Welcome. I’m so glad you’re here!
Welcome to Honest & Full! A place for you to discover ideas for having a natural home, easy delicious vegetarian recipes from scratch, healthy and gluten-free baking recipes, and inspiration for creative projects. Now, meet Amy.
Meet Amy from Honest and Full
Hi there. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Amy. I’m a lover of coffee and wine, mountains and oceans, salty and sweet, beauty and honesty. I’m a new mom, wife, vegetarian, dog mom, follower of Jesus, lover of nature, pursuer of justice, creative dreamer, adventurer, and in pursuit of a more simple life.
I tend to see life as a great adventure! Four years ago my husband, Steve, our dog Samson, and I moved from Chicago to a small town in beautiful Western North Carolina. Three years ago we bought our first house. My newest adventure this year is becoming a new mom! In the middle of the pandemic, we brought a beautiful baby boy into this crazy world.
Meet Amy – A Few Fun Facts
I’m the middle child of all girls.
I grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA. College took me to Colorado. After college, I worked in Alberta Canada. In my mid-twenties I served as a missionary in Cameroon, Africa. Then I moved to Chicago for grad school/seminary and lived there for 10 years. I now live outside of Asheville, North Carolina.
Traveling and seeing the world is a passion. I have visited 48 states, 7 Canadian provinces/territories, 5 continents, and 16 countries. When I travel I get a fuller picture of who God is and the beauty he has created in people and places.
I love all things cozy! Fireplace, candles, coffee, tea, warm socks, soft lighting, warm fuzzy blankets, wood tones, fresh-made bread, flannel shirts – all the things!
I’m an introvert who loves people and an Enneagram 6!
I’m an IKEA groupie. I’ve been known to go to IKEA to walk around for exercise and entertainment. I once arranged for my hotel to be near IKEA while on a work trip and then intentionally ate dinner at IKEA every night. A dream date with myself would be to go get a free cup of coffee (using my IKEA Family membership-totally free by the way) and wander around for hours dreaming of what my perfectly organized sustainable home could look like! (I’ve even been to IKEA in Sweden!)
I became a vegetarian at the start of 2009 and haven’t looked back. I love it. My vegetarian journey started for health reasons and discovered that I not only felt and slept great but was newly inspired to create fun, delicious, affordable, creative meals from scratch. I’m excited to help you do the same.
My Vegetarian Journey
Read and Watch my story on why I became a vegetarian and love it.
Next, you can also read and watch my thoughts on the advantages of being a vegetarian and some lessons I’ve learned.
Take a look at some of my Kitchen Favorites that I use every week to make my vegetarian recipes.
Why Honest & Full?
This is the life I long to have.
I seek to live an honest life, even when it means exposing my brokenness (which abounds). Too many of us walk around wearing masks of perfection and I find it exhausting!
I want a full life. Not full of busyness and empty pursuits, but full of love and God’s goodness. In the Bible, in the Gospel of John Jesus says, “The thief [Satan] comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
This is my life pursuit.
Here at my blog, my hope is to share who I am and what I love with you, hoping it can inspire you to pursue a life you are proud of and excited to live.