Joy Shantz
Joy is a wife, mom, friend and neighbor who lives in the City of Lansing and loves it! She gets excited about the outdoors, cold brew coffee, international cuisine and meeting new people. You can follow her Lansing area adventures at her personal blog @hometownfound on Instagram.
Cozy Crockpot Recipes to Warm Up Your Week
It's cold outside. Like, real cold. Enter the Crockpot, the kitchen's best answer to warm, filling, and simple meals for the whole family. I know I lean on this dear appliance more in these...
Capture Your Year, One Second at a Time
I was hesitant to make big resolutions for 2024. The many challenging events of this last year were fresh on my mind and I had less than two months to go in my pregnancy....
Use Your Five Senses to Enjoy the Winter Season
I grew up in the tropics, where the weather never got below 65 degrees, ever. Fast forward to now, and I am raising my family in cold, snowy Michigan. I’ve been in the state...
Shop Local for Used Books in Lansing
Cooler weather is here, and with that comes the draw of spending the evening snuggled up in a blanket with a good book. Stocking up on enough great reads to get you through the...
Teaching Your Kids About Holidays Around the World
It's still fall, but my mind is already on the holiday season. I just can't wait for Christmas! As I get ready for my favorite holiday, I want to make sure my kids are...
Festive holiday events across Lansing
This week we got our first snowfall of the season, which brings my holiday spirit to a whole new level! I'm so excited to celebrate the holidays with my kids, as this year they're...
Welcome Spring with these Spring Events In + Around Lansing
Spring is here, and it's about time! At least in our house, we are so ready for more sunshine and fewer layers. As we adjust our eyeballs to colors beyond white and gray, we're...
Celebrate Galentine’s Day from Afar This Year
If you have never celebrated Galentine’s Day, you’re missing out. It may be a fictional holiday, but it’s one you will want to add to your spring calendar, for real—and for good!
Celebrated on...
Holiday Baking with a Toddler
I decided to recreate one of my top holiday recipes from last year—but this time, to try baking with my toddler by my side and to capture the process on video! The video shared...
Making Music as a Family
I grew up making music. My mom insisted on piano lessons as soon as I could read. I sang in church and all through school. In middle school, I decided the flute was not...