Okay, I admit, I read books mostly via electronic devices these days. And, by electronic devices, I mean my phone. It’s just so convenient to have a book with you, even when you don’t have a book with you. (You know what I mean.) But I still prefer “real” books. In fact, I just ventured… Continue reading Where is Your Happy Place?
Author: Jessica Van Bommel
Why I Broke Up With My Baby Book
A few weekends ago, I was cleaning out my daughter’s closet. (I know – how exciting. But please read on anyway.) In a Rubbermaid bin, under a pile of ancient art projects, I found her baby book. I picked up the book, bracing myself for a flood of memories and emotions. Her first steps,… Continue reading Why I Broke Up With My Baby Book
Pantry Organization for the Rest of Us
Even if you’ve been living under a rock (or maybe even a pile of your own junk), you’ve probably heard of Marie Kondo by now. She had that annoyingly successful book a few years back. She’s now starring in her own show on Netflix. And she is the darling of thrift stores and used book… Continue reading Pantry Organization for the Rest of Us
A Plant Named Dude
They say you learn something new every day, right? So here’s the new thing you learned today: The oldest currently living houseplant on record is a 243-year-old Eastern Cape cycad. And I thought my plant was old. I say “plant,” singular, because I have only one houseplant. This is due to the fact that… Continue reading A Plant Named Dude
The Power of the Pen
Happy 2019, everyone! I took a bit of an extended holiday hiatus from my little blog. We did some traveling… And we have a few other new projects up our idiomatic sleeve. But I am back, and I am ready to take on 2019. I love new beginnings. I love the start of a… Continue reading The Power of the Pen
A Pinterest Truce for Christmas
I am not a crafty mom. You know, that DIY mommy in your kid’s class or church group that is proficient in everything from upcycling soup cans to churning out free printables. The mom that makes her own kimonos out of scarves and tells you all about it. Yeah, I’m not her. That isn’t to say… Continue reading A Pinterest Truce for Christmas
Oh, Christmas Tree…
I didn’t know I could be so grateful for a tree. I mean, I love trees overall. I appreciate their contributions to our environment. We plant scores of them every year. I’ve seen The Lorax, after all, which I highly recommend. But our entire family is just completely enamored of our Christmas tree this… Continue reading Oh, Christmas Tree…
The Mardi Gras of Gratitude
Today is the Mardi Gras of gratitude. Or maybe the Super Bowl of gratitude. Depending on whether you view it as a party or a battle, I guess. Either way, it’s Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving, guys! The origins of the holiday are debatable. There are opposing viewpoints as to the history of Thanksgiving, and many historian… Continue reading The Mardi Gras of Gratitude
Lockets and Headlocks
This locket belonged to my grandma. It wasn’t Grandma’s favorite piece of jewelry, nor her most valuable. I don’t even really remember her wearing it, to tell you the truth. But it doesn’t matter. I know it was hers, and it reminds me of her, much the way the smell of my current hand lotion reminds… Continue reading Lockets and Headlocks
Nowhere to Go But Everywhere
A couple/eighteen years ago, I graduated from a Big Ten University with Distinction (whatever that means) and a degree in journalism. And I had no idea what to do with myself. Thanks to several unpaid internships, I had garnered experience in magazines, newspapers and television news, but I didn’t feel especially called to pursue a… Continue reading Nowhere to Go But Everywhere