Cloud 9 Archive

Exploring the art of intentional living through personal essays, photos, and thoughtful reflections. If you're craving authentic connection and deeper meaning, join me for honest storytelling where every photograph holds a piece of our shared human experience, and every reflection invites you to slow down and see the beauty hiding in ordinary days.

Antique rocking chair ornament hanging in a Christmas tree

Surviving the Holiday Season After Losing a Parent (When Nothing Feels the Same)

This will be my first holiday season without my mom, the person who made Christmas feel magical. Nothing about the holidays feels the same anymore. If you're facing your first year of holiday celebrations after parent loss, here are strategies for surviving when grief collides with what's supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year."

Nov 185 min read

How to Adjust Your Sleep After Fall Daylight Saving Time Change

When daylight saving time ends this fall, the darker afternoons and busy holiday season can wreak havoc on your sleep. After struggling badly myself a few years ago, I learned research-backed strategies that actually helped me adjust my circadian rhythm.

Nov 74 min read

Hand feeding a deer at Fawn Doe Rosa Wildlife Education Park

Taylors Falls: The Perfect Minnesota Fall Day Trip

Located just an hour from the Twin Cities, Taylors Falls offers the perfect escape for fall color viewing, riverside hiking, and unexpected wildlife encounters. From Interstate State Park's dramatic cliffs to hand-feeding deer at Fawn Doe Rosa, here's your guide to a memorable Minnesota autumn day trip.

Oct 194 min read

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Surviving the Holiday Season After Losing a Parent (When Nothing Feels the Same)

How to Adjust Your Sleep After Fall Daylight Saving Time Change

Taylors Falls: The Perfect Minnesota Fall Day Trip

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