It’s Been A While
It’s been a while. I’ve been feeling really stuck, stagnant, with the things I’m doing on a day to day. The things that bring me joy, I can’t pursue. And the things that frustrate me, I’m stuck with. It’s like I’m firmly rooted in one place while the world moves around me. I have a…
The Significance of Gratitude: Tracing Its Roots from the First Thanksgiving
Gratitude is more than a simple “thank you.” It’s a powerful force that shapes our perspectives and enriches our lives. As we gather for Thanksgiving, it’s worthwhile to explore why gratitude matters and how the holiday’s origins embody its essence. The story of Thanksgiving traces back to 1621 when Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, arrived in…
Discovering Home
There is something so beautiful about unexpected blessings. Many know that I was a church kid for many years. I attended youth group all through middle and high school and worked in the childrens ministry for a long time. Moving to Colorado and to college, even though I was at Christian schools, I still did…
In Memoriam, III
In many ways, my grandfather was like a superhero to me. There are those people in your life that make immeasurable impact on you, who love with no expectation of reciprocation, who give endlessly, who support your every endeavor, and who are always there. My papa Bob was that person. If I had a chance…
In Memoriam, II
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4 A few weeks back, on September 21, 2023, around 3:00pm, my husbands grandmother, Ellen, passed away. Ellen was one of…
In Memoriam
I have been reluctant to write this, because I haven’t known how to form my thoughts into words. But, here we go. On May 6, 2023, at 7:21 PM, my Aunt Carolynn passed away. After a 6+ week long stay in the hospital due to a myriad of medical complications, she passed away with the…
Low-Sugar Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins (Gluten & Dairy Free)
As someone with what feels like a gazillion allergies, these muffins are delicious. They are perfect for either breakfast or dinner and to pair with meals as needed. My favorite way to eat these are warmed, with some butter on top. I promise, if you like corn-bread and blueberry muffins, you will love these! They’re…
Making The Days A Little Easier
Hello, readers! It’s been a while! As I anxiously wait for the results of 8 more query letters for my novel, I got to thinking about how I haven’t written on here since May. The fact of the matter is, Sundays weren’t working for me to consistently write. My weekends typically get so busy, and…
The Love of a Mother
Happy mother’s day! Throughout my life, I have been loved so deeply by both my mom and so many other moms out there who took me in as one of their own over the years. I am so blessed with the wealth of mother figures God gave me in my life. But today, I want…
The Shine of the Glow Tape
Never in my teenage life did I think I would spend 4.5 years away from the theatre, not performing. Throughout middle and high school, and most of college, being in productions was my whole life. As of today, the last time I was on stage was October 2018. Last night, I saw The 39 Steps…
(Not) Taking It Personally
Pride is a vulnerable thing. Nobody wants their pride hurt. And when you’re especially proud of something you did, sometimes it’s extremely difficult to receive any sort of criticism on that thing, constructive or not. I run into this a lot. Typically, I am extremely proud of the things I do, because I find myself…
On To The Next Thing
As some of you know, this last week I both gave my notice and left my position at the company I was working for, after working there for just shy of 1 year and 3 months. I did this for a number of reasons, not all of which I will disclose here, however I will…
He is Risen
It’s been a while! These past few weeks have been a whirlwind with finishing up a major remodel, and preparing for my mom coming into town, and I had to pace myself to not feel pessimistic about writing on here. Sometimes I get obsessive about things and end up hating them afterward, and I really…
Finding My Way Back
The past few weeks in my world have been a little chaotic. Our kitchen remodel ramped up and everything started happening out of nowhere, and I started feeling really overwhelmed and lost. Hence why writing on here got a little neglected the past two weeks! Something I have really been trying to focus on is…
Re-Welcome to Syrup & Sawdust!
Happy Sunday! I wanted to re-send my welcome to all of my new readers! Thank you so much for joining me here! Some of you who will be getting this email added yourselves, and others of you are people who I love and thought would be interested in my weekly blog! If you are not,…
Drozdwoka Loaf Cake
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about my time spent overseas on mission trips, and missing that opportunity for service. That got me thinking about some of the recipes I was fortunate to take home with me from these trips! This recipe is from my most recent mission trip to Poland. My friend Miriam…
Creamy Cayenne Fettuccine with Chicken
This recipe is hands down my favorite pasta dish. It was inspired by my favorite dish at Abrusci’s Fire & Vine in Wheat Ridge, CO. (If you’re in Colorado and like Italian, you HAVE to go there.) This is a spicy pasta dish that is the perfect amount of creamy and spicy. If you’re not…
Green Tea Shots/Cocktail
My best friend introduced me to green tea shots in Chicago back in August and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since. They are so refreshing and delicious and I wanted to share the recipe I use for these! They are so easy to make and if you make the pitcher, all…
Corporate Discomfort
Something I learned really early on on a corporate career path is that “dress for success” meant something different for me than it traditionally meant. In the traditional sense, dressing for success means business casual or formal (depending on the event). This includes slacks and jackets, suits, or dresses, with nice shoes and well groomed…
But First, We Toast
2022 was a tough one for me. I challenged and stretched myself in so many ways and I came out better and stronger on the other end. However, 2022 was a monumental one for me in so many ways. I learned a lot about myself and really grew into the adult I want to be.…
2022 Reading Review
I’m not a New Years resolution person, but rather I make achievable goals that I want to reach throughout the year. They’re pretty much the same thing but it’s all about a mindset difference – New Years resolutions are almost always abandoned, but goals always feel more sustainable and reachable. Maybe that’s just me. Anyway;…
And To All A Good Night
This week’s post came one night early, in the assumption that most everyone will be spending the day with their families tomorrow. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. The joy found in the Christmas lights and decorations is always unmatched. Since moving to Colorado, Christmas has looked a little different for me.…
Re-Writing Dreams
The first two weeks of July 2022 completely changed the direction of my dreams and wants. Now this isn’t to say that I don’t still seek out moving to a big city and living out my acting dreams. Although, I now know this isn’t the life I am destined to have. When my dog got…
Red Velvet Marbled Cheesecake Brownies
*DISCLAIMER: This is NOT my recipe! This recipe is from Gazelle Magazine. I found this recipe a few years ago and it has been a fan favorite ever since. The richness of the brownie pairs so well with the sweetness of the cheesecake and it is so hard to not eat the whole tray at…
Walking Among Wildflowers
A few years ago, a friend of mine asked me what my favorite element of nature was. Weird question, right? Honestly, I don’t remember what answer I gave that night. It was almost 4am and I had been working on papers and homework assignments since like dinnertime that night. But a years later, this question…
Thankful & Grateful
With Thanksgiving being just a few days ago, I have been in a very reflective mood. This year, our celebration looked a little different. Rather than doing a large family celebration, we decided to do something at home just the two of us. This allowed me to try out some new recipes, making a whole…
Homemade Pizza Sauce
This week, we did homemade pizza’s for dinner one night, one of our favorite dinners. When we do pizza night, I make my favorite pizza sauce. This is a sauce full of spices and flavor, if you’re looking for a subtle flavor, this isn’t it. But this sauce is delicious and we love it. Nordby…
Salmon Avocado Bites
This recipe is a godsend! Such a good mix of health foods and so tasty. And, so easy! You’re going to love this one!
Pants That Fit
The title of this post is very literal. As I’ve grown from being a teenager into an adult, I relentlessly hung onto the clothes that fit me in high school. As my body was changing and growing, my clothes began to fit less and les, although I wouldn’t have admitted that until recently. I maintained…
The Concrete Jungle
A few weekends ago, I took a trip out to Chicago to spend the weekend with my best friend, and also see some other friends I know out there. This trip was a big deal for me, because it was the first time I spent an overnight without my husband in three years. And for…
Looking In & Looking Out
Happy Sunday! As I have been reflecting on what this blog has been over the past 6 months, but also as long as a year old now if we’re looking back to when I started my instagram page, I’ve been finding that consistency is hard. Not only is consistency hard, but finding insightful things to…
Drive-Through Jesus
A few years ago, I was driving home from church and needed some coffee so I pulled into a parking lot where I saw a Starbucks sign. As I got nearer to the store I realized it was just a lobby store and didn’t have a drive through, so instead of stopping I continued driving…
One Little Check Box
Life gets tricky sometimes. It’s hard to have all the right answers. The decisions we have to make sometimes mean nothing, and sometimes mean life or death. What I am about to share about is the latter. On July 1st, my little 30 pound dog was attacked by a dog more than double her size.…
One Year Later
Just about a month ago, on May 30, my husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary. The thought that we have been married for a full year still blows my mind, because it feels like just yesterday we were sitting in our home (two homes ago) newly engaged and sorting through a calendar to…
Creamy Cajun Pasta
My husband and I love this recipe! We found a version of it online one night when we had thawed sausage out for dinner but weren’t sure what to do with it. 30 minutes later I had whipped this up and it was gone less than 10 minutes later! If you like creamy pastas and…
Passion vs Profit
I am the type of person who has never been able to confine myself to one thing, but instead I like to do a little bit of a lot of things. There are different times in my life where one of my hobbies is more prominent than another. I think back to college, for example,…
Welcome to Syrup and Sawdust!
I’m so excited that you’ve found this blog, and that you’re here! I can’t wait for you to be a part of this journey. This blog has taken so many forms over the years. As I’ve tried to figure out how I wanted to share my heart with others, I’ve started multiple platforms that have…
Lindsey Nordby 