The Road to the Good Life

avocado toast passed bites (easy party appetizer)

2026-03-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Growing up, food was often used to exclude people–especially kids with allergies or unfamiliar lunches. But discovering cuisines that were safe for my allergies changed everything. And almost overnight a whole new world opened up. Today, feeding people is one of the main ways I show care and build community. No one leaves my table hungry or wondering if there's something safe to eat. Lately I've been playing with ways to make even simple dishes feel joyful, including turning avocado toast into little passed bites that disappear almost as quickly as they hit the platter.

support, community, and suppers: clearing our pantry one meal at a time

2026-02-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

This year is about support and community. So we’re kicking 2026 off by clearing out our pantry, one shared meal at a time. Here’s how to join us.

Unable to attend in person? We have grab-and-go meals too!

the four pillars and five covenants every strong community needs

2026-01-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

What makes a community truly work—especially when caregiving or kids are involved? After two decades in intergenerational spaces, I’ve seen what holds communities together—and what quietly breaks them apart.

This post shares the simple but powerful framework I use to build trust, reduce burnout, and help people show up for each other with clarity and care.

Whether you're leading a camp, hosting a gathering, or just trying to build better relationships, these four pillars and five covenants can help.

Showdown: Determining Best Regional Dropshipped BBQ from Austin, Kansas City, and Memphis

2025-11-26T22:43:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving isn't my holiday. My holiday is the day after Thanksgiving; it's a day to share my love of BBQ with friends and chosen family.

Which is your favorite: Central Texas, Missouri's Kansas City, or Memphis, Tennessee?

when things don't go according to plan

2022-04-22T11:49:00.004-07:00

Every parent dreads receiving the news their kid’s school is going on lockdown. (More than 4.1 million students endured at least one lockdown in the 2017-2018 school year alone (source)).

I got that text and email yesterday. Out of an abundance of caution, our child’s school along with seven others in the district went into soft lockdown due to a developing situation at the nearby university.

It happened during what was supposed to be a fun, uneventful morning picking out Gates' first pair of glasses--a morning that didn't quite go according to plan. Continue reading to learn what happened and see which four pairs of frames she's considering.

gifting myself 100 days of being in the present

2022-02-28T06:00:00.019-08:00

Do you ever do something just for the sheer joy of it? Or, are you calculating in the back of your mind how something you're doing for fun can be used or repurposed so that you haven't wasted any time? Attempting a 100 Day Project can help you learn to let go, bolster your feelings of self-worth, and provide a sense of accomplishment.

Between February 13th and May 24th, I'm gifting myself 100 days of creativity. I'm participating in The 100 Day Project (follow @DoThe100DayProject or #DoThe100DayProject) hosted by Lindsay Jean Thomson (@LindsayJeanThomson on Instagram). I'm planning on making 100 collages or mixed media pieces and will be posting my work periodically to Instagram at @RoadToGoodLife.

So far I've created eleven pieces and haven't missed a day yet! Read on to learn about this year's one hundred day project and how I'm approaching it.

one-pot red beans and rice with andouille sausage

2022-02-22T13:58:00.003-08:00

Up until the COVID shelter in place order went out in San Francisco in 2020, I’d never heard of Aduki beans. And then, just like that I had a dozen cans. If you've never eaten them, you'll want to go out and grab some and make this one-pot red beans and rice recipe either on your stovetop or in a slow cooker.

NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, preceded by (*affiliate link).

making space for creating in a shared space

2021-11-15T08:00:00.010-08:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to play with light and food in our kitchen. So, now, I'm daydreaming about (and planning for) my next creative space by thinking about the past places I've lived in.

Do you have a permanent or temporary space for creating in your home? If temporary, what tips do you have for getting set up quickly when the mood strikes you?

I've compiled a list of four things I've learned I need after years creating in shared, temporary spaces that may be helpful to you.

join me for #SeeYourOrdinary this October 2021

2021-09-23T09:00:00.006-07:00

Fall can be a time of new beginnings. A time for taking a second look at your everyday surroundings and really seeing what is or isn't working for you.

And our #SeeYourOrdinary Instagram Challenge can be part of that process.

Will you be joining us this year?

measuring homeschooling success with rubrics

2021-09-15T12:09:00.216-07:00

No one starts their homeschooling journey completely sure of themselves. Sure former teachers may have an edge, as they're already familiar with rubrics, learning objectives, standards, and more. But, they're probably not well versed in the standards for their kids' grade level. All of us need to meet our kids where they are and find out what works for them and us.

After a few months of trial and error (and lots of reading!), we came up with a set of rubrics that work for us: a student self-assessment and a project-based assessment. "A rubric is a type of scoring guide that assesses and articulates specific components and expectations for an assignment (source: https://teaching.cornell.edu/teaching-resources/assessment-evaluation/using-rubrics)." These tools may work for you or they may not; feel free to take them or leave them.

What do you use to measure your child's progress?

new? start here.

2018-03-04T18:25:00.007-08:00

(updated 02/24/2022) Welcome! Nice to meet you!

I’m Eden, a fourth-generation Californian. Together my husband, 9.75 year old daughter, and Maine Coon/Ragamuffin rescue cat are in the process of unpacking and nesting in our new 100+ year old Craftsman in Berkeley, CA (until this past December we called a 100-year old, a 847 sq ft Edwardian flat in San Francisco home). We define The Good Life with haves not wants and experiences not things.

What's your story?

choosing to go natural

2017-07-17T12:20:00.002-07:00

I did something--something that shouldn't be news, but probably is. I let my hair go natural. And, I didn't ease my way in.

Now, I can't tell what I'm not sure about: the cut, the color, or the texture.

Starting a 100-Day Project for Your Well Being

2017-04-13T13:00:00.003-07:00

(updated 01/08/2020) Want to know the greatest gift you can give yourself? No expectations. Easier said than done, right? A 100 Day Project can help.

For 100 days, you do the same thing--one hundred line drawings, one hundred street rubbings, one hundred hand lettered quotes, and so on. And you share your progress.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links, preceded by (*affiliate link). An affiliate link identifies this site. If you make a purchase based on my recommendation, I may receive money. I only feature products that I own or that I am considering purchasing. All opinions presented are my own. None of your personal information is shared with me.

While you can start a 100 day project at anytime, The100DayProject organized by Ann Russ and Catherine Benda runs from January through April each year and Elle Luna's 100 Days Project runs from April through July each year. So there are lots of people working on letting go of expectations, and you get lots of support.

Are you participating in a 100 Day Project?

Here's how I'm trying to give myself freedom from expectations.

Growing Your Own Potatoes

2017-03-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

Eating organic is expensive. That means we need to get creative when it comes to stretching our budget dollars. So we're always looking for ways to get the most out of what we buy.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links, followed by (*affiliate link). An affiliate link identifies this site. If you make a purchase based on my recommendation, I may receive money. I only feature products that I own or that I am considering purchasing. All opinions presented are my own. None of your personal information is shared with me.

We buy organic potatoes, which means if we don't eat them fast enough, they often sprout.

So, the last time one of our potatoes sprouted, we decided to plant it to see what would happen.

What foods have you saved from the compost by planting them?

Reducing Women to What They Wear

2017-03-04T08:35:00.001-08:00

This week the news has been about whether the clothing worn by the first lady and the first daughter was appropriate for Tuesday's joint address to Congress. And all I could think about was how women were always reduced to their attire.

“Surely we have better things to do than tear a woman to pieces over a matter of fashion.” - Zelda, “Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald,(*affiliate link)” Episode 5, “The It Girl”

How do you remark about another woman?

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Overnight French Toast Casserole

2017-02-26T22:59:00.000-08:00

As a mom I'm always looking for great, make ahead breakfasts. When that convenience can be prepped by a little even better! This gluten-free, dairy-free overnight french toast casserole will be a welcome addition to your morning routine.

How do you simplify your mornings?

DIY: Converting a Jumper Into a Short Set

2017-02-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

There's nothing worse than finding the perfect print and finding that it's a little too short. Or not practical in real life.

Thankfully if you have a sewing machine and you like being creative, you can almost always salvage a poorly conceived clothing item by reconstructing or reinvisioning it.

What's your favorite reconstructed clothing project?

Taking a Stand for Your Beliefs

2017-02-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

Since November I've started and stopped many drafts about how I feel about the current state of American politics.

I'm mad. I'm angry. I'm pissed off. And I've been mad, angry, and pissed off since I was 7 and told God had made a mistake giving such a brain to a girl as it would be wasted.

And as the weeks have gone by, I've gotten madder. Angrier. More pissed off than I have ever been before.

I've battled against conventions whispering then screaming in my head: Never discuss Money, Politics, or Religion in public or polite conversation.

And I'm tired. Tired of being quiet. Tired of waiting politely for my turn. Tired of being frustrated that a world where all humans have the same rights to life (health, food, and shelter), liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is nothing more than a pipe dream or a hope.

So I'm going to stop skirting around the subject--the elephant in the room.

I'm going to talk politics. Today and in the future. In person, on social media, and here.

I'm going to share how we're trying to raise a daughter committed to taking a stand.

How are you taking a stand?

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

2017-01-30T11:55:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest things for me is "Show up." Whether I've been to an event or are attending for the first time, I always get anxious.

This week I'm headed back to Alt Summit--this time in Palm Springs at The Saguaro Hotel. So, in addition to packing, I'm working on my confidence game to step outside my comfort zone. My hope? Appear effortlessly at ease.

Here are the six things I'm doing.

How do you psyche yourself up for stepping outside your comfort zone?

Bravery Comes in All Sizes

2017-01-25T21:46:00.000-08:00

Whatever you're anxious about, don't let anyone down play its importance to you. No one knows what path you've taken to this point.

So don't waste time trying to convince naysayers. Instead, look for past flashes of bravery in your life.

Was there anything you do now, that you once thought you couldn't do?

Showing Your Work (and Sharing Your Process)

2017-01-16T14:05:00.000-08:00

Is it the journey or the destination that drives you?

Chris Sharma, an American rock climber, believes:
"If you're only happy at the summit. You're not going to be very happy often."

Lately, I've started thinking more about enjoying the journey--the process--over rushing to complete a project. Which creates somewhat of a dilemma. Do I want to share starts and stops? Recipes that didn't quite turn out the way I'd anticipated. Sewing projects that can't easily be recreated by others.

What do you share: work in progress, just the final project, or a mix? Why?

choosing a word to guide your actions

2016-12-31T12:00:00.003-08:00

(updated March 14, 2022) It's natural to want to see results for one's efforts. That's why many of us set goals with the start of each new year.

But, setting goals isn't the only way to have a meaningful or impactful year.

How do you start a new year?

To keep things simple, I choose one word or phrase that I apply to family, personal growth, and business growth for a year. Today, I'm sharing how I find my word and how I keep it top of mind.

Round Up of Red Leather Totes for Business and Travel

2016-11-28T11:29:00.000-08:00

Looking smart when you're traveling is a breeze with the right tote--one that's rugged, able to be wiped clean and sanitized, and carries everything you need.

Almost by accident I acquired a signature color. And now it's a determining factor in my purchases--especially those for business. If you've been looking for the perfect tote, I've rounded up eight leather totes in my signature red color that easily accommodate a 15" laptop. (Totes are also available in black.)

Do you have a signature color?
Is your luggage or tote in that color?

2016 Daily Have Not Want Instagram Challenge

2016-11-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

Often we fail to see or appreciate the good in front of us. The annual Have Not Want Instagram Challenge is designed to help us look at our lives and our surroundings through fresh eyes.

Are you ready to see the haves in your life this November?

Must Have Essentials for Your Roadtrip Adventures

2016-09-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Who says you have to rough it when you're on the road or camping out under the stars? Once you've got your basics covered--tent, sleeping bags, camp chairs, cooking utensils, and first aid kit, you'll want to have these luxuries tucked in amongst your gear.

To get you started off on the right foot for your roadtrip adventures, here are the must have essentials we can't live without. I've also noted which essentials work if you're tent camping versus staying in a cabin or traveling in an RV.

What essentials can you not live without when you're camping?