Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson
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Liz is mom to second grader Jonah, preschooler Gwendolyn, and toddler Theo. She and Troy married and bought a Beaverdale home in 2010. A teacher on maternal hiatus, Liz prefers reading to housekeeping and uses West Wing reruns to settle her mind. She believes any problem can be solved with fiction but loves to explore her reality in Des Moines.
Farewell Nursing breastfeeding

My Farewell to Breastfeeding

I’m done breastfeeding. After 27 months of not having any reason to stop breastfeeding, I decided I didn’t need a reason. I just wanted to.   This marks the first time in eight and a half years...
romance novels

7 Romance Novels to Escape Stress of Life

Feeling stressed? Need an endorphin rush? You could go for a run. Or out for a great dinner (super likely, right now). Maybe you could wipe out Target’s chocolate stash. Or you could try my...
pandemic toddler

Life with a Toddler, in a Pandemic

Life with a toddler is...memorable. Few experiences can equally entertain and enrage moms and dads as the battles - I mean blessings - of toddlerhood.  However, the pandemic has changed these battles a bit. One...
bingo card

2020 Bingo Card: Mom Edition

Every time yet another crazy headline lands, some jokey pundit on social media makes the comment, “Well, I didn’t have this on my 2020 bingo card!” Every time, I laugh. Not many people have the time...
Pandemic Journal

5 Easy Ways to Keep a Pandemic Journal

It’s hard to imagine ever forgetting what life is like right now: the stresses, the challenges, a new normal that evolves daily, the fleeting joys, the endlessness of it all. But, and I say this...
homeschool ideas

35 Homeschool Activities Others Can Do With Your Kids

Like many parents this fall, I find myself unexpectedly homeschooling three children. Gulp.  I have concerns.  One of these many concerns is my kids’ lack of exposure to other adults. I understand different kids connect to different...
What To Read

Book Recommendations from a Busy Mom

When someone asks for book recommendations, I always panic. It’s not that I’m without suggestions, it’s that reading can be such a personal experience.  The right book has to find you at the right time...
Romance

Celebrating 10 Years

We were going to take a trip for our anniversary.  Ten years of marriage justified the expense. It was going to be the second time in seven years of parenthood that we were kid-free. We...
Gratitude

Being Grateful in Hard Times

I knew I was in trouble when a Coronavirus update from my cell service provider made me burst into tears.  Their message said, “We’re here and we’re ready,” and I was overwhelmed. What confidence! What...
Quiet Spaces

5 Outdoor Spaces in Des Moines to Find Peace and Quiet

I crave quiet. Lack of noise. Sound’s absence. Eradication of the endless voices screaming off the news page and inside our house.   It’s a nice idea. But the reality is children come with noise and if...