Little Magpie

chasing shiny objects

By

Forgotten Arkansas: Paraclifta

I'd heard my Dad mention Paraclifta a number of times through the years, and his passing comments always intrigued me. What was this place that had been completely wiped from the map where once there had been a thriving town? I kept telling myself I would dig into it. Finally, I had my shot when Dad and I took a recent road trip back down old highway 71 together. I've written a past ode to 71 - much of my childhood was spent in the small towns along it. I'll share more about this particular ... View Post

By

Why I Needed Whole 30

I was sitting by the pool at our beach vacation house at 2:00 on a Tuesday afternoon drinking a Water-Melon-Rita and popping Pringles like they were going out of style. Meanwhile, I was idly scrolling Instagram posts tagged #30DayChallenge and Googling “weight loss.” Just to confirm my hunch, I texted my sister: Reading and thinking about exercising are essentially the same as exercising… right? The body wasn't willing and the spirit was weak. Well, actually: the body was in disrepair and I ... View Post

By

#NineForTheNewYear: Life Challenges

Looking for a swift kick in the rear? This time of year, I usually am. Like everyone else, I usually come skidding into the final days of December with a mix of exhaustion, guilt and looming disaster. Honestly, it isn't the holidays - I decided long ago to never turn into a person who allows chaos to take control to the point that I dread or can't enjoy the season. I've got a pretty healthy dose of chill about it - there are things I want to do, but I've gotten a lot more comfortable with ... View Post

By

Montréal Pour le Weekend

Montréal is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway: it feels like Europe within reach, the locals are friendly and switch between French & English with ease, and whether your itinerary is jam-packed or a bit more laissez-faire, the largest city of la belle province will not disappoint. Wherever you go becomes part of you somehow. ~ Anita Desai Montréal is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway: it feels like Europe within reach, the locals are friendly and switch between ... View Post

By

The Care & Feeding Of The Good House {Home Tour}

Blogger Home Tour This post originally appeared on Arkansas Women Bloggers as part of the blogger home tour series. Warning: this may not be the stereotypical home tour. In fact, it's really more of a love letter on the care and feeding of The Good House. I hope you don't mind.  We have loved this house. For well over a decade - two thirds of our married life - we've loved its expansive porch, the shady canopy of its old trees, its peeling paint and uneven hardwood floors. We are ... View Post

By

Your Camera Is Craving Adventure

In high school, I had a deep desire to take the photography classes that would allow me to learn about the mysterious dark room and all the voodoo magic that I presumed went into developing film. However, it was years later on a summer break from college when I finally enrolled in a photography class at Wenatchee Valley Community College. By then, I had traveled to Spain and the Caribbean on my own in addition to growing up in riveting, photogenic places. I knew that camera-worthy moments were ... View Post