At Home with ME
Meet Me LOL
Next up in our series ‘At Home with The Farmer’s Daughters’…me. I am the other half of the Farmer’s Daughters Cafe in Bozeman. I’ve been surrounded by agriculture my whole life, and my sister and I started our first business together selling fresh vegetables outside our family’s deli in Three Forks, MT. So, you could say that starting a fresh food cafe was in our DNA. We grew up learning about business from our parents. From a very young age, I recall them talking business at the dinner table, and we sat there, listening, and absorbing all of the knowledge, struggles, and challenges they experienced along the way.
Without a doubt, we are facing the biggest challenge of my young career with COVID-19. The world is full of unknowns, and we’ve had to make quick and difficult decisions for our staff and business. We closed our doors to the cafe on March 20th. Every day since, we have missed our staff, our guests, and our community. We hope to reopen our doors on May 28th, but we know that so much could change in a just a few short weeks. I do know that we will be #strongertogether once we feel comfortable opening the doors up to the public. We also want to reassure everyone just how mindful and careful we will be regarding how and when we open. We certainly don’t want to rush the process. Our first priority is make sure our team and customers feel safe.
What are you reading?
One book that I highly recommend during this crazy time is “Stillness is the Key,” by Ryan Holiday. It’s probably one of my favorite books of all time, but it really brings perspective to a time like this. Yesterday I dove into “The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers.” I’m a big fan of Mister Rogers. I’m amazed at the way he lived his life, his unbelievably kind spirit, and how he was able to spread so much love to every life that he touched. This world could use a lot more people like Fred Rogers.
What are you cooking?
Everything, LOL. Being home pretty much all day with my two kids and husband, I feel like all I do is cook. Luckily, cooking is a passion of mine. We created many of the Farmer’s Daughters recipes right in my kitchen. The best thing I’ve cooked during the quarantine is Nobu’s Black Miso Cod. I will be posting the recipe soon…it is delicious!
What are you wearing?
I was sort of prepared for quarantine attire, as my son was born just a week before the world shut down. I was fully prepared to be home with him for a few weeks…which has now turned into 7! I’ve been living in the Lulus black jumpsuit…comfy and chic.
Favorite spot in the house?
Our sunroom is the best spot in the house. Mornings start out slow here. We turn on music, sip coffee, and I read the Daily Stoic…also another book that I highly recommend.
What is your morning ritual?
Prior to baby #2, my morning routine was dialed in. These days, it definitely depends on Mr. Henry’s sleep schedule. Each day usually starts out with meditation and prayer in my room, followed by hot water and lemon while I do some grounding outside. I sip french pressed coffee with steamed coconut milk, while watching my 3 year old play. I read my Daily Stoic, daily Bible verse, and listen to my daily Darren Hardy. Mornings are sacred in our house. I try to get in movement first thing as well. Once the quarantine began, I vowed to walk everyday. I get the kids loaded up in our stroller and head out for a 30-60 minute walk. This has easily become one of my favorite times of the day. My other go-to movement session is a Melissa Wood workout. They are great postpartum, and effective. After all of this, I dive into work.
How has this experience changed you?
There have been many ‘silver lining’ moments during this challenging time. The extra time with my little family will be moments that I will treasure forever. I feel that having zero distractions from the outside world has allowed me to realize how much I love my time at home with them. We (meaning my husband and kids) take daily walks, talk about life, and set future goals. I have been able to be more present with my family and my life more than ever. I have come to realize that I want more meaning in my life and in all that I do. Prior to COVID, I was a ‘busy body.’ Now, I’m more thoughtful in the way that I tackle tasks, talk to my kids, speak to my husband…just more meaningful in every way.
