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.
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Apple Spice Behind the Scenes
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nature
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Winter Recipes
Late Summer Pasta with Bocconcini Bombs
Sweet Campari tomatoes, roasted garlic, pesto, and creamy bocconcini come together in this Rao’s-inspired pasta that tastes like peak summer in a bowl.
You’re Not Talking to Everyone. You’re Talking to the Ones Who Are Listening.
When you speak from the heart in a world wired for snark, some people won’t get it. But that doesn’t mean you stop showing up with sincerity. This post is about leading with kindness anyway.
The Hardest Part of Inheriting Isn’t the Money
We think the hard part of inheritance is dividing money. But the real challenge is speaking up before things fall apart—and living with the discomfort of being the one willing to do it.
The Day a Grown Man Called Me a “Pussy” on Reddit
It didn’t ruin my day. But it showed me how I want my kids to show up—online and off.
From Prison to Peace: What It Feels Like When a Business Finally Turns the Corner
I used to dread walking through the doors of the business I built. Now, I get to write bonus checks with pride—and sleep at night. Here’s how we turned a barely-surviving mess into something solid, sustainable, and worth showing up for.
🥣 Umami for Breakfast: Miso Oats with Tender Pork & Runny Egg
Oatmeal goes savory in this fiber-packed, flavor-loaded bowl. Leftover pork melts into miso-soaked oats, topped with a runny egg, scallions, and a generous spoon of chili crisp — because love tastes like heat.
Pasta with Cici (Chickpeas)
Velvety chickpeas, a slow-cooked tomato broth, and ditalini pasta all in one pot. This cozy, rustic meal tastes like an Italian grandmother made it—with just the right texture and plenty of love.
Your True Nature Calling
What Jane’s Addiction—and Perry Farrell’s lyrics—taught me about empathy, language, and seeing people for who they really are. A tribute to music that still hits harder than ever.
The Death Clock Is Ticking (Carpe Diem, Motherfucker)
I put a death clock on my desk—not to be dark, but to stay honest. Life doesn’t last forever. So the question is: what are you doing today that actually matters?
The Case for the Thigh: Garlicky Chicken with Chickpeas & Polenta
Why settle for bland? This one-pan chicken thigh dinner layers roasted garlic, chickpeas, shiitake mushrooms, and a splash of red wine — all simmered down into something you’ll want to spoon over creamy polenta and eat straight outta the pan.
Pasta Meets Chickpea Stew—and It Works
What happens when silky chickpeas, golden broth, and ruffly pasta come together in one bowl? This dish—part stew, part pasta, all comfort.
Meat Candy in Lettuce Wraps: Reverse-Seared Pork Chops with Sticky Rice and Ssamjang Drizzle
A pork chop experiment turned flavor explosion. These bone-in beauties were brined for 48 hours, reverse-seared, butter-basted, and grilled to caramelized perfection—then sliced thin and wrapped in Boston lettuce with sticky rice, spicy pickles, and a thick ssamjang drizzle. It’s equal parts comfort food and Korean BBQ energy, built for hands-on eating and big flavor payoffs.
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