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Parenting

a little fingertip-talent boost
Already just at the beginning of junior year, Lucy and I have come to the realization this year might be…

Grateful for parenting partners – girls camp love
The older I get the more I appreciate my village. I’m so grateful for parenting partners. Because try as I…

How to inspire children Spiritually
Let’s talk about how to inspire children spiritually. Something I’ve been thinking about lately. So I thought it was interesting…
motherhood

Sending Claire off…How the “big” kids took their sister under their wings and eased their mother’s heart in the process
I thought I would be ok just sending Claire off to the MTC by herself. You see, she has eight…

A New Podcast season begins tomorrow!
After all the temple/gathering celebration in Utah festivities, Claire got settled in with the friends she wanted to hang with…

Embracing the mess: how to find peace in the eye of the storm
Let’s talk about embracing the mess and mayhem that is sometimes motherhood. Oh this motherhood game can sure be a…
faith

An official missionary and how the “Home MTC” works
By the time this posts, Claire will be en route to her next adventure: the “official Missionary Training Center.” She…

A Temple Trip to Utah enveloped in family love
My dear parents were unable to make it to all the temple/farewell hoopla here in the desert. But they were…

Two big steps in mission preparation: temple and farewell for Claire
Oh my goodness. TODAY Claire starts the “home MTC.” And I have a million and one things to say about…
recipes

Super Easy Asian lettuce wraps for a crowd
As promised I’m here to share the recipe for how to make super easy Asian lettuce wraps for a crowd….

how to make chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Here’s a recipe for the best, fudge-like, delicious chocolate crinkle cookies.

Levain Copycat Chocolate Cookies
If you can’t go to NYC when you have a hankering for good cookies, here’s a fix. Let’s make some incredible Levain copycat chocolate cookies.
travel

Exploring the ruins of Pompeii with the best guide!
One of the most fascinating parts of our trip was exploring the ruins of Pompeii with the best guide. Yow….

A quick Guide to hiking “the Path of the Gods”
While in the Almalfi Coast we got to hike. My favorite. Here’s a quick guide to hiking the Path of the Gods.

The best way to explore the Amalfi Coast: in a boat
While staying on the coast of Italy, we were introduced to the best way to explore the Amalfi Coast: in…
books

“A Place Called Home” – a book review
A Place Called Home is the last book I read for book club: I have since missed a couple because…

One of the Greatest Gifts we can Give our Children
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is to provide multiple opportunities for them glean the benefits of reading.

two good books that sing to the glory of grit
You guys, I never wrote about West with Giraffes. And that’s not good because it was a good one. It…
holidays

Shifting Family Traditions on the 4th of July
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: life sure does keep on changing! It keeps morphing into new…

Thoughts about “Founders” who pave the way – happy 4th!
Welp, I’m a day late and a dollar short to post about the 4th. A whole post about what we…

How easter went down in 2023
It seems like there were so many things swirling around Easter this year. So many things on my heart, but…
gift ideas

a sentimental birthday gift for women we love
We put together a sentimental birthday gift for the women in our ward. Love this “horseshoe” reminder that “everyone belongs.”

sentimental Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for the moms we love
Let’s talk for a minute about sentimental Mother’s Day gift ideas. The ones you can’t buy at the store. Things that really come from the heart. Because those are for sure my very favorite.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for All Motherhood stages
Oh my goodness, Mother’s Day is around the very corner and we are here in the midst of brand new…
marriage

Anniversary Number 3 for two kids heading on a new adventure
First off, thanks for the continuing tips and advice as we’re still working on the blog design. Really hoping to…

Happy Valentine’s Day! Some questions/phrases to love better
Welp, our Valentine’s Days have gone from this: To this one remaining kid: But the sentiment is still the same:…

How do you put your husband first? — Valentine’s edition
This question has been asked over and over in a variety of different ways over the years on this blog….
home

how to decorate with pictures
…at least how I do it! How many thousands of pictures do we have clogging up our computers and phones?…

changes for Claire too
So, Claire’s room got a little “spruce-up” along with Lucy’s. Claire is it’s third occupant…went from Elle’s room where we…

the beauty of change
Lucy sometimes takes some cajoling when it comes to switching things up. We have to sweet-talk her like nobody’s business…