2013

well, that’s a wrap. the last day of 2013 is upon is, and i don’t know about you, but i am ready for some serious celebrating! this year i wanna get dressed up and…

friends, get ready for a comprehensive look back over this past year. it may be the longest post ever… enjoy! January after spending christmas and new year’s in the states, we returned to a…

1. set a goal and make it happen. for the past 2 years, i have chosen a word to focus on for the entire year (see the upper right corner of this page). that…

Four years ago, on a beautiful, snowy Swedish day, I married my amazing Lina. It has been an incredible 4th year together… full of dreams coming true and strength beyond comprehension, and you know…

are you stuffed? or satisfied? do you feel exhausted? or energized? was it a peaceful day? or a wild & crazy one? whatever your christmas day has brought you, i hope that it has…

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book of all time, so, back in September, when I ran across this essay that she had written, I knew that I would use her…

happy winter, northern hemisphere family! “There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”  ~ Edith Wharton i woke up really early this morning. like about…

do you remember this post of mine from about a month ago? i shared with y’all my views, thoughts, and experiences over some of the injustices happening in the united methodist church (UMC), my…

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” –  Marcel Proust on monday, my love and i headed over to the biltmore estate, a very popular american tourist…

you know, 2013 was a year of making dreams come true. but, more of that later when i do a few posts on looking back through the year. one of the dreams, though, is…

well, this past week i have engaged in some seriously serious decking the halls and such. and before i know it, we are even closer to christmas and the new year. it’s been amazing…

happy friday, friends! here in the mcguire-eriksson household things are full speed ahead with preparations for a full-blown housewarming/christmas party called “eat, drink, & be merry”! that’s right. tonight we’re the hosts with the…

you may think that my hit-and-miss blogging is due to the fact that i am super busy, and in some ways i am. you may think it has to do with all of the…

“This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and…

it’s tuesday, and time to stop for a moment and think about all that has touched and piqued my senses in the last week… it was kind of a blended week, i think. busy…

let me tell you where you can find some wise little people and a ton of inspiration… in an elementary school. oh man, what an amazing experience i had yesterday. my good friend, jessica,…

there has been some serious sensory overload during the past week. from a 9 hour road trip in pouring rain to family to super amounts of yummy food to holiday fun to christmas tree…

i think this month snuck up on me. i was totally not prepared. like, not at all. first of all, november flew by like nothing i’ve ever experienced before. it felt as if it…

it’s official. the turkey has been eaten. the food coma has been cured. and the official holiday season has begun. the happy girl christmas dance has commenced! as i type this, christmas music is…

i came across an article in the huffington post about 7 things that thankful people do, of the 7 habits of grateful people. i thought it was really interesting and it really rang true…

hi! it’s tuesday, so i’m a day late. but, oh well. i’ve been pretty busy on account of it’s not your ordinary week here in the states… it’s thanksgiving week!! and that means that…

whoa. i am overwhelmed by the response i have had after telling my story about my experience with the UMC and LGBT issues. you people are truly amazing. thank you! more than anything, though, i thank…

a few weeks ago, i was asked by the newspaper to go and visit a bakery that specializes in gluten free products, and then write an article about it. ok. very, very cool. my…

friends, it’s happening again. love is on trial. you know, when people get together and begin to decide who is right and who is wrong. who gets to love whom. who gets to get…

friends, we are only about one week out from thanksgiving!! woo hoo! i know that there are quiet a few of you who are not american, so you’re not really counting the days, but,…

you know, i’m lucky. in many, many different ways. but, today i am thinking about the joys and adventures i have experienced because i have had the privilege of traveling. and, on top of the travel journeys…

today i hosted a fika at a cafe for local coffee lovers who have stumbled onto my 40 days fika blog, followed my fika project, and/or been on my asheville coffee page on facebook.…

i did a few posts in the past where i reflected on my week/weekend through my six senses… what did i see, touch, feel, hear, taste, smell over the past few days? i really think…

ok. this is just freaking awesome. it’s one of those amazing TED talks, motivational and inspiring talks & videos that make their way around the internet. takes the time to watch this, laugh and…

“The country is in deep trouble. We’ve forgotten that a rich life consists fundamentally of serving others, trying to leave the world a little better than you found it. We need the courage to…

oh lord, here we go again. what is wrong with me? why can’t i just trust the process? here i am, finding myself without my 40 day blog project, and feeling panicky. again. a…

i was back in the states for halloween this year… and it was great! after three years in sweden (one of them in ireland), i was dying for a traditional kinda halloween. well, it’ll…

you know what? i miss blogging here on a regular basis. i miss it a lot. i miss y’all a lot. i suppose that my lack of blogging has been mostly because of my…

is there anything better in autumn than a cozy, chilly, rainy day at home? outside the leaves are all golden, orange, red, and brown. the clouds hang thick and low. it’s as if you…

i’d like to introduce you to the new series in asheville’s Mountain Xpress newspaper… “the fika files” that’s right! today is the day that my first story was published in the independent newspaper, the Mountain…

sunday morning i got a text from my brother: “do y’all have plans today? wanna do a late lunch… maybe pisgah. take my camera and try to learn a little about it. well that’s…

the theme for this year’s north carolina state fair was “a north carolina homecoming!”… totally appropriate for me, since it has actually been my “homecoming” back to north carolina this year. my first autumn,…

i just have to share with you some amazing music that i have discovered this week. and they both just happen to be north carolina-born groups. one tip is from an old favorite of…

watch this video, and then read on…  most of y’all know that even though lina and i are legally married, our marriage is not legal or recognized in north carolina (where we now live)…

remember that freelance contract thing that i wrote about two weeks ago? well, some things have been happening with that. like big time. i can’t believe i never even posted about this last week.…

good morning, friends & family! here’s a little thursday love and pep from me to you.  peace and love – receive it and share it. xx…

upon arrival late friday night, i just had to go out to the dock & breathe in the sea air. beach day saturday! Sunday Fun Day! (including the nc seafood festival – the oldest…

just a few photos from my week captured on my phone… i’ve been feeling the love. coffee love. autumn love companion love. nature love. snail mail love photography love urban love cider love road trip…

I call them photo journeys for a reason. It’s more than just taking a photo of a random word for a random day. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that here…

have you heard of that netflix series yet? that’s the name of it: orange is the new black. and  it is abso-freakin-lutely awesome. my love and i got seriously stuck and watched the first…

hi friends. i have some really big news. like. h. u. g. e. on friday, i got a contract to sign which will make me a freelance writer for an asheville newspaper! i’m still…

computer in my lap. blanket covering my legs, with my toes peeking out (’cause my feet always get hot). a single candle burning on the kitchen island emitting a cinnamon-y autumn smell and a…

“the most important thing is to find out what the most important thing is” wrote shunryu suzuki in his book zen mind, beginner’s mind. that’s your assignment for the next three weeks. do whatever…