Unlearning Learned Helplessness
On Saturday, I did the quintessential single-mom thing – I learned to mow my own lawn. I had put this off for a while. Why? Learned helplessness. Of course, I…
The Mountain: Noise, Quiet, and Reconnection
I’m leaving noise behind me, seeking quiet and reconnection in the mountains, and preparing to enjoy the opportunity to reconnect with family and friends in what has become an annual…
A Community Garden Fairy Tale
I wish I could afford to buy organic produce. Dealing with chronic fatigue and digestive issues while living in a trailer park and mothering a toddler and a four-year-old, I…
Your Perfect Road Trip – Tips and Tricks
Summertime is finally here, and with that, our thoughts turn to vacation and leisure time. One popular way to travel, especially in good weather, is by way of automobile. But…
Forest Bathing in the Desert: Being Present in Nature
We were in the desert, but the concept of forest bathing was not on our radar, let alone desert bathing. What life lessons would we encounter while surrounded by nature?…
5 Reasons to Get Outside This Winter
Brrrr. It's cold and windy and miserable outside. Time to find a comfy couch, a cuddly blanket, a cup of warmth, and a remote control or book and stay inside…
Let Go with Fall: 7 Ways to Change with the Season
My favorite season is here, welcome Fall! The trees are beginning to transition and it's time to acknowledge a similar change within ourselves. The changing seasons can be a guide…
Life-Long Lessons From Camping and Our Three Month Trek (Recipes Included)
When I was young, my mother would take us camping just for a quick overnight in the mountains that surrounded my childhood home. She would load up the tents and…
Teenage school friends having fun piggybacking outdoors
5 Ideas to Keep Your Teen Active This Summer
Can you believe we are thinking about summer activities already? This summer more than ever it is important to plan some outdoor activities for your middle schooler. I am sharing…
Finding My Soul in the Garden: Digging for Healing and Health
Gardening has been the bane of my existence. I grew up in a very rural area of Iowa surrounded by acres and acres of corn and soybeans and alfalfa. The…
Extreme Self-Care: 3 Big Takeaways from 5 Days by Myself at the Beach
Due to a series of unexpected events at the beginning of the year, I had the opportunity to spend 5 days of extreme self-care by myself at the beach. I'd…
An Action Plan that Really Works – 6 Simple Success Steps
Frustrated when you can't seem to hit your goals? Me too! This year I've been focusing on productivity and especially in this season - how to create a plan that…
Five Mental Health Benefits to Growing Your Garden
Long ago, in a time far far away... My grandfather was an avid gardener. In the acre behind their home he had created a small oasis of vegetables and fruits in…
That Glamping Life: Trading in My Tent for a Different Kind of Adventure
I am a “glamper.” I have officially traded in my tent for the glamping life. There. I said it. My backwoods, backpacking, teenaged self-of-old would shudder to hear those words…
You Reap What You Sow: How This Phrase Affected My Mindset.
There is an old proverb that mentions the idea of you reap what you sow. If you've ever heard this growing up, how did you decern it? When I heard,…
Epic Pacific Northwest Road Trip: Route and Tips Along the Colorado to Washington Loop
Route and tips from our Pacific Northwest road trip. From Greeley, Colorado to Friday Harbor Washington. See all the sights and highlights along the way!
It’s a Hill of a Life- Lessons From my 450 Mile Bike Ride
I have a problem...I love an epic adventure. I love a new challenge...a physically-draining, heart-wrenching challenge where you have to dig down to the deepest bit of your soul to…
Lessons from the Diary of a Novice Backpacker
I sauntered up to my sixteen-year-old daughter and inquired, “Interested in having a backpack adventure with your mom?” “Just us? Not dad too?” she asked. “Just us. What do you think?” I…