Published in Mindful·PinnedMember-onlyLiminality,please don’t ask me how to pronounce it — Help, I’m stuck in this word and can’t get out! As I “stand” (versus finding me in the fetal position until this is all over), how do I embrace identity, time, community, and the “new way”? I do feel ambiguity and disorientation. I thought it was just menopause. I thought…Psychology7 min readPsychology7 min read
Published in Publishous·PinnedMember-onlyHow I Let Negative Comments About My Teeth Take Away My Smileand why I won’t let it happen anymore — When I posted a new profile picture on Facebook, I never thought I would receive so many negative comments via messenger about my teeth. I did wear Invisalign for way longer than I should have, and it still isn’t quite right — but it’s coming to an end soon, I…Personal Development5 min readPersonal Development5 min read
Published in Publishous·PinnedMember-onlyWhat You Think and Do Affects PeopleWhy keeping your vibes high matters — The other day, hubs sent a video of a lawyer on a zoom call who couldn’t get his cat filter off. In the video, the exchange went something like this: Lawyer 1: I’m not a cat. Lawyer 2: I know you aren’t a cat. Hang on . . . I…Personal Development6 min readPersonal Development6 min read
Published in Publishous·PinnedMember-only12 Tiny Months to Perfect MinimalismMy desire to take up less room on this planet. — April 22, 2009 It was Earth Day and I had several projects planned for our homeschool day. One of the highlights of the day was watching the Oprah show where they would feature plastic in the ocean with devoted explored and activist Fabien Cousteau, following after his grandfather, undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau (whom…Minimalism8 min readMinimalism8 min read
Jan 20Member-onlyToastan excerpt from my book “Blessed by Breakfast.” — My first solo book was, of course, a cookbook of sorts. It was my own labor of love. First, I compiled the “recipes” and took all the photos. Then, I planned the layout, the overlays, the font, and the best-feeling paper imaginable. “Recipes” I have recipes in quotes because although there…Cooking3 min readCooking3 min read
Jan 16Member-onlyDetroit Pizza, Made in IllinoisInspired by Zingerman’s recipe, Ann Arbor Michigan — Every Meal Has A Story “Renee, why do you write about food so much?” is the question I was asked this week. My reply was simple; I love food. It isn’t that I love food, really — it is that I love the science behind how yeast grows, how tomatoes bloom, and the best way…Cooking4 min readCooking4 min read
Published in Mindful·Jan 14Member-onlyOne Word To Raise Your VibeHow the 6th graders rocked this assignment — During the day, I’m a special education paraprofessional/teaching assistant/instructional assistant/paraeducator — lots of names for the same thing: I am in a variety of classrooms, in a variety of subjects, supporting a wide variety of kids, and a variety of teachers. With my two years of mindfulness training, I can…Education4 min readEducation4 min read
Jan 11Member-onlyMy Best Fudge YetSorry Mom, I’m a better candy maker — Start with a hodge-podge of chocolate Not all of my candy begins with me clearing out my cupboards — but this batch did, and it was by far the best. Butterscotch, mini chips, and then fancy 65% cocoa chips — 3 cups total. More about my Mom at the end of this article. In a double…Cooking3 min readCooking3 min read
Jan 10Member-onlyOrchids BloomingI drive 520 miles to have coffee, and look what happens! — Aren’t they beautiful? I drove 520 miles round trip to take my #2 back to school. When kids go to college, there are many drop-offs and pick-ups — none are easy, and every single one is different. When I come home, I’m greeted by this beautiful mini orchid. It bloomed while I was…Parenting2 min readParenting2 min read
Jan 7Member-onlyCoffee GoalsFosters Coffee East Lansing, Michigan — One of my goals is to drive through all 50 states and have a cup of coffee. Ideally, Safe and Soder will build my van. For part of the trip I’d like my brother to come along and film our time together. …Mental Health1 min readMental Health1 min read
