How Budgeting Transformed Our Marriage

Alissa and I got married on January 8, 2011. It was a beautiful “winter” day in Phoenix, the reason you move to the desert: 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky…perfect. We followed that up with a 10-day, all-inclusive honeymoon to Costa Rica. It was the kind of honeymoon…

Our Emergency Fund Saved Us Last Week

Last week, my oldest son Kellen started kindergarten. Having never been to preschool, we worried about how well he would make the transition. The first 2 days went smoothly, but Wednesday? Let’s just say Wednesday did not go so well. That morning, at drop off, Kellen threw the tantrum of…

What Do You Do When the Storms Come?

In September 2013, my life was grand. I was a few months into working my dream job as COO and Editor-in-Chief of a startup men’s magazine. We just landed our first cover story on David Backes, captain of the St. Louis Blues, and I found myself standing center ice at…

Measure Your Humility in Three Words

I strive to be a humble person. I try to put others first, listen before speaking, and serve before being asked. And I’ve always thought I’ve done a pretty good job (which should’ve tipped me off to the fact that I don’t quite have this humility thing down yet…)

Marriage Is a Team Effort

Every morning, after I wake up, one of the first things I do is make the bed. (Exciting start to this blog post, huh?) This tends to be one of my chores in our marriage because my wife Alissa typically comforts and feeds our infant daughter Clara when she wakes…

How I Knew She Was the One

I’ve always been a serial monogamist. Actually, you know what, let’s back it up. In high school, my dating life was basically non-existent. I had better relationships with text books and basketballs than I did with any girl I would come across. But somehow, when young adulthood rolled around…