He's a laid-back 15 pounds of fluff I adopted after getting my first post-college job. We added my husband to the family several years later (although Seth likes to pretend Luke was his pet first!). Luke loves us both, but if I'm in my office, he's often as shown here – keeping me company from his corner.

Meet my little love Luke (who's not so little compared to most cats.)

Meet my little love Luke (who's not
so little compared to most cats.)

my life as a #catmom

My husband and I have made a decent dent in this particular travel goal (see our current parks progress here), but these travels are about much more than checking destinations off a list. They're about experiencing adventure and beauty, stretching our bodies and minds, and making memories along the way. 

My husband and I have made a decent dent in this particular travel goal, but these travels are about much more than checking destinations off a list. They're about experiencing adventure and beauty, stretching our bodies and minds, and making many wonderful memories along the way. 

Every single National Park
is on my bucket list.

 MY GO-TO SPOTS TO TRAVEL

If you aren't, this poster that's in my office won't mean anything to you! But suffice it to say: It represents one of the most iconic episodes of the show. Being almost the same age as Rory during the original run and having the same college major and intended career path, I strongly identified with her character.

If you're a true "Gilmore Girls" fan, you'll for sure grasp this wall art.

my all-time top show

Maybe it's because I'm a words person, but I can't help it: I love shirts that say something. The "guilty" part of this pleasure isn't so much the tees themselves as my insatiable desire for them. I don't actually have hundreds, but if my heart had its way, I'm sure I'd own at least one for every day of the year!

Maybe it's because I'm a words person, but I can't help it: I love shirts that say something. The "guilty" part of this pleasure isn't so much the tees themselves as my insatiable desire for them. I don't actually have hundreds, but if my heart had its way, I'm sure I'd own one for every day of the year!

In my ideal life, I'd have limitless closet space for graphic tees.

In my ideal life, I'd have limitless
closet space for graphic tees.

my guilty pleasure

I mean, I don't take my laptop and iPad to the grocery store. But on longer trips and certainly at home, they're my constant companions. Being able to work from anywhere can be a double-edged sword, but even with those easily blurred work/life boundaries, I'm so grateful for these pretty pieces of technology.

I mean, I don't take my laptop and iPad to the grocery store. But on longer trips and certainly at home, they're my constant companions. Being able to work from anywhere can be a double-edged sword, but even with blurred work/life boundaries, I'm so grateful for these pretty pieces of technology.

I can't go anywhere without them without feeling a little lost.

I can't go anywhere without them
without feeling a little lost.

my everyday accessories

Rather, I've dreamed numerous times that I've accidentally ended up having my hair colored. As nonsensical as that sounds, it makes sense that I'm attached to my natural silver following a long grow-out process — after deciding in my 30s to ditch the dye that had hidden my true colors for more than a decade. 

No, it's not that common one
about being naked in public.

No, it's not that common one
about being naked in public.

 MY recurring nightmare

As a lifelong KU fan and graduate united in holy matrimony to a man who loves Mizzou, I've had to learn that sports fandom and marriage don't always mix. Fortunately, I've also learned that love can defeat the greatest divisions (even if we're fairly obviously faking it when we feign support for the other's team!).

Cute stuffed animals aside,
a border war is serious business.

MY HOUSE DIVIDED