Behind Our Red Door

Sharing our family life and lessons learned as we raise 3 little kids in the Midwest.

Diving Deep Into What Self Care Is

My only hesitation when it came to doing this themed self care month was nailing down what I believe self care is. I know how I define it, but everyone perceives the concept differently since we all require such unique care to keep ourselves feeling whole. That’s no surprise since no two people are the same. To me, self care is a requirement for sanity. It’s consciously making choices that ... read more

The Power of Human Connection

In the past week, I’ve had the privilege of sneaking in a bunch of dates with friends from all walks of life and even the chance to make a new friend! Not all my weeks look like this, but I am on such a high after all of these encounters with old and new friends—reflections of who I was, am, and hope to become. I had a long lunch on Friday with an old coworker who has known me since I was a ... read more

A Real and Honest Note About Life Lately

I have been going through one hell of a life phase lately. It’s been happening for some time, if I’m being as raw as I can be, but I recently read a post that so profoundly resonated with me (by a college mentor) that I felt brave enough to write this. And validated. I am not 100% happy. Whoa, that makes me so sad to see typed out...but also somehow feels like I’m letting the Instagram ... read more

A Guide to the State Fair From a Food Vendor’s Daughter

I’ll say it—the Iowa State Fair is a certain kind of magic. And I fully believe that it can feel that way for everyone! That's why I put together this little guide featuring some of my favorite off-the-beaten path spots, the food I actually eat all week, and my can't-miss spots for all ages. My family and I have lived and breathed the Iowa State Fair since before I was born—but, in a ... read more

Friday Five: 7.19.19

As the temps keep climbing this weekend and an "excessive heat warning" scrolls across my TV, I'm so thankful for our working A/C. Prior to moving into this home, I lived in a third floor apartment with no A/C. I eventually bought an intense standing window A/C unit, but I cannot imagine living there in this heat even with that. It was a steamy, adorable place to live and such a fun time of my ... read more