Before I was a parent, I never quite understood the slightly haunted look that came over people with kids when summer came up. You’d ask about plans and get some variation of, “Just trying to keep our heads above water until September.” Now firmly on the other side, I get it (and owe a heartfelt […]
Imagine driving past miles of farmland planted with a single crop stretching as far as the eye can see. That’s what modern agriculture often looks like: vast monocultures designed to maximize production of one type of food. A food forest offers a different approach. Rooted in the patterns of natural forests, food forests are a […]
I’d convinced myself I was done with the annual compulsion to emerge from January as a newer, slightly improved version of myself. Then I became a parent. The first year was a blur, but by year two I was back at it, this time with expectations that veered from ambitious to a little unhinged. I […]
A Bridge to a Healthier Future Avocado partner Puente creates opportunities for families in rural Guatemala to thrive. In Spanish, Puente means “bridge.” For Edna de Morales and Carol de Fernandez, founders of the Guatemalan nonprofit Puente, it’s more than a name — it’s a way of looking at the world. Puente’s work began with […]
Winter-Proofing Your Family’s Immune System The holidays are behind us, and we’re in the thick of winter now, with a few more months of cold and flu season still to get through. For our family, that means the familiar cycle of sniffles, sore throats, and staying home from daycare — a telltale runny nose appearing […]
By late fall in the Pacific Northwest, parents of toddlers have already made their peace with weather as a lifestyle. Rain isn’t an event; it’s a personality trait we all share. Still, every year around November, something shifts. The clouds settle in, the light turns murky, and in certain cities (Seattle, I’m looking at you), […]
A slower, softer approach to getting from here to there this season. Holiday travel has a reputation, and to be fair, it’s largely deserved. There’s something uniquely humbling about sprinting through an airport, bargaining with the universe to let you carry on an extra bag of presents, hearing that your train is delayed indefinitely due […]
Comfort Is: Cozymaxxing for the Holidays Why do we emotionally hibernate during the winter months? At a certain point — somewhere between the sun setting at 4:30 in the afternoon and your third rewatch of When Harry Met Sally — you give in. Not in a sad, defeatist way, but in a deeply satisfying, cellular-level […]
Comfort Is: A Cozy Guest Room How to create a comfortable, welcoming space for holiday guests this season. It’s that time again, the season of overlapping calendar invites, rogue tinsel, menorahs in windows, Diwali lights still twinkling, and Mariah hitting that high note in every public space imaginable. Nearly 65 percent of the country plans […]
For many couples today, sleeping apart isn’t a crisis — it’s a wellness choice. A few months ago, I found myself at one of those dinners where you only really know the host — the kind where you end up clutching your wine glass like a security blanket and making small talk with a stranger […]
