I never thought a garden could teach me so much about myself. But here I am—stronger, braver, and more confident than ever, all thanks to the lessons it’s planted in my life. Not too long ago, I was a timid, insecure woman who would back away at the first sign of resistance. But these days?Continue reading “Along the way”
Category Archives: motivation
Motivational Vomit
I’ve had the privilege to work on a project at my job that allows me to connect with nearly every leader in my division. Many would see this as a golden opportunity to build a standout resume—and it truly is—but here’s the thing: I’m not in the market for building resumes anymore. My focus hasContinue reading “Motivational Vomit”
🌱 Rediscovering Myself: A Journey of Growth and Positivity 🌱
The past year and a half has been a transformative chapter in my life—a time dedicated to rediscovering me. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of who I truly was, but I’m finally finding my way back. It hasn’t been easy. I had to make tough choices about the people and energy I allowed intoContinue reading “🌱 Rediscovering Myself: A Journey of Growth and Positivity 🌱”
The Motivated Spouse
My husband is my soulmate, my best friend, and my safe space. A few years ago, I added “business partner” to that list. Everything seemed to change when our son moved out and we moved back home to Iowa. Looking back, I realize we were just trying to figure out who we were again. WeContinue reading “The Motivated Spouse”
Picture Perfect
I have always been the kind of person who never quite fit in. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember. Don’t feel bad for me, though—this has quite literally shaped my success as an adult. While I had an extremely challenging childhood, I credit those difficulties with contributing to my growthContinue reading “Picture Perfect”
Shift
It’s been a minute since my last blog post, and wow, life got hectic—too hectic. My work-life balance took a nosedive, and honestly, it’s still a bit shaky. But lately, something’s shifting in my perspective, like a light finally breaking through the chaos that’s been at war in my mind. I’m realizing that the noiseContinue reading “Shift”
Girl On Fire
Your girl is on fire but she is starting to get a little burnt…My body is telling me to slow down. My mind is in autopilot and I am forgetting things that I should be remembering. Waking up at 4AM and going to bed at midnight is catching up to me. The stress of ourContinue reading “Girl On Fire”
Boxes
I have never been one to do well in confined spaces. I have also been the individual that stands out and not necessarily for all the great reasons. I have learned to speak up when things are not right or when I have something valuable to add to the conversation. I have also learned toContinue reading “Boxes”
The Content Creator
I am far from giving myself the title of content creator.. Would I like to one day build a side hustle from it? Possibly.. My husband started our YouTube channel when we lived in Colorado. He actually was into the homesteading scene before its popularity took off. It wasn’t until we moved back to IowaContinue reading “The Content Creator”
The Farmhands Tale..
Six… is the number of alarms I have set in the morning. I get up every weekday morning by 4:30 but my goal is 3… let’s just say that is why I have six alarms. The morning hours are my time. Time that allows me to reset my mental space and charge my inner “YouContinue reading “The Farmhands Tale..”
Side Hustle
I can’t honestly remember a time since my husband and I have been together where he didn’t start a little side hustle. Shortly after we first met he had started his record label Squadron Records ( he is totally going to get me for that one). He started that side hustle in college. I alsoContinue reading “Side Hustle”
24/7
My husband Ryan and I met in college and have been together since 2000. We were pretty much kids when we started our little family. There was a time where Ryan and I rotated shifts so we could take care of our son while working full time jobs to put food on the table. WeContinue reading “24/7”
Staycation
For the last two years Ryan and I take two weeks off from our careers. It’s a vacation from our corporate commitments. We don’t go anywhere fancy, we stay right here at the farm. We refer to it as our staycation. However, we work day and night getting everything ready on the farm. We workContinue reading “Staycation”
The Vegetable Farmer
Just a small town girl with nothing to lose and everything to gain. That was my mindset as I entered early adulthood. That mindset got me to where I am at today. I remember feeling stuck and scared that I was going to be put in a box. A box that capped my highest potentialContinue reading “The Vegetable Farmer”
2 Week Notice
How epic would that be if you were reading my official two week notice right at this very moment.. Would you think to yourself good for her or maybe even think about your current situation and contemplating the same? For the record this is not my official notice. At least not yet. Don’t get meContinue reading “2 Week Notice”
Gravel Roads
There is a lot you can learn from gravel roads… I mean a lot..Did you know that roughly 60% of Iowa’s public roads are gravel? How often do you hear someone say they don’t take gravel? Think about that for a minute. That means that they have a 60% chance of missing out on someContinue reading “Gravel Roads”
From Scratch
Here is what I know.. Life at times can be extremely challenging, the easy way is not always the best way, money doesn’t buy happiness, and for me ambition to climb a corporate ladder means spending more time away from family. Ironically enough defeating the entire purpose of the goal of providing a better lifeContinue reading “From Scratch”
He Does The Cooking
Give credit where credit is due. I will be the first to admit cooking is not one of my best talents. Ryan does the majority of the cooking in our house. Trust me it is for both of our safety. To be honest I was and have always been a little rough around the edgesContinue reading “He Does The Cooking”
Crooked Smile
There is a certain kind of power that comes with having confidence. As a child growing up that continued on as a young adult the only thing I was confident of was the confidence I lacked.. Back then I had an unbelievably crooked smile. This carried on until shortly after I graduated high school. MyContinue reading “Crooked Smile”
Shiny Things
If I had the opportunity to give the 20 year old me advice that would have changed the way I live for the better in my now 40 somethings… I would tell myself this. Don’t be fascinated by other people’s glitter because it may not be your gold. Say no to those credit cards theyContinue reading “Shiny Things”
Silent Rooms
I want to share with you a moment from our journey—a storm we had to weather on the way to building the life we dreamed of here in Iowa. After selling our home in Colorado, we thought we’d found the perfect farm—a sprawling agricultural property with a pond near Waterloo. It felt like destiny. ButContinue reading “Silent Rooms”
What Will They Think?
There use to be a thought that I gave way more space in my mind than it deserved. It still often sneaks its way in to take a chair in my mental space that I find myself needing to let it know… that seat is already taken by do what makes you happy. Last yearContinue reading “What Will They Think?”
The Extreme Home Makeover
There are moments I seriously question our sanity. Taking on a project of this size, just the two of us, feels overwhelming at times—like trying to see the forest through the thickest of trees. But here’s the thing: every crazy decision we’ve made so far has been worth it. The plan for this Extreme Home Makeover? RestoreContinue reading “The Extreme Home Makeover”
Trust In Turnips
We have a market garden we started here on our farm. One of the early goals was to start to build a presence in the community and get folks excited about what we are doing at the farm. What better way than to grow vegetables and participate at the local farmers markets right?! When IContinue reading “Trust In Turnips”
Wait… You Don’t Own A TV!?
The first year we moved back was a whirlwind of us getting everything organized at the farm and sharing our dream and vision with family and friends. We of course received the smirks and eye rolls knowing most of them think we are weird and crazy. We started to think maybe we are too.. AsContinue reading “Wait… You Don’t Own A TV!?”
Flight Risk Adjacent
I get the privilege to lead an exceptional team of men and women during the day and get the honor of working with my husband on our farm dreams after hours. As a leader you often are asked if there are any potential flight risks. If you are not familiar with the term it basicallyContinue reading “Flight Risk Adjacent”
What Is It Costing You?
Ryan has always and I mean always talked about owning a farm. I never took it serious enough to really think it would happen until our first relocation for our careers. We bought our first home on the east side of Waterloo. We were so proud to say we owned something. I ended up landingContinue reading “What Is It Costing You?”
So What’s Your Plan
I remember the month we moved in… it was quite literally in the middle of winter. Ryan would tell me to put something warm on so we could go outside and walk the property. So I of course did. We would walk side by side and Ryan would tell me his plan on how weContinue reading “So What’s Your Plan”
Braving The Storm
Such a beautiful photo of this Iowa winter storm at the farm. This is us making the best of it. We did after all make the decision to buy a farm in Iowa knowing how brutal winters can be. What you don’t see in this photo is us rushing out on our breaks the dayContinue reading “Braving The Storm”
Three Sisters
Have you ever heard of the Three Sisters Companion Planting technique? It is a Native American practice to maximize growing space and promote strong growth and sustainability. The three crops planted together would be corn, beans, and a variety of squash or pumpkin. The corn would be planted first, then around two weeks later theContinue reading “Three Sisters”
Humble Pie
One of the biggest questions we get hands down since we moved back to Iowa is “if you don’t mind me asking, what do you guys do for a living?” I will admit in the beginning after I was asked a few times I started to wonder if it is a common question or wasContinue reading “Humble Pie”
We Can Learn A Little Something From Bees
I read a quote that I get reminded of frequently when I see our honey bees zooming around on the property or I see them doing something extraordinary.. “Anyone who thinks they’re too small to make a difference, has never met a honey bee. -Unknown That quote couldn’t be any more true. I took thisContinue reading “We Can Learn A Little Something From Bees”
The Glass House
Such a beautiful moment captured into this photo.. The countless hours we spent on building the pathway to the greenhouse, the bickering back and forth of what to grow along with the story leading up to the greenhouse. It was love at first sight with that greenhouse. I had no idea why at that veryContinue reading “The Glass House”
Laying It All On The Table
Let me tell you a little about this photo… The person in this photo is me. It captured a moment of what I believe to be for myself my true happiness. I work in corporate America and when I am not working the rat race I get the privilege of spending my nights and weekendsContinue reading “Laying It All On The Table”
The Strength Behind Us
Sometimes looking back is exactly what you need to find the strength to move forward. To say we’ve poured countless hours into this garden plot would be an understatement. It’s more than a piece of land to us—it’s a place filled with blood, sweat, and tears. And if I’m being honest, it’s the very groundContinue reading “The Strength Behind Us”
Building A Dream.. One Garden Bed At A Time
The very first thing we did on this farm to build an income was create a market garden. I thought to myself that’s easy enough just plant a seed and it grows. Boy was I wrong! We both work full-time jobs during the day. What I didn’t realize was the minute we decided to purchaseContinue reading “Building A Dream.. One Garden Bed At A Time”
We Bought An Extreme Home Makeover House
If I am being honest… this house was not our first choice, it wasn’t really our second. We had moved around the country a bit for our careers. Then of course 2020 hit us like a ton of bricks. My job turned virtual and Ryan already had the ability to work anywhere in the country.Continue reading “We Bought An Extreme Home Makeover House”
The Fence That Fuels Our Fire
Sometimes, the projects that seem the most pointless can leave the deepest mark on your heart. When Ryan suggested putting up a decorative fence around our bee hives, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. A fence? Around bees? It wasn’t going to keep them in, and it just felt like one of those projectsContinue reading “The Fence That Fuels Our Fire”
Team Work Makes The Dream Work!
Let the record show… I was 100% against the capturing of this bee swarm.. I may not have showed it on camera that day but inside I was screaming HELP ME!! Ryan started his bee journey when we lived in CO and it was an instant hobby for him. He actually brought his hives withContinue reading “Team Work Makes The Dream Work!”
Moral Of The Story 