We took off on a quick road trip to Blue Mound State Park this Memorial Day weekend.

Back in early spring, I saw photos of this place in my Instagram feed and hadn't forgotten about it since then. We packed a picnic and planned an afternoon of hiking and taking lots of pictures at the highest point of the state of Wisconsin.

The view was incredible. Our favorite was the west observation tower looking out to the south and west toward the Illinois and Iowa borders as well as the Mississippi River. 

I think we'll try to make it out again in autumn to see the colors. We thought of a neat idea to map out a plan to visit all the state parks in Wisconsin and document our experiences. Some would be close enough for a day trip, like Blue Mound, while others would take us clear across the state and we would visit a handful for a week or so. 

We'll see where that idea takes us...it's fun to dream up plans at any rate! Hope you had a wonderful long weekend! HERE'S TO SUMMER 2014!

Oliver & I used to do holidays big. 


We were young, head-over-heels in love, and wanted everyone to know it. There were many birthdays, Christmases, dating anniversaries and other important dates that we surprised each other with generous gifts, each one topping the previous year's. There are certain "investments" that you put into someone you love, especially when newly dating. Investments of the emotional and monetary kind. I guess that's one of the ways you know someone loves you...how much they give of their time, energy, and resources. 

I think we started to realize how love is a marathon though. And not very perfect at all. That how we showed each other love on a daily basis was the real stuff. And not easy. Taking out the trash or greeting me at the door every day with hugs somehow became a more personal act of love to me.

Oliver feels loved through words of affirmation and mostly, acts of service. Once we realized this, it became easier for me to do things every day that I knew would make him feel loved and respected as a man. Knowing how much I can encourage him with my words and just taking care of some errands or the dishes helps motivate me during the daily grind of life. 

On the contrary, I found that quality time and physical touch were the most important ways that I feel loved and appreciated. Oliver knows that lots of hugs and having a date night every week will do wonders for us and help keep our marriage a priority. Yes, we screw up sometimes, but by far this knowledge of how we're wired has been a God-send and helps us understand one another better.

So far, love has brought the highest of highs and lowest of lows. It's been the best thing to ever happen to us, but also the hardest thing to maintain. I hope these words can bring some wisdom to those younger than us and also, bring a smile to those much wiser than us in love. 



I hope you all were able to spend Valentine's with someone you love or, even better, doing something you love! We went simple this year and got coffee & donuts downtown. With some other little gifts on the side of course :)

Change is good. Always looking forward, taking on new challenges, and building a life with the people you love. This time of year always has me looking back on past holiday photos and videos and I can't believe how much I've grown since I met Oliver. How much both of us have grown. It must be one of the most satisfying things I can think of. Self-improvement.

And some things never change. 

This is a toast to the times in life you never want to see pass. Those times being home and opening your parents' refrigerator without thinking twice. The way your old dog plays with you like you never left. Sharing drinks and watching your friends' band play just like the past weekend...or was that 5 years ago already? 


This post is to our loved ones. You mean more to us than you know. Cheers.

I'm sitting at my desk, editing these photos while bundled up in layers of clothing and blankets. 

It's that infamous Wisconsin winter that's set in and more fierce than many winters past. I often kid myself and tell Oliver that some winter, someday, we will live in a more temperate state. This, of course, is a fleeting complaint and one that Wisconsinites casually throw around, but we know this is home. 

This Christmas was different than the others. It was the first time coming home for a string of days and staying in a house full of guests and dogs and happiness. Cooking alongside Mom. Running all over town catching up with friends from college, high school, kindergarten. Starting new traditions. Card games. Losers at cards on dish duty. Running around the woods like maniacs because we were bored. 

And carrying on old traditions. Like that Dickens Village display below that belonged to Grandpa Jim.


It was a good reunion. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones as well.