I have been blogging for thirteen years.
I had to sit with that for a moment when I typed it. Thirteen years of writing about our home, travels, and everyday life, simply because I love it. It started as a means of staying connected with family and friends after Ben and I got married and relocated. It’s stayed with me through so many different seasons — the workaholic version of me who spent a decade working 80-hour weeks, the new mom who was so unsure of herself, and now this version of me, who finally feels comfortable enough to just be herself and share freely.
Earlier this year, I made the decision to start showing up on Instagram again — to share my story more openly. I didn’t have a grand plan. I just knew it finally felt like the right time. All along, my blog had been growing and succeeding in the background (It has grown into a leading motherhood blog!), and I had finally, finally gained the confidence to match.
The Opportunity to Be on Twin Cities Live
A few weeks later, I got a message from Twin Cities Live. I had to read it twice, and I ran to Ben’s office to show him.
They were doing a Staycation Week — a whole week of content centered around enjoying where you are and making home feel special — and they wanted me to come on and talk about creating a calm, luxurious feeling at home through small, intentional touches. As Ben told me, it couldn’t have been a more perfect topic. The segment would be called Make Your Home Feel Like a Luxurious Getaway.
Despite my nerves and disbelief, I said yes immediately and then spent the next several days quietly preparing in every spare moment I could find. I practiced quietly while Ollie listened to music in the car, I practiced in the shower, and in any in-between moment of the day. I planned what I wanted to say, what felt true to me, and what I actually wanted people to take away.
I kept coming back to the same idea I’ve been writing about for thirteen years: that a luxurious home doesn’t require a lot of money or a big space. It just requires a little intention. Fresh flowers on the counter. A candle that smells like something you love. Soft textures. A tidy, calm space that feels like it was set up just for you. The small things that make ordinary life feel special.
My Segment on Twin Cities Live
Ben and Ollie came with me, which made all the difference. Having them there — just knowing they were nearby — made the whole thing feel less intimidating and more like something exciting we were doing together as a family.
It was a beautiful day. Sunny and warm and spring-like, the kind of day that feels like a real gift in Minnesota. The segment went wonderfully. The hosts were so warm, and once I was actually speaking, my nerves settled, and it just felt like talking about something I genuinely love.
Afterward, we celebrated as a family at Malcolm Yards — dinner from Saturday Dumpling Co. and ice cream from Bebe Zito, the three of us together in the sunshine. It was such a perfect ending to a day I’ll remember for a long time.
What I Want to Remember About Twin Cities Live
The opportunities you dream of can really only come your way if you come out of hiding and you’re brave enough to be seen. I really believe that. I think that’s what happened here; I started showing up, and something found me because of it.
Thirteen years is a long time to do something. And there is something really meaningful about this moment, about the reminder that hard work adds up, and that it’s never too late to step a little further into the light.
I’m just really grateful.
You can watch the full segment here — and I hope it gives you a few ideas for making your own home feel a little more like a getaway, right where you are.
