Does work have to be miserable? Recently, I was at a workout class a few minutes early. You know the awkward 3-5 minutes before it begins and you stand around the room waiting for the class to begin? I was stretching and thinking about work, life, and my kids when I heard someone ask, “Hey … Read more
Proud to say that we have been chasing joy, friendship, and love for 15 years! It’s only fitting that while our kids go to sports camp, we find a direct flight (Des Moines only has a few) to San Diego for some kayaking in caves!! Happy Anniversary Loras!
For the longest time, I found ways to NOT pursue my goals because of time, money, or life commitments (insert everything we have going on). I would proudly tell myself that that’s just the way things are. But if I am being honest, I was using “life” as the surface excuse, it felt safer that … Read more
I have a weird allergy. It’s an allergy that I have had since I was a little girl and one that people usually have never heard of. I am allergic to the cold (Cold urticaria). Which means when I go out in the cold weather I get hives on my skin. When I go into … Read more
Will you be around family or friends this 4th of July holiday? Grab a sheet of paper or start a note on your phone and create a joy list! Some of our best joy ideas have come from other people, we often find ourselves earmarking time or scheduling future joy events. Finding joy can be … Read more
It’s no surprise that happy employees are 31% more productive than unhappy ones. I once had a co-worker tell me, “Sometimes you have to add sugar to the lemonade. Or you can just leave it sour…either way it’s your choice.” The thought that a person can decide to do something or nothing really struck me. … Read more
As the world continues to make giant leaps forward with technology (who would have ever thought that we would have self-driving cars?) and humans get more creative with how they use it (hello Chat GPT!), I am continually reminded that though those things have provided some incredible advances, real-life genuine connection is still the key! … Read more
Eight years ago, I realized we were making everything else our job except for joy. I turned to my husband and said, “What if we make joy our jobs? We’ll keep our day jobs of course, but we’ll start tucking joyful activities into our busy and hectic days,15 minutes here and there.” The idea was … Read more
Just the other day, I was sitting at a stoplight, and a happy memory popped into my mind. It’s been almost five years since we moved to Iowa, but I still remember this moment like it was yesterday. Back when we lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I had an experience at a tiny gas station that … Read more
Excited to share that my soon-to-be 7th grader and 5th grader are diving into swimming lessons this week! The first few years were all about the basics—floating, staying safe, and building confidence in the water. But this year, there’s something “different in the air” (OR should I say water). Now, they’re focusing on perfecting their … Read more
