Rome Lite: Upgrading an Eleven-Year-Old to the Full Roman Experience
Rome has always been our favorite place to begin a European adventure. This June, I'm upgrading my daughter from "Rome Lite"—fewer museums and extra gelato breaks—to the full Roman experience. Armed with stories of Romulus and Remus, gladiators, and ancient Rome from school, she's finally ready for the Colosseum, the Vatican, and even a mummy hunt at the Gregorian Egyptian Museum. Whether she's ready for the walking and lines is another question entirely. Fortunately, Giolitti's watermelon gelato may be enough to keep both of us moving through the Eternal City.
Switchbacks, Stitches, and My First Cardigan
I thought knitting a cardigan as a beginner was a perfectly reasonable idea. Armed with confidence, YouTube tutorials, and a healthy disregard for my actual skill level, I tackled the Lakes Cardigan by Ozetta. Along the way, I encountered saddle shoulders, picked-up stitches, lace-weight yarn, and more than a few knitting switchbacks. This is the story of how persistence, patience, and perhaps a slightly unreasonable amount of confidence helped me reach the summit: a finished cardigan.
Mohair: The Fiber That Seduced Me
Who would have thought mohair would be the fiber to seduce me?
A beautiful reddish-brown shade from Sonder Yarn Co. and a free lace pattern convinced my overly ambitious self that knitting with three strands of mohair was a perfectly reasonable idea.
It wasn't.
Fortunately, I later discovered the Cumulus Blouse O-neck by PetiteKnit: two strands of mohair, simple stockinette, and no lace-induced panic.
Sometimes the secret to knitting success isn't finding the perfect yarn. It's finding a pattern that matches your skill level instead of your imagination.
Knitting Through Grief
After losing my husband, I filled my days with work, parenting, and endless to-do lists. My mind rarely stopped racing, constantly generating new worries and worst-case scenarios. Then I found knitting. What began as a hobby became a refuge—a place where grief softened, anxious thoughts quieted, and I learned to be present again. This is the story of how knitting helped me navigate an unplanned life, one stitch at a time.
Life Had Other Plans, so I made New Ones
The Women's Carry-On Essentials Checklist I Wish I'd Had Years Ago
Everyone recommends expensive noise-canceling headphones for travel. I used to carry them too.
Then I started traveling as a single parent.
After hauling my own backpack plus whatever bag my daughter no longer wanted to carry, I realized I preferred simple wired headphones. They weigh almost nothing, never need charging, and I can't lose one earbud while the other disappears into an airport void.
Travel has taught me that the best gear isn't always the fanciest. Sometimes the simplest option is exactly what you need.
Welcome to Stitches and Suitcases
Rome, in Bite-Sized Pieces
Heading back to Rome for the fourth time, I've accepted a simple truth: you never really finish Rome. What began as wandering side streets with a young daughter avoiding tourist crowds has evolved into a return visit filled with iconic sights, favorite neighborhoods, and the promise of new discoveries. Join us as we explore Rome one piazza, one gelato, and one unforgettable memory at a time.