At the end of December 2019, I made a list of 20 books I had hoped to read in the new year. The book list I curated had a bit of everything: memoir, self-help, fiction, and one graphic novel. My choices ranged from authors I already liked, to famous figures I wanted to learn more about, to books that topped Goodreads lists or recommendations from … Continue reading I Didn’t Read 20 Books in 2020
Early in 2020, my husband discovered mold in our kitchen ceiling. In March, I discovered I was pregnant with our second child. The kitchen renovation is now finished, but the baby didn’t make it to the second trimester. Continue reading Renovating a broken kitchen with a broken heart
A few months ago I was chatting with my Grandmother, whom I affectionately call Gma. If you don’t know my Gma, she’s a feisty, independent lady with a quick wit, great taste in books, and a fondness for Culver’s fish sandwiches. The daughter of Polish immigrants, she became a single mom in the 1960’s, raising her two daughters while teaching English in Detroit Public Schools. … Continue reading What do you believe, and what will you do with that?
When I was eight or nine years old, I loved playing “school” with my younger sister. My best friend Angie and I would spend hours creating worksheets and lessons for my four-year-old sister to complete, with time for recess and naps in-between. We must have done a pretty good job, because two decades later, my sister is a fantastic teacher in downtown Detroit! Something about … Continue reading How to support the teachers in your life
We just spent a long weekend camping in my parents’ backyard. Like, really camping. We’re talking sleeping in tents, grilling our meals outside, wearing sports sandals and getting cool farmer tan lines — the whole thing. Before COVID-19 hit, we had planned to rent a cabin by beautiful Lake Michigan as a family. But with that option removed, we had to get creative. With seven … Continue reading Host family camp in your own backyard
Last fall, long before we were all at home baking bread from scratch, I stumbled across an advertisement for the Lansing Citizens Academy. Drawn in by the cute new Lansing city logo and the name, I submitted an application and soon found out I was accepted! I spent the next three months attending weekly civic engagement sessions with two dozen fellow Lansing residents, learning about … Continue reading Making a difference in your city (during a pandemic)
I have (thankfully, gratefully) been able to work from home since the middle of March due to COVID-19. My toddler, who was 17 months old when this started, has been with me every one of those days. Working full time from home with a toddler has been a lot of things. It has been silly, like the other day when I tried to do a … Continue reading My coworker refuses to wear pants: working from home with a toddler
One of my favorite things about the Lansing area is the number of public parks we have. Seriously, look at this map! Courtesy of Lansing Parks and Recreation Especially in this time of COVID-19 and social distancing, visiting local parks has really helped my mental health. Being able to spend time outside, breathe fresh air, and even visit with friends [walking six feet apart] has … Continue reading Lansing Area Parks I Love: Starting Close to Home
I began 2020 with a resolution to read 20 books for myself. But with COVID-19, sheltering in place for months and working full time from home with my toddler, time for reading just hasn’t been happening. Realizing that, I made a pivot and have been digging into the books that my daughter reads, instead. I want her to read (well, to listen to) all kinds … Continue reading Rosie’s Book Club: Season One
When we bought our almost 100-year-old house in Lansing, we knew we were being ambitious. We started with simple things like painting all the rooms, tearing out bushes from the front yard and fixing some of the floor trim, and it already looked so much better. Then we got pregnant with our first child, and things got more exciting from there. My husband and father-in-law … Continue reading Home Renovations with a Toddler
Hometown Found 