WELCOME BEAUTIFUL 👋🏻

I’m Nicole. Let’s talk about gardening, books, and making the most of our amazing experience.

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JOURNAL

Planted about the same time in the early summer, these two plants grew in perfect harmony making great use of the raised bed.

One True Loves, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Emma rebuilt her life and fell in love again after losing the love of her life. Then the news came: he’s still alive. Now what?

STARRY MESSENGER: COSMIC PERSPECTIVE ON CIVILIZATION, NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

CURRENT ISSUES • ESSAYS • PERSPECTIVE

Essays on front and center topics that will help expand the way you see them.

A must-read for all.

A LETTER FROM THE LONESOME SHORE, SYLVIE CATHRALL

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

FANTASY • EXPLORATION • BOOK 2 OF 2

The second book of the Sunken Archive Duology.

Book One: A Letter to the Luminous Deep

THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING, RICK RUBIN

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • FOR CREATIVES • NON-FICTION

Rick offers nuggets of wisdom to help you harness creative energy and bring your art into the world.

A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP, SYLVIE CATHRALL

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

WHIMSICAL • ADVENTURE • FANTASY

Sophy and Vyerin haven’t met, but the two become fast friends through written correspondence when they team up to find out what happened to their siblings.

THE LIGHT EATERS: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by ZOË SCHLANGER

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

BOTANY • PANT LIFE • WONDER

Zoe explores plant consciousness, communication, their ingenious ability to adapt, and more.

Recommended for plant lovers or anyone interested in understanding life.

ON TYRANNY: TWENTY LESSONS FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY BY TIMOTHY SNYDER

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

CITIZEN ACTION • HISTORY • CURRENT AFFAIRS

A compact and concise look at the history that’s especially pertinent in this moment, what we can learn from those times, and actions you can take to ensure we continue to advance humanity and uphold democracy.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR GARDEN BY ADAM FROST

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

GARDEN DESIGN • HOW-TO GUIDES • INFORMATIVE

This is a good resource for beginners and even gardeners with some experience looking to either complexly redesign a space or update a portion of it. I found it very useful for considering how to layer in plants and consider scale.

THE MYSTIC JESUS BY MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

Inner Peace • Tools for Life • Inner Peace Spirituality

A COURSE IN MIRACLES

Spirituality • Inner Peace • Life Changing

A RETURN TO LOVE BY MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

Spirituality • Inspiring • Inner Peace

WINTER GARDENING IN THE MARITIME NORTHWEST, BINDA COLEBROOK

Gardening • Growing Food • Reference

HUBERMAN LAB: Dr. Mary Claire Haver: How to Navigate Menopause & Perimenopause for Maximum Health & Vitality

WOMEN’S HEALTH • PERI+MENOPAUSE • INFORMATIVE

SEA OF TRANQUILITY, EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL

SCIENCE FICTION • MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES • TIME TRAVEL

THE SEVEN CIRCLES: INDIGENOUS TEACHINGS FOR LIVING WELL, CHELSEY LUGER & THOSH COLLINS

ENVIRONMENT • EMPOWERING • NON-FICTION

OUTRAGE!+OPTIMISM Episode 246: Trump’s Oily Offer, Mobilizing Young Climate Voters, and the State Of Scientists

CLIMATE HEALTH • POLITICS • CREATING CHANGE

TIME MAGAZINE: “The Future of Climate Change Is Being Written in Ink Today”

A 4 minuet read by Christiana Figueres about where we’re at and what we need to do.

THE FUTURE WE CHOOSE, CHRISTINA FIGUERES & TOM RIVETT-CARNAC

ENVIRONMENT • EMPOWERING • NON-FICTION

FAMILY LORE, ELIZABETH ACEVEDO

WOMEN’S FICTION • MULTI-GENERATIONAL • MAGICAL REALISM

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Why Outdoor Adventure Is Important For Women As They Age

Inspiring women show how aging offers the possibility of adventure!

TIME MAGAZINE: “Why We’re More Exhausted Than Ever”

An experience that seems to reach far too many of us, regardless of how we’re sorted—identification, race, income, employment status—is exhaustion. It’s time to say so long to a business-needs-first society.

SOIL BLOCKING, A BOUNDLESS SOLUTION

Making soil blocks is a fun process, that in my experience, produces the healthiest seedlings and are the easiest to transplant.

THE NEW ORGANIC GROWER, ELIOT COLEMAN

Gardening • Growing Food • Reference

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, MICHAEL POLLAN

Non-Fiction • Sociology • Neuroscience

TIME MAGAZINE: “The Climate Stories Our World Needs Now”

A quick read that bolsters the hope I feel around the many challenges we face. Remember, we are here together and we have everything we need.

ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR, ELISE LOEHNEN

Non-Fiction • Philosophy • History

STATION ELEVEN, EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL

Fiction • Dystopian • Post-Apocalyptic

TIME MAGAZINE: “Most Companies Buying Carbon Credits Are Not Greenwashing”

What are carbon credits and are the companies buying them just greenwashing their business? Check out this article and tell me what you think.

OPENING THE HAND OF THOUGHT, KOSHO UCHIYAMA

Non-Fiction • Zen Buddhism • Mind Opening

DIGGING IN THE DIRT

On our .22 acre urban lot, I grow as much of our fruits and veggies as possible. Follow along on the adventure and check out these resources that I’ve found helpful.

Kale & Sweet Potatoes Sharing Space

Planted about the same time in the early summer, these two plants grew in perfect harmony making great use of the raised bed.

WINTER GARDENING IN THE MARITIME NORTHWEST, BINDA COLEBROOK

Gardening • Growing Food • Reference

SOIL BLOCKING, A BOUNDLESS SOLUTION

Making soil blocks is a fun process, that in my experience, produces the healthiest seedlings and are the easiest to transplant.

THE NEW ORGANIC GROWER, ELIOT COLEMAN

Gardening • Growing Food • Reference

a bit about me

I’m passionate about spreading love, connecting with people, and working to leave this world a little better than when I arrived.

On this site, I share things about gardening, reading, and living an intentional life.

If you wanna know more about me visit my about page *here*.

LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT READ?

JOURNAL

One True Loves, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Emma rebuilt her life and fell in love again after losing the love of her life. Then the news came: he’s still alive. Now what?

STARRY MESSENGER: COSMIC PERSPECTIVE ON CIVILIZATION, NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

CURRENT ISSUES • ESSAYS • PERSPECTIVE

Essays on front and center topics that will help expand the way you see them.

A must-read for all.

A LETTER FROM THE LONESOME SHORE, SYLVIE CATHRALL

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

FANTASY • EXPLORATION • BOOK 2 OF 2

The second book of the Sunken Archive Duology.

Book One: A Letter to the Luminous Deep

THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING, RICK RUBIN

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • FOR CREATIVES • NON-FICTION

Rick offers nuggets of wisdom to help you harness creative energy and bring your art into the world.

A LETTER TO THE LUMINOUS DEEP, SYLVIE CATHRALL

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

WHIMSICAL • ADVENTURE • FANTASY

Sophy and Vyerin haven’t met, but the two become fast friends through written correspondence when they team up to find out what happened to their siblings.

THE LIGHT EATERS: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by ZOË SCHLANGER

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

BOTANY • PANT LIFE • WONDER

Zoe explores plant consciousness, communication, their ingenious ability to adapt, and more.

Recommended for plant lovers or anyone interested in understanding life.

ON TYRANNY: TWENTY LESSONS FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY BY TIMOTHY SNYDER

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

CITIZEN ACTION • HISTORY • CURRENT AFFAIRS

HOW TO CREATE YOUR GARDEN BY ADAM FROST

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

GARDEN DESIGN • HOW-TO GUIDES • INFORMATIVE

THE MYSTIC JESUS BY MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

Inner Peace • Tools for Life • Inner Peace Spirituality

A COURSE IN MIRACLES

Spirituality • Inner Peace • Life Changing

A RETURN TO LOVE BY MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

Spirituality • Inspiring • Inner Peace

WINTER GARDENING IN THE MARITIME NORTHWEST, BINDA COLEBROOK

Gardening • Growing Food • Reference

SEA OF TRANQUILITY, EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL

SCIENCE FICTION • MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES • TIME TRAVEL

THE SEVEN CIRCLES: INDIGENOUS TEACHINGS FOR LIVING WELL, CHELSEY LUGER & THOSH COLLINS

ENVIRONMENT • EMPOWERING • NON-FICTION

THE FUTURE WE CHOOSE, CHRISTINA FIGUERES & TOM RIVETT-CARNAC

ENVIRONMENT • EMPOWERING • NON-FICTION

FAMILY LORE, ELIZABETH ACEVEDO

WOMEN’S FICTION • MULTI-GENERATIONAL • MAGICAL REALISM

THE NEW ORGANIC GROWER, ELIOT COLEMAN

Gardening • Growing Food • Reference

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, MICHAEL POLLAN

Non-Fiction • Sociology • Neuroscience

ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR, ELISE LOEHNEN

Non-Fiction • Philosophy • History

STATION ELEVEN, EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL

Fiction • Dystopian • Post-Apocalyptic

OPENING THE HAND OF THOUGHT, KOSHO UCHIYAMA

Non-Fiction • Zen Buddhism • Mind Opening

Counterfeit, by Kirstin Chen

Fiction • Female Leads • Friendship

BOOKS BY ME

My first two books are a part of The Bravely Trilogy. The third is in the works.

These modern romance + women’s fiction stories have themes of recovering from loss, a second chance at love, and self-discovery. If this sounds like your sweet spot, check them out.

BOOK COVERS

I Choose to Love Bravely-Books Page Moch Up.png

I Choose to Live Bravely-Books Page Moch Up.png

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Occasional emails with book recommendations, new posts, updates on the garden, and more.

Find me on Instagram and Pinterest where I post occasionally.

RECENT POSTS

DIGGING IN THE DIRT

a bit about me

BOOKS BY ME

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