An Ordinary Life, Extraordinary
NAPERVILLE - WHEATON - GLEN ELLYN - ELMHURST - GENEVA - ST. CHARLES - BARRINGTON - BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHER
“What Remains” by Alicia Staley Johnson
Happy Sunday, friends!
This week was a nice mix of work, planning, and reflection. In the studio, I photographed a wonderful child therapist for a headshot session and officially kicked off several of the Class of 2027 senior seasons.
Behind the scenes, we've also been busy preparing for our first senior model shoot of the year. While our original plans involved taking the models to Italy, the uncertainty of the world made us feel more comfortable staying closer to home this year. Instead, we'll be heading to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, including Cannon Beach and another breathtaking location we're still finalizing.
In quieter moments this week, I also found myself working on a new fine art piece—the image featured at the top of today's newsletter. I wanted to share it because it represents something that has been weighing heavily on my heart.
This year seems to have brought an unusual amount of loss. Friends, family, clients, and people I care about have had to say goodbye to children, parents, spouses, siblings, and dear friends. It feels as though grief has been quietly moving through the lives of so many around me.
The piece was created in honor of those losses and for the people carrying them. A reminder that love leaves its mark long after someone is gone.
To those of you navigating grief of your own, please know that my heart is with you.
Perhaps that is also why I've been thinking so much about living intentionally lately. About paying attention. About appreciating the people and moments we have while they're here.
And that brings me to this week's essay.
Soft Focus: An Ordinary Life, Extraordinary
Lately, I've been thinking about what it means to live an intentional life.
Not a perfect life. Not a productive life. Not even an extraordinary one.
Simply an intentional one.
A way of moving through the world that is attentive and patient. A way of noticing.
Allowing beauty where others might pass it by.
I believe it begins with putting down roots in the soil of our experiences. By understanding that life has a way of teaching us what matters if we're willing to pay attention. The years have softened some edges, sharpened others, and taught me that the most meaningful things in life are often the easiest to overlook.
A bird singing outside the kitchen window.
Fresh flowers gathered from the garden.
A grandchild's hand reaching for yours.
The familiar creak of a floorboard in a house that has witnessed your story.
Ordinary things.
And yet, when we take the time to truly see them, they grow in stature.
Perhaps that is what intentional living really is—not chasing a bigger life, but seeing the life already in front of us more clearly.
I want to grow more attentive.
To the beauty hidden in ordinary days.
To moments that seem small but are, in truth, the very substance of a life.I want my days to be saturated with care.
To move slowly enough to notice.
To be present enough to appreciate.
To live gently, and with intention.
More and more, I find myself believing this is where a meaningful life is found.
In paying attention.
In slowing down.
In noticing what was there all along.
I hope to show my children, my grandchildren, my friends, and perhaps even strangers who find their way into my little corner of the internet that there is another way to move through life.
A quieter way.
A gentler way.
A more deliberate way.
Some people might call it romanticizing life.
Perhaps they're right.
But I have come to believe that romanticizing life is simply another way of honoring it.
It is choosing to celebrate the morning coffee, the blooming rose, the handwritten note, the shared meal, the fading light at the end of the day.
It is deciding that the ordinary is worthy of our attention.
And maybe that's what makes an ordinary life feel extraordinary.
*The full version of this essay can be read on my Our Cozy Compound substack
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
Inspiring Follow: @joshuacharow
If you love creativity, beautiful storytelling, and getting a glimpse into worlds most of us would never otherwise see, I highly recommend following Joshua Charow.
Joshua is a New York City-based documentary filmmaker and photographer whose work focuses on artists, artisans, and unsung heroes. Through his series Artist in Residence, he invites viewers into some of the city's most fascinating artist studios, capturing not just the spaces themselves but the lives and creative processes unfolding within them.
What I love most about Joshua's work is his ability to make you slow down and pay attention. His films feel intimate and thoughtful, shining a light on people who quietly dedicate their lives to creating beautiful things. Whether he's documenting a painter in a loft tucked away in New York City or the artisans behind a Chanel collection in Paris, his work reminds us that there are extraordinary stories hidden in ordinary places.
His documentaries are beautifully filmed, deeply human, and endlessly inspiring. I often find myself going down a rabbit hole watching one video after another.
What I’m Loving: Muck Ankle Book
Can we talk about the amount of rain we've had lately?
Between the vegetable garden, the rose beds, and weeding, I've spent a good portion of June squishing through wet grass and muddy flower beds. Thankfully, my Muck Ankle Boots have saved both my shoes and my sanity.
They're the first thing I reach for when I head outside. Morning coffee in the garden? Muck boots. Pulling weeds after a rainstorm? Muck boots. Running out to check if the tomatoes survived another downpour? You guessed it... Muck boots.
They're waterproof, comfortable, easy to slip on, and surprisingly lightweight. Best of all, I don't have to think twice about where I'm stepping. Mud puddles, soggy grass, and rain-soaked garden paths no longer require a strategic plan.
If you're a gardener, dog owner, or simply someone who spends time outdoors, I highly recommend them. Mine have earned a permanent home by the back door, and at this point, I can't imagine gardening without them.
Let's just say they've become this season's unexpected MVP.
Local-ish: We Grow Dreams
Have you ever visited a place and immediately thought, more people need to know about this?
That's exactly how I feel about We Grow Dreams in West Chicago.
At first glance, it's a wonderful greenhouse filled with annuals, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets, and all sorts of plants that seem to magically find their way into your cart. But what makes We Grow Dreams truly special is the mission behind it.
For more than sixteen years, they've been providing job training and employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities. Team members learn everything from planting and watering to customer service and cashiering, gaining valuable skills and confidence along the way.
As much as I love supporting their mission, I'll admit I'm also there for the plants. It's one of my favorite places to find annuals for containers, unusual herbs, and vegetable plants that aren't always available at the larger garden centers. Every visit feels a little bit like a treasure hunt.
The best part? Every purchase supports a program that is making a real difference in people's lives.
So if you're looking for a local greenhouse to explore, consider making a trip to We Grow Dreams. Bring a wagon... and maybe a little extra room in your car. Trust me on this one.
1055 West Washington St., West Chicago
A Smoothie in a Bowl
If you're looking for a quick, healthy breakfast that feels a little more special than your typical morning routine, this one has become a favorite in our house. It's creamy, naturally sweet, packed with fruit, and comes together in just a few minutes. If you’re looking for more protein (and who isn’t these days), you can change the almond milk for greek yogurt and even add protein powder if you need more.
This is a go-to breakfast for Dan and me—quick, filling, and healthy, yet it still feels a little decadent. The creamy banana base makes it feel more like a treat than "just breakfast."
It's the kind of recipe that turns an ordinary morning into something a little more special, whether you're enjoying it on the patio, in the garden, or simply savoring a quiet moment before the day begins.
Banana Berry Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
2 medium bananas
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon vanilla almond butter (Justin's is a favorite)
2 teaspoons chia seeds
½ cup sliced strawberries
½ cup blueberries
flaked coconut
1 tablespoon toasted chopped almonds
Instructions
In a high-speed blender, combine the bananas, almond milk, almond butter, and 1 teaspoon of the chia seeds.
Blend until smooth and thick.
Pour the mixture into two bowls.
Top with strawberries, blueberries, chopped almonds, flaked coconut, and toasted chopped almonds.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Studio Happenings
Before I sign off this week, I wanted to take a moment to simply say thank you.
When I first started this newsletter, I wasn't sure if anyone would care about my thoughts on gardens, family, photography, art, decorating, remodeling, thrifting, recipes, or the little moments that make up an ordinary life. Yet week after week, so many of you take the time to read, respond, and share your own stories.
I cannot tell you how much that means to me.
Every email, message, comment, and note brightens my day. Knowing that my simple little life, thoughts, observations, and favorite things resonate with some of you is both humbling and deeply encouraging.
What started as a newsletter has become something that feels much more like a conversation among friends, and I am so grateful to have you here.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for sharing pieces of your lives with me. And thank you for allowing me to share pieces of mine with you.
You truly mean the world to me.
with love and light,
Alicia Staley Johnson
of Alicia’s Photography
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