All the Things

This week at Bear Lake has been quiet—coughs, canceled plans, missed parties, and a Christmas that feels a little unfinished. Some weeks are just like that.

We took a short detour into AI and now we’re back—still figuring things out. A few things we know for sure, a few things worth noticing, and a reminder that small moments matter.

Creativity can get messy — not in a bad way, just in a “too many ideas, not enough clarity” way. This post shares gentle ways AI can help you sort your thoughts, spark new ideas, and create a little more calm and confidence around making things. No tech overwhelm, just small nudges toward creative ease.

A year after moving into our house, we’re finally settling into the kind of order that makes life feel calmer. This post explores how AI can help with the invisible clutter we all carry—mental, physical, and creative—so your days feel a little lighter and a little more your own.

Thanksgiving is full of gratitude, good smells, and… logistics. This post shares how AI can quietly help with planning, connection, and calm—so you can focus on the moments that matter instead of the math behind your menu.

Most of us have no idea how to talk to AI — we either overexplain or freeze up. The secret isn’t tech skills; it’s learning to ask like a human. Here’s how to get useful, friendly help from a bot — and maybe make life a little easier in the process.

A lazy Sunday chat about the future of humanity turns into a gentle intro to AI. No jargon, no panic—just a friendly guide to understanding generative AI and how it can actually make life easier. Perfect reading for the cautiously curious human.

A corporate town hall isn’t where I expect to find inspiration, but this one surprised me. A senior leader shared his “countdown clock”—a digital reminder of how many days he has left to live. Morbid? Maybe. But it got me thinking about time, intention, and how slow living isn’t about doing less—it’s about noticing more before the clock runs out.

A simple, wholesome fall treat for your favorite furry friend — because baking joy shouldn’t always mean sugar, calories, or guilt.

A quick trip to the city reminded us why we left: traffic, noise, and way too many people. Life’s slower at Bear Lake—and that’s exactly the point.

This week brought good news from my financial planner, bad news from the Cubs, a moment of silence for my backbone, and fresh sod for the backyard. Life at Bear Lake — equal parts joy, regret, and grass stains.

Confessions of a slow-living hustler: why balance matters, and how to know when hustle or slow is taking over your life.

Think of slow living as clearing out clutter—on your shelves, in your schedule, and in your head—so you’ve got room to notice what’s beautiful or interesting in the ordinary.

Experiencing all the seasons of Bear Lake, not just the summer, is a privilege we're experiencing for the first time. And it's fantastic.

Our first summer at Bear Lake as full-time residents could not have been better. This place is incredible.

Seeing a moose in your backyard is always a delight. The trick is to notice it more, document it less.

Here it begins. The inaugural post at Bear Lake Local.