Welcome to December, my beautiful readers! This is the final issue of 2019, so please indulge me as I share my gratitude list with all of you. In the past few months, I have been trying to lean into things I am grateful for; writing them down has allowed me to be more present.  I am beyond grateful to have been able to share another year with all of you. I promise we have incredible things in store this upcoming year, so hang on. DOWNLOAD THIS ISSUE BELOW TO READ MORE! 14 Branches of Gratitude 16 Thankful for the Scars …

Hey, there! I’m Cole. I’m a wife, mom, Registered Dietitian, yoga instructor, and entrepreneur.  Like most of us, I wear a lot of hats. After years of moving around the Midwest for my husband’s medical training, we settled in Eau Claire about 6 years ago and have loved making this place our home.  Like so many, the story of who I am is anchored in family, Midwestern values, and a pull to continuously evolve myself. When it comes to the 5 Fs, there is one that is a bit of a sticking point for me — but we’ll get to …

Merry Christmas to all! As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us all gather with loved ones to celebrate Generosity and Gratitude. My wish is that you all enjoy a peaceful moment during this holiday season — perhaps a walk on a snowy evening, hot cocoa around a fire or great conversation around Christmas Day brunch. Here are a couple of recipes that I hope you enjoy. God Jul, Bon appetit, Lanette Crabby Benny Ingredients 4 English muffins split in half 2 cups fresh crab meat 8 poached eggs 16 Spears asparagus(grilled) Hollandaide sauce (recipe to follow) Toast English …

The Cold Dish By: Craig Johnson My nephew visited me from Washington this summer and presented me with a copy of The Cold Dish. Having been a long-time fan of Craig Johnson, he wanted to share his enthusiasm for this author. The Cold Dish is the first book in a series about Walt Longmire, a sheriff in Wyoming.  The book starts out with the murder of a man by the name of Cody Pritchard.  Two years earlier, Pritchard and three of his high school classmates were accused of raping a mentally-challenged Native American girl.  The group was convicted, but received …

Today as I stepped outside, I saw my breath for the first time. My UGGs and my parka will be my outfit of choice until April (maybe even until May?!). My local Target store is filled with cute holiday décor that I didn’t know I needed until I walked into the store.  And so begins that special time of year…   The holidays? Well yes, but I am talking about “Cuffing season.” Now, for my non-millennial friends, I will define “cuffing” as the cold and dark months when someone who normally would rather be single finds themselves desiring to be …

Welcome to December, my beautiful readers! This is the final issue of 2019, so please indulge me as I share my gratitude list with all of you. In the past few months, I have been trying to lean into things I am grateful for; writing them down has allowed me to be more present. My tribe.  The fantastic 5 will always be the best thing I ever did. I am grateful to watch and learn from them daily. The kids aren’t little anymore. With bigger kids comes more significant problems and simultaneously much to be grateful for. What an honor …

Ladies, happy fall. It’s officially here, and we are in full swing. This issue is so beautiful and brave, and I am so excited to share with all of you. Our Courageous Women issue is beyond what I could have expected. I am blown away by the extraordinary, courageous stories each of these women has chosen to share. I had to read the above quote about 50 times, to grasp its magnitude. So much simple truth from my new best friend, Brene Brown! Brave women share their stories in this incredible issue; they choose courage over comfort every day. DOWNLOAD …

You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both. ~Brene Brown Ladies, happy fall. It’s officially here, and we are in full swing. This issue is so beautiful and brave, and I am so excited to share with all of you. Our Courageous Women issue is beyond what I could have expected. I am blown away by the extraordinary, courageous stories each of these women has chosen to share. I had to read the above quote about 50 times, to grasp its magnitude. So much simple truth from my new best friend, Brene Brown! Brave women …

Today as I was walking to class I noticed a few leaves starting to change colors. I have officially pulled out a few of my cozy sweaters and had my first pumpkin flavored coffee since last November (I don’t even like these drinks, but they just put me in the fall mood). Most importantly, the Packer just beat the Bears, Vikings and the Broncos. (These are just a few of my favorite indicators that the seasons are changing.) Although, I would kill for another long summer day with my brothers on Lake Wissota, I am excited about fall. I can’t …

Ladies, how did we get to August? I am not ready for September and fall. Don’t get me wrong—fall may be my favorite season; I just need a little more time. Perhaps it’s that we had such a long and brutal winter last year, the realization that this was Hank’s final summer home, and that the lazy nights are winding down. The relaxed days on the boat are quickly slipping away. The beautiful craziness of fall is right around the corner. Once again, I am excited to share the 5ive journey with all of you: faith, family, friends, fitness, and …