Our Life

A Real Story of Unemployment

We’ve been unemployed. A lot. More than we like to talk about because, well, unemployment hurts. Unemployment is a soul-crushing pain. Something that right now, 1 in 25 people are experiencing in our country. Which in our lifetime, our country saw its second highest unemployment rate in the last fifty years;  ten percent of the […]

24 Apr 2018

Mom Life

5 Ways to Work Working-Out Into #MomLife

I found myself at my highest weight post-baby two months into my husband’s unemployment. I was legitimately eating my feelings. I worked a part-time job and felt I was too busy to make it to the gym–or too overwhelmed. Whatever free time I had, I wanted to spend it in the bathtub with a bath […]

13 Apr 2018

essays

My Most Shameful Moment

Five years ago, I found myself in a unique situation. I was 22-years-old, teaching a bunch of sixteen and seventeen-year-old high school students. I was halfway through my student teaching experience. I was sleep deprived and a bit cocky. I thought I was much more mature than I was until I faced my most shameful […]

27 Feb 2018

Lifestyle

#FigAdventures | 2017 Rewind

  2017 was a massive year of growth for our family. We were stretched and fortified. We learned to focus on what truly matters and makes us happiest. We humbled ourselves often–many times, without choice. However, we ended the year on the happiest note that we have had in a while. In one word, I’d […]

9 Jan 2018

Lifestyle

Be a Light & Attract Light | 2018 Goals

Yesterday, Adam and I gave talks in church to our ward (congregation) on the Light of Christ. I don’t feel like that was a coincidence because this entire month, I’ve been thinking about how I can help others and be joyful each day. I want light to permeate each aspect of my life this year: […]

2 Jan 2018

essays

National Adoption Month: Finding You & Giveaway

Hey, birth-mom! I’m looking for you. I want to find you. I’ve written several posts throughout the last few years, regarding my adoption and emotions around the issue. I’ve talked about the statistics and what I want people to know about being adopted. A year ago, I received my DNA results. I found out what […]

1 Dec 2017

Mom Life

To my toddler: I love you. I’m proud of you.

To my toddler, things are busy: You are busy. My mind is busy. We are both doing our best. I may tell you “no” or “please make the right decision” all too often, but what I do know is that when I look at you, I feel an immense amount of love. It surpasses the […]

31 Oct 2017

Mom Life

Passholder Secrets: Rock Your Disney Trip [Even with a Toddler]

I grew up with a Disneyland pass for the majority of my childhood. I learned a lot in those years. Here are my top Disneyland pass holder secrets. Let’s kick it. 1. Skip the traditional entrance and security lines. So this lil’ tip requires you going through Downtown Disney. If the security lines are awful, enter […]

1 Aug 2017