Learning to be a Wife

Life Lately: Week 41

2026-10-15T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

I made chicken in the crockpot with corn and black beans, added rice, and made the dip from this recipe.

E.T., errr, Manny.

I'm honestly surprised at how well these flowers are thriving two weeks later.

In this week's edition of "What I Added Cottage Cheese To" (and it was amazing).

Spooky season is here.

Treated myself to a pedicure.

I'm more of a cute and cozy Halloween girlie.

Wine Wednesday with a sweet friend.

He prefers a morning dip while I prefer an afternoon dip.

10/10 recommend this wine.

This made me giggle because he is always out walking his dog.

October sunrise.

G and I took Friday afternoon off to extend our weekend and soak up one of the last boat rides of the season.

Boat rides aren't his favorite in his older years, but I figured he should join us for one of the last rides.

He understood the assignment and relaxed into the ride.

Michigan's fall collection is stunning.

The family joined us for one of the last rides of the year and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.

Mary Poppins spotting? :)

Epic sunset.

These are definitely a repeat purchase for me.

Katherine Center is an automatic read for me, and while this wasn't my favorite of her books, it was still a cute and enjoyable read.

Favorite quotes:

"I want the details of a story to be endlessly surprising. My greatest hope when I start reading a new story is that it will take my heart on a Tilt-A-Whirl carnival ride of every single possible emotion along the way. But - and this is essential - by the end I want us all to be okay. Better than okay, if possible."

"Falling in love bolsters your immune system. Love soothes anxiety, prevents colds, mitigates depression, lessens pain, and promotes healing. New studies on the biochemistry of love shows that experiencing loving feelings lowers stress. It counteracts the production of cortisol in the body, and it strengthens the vagus nerve - which calms and regulates mood, heart rate, digestion, and inflammation."

"A really well-done story of any kind makes you believe it's real. The best stories make you forget you're reading at all - and the boundaries between you and the characters dissolve. You emphasize so hard that you step into the shoes - even climb into the skin - of those people. Their story becomes your story. It's happening all around you - and to you."

"There's a reason we love reading love stories. They're good for us... One of the big lessons that the main characters in love stories learn over and over, story after story, is to choose love over fear."

Official last ride to wrap up an epic boating season.

Fun fact: I can't stand anything pumpkin flavor... except pumpkin beer.

Sunday supper was an old favorite, but G swapped the peppers for artichokes and it was the best version yet.

Work has felt extra hard lately and it's been easy to fall into a negative mindset, so this verse has been on my heart lately.

Love this question shift.

Food for thought.

The more you know.

Still thinking about this as an enneagram one.

Bahaha.

I feel seen.

Guilty of doing this.

You had to be there.

Raises hand.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 40

2026-10-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Monday vibes.

New week, same lunch.

Embracing my sleepy girl mocktail era.

My sweet sugar face.

I was captivated from the very first page and adored this book.

Favorite quotes:

"I recently read a book by C.S. Lewis in which he says that you don't really know what you believe until the truth of it becomes a matter of life and death. It's one thing to have faith that a rope is strong when it's coiled in a box. But would you dangle from that rope over a precipice?"

"The secret to happiness is freedom and the secret to freedom is courage."

This company name made me giggle, and of course I had to send it to my girlfriend, whose husband is named Dan.

My take on the viral feta baked pasta, but swapped out the pasta with spaghetti squash.

Swimming and floating my way into October with no regrets.

Had to drop off the summer tax check, so naturally I rewarded myself with a little treat afterward.

I firmly believe errands deserve a little sprinkle of fun.

I’m reading through the Bible chronologically, so I’m jumping around a bit.

I had Chat make me a little checklist to keep track so I can check off each book as I go (which is very satisfying).

I love using The Everygirl wallpapers to create a fresh desktop background for my computer each month.

It’s such a fun little way to switch things up and get into the spirit of the season.

Not my prettiest meal, but “salmon risotto” sure does sound fancy.

Fall flowers make me happy.

I love a book that challenges the way I think, and I know I’ll be thinking about (and talking about) this one for the rest of the year.

Favorite quotes:

"Live a more engaged and interesting life and you will have more of yourself to share with others."

"Maximize total life enjoyment."

"For every moment, there is an ideal experience to be having."

"The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end that's all there is."

"Although we all have at least the potential to make more money in the future, we can never go back and recapture time that is now gone. So it makes no sense to let opportunities pass us by for fear of squandering our money. Squandering our lives should be a much greater worry."

"What I am an advocate for is deciding what makes you happy and then converting your money into the experiences you choose."

"What good is wealth without health? In other words, to get the most out of your time and money, timing matters. So to increase your overall lifetime fulfillment, it's important to have each experience at the right age."

"Many psychological studies have shown that squandering money on experiences makes us happier than spending money on things."

"Start actively thinking about the life experiences you'd like to have, and the number of times you'd like to have them. Think about what you really want out of this life in terms of meaningful and memorable experiences."

"The main idea here is your life is the sum of your experiences. Everything you do in life - all the daily, weekly, monthly, annual, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences you have - adds up to who you are."

"You retire on your memories. When you're too frail to do much of anything else, you can still look back on the life you've lived and experience immense pride, joy, and the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia."

"The key takeaway is to strike the right balance between spending on the present (and only on what you value) and saving smartly for the future."

"Being aware that your time is limited can clearly motivate you to make the most of the time you do have."

I'll never get over the lake sparkles.

I guess in his old age he doesn't have to sleep on his blanket anymore. ;)

Took a little risk and tried a new wine, and we actually liked it quite a bit (definitely gave us Sauvignon Blanc vibes).

Don’t sleep on RHONY.

The Martha Stewart scene alone was absolute television gold.

This week was a really good reading week.

Favorite quotes:

"The best stories are the ones that fill you with wonder. The ones you almost believe."

"It's a privilege to waste time - waste as much of it as you can. On things you love, on things you enjoy, on moments that make you so happy you could burst. And in the end, if you do it right, none of it will have been a waste at all."

Rosé all day.

Made a batch of banana muffins, but I think I prefer them with chocolate chips and a little protein powder instead.

Boating in October looks a little different, but it's still incredible.

Cherry limeade is officially a new favorite flavor, and I have to say, it tastes even better in a martini glass.

I devoured this book in two days - I was invested and absolutely had to know how it ended.

Fave quote:

"No one handed you anything. Your future was in your own hands. Choose a goal. Make a plan. Do the work."

Always a good reminder.

Focus on what you can control.

This is the real work behind the popular saying "marriage is work."

Don't waste your Octobers.

Deep into the 'ber months.

But where did September go?

Aww love this.

I feel seen.

A simple and beautiful reminder.

100.

Ha!

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 39

2026-10-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

The day gently fading into the water.

10/10 highly recommend this cheese.

I added the Cheddarella to my eggs and it seriously elevated breakfast.

I also highly recommend this book and wish I read it ten years ago.

Favorite quotes:

"If you work for money, you give the power to the employer. If money works for you, you keep the power and control."

"It is what you know that is your greatest wealth. It is what you do not know that is your greatest risk."

"Rich dad believed the words 'I can't afford it' shut down your brain. 'How do I afford it?' opens up possibilities, excitement, and dreams."

"'You become what you study.' In other words, be careful what you learn."

Celebrated M's gotcha day with a pup cup.

The view from the boat with our sweet premarital couple who are now almost three years married...

And a zoomed out picture my neighbor took of the sunset (and you can see our boat on the far right).

A weird lunch combo that somehow worked: falafel, cottage cheese, rice, and broccoli.

Still swimming and recruited more people to join us. :)

A little Olive Garden catchup with a dear friend.

A long, but productive library board meeting made even sweeter with a well-deserved cookie.

Better late than never, but we finally had G's team over because some traditions are too good to skip.

G works with the kindest...

And funniest people. :)

Our cutie house during a full moon.

Bonfire season is here.

Coffee snuggles with M.

It gets dark so early now that boat rides are reserved for weekends now.

Find the beauty in the mundane.

Just keep swimming.

Took advantage of the grilling weather.

I can't believe I'm still floating, but I'm not complaining (and might be a little crazy).

First time going to a gender reveal and it started with shots.

Voted girl, ate good, had a great time.

The big reveal...

Or so we thought, ha!

The real reveal was the gift and it's a girl (I was right)!

Loved every second of this summer and already looking forward to the next one.

Good question.

The more you know.

Food for thought.

100 percent.

Focus on what you can control.

Convicting.

The man in the arena.

Perspective shift.

It's true.

Nothing like the excitement of new Taylor music.

I feel so old.

It's funny because it's true.

I feel seen.

Yep.

Silly workday.

My therapist has said this to me!

Seriously.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 38

2026-09-22T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Snug as a bug.

Kinda weird combo, but I mixed white rice, falafel, cottage cheese, and Brussels sprouts and it was delicious.

My neighbor’s dog was my little sidekick and insisted on joining my meetings.

"Comparison is the thief of joy, but it seems that comparison is also the thief of faith."

Channeling all the cozy vibes on this rainy day.

Another random but surprisingly delightful meal: grilled chicken marinated in Italian dressing with some Lazy Food pasta.

Hard to believe the water temperature was 81° over Labor Day weekend, dropped to 71° by Monday, and was down to 69° by Sunday!

Recycled photo, but I had to document my last float of the season on Tuesday, September 15.

Love a midweek dinner with my parents - always nice to spend some quality time with them, plus I got to pick up my mom’s cake for a baby shower I was co-hosting.

An evening sky over the lake.

Office selfie.

Putting my decorating skills to work for the sweetest coworker’s baby shower.

My coworkers are seriously so creative - this char-“cutie” board was almost too pretty to eat…

I said almost!

What am I even doing here?

And these gorgeous flower arrangements?

Straight from my coworker’s own garden.

And my mom made the cake...

Which was just the sweetest touch.

Everyone seriously brought their A-game when it came to the food!

After work, I met up with a friend at Cafe Rica for a little midweek catch-up.

Brought dinner home, only to realize we were out of ranch, so naturally, I improvised and made my own with Greek yogurt and a ranch seasoning packet (and it did the trick!).

Snuck away for a little boat ride while the sun was shining.

I had such a love/hate relationship with this book.

I absolutely adored the story and all the When Harry Met Sally parallels, but I hated that I had to scan a QR code to read the ending.

Favorite quotes:

"I prefer the solitude of an unfamiliar place to the loneliness of not recognizing myself in a familiar one."

"You can make anything as complicated as you want it to be. The trick is knowing what to let be uncomplicated."

"With everyone else, I feel like I have to be on or ready, but being with you feels like being alone, but better. I didn't know that was possible."

Coffee just hits different on a rainy Saturday morning.

The older he gets, the fewer cuddles I get, so I was soaking up every second of this one.

I didn’t choose the brunch life, the brunch life chose me.

Added a few little fall touches around the house...

Sprinkled a few pumpkins around too.

…and added a Halloween sign for good measure.

The result?

Extra cozy vibes.

My neighbors really are the best!

One picked up my favorite cottage cheese at Costco, and another grabbed a tea they thought I’d like.

Feeling very spoiled by the sweetest people.

Manny understood the assignment and spent the rainy weekend doing exactly what he does best: resting.

Hot take: swimming in the rain is actually elite.

Indian food and crisp fall weather are truly a match made in heaven.

Watched RHOSC (strong start to the season!), The Last Thing He Told Me (started a little slow, but I’m getting into it), and Your Friends & Neighbors (season 1 was definitely better).

Now we’re giving Presumed Innocent a try.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 37

2026-09-16T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

A perfectly runny egg on crispy sourdough is the ultimate breakfast combo.

This flavor is a vacation in a can.

Age is just a number when there's a lake to jump into and an inner children to wake up.

Channeling major 'Where’s Waldo?' energy trying to spot this heron.

Taking the holiday name a bit too literally this Labor Day.

Boating until the daylight runs out.

Somehow even cuter post-groom.

Of course I had to cash in on a free birthday coffee while I was downtown.

Sunset cruise.

Office selfie.

I tolerate working lunches exclusively for the catering.

Every sunset has a piece of my heart.

My dinner routine swings between extremes: some weeks I cook every single night, and others I let a Qdoba family meal carry us through.

After DNF’ing three books in a row, I finally surrendered... and now I completely get the hype around this book.

The days are getting shorter.

Still very much on my tofu, sweet potato, and cottage cheese kick.

My absolute least favorite time of year is when the lake starts losing its summer warmth.

Volunteered at my local library’s book sale and put together this little sign.

Pretty happy with my book haul, especially this coffee table find...

And a few devotionals I'm excited to dig into.

The kind of sunset that makes you stop and watch the ripples.

My beautiful mom turned 70 on Saturday and we celebrated this milestone with hibachi and lots of laughs.

The prettiest Lychee martini.

All the deliciousness that comes with dinner and a show.

Selfie with my little loves.

It wouldn’t be a complete birthday celebration without bringing out the gong to serenade my mom.

Caught this sweet little candid of B tucking my martini flower into my mom’s hair.

You know it was a good meal when B was completely passed out on the way to my parents’ house.

Let them eat cake!

The prettiest (and most delicious) bottle of rosé we picked up at Total Wine.

Being an aunt is the best.

We remember.

We will never forget.

I even took Tuesday off, and somehow the holiday weekend still flew by.

If you don't laugh you'll cry.

For more life lately:

Week 37 of 2019

Week 37 of 2020

Week 37 of 2021

Week 37 of 2022 Part One and Part Two

Week 37 of 2023

Week 37 of 2024

Week 37 of 2025

Life Lately: Week 36

2026-09-10T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Honestly, elite hyperfixation meal.

Burrata + tomatoes is one of those combinations that somehow feels like a full meal even though it’s basically two ingredients in a bowl.

After owning three houses, it finally happened… we had to replace the furnace and air conditioner, and I’ve never felt more like an adult.

My sweet cousin left me her whipped feta dip with my aunt’s homemade pita chips, and I feasted on them all week long.

Long overdue game night with our neighbors.

Creamsicle skies.

This was a good read.

Favorite quotes:

"Your grief, joy, anger, disgust, or fear does not define you, but it is a clue to what's going on inside you - and this is where the beauty happens."

"Process is part of what it means to be human... The process of blooming is as valuable as the flower it produces."

"Emotions add texture to our lives. They are the feedback to our interactions."

"People who are aware of and know how to attend to their feelings are truly awake. They have learned to be compassionate with themselves even in difficult experiences so they aren't overwhelmed or cut off from their emotions."

"It takes as long as it takes. It's okay to be unfinished. It's absolutely normal to be imperfect. It doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong."

Chicken sausage cooked on a sheet pan with peppers and onions is one of the most underrated meals.

Feeling so lucky that we had a working air conditioner just in time for this heat wave.

Whipped up a ginger miso salmon stir-fry, and it was seriously so delicious.

La Croix Pineapple Coconut is my new favorite flavor.

Pop of pink.

Why do I genuinely enjoy eating my sweet potato and tofu straight out of the cottage cheese container?

We had a wild couple of days of severe storms - limbs down everywhere and even a loose boat floating around the lake (thankfully, not ours!).

A much needed date night out.

And bonus: we picked up our last few months’ bottles of wine and cashed in on an overdue birthday dessert.

Even snuck in a late-night boat ride.

Last summer Friday with my mom and family friend.

A sweet ending to a fun day.

We ride at dawn... errr, sunset!

Pretty stoked to see a perfect score (and then it went downhill from there).

G made a favorite of ours.

After a reading rut, I gobbled this up and loved her utter transparency.

Favorite quotes:

"We are all bound to create patterns we can barely break. And the bad people around us bring their patterns, too, which we fold into because we're more comfortable with the pain we know than the threat of the unknown."

"We're taught that everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end. But there's no end to grief? Grief just changes colors."

"We help people by radical, thoughtful honesty."

An impromptu sweet potato and egg bowl that seriously hit the spot.

Old man Manny.

Maybe my expectations were just too high, but I could not get into F1.

It did, however, spark a very important debate about Brad Pitt being “one of the best actors,” which I strongly disagreed on.

Sushi + fries is such an unexpectedly perfect combination.

The perfect Labor Day weekend: floating, boating, and swimming.

Grilling season, made even better with the sweetest corn my darling neighbor brought over.

My snug bug.

Hopped on the Chat trend, and it’s pretty accurate (minus the marketing part - I don’t actually do marketing for work, but I do help marketing for my library board!).

How are we already in September, wasn’t it just June?!

Still thinking about this.

Happy September!

RIP.

Great idea.

Don't should on yourself.

Lovely Dolly-isms.

Love this.

This is great news for me.

I do enjoy a good bucket list.

Such a great question.

For more life lately:

Week 36 of 2023 Part One and Part Two

Week 36 of 2024

Week 36 of 2025

Life Lately: Week 35

2026-09-02T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

A great start to a great week.

Made banana chocolate chip muffins and they don't look good, but they were amazing.

Next time, I just need to double the recipe to make a full batch of 12.

Old man Manny.

This was pretty tasty.

Sailboat sighting.

Sweetest boy.

Library board meeting (doesn't it make me sound so legit?).

G tilled the beach, and I found an awesome guy through the community FB page to tackle all the weeding around the house.

Honestly, I feel so much lighter having all those chores checked off the list.

Followed the chores schedule I made last year, then rewarded ourselves with boat rides afterward.

Why does new hair make me feel like a new person?

Ball of fire.

Golden hour.

Sugar face.

The clouds looked like mountains.

We were checking off chores all week, so we grabbed a Qdoba family meal to keep us fed for the week and take one more thing off our plates (literally).

My favorite way to end the day.

This view doesn't get old.

M had a vet checkup for his ear, and with Starbucks right next door… how could I resist?

Happy to report he’s feeling so much better, officially on the mend, and finally off his meds!

Swooning over my neighbor's flower garden.

Snuggle buddy.

This show is already so twisty and fun, and now James Marsden is in Season 2?!

Just when I didn’t think it could get any better.

Our second year hosting the family reunion!

It started off a little rainy, so we had to pivot to the porch for the first hour.

All smiles.

My aunt made the most incredible mini chicken salad sandwiches.

Bennett said he could’ve eaten an entire plate of them, and honestly, I couldn’t agree more.

Italians really know how to do food, and everyone brought their A-game.

Needless to say, no one went hungry!

The rain finally cleared out, and we were able to move the party outside for the rest of the day.

The kids rotated between the mat...

And the hot tub. :)

I'm so glad I documented the kids putting the kayaks and paddleboat to good use, because G wouldn't have cleaned them otherwise.

It’s so weird seeing the boat cruising around the lake without me on it.

Captain G and his first mates.

The perfect end to a perfect day.

Not everything went smoothly, though.

I got stung by a bee (and it hurt!), and M decided to poop on the porch, step in it, and then proceed to track it all over the couch cushions.

RIP Dolly.

Another James Clear newsletter gem.

She really was a national treasure.

Giving. Creating. Making.

Convicting.

Still thinking about this.

Thank you, Dolly.

The satisfied later concept.

Me too, Dolly.

Haha I wish G would watch Real Housewives with me.

Wise words from a wise woman.

No thank you.

It's funny because it's true.

I feel seen.

Same.

I'm a reader!

Exactly.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 34

2026-08-26T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Cottage cheese egg bites with cheddar, red onion, and turkey sausage.

10/10 recommend.

Holy hour.

G picked up Med on his way back from PT.

See also: PT is incredible, and I genuinely cannot get over the difference in G after just two sessions.

He’s feeling so much better and was even up for boat rides this week!

Find beauty in the mundane.

Grilled brats with a side of quinoa salad.

Book club at our local dive bar turned out to be the perfect setting for deep book discussions.

I forgot my phone, so I’m using a recycled photo from a few years ago (but honestly, it felt amazing to be fully present).

Watercolor sunsets.

It turns out our air conditioner was broken, and the part needed is obsolete, so we’re now in the process of replacing both the AC and furnace.

All that to say, the weather has been pretty delightful (not too hot or too cold) for not having a working cooling system right now.

M is also feeling much better and has been such a champ with all his meds that we treated him to a pup cup (or two)!

Okay fine, we treated ourselves too. ;)

There's a new captain on the lake.

Pesto pasta is what's for dinner (x4).

Another cloudy, rainy, cool weekend after a beautiful, sunny, warm workweek (argh!).

Then it turned stormy and I had to relocate inside.

Do I have a Good Culture problem?

The cream cheese was okay, but honestly, I think I prefer Laughing Cow cheese.

I spy a little blue sky.

Sneaking in a walk between rain drops.

The book was so odd, and I almost gave up on it, but hearing who was cast in the Apple TV+ series was so perfect that it kept me going and I’m glad I stuck with it.

Favorite quote:

"When you fall in love with a book, is it the character or the author you’re falling in love with?”

The TV series was such an easy binge, and I actually liked the ending better than the book’s.

Sweet pupper.

Some weeks I cook every night, and other weeks I barely cook at all.

Golden hour.

He’s practically hanging off the couch, I can’t imagine that’s comfortable.

G made the most incredible steak stir-fry, complete with fried egg.

Elite snack combo: Dots and an Olipop Root Beer, with a side of Your Friends & Neighbors (very late to the party, but fully obsessed with the show).

Wound down with this Dream Lavender Latte.

It didn’t exactly taste good, but I received a 99 sleep score, so I’ll definitely be drinking it again.

It's funny because it's true.

I agree!

Your 40s are wild.

Bahahaha.

Fall can wait its turn.

So true.

Actual conversation between G and I.

For more life lately:

Week 34 of 2023 Part One and Part Two

Week 34 of 2024

Week 34 of 2025

Life Lately: Week 33

2026-08-19T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

What. A. Week.

G’s hip pain took a turn for the worse, landing him in urgent care.

Then M’s ear filled with fluid, so I had to take him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with a double ear infection.

And, just to top it all off, the air conditioner decided to break.

G was on the late shift, so I prepped sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, and tofu for my “girl dinners” all week (completely unaware that he’d end up on bed rest for the week).

On the mend.

I pivoted and had my girl dinners for lunch, then baked a bunch of chicken for dinners instead.

First up: chicken and veggies over rice with TJ’s curry sauce.

Golden hour.

This week was all about taking care of my boys.

Next up: a chicken stir-fry with TJ's soyaki.

He is so weird.

Just call me Martha Stewart - I also whipped up a spinach and feta quiche this week.

Cutie sign.

Treated myself to sushi after my first ultrasound (a follow-up from my mammogram - all clear)!

A little reminder to schedule those mammograms, friends.

Working the library tent at my town’s little festival.

I always say this, but my town is seriously straight out of a Hallmark movie.

My favorite time of day is when the sun casts that warm, coppery glow across the lake.

Sneaking in the fireworks show from my driveway.

What in the world?!

A bird sitting on the engine is definitely a new one.

This book was heavy, but I couldn’t put it down and I finished it in just 24 hours.

Favorite quotes:

"Good news sleeps in. Bad news doesn't wait for daylight."

"You've been there for every version of me."

"Life's too short for mediocre martinis."

Find beauty in the mundane.

G’s injury forced us to slow down, so we spent the weekend catching up on some good TV.

Michael was spectacular and I could watch the singing and dancing forever. That said, like Elvis, it was also pretty sad, with the people closest to him trying to take advantage of him.

Ride or Die was the complete opposite: action-packed, funny, and such an easy binge.

And The Housemaid was just disturbing - I’m honestly glad I didn’t read the book!

Nojito was a fantastic mocktail.

My shadow.

Coffee on the porch during a rain storm is elite.

Comfort food.

This story was way too long and the characters were chaotic, but it was also a sweet reminder that life isn’t measured in years, but in the experiences we have and the love we share.

Favorite quotes:

"Adults always think they can protect children by stopping them from going to dangerous places, but every teenager knows that's pointless, because the most dangerous place on earth is inside us. Fragile hearts can be broken in palaces and in dark alleys alike."

"You mustn't think about the fact that it might end, because then you live like a coward, you never love too much or sing too loudly. You have to take it for granted, the whole thing: sunrises and slow mornings, and water balloons and another person's breath against your neck. That's the only courageous thing a person can do."

G’s “yoga mat” for stretching quickly became M’s new favorite dog bed.

Managed to squeeze in a few glorious hours on the lake: swimming, floating, and soaking it all in.

Creamsicle skies.

It's all about perspective.

I agree with all of it, except the one-book-a-month part.

It's funny because it's true.

I feel seen.

Top. Tier.

I love a good N*SYNC joke.

This feels accurate.

The dream!

100.

It's definitely not 43.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 32

2026-08-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

When I see Manny every day, I don’t really think he looks 13.

But after being away for a week and seeing all these puppies running around on the beach, I realized how much M has aged - and that he really does look 13.

Back to the boat life.

This was a heavier read than I expected, but I still flew through it.

Favorite quotes:

"Life buries us. We get heavier and heavier as time goes on and we labor under the layers we've collected. Sometimes the layers make us who we are and sometimes they make us someone else entirely."

"I ask myself if I'm doing something because it's what I'm used to, or if I'm doing it because it's objectively the best thing to do."

My sweet old man.

Flowers as big as my head.

Jess and Ella are picky about cottage cheese too, and this is their favorite brand, so naturally I’ve been influenced and now I’m buying it.

Still savoring sunrise walks.

The way this guy loves a pillow will never not make me laugh.

12th annual girls weekend.

Year 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11.

Taco night.

This wasn’t as good as The Midnight Library, but still a good read.

Favorite quotes:

"He felt the rarest of things: seen."

"It's not the breadth of the years but the depth."

"Never ruin an apology with an excuse."

"Music had a way of threading through decades like nothing else. A song, after all, was a needle pulling the thread of time, stitching disparate moments into something whole."

"This was the whole trouble with life. It gave you every day in succession, so that every miracle to be cherished became a norm to be ignored."

"And to live life well you need to know when to ignore what is expected of you. Even if it means breaking the rules."

Brought my protein egg bites and they were a hit.

Coffee on vacation just tastes better.

Float prep.

On the lake, solving all the world’s problems.

Deb makes the most beautiful (and delicious!) snack boards.

On lake time.

Happy hour.

Talked on the deck until 1 a.m. - exactly the kind of night I never want to end.

Ashley made the most delicious blueberry sheet pan pancakes.

Getting ready for another day of floating on the lake.

For 12 years, I’ve come up here dreaming of swimming across the lake - and this year, I finally made it happen!

Quintessential summer meal.

Meanwhile back at home...

Girls weekend shenanigans.

Bonfire time.

Deb’s friends a few doors down picked us up for a boat ride around the lake.

Sunset cruise.

Coffee time snuggles.

There's no place like home.

I'm proud of us too.

PSA: Summer is not almost over.

James Clear newsletter gems.

Haha, yes please!

These tweets made me giggle.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 31 (Part 2!)

2026-08-06T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the second half of the (vacation/birthday!) week looked like.

You can catch part one here.

We couldn't have asked for better weather: hot, humid, sunny days with calm ocean conditions.

Best sound in the world.

After B and G wrapped up their science discussions, they'd sit down for a game of chess (my heart!).

I broke my routine one day and traded my swim for a 4-mile walk with G to the stream and it was so worth it.

We saw dolphins so close to us, and they swam alongside us for about a mile.

I was absolutely in my happy place.

Penguino joined us for game night. :)

I had the absolute best gnocchi of my life.

Too bad the atmosphere (cough...server...cough) and the noise level were off, or it would have been a perfect meal.

Buck moon.

Fueled by coffee and ocean breezes.

Sweet kiddos always ready for a photo op.

Beers as big as their heads... just like my dad ordered back in 2016.

Outtake... and G's face LOL.

Meet Geiko, who watched us eat dinner.

Who needs a spa day when you have tide pools?

Nature’s hot tubs gave us the most relaxing spa moment.

This was a cute beach read.

Favorite quotes:

"Independent book stores and libraries are not just pretty places to sniff books and meet nice people. They are on the frontline in the battle for strong communities and a healthy, thinking society."

"One thing about caretakers is they are never carefree. Without our cares, we'd just be takers like everyone else."

"It's an act of generosity to share something as precious as your life with someone."

On the way to Sea Captain's House we passed the most stunning mansions.

While my food left much to be desired, the she-crab soup was absolutely delicious.

It ended up being my mom’s favorite meal of the trip, so that made it all worthwhile.

Birthday sunrise.

Knowing SC was one of the only states not affected by the parasite, I took full advantage and ate as much salad as I could before heading home.

Love a Benny selfie.

Starbucks stop on the way home.

Soaking up the breathtaking mountain views in Virginia.

My best cocktail of the week was this lavender lemon martini (sorry, MB, but you like your drinks way too sweet for me).

The perfect birthday celebration: a delicious meal at the charming restaurant inside our hotel.

Not only was it a special evening, but it ended up being my favorite meal of the entire trip.

The dessert had us cracking up because the nuts had a spicy kick that hit the back of your throat after you finished each bite.

Such a surprising (and hilarious) ending to the meal.

We made a stop at a restaurant I discovered on a work trip back in 2021, and it was every bit as good as I remembered.

See also: world's most terrible picture trying to capture our cheers to an incredible trip.

One tired but very happy pup to be home.

There's no place like home.

"You need a bigger world."

Slow down, summer.

James Clear gems.

This made me laugh out loud.

For more life lately:

Week 31 of 2019

Week 31 of 2020

Week 31 of 2021

Week 31 of 2022 Part One and Part Two

Week 31 of 2023 Part One and Part Two

Week 31 of 2024

Week 31 of 2025

Life Lately: Week 31 (Part 1!)

2026-08-05T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the first half of the week looked like (vacation edition).

After 20+ years of visiting Myrtle Beach, I've realized that no matter how many other beach destinations I try, none of the condos/hotels feel as close to the ocean as Myrtle Beach.

There was something so sweet about Benny and G starting each morning with a science discussion.

Just two girls ready to explore the aquarium.

Surf's up and smiles all around.

Catching waves and making memories.

Spending a morning at the aquarium is always time well spent.

Just keep swimming.

A selfie with my favorite aquarium resident.

A few of my favorite things.

Selfie in the goldfish room.

Insert Jaws theme song.

So many fun memories at the aquarium, especially getting to touch a starfish, jellyfish, and stingray!

We laughed so hard at G's selfie that Ella made it his contact photo in her phone.

Caught this sweet candid of Ella enjoying the sting rays.

No jelly, just joy.

Pretty sure this was Benny's favorite aquarium stop.

Turns out Benny is quite the little photographer, and I loved every photo he captured.

For Benny's birthday, I gave him the choice between an adventure in Myrtle Beach or a sleepover weekend - and he chose this giant penguin from the aquarium.

Meet Penguino (sometimes called Penguini)!

Delicious lunch at Grumpy Monk (and G's favorite meal of the trip).

We did some shopping at Broadway at the Beach, and of course I came home with a candle.

Meanwhile Manny was enjoying his little vacation with a new friend.

Pool, beach, rinse, repeat.

Ella's sand crab.

Beach hair, don't care.

Tide pool adventures.

There was something so special about teaching the kids how to find crabs at night just like we did when we were growing up.

Brad selfie.

Our night at Miyabi was made even better by the best chef - amazing food, nonstop laughs, and such a fun experience.

My mom told our server it was my birthday, and next thing I knew I heard a drum...

And I'm being told to stand up and dance, ha!

A truly memorable dinner and one of the highlights of the week for all of us.

Stay tuned for part two!

Life Lately: Week 30

2026-08-04T02:00:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Old man Manny.

TJ sparkling water is legit.

This was a great recipe to make before going on vacation because I could easily swap out the sides and use up whatever we had in the fridge/freezer/pantry.

Summer nights.

A snacky lunch is my favorite kind of lunch.

Don't sleep on Aldi candles.

The sweetest boy.

Dramatic sunset.

Half the fun of vacation is researching the best restaurants.

I tried something different this trip and laid out all my outfits before packing them into my suitcase.

Total game changer - and definitely how I'll pack from now on.

Still impressed with how well I packed for 11 days away.

By day four, we turned our pulled pork leftovers into taco bowls, and it honestly felt like a brand-new meal.

Playful pup.

Good cloud sunset.

Hoover never fails to get me out of a book slump.

Sugar face.

Kicked off vacation with a steak and zucchini pie feast at my parents' house.

The 3:30 a.m. alarm was worth it - Myrtle Beach, here we come!

Sunrise in Ohio.

Lunch in Virginia.

Stopped in North Carolina for the night.

We stayed at the same hotel we stayed at in 2018, but this time we skipped the traffic and actually got to enjoy the town.

We had an epic dinner at Sage and Salt.

The Empire State building was modeled after the Reynolds Building and every Father's Day the Empire State Building staff sends the Reynolds Building a Father's Day card.

I love a hotel breakfast.

Starbucks stop.

Reunited with the family at Ole Smoky for a little lunch.

Let the vacation begin!

Our only cloudy beach day and it was still a good one.

The whole family was back in Myrtle Beach for the first time since 2011 (with half of us making a trip in 2016), so it was definitely overdue to return to one of our favorite places.

Beach treasure haul, complete with two shark teeth.

Why does getting my hair wet make me feel like a kid again?

I went under in the pool and the ocean every day - swimming, racing the kids, chasing waves, and doing handstands.

My inner child was so happy.

Coffee tastes better on vacation.

My beach routine was pretty much perfect: coffee and breakfast on the balcony, laps in the pool, beach time, lunch on the balcony, back to the beach to swim or sit in my chair with the waves rolling in (I spent so much time in the ocean this trip!), then a shower, dinner out, game night at my parents' condo, and crashing into bed.

Safe to say this guy fell in love with the ocean.

Some meals are worth coming back for, and this one at Greg Norman was just as good as I remembered.

Twinning.

He is the cutest.

Still thinking about this.

As I turn 43, this makes me genuinely look forward to getting older.

It's funny because it's true.

Being an adult is so weird.

Ha!

Not me relating to every tweet in this collage.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 29

2026-07-22T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

We had a planned power outage, so I worked from my parents' house and my mom even had snacks ready.

Not my usual lunch break: poolside lunch with my parents.

This book was a bit too dark for me, so I'll probably skip the Netflix show.

Favorite quotes:

"We rarely deserve the lives we lead. We pay for them however we can, be it with money, guilt, or regret."

"Silence is my favorite symphony; I can't think clearly when life gets too loud."

"Youth fools us into thinking there are infinite paths to choose from in life; maturity tricks us into thinking there is only one."

Grabbed Med on my way home and asked for no lettuce... and of course they served the food on a bed of lettuce (argh!).

And yes, I still ate it because I don't like wasting food.

I removed the lettuce, reheated everything, and did not get the parasite.

The sweetest boy.

BC Farmer's Market.

In office day.

The air quality suddenly got so bad that we had to skip the lake for a couple of days.

With the air quality keeping us indoors, I finally caught up on all my shows - RHORI, Every Year After, and In the City.

I also watched Project Hail Mary and absolutely adored it.

I laughed, I cried, and got completely immersed in its incredible journey through space.

Rocky reminded me so much of Manny, especially in that moment when Rocky says he didn’t get him anything and Ryan tells him that he gave him everything (cue the tears).

It's one of those stories that leaves you in awe of the universe while reminding you of the very best parts of humanity.

Our sweet friends across the lake gifted us some venison, and it was the perfect excuse to make one of our favorite recipes.

I love that sugar face.

Cozy summer evenings, game night with our neighbors, and her famous sangria - the perfect recipe for a great night.

G pulled off something we've never seen before... Went out on one turn without even picking up a tile!

We had to document the historic moment.

Waiting patiently for his walk.

Oh the laugh we had when I snapped a picture of what I thought were beautiful swans... only to get closer and realize they were fake.

This is a new sleeping spot.

Spent the World Cup semifinal at my coworker's house, where the homemade pizza completely ruined delivery pizza forever.

And in honor of England, we ended the night with the most delightful sticky toffee pudding.

Great game, incredible food, and even better company.

Oh Henry!

I love my library too.

The smoke has been so heavy here, and the haze has given everything such an eerie feel.

It's a sobering reminder of how devastating these wildfires are.

Thinking of everyone affected and hoping for safety, rain, and relief for the communities and firefighters on the front lines.

Easy breezy read during a stressful week.

Favorite quotes:

"This was just a season, and there's beauty in all seasons. Even if you are looking forward to the next one."

"You can't control the bad things that happen to you. All you can do is decide how much of you you're going to let them take."

My coworker shared homemade bread and fresh ricotta and it made for the most delicious breakfasts.

Captain Manny.

We spotted three great blue herons, the most we've ever seen at one time.

Happiest dog on the lake.

Floating and boating.

A snacky lunch is my favorite.

The World Cup has been such a bright spot and exactly what we needed.

The excitement, the unexpected upsets, fans from all over the world experiencing American fast food for the first time, and seeing people from different countries come together - it’s been such a joyful reminder of how sports can connect us.

Our boat day got rained out by the smoke and poor air quality, so we pivoted.

Since I'd already bought the food, I made this pulled pork recipe - and now we get to enjoy it all week long.

Sweet sunset.

Protect your mind.

Happy peach plum season!

"It's the art of making all the moments count."

What a lovely thought.

My dad is teaching through Proverbs in his Sunday school class, and this quote came up during a discussion on flattery and I'm still thinking about it.

I am her.

Reading books is profound.

This whole lettuce debacle is stressful, but the memes are so good.

It's been a WEEK.

I feel seen.

I'm craving an Oreo now.

Ha!

I just want a Caesar salad.

Everything is fine.

Check in on your Michigan friends.

It's funny because it's true.

The good old days.

Check, check, check, and check.

Victoria is a queen.

This is so me.

Reporting for duty!

Yes!

For more life lately:

Week 29 of 2024 Part One and Part Two

Week 29 of 2025

Life Lately: Week 28

2026-07-15T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Slow cooker stir fry is a favorite around here.

Of course he lays on the cushions while the covers are in the wash.

It's his world, we just live in it.

Long overdue Trader Joe's field trip.

Trader Joe's dill salad is a must buy for me... before I found out about the parasite problem.

Feeling extra fancy when I make salmon over Trader Joe's risotto.

Starbucks is on the way home from M's vet appointment, so of course I had to make a pit stop.

I'm all about making errands a little more fun.

Homemade spinach and feta quiche.

Adored this sign at my gyno's office.

Peach skies.

My beloved sweet potato, cottage cheese, tofu bowl was on repeat this week.

Summer Friday at Bad Brewing.

New obsession with pickled jalapeños.

Dog days of summer.

Dinner with friends, featuring the world's loneliest piece of broccoli.

Friday night lights.

Nothing makes me happier than my friends sending me sunset pictures because they know I'm a sky girl.

Celebrated a very special ten year old.

All legs (truly!) - he grew over an inch this year.

Having a ball!

Loved celebrating this sweet boy.

Cooling off in the splash pad.

What a gift Benny is to our family.

Yard game shenanigans.

All smiles.

He cracks me up.

Saturday selfie.

Clowning around.

Puppy love.

This boy knows exactly what he wants - steak for his birthday dinner and my mom's lasagna for the family party.

Can't argue with that!

How is he ten already?!

I think we've got a future cake decorator on our hands.

Not only did he decorate his cake beautifully, but he also made the most delicious cake pops!

Rest is holy.

I'm not usually a YA reader (it's just not my genre), but I stuck with this one because I can't seem to quit a book once I start it.

I'm glad I did because it ended up being super cute.

Favorite quote:

"You look best when you're you."

Sunday was an all-day lake day: boating, swimming, floating, and soaking up every minute.

The very best kind of day.

Savor every day.

I feel seen.

It's funny because it's true.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 27

2026-07-09T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Hot weather = morning walks.

Vacation Lindsey activated.

G made epic breakfast sandwiches with perfectly runny eggs.

Morning boat rides with the lake all to ourselves.

Floating is all I wanna do.

Brats, grilled veggies, and a side of Dominoes.

Tastes just as delightful as it looks.

Finally bought the tablecloth that had been in my cart for over a year, and I'm in love.

This was a cute, fun beach read.

Dropped M off at the groomer and treated myself to a little lunch.

Summer sunsets are my favorite.

Bat dog.

Onto 1 Samuel now.

The picture doesn't do it justice, but this storm came out of nowhere and did a number on our bimini.

FIVE STARS.

I'm recommending it to everyone I know, and I still can't stop thinking about it.

Favorite quotes:

"Like an algorithm, a family is endlessly complex yet adaptable and resilient, parents and children working together as parts of an intricate, coordinated whole."

"We must always take responsibility for our own mistakes. Yet in this new age of intelligent machines, we must also take responsibility for theirs."

"Life is not an algorithm, and never will be."

Always here for a cute beer name.

Legs for days.

The wind was not a fan of our boat parade decorations.

Benny always keeps us laughing.

Pretty girls.

We found a solution to the wind: becoming the boat decor.

Sibs.

All smiles for America's 250th.

This was the biggest boat parade we’ve ever had, stretching around the entire perimeter of the lake.

Sister, sister.

Rocking the boat decor.

The best part of the parade is always the finale, when our neighbor (and the person we bought our boat from!) closes it out with the national anthem.

The parade was a hot one, so we cooled off with a much-needed floating party afterward.

We were lake hungry and absolutely feasted after an amazing day on the water.

See also: Brad showed up with three kinds of buns - the way our forefathers would have wanted.

One perk of M getting older: he can’t hear the fireworks anymore, so he’s no longer scared of them.

Not sure if the 250th anniversary had anything to do with it, but the lake was filled with more fireworks than usual.

Coffee snuggles.

Lake tired is real.

M was exhausted too.

I spent my week off by the lake reading three books, and I’d say that’s time very well spent.

Favorite quotes:

"Some people think hiding their grief will make it go away, but in my experience it only makes it hurt more. Grief is only ever yours; it's not something you can share."

"Grief is a patient thief and steals far more than people who have never known it realize."

"Success is often the result of a series of failures."

"I keep my thoughts to myself because silence cannot be misquoted."

"Wives think their husbands will change but they don't. Husbands think their wives won't change but they do."

"Life is beautiful and life is ugly and we have to learn to live with both sides of that same coin and see the light in the darkness. The world is beautiful ugly, relationships are beautiful ugly, love is beautiful ugly. Understanding that makes life easier to live with."

Fast. Isn't. Always. Forward.

Wise words.

My philosophy.

Happy July!

Good reminders.

July is the best.

I may not agree with this administration, but I will always love this land.

YES!!

Convicting.

It's funny because it's true.

Haha.

Slow down, summer.

I feel seen.

Where is your mascot?

The dream job.

Lol.

Truth!

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 26

2026-07-02T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Giving me heart eyes.

Burrito bowls for dinner.

Good cloud day.

Boat dog.

Long live summer.

Now that the hot weather has arrived, morning walks are back in the routine, along with plenty of deer sightings.

Sailboat spotting.

My dad sent me his morning devotional because it reminded him of Manny.

It talked about "sugar faces" - those sweet pups whose faces turn white with age - and described them as a reflection of the sweetness within.

I couldn't agree more. Manny's sugar face is just one more reminder of the gentle, loving soul he is.

Walking the neighborhood and appreciating all the beautiful blooms.

Live life in full bloom.

Winding down from the day.

I'd heard this was a favorite book of last year, so I think my expectations were just too high.

It wasn't bad, I just couldn't quite understand the hype.

Med bowls.

What a goof.

G was absolutely buzzing after South Africa made it through to the World Cup knockout stage.

Dog days of summer.

Treated myself to a pedicure, and it might be my favorite one yet.

Caesar salad with chicken nuggets is a favorite around here.

That can't be comfortable.

Judges was a tough book to read, so getting to Ruth was a welcome change.

My mom picked up this quiche because she knew I'd love it - and she was absolutely right.

A wonderful afternoon filled with good conversation and a few rounds of cards.

We both can't resist a good grapefruit martini.

Dinner and drinks at Sansu because tradition.

I think hydrangeas are becoming my favorite flower.

I planned ahead because dinner is usually slow and crowded, but it was surprisingly quick and quiet.

That left us with extra time to kill, so MSU Dairy Store was an easy decision.

After hearing a few podcasts rave about & Juliet as their favorite Broadway show, I didn’t hesitate when it came to my theater - it was an instant buy.

This show has slipped into my top five.

The way the writers wove the music in was so creative, and it was just pure joy.

We spent the whole time laughing and both agreed Anne Hathaway stole the show (and our hearts).

My mom spent the night and brought us Starbucks for Saturday morning.

I made egg bites for our breakfast.

A little morning boat ride.

Always a fan of good chalk art.

We went to my coworker’s party in her beautiful, tropical-feeling backyard, listening to her family speak Spanish, and I was instantly transported to Miami - my happy place.

We went into the party not knowing what an Ooni was, and left convinced we needed one after having the best pizza I’ve ever had.

Obsessed with her style (and her reading nooks).

This is your PSA to try new things.

We went to a party where we didn’t know anyone except the host and ended up having the best time.

We met interesting, funny, kind people, laughed a lot, ate so many different pizzas - each one better than the last - and even tried a sound bed, which was the most relaxing thing I’ve ever experienced.

Happy hour.

We tried a new Thai place and I’d go back for the fried rice, but I’d skip the pad Thai.

Heron at sunset.

What a wonderful way to look at it.

Agreed.

Forever a sky girl.

Good reminder.

James Clear newsletter gem.

Work to live.

As an avid snow complainer, I needed to hear this.

Good advice.

Facts.

So much truth to this.

Convicting.

I'm still thinking about this.

A thousand percent true.

It's funny because it's true.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 25

2026-06-24T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Early morning departure - leaving for the airport by 4:00 a.m.

I'm a big fan of the Grand Rapids airport.

Running on Dunkin.

Layover in Dallas.

My luck turned around... After a one-hour maintenance delay, I ended up with no one in the seat next to me.

Highly recommend reading a scary book on a plane in broad daylight, surrounded by people.

Nothing beats finding an unassuming little spot that serves amazing food.

The drive to the plant was breathtaking.

The topography was incredibly diverse - one minute we were passing canola fields, then mountains, desert landscapes, and even a massive dam.

The Columbia River runs through it.

The Grand Coulee Dam.

The dam was fascinating so I wish I’d had more time to check it out.

As we entered the desert portion of the trip, I had to snap photos of the cacti to prove to my dad that there’s actually desert in Washington.

Checked into the hotel, swam a few laps, and relaxed with a book in the hot tub before calling it a night.

The road trip snacks.

Like clockwork, every time I’m on Pacific Time, I wake up at 4 a.m.

I'm a big fan of a hotel breakfast.

Intermission from the plant visit: an underwhelming sandwich.

Still not over the cacti.

Was this rock cut to make way for the road?

Better view of the river on the way back.

What I love about traveling is experiencing new things, like discovering that canola fields in bloom are so intensely yellow they look like you’re on the Yellow Brick Road.

This alert is frightening, and it’s devastating to hear about the homes lost in the fire.

Dinner with THAT view.

Highly recommend Clinkerdagger.

The almond and asiago crusted scallops were insanely delicious.

I checked into my hotel at 8 p.m. and crashed hard.

At the airport far too early.

The Pacific Northwest has me hooked so I need to come back for proper sightseeing.

Salmon burger as big as my head at Pappadeaux.

World Cup vibes at the airport.

Reunited with my boys.

There’s no place like home… except when there’s no coffee.

Thankfully, G made a quick Starbucks run and saved the morning.

Reunited with an old friend for a little sushi lunch.

His head on the noodle, though.

A boat ride with my boys: the perfect reset after a hectic but memorable week.

This was so cute.

Favorite quotes:

"I don't care about making it big - I just want to make it. I'd rather be ten people's favorite thing than a hundred people's tenth-favorite thing."

"You know you're in love when they are the first person you want to hear in the morning and the last person before you go to bed."

"Your head is always quietest when you're staring at the ocean."

"Sometimes the dreams you come with aren't the dreams you leave with."

"Grief is just a love song in reverse."

Turtle family spotted.

My little burrower.

G's famous burgers.

A Father’s Day hang with some of my favorites.

Bonus: it was Manny’s 13th birthday!

Pizza hit the spot.

Still thinking about this.

Happy Juneteenth!

100.

Yes to all of this.

God is good all the time.

Deep.

Couldn't agree more and grateful to have an amazing dad.

The best combo.

It's funny because it's true.

I feel seen.

For more life lately:

Week 25 of 2024 Part One and Part Two

Week 25 of 2025

Life Lately: Week 24

2026-06-16T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Legs for days.

I've moved on to Judges.

These suuuummer niiiiiiiiiights.

Egg bites on repeat.

My sidekick.

Tofu salad.

I think all the hype raised my expectations too much, but it was still an addictive read.

Favorite quotes:

"Friends are like oxygen. If you've been blessed enough to have always been surrounded by friends, you might think I'm overplaying this. I don't blame you. If you'd always been surrounded by air, you wouldn't think to credit it for your very existence either."

"I choose you. It's hard to imagine a nicer thing to say to a person."

"It strikes me that, with all the cruelties in this world, there is still nothing quite as dangerous as kindness."

I prefer my chicken salad with maximum crunch (read: an absurd amount of celery).

Sweet summertime!

The first part was a little cringe, but then it got me laughing.

Aldi’s chicken sausages are seriously good, don’t sleep on them.

Sunset cruise.

Manny at sunset.

Good cloud evening.

BC Farmer's Market.

In office day.

Team lunch.

Electric sunset.

Sushi is always a good idea.

Whatever floats your boat.

One of my favorite meals is sweet potatoes and tofu mixed into the last bit of cottage cheese left in the container.

Friday vibes.

Cottage cheese tub as big as my head (and thankful for good friends who think of me while at Costco).

Spent the perfect afternoon enjoying sushi with a friend at Horrock’s beer garden.

The flowers are everything.

Summer sunsets are my favorite.

My aunt is 80!

Good eats.

Family reunion.

Siblings.

Doesn't he look great for 80? ;)

Prepped a quiche for the week and officially declaring feta the reigning champion of quiche cheeses.

Oof… Monday is coming for me way too early.

Summer is magic.

Meditated on this verse this week.

Good reminder.

"The happiest people are the ones who are good at noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary."

The cutest library.

The World Cup is here.

A James Clear newsletter gem.

Pickling.

"We need to be nostalgic about the present."

Convicting.

The more you know.

I love enjoying my mortgage.

Bahaha.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 23

2026-06-10T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Caesar salad with chicken nuggets on top is a lunch favorite around here.

Old man Manny.

I volunteered at our Culver’s library fundraiser and was having so much fun that I completely forgot to take any pictures of us in our cute blue aprons - so all you get is this shot of the food G picked up for dinner!

I gobbled this book up in two days.

Reading it felt like sitting down with a friend who was sharing all the juicy details of her life and marriage.

I haven't felt that connected to a memoir since Jessica Simpson's.

Favorite quotes:

"Wouldn't your own story look different if you knew how it was going to end?"

"I could see the cost for feeling safe was being controlled. They were two sides of the same coin - protection and control."

Chicken stir fry is what's for dinner.

My neighbors' flowers were striking during golden hour.

There's no better stress relief than an after-work boat ride.

New favorite creamer from Whole Foods has me feeling like I'm cheating on Trader Joe's.

Mexican night at book club.

We talked about Theo of Golden, and the more we discussed it, the more I appreciated the book.

Coffee catch up with a friend.

That's a wrap on lunch.

Caught a sighting of the Battle Jacks mascot from Battle Creek's minor league baseball team.

Feeling Zen at Horrocks.

Happy hour with my amazing team.

I love how "going down to scare the geese" unexpectedly resulted in such a gorgeous, artsy picture.

I brought lunch to my parents’ neighborhood pool for a relaxing day… and the joke was on us.

Crowded pool, freezing water, clouds rolling in, and nonstop lawn mowing in the background.

We lasted until the weed whacker started, then we called it.

Margarita: juice cleanse for cool people, ha!

I love a funny dish towel.

This ally just makes me happy.

We left the pool and did a little shopping in Howell.

My mom and I met a family friend for dinner at Cello and this limoncello martini was 10/10, no notes.

The lemon spaghetti was just as amazing as I remembered.

Sugar face.

Peony season.

6/6: First jump off the boat of the year.

Manny after dark.

File this under: things that made me smile this week.

Reunions are usually my least favorite part of the show, but Summer House this season is the exception - I’m all in on this one.

Watercolor sunset.

I read The Five Resets for work book club and loved the practical advice.

I adore the idea to ask "what matters most to me?" instead of "what's the matter with me?"

Favorite quotes:

"One common thread linking all of these stories is their will to want something better for themselves finally overtook their need to stay the same. They chose their future self."

"Living a lifetime in a day is about incorporating the six elements that make up an arc of a long and meaningful life - childhood, work, vacation, community, solitude, and retirement - and building each of those into one single day. By practicing how to live a lifetime in a day, you can gradually redefine your sense of time, which is your most cherished and endangered currency, in a new and welcoming way."

"You are the sky. Everything else - it's just the weather."

I feel seen.

Yes to all the things.

Recover quickly and enjoy the ride that is life.

Good reminder.

Agreed.

It's funny because it's so true.

Yes please.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 22

2026-06-03T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Floating is all I wanna do.

Boating and floating on repeat around here.

They always spray the lake on the hottest day.

Oblivious we left him alone on the porch.

We had leftover bacon to eat, and I was seriously craving a BLT.

My grocery pickup was delayed, so my neighbor saved the day by bringing over some lettuce.

The beginning of a stunning sunset...

The sunset was so stunning I couldn’t even take a straight photo.

Salmon bowls are a favorite around here.

He's such a burrower.

I’ve been on a chicken salad kick, and making my own was a game changer - it turned out better than any chicken salad I’ve purchased.

My recipe: 3 stalks of celery, 16oz Aldi rotisserie chicken, .25 cup mayo, .25 Greek yogurt, Garlic powder.

Finished my sixth book of the Bible.

The way he’s hugging my shoe is everything.

In his element.

I roasted grape tomatoes on a sheet pan and served them over creamy burrata for an easy, delicious meal.

G and I have a new favorite game.

This is the season when the porch becomes the heart of our home.

Living life in full bloom.

This book was meh.

Favorite quote:

"Sometimes you stood beside people to make things easier, to make them complete."

Who needs a bakery when your homemade quiche turns out like this?

Happy doggo.

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Sailing this great, big extraordinary world takes courage.

Mind. Blown.

Still thinking about this.

This is convicting.

Oof.

It's funny because it's true.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 21

2026-05-29T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Finding beauty in the mundane.

My coworker is lazy. ;)

May 18th was my first swim of the year and May 19th was my first float of the year!

I threw together a chicken stir-fry, and it turned out pretty darn good.

Worked a library community event and it was giving major Hallmark movie vibes.

Still on my egg bite kick.

A rainbow on a perfectly sunny day, is this a glitch in the matrix?

Sleeping beauty.

Sushi at sunset.

Fortune is quickly becoming one of my go-to summer authors these days.

Favorite quotes:

"I've found that going back to the beginning is sometimes the only way to move forward."

"No one is going to give me a trophy for how I live my life. There's no winning - there's only life."

"I can't predict what will happen. That's one of life's biggest frustrations and greatest gifts."

My little town is getting bigger.

As kids, my parents used to serve my brothers and I pop mixed with milk on special occasions, and we fully believed this was a totally normal drink everyone had...

It wasn't until we mentioned it to friends that we discovered our parents had invented the whole thing.

Now that pop and milk is trending it has become a running joke in the family chat.

First mate Manny.

Dusted off Ticket to Ride and forgot how much fun it is.

Made cucumber bites for a family fun day.

Rainy morning walk.

Benny recommends adding cheese to the cucumber bites.

10/10 recommend this beer.

My mom has turned Ella and Benny into quite the cookie decorators.

First row seat to a music concert.

She's so good, right?!

These kiddos crack me up.

We celebrated Brad's birthday with his meal of choice and it was all delicious.

Stopped at a cute Greek restaurant to pick up dinner.

This book was so sad, but so good.

Favorite quotes:

"You never know when you might need kindness from people."

"Some people are meant to read great works and others are meant to write them. Often, these are not the same people."

"Time quickens the older you get, as if the universe is trying to push you toward the finish line, to make room for the younger, the stronger, to mark your brief place in history and move on."

"Anger is exhausting. Holding on to it will drain the life out of you."

Periwinkle.

M kept trying to make his way to the back of the boat where the fishing rods were, so G used a pool noodle as a barricade to stop him.

Quintessential Memorial Day weekend food.

The tail around his nose though.

Creamsicle skies.

I haven't been able to stop talking about this podcast.

Key takeaways:

Tolerance for the unknown is like a muscle. The more you practice sitting with uncertainty instead of resisting it, the more your world expands and new possibilities open up.

When you feel stuck between two choices, shift the question. Instead of asking “Which is better?” ask, “Which one helps me become more of the person I want to be?” That reframe makes decisions feel more aligned and meaningful.

Trust your future self. Future you will have more context, more experience, and more clarity than you do right now. They’ll be able to make decisions you can’t even fully conceptualize yet. And importantly, future you also wants present you to slow down and actually live—because they know how quickly this moment will pass.

Waiting for certainty can become a trap. The life you want often requires moving forward before everything is fully clear. You don’t get the full map - you get the next step.

Action is the antidote to anxiety. Movement, even imperfect movement, creates momentum and breaks the cycle of overthinking

Perspective shift.

Pretty much.

Good reminder.

Freedom. Isn't. Free.

Yes to it all.

God bless America.

I'm so ready for these days.

Bahaha.

The struggle is real.

For more life lately:

Week 21 of 2025 Part One and Part Two

Life Lately: Week 20

2026-05-21T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

My attempt at a cottage cheese wrap may have turned into a deconstructed bowl situation, but it was still delicious.

Booked and busy with library committee meetings.

I successfully snuck cottage cheese into a quiche and G loved it so much I only revealed the secret ingredient after he finished eating.

Plot twist: He hates cottage cheese.

Ruff life.

Salmon over TJ's risotto is a favorite around here.

In office day.

Coffee chat with a friend.

Downtown Battle Creek.

Lunch with a dear friend.

Spring has sprung at the Milton.

Ironically, this book about fun wasn't very fun.

Still, it nailed the definition.

Egg bite prep.

The most vibrant pink.

The leg hanging off the chair, though.

Rush hour.

Trading chicken for tofu in my Asian stir fry was a game changer - this is absolutely the ultimate upgrade.

A boat ride after work is the ultimate stress reliver.

M's vet is dangerously close to Starbucks, so obviously, I had to treat the pup to a cup and try the protein matcha.

Despite a few cringey moments, this was such a sweet read.

Favorite quotes:

"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." (Carl Jung)

"There are no shoulds when it comes to our feelings. They are what they are."

"Treat love as the treasure that it is. Never take it for granted; never fail to give it thanks."

"I think we each hold the power to grant our own wishes. We just need to find the courage."

Game night with the neighbors with a side of Sangria.

A Saturday boat ride...

That felt like a summer's day.

The boat puts M right to sleep.

Happy hour at my parents' house.

Dinner at Dua Vino.

Downtown South Lyon is the cutest.

Incredibly Bright Creatures is one of my all-time favorite books, and the movie captured the characters exactly the way I pictured them.

The movie was pure perfection.

Easy like Sunday morning.

Turned my dinner leftovers into a whole new meal with a fried egg on top - even better the second time around.

Celebrated my lovely cousin.

Ordering my mimosa the way nature intended: mostly champagne.

The food and company were both excellent.

My mom correctly guessed the number of candies in the jar and shared her prize with me.

Cousins catching up.

Life is sweet.

Home sweet home.

G made pesto chicken pasta with protein pasta and I'll never go back to regular pasta.

Finished up the weekend watching my shows.

Good reminder.

I feel seen.

Still thinking about this.

This makes me miss Apple TV.

Beautiful prayer.

The more you know.

The struggle is real.

Ha!

I'm still on the fence about the weighted vest.

It's funny because it's true.

For more life lately:

Week 20 of 2023 Part One and Part Two

Week 20 of 2024

Week 20 of 2025

Life Lately: Week 19

2026-05-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Monday vibes.

Onto my sixth book of the Bible.

I was telling my friend about how I planned to repurpose some Qdoba leftovers, and she mentioned a cheese shredder she recommends since we still hand grate ours.

After our walk, she texted me to check the porch - my sweet neighbor had shredded cheese for my meal waiting for me!

Pretty proud of myself for turning five day old leftovers into a new and delicious meal.

Stunning skies.

Nothing better than a good clothes swap with a friend and adding a new black blouse to the closet.

I think everyone should read this book to better understand how our phones are shaping our lives.

I appreciate that she doesn’t portray phones as the enemy, but rather as tools that should be used intentionally and thoughtfully.

Favorite quotes:

"Your time is being shredded into confetti."

"Just as light will fade a photograph, spending too much time on screens saps the color from my experience. The more I pay attention to the actual world around me, the more vividness returns."

"This is your life. What do you want to pay attention to?"

In the couch crack.

Grilling season is here.

I don’t love waking up to this goose family taking over our beach every morning, but the goslings are pretty adorable.

Every time he uses a pillow like a human, my heart melts.

Vanilla skies.

Whenever I’m in a reading rut, I can count on Colleen Hoover to pull me out of it.

I adored this book and finished it in three days.

Favorite quotes:

"If you don't have questions, you'll never find answers."

"Keep an open mind; it's the only way new things can get in."

Boating season is back.

Life is better on a boat.

Instantly relaxed.

Sushi is always a good idea.

Find the beauty in the mundane.

I love that sugar face.

Friday night lights.

Swimmer spotted!

It’s been such a cold spring, and I’m bummed my swimming season hasn’t started yet - the past two years I’d already been in the water by now.

My parents came over, and we spent the day chatting, eating Mexican food, and playing my favorite game, Hues and Clues.

It’s still a little chilly, but it still made for a great boat ride.

On the water: my happy place.

This photo makes me laugh now - I thought I was snapping an owl, but it was just the boat seat.

Imagine our surprise when G was watching his soccer game across the pond and we spotted someone repping our beloved Detroit.

Love Benny's sweet Lego creation.

Pop of purple.

G's burgers are chef's kiss.

The second season started so differently we had to double-check we were even watching the right show, ha!

But just like season one, I’m completely enthralled.

My best bud.

Serle is a must-read author for me, and I love that her books incorporate magical realism, but this was probably my least favorite.

The main character frustrated me, the ending left me unsatisfied, and the cheating storyline is starting to feel overused across her books.

Favorite quotes:

"Isn't it always the mundane we want to return to when something catastrophic happens?"

"To long for things to be different is to fundamentally miss the lesson of life."

"The most powerful force on the face of the planet isn't water or wind or love. It is love directed. It is love in motion."

"It's funny how the first response to fear is often anger."

"I don't know if I believe in mistakes anymore, I think there's just what we choose to do about what comes next."

"Being alive is everything. Anything beyond that is pure gravy."

"Happiness is determined not by getting what you want but by determining which things to hold on to and which things to let go. That there is joy in relinquishing."

The weekend goes by in a blink.

Yes to all of this.

I feel seen.

Give me all the strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and asparagus.

Happy Mother's Day!

So good.

I love a Taco Tuesday.

For more life lately:

Life Lately: Week 18

2026-05-05T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the past week looked like.

Ground beef taco bowls for dinner (x3).

My little cinnamon roll.

I went into this book with high expectations, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to them and left me feeling disappointed.

Favorite quotes:

"Every face is a story."

"He was fully invested in the art of living."

"Sadness might be many things, but it is rarely stupid. The good sadness, I think, is always trying to tell us something very important."

"It's hard enough to define what art is, much less 'good art.' I wonder if there is such a thing. Maybe there are just good responses. But I guess if a work of art makes us see something familiar in a new way or makes us feel something we ought to have felt all along or shows us our place in the world more clearly maybe then it qualifies as 'good.' If it makes us better somehow, maybe that's what gives it value."

Breakfast lately.

Unexpected pop of pink.

Deep in Numbers - it’s not exactly adding up to a great time (so much death), but I’m still learning more about who God is through it.

Lunch favorite around here: cottage cheese with tofu and sweet potatoes.

Library board meeting.

Mission. Accomplished.

I love Aldi.

Nothing thrills me more than a top-tier dupe at a bottom-tier price.

Qdoba is always a good idea.

Game night at the neighbors'.

The sweetest...er.... sleepiest boy.

Beauty in the mundane.

We packed meals for Feed My Starving Children and it made me emotional seeing so many volunteers spend their Saturday giving their time to such a worthy cause.

We hit a million meals!

My best girl.

Delightful dinner with the family at Brentwood Grille.

We were listening to my dad’s Sunday school class, and it looked like M was tuned in too with that ear perked up.

Michigan's spring collection is stunning.

Sunday supper.

Baby geese (get off my lawn!).

This book had a few fun twists and turns.

Favorite quote:

"Forewarned is forearmed."

Watching Summer House knowing what I know now is a wild experience.

IYKYK.