Why is it that a closed door, a “thanks but no thanks” or a flat “no, way” – no matter how badly we wanted something, more often than not feels like a gift. Fills us with hope and yes, relief. I recently received a “no” to an application that I thought would be potentially the single biggest opportunity for Serendipity to come around this year. It was a long shot to say the least and the ... View Post
An Outdoor Living Room We Love
Like literally everyone in the summertime, I long to spend more time outside. This is especially true during the summer in the Pacific Northwest where it is non-stop gorgeous, humidity-free with the longest stretches of sunny daylight (and no snakes, a thing for which I am truly grateful). Being inside is either a nice temporary relief for your eyes or a place you don’t want to be. When we ... View Post
Love, Light and Pain
I have arthritis in my left foot. It’s pretty bad and 4 years ago I had two painful surgeries, spent 8 months in a recovery boot and lived through what I would describe as the worst year of my life. My surgeon more than once joked that I was very unlucky to have lost this particular life lottery. My laughter was nervous at best. My foot, and the rest of me for that matter, has not been the ... View Post
The Truth About Gifts
I had an epiphany of sorts a few weeks ago. I have been in kind of a weird place somewhere between light usage of some gifts like creativity, empathy, the desire to give and help others and wondering what my purpose is, though feeling a little more at peace with things than I have in a long time. On a rare whim, I followed a link to a study plan that led me to a guided short prayer to ask God to ... View Post
Grandpas and Good Guys
Two of the most influential people in my life have been my Grandpas. Both are gone now, but I’d like to tell you what I know about them both. When I think about who and what they were, one thing stands out above their interests and personalities: they always brought their A-game. Did these men even have a B-game? Not that their granddaughter ever saw, and if they ever did, life shaped them ... View Post
The Unrestrained Spirit of Style
I love scrolling through Instagram, design magazines, books, blogs, catalogs and watching shows where the (photographed) outcome is perfection. Hands in the air, praise and accolades to the designer perfection. It is strangely rewarding and must speak to my need for harmony and peace or something. Cohesive, all white, black and white with a restrained single bold pink pillow that MAKES the ... View Post
