Learning Counts as a Smallish Adventure

Today’s smallish adventure: teaching my hands a brand-new style—and ending up with a tiny character I’m honestly proud of.

Cute orange ornament character with big eyes, pink cheeks, and yellow stars, floating on a soft bokeh sparkle background.

I’m learning how to draw cute little characters in Procreate. I’ve wanted learn this program for a few years. I was gifted (early) an Apple Pencil for Christmas (thanks, mom!) and the first thing I did was download Procreate and hunt for tutorials to learn how to use this incredibly powerful program!

Hand holding an Apple Pencil over an iPad in Procreate, drawing a cute ornament character on a sparkly bokeh background.

Today I followed a tutorial and made this little ornament character, and something about it just made me happy. The stars, the blush cheeks, the soft glowy background. It’s small, but it felt like a real win!

iPad on a wooden table showing a cute ornament character illustration in Procreate, with an Apple Pencil resting nearby.

I’m trying to build a habit of learning in small pieces. It’s not about getting good fast. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and making progress, no matter how tiny.

Tutorial credit: I followed this YouTube tutorial. Here it is if you want to try it too: [link]

Have you tried anything new? I’d love to hear about it! Let me know what it is, and how it’s going in the comment section! Let’s cheer each other on!

Our First Snow Day in the New Neighborhood

The snow started falling early, soft and steady, and Isaac insisted we go outside so he could help shovel our sidewalk. So we bundled up, grabbed the big red shovel, and stepped into a world that was turning white by the minute.

Isaac standing in falling snow with a big red shovel, bundled up and ready to help clear the sidewalk.

After a few minutes he really found his rhythm and started clearing the walkway with serious focus. Snowflakes were sticking to his hood, his sleeves, and even his eyelashes, but he kept going!

Isaac pushing a snow shovel across the sidewalk while fresh snow falls around him.
A young boy bundled in a winter coat and boots shovels snow on the sidewalk in front of a blue two-story house while snow falls lightly around him.

As soon as Isaac saw his friends outside, he begged to go play with them. We walked over and noticed they had a sled. Since we have a little hill in our yard, the boys brought the sled over and immediately turned it into their own winter adventureland. They took turns pulling each other, sliding down, falling over, and laughing the entire time. It was the kind of pure kid joy that makes a snow day feel magical. This is why we moved here!

Three children bundled in winter coats standing around a colorful sled on a snowy day.
Three kids trudging through the snow while pulling a sled across the backyard hill during steady snowfall.

After a while the boys switched to snow angels. They lined up in a row, threw themselves backward into the powder, and flapped their arms and legs until the snow beneath them took shape. Watching them wiggle and laugh felt like watching childhood in its purest form.

Three kids lying in a row making snow angels in fresh powder on a snowy hill.

After hours of playing outside, it was finally time for the boys to come in and warm up. My husband made hot chocolate for all of us, complete with mini marshmallows, and we gathered around the table with our steaming mugs. The boys chatted and laughed, still buzzing with excitement from their snowy adventures. Hearing the joy in their voices warmed my heart more than the cocoa ever could.

I did not take photos of their faces. Privacy matters. But I did capture what they left behind. Empty mugs, abandoned spoons, and marshmallows scattered like confetti. A tiny still life of a winter afternoon well lived.

Three empty mugs of hot chocolate with spoons and scattered mini marshmallows on a wooden table after the kids warmed up inside.

Planting Little Surprises for Spring

This afternoon felt like the right time to get our tulip bulbs into the ground. The weather was perfect for November. I thought this would be a quick little garden task, but wow, I seriously underestimated how much work it would take to dig out a whole row. Isaac wanted to help, so we grabbed the shovel, a trowel, and about 200 bulbs, and headed outside.

Alt text: A close-up of a bulb planter pressed into a mulched garden bed with purple tulip bulbs scattered around.
Several purple tulip bulbs resting on top of the soil, ready to be planted.

After we dug the trench, we laid out the bulbs so we could see the spacing. I love how they look against the mulch and dirt. Little hints of color before they ever bloom.

Large red and white tulip bulbs arranged in a long row along a garden bed.

We planted a mix of tulips, hyacinths, and alliums this year. I’m excited to see how all these different bulbs look together in the spring.

Planting bulbs always feels like an act of hope. You do the work in the fall and wait months to see what shows up. And this year it was a lot of work. I was so thankful to have Isaac helping me. He helped dig, placed the bulbs gently, and checked that each one was pointing up. Planting together feels like another way we’re settling into our new home. We’re putting things in the ground without knowing exactly what will bloom or how it will all look in spring. It just feels like a small step toward the future.

Now we wait, and hope, and look forward to see what grows!

 

Smallish Adventure- A Sky Full of Wonder

I was sitting at my computer working when my phone started blowing up with neighborhood texts “Go outside!”

So I did.

And there it was.
The Northern Lights(!!), glowing right above our quiet Chicagoland neighborhood.

Tonight as I walked through the neighborhood, looking for the best view under a pink and green sky that quietly glowed above the rooftops, I was able to take a few photos with my phone. How amazing!

Northern Lights glowing pink and green above a quiet suburban neighborhood in Chicagoland.
Northern Lights glowing pink and green above a quiet suburban neighborhood in Chicagoland.

It felt like the world was gently reminding me: you don’t always have to go far to find wonder. Sometimes, the adventure finds you.

Smallish Glimmer: Even the Failures Photograph Well

We carved our first pumpkin (you can read that story over on my personal blog), and of course, I couldn’t resist trying to roast the seeds. I followed all the steps: cleaned, salted, and roasted them (thank you, Google). They looked so pretty. Golden, glistening, picture-perfect. I even took photos because I thought I’d write a whole post about my first pumpkin carving and seed roasting experience. Let’s just say, it didn’t go quite as planned.

I tried to eat them.
Hard. Dry. GROSS.

I still love that I tried. For a brief moment, I was in my full homesteader era—roasting, seasoning, pretending I knew what I was doing. The kitchen smelled amazing. The results? Not so much. But honestly, sometimes the photo’s the win, and sometimes the flop is the story.

Maybe that’s the little lesson hidden in this crunchy batch: sometimes the doing is the point. Even when the result is a mouthful of disappointment, there’s still something to savor in the trying.

Have you ever tried roasting pumpkin seeds? How did they turn out for you? Tell me your secrets (or your disasters!) below — I’d love to hear how yours went

Welcome to the First Sip Club: A Morning Ritual for Quiet Minds

It’s 6:15 am and I’m sitting out on the front porch of our new house, listening to the sounds of the neighborhood waking up, holding my hot cup of freshly brewed coffee. There’s something sacred about that first sip. Before emails, before the morning chaos, before my son’s crazy energy launches the day into full speed—I sit, I sip, and I breathe.

I call it the First Sip Club. There’s no membership card, no secret handshake. Just a quiet space, a warm cup, and a few moments that belong to me.

This isn’t about maximum productivity or perfect morning routines. It’s about claiming a small piece of the day to ground myself—to feel the warmth of the mug in my hands, the weight of the pen on the page, the stillness before the world (or my son!) asks anything of me.



How to Start Your Own First Sip Club

  1. Pick Your Sip
    Whether it’s coffee, tea, lemon water, or even a smoothie, pick something that feels warm, nourishing, or simply enjoyable.

  2. Claim a Spot
    Find a corner, a chair, a window with morning light—any place that feels like yours. No clutter and, most importantly, no chores staring back at you.

  3. Set a Timer if Needed
    Give yourself 5-10 minutes. Long enough to slow down, but short enough to feel doable even on busy days.

  4. Silence the Noise
    No phones, no scrolling. Maybe some soft music or the sound of the world waking up outside. This is about presence, not distraction. (I struggle with this one.)

  5. Add a Companion Habit (Optional)
    A journal, a sketchbook, or simply staring out the window—pair your sip with a quiet activity that connects you to yourself.

  6. No Expectations
    This isn’t a productivity hack. Some mornings you’ll feel peaceful, others restless—that’s okay. The point is that you showed up for yourself.

Welcome to the First Sip Club. There’s no wrong way to show up—just a sip, a seat, and yourself. Try it for 5 days and let me know how it went, and how you feel afterwards. Is this something you enjoyed? Will you keep going? Was it hard for you to show up and just sit for a few minutes? Let me know in the comments below!

smallish adventure- orchid show at Chicago Botanic Garden

February is almost over, and man, it's been another doozy of a winter month. The weather folks are reporting that this could be the coldest February on record. And winter isn't over yet... I don't know about you, but around this time of year, I get the itch to see green + growing things.  The Chicago Botanic Garden is having it's second Orchid Show which is the perfect shot of spring/green that I needed!

orchid show
Ochid from the Chicago Botanic Garden
Orchid
orchid
orchid

These are just a few of my favorite shots. I hope to finish editing the rest of them soon (and maybe add a slideshow/gallery?) If you are in the Chicagoland area and have a chance to go, please, do! It'll be just the right amount of green + growing things to help combat the winter blues!

 

smallish adventure cooking- Sriracha Chicken + Broccoli Lo-Mein

First of all- let me apologize for not having the high caliber photos that you've come to expect, or rather, that I've come to expect... I started dinner at 8:00p.m. last nite, and while I think my kitchen is bright, my iPhone camera didn't think so. Secondly, I apologize for taking photos with an iPhone... I decided at the very last minute to take photos of this cooking adventure.  Lastly, I want to apologize for the lack of photos of my ingredients all neatly lined up and posed-- I am seriously one hot mess in the kitchen. For real. Ingredients and dishes everywhere. My kitchen super power is my uncanny ability to dirty every dish, pot, pan, and spoon while cooking!

Now that the apologies are out of the way, there is one thing I won't apologize for- This dish! It was amazing! AND EASY!

Sriracha Chicken and Broccoli lo-mein noodle dish

I got the basic recipe from Baker by Nature (gosh, her photos are soooo pretty! This, my friends, is the benefit of pre-planning and cooking during the day!) Her recipe was good, but I made some tweaks (namely frozen broccoli and no eggs!) Here's my version of Sriracha Chicken + Broccoli Lo-Mein:

Ingredients:

For the Chicken + Broccoli

  • frozen broccoli (I used one bag) You can also use fresh broccoli.

  • 1 cup of shredded carrots (you can also add pea pods too)

  • 1- 1.5 pounds of chicken breast cut into small cubes

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

  • 1 tablespoon sriracha hot sauce*

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

For the Lo-Mein Noodles

  • 1  package lo-mein noodles

  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar

  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce

  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons Sriracha hot sauce*

  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger

  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

  • 2 green onions, sliced thinly

Directions:

1. If you use frozen broccoli, defrost it in your microwave. (My microwave has a fancy "frozen veggie" setting that defrosts them without cooking them to death)  If you're using fresh broccoli, bring a pot of water to boil and add the broccoli. Cook for  four or five minutes (you don't want to over cook it, you want it crisp!) Drain it and set it aside.

2. Grab a small bowl and whisk together the following: sesame oil, soy sauce, sriracha, water, sugar, and cornstarch.  Set aside.

3. In a large skillet or pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and let it brown. Once the chicken in browned add the broccoli and carrots. Cook and stir for a few minutes, then add the bowl of sauce. Give everything a good stir to coat the ingredients. Cook for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.

4. Time to make the Lo-Mein!  Bring a large pot of water to boil (if you're able to handle multiple pots at one time, maybe start boiling the water at the same time or just after the broccoli)  Once it's boiling, add the lo-mein noodles and cook according to the directions on the package (my particular package said to cook for 4 minutes)

5. While you're waiting for the water to boil, make the sauce for the lo-mein noodles. Combine and whisk together soy sauce, sriracha, sesame oil, grated ginger, and brown sugar. Set aside.

6. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet on medium heat. Drain the noodles and add them to the skillet. Add the sauce and stir for a few minutes to make sure the noodles are completely coated.

7. Add the chicken + broccoli to the noodles and then add sliced green onions.  (I gave everything a good mix) Voila!

Sriracha Chicken and Broccoli Lo Mein

 

SOME NOTES:

*Feel free to adjust the amount of sriracha you use. We found this dish had quite the kick! If you want it a little less "mouth on fire" you might want to add less sriracha. On the flip side, if you like the sensation of your lips melting, add more!

*If you can't find lo-mein noodles in your grocery store, spaghetti noodles or angel hair noodles are an acceptable alternative!

 

This dish turned out really really well.  So much so that G said I have to make this again. I consider that a win!

 

Did you try this recipe? How did it turn out for you? Leave me a message in the comment section below-- I'd love to hear what you thought of it!

 

 

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