Musings

  • Two women standing in a coffee shop with bags of coffee behind them.

    Dublin Roasters in Frederick: 5 Cool Facts

    Admittedly, it doesn’t take much to bring me joy — they say “it’s the small things,” and I’d have to agree. Like a breathtaking sunset, an announcement of a new season of your favorite show, or really good coffee. Speaking of really good coffee, I was invited to tour Dublin Roasters in Frederick, Maryland, while on a mini-vacation to the area earlier this fall. The goal of my visit was to understand the process by which they specially roast their uniquely sourced beans, as well as learn more about Serina Roy’s vision as owner and founder — and to have a tasty latte along the way. (Of course, right?) And…

  • Mugs are part of everyday life, whether they're filled with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine ... or pens. We can all get by with any old mug, of course, but the right mug can bring a little spark of joy each and every morning. There are perfect mugs for every personality, no matter how quirky or basic!

    Perfect Mugs for Every Personality

    There are perfect mugs for every personality, no matter how quirky or basic! Finding the perfect mugs to be a part of everyday life has been a fun hobby of mine over the years, whether they’re filled with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine … or pens. We can all get by with any old mug, of course, but the right mug can bring a little spark of joy each and every morning. Check out this list of some of my favorites — there’s a little something for everyone!    

  • Coffee isn't just for waking you up in the morning! Here are three ways to enjoy coffee after your breakfast brew.

    Ways to Enjoy Coffee Outside of Breakfast

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #InspireYourBold  Coffee isn’t just for waking you up in the morning! Here are three ways to enjoy coffee after your breakfast brew. I first tried coffee sometime in my teens. Maybe even younger—stolen sips from my parents’ mugs, probably. These were the days before huge coffee shop chains were on every corner on the East Coast, and the idea of coffee as more of a “sweet treat” really didn’t exist. (Beyond coffee ice cream, of course. Yum!) The majority of high schoolers I knew didn’t drink coffee, of any kind. And then?…

  • Getting rid of lice may seem daunting, if not impossible. Once you understand the simple steps for how to get rid of lice without chemicals, your mind will be at ease!

    How To Get Rid of Lice Without Chemicals

    Getting rid of lice may seem daunting, if not impossible. Once you understand the simple steps for how to get rid of lice without chemicals, your mind will be more at ease!   Disclaimer: this resource isn’t intended to replace medical advice.   As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Growing up, my sister and I never had lice. I’m not sure if any friends did because back in the ’80s, no one talked about it. Social media didn’t exist to connect people, whether that connection was for neighborhood meet-ups, mutual interest in fandoms like Outlander, for medical reasons or for understand…

  • There are so many great artists out there, it's easy to get stuck in a genre listening to the same-old, same-old! To change things up, here are 10 indie folk alt-rock bands to add to your playlist.

    10 Indie Folk Alt Rock Artists to Add to Your Playlist

    There are so many great artists out there, it’s easy to get stuck in a genre listening to the same-old, same-old! To change things up, here are 10 indie folk alt-rock artists to add to your playlist. I’ve always loved music. Could be because I grew up in a family with lots of musicians, or, maybe it’s because music has played such a large part in our lives—both playing and listening. Perhaps it’s simply a coincidence. Regardless, over the years my taste in music has varied. I remember in elementary school when I first started finding music that wasn’t something my parents were already listening to, thanks to my boombox…

  • One way to be an "everyday hero" is to model strong, empowered behavior doing the things that bring you joy.

    My Secret to Feeling Empowered

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StrengthHasNoGender #CBias One way to feel empowered as an “everyday hero” is to practice modeling strong, resilient behavior doing the things that bring you joy and helping others find theirs, too. It’s really important to me to find things in life that bring me joy and to model that for my kids, not just as their mom, but as a woman. They can choose to be whatever they want in life with our emotional support, and I want them to feel proud of their accomplishments—the things they work really hard for. They should feel…

  • I could enjoy soup any day of the week—it's such a comfort food, and there are so many different varieties and recipes from which to pick ... and devour. One of my favorites will always be potato soup, which is why I was excited to try Idahoan Steakhouse Soups!

    This Soup Makes Life Easier in Winter

    Thank you Idahoan® Steakhouse® Soups for sponsoring this post. Grab yourself a bowl and celebrate National Soup Month with me! I could enjoy soup any day of the week—it’s such a comfort food, and there are so many different varieties and recipes from which to pick … and devour. One of my favorites will always be potato soup, which is why I was excited to try Idahoan® Steakhouse® Soups during National Soup Month! We’re just coming out of a really cold snap this winter, and it’s just barely halfway over. And, when I say “really cold” I’m probably not doing the frigid air justice, as the high for weeks was…

  • You need to stop these 5 airport bad habits right now.

    Stop These 5 Airport Bad Habits

    You need to stop these 5 airport bad habits right now. About once a month I travel for business trips, and I find myself in an airport headed somewhere far from here … to meetings, conferences, or something else job-related. The closest airport is in Baltimore, and when I’m headed to Illinois (a frequent work destination) unfortunately none of the airlines I’m able to use have direct flights. (Read: not Chicago.) This means I spend a significant amount of time in airports, consumed by layovers. It’s not all bad, really. The stress that comes with a quick layover (especially in Atlanta) has encouraged me to always take the longer one,…