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  • How to Strip Your Towels (And Why They Smell After Just One Use)

    How to Strip Your Towels (And Why They Smell After Just One Use)

    You know that moment when you pull a fresh towel from the dryer, it smells clean, and then you use it once and it immediately smells… like it’s been chillin’ in your kid’s hockey bag for a week? That gross, musty, moldy smell. Yuck! Yeah. That was the fate of every single towel in our…

    Read More How to Strip Your Towels (And Why They Smell After Just One Use)Continue

  • watch and ring

    How Oura Ring and Apple Watch Shape My Health Journey

    For the last 10ish years, I’ve become more interested in how my daily choices impact my long-term health. It’s not simply about what I eat or how many steps I take. It’s about how my habits stack up over time. For me, tracking isn’t about perfection; it’s about longevity. I want to know how my…

    Read More How Oura Ring and Apple Watch Shape My Health JourneyContinue

  • food delivery box on patio

    Family Dinners Made Easy with Beehive Meals

    If your evenings look anything like ours—between homework, sports practices, and figuring out what’s for dinner—then you’ll love this one. I just received our October Family Style box from Beehive Meals, and I’m so excited to NOT plan at least 10 meals this month. I choose the Small Family option to feed our two adults,…

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  • minnesota state fair in multi color letters

    MN State Fair 2025: A Very Delayed Recap

    The Start of a New Tradition? It’s October but let me take you back to Labor Day 2025 for a minute or two. Team Anders checked “the Great Minnesota Get-Together” off our list of family adventures and here’s the recap of our three-hour adventure. We’re proud to have contributed 4 attendees to the 1,940,869 Minnesotans…

    Read More MN State Fair 2025: A Very Delayed RecapContinue

  • Garage Gym of the North

    Garage Gym of the North

    Our second garage gym install came together with the help of another generous neighbor up here in Minnesota. We’ve been very blessed to live next to some wonderful people who aren’t hesitant to share their tools both in Florida and now here Up North. In both places I’ve been able to get some help with…

    Read More Garage Gym of the NorthContinue

Hello! 👋 I’m Alison—wife, mom of three boys, and Air Force veteran (married to one, too!). Around here it’s family, faith, fitness, and the chaos of kids’ sports.
Oh and coffee. Lots of coffee! ☕️

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Popular Posts

  • How to Strip Your Towels (And Why They Smell After Just One Use)
    How to Strip Your Towels (And Why They Smell After Just One Use)
  • watch and ring
    How Oura Ring and Apple Watch Shape My Health Journey
  • food delivery box on patio
    Family Dinners Made Easy with Beehive Meals

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a2_thrive

A mid-40s, "retired" but working, sports-mom who ❤️’s Jesus, my family, and the Midwest.

I stopped using fragranced detergent and fabric so I stopped using fragranced detergent and fabric softener but still like our clothes to feel soft and smell good… enter wool dryer balls and lavender sachets! I’ve had good luck with both and recommend giving them a try 👍🏼
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#laundry #lavender #clean
It was such a happy moment to finish the Street Pa It was such a happy moment to finish the Street Parking 2025 Vault in the sunshine and crisp, cool, Minnesota air. What a year this has been - truly the BEST year for so many reasons.
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If this was me a few years ago I would have been so salty about finishing in a year when it SHOULD have taken 6 months. I SHOULD have been better, more disciplined, more whatever…
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But I’m learning that showing up matters more than showing up on time. That consistency beats perfectionism. That grace - for myself, for the season I’m in - isn’t laziness. It’s wisdom.
I’m grateful to be done. More grateful for who I’m becoming in the process. 🙏

#progressnotperfection #Consistency #Fitness #Growth #garagegym
You got this…no matter what you’re wearing. (Just You got this…no matter what you’re wearing. 
(Just wear something, please) 🤗
“Why wait?” —> ❤️ Street Parking 🔑 
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#garagegym #fitness #start
Luckily we escaped the major mess that snowmageddo Luckily we escaped the major mess that snowmageddon ‘25 brought to the lower Midwest but we did get a solid 6-7 inches on our driveway! 
(yea that was for you, kids!)
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Earlier in the week I bought a @ryobitoolsusa electric shovel and was excited to try it. Come to find out, our driveway is larger than I estimated. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 
 It was a fun morning together though and got the blood flowing with the fam ❤️
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#tools #snow #minnesota
Sorry ‘bout that, ‘lil buddy. 🫣 #plants #sorry #h Sorry ‘bout that, ‘lil buddy. 🫣

#plants #sorry #hanginthere
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