Family & Home

In 2022, I sold my first place and purchased my current townhouse to give me a little more room. The new townhouse adds a basement and a small patio, which I love (as does my dog). I’m in an end unit, which means there is plenty of sun streaming through the windows but on rainy weekends, the couch in the living room is the perfect place to snuggle up with the pets and sip coffee while reading or knitting. I imagine myself reading stories to a tired or cranky little one from that same spot as we listen to the rain outside.

I stayed in my community because of the people, amenities, and convenience to downtown. I love that when it is nice out, I can walk to the pool, farmers market, grocery store and restaurants and even pick up a trail if I want to walk further. It is also very dog-friendly, so you constantly see dogs (and their people) out and about. 

There are a lot of kids in my neighborhood and the community does a great job of making the area family friendly with several playgrounds for the younger kids and activities (e.g., outdoor swimming pools, tennis, and basketball courts) for all ages. There is a preschool and an elementary school within walking distance from my house. Halloween is one of my favorite times of year in the neighborhood; I always rush home early to be there to hand out candy to the pint-sized trick-or-treaters.
In terms of family, I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, MN in a stable, two-parent household. My dad was a college professor and my mom held senior positions in various corporations throughout our childhood. Despite their work, family dinners were always a priority.  

I am very close with my parents and love going back to MN to visit my younger brother. Perhaps unsurprisingly many of my core values were passed down from my family: education, travel, and new experiences. Both of my parents worked extremely hard to get their education (PhD and MBA) and expected me and my brother to graduate college. We did and I ultimately went on to graduate from law school as well. I see a lot of value in education as a way to gain exposure to new ideas. I’m also a strong believer in education going beyond the classroom. Travel and new experience (e.g., whether trying a new sport or hobby) can have many of the same benefits/impact as formal education. For example, when I was in middle school, I did a student ambassador trip to the United Kingdom. As part of this experience, I stayed with host-families and even went to school with their children for a couple of days. I learned that we might have different customs but, at our core, people are people and have many similar interests and concerns.

These are values I really look forward to instilling in the next generation. I am very excited to help a child discover his/her great adventures regardless of the form it takes -- a new book, recipe, hike, or travel destination, etc.