I Don’t Recognize America Anymore
A veteran reflects on state power, anonymity, and why America no longer feels like the country he believed in.
Embracing Enough: Welcome to Lou LaMedica’s Personal Blog
"Embracing Enough" is my exploration of a life well-lived—where gratitude meets growth. From mindset and parenting to small business insights, easy family recipes, and personal finance, this blog shares practical wisdom on appreciating what we have and finding fulfillment in the everyday.
Featured Posts
Make the Good Stuff Happen Automatically
What if the key to long-term health, savings, and peace of mind isn’t discipline, but removing decisions? A reflection on building a life that works automatically.
52 Weeks Under the Bar: How Strength Training After 50 Changed My Life
A year of small, steady habits transformed my strength at 50. From rowing to barbell training, here’s how I became stronger than I was in my 40s.
Living Well Within Our Means
We’ve learned that living well isn’t about having the biggest house or the flashiest things. It’s about shaping what you have into enough, planning with purpose, and choosing experiences that last longer than stuff ever could.
Your Gut Knows the Way
From culinary school to combat zones, parenting through COVID to rebuilding a business—this is the story of trusting my gut when nothing else made sense.
Breadcrumbs for a Life Well Spent
Journaling helps me live with intention. From food to finances to bird calls in the woods, here’s how I track what matters and leave breadcrumbs worth following.
How I’m Going to Teach My Kids to Drive (Assume Everyone Else Is an Idiot)
Driving is the most dangerous daily task. These seven driving commandments will help new drivers stay safe, avoid accidents, and keep their insurance rates low.
Posts
All
Apple Spice Behind the Scenes
Asian-Inspired
Beans
Books
Breakfast
Business
Grilling
Chautauquas
Coaching
Comfort Food
Communication
Cooking
Emotional Health
Fall Recipes
Family
Gratitude
Grief
Habits
Health
Holiday Traditions
Italian Inspired
Kid Friendly
Kool Collectibles
Leadership
Leftovers Remix
Light Vibes
Meal Prep
Mindset
Music
My Story
Nature
nature
Nostalgia
Parenting
Patience
Personal Finance
Process
Purpose
Quick Meals
Reflections
Sales & Strategy
Sandwiches
Seafood
Seeing People
Slammin’ Sides
Slow Living
Soups
Sports
Sunday Funday
Sweets
Vegetarian
Winter Recipes
Café-Style White Bean & Tuna Toasts
A cozy café moment at home: creamy alubia blanca beans, rich jarred tuna, and a touch of Serrano heat piled onto buttered English muffins. Light, rustic, and just right for a workday lunch.
Alubia Blanca Pasta e Fagioli (Italian-American Remix)
Pasta e Fagioli, but make it Italian-American. Pancetta for depth, bacon for smoke, and sweet little alubia blancas that even my bean-skeptic wife loves. Creamy, hearty, and just a touch rebellious.
⚾ Cliff’s Notes: Baseball IQ for Kids & Teens (Baserunning Edition)
We’ve been building a running set of “Cliff’s Notes” for our team from Baseball IQ for Kids & Teens. This edition covers baserunning — the golden rules, smart decisions, and review questions every young ballplayer should know.
The Gross, Glorious, Totally Worth-It Guide to Surviving DMV Allergies
We moved to the DMV thinking we were immune to allergies. Four years later, we were congested, cranky, and armed with a four-step plan to stop sinus infections in their tracks.
Lou’s Sweet-Heat Meatloaf with Buttermilk Panade and Tangy Glaze
Moist, tender, and packed with flavor — this sweet-heat meatloaf uses a buttermilk panade for incredible texture and a tangy glaze for the perfect finish.
Creating Space For Fulfillment
Meditation teaches us to pause before reacting. What if we widened that pause to life itself? In a culture obsessed with busy, creating space might be the most radical path to fulfillment.
Chickpea & Farro Italian Wedding Soup Remix
Mini meatballs, creamy Rancho Gordo chickpeas, farro, and escarole in a rustic twist on Italian wedding soup—with a splash of balsamic to brighten each bite.
Why I Added to My CROX Position
Crocs stock fell 27% on earnings, but I added to my CROX position. Here’s why I believe in dollar-cost averaging, brand strength, and long-term durability despite short-term uncertainty.
Hearty Chickpea & Farro Soup | Rustic Italian Comfort in a Bowl
Simple ingredients, slow simmer, big comfort. This hearty chickpea and farro soup is Italian-inspired warmth in a bowl.
Seek Out the People (and Places) That Inspire You
Inspiration isn’t passive. You have to put yourself in the places where it lives—whether that’s a gym, a baseball field, the woods, or a gallery. And when you do, it changes you.
Orzo with Rancho Gordo Puglia Lentils and Calabrian Chilies
An Italian comfort dish with Rancho Gordo lentils, orzo, Calabrian chili paste, and a splash of balsamic. Simple ingredients, deep flavor, and a kid-approved favorite.
Life Feels Better with Music On
A quiet afternoon, a favorite song, and a few old photos reminded me how much better life feels with music playing in the background.
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