a linktree so I can better share my podcast, blog, TikTok, etc. all at once - yes, link here!

And now for my March goals (trying to keep it simpler in hopes that this next month is not as busy as February):

• Map out my ideal day/week and try to base my daily schedule around that as much as possible

• Personal writing project

• Reorganize and spring clean the guest room/my office

• Replace our smoke detectors

• Go to the beach

• Make a Spring bucket list

Have a beautiful month!

Lately it feels like everyone around me has been saying that the last few weeks have been the hardest part of the never-ending Covid year. I guess it’s because the vaccine is here, but not a lot of people have been able to get it, and it’s winter, and it’s been almost an entire year of this. I actually don’t feel the worst I’ve felt since March 2020 - don’t get me wrong, it’s rough, but there have been lower points. I can completely empathize with the sinking feeling of quasi-quarantine going on and on… but lately I’ve actually felt pretty optimistic. And I attribute that in large part to small steps I’ve been taking at home to make life happier :)

Here are a few of them that I hope help! These are not a cure-all, and if you’re really feeling down, I sincerely hope you will reach out to someone you can talk to. But if you just need a little boost on what feels like day 23908347 of Covid, here are my best tips!

Waking Up Early/Waking Up Before Everyone In Your Household

Don’t hate me, I know not everyone is a morning person. But I can almost guarantee that if you wake up an hour earlier than you’re used to for a week, and devote that time in the morning to drinking a nice morning beverage (whether it be lemon water, matcha, coffee, whatever your favorite thing is), journaling/making your one-sheet for the day (more on that below), tidying up and getting ready for the day, you will feel SO good. I recently fell into a rut during quarantine of sleeping later than I intended almost every day. From that point on, I would feel like I was playing catch-up to deal with my inbox, the dogs, a messy kitchen, and on and on. Waking up before Grace and the dogs and getting some time to myself has been HUGE for a mental reset and just feeling more productive and happy lately.

Listen to Ambient Sounds While Working

I am not someone who can listen to music or a podcast while I work. Most of my work involves writing, so I just get too distracted trying to listen to words while I type words. But sometimes there are noises in the house that are distracting - Grace will be on a call that I can hear the muffled sounds of behind her office door. Or the dogs are playing with a squeaker toy. Lately I’ve been listening to YouTube videos of nature/ambient sounds, and they really help me block out distracting noises and just create a cozy vibe for working. Here in LA, we hardly ever get any weather, so these put me in the mindset of being in a library when it’s raining outside. Here are a few favorites:

Old Library Ambience

Cozy Cabin Ambience

Snowstorm/Howling Winds

Victorian Era Ambience

Tea Party Ambience

Classic Rain Sounds

Make a Daily One-Sheet

This is something I’ve done in one variation or another for years, but I feel like I’ve particularly hit my stride with it lately. Every day, I open my notebook and write the date at the top of a fresh sheet of paper. Then I organize the priorities for my day (this is usually while I’m drinking my morning coffee). I’ll write my top three priorities that must get done, and then from there I’ll add the rest of the things I’ll ideally get done that day. I also write out any specific times when I have something on my calendar like a call or deadline. I’ll cross-reference against my planner and write down if it’s anyone’s birthday or important milestones that day, that way I remember to text them or shout them out on social media at some point during the day. And that’s it! I reference this all day long to keep myself on track. It’s been a huge productivity help.

Taking A Break from Alcohol (if you drink)

So I’m on an alcohol break right now. I haven’t drank since 2020! And I’ve kind of never felt better. I am not at all speaking as an expert on sober living and wouldn’t even call myself “sober” since I plan on enjoying a glass of wine again eventually. But that being said I think this is the longest intentional drinking break I’ve taken in like a decade. I want to go at least 100 days (I’m a little more than halfway into that right now), but to tell you the truth I feel so clear-headed and healthy that I don’t know exactly when I’m ending my break.

Hot/Cold Showers

Hear me out. I saved the best for last. The last couple of weeks I’ve gotten very into this routine of taking a hot shower every morning and then turning it super cold for the last minute or so. I’ve been hearing for a long time how great this is and I’m 100% converted. When the water turns freezing, you have to really intentionally catch your breath because your body naturally starts to hyperventilate. But now that I’m used to it, it feels SO good and refreshing. I truly look forward to it every morning. It really helps me de-puff from sleep and is better than a cup of coffee for feeling alert in the morning. This will change your life, seriously!

Hope these tips make your time at home a little brighter!

I was recently organizing some files on my hard drive and I found a Word document titled simply, “A Letter To You.” I was momentarily mystified. A letter to me? Then, opening it, I realized it was a letter I wrote back in May of 2020. We were two months into the pandemic at the time, and I’d finally been able to catch my breath and desperately wanted to capture some of the feelings of the moment. I wrote a letter to my “future children,” hit save, and promptly forgot all about the letter.

Reading it back now almost a year later, it’s surreal to think about all that has changed (and all that hasn’t -we’re very much still in lockdown). I’m glad I took the time back in May to write down my thoughts, and I decided that (although I do hope future children read it one day), I wanted to share it here, as well. Maybe someone can relate. So here it is! And here’s to believing that the best is always yet to come.

May 12, 2020

To my future child(ren):

In some ways I feel less ready and farther away from being a mother now than I felt five years ago.  I was twenty-three then, and I hadn’t done a lot of things I would eventually do: get married. Finish school and face reality as an adult. Become a lawyer. Dream up goals and longings for the future—some completely unexpected. Live through a pandemic. Grow a different, truer faith than the one I was raised with.

I still haven’t fully done some of those things. I haven’t lived through a pandemic—I am living in one as I write this. But at twenty-three, I knew I wanted babies. Wanted you. And I still do. If you are reading this, then you’re a dream-come-true in more ways than you could ever know.

At twenty-eight, I don’t want to be a mother any less than I did five years ago. But the things I’ve seen and learned in those intervening years has made me feel more unsure of the future than I ever realized up until now. I have thought of you my whole life. So when life as I knew it changed forever on or about March 13, 2020, my thoughts immediately flew to you. When the news was pouring in so fast and frightening it left me shivering uncontrollably at the end of each day, I’ll never forget what Grace said to me as she wrapped her arms around me. “I don’t want it to be the end of the world. We never got to have kids.”

But we quickly realized that this probably wasn’t the end of the world. A virus ripping across the globe and killing millions of people would have been unthinkable to me six months ago—it would have truly sounded like the end of the world. Since then, we’ve all found out that life finds a way, and though everything looks different now, there’s joy all around.

As that joy gets stronger and more confident in spite of the horror stories and death tolls, I’ve been thinking about what I want to write to you. I’ve wanted to journal about what I’m going through during this time since day one. Will you learn in school about the COVID-19 pandemic and wonder what your parents felt? But journaling has been harder now than it has been at other stage of my life. At the beginning, I was too shaken up to hold a pen steady for long enough to explore my feelings through words.

I also think I subconsciously knew that journaling to you wouldn’t be as simple as “we stocked the freezer with food to last us weeks at a time” and “we were afraid.” What’s going on with this virus is a piece in a larger picture of my life and everything that’s swirling around in it right now. I want to tell you all about it—in person one day, I hope, and also through the journaling I’m going to start doing more regularly to remember what this feels like. But I wanted to start with this letter, because a chapter of life this wild really needs a prologue.

I’ll close by telling you something Grace and I have thought about for a long time. We’ve always wanted you, individually and as a couple. And even though we can’t know exactly what you’ll be like, we feel strongly that you’re going to be part of our lives. So we often picture ourselves sitting at a table. It’s a long, sturdy table, set in a garden. The table is covered with good food and drinks, set with flowers and candles and all kinds of beautiful things. I picture it like a Renoir painting. It’s early evening—or maybe late afternoon—and Grace and I are sitting at the table. We’re waiting for everyone else to arrive, and we might be enjoying a glass of wine or an Aperol Spritz in the meantime. It’s a casual, sprawling, family-style setting, not meticulously set with forks and napkins and name cards. We don’t know exactly how many places there will be, but we know we’re just relaxing and waiting for our family to sit down at the table with us. We’re not anxious about when everyone we’ll get here; we’re having fun just us for now.

But even though I try to hold those table settings loosely in my heart rather than with clenched fists, let me tell you straight up: I cannot wait for the day you arrive. Sometimes it’s hard to believe you’re real—or will be, one day—but at the same time, the love I already feel for you is one of the only things I’m certain of in this crazy world.

Until we meet, I love you.

Grace turned 30 this past November, and despite not being able to gather with friends due to Covid, we knew we wanted to do something special. Road trips have always been a big part of our relationship - we took a road trip all over California back in 2015 when we were newly dating, and in 2017 we drove all the way from LA to Alaska and back. So a very fun and indulgent road trip felt perfect to ring in a new decade. We actually left the dogs in LA (being well taken care of), just to make it feel a little more like a true vacation. We missed them but loved having the extra flexibility in our schedule (and being able to sleep in)!

Today I want to recap where we stayed and share a few fun pictures. I’ve shared some of these on social media already, but I’m also peppering in some photos from a disposable camera we got developed. I haven’t shared these anywhere else yet!

A little “Covid Caveat” - obviously travel is not carefree during a pandemic, and Covid precautions played a heavy role in the planning for this trip. I know that California has gone on various stages of lockdown in the past year, but interstate travel on the West Coast was not restricted on the dates when we traveled. Still, rest assured we wore masks at all times when around other people, cooked our meals at “home” in our Airbnbs or got Covid-safe takeout options, and generally had about the same or fewer interactions with others than we do here in LA. Also, all of the photos of us together were taken via a tripod and self timer (there was no one with us to take a picture). I would say overall we were extremely careful and conscientious on this trip. Just want to get that out there at the beginning of the post!

Without further intro, here’s the play-by-play of our road trip! If you are interested in a 7-10 day itinerary leaving from LA, I highly recommend our route.

Days 1-2: LA to Carmel Valley Ranch

The first day of our trip was November 7, the day the US Election results were finally called in favor of Joe Biden. As we drove through the streets of West Hollywood on our way out of town, cars honked excitedly, and it was just a great feeling to start off our trip! We drove about seven hours up to Carmel and checked into the beautiful Carmel Valley Ranch.

I’d been hearing about the Carmel Valley Ranch for several years, and it was lovely in person. I booked us one of the Hilltop Suites that comes with a beautiful patio/balcony with an outdoor bathtub overlooking the golf course. I’m actually not a huge golf course person, despite the fact that I was a member of my high school’s golf team. But it was a sublime view nonetheless, and we pretty much just enjoyed chilling in our room for the first night of the trip. The open-air bath was awesome, and we also turned on our fireplace and watched a few episodes of The Haunting of Bly Manor.

The next day, we went for a hike around the property before hitting the road to our next destination.

Days 2-4: Carmel to Trinidad, California

Never heard of a Trinidad in California? I think a lot of people haven’t! It is a seaside town near Eureka, in far northern California. I first heard about it a few years ago and had always wanted to visit. It did NOT disappoint - I think Grace and I both agree this was our favorite stop of the trip. I booked this Airbnb - which I cannot say enough good things about - and we stayed for two nights.

We arrived after dark the first night, and we picked up some extremely delicious pizza from Headies Pizza & Pour which was an approximate 2 minute drive from our Airbnb (the whole town is TINY in the best way).

We didn’t totally know what to expect out our windows since we arrived after dark (though I knew from the listing that it was pretty), so it’s an understatement to say we were blown away when we woke up to all of THIS:

It was truly a magical, divine, cinematic, kid-on-Christmas-morning experience staying in Trinidad. We spent a lot of our time just drinking in the view, but we also did a little bit of light hiking (Grace famously hates hiking) and exploring in the area.

I have such happy memories of going to the little grocery store in town, getting some local seafood and delicious fresh veggies, and hanging out at the house for happy hour and cooking dinner. Heaven!

I’m holding myself back from posting about a dozen more pictures of Trinidad, because it is hands-down one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been. But onward!

Days 4-7: Trinidad to Lakeside, Oregon

As you can imagine, we really did not want to leave Trinidad, but we were also excited to visit Oregon. On the drive between Northern California and Southern Oregon, we stopped and saw some super pretty sights just on the side of the road. Including a giant redwood tree that you can drive through! A picture of us driving through it was actually our Christmas card this year.

My best friend lives in Oregon, but sadly we didn’t really figure out in advance how we could plan with Covid and everything (plus we weren’t going as far north as where she lives), so I didn’t see her on this trip :( But aside from the pain of being so-close-yet-so-far-away with my bestie, we such an amazing time in Oregon! We stayed for three nights at this Airbnb, which was sooo cozy and homey. And with an incredible view from the deck too!

This part of the trip was also over Grace’s *actual* 30th birthday (November 12 - little sneaky Scorpio), which is why I planned for us to have 4 days here. It was so nice to be able to really unpack, relax, rest, and enjoy the beautiful Oregon scenery. We honestly spent most of the time just sitting around, reading, and being cozy! That’s exactly what we both want out of a vacation. It really could not have been more restful.

We also got the BEST local oysters at Clausen Oysters, which was about 20 minutes from our Airbnb. There was a cute picnic area to sit outside, and we were the only people there.

Days 7-8: Lakeside to the Hummingbird Estate outside Ashland, Oregon

Once again, we were sad to leave such a wonderful destination, but on day 7 of the trip it was time to move on to a night of wine tasting at the Hummingbird Estate in south-central Oregon.

The Hummingbird Estate is a winery with a small bed & breakfast (7 rooms total) on site. We stayed in the Japanese Maple room, named for the stunning red-orange leaves right outside our windows!

We were just at the Hummingbird Estate for one night, but we got a chance to try out a bunch of their wines, and I seriously loved every single one!

It was the perfect, cozy, storybook vibes kind of place to enjoy some red wine and a good night’s sleep.

Days 8-9: Southern Oregon to San Francisco, California

Our last destination of the trip was San Francisco, California. The end of a good trip can be a little bit sad, so I wanted to counteract that by booking a really fun, splurge hotel. We stayed at the newly-opened Four Seasons at the Embarcadero in a Golden Gate view suite. It was truly fabulous! And the hotel’s Covid protocols were top-notch (temperature checks, welcome bags filled with masks, sanitizer, wipes, etc., completely contactless check in and room service).

We spent our last night just enjoying the view, ordering delicious room service, and watching a movie. I lived in the Bay Area for years, so we have gotten to do all the fun San Francisco touristy things in the past and weren’t too sad to miss them on this trip.

The next morning, we got room service again for breakfast and then hit the road before it got too late (since we had about a 6 hour drive ahead of us).

After 9 days away, we were so happy to get home and see our dogs again! We got In-n-Out for our last meal of the trip and made it home safe and sound. We did quarantine for two weeks after we returned, though thankfully we had very minimal contact with anyone on the trip and felt super safe.

And that’s all! Hope you enjoyed this (long overdue) recap. I feel so lucky that we were able to visit these beautiful places, and I really hope to return to all of them eventually (especially Trinidad)!

I’m back with another podcast recommendation roundup post!

I first shared a few favorite podcasts in 2018, then I posted a 2019 update, and most recently in 2020 I shared my favorite podcasts that aren’t true crime.

One big exciting change since my last podcast post: I started my own podcast!

Grace and I now have a weekly show called Under Our Roof, and it has quickly become one of my favorite hobbies. We’ve been so lucky to cultivate a really supportive listenership and we are so thankful for everyone who has taken the time to check us out! If you’re interested, you can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

Anyway, self-plug aside, I wanted to share a few new favorite podcasts that I’ve been listening to in quarantine. I don’t repeat my past recommendations in this list, so if you want even more, go check out the previous posts that I linked above.

These are in no particular order:

Home Cooking

This podcast is all about the unique challenges of being stuck inside for quarantine and experimenting with - as the name suggests - home cooking! The hosts are Samin Nosrat (chef, author of the book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat) and Hrishikesh Hirway, podcaster (Song Exploder, The West Wing Weekly). Their dynamic is so fun, and I learned a TON about cooking while listening to this podcast over the past year. Listeners will write in with questions about the random pantry items they’re trying to use in quarantine and the hosts will suggest incredible ways of using them. I feel like this podcast really elevated my home chef hobby and is just so fun to listen to. I feel like whenever I recommend this podcast to people, they’ve never heard of it, but TRUST me when I say it’s really good. It was named one of the best podcasts in Time, Rolling Stone, Vulture, The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, etc. I don’t think they’re currently making any more episodes, but this would be a fun binge listen for the past ones while you’re stirring up a risotto in the kitchen :)

Even the Rich

This podcast has a bunch of seasons, and I’ve listened to most but not all of them yet. Each one chronicles a different modern dynasty or icon - the British Royals, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Britney Spears, the Murdoch Family, Paris Hilton, etc. It’s an entertaining listen on a road trip. Grace and I listened to the whole Britney Spears season in a day on our West Coast road trip back in November.

Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen

I liked this show a lot because it has the mystery and intrigue of true crime, and I guess it technically is true crime (crimes of fraud), but without the scary gruesome factor. The podcast covers a really bizarre scam that has been going on in Hollywood for the past several years. I don’t want to give anything away by saying more, but it’s such a fascinating story! I highly recommend this one.

Pants

Okay, a little backstory for this: I am unashamed to say that I was OBSESSED with the TV show the L Word in high school. It was recently rebooted, but I’m talking about the old seasons that started airing in 2004 (that was actually while I was still in middle school, but I discovered the show a couple years later in high school). Those early seasons do feel somewhat dated now, but in terms of queer representation, it was huge at the time. Anyway, two of the actors from the show are best friends in real life and they have a podcast that is super fun. They sometimes reflect on the heyday of the show and it’s just a good conversational podcast. I don’t know if it would appeal to someone who hasn’t seen the L Word, although it is not a recap podcast specifically about the show. Maybe a little niche, but I love it!

Scientology: Fair Game

I am fascinated by different religions and cults. I think that’s especially because I myself grew up in a religious tradition that I now question through a pretty critical lens (even though I am still religious - I just think a lot of the specific things I experienced and was told in church growing up were wrong). That’s probably why I really enjoy hearing about deconstructions of other religions, and this podcast about scientology delivers on that. Leah Remini and Mike Rinder are both ex-scientologists and in this podcast they explore the phenomenon called “Fair Game,” which they say was a policy of scientology to discredit its enemies. There are a lot of really wild stories about it and it’s a gripping listen. I do kind of wish there was more of a structure to the episodes, but overall I really like this podcast.

Do No Harm

This is an investigative podcast centering on two child protective services interventions that “got it wrong.” The short version is that a couple of different families in Texas had accidental injuries with their babies (and it’s pretty much unquestioned now that they were in fact accidents - not abuse), but the State took the kids away because of concerns of abuse. The podcast follows the story of the families working to regain custody of their children. I always enjoy podcasts that highlight problems with bureaucratic systems, and this one is exactly that. I don’t have children yet, but I imagine this might be especially hard to listen to if you do.

Guru

Kind of in line with what I wrote above about being interested in cults, this podcast tells the story of a quasi-cult that went very wrong. The focus is a superstar self-help “guru” who ended up not being quite what he claimed to be. More broadly, it explores the psychological effect that a person like that can have on vulnerable people. Super interesting, especially in the time we’re living in now, where we can see how dangerous a “cult of personality” can be.

Sha Rants A Lot

I also have to give a shout-out to my neighbor, Sha, who recently started her own podcast! If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen me post about Bean’s best friend, a little white chihuahua named Tonks. Tonks’s mom is the host of this podcast, and it truly feels like having a glass of wine and catching up with a friend. If you like our podcast, Under Our Roof, I think you’ll also love Sha’s.

If you have other recent podcast favorites, please let me know! I always love to discover new ones.

Happy February! This year has been off to a busy, exciting start over here at the Baldridge house, and I’m really looking forward to this next short month. It’s the time of year where it drops below 50 degrees in LA and occasionally rains, so it’s perfect for hunkering down and getting some hard work done.

I’m excited for a bunch of different things coming up this month. I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day, ever since I was a kid. I’m going to try to come up with some fun things we can do while we’re staying home because of Covid. This month Grace is also releasing her EP, Preacher’s Kid, and we are going to stream a live release show from our house on February 5.

Since this is the last guaranteed snowy month in the Southern California mountains, I’m hopeful that we will be able to drive up for the day and see some snow, which has been a tradition of ours for the past couple of years.

And I’m also happy that this is the last full month of winter! I don’t think it is any secret that the shorter days really get me down - and I’m not a fan of cold weather. The sunshine and warmer temperatures are a huge reason I moved to California after spending most of my life on the other side of the country. Springtime in LA is such a beautiful, happy time, full of blooming jacaranda trees and balmy breezes. And February means we’re getting closer to that!

Here are my goals for this month:

• Don’t check email or social media for the first hour of every day (for so long I have basically said this is impossible - and told myself I need to check my email when I wake up to make sure there’s not anything urgent, and who cares if I get caught up on Instagram for a few minutes while drinking my morning coffee. But I’m finally REALLY going to make this happen. I’ve done it for the last 2 mornings of January and absolutely loved the difference it made in my whole day! And the world did not fall apart just because I took an hour before checking my email!)

• Enjoy a quarantine Valentine’s Day

• Support Grace through the release of her EP

• Drive to see snow and the ocean at some point this month

• Tweet a few times (a goal of mine for 2021 was to start a Twitter for various reasons. I made one, but I’ve only tweeted a couple of times, so I’m going to work on that slowly but surely)

• Create a linktree so I can better share my podcast, blog, TikTok, etc. all at once!

I hope you have a beautiful start to the month. Here’s to brighter days ahead!

Hi!

I haven’t posted about my goals here in a few months. I think a lot of people can relate to this year completely sidelining any sense of goals and progress we might have had!

I remember a year or so ago when I thought - “I’ll never not set (and blog about) monthly goals! That’s just who I am!”

Never say never, right :) But getting back into my monthly goal habit is something I want to do again in 2021, and there is no better way of accomplishing a goal in the future then starting it early. So here is what I’m hoping to do this month:

• Put $____ in savings (I have this written down, I’m just kind of private about sharing such things online!)

• Fill up a disposable camera with Christmas memories, and get our disposable camera from our road trip developed

• Set goals with Grace for 2021

• Send out Christmas cards and have all Christmas shopping done by December 15

• Blog our November road trip

• Clean my car!! (it’s been sitting under a tree in our driveway and it’s BAD, haha).

Sending love - may the last month of the year be filled with hope for you. xoxo

It is called Under Our Roof, and our intention with it is to invite people into the conversations we are having at home. Those might be about queer newlywed life, the true crime case we can't stop thinking about lately, or what's for dinner this week. We released 3 episodes all at once for the launch, and then from here on out we’ll be releasing new episodes every Monday. We have had so much fun recording so far, and I am VERY excited about the next few episodes that will be coming out.

If this sounds like your thing, please check it out and let me know what you think!! Under Our Roof is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and a few other platforms. Hope you love it!

Well, hi there! I took 6 months off from my blog.

And here I am, back to clear the cobwebs. I know I don’t owe any excuses for not posting for 6 months, and I’m not going to make any - this has always been my space to use how I want, and I love that. This blog is TRULY just-for-fun, I’ve never made a cent off of it, and I don’t stress over the content. That being said, I’ve missed it!

In the first couple of months of the pandemic, I tried to keep up with my regular posts, but . . . nothing felt regular or normal. I ended up basically taking the summer and first part of the fall off from Have Dog, Will Drive. That wasn’t planned, but the longer I went, the more it felt right. I focused on work, and other projects - one of which is launching TOMORROW (October 19) - and taking care of an increasingly senior dog.

(By the way, the photos in this post are just some random ones from my camera roll to catch up on the last few months. They don’t go with the text. Or, they do, but in a non-literal way).

There have been a lot of happy things over these few months. I’m a homebody, and that side of my personality flourished. I celebrated 2 years of marriage to Grace. I cooked some of the best meals I’ve ever made in my life. I got to stand beside one of my oldest friends as she got married (something that felt impossible at the beginning of the pandemic, but ended up being beautiful - and we didn’t get Covid).

I swam in the ocean this summer and got strong enough to run 5 miles and made myself proud a lot of times.

The hard things . . . don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of those things in the last few months! I cried on the phone to my parents in March saying, “I feel like life as I know it is over.” And I was kind of being dramatic in the moment, but I ended up being right. I took a minute to accept that. We’ve been SO lucky to not lose anyone to Covid, but we do know people who have been sick with it and really struggled. I spend a lot of time stressing about whether we’re “taking it seriously enough,” or when it’s okay to take small risks. I feel like we’re more stringent about distancing and masks and stuff than the majority of people we know, and yet I still stress over whether people are judging me for not taking it seriously enough. I think that’s just life right now.

And like I mentioned above, a (very slow-moving) curveball for us has been how much our dog Willie’s health has deteriorated, and yet how much he still seems to love being alive. I never thought I would change so many diapers before even having kids. And yet, Willie has been in diapers now for about a year. His very specialized senior care takes many hours a week and we’ve been at the vet with him a lot lately. But we feel strongly that he’ll let us know when it’s “his time,” and he hasn’t done that yet. He gets excited for his meals and seems to still know who we are . . . so we’re in this for the long haul with him. The amount of time we spend on Willie care is also a big reason why I haven’t had much time for blogging lately. But I’m getting more into a routine and I’m excited to try to make it all work.

In the last six months, I’ve often felt like I’m in a tunnel. I’m not sure exactly where it ends, but I know I’m moving forward. The truth is that I do REALLY miss things like having a bunch of friends over for Pride or our annual Halloween movie night. I’m sad we won’t be seeing family for any holidays this year. But I’ve started to feel like it’s possible again for me to write on this blog - make our family whiteboard calendar for the month - make a big batch of broth for my recipes - send my friends birthday cards - and take stock of all the things I have to look forward to.

One of the best things about 2020 is that it’s removed a lot of distractions. I feel more centered in what I really want out of life than ever. And I’m more easily able to evaluate whether I’ve used my days well to move toward the life I’m trying to build. Life feels stripped down right now, and it feels really meaningful to think about how I want to build it back up.

And that kind of sums up the world of contradictions I find myself in. Like - I love our house more than ever, because it’s been such a sweet shelter during the pandemic. AND, because of spending so much time here, I also have a much better idea of what I want in my future “dream house.” I’m more oriented toward gratitude than I have been in the past, and I also can’t help but think every day of the things we’ve lost this year. I’m an introvert, and I miss crowds. All of it can be true.

So here’s to firing up the ole blog again. I’ve missed you, Have Dog, Will Drive! And if you’re here, thank you so much.

xoxo

Happy May! When quarantine started, it was cold and rainy in LA. Even though there are still hard days and a lot of uncertainty, the weather being so gorgeous lately has made a huge difference in my mood. Last night Grace and I sat outside for a “happy hour” in our yard (pictured above) and I said to Grace what a change I felt just sitting outside in the sunshine and taking a minute to breathe. I’m going to try to remember to keep doing that. I even want to lay out in a bathing suit in our yard at some point and get a little bit of a tan (with sunscreen obviously).

I’ve been keeping my monthly goals really simple during quarantine. Last month I even feel like I had too many, and I didn’t check off two of them. Here’s how I did:

• Make pasta from scratch—yes! It was so yummy and way easier than expected

• FaceTime my grandmother (she doesn’t have an iPhone and this has to be prearranged, which is why it’s a goal and not just simply picking up the phone)—yes! So sweet to see her

• Bake lemon chess pie—yes, delish

• Start using my FitBit again and try to get 10k steps a day—no, but I’m doing a running challenge in May with Grace and our friend Daron!

• Make a spring bucket list—no, still need to

• Celebrate Easter at home—yes, we had a super sweet Easter here at home :)

Here’s what I’m hoping to accomplish in May:

• Reach a big creative milestone I’ve been working toward (sorry this is vague)

• Run 31 miles total during the month in Grace’s and Daron’s running challenge

• Prioritize skincare

• Journal to my future children (that I hope to have) about what’s going on in the world right now so they can read it from my perspective one day

I hope you have a safe and healthy month of May!

A little over a month ago, some of my best friends and I took a weekend trip to Big Bear to celebrate our friend Michelle’s birthday. Looking back, this was sort of a “last hurrah” with friends before we entered our current era of social distancing, which we didn’t know at the time. I’m glad we didn’t, because the whole weekend felt so carefree, relaxing, and fun. It’s sweet looking back and remembering the quality time I got with friends right before having to be (physically) away from them for a long time.

Michelle planned this whole weekend for us and treated us to a stay in an adorable Airbnb cabin. It ended up being so cozy and perfect for our group of 4 people. Michelle is a major dog lover, and although no dogs came on the trip with us, part of the weekend’s activities included a visit to a wolf sanctuary where we met wolves and wolf-dog mixes. More on that later! First, here’s a recap of the weekend leading up to that point:

We left town on Friday evening, and Michelle had rented a huge SUV to drive all of us plus our stuff up to the mountains. It was a game-changer, since otherwise there’s no way 4 ladies and all of our bags and coolers etc. etc. could have fit in one of our small cars. On the way up, we stopped at a Mexican place in Rancho Cucamonga (en route to Big Bear) where I ordered the snack-within-a-drink pictured above. It was such a fun stop!

It was dark by the time we made it up to the cabin, and we were all thrilled to get cozy, enjoy some hot tub time, watch Michelle open her presents, and have a wine and movie night. Classic girls’ weekend stuff :)

The next morning, Michelle made us her famous shakshuka egg bake for breakfast, which we all “wolfed” down (lol) before we got ready to go meet our new friends at the wolf sanctuary!

The wolf sanctuary (called Wolf Mountain) is … very hard to describe in words. I really don’t think I can do it, or the people who run it, justice, and it’s something you have to experience for yourself. Haha! It was a truly wild experience. I kind of felt like I was intruding on a human-wolf hybrid pack. But I learned a lot about the kinds of wolves (which are often mixed-breeds with dogs like German Shepherds) that end up an a sanctuary, and what it’s like to feed and take care of them.

During the first part of the tour, we got to walk around to see the different enclosures where they keep wolves, and Michelle brought some carrots to feed them.

I should back up and say that the sanctuary is very strict about what you can and can’t bring in to meet the wolves - i.e., no scarves, loose items in your pockets, or anything else they might be interested in (though carrots and raw meat are okay. We only brought the former). It kind of makes you wonder what the wolves would do if you didn’t follow those rules, but they seemed chill when we met them! After seeing some of the wolves in their enclosures, we got to meet a couple of them up close. They didn’t really explain why these wolves are okay to meet people, and others aren’t, but I assume it’s because of how acclimated they are to humans.

It was an unforgettable experience and something my friends and I still talk about.

Next, we drove back into town and were all hungry so we got a late lunch at Jasper’s, which was amazing. Think homestyle/southern cooking, huge portions, and very friendly small-town service. I miss eating in restaurants right about now :(

After lunch, we returned to the house and settled in for a super sweet evening of girl time.

Other than this little porch photoshoot we did, I don’t have a ton of photos from this night because we were just chilling out, drinking wine, doing Tarot readings, watching Love Island, playing Clue, and eating a delicious birthday cake.

I also made a cheese board for the group that I was pretty proud of.

And that’s all the photos I have! On Sunday, our last morning, we ate brunch at the Teddy Bear restaurant, which served one of the best tuna melts I’ve ever had. Also, I can’t believe I forgot to get a photo of it, but it actually snowed a LOT on our last morning! It was so fun and magical, although it did make getting back down the mountain a bit hairy. I was very thankful Michelle had rented a huge car with four-wheel drive.

I now cherish this weekend even more because I miss these friends dearly. We have pretty regular videochat happy hours, but of course it’s not the same. Until the time we can all be reunited, I’ll be reminiscing on this weekend and these photos. Thank you Michelle!

Doesn’t it feel like today should be the day we hear that the past month has been a huge April fool’s joke? In some ways I’m still processing my day-to-day reality, but believe it or not, I’m looking forward to the month ahead. I try not to have any particular date or timeline in mind for when social distancing will no longer be necessary, so I’m fully on board that April will be our first (possibly of many) full month of self-quarantine.

And yet, there are still neighbors’ flowers to enjoy (see pic above). There are still dogs to snuggle, friends to call, and things to dream about. Grace and I try not to dwell TOO much on “when we get out,” but we do have a plan for what we’re going to do when it’s safe again to leave our neighborhood. I don’t wanna give anything away but we’re pretty excited.

But I’m accepting the fact that it probably won’t happen in the next new months. In the meantime, here are my April goals:

• Make pasta from scratch

• FaceTime my grandmother (she doesn’t have an iPhone and this has to be prearranged, which is why it’s a goal and not just simply picking up the phone)

• Bake lemon chess pie

• Start using my FitBit again and try to get 10k steps a day

• Make a spring bucket list

• Celebrate Easter at home

Each of these things will bring me joy in different ways, and I am excited to make them happen.

Wherever you are during this crazy time, I wish you good health, and a happy month of April!

Long time no see, Have Dog Will Drive. I don’t think I’ve ever abandoned my blog for this long before, but I haven’t been myself.

Has anyone?

Ugh. Deep breath. I’m feeling pretty good today, but the last two weeks have been the most surreal of my entire life. Part of what makes them the most surreal is that most other people around me would say the same thing. How often is it that EVERYONE is going through something hard together? Going through a period of grieving and loss is often a solitary process. Now, I think we’re all grieving the loss of what normal life looked like a month ago. It’s powerful and comforting to be going through it with my whole city, state, country, and planet (some of whom started this a bit earlier). But it is also disorienting in a way to be sad and hopeless at times, yet simultaneously feel heartbreak over the fact that others have it so much harder.

Grace and I have certainly felt overwhelming gratitude for so many things in the past couple of weeks that we’ve been in self-isolation to protect ourselves and others from the spread of this horrible virus. But I’ve also cried, worried endlessly on the phone to loved ones, and in the first few days of reality setting in, found myself shivering uncontrollably by the end of each day.

Two weeks in, I’m adjusting. I don’t want to call it a “new normal,” even though in many ways the daily life I took as “normal” is now over. Possibly forever, in some respects. You also won’t find me ever referring to this as the “apocalypse” or the “end of the world.” I don’t think those things are true or worth catastrophizing about, but it is a scary time.

At the end of February, I set a few goals for the month of March. I had every intention of blogging them. Then my mom and sister came to California and we took a girls’ trip to Paso Robles. The day after they left, Grace and I started quarantining. I don’t even remember what those goals were at this point, and I don’t think many of them are still applicable to my life.

But believe it or not, I still think setting some goals is worth doing. Actually, they might be the thing that keeps me level-headed and grounded during this time. March feels out-the-window, but I’ll be back in a few days to blog my goals for April. In the meantime, here are a few overarching things I want to keep in mind as goals during this quarantine:

• Keep blogging. More than usual!

• Keep the house our happy little nest, our sanctuary, as much as possible. There’s never been a better time to be into homemaking.

• Once the dust is feeling like it’s settling and I’m “used” to life in quarantine, return to creative pursuits. Other than this little blog post, I’m not quite there yet, but I look forward to having more time, eventually.

• Write down how I’m feeling often.

• Pray for the people most affected.

I think this is going to be a season of simple, humble, goals, and I think that’s a good thing. I’ll never call this virus a “blessing in disguise” or act like it’s not as terrifying as it is. But I will keep going in every way I can, and keep laughing and finding joy in each day.

If you need to talk to someone during this time, you can always contact me through this blog or on Instagram.

Sending love & wishes for good health.

It’s amazing how much I’ve learned from podcasts over the past few years and what an explosion there has been in the medium. Podcasts have been around for as long as iPods (I used to listen to recap podcasts of the OC back in high school, over 10 years ago), but we are currently in the podcast Renaissance and I absolutely love it.

About two years ago, I wrote a blog post about my favorite podcasts (find it here) and it has become one of my posts that gets the most traffic. Then, about a year ago, I wrote an update with a list of new podcasts I’d been enjoying (find my 2019 list here). That post has also been one of the most popular posts on my blog.

If you’ve read both lists, you might have noticed that in 2018, my list was almost entirely true crime podcasts, and in 2019, it was a mix. Well, today I want to share a list of completely NON-true crime favorites! A couple reasons for this: while true crime is an addictive genre in the podcast world, I think we are seeing more and more great podcasts that aren’t true crime. I think with the success of Serial, true crime emerged as the most popular podcast genre, but these days there are so many other wonderful genres out there. Also, I do think that constantly listening to true crime podcasts (which I’ve done in the past) can take a toll on your mental health. Whether you live alone and get spooked easily, or some of the true crime stories hit too close to home and are upsetting, I think it’s good to evaluate how much of the gritty stuff we expose ourselves to. Lastly, I want to provide a resource for GREAT non-true crime podcasts, since I think there’s a perception that this kind won’t be as binge-worthy as a harrowing true crime story. But that’s not at all the case! The following list are all podcasts that I have LOVED and come back to again and again over the past year or so. Some are serious, some are silly, and I think all are worth a listen. In no particular order:

1. A Beautiful Mess

This podcast is hosted by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman, two sisters who run the blog A Beautiful Mess. I have loved their blog for years and their new podcast is so much fun too! They talk about a lot of DIY and home decor-type stuff, but they also just kind of talk about whatever is going on in their lives at the moment. Their sister relationship kind of reminds me of me and my sister, which is sweet. I always look forward to this one and wish it were longer!

2. Inside Trader Joe’s

If you read this recent blog post of mine, you know I love Trader Joe’s. But even considering that, I wasn’t sure if I would care that much about listening to a podcast all about the store. But it’s SO GOOD! These are super short (150-20 minute) episodes that talk about things like where Trader Joe’s sources its items, taste testing panels, company history, and more. I probably sound nerdy talking about this but it’s FASCINATING. They also give previews of new seasonal items that are coming out, and I love knowing about those in advance so I can look for them! If you are a fan of Trader Joe’s I think you will like this podcast.

3. Office Ladies

If you love The Office (the TV show), you will LOVE this podcast. Each week, Jenna Fischer (who played Pam on The Office) and Angela Kinsey (who played Angela) walk through an episode of the show and talk about their memories of filming it, behind the scenes tidbits, hidden things in the episode you might not have noticed, etc. It’s so sweet, wholesome, and just fun to listen to.

4. American Girls

Okay, this one might be a little more niche, but to me this is the “cult classic” version of a podcast. It’s one of my FAVORITES and one of the podcasts I’ve learned the most from. I grew up with American Girl Dolls, and this podcast is for that generation of people. The hosts are hilarious and so smart, and they go through each doll’s books and re-read them and provide commentary. I honestly hadn’t read most of the books for the various dolls and still enjoy the podcast so much. It’s less about the actual plots of the American Girl Doll books and more about examining American Girl Dolls’ impact on American culture for my generation. It’s extremely good and I highly recommend it!

5. Gangster Capitalism

This podcast tackles the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal and does so in a very methodical way that I binge-listened to. I think the best thing about it is that it explains how a scandal like this could happen, what the structures in place are that allow for that kind of corruption, and how those avenues still exist in the higher education system. I guess you could technically call this one true crime because obviously fraud and bribery are crimes, but it’s white-collar crime so it (probably) won’t make you lose sleep :)

6. This Land

Definitely listen to this podcast if you want to know more about tribal sovereignty in the United States and specifically in Oklahoma. Even if you don’t think you are curious about that, the podcast is gripping, and it gives a bigger picture on Native land rights and how tribes have been treated in the US than I ever understood before. The podcast centers on a Supreme Court case (that is still pending as of the time I’m writing this) that will decide who owns 19 million acres in Oklahoma (about half the state). If it goes in favor of the tribe, it would be the largest land restoration in US history. Definitely worth a listen while we’re waiting to hear how the decision comes out!

7. RuPaul: What’s the Tee With Michelle Visage

This is a really fun, more lighthearted podcast with RuPaul and Michelle Visage (such a dynamic duo) where they interview a different guest every week. Ru and Michelle are hilarious (and usually the guests are, too), and they talk about a bunch of different topics. I don’t listen to this every single episode, but if they’re interviewing someone I know/like, I’ll listen. Grace and I like this one for long car rides!

I hope you get some good new listens from this list! I’d love to hear some of your non-true crime favs, too!

Who else loves Trader Joe’s?! I’ll never forget when I was first introduced to Trader Joe’s in college—it was fairly new to North Carolina at the time, but my college roommate and bestie was from DC and knew all about the TJ’s magic. We used to drive an hour to the nearest one, armed with freezer bags, to stock up on our favorites to tote home to our apartment.

Years later, now in California, I live in walking distance of a Trader Joe’s and it is where I usually stock up on our weekly groceries. I think the only downside to Trader Joe’s is that there are certain things they just don’t carry, so sometimes I’ll run to Whole Foods to grab a couple extra items that I need for the week. But in general I can buy groceries for Grace and me for the majority of the week for around $60 at Trader Joe’s and that’s perfect for us at this stage in life.

The interesting thing about Trader Joe’s is that almost all of the products are TJ’s own versions of things, so you won’t find brands that are in normal grocery stores. Conversely, you won’t find Trader Joe’s items anywhere else other than Trader Joe’s. Today I wanted to share 10 of my absolute FAVORITE Trader Joe’s items that I think are worth trying if you don’t normally shop there or aren’t familiar with what they have. These aren’t in any particular ranked order because that would be way too hard! Here goes:

1. Soy Creamy - Cherry Chocolate Chip Flavor

I have to credit my best friend Anna for introducing this to me probably 10 years ago. It is vegan ice cream that’s kind of a take on the Cherry Garcia flavor from Ben & Jerry’s. I remember being skeptical when Anna first convinced me to try it, but soon after that I had to have my OWN carton in the fridge even though we lived in the same apartment. That’s how good it is! There was a very sad time when it seemed TJ’s wasn’t selling this flavor anymore, but I found this carton at my local store this past week (Feb. 2020), so fingers crossed it’s here to stay! It is my favorite grocery store ice cream of all time.

2. Sweet & Spicy Pecans

These pecans are a staple in our house. They are like a candied pecan took a dip in some addictively delicious chili powder. They do pack a little bit of heat, but to me it’s the perfect amount of spiciness. We scatter them on cheeseboards, throw them in salads, and snack on them plain.

3. Unexpected Cheddar Cheese

Another bestie gets credit here—this cheese is always a staple at Tina’s bachelor viewing parties, and now it is also a staple in my fridge! It is seriously so good. Like a white cheddar but, as the label suggests . . . somehow unexpected! It’s sublime. Just try it.

4. Pecan Praline Granola

This is the Goldilocks of granolas. I like to make yogurt bowls with a lot going on: fruit, chia seeds, honey, chocolate nibs, and granola for crunch. This is the perfect crunchy, lightly sweet granola to let other flavors take center stage, without being bland. I buy it almost every week!

5. Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese

This next one is definitely more of a treat than an everyday staple, but the Hatch Chile microwavable mac & cheese is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. This is also something I tend to throw in my cart whenever I’m super hungry while shopping and pop it in the microwave when I get home, to heat up while I’m unloading groceries. The chiles don’t really make it spicy, but they do add an interesting flavor (and in my mind this is somehow healthier than plain mac & cheese, haha!).

6. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Another “treat” item up next: Grace and I looove dark choco pb cups, as we call them. They’re just so good. They are pretty small, so we like to grab a couple after dinner sometimes to satisfy our sweet tooth (teeth?) while we watch TV.

7. Cauliflower Gnocchi

I have read the funniest stories online about people literally fighting in Trader Joe’s over the last bag of cauliflower gnocchi. Thankfully, my local store’s freezer always seems to be well-stocked with them, so I’ve never had that issue. But this really is THAT good! And I’ll admit—I was skeptical when I saw this was becoming a food trend. I’m not always on board with replacing perfectly good (albeit heavier/carb-ier) food with kale/cauliflower/whatever. Especially because potato gnocchi that’s gluten free already exists. And for instance, I do not care for the cauliflower pizza crust that Trader Joe’s makes. Like, just have pizza (even gluten free-flour pizza, if that’s an issue for you). You know?

But I was wrong about this one. While I still enjoy regular gnocchi, I genuinely think I like this better. It’s pillowy, fluffy, and goes perfectly with so many sauces. I think the key to this one is playing around with your own preparation method and not necessarily following the exact instructions on the bag if you think you have a better way. For me, I add a little less water than it calls for and turn up the heat at the end to get it golden brown. I think my favorite way to serve this is cacio e pepe style, but any simple red sauce is also super good with it. And I’ll admit, I also do like the fact that I know I’m getting a serving of veggies from this, too.

8. Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt

Yogurt is often what I have for breakfast. I used to buy endless individual yogurts, Chobani or whatever, and throw away a lot of plastic. Then I started getting plain nonfat greek yogurt in the BIG tubs from Trader Joe’s, and I’m never looking back! It’s so nice that you can make your own yogurt bowls (see granola, above), and I always get it unsweetened because then it can also serve as a lighter sour cream substitute in savory dishes too. This cuts down on how many different products I have to buy each week, and I find this to be really good quality. This is really popular at my local store, and I often feel like I’m grabbing the last or second-to-last tub, so keep your eye out for this one!

9. Restaurant-style Tortilla Chips

These are seriously the best tortilla chips. They’re STURDY, which I appreciate. They have the slightest bit of lime flavor (not like the Tostitos Hint of Lime, which I honestly love, but can be overpowering depending on what you’re eating it with) and the perfect amount of saltiness. My only complaint is that I wish they came in a bigger bag! Trader Joe’s has several different tortilla chip options, and sometimes I end up buying the different version that comes in a bigger bag (if we’re having people over and need more, etc.), but this kind is my favorite for sure.

10. Meatless Breakfast Patties

Last but not least, these microwavable imitation breakfast sausage patties are one of my favorite things Trader Joe’s carries. I love taking an English muffin, putting one of these on top, and then cooking an over-easy egg to add to it and make a breakfast sammie. If you don’t eat meat or want to eat less of it, these are just super yummy for a weekend breakfast treat!

I also want to give an honorable mention to a non-food product: Trader Joe’s Greeting Cards.

As someone who loves to send birthday cards, let me tell you it can quickly add up. I’m really glad I discovered that Trader Joe’s has racks of cards (usually near the entrance) for 99 cents each and they’re actually cute! I can get 4 or 5 for the price of ONE card from most places. And while I will always and forever love paper companies like Rifle and Paper Source, Trader Joe’s cards allow me to just grab a bunch to stock up and have on hand without thinking about the cost so much. They have other types of cards too for other occasions but birthdays are what I usually grab.

And that’s it! As you can see from the photo at the top of this post, I buy a bunch of things each week, but these are the ones that are tried and true in our house and that I always come back to. I’d love to hear some of your Trader Joe’s faves as well!