Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

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My Favorite Holiday + Christmas Reads

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When the tree goes up in my house, it’s finally time to embrace cozy Christmastime reading. To me, there’s not much better this time of year than snuggling up with a cup of coffee and a good book beside the glow of our trees.

Without further ado, here are my favorite lighthearted reads for the holidays.

The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller

This was the first cozy rom-com I ever read, and it converted me to the genre.

In The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living, city gal and pastry chef Olivia moves to rural Vermont after a spectacular falling out at her country club job. During her tenure at the Sugar Maple Inn, Olivia settles into country life, endears herself to her curmudgeonly new boss and even meets a boomerang beau (a guy who lived in the country, tried life in Seattle and then returned home to care for his father).

At first blush, this book sounds like a Hallmark movie pressed between covers and bound, but I assure you it’s so much better than any of those made-for-TV movies.

One Day in December by Josie Silver

In this Christmas book, Laurie catches the eye of a handsome man through the window of a bus. Somehow, she knows this guy is someone she wants to pursue.

Over the years, Laurie looks for her mystery man and is unsuccessful—until her friend introduces Laurie to her new boyfriend at a party. This boyfriend is, of course, bus boy.

One Day in December plays out over the course of years (and does take a second to settle into), but it does keep you ensconced in the characters through every turn.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

This just might be my gold standard of cozy holiday reading! Is it slightly predictable? Sure! But that in no way takes away from enjoying this Christmas book.

So what’s the setup here? Well, Kate reluctantly agrees to participate in a series of blind dates—12 of them—to find a connection before the holidays hit. Over the course of the dates, there are hits, misses and plenty of seasonal activities. Delightful!

I recommend this one as an audiobook to listen to while you wrap gifts or bake Christmas cookies.

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

Is the premise of this book absolutely inconceivable? Yes! But so is the plot of 1998’s The Parent Trap, and that is a masterpiece.

Now, Kiss Her Once for Me isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s a great holiday read. In this infectious rom-com barista (and one-time animator) Ellie agrees to marry her cafe’s landlord, Andrew, so he can gain access to his trust fund—and give her a small portion.

Of course, they have to do the whole fake dating thing. The catch here isn’t that they catch feels necessarily; it’s that during a family getaway with her faux fiance’s family, Ellie discovers that she once had a super intense (though short-lived) connection with his sibling Jac. What’s a gal to do during the holidays?

The Hygge Holiday by Rosie Blake

Full admission: I didn’t even remember there was a romance element to this book until I reread the summary—and I think that’s part of the charm of The Hygge Holiday.

In this book, Danish ex-pat Klara settles into a small English town. While she thinks her stay will be temporary, Klara soon makes it her to reinvent the town’s small toy shop. With lots of nods to slowness, coziness and overall hygge vibes, this book satisfies and reminds you to take it easy—even during this busy season.

A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss

I think this book (yes, another by Jenny Bayliss) is the perfect read for that lazy stretch of time between Christmas and New Year’s.

In A Season for Second Chances, Annie heads off to the countryside to recoup after splitting from her husband. She’s happy to find a job as a caretaker for a small cafe for the wintertime. Of course, Annie can’t just let the cafe sit there (it looks sad!), so with the blessing of the wonder (a charming old woman) she decides to give the space new life and embrace living in a quaint small town—book club and all.

Now, does the charming old woman’s nephew like this plan? Of course not! But over the chapters, feelings shift, and Annie finds that her seaside stay might become home.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

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30 Days of Thanks 2023 // Week 5

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Welcome to the last installment of 2023’s gratitude series. Following these prompts is immensely helpful to me, and I hope you’ve taken some time to look back on your year with fondness as well.

Day 25: Comfort

I’m wonderfully lucky to have a spouse who values creature comforts and cozy times as much as I do.

Each Sunday, Michael and I make coffee and enjoy an episode of SNL or Bob’s Burgers or something equally as silly along with the cats. This is one ritual that we’ve kept up for years. It’s a small one, but one that’s incredibly comfy and one I’m grateful for.

Day 26: Fun

While Michael and I planned a lot of our trip to Ireland—including touring the Cliffs of Moher, kayaking Dalkey Bay and seeing some James Joyce hot spots—we left plenty of space for wandering and taking in the sights as we saw fit.

On an open-ended evening in Dublin, we checked out The Brazen Head. At the pub, we made friends with a few folks from Germany, Norway and Ireland. That night, we all laughed, danced and saw a part of Dublin that was off the beaten path (though what is pictured above is on a very well-beaten path). It was tremendously fun, and a part of our trip I’ll never forget.

Day 27: Dreams

This year, we made a lot of our dreams come true. Michael and I managed not only to travel to Ireland (a dream years in the making) but also remodel part of our home. I landed a new job too!

All these dreams took time—and much more time than I ever anticipated. I think this waiting was definitely a lesson for me. But no matter the timeframe, I’m so happy and grateful so many dreams came true in 2023.

Day 28: Happiness

I have so many moments of happiness to be grateful for this year, but this photo seems to encapsulate a feeling of unexpected joy.

This was taken in Nashville at the Gallery of Iconic Guitars. I visited back in February as part of a press trip. Now, I’m not a guitarist by any stretch of the imagination (yes, even though I got an A in my guitar course in college 1,000 years ago), but it was so much fun to play around a bit. This trip was full of so many unexpectedly wonderful moments like visiting the Grand Ole Opry, eating at Chauhan Ale and Masala House and catching live music, well, pretty much everywhere.

Day 29: Family

I am so grateful for my nearest and dearest. They make life fun and interesting and rich and warm.

I get an extra dose of this each summer when my mom, sisters, aunts and I visit northern Wisconsin. We spend the week gossiping, playing games, eating great food and floating in the pool. It truly doesn’t get better.

Day 30: Growth

I spent so much of this year thinking about work. I can’t stand that it occupied so much of my mental space, but here’s a little background on why that was:

As the year dawned, I felt excited to take on more work on Taste of Home’s print edition. When spring came, there were major shifts that eliminated so many parts of my job that I loved. I spent the summer searching for new careers in publishing.

But when fall arrived, I realized that my heart didn’t lie in the publishing or food spaces anymore. Recognizing that shift within myself was really significant for me.

So even though I will miss many aspects of my old job, I’ve grown beyond it and hope to grow even more in my new role (more later!). Even though the journey was challenging, I’m grateful for where it took me.

Thanks for keeping up with this series. I appreciate you for reading!

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What I Read // November 2023

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November wasn’t a big reading month for me. It was a big month for all sorts of other things, though, like accepting a new job offer, tying up loose ends at Taste of Home, selling hoops and readying our home for the holidays. However, I did squeeze in four books between all the hoopla.

The Haar by David Sondergren • ★★★☆☆

I found myself craving a change of pace after reading several rom-coms and domestic thrillers last month or so. I was craving something new. I picked up The Haar after seeing it recommended on BookTok a while back, and I blitzed through it in just three days.

Muriel’s small Scottish village of Witchhaven is being taken over by a greedy American investor hoping to build a golf course. She’s one of the few remaining residents refusing to give up her home. Because the rich are often evil, the investor starts taking drastic and sometimes violent measures to intimidate the folks who refuse to budge—including Muriel. Well, things change when she finds—for lack of a better term—a glob on the beach.

It’s The Fog meets The Shape of Water. I enjoyed it—especially for the $2.99 price, however, it’s likely not for everyone.

Back in a Spell by Lana Harper • ★★★☆☆

This is the third installment in the Witches of Thistle Grove series. Back in a Spell is all about Nina Blackmoore.

The previous installments all painted the Blackmoore family as being a clan of villains, but I appreciated how Back in a Spell made a distinction between the actually evil family members and the younger generation. It gave the family—and the universe this takes place in—a bit more depth.

And unlike the previous two books in this series—Payback’s a Witch and From Bad to Cursed—this was very much about the protagonist and their internal struggles rather than some outside issue to be tackled. That switch makes me feel like the installments to come in this series will continue to be varied.

My Name’s Yours, What’s Alaska? by Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 • 🎧 • ★★★☆☆

Did you know Spotify has audiobooks now? I’m pretty impressed with the selection thus far—especially for newer reads. For example, Lessons in Chemistry has a six-month wait at my library. I can get it right away on Spotify! (This is in no way a dig at the library—I love MPL!)

Despite the ability to listen to these hot releases right away with Spotify, I decided to kick off my listening on the platform with Alaska’s memoir.

It was honestly delightful, and that’s in large part due to their performance of the book. If you’re a Drag Race fan, this is a good one to pick up.

Lease on Love by Falon Ballard • 🎧 • ★★☆☆☆

I try to time my reads right for the year. That means all the spooky reads in early fall and plenty of Christmasy romances in December. I picked up Lease on Love based on a Buzzfeed list of Thanksgiving-adjacent books.

I sort of wish I would have just skipped ahead to holiday romance mode. The characters in Lease on Love were just so flat to me, and the protagonist, Sadie, was unlikeable. Sadie’s inner monologue was all about knowing how hot she was and how much she loved vanilla lattes and how nerdy her roommate was for liking Lord of the Rings.

Also, if I have to read or hear the phrase “kitchen peninsula” one more time, I’ll scream. Why did this architectural feature get mentioned multiple times per chapter?

If this wasn’t an audiobook I could power through during craft fair prep, I would have stopped midway.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

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30 Days of Thanks 2023 // Week 4

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It’s Thanksgiving week. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday full of good food and a bit of relaxing.

Day 18: Rest

I’m so thankful that I get to take a bit of time between jobs.

While I’m planning to tackle some tasks around the house (like deep cleaning pre-Christmas and painting our bedroom), I’m also planning to unwind with some Great British Bake Off and Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. I’m thankful that I’m able to take a little rest before rolling into the holiday and a new job.

Day 19: Laughter

One of my favorite parts of working for Taste of Home was writing print headlines. Typically the more niche ones never made it out of brainstorming meetings—with the exception of this one.

This one from the October/November 2023 issue is the peak of my headline writing career—even better than “The Way We Stir” for a mixer review. I’m thankful to Rachel and Annamarie for humoring me so often (and for letting this one go to print).

Day 20: Seasons

I’m doing my best right now to appreciate all seasons of life. Some seasons are for growth or change or worry or joy. “To everything, there is a season,” as they say.

And this photo is Michael’s pumpkin from Halloween. We had snow, and it was delightful!

Day 21: Color

We ditched our green carpet earlier this year. I had a lot of feelings about it.

In the end, though, ridding ourselves of some very old, very green carpet did very little in terms of draining color from our home. I think our home is as colorful as always—maybe more so! We have a lovely orange rug now, more art than ever and a fresh green bathroom. I love that our home is so vibrant.

Day 22: Technology

This year, I’ve been craving being online less. I’ve realized that the internet doesn’t have as much to offer me. Instead, I’ve been trying to focus on more analog activities, like stitching, quilting and reading. It’s been good for me.

So let’s just say I’m thankful for technology, but just as grateful to be drawing some healthy boundaries for myself with it.

Day 23: Home

2023 was a big year for our home! This year we finally got to remodeling our bathroom and stairwell (and by we I mean 95% hired professionals and 5% Michael and myself).

It is a major change and it has totally improved our life here. Our bathroom is stunning and functional. Our steps are no longer a death trap. In fact, they’re now a beautiful focal point when you walk in the door.

Thank you to Pekel Construction & Remodeling and the team of talented craftspeople who made this all happen. And a special shoutout to Jerry from Jerry’s Tile who who did phenomenal work and got the job done right and to Jen from Colorwheel Painting who took such care with our home.

Day 24: Inspiration

This July, Michael and I visited Ireland, and it was better than I ever thought possible. This trip hit on all the marks for me: nature, city, relaxation, adventure and learning. It also was incredibly inspiring. I came home from Ireland with plenty of creative energy and inspiration.

This trip took some time to tackle (we were originally planning on summer 2020), but it was absolutely worth the wait. I’m so thankful we were finally able to go and that our time there has provided us both with inspiration galore.

I’ll be keeping up with this series for the rest of the month. Stay tuned and please join in if you’re so inclined!

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A New Look for Cabin in the City

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I’ve been craving freshness lately. That means a new job (I just left Taste of Home after six years!), a deep clean of the house, new paint in the bedroom and now a new blog theme!

It’s been nine years since I started this site, and an update was very much overdue. This new theme is from Code + Coconut, and I’m really happy with it. It’s been so easy to customize with colors and fonts. I’ll probably be futzing with it for a bit longer, but I’m so happy with the change!

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30 Days of Thanks 2023 // Week 3

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It’s been a big week here! Today is my last day at Taste of Home and tomorrow I’m gearing up to sell holiday hoops at the Walker’s Point Makers Market and Bar Hop. I have a lot of wonderful things going on, including these things I’m thankful for.

Day 11: Memories

My great-aunt’s religious order is selling their motherhouse and convent and much of what’s inside. My family and I saw this as an opportunity not only to visit with my charming aunt, but to visit the convent for perhaps the final time.

While this space belongs to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, I have plenty of lovely memories here. As a child, I got to visit the orchards and farm on the grounds. When I was a bit older, we all celebrated my aunt at her 50th jubilee. Later, we’d come to visit my aunt and take tours of the old chapel and the stunning 60s-era church. Michael and I even got married at the Mound back in 2017.

I treasure all of these memories, and I’m so glad I got to enjoy this space while I could. I’m also thankful that I was able to take home a few small pieces of the place (I purchased some art and a small holy water font at their estate sale). I know it held so much meaning for the nuns who lived, worked and prayed there. They have been nothing but gracious in its transition. I hope to embody a bit of that spirit in my own way.

Day 12: Beauty

On top of a fantastic vacation in Ireland this year, I also got to visit France! This trip was sponsored by Fromage from Europe, and it was really delightful. Besides tasting an absurd number of cheeses, the folks who put the trip together coordinated a visit to Chateau de Chenonceu.

While I loved seeing the castles in Ireland, this chateau definitely had all those fairy-tale vibes. Seeing the facade as I walked up the driveway felt downright magical.

Press trips of all kinds, but especially this one, are a huge privilege and one I’m so thankful I got to take advantage of during my time at Taste of Home.

Day 13: Kindness

I am grateful for so many acts of kindness this year. Small and large gestures of kindness and thoughtfulness filled this year with ease and light.

One small act of kindness that I think of fondly, though, is when a man saw Michael and me taking photos of Dublin Castle through scaffolding and construction. He was kind enough to show us a better view and took lots of photos for us (including many on kooky angles like this one). He also shared plenty of jokes, stories about Irish history and where to get a good order of fish and chips. Gerald, you’re a gem, and thank you for giving us such a warm welcome to Dublin!

Day 14: Love

There is nothing better than being loved by (and loving) my mom.

Day 15: Emotions

When we packed up to leave our home during renovations, I turned all sorts of mopey. But when I checked in on the progress just a few days in, I was totally overcome in the best way.

The work all the craftspeople did was astounding. I teared up the first time I walked down our new stairs (shortly after I took the photo above). Seeing this work filled me with joy and appreciation, and I’m so thankful for the folks who had the skills to make this happen.

Day 16: Music

One of the best parts of visiting Ireland was the music. Everywhere you turned, you’d hear someone playing guitar in the street or hear an Irish trad band from a nearby pub. It made so much of the trip feel magical.

I think one of my favorite moments of our whole trip was walking the streets of Galway our first evening and hearing a trio of girls playing “Dreams” by the Cranberries, one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s a memory I’ll treasure for ages to come.

Day 17: Animals

Each year with this prompt, I mention my wonderful cats. These two are what truly make our house feel like a home. I am so thankful for Mukki and Ember—even when they’re being naughty.

I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Stay tuned!

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Farewell, Taste of Home

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I’ve spent the last six years as an editor at Taste of Home. Saying good bye to this role is incredibly bittersweet.

Starting at Taste of Home more than six years ago, I was absolutely thrilled. I felt like I had finally found my niche. Food (particularly baking) plus writing plus a company headquartered right in Milwaukee? It was a dream come true.

Over the years, I accomplished a lot of really wonderful things. I ran the brand’s baking club, headed up dozens of taste tests, traveled across the country (and even abroad) to learn about food, saw one of my recipes on the cover of the magazine and even got to talk to Dolly Parton. These are achievements that I will treasure for a lifetime (particularly talking to Dolly!).

But work is, as always, more than just a job. Over the last six years, I’ve met some wildly talented folks and I’m happy to count so many of them among my friends.

While I wasn’t able to climb as high as I wanted with Taste of Home, there are so many positives I have to take with me as I continue my career elsewhere.

Before I start that next chapter, here are some facts about my six years with Taste of Home. I cannot believe I wrote more than 114 taste tests! Not all were delicious, but they sure were fun. And if you want to dive into my catalog, check out my complete Taste of Home digital portfolio (and my professional portfolio for kicks!).

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Holiday Hoops 2023

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Selfishly, I don’t do a lot of holiday craft events. I like to save the month of December for staying home and snuggling up to make crafts for myself and my family. Last year, I spent many evenings stitching ugly sweater ornaments and it was my favorite craft all year.

But this year, I did manage to sneak a few holiday hoops into my roster! I’ll be selling at the Walker’s Point Makers Market and Bar Hop on November 18, and I figure mid-November is as good as the holiday season for most folks!

I stitched up a handful of holiday designs, including a few “impish or admirable” ornaments. I think my favorite, though is this sparkly holiday lights hoop. The idea to layer glitter paint over the watercolor came to me at 2:00 AM. I had to touch up these hoops the very next day. I love the results!

If you see anything you like—or want to see more of what’s to come—find me on Instagram at @kaminskihandicraft. I’m happy to hook you up with any hoops there. Everything is $5 to ship within the US.

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30 Days of Thanks 2023 // Week 2

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It’s been a beautiful and very exciting start to the month. Let’s dive in and see what I’m grateful for this week (and always).

Day 4: Work

I will be honest: For the bulk of the year, work troubled me. Despite being passionate about writing, baking and food, I just didn’t feel like Taste of Home was a good fit for me anymore.

However, I have recently accepted a new opportunity, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! I’m so excited about what this change will bring.

Day 5: Quotes

I love Baba Yaga. I’ve been a fan of this folktale figure since I was a kid, and my adoration has only grown with time. In my home, you’ll find a few pieces of Baba Yaga art and a copy of Ask Baba Yaga, a collection of advice columns from the eponymous series on the Hairpin.

Over the years, one letter has stuck with me: “What Is Missing?” In a strange way, this specific column has helped guide me over the years. I think of it often.

Dear Baba Yaga,

I feel like I’m forever missing something inside myself. With people, without people, wonderful job, jobless. I always feel like there’s a gaping hole. What is missing?

BABA YAGA:

By rooting in the hole you make the hole wider; you scrape , its walls you open fresh soil — the earth of it smells blacker & blacker, you see the hole & the hole only, you live within it always; if you find yrself eating fruits in the good forest you remember the hole & go to look if it is still there dropping yr fruit-meat all the whiles. & if you think think think only of the hole it will become the great work & mystery of yr life, & you will die in the hole as you lived in it.

—Ask Baba Yaga

Day 6: Time

Over time, working in the food space has robbed some of the joy I used to get being in the kitchen.

However, as I begin to untether myself from that career, I’m finding I want to be back in the kitchen for fun again. I’ve been flooded with recipe ideas, and I can’t wait to spend more time bringing them to life.

Day 7: Creativity

Mini sweater ornaments

I’m still working the world’s lowest-stakes side hustle: Kaminski Handicraft. And I’ve been finding new ways to love embroidery all the time. You’ll see below I’ve started combining watercolors and stitching (I love it!).

But I like to work on other smaller crafts and creative projects. These ugly sweater ornaments were my favorite craft from last year. These were so much fun to make and to share with my family on Christmas. I’ve got another holiday idea up my sleeve for 2023 and I’m dying to start. I’m glad that even though I’ve been working with a needle and thread for 25+ years, it still holds just as much appeal.

Day 8: Health

I’ll put this simply: I hope that my family remains in good (or as good as possible!) health. I am so thankful for the doctors who help with this, especially for my mom.

Day 9: Friendship

Last month, Michael and I hosted Stocktoberfest at our home—the first party we’ve held in at least three years. It felt so incredible to have a home full of friends.

A huge shout-out goes to my friend Amanda and her husband for making a serious trek to come see us. Seeing them walk through the door was a total surprise and filled me with so much joy.

Day 10: Books

If you’ve been around here for a while, you may have noticed that this blog has turned into a list of book reviews more than anything. Since 2020, I’ve made more and more time to read (or listen to audiobooks). I find reading a few pages before bed or listening to a book while I sew relaxes me tremendously.

I’m so grateful for Libro.fm (as always: not sponsored, just a fan), for making listening to audiobooks and supporting small booksellers so easy. And I’m so happy to support the Milwaukee Public Library System! Where would I be without their Libby app and their top-notch Instagram account?

I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Stay tuned and please join in if you’re so inclined!

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30 Days of Thanks 2023 // Week 1

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The past few years, I’ve followed this Instagram prompt by @positivelypresent. It’s a great way to reflect on the year.

The past few years have been very challenging, but finding time to be grateful is just as important in tough times as they are in good times. So let’s get started! And stay tuned. I’ll be publishing these every Friday in November.

Day 1: Self-Care

I think a lot of what we see online in terms of self-care is going to the gym, putting on a face mask or getting a massage. While these are all forms of self-care, this year I’ve found that self-care has taken the shape of really listening to myself and my body.

At times, self-care has meant laying on the sofa and reading all afternoon or taking a long walk. Sometimes it’s finally buying that record I’ve been thinking about. It changes all the time, but I feel I’m more in tune with what I need than ever.

Day 2: Nature

Every year for the past 20+ years, my family travels up to Winter, Wisconsin. It’s a great way for us all to hang out together in a lo-fi way. We spend our days playing cards, floating in the pool and snacking.

We also have the opportunity to enjoy the lake there. This summer, my sister and I kayaked on the Chippewa Flowage. It was incredibly peaceful at dusk—though we did see eagles and a beaver! Taking some moments to be still and enjoy these waters is a real joy. I’m grateful I made the time to get out on the water like this.

Day 3: Optimism

Life is tough! My mom is very ill, and that’s something that’s really challenging to find brightness in. But my family is really terrific about finding silver linings, good news and highlights. Every time I see my mom beat my dad in a game of cribbage or read a recipe or pick up my FaceTime call, I get a jolt of good vibes and a peek at the bright side.

I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Stay tuned and please join in if you’re so inclined! You can use #gratitude30 on Instagram (where this challenge is really taking place).