Finding Joy Archives

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.

Family Travel

Appreciating the Seasons: Fall Family Getaway to Steamboat Springs

October 7, 2019January 16, 2020

The temperatures are finally dipping after the long hot summer days. As I sat and sipped my steaming hot coffee this morning while I watched the sun come up, I felt those first feelings of cozying up for winter. It made me start thinking on the transition and change of seasons and how each prepares us for the next. I think this is why the changes in season feel so delicious, why we love spring and fall.

Finding Joy

How to Love Winter in 10 Easy Steps

April 12, 2019January 16, 2020

Ok, so maybe not 10 easy steps. But, it is as easy a change in perception and perspective, a choice to see things differently. And I believe these shifts are where we find joy. My dear friend and guest poster, Heidi Schwandt and her sweet family are summer people. This season though, they decided it was time to embrace ALL the seasons and I couldn’t love her more for it!