I love our kitchen sink. This may sound completely ridiculous, but some days I can’t get over how much I love it. Have you ever thought about what a big role your kitchen sink plays in your life? Think of how many hours you spend in your kitchen doing dishes, washing fruits and veggies, filling […]
Funky Crunchy Mama’s Palak Paneer
I love Indian food. It’s so deliciously warming and so different from the bland, midwestern diet I grew up on. I can thank my dear friend, Sarah, for introducing me to it. Over the years, she’s invited me along to to several church dinners, fundraisers, and outings to the short-lived a local Indian restaurant in […]
My Vegetarian Journey
Hi! I’m Melissa, a long-time vegetarian and a someday aspiring vegan. Vegetarianism has long been a part of my life and one of the things that put me in the “crunchy” category. My journey, however, has not been a straight shot. While I have a clear vision as to where I want to go, it’s […]
Six Super Fun Wooden Toddler Toys
I have a real internal struggle with buying my children new toys. I generally aim to purchase items secondhand as I hate to increase our environmental footprint, however, I know that grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends love to buy my kids toys. While most have accepted that I’d prefer secondhand for random gifting, they […]
Younger You: A Letter to My Younger Self
We’ve all thought about it: that hypothetical letter to your younger self. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could try to nudge that naive young person in the right direction or give them a piece of fruitful advice? I know I’ve thought about it, and if I was going to relay a piece of advice […]
In Pursuit of Joie de Vivre
I was recently doing some writing and the phrase joie de vivre popped into my head. It wasn’t necessarily the phrase I was looking for, but oddly, it fit perfectly where I needed it and its presence in that moment had a very influential feel — an “aha!” moment if you will. This post […]
9 Pump Bag Necessities
Oh, the joys of being a breastfeeding mother: the late nights, the production demands, the physical wear and tear, the emotional wear and tear, societal expectations. ….and then there are the joys of pumping…. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more. “I love my pump!” said no mother ever. None-the-less, if […]
The Baby Honey-Do List
Man oh man! What a whirlwind couple of days! We just brought home baby #2 and it’s been a huge reminder as to how much work having a newborn is. I’m so grateful that my husband is taking off three weeks to be home with us this time. While I was fine on my own […]
Wool, Wood, and Wonderment: Why You Should Attend the Chippewa Valley Museum’s Fiber Arts and Folk Life Festival
Come one, come all! To the Chippewa Valley Museum’s Fiber Arts and Folk Life Festival! Every February, the Chippewa Valley Museum hosts its annual fiber arts and folk life festival. This is one of my favorite events to attend, as it’s a great place to learn about new media, interact with like-minded crafty-folk, and support […]
Today the Tears Came
Today the tears came. As my husband closed the door behind him on his way to work, my eyes welled, knowing that in two short weeks he’ll depart with both of my children and I’ll be hours away from seeing them again with nothing to show for the lost time but a meager paycheck and […]