The time of day...

Mornings. I love the idea that each day is a new start and anything can happen.  Mornings are insane at my house as I get my three girls (Abigail – 13, Claire – 10, and Gracie – 7) out the door.  You can find me with a cup of coffee in one hand, a hair brush in the other, and Taylor Swift providing the soundtrack to our mornings. I have always thrived on chaos and craziness and it is during those times that I am most productive.

The activity…

Running. Going for a run is one of the only times I get to really decompress and have some quite time to myself. There are beautiful desert trails right out my back door and I love to take advantage of them every chance I get with our extremely energetic one year old Goldendoodle, Kona, who has recently become a great jogging partner.  After finishing 8 half marathons, my goal is to finish a full marathon within the next year.

The smell…

The ocean.  Nothing beats arriving at the beach and taking in a deep breath full of ocean air and saltwater spray.  For me, it is the smell of vacation and relaxation.

The feeling…

Having all my people in the same place at the same time.  I love having my whole family together, whether it’s for a quick mid-week dinner, on a vacation far away or at a sporting event for one of the kids. I am so thankful my parents and sister live close enough to share in all of life’s ordinary and extraordinary moments.

The accessory…

Friendship bracelets. My girls love to craft and making friendship bracelets is one of their favorites. I am the very lucky recipient of many of these bracelets and looking down to see them on my wrist is a wonderful reminder of what is most important in my life.

The snack…

Dark chocolate covered honeycomb.  It is a guilty pleasure that I have zero guilt about! It can turn a bad day around in just one bite!

The place...

Flagstaff, Arizona.  Flagstaff holds a special place in my heart after spending four years at Northern Arizona University.  During those years I met my husband, Mike, and the town is full of wonderful memories.  We still visit a couple times of year to enjoy our favorite restaurants and breweries, the snow, and the pine and aspen trees.

The hobby…

In my current season of life, being a swim mom is as close to a hobby as I get. All three of our girls swim year round and managing practice times and meet schedules keeps me very busy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The virtues…

Kindness and empathy.  I remind myself and my daughters daily to “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” It is such an easy rule to follow, but it is so often forgotten.