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.
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
Onion Broth Udon with Shabu-Shabu Beef | Sweet Onion, Smoky Bacon & Mushroom “Noodles”
A cozy onion broth udon inspired by a bowl I used to order during my Wall Street days — now a family favorite. Sweet onions, smoky bacon, mushroom “noodles,” tender shabu-shabu beef, and a quick 국밥 twist for the leftovers.
Rooting for the Hopeless: A White Sox Reflection
A funny, heartfelt look at what it means to cheer for the White Sox when they’re historically awful. From a lifelong baseball bucket list to a superfan yelling her heart out, this is a tribute to showing up even when your team can’t seem to win.
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.
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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Leftovers Remix
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nature
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Winter Recipes
Savannah Red Rice with Kielbasa and Crab | Lowcountry Comfort Food
Smoky kielbasa, sweet crab, and heirloom Carolina Gold rice come together in this comforting Savannah red rice — a Lowcountry classic perfect for a cold, windy Fall day. Warm, soulful, and deeply satisfying straight from the Dutch oven.
New Mantra: It’ll Be All Right
While listening to music and thinking through a problem, a quiet phrase came to me: “It’ll be all right. You’re gonna be all right.” A new mantra, born from stillness.
Grace Under Fire: What My Son Taught Me About Composure
When my 12-year-old son faced heckling parents while umpiring a Little League game, he showed me that real composure isn’t about control—it’s about grace, even when others lose theirs.
Black Bean Banger Burrito — Quick, Healthy, and Full of Flavor
Some days you don’t want takeout — you just want something quick, hot, and satisfying. This Black Bean Banger Burrito delivers all that and more: smoky beans, melty cheese, and a crispy tortilla straight from the air fryer. Smart cooking, made simple.
What Makes a Friend — The Quiet Strength of Real Connection
As we get older, friendship looks different. The best ones don’t need constant contact — they bring quiet peace, honesty, and steadiness through life’s chaos. This reflection explores what real connection means and why the friends who truly see you are worth holding onto.
How to Maintain, Organize and Clean Your Vinyl Record Collection
A simple, proven method for cleaning and caring for vinyl records. From garage setups and vacuum cleaners to anti-static tricks and organizing by mood, here’s how to keep your collection quiet, clean, and built for a lifetime of enjoyment.
Cinnamon Chip French Toast
Thick slices of cinnamon chip bread soaked in vanilla custard, browned in Kerrygold butter, and drenched in maple syrup — the kind of breakfast that makes a slow Sunday feel just right.
Under Promise, Over Deliver — How Small Promises Build Big Trust
Same 11:45 delivery, two very different stories — one breaks trust, the other builds it.
Starting Classical Guitar at 48 — Why I’m Learning Something New (and Hard)
At 48 years old, I decided to learn classical guitar — not because I needed another hobby, but because I missed the feeling of being a beginner again.
Ultimate Guilty Pleasure: Crispy Tortilla Pizza — A Ten-Minute Bar Pie Hack
A weeknight or midnight miracle — this crispy, cheesy flour tortilla pizza takes just ten minutes, no dough required. A little sauce, a handful of cheese, and you’ve got happiness on a plate.
Jazz for the Night: 10 Perfect Albums to Set the Mood
When the day slows and the lights dim, these ten albums transform your space into a quiet sanctuary. Music to close your eyes to, and drift.
Expanding the Kool Collectibles Universe — Pokémon Joins the Lineup
Kool Collectibles is expanding into Pokémon cards. A beginner’s journey from vintage slabs to the colorful world of Charizard, Pikachu, and nostalgia-filled artwork.
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