Finding Joy Archives

Slow Saturday: How to Cook from Your Pantry without a Recipe

April 4, 2020April 4, 2020

Welcome to Slow Saturday! While I’d kill to run a couple errands today, I’m grateful that there are no practices or games or birthday parties to run off to. I reflect all the time on simplicity and what it looks like to slow down. When we are in “normal” mode (what will THAT even look like in a few months???), it requires an incredibly concerted effort, and quite frankly, pushing against norms to live simply. But, now, we are forced to. It’s our “new normal” and one thing I will be intentional about holding onto when we can go back out into the world.

Finding Joy

Happy Birthday, Snow Happy!!

March 26, 2020March 26, 2020

I realized as I was getting ready to write about week 2 in quarantine-life that Snow Happy launched just over a year ago!! In all the disarray in our newfound, albeit temporary, reality, I discovered I wrote my first blog article about Steamboat Springs March 15, 2019. We had just returned from a winter adventure with friends from Washington DC, and it made me reflect so much on while we love skiing, what we love best is sharing the joy of winter with others!

Clean Living

Week 1 Life on the Inside: How a Skier Writes about Quarantine

March 18, 2020March 18, 2020

It’s like we woke up one day and the world was different. Our family went from getting excited for spring break to canceling our plans. I went from preparing my template to write an article about our time at Jackson Hole and Big Sky to wondering what kind of content makes sense for Snow Happy in this world of quarantine. We are in a new reality and we have a choice how we want to react to it. Either way, here we are! Now what???

Family Travel

Love Where you Live: How to take a Staycation

February 25, 2020February 25, 2020

I don’t know about you, but when there is the opportunity to take a long weekend away, I am all for it. We steal away to the mountains for a day or two or sometimes even catch a cheap flight somewhere new. But, it can feel hectic and even like you need a break from your break when you get back. Am I right? And you know us around here: We love a good adventure! But, sometimes, it’s nice to get out and explore what’s right in your own backyard.

100 Day Challenge

Part 2: 100 Days of Something Update

January 30, 2020January 30, 2020

Today was my first day back running in a while…I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in the daily routine with the start of the year. I was ready to come into the New Year with excitement and resolve and instead it was more like a roller coaster of colds, back to school, and looking for some balance while trying to accomplish a lot in the first few weeks of the year. And, if you’ve been around a while, you know I don’t do resolutions! No, this was more about feeling really ready to hit the ground running.

Family Ski Trips

Reflections on Skiing: Shared Experiences and Why They Matter

January 28, 2020January 28, 2020

I realized a few weeks ago that I have been skiing on or around my Birthday since I turned 18! My 18th birthday skiing adventure was certainly a right of passage of sorts and I guess I am feeling some nostalgia as I enter into my 40th Birthday Week.

Family Ski Trips

How to Raise Skiers and Why It’s Important For Your Family

January 14, 2020January 16, 2020

Our Snow Happy kiddos are now 6 and 9 (well, 6 1/2, to be precise, according to my daughter). They have been on skis since they could walk, tromping around the living room and yard in little plastic skis and then moving on to ski boots and skis around two. Now, when we see the little ones out there, stumbling around in cumbersome boots or riding along in a backpack, cheeks flushed we feel all the feels. There is so much nostalgia there for us in those early days. They were hard, but filled with joy and oh so worth it.

Finding Joy

Why Having a Growth Mindset Should be a Part of Your Skiing Practice

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

Skiing is hard. It does not come naturally to humans…especially learning as an adult, or trying to improve as an adult. There is nothing intuitive about it. It requires practice and the learning curve is (ahem) steep. So why do it? Whether it’s skiing or some other physical challenge, why do something you don’t have to do when it’s so darn hard?

Finding Joy

Snow Happy it’s Winter: Winter Solstice Facts And How to Enjoy Winter

December 21, 2019December 21, 2019

Today is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere…well, not officially, yet. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, it starts at 11:19PM EST tonight, December 21st 2019. It is the day of the year with the fewest hours of daylight and boy did I notice that last night and this morning! And while it makes the days feel oh so short and I want to crawl into bed by 7pm (and I probably should one of these days), I love how cozy the darkness makes it feel this time of year.

Finding Joy

How to Have a Great First Day Skiing

November 14, 2019January 16, 2020

This is the absolute earliest I have ever skied. November 14th, I made everybody breakfast, packed lunches, took everyone in early for their Spanish class, ran my day 6 mile of my 100 Days of Something Challenge, tossed my skis, boots, and bag in the car and hit the road to Eldora. Sounds pretty simple, right? And, with the right prep and system in place, it totally can be, even with kids in tow. Yes, that’s right, even with kids in tow.