mohawk valley

A Saturday Morning in the Village of Clinton, Just Me.

Posted by

0


There’s something about a small town that makes you slow down a little.

This morning, I took a drive to the Village of Clinton. No real agenda. No rushing. Just breakfast, a little shopping, a visit with a friend, and some time to myself.

And honestly? I loved it.

I started my morning at The Lucky Dog Bistro, a really pretty little spot with beautiful woodwork and a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. It’s also pet-friendly, which I loved. The service was wonderful, and it was the kind of place where you don’t feel like you need to hurry through breakfast and get on with your day.

I ordered The Morning After, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, sourdough toast and home fries. Breakfast itself was simple, but sometimes the food isn’t the entire experience. I enjoyed sitting there, taking in the atmosphere and starting my morning somewhere different.

After breakfast, I wandered through some of the local shops.

Of course, I managed to find my way into Lucianna’s Boutique, where I bought a few Christmas gifts.

Yes. Christmas gifts.

In August.

I know. 😂

But every year I tell myself I’m going to start earlier instead of waiting until the holidays are right on top of me, so maybe this year I’m actually going to listen to myself.

I also stopped at Almost Local, which was such a fun shop to browse. There were candles, pieces from local artists, little gifts and trinkets, and all sorts of things you don’t necessarily find in the big stores. Those are the shops I love because you never really know what you’re going to find when you walk through the door.

And that got me thinking about something.

We hear “shop local” all the time, but it’s easy to forget what that actually means.

When we spend money at a small local business, we’re supporting someone’s idea, someone’s livelihood and, ultimately, our own community. Even stopping in, looking around, telling someone about a place you discovered, or sharing their business on social media can make a difference.

So maybe this week is the perfect excuse to visit a local shop you’ve never been in before, grab breakfast or coffee somewhere different, or pick up a gift from a small business instead of automatically heading to a big-box store.

But there was another part of today that I enjoyed just as much.

I went by myself.

I’ve learned that I really enjoy doing things alone sometimes.

There is something freeing about getting in the car and going wherever you feel like going. You don’t have to ask anyone what they want to do next. You don’t have to worry about whether someone else is bored, ready to leave, or wants to go somewhere different.

You just…go.

You wander.

You stop when something catches your eye.

You sit a little longer if you feel like it.

Being alone and being lonely are two very different things.

Sometimes spending a few hours by yourself is exactly what you need to remember how much you actually enjoy your own company.

Today wasn’t anything extravagant. It was breakfast in a little village, a few local shops, a couple of Christmas presents ridiculously early, and a Saturday morning spent mostly on my own.

Simple.

And maybe that’s exactly why I enjoyed it so much.

Life, observed honestly.

What are we looking at here

Posted by

0


It’s stability, reassurance, and clarification.

I bought my own home a little over a year now. My sister had helped me move in. We wiped out the cabinets, did some organizing, rearranging. But at one point she asked me, “why don’t we put the contact paper down now before you put the cups and dishes away?” I said, “no, I’ll get to it at another time, it’s no big deal.” She looked at me a little perplexed and I myself had feelings of uneasiness and uncertainty about doing it.”

For the past 13 years of my life, I have spent it on the go and trying to make a stable life for me and my boys. To make a long story short, I went through an exhausting and heartbreaking divorce, a house fire, two relationships after my divorce. Which yes it was my bad for trying to get the life I wanted for them and me. I just wanted the “white picket fence.” But I lived and I learned.

Which brings me to what this post is all about. After going through this for the past 13 years, my hopes and dreams finally came to fruition. I can rest. I can put my dishes and cups away without having to worry about what my next move is going to be. I am settled. I am in a better state of mind and place, physically. I’m not saying that my life won’t still have its ups and downs, but I can take those challenges head on and not have to worry about uprooting my whole life to try and make a go of it again.

I am here, grounded and safe.

That is all I ever wanted in life.

Whoever is reading this, never give up. Stay positive, have a purpose and a goal in mind. Never waver from your hopes and dreams, even in your lowest moments, when life feels at its most unforgiving. Please trust me on this.

Independence keeps you safe but understanding it might set you free.

Posted by

1


Some of the strongest people you know aren’t strong because life was easy. They’re strong because, at some point, they learned they had to be.

Hyper-independence is often mistaken for strength. On the surface it looks attractive and desirable to someone who handles everything themselves, asks for nothing, and keeps moving forward no matter what. But hyper-independence isn’t just independence. It’s a learned way of surviving in a world where, at some point, relying on other people didn’t feel safe.

For many of us, it starts early. A difficult childhood teaches us how much space we’re allowed to take up in the world and whether someone will show up when we need them. I was a latchkey kid, the youngest of four girls. By the time I came along, my parents were, in many ways, already spent. The house wasn’t always peaceful, there was a lot of yelling/screaming, and my father’s extra-curricular activities left cracks in the foundation of our family that a kid can feel even if she doesn’t fully understand them yet. So I did what a lot of kids do in those environments: I learned to take care of myself. I played alone. I figured things out on my own. And like many children growing up in complicated homes, I learned some lessons about trust and safety far earlier than I should have. Maybe that is why people mistake my mistrust for hyper-independence/”being strong.”

When independence becomes the only way you know how to live, it follows you into adulthood. You become capable, resilient, and outwardly strong but relationships can feel complicated. Sometimes we choose solitude not because we truly want to be alone, but because being close to someone requires a level of vulnerability we never learned how to trust. Sometimes we sabotage good things without meaning to, pulling away just when connection begins to feel real. It isn’t because we’re broken. It’s because the part of us that learned to survive alone still thinks it’s protecting us. Is this something that we will ever be able to get over? Will we ever allow ourselves to welcome a new healthy relationship into our lives? 

If you recognize yourself in this, I want you to know something: you are not strange, and you are not alone. Many of us learned early that the safest place to stand was on our own two feet. That instinct kept us going when we needed it most. But it doesn’t mean we were meant to walk through life alone forever. Understanding where hyper-independence comes from is the first step toward loosening its grip toward letting people in, little by little, without feeling like we’re giving up our strength.

And if you’re someone who has built a life around doing everything yourself, who sometimes pushes people away even when your heart wants connection, I see you. Truly. There are more of us out here than you realize.

Why Maria’s Pasta Shop Will Always Be a Utica Staple

Posted by

0


Some places don’t need flashy signs or trends to stay relevant they just keep doing things the right way. Maria’s Pasta Shop in Utica is one of those places.

Maria’s isn’t a sit-down restaurant. It’s better than that. It’s the kind of place you stop at on your way home, knowing dinner is already taken care of and knowing it’s going to be good. Homemade pasta, sauces, and prepared Italian dishes made with care, the way food is supposed to be made.

This shop has been a part of the Utica community for years, and you can feel that the moment you walk in. It’s a true local staple the kind of place families rely on for weeknight meals, Sunday traditions, and special occasions. No shortcuts. No fuss. Just really solid, comforting Italian food.

Personally, I can’t say enough about the lobster ravioli, hands down my favorite. Rich, flavorful, and perfectly done every time. The stuffed breads are another must have. Warm, hearty, and dangerously easy to eat more than you planned. You have choices like sausage, lasagna, spinach, and more. I ordered them for Christmas. Everyone went berserk over them.

And next on my list? Their daily “bullets.” Each day of the week features a different stuffed bullet, and I honestly can’t wait to try them. It’s little things like that rotating specials, traditions, consistency that make places like Maria’s feel special.

What really sets Maria’s apart is the homemade quality of their pasta. You can taste the difference immediately the texture, the freshness, the care behind it. This isn’t pasta that’s meant to sit on a shelf; it’s pasta made to be cooked, shared, and enjoyed. Every bite feels intentional, like someone actually took the time to get it right. It’s the kind of food that reminds you why homemade will always matter more than convenient.

In a world where everything seems rushed and mass-produced, Maria’s Pasta Shop is a reminder of what happens when food is made with pride and roots in the community. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out. And if you have you already know exactly what I mean.

You will not be dissapointed. I promise.

Maria’s Pasta Shop 2520 Oneida St, Utica, NY 13501 315-797-6835