Hello, my name is Lara and I am many things – wife, #boymom, business owner, writer, musician, gardener, traveler, and farmer’s daughter.
I love to share my favorite recipes — which tend toward comfort foods, baked goods, and nothing too complicated – and the bits and pieces of my life that bring me joy.
I grew up on a farm near Hector, Minnesota and wanted nothing more than to leave that small town at age 18, get my journalism degree at the University of Minnesota and take that wherever it would lead me.
A funny thing happened along the way. My degree and experience led me back to agriculture and for the past 23 years, I talked turkey (and chicken) as the Communications Director for the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, Chicken and Egg Association of Minnesota and the Midwest Poultry Federation. It’s a job – a career – I loved, and who could’ve guessed I’d be known as Minnesota’s Gobble Gal for so long?!
Fast forward to 2019 … I joined one of my best friends in a new business venture called Empowered Events LLC. We’re taking our shared passion for creating fantastic events, conferences, meetings and conventions and striking out on our own. Scary? Yes. Exciting? That too! (You can find our business here.)
I live in Buffalo, Minnesota – part small town, part suburbia – with my husband (a teacher) and our teenage son. I am beyond obsessed with shoes and dresses, love a crisp white wine and a good sidecar martini, like to get my hands dirty in my gardens, and am a self-proclaimed baking queen and travel junkie.
The inspiration for my blog name comes from one of my favorite books of all time – Bridge to Terabithia. In it, Jess (the main character) explains how being friends with Leslie makes him feel like his “other more exciting self.” He transforms from quiet to courageous. I love that line and can relate to what he meant. I know people who make me feel like this – and I hope I can return the favor to others as well.
You can reach me anytime via the contact form below, at lara@myothermoreexcitingself.com or stop by my Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages – I’d love to meet you.
Welcome to my other more exciting self!
11 Comments on A little about me
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Looking forward to all the posts!
Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing more posts with you soon!
Congrats on making the big jump to the blogging world. I will be looking forward to following your posts! As you might remember, your high school English teacher always said you would write something someday. . .not too sure this is what she envisioned but I will be sure to spread the word!!!
Thanks for signing up to follow my blog this afternoon. I hope to meet you someday and learn some more about turkey 🙂
All the best,
Anne
I would love that, Anne! I know I have a lot to learn about beef so we can trade stories!
Take care,
Lara
Let me be the first (and likely only) uncle on your mother’s side to reply. The choices (as you know) would be Duane, Gene, Terry, and Allan – the four males in the “Fab Five.” Notice the use of the Oxford comma. Without that you would only have three uncles (on your mother’s side). And just think of the challenges that third uncle would have had in life being named “Terry and Allan.” Out here in NY we are not whining but instead we are wineing. Of course before I replied, I had to check out the correct spelling and in doing that I found a website that I thought you might enjoy. Check it out at quitwineing.com. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah (a little late – sorry). Your one and only Uncle Allan.
I am honored that my one and only Uncle Allan replied! I will definitely check out the website you mentioned – sounds interesting. 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and the family in NY!
So funny! Lara, I’m glad to have stumbled onto your blog- I’m trying to transition from being a hardcore beef and pork lover to a ground turkey maven like yourself. I love you style, both written and photographic- thanks for posting!
Thanks, Jo! Let me know if you have any questions or ideas on what you’d like to see on the blog! Go Team Turkey! 😉
Lara
P.S. “Turkey maven” makes me smile! 🙂
Hi Lara,
My brother, Steve Nelson & Karyn Lamb both posted your remarks on FB about Mrs. Sweezy and I agree totally with your assessment with one exception:
Your Mother! I had the privilege of having Miss Anderson and later, Mrs. Ginsberg as my Home Economics teacher at Hector! She, too was tough but fair. I learned a great deal in her classes for which I am thankful.
I must say that for me, both your mother and Mrs. Sweezy were teachers that had very positive impacts on me!
This is my Mother’s Day and Teacher’s Appreciation week gift to you and your Mother!
Sherry Olson
Hi Sherry, Thanks so much for finding and sharing this post about Mrs. Swezey! And I can’t wait to share your comments with Mrs. Ginsburg – my mom! 🙂 I’m not surprised she was tough and fair as a teacher, much like Mrs. Swezey – she was that way at home as a parent too. I continue to learn from her every day and I’m grateful to call her Mom! 🙂
Lara