One thing that I've always loved about both music and food is the ability that both things have to evoke intense emotions and memories. I love listening to songs that remind me of road trips to California, summer nights in college driving with my windows down or island vacations spent beachside 97% of the time. I took piano for 13 years and loved every moment of it; my goal in the next few years is to acquire a piano again so that I can start playing again and work on teaching an intense love of ... continue reading...

When Wes was born people told us a lot of things - over and over and over again it seemed - but one thing that I loved hearing was that we would get to see more of ourselves in him than we ever thought possible. It just seemed so cool to know that I had not only had the gift of housing his precious life in my body, nurturing and nourishing him all those 41.5 weeks, but that I would also have the gift of being able to see little bits of Nate and myself in him.   There are so many good ... continue reading...

Yesterday, after spending the morning working through some conflict, I headed off to the grocery store, my head still spinning from conversation and my face still saturated with tears (I'm a crier...what can I say?). It's not the conflict that was bringing so much havoc to my soul though - it was doubt. Not doubt that God exists; no, I know He does. But doubt that He is really here when I need him.   As I write this my head and my heart are in a much clearer place, but I know I'm not ... continue reading...

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This morning I stepped waaaaaaaaaaaaay outside of my comfort zone you guys. I feel like this is a bold move, even if it seems silly to everyone else, but here's what you have to understand: I haven't taken our dogs to a dog park in over a year.   That's right. The crazy rambunctious, loud, HUGE, overprotective pups that we are blessed to call ours - well, suffice to say it was time to get them outside for an extended period of time.   Now before you think that I haven't let ... continue reading...

When it comes to being bold in the kitchen there's really not a lot of things I won't try. It's not only part of my job, but part of my skill set and how I'm wired - it's where I feel the most creative, the most at home, the most in charge. The kitchen - really any kitchen - just feels familiar, like an old friend, even when there's a rambunctious toddler pulling everything out and rearranging it for me.   The one thing I still had yet to try and had always wanted to was croissants - ... continue reading...

When I was in college I went through a phase where literally the only musicians I would listen to was Jack Johnson and Ben Harper.  I just knew, deep in the depths of my soul, that the good Lord was willing me to be a surfer, to live the surfing lifestyle, to chase the perfect wave all the days of my life.  Forget the fact that I grew up in the middle of West Texas cotton fields and only visited the beaches in California during the summer when we would visit our family in the Bay ... continue reading...