Helping You Discover, Preserve, and Share Your Family Story
Your family’s history isn’t just names and dates—it’s the stories, faces, voices, and traditions that shape who you are. Whether you’re organizing decades of research or just realizing it’s time to capture your mom’s stories, you’ll find the guidance you need here.
What Makes This Different
At Are You My Cousin?, we approach family history as both rigorous research and meaningful storytelling. After 15+ years of helping thousands of people trace their roots—from conference stages to one-on-one consultations—I’ve learned that the best family history work happens when you combine solid research skills with heart.
Some of you have been chasing elusive ancestors for decades. Others are just starting to realize that time is slipping away. Both journeys matter, and both deserve expert guidance.
My Story
I grew up at family reunions, hearing snippets of stories but never pressing for details—until later, when the voices began to fade and the photos had no names.
That’s when genealogy became more than a hobby—it became a mission.
What I discovered was that family history research is like solving a mystery, but I had to learn where to find the clues first. Over time—and plenty of mistakes—I developed systems for:
- Tracking down ancestors who seemed to disappear from records
- Navigating courthouse basements and digital archives with equal confidence
- Capturing oral histories before they vanished
- Organizing and preserving decades of family photos
- Turning scattered research into stories that connect generations
That expertise led to speaking at genealogy conferences, contributing to Family Tree Magazine, presenting webinars for Legacy Family Tree, and being interviewed on the Genealogy Gems Podcast. But more importantly, it taught me how to help others navigate this work with less frustration and more success.
What You’ll Find Here
Think of this as your comprehensive resource for family history—from advanced research strategies to the everyday ways we preserve memory.
Core Topics Include:
For the Researcher: Genealogy strategies, record sources, DNA analysis, brick wall solutions, and organization systems that actually work
For the Family Storyteller: Family storytelling tools, photo preservation, oral history techniques, and legacy projects your kids will treasure
For Everyone: Cultural traditions, heirloom recipes, holiday customs, and the stories that make a house feel like home
🎧 Plus: Passing the Plate, the podcast I co-host with Ashley Covelli of Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen, explores how food, recipes, and kitchen memories connect us to our heritage.
This Platform Is Growing
Are You My Cousin? started as my personal research blog. Today, it’s evolving into a multi-platform media resource for anyone who believes family stories matter.
In the coming months, we’re expanding with contributor voices, new perspectives on heritage and identity, and tools that make family history more accessible to busy families. Because after working in this field for over a decade, I know this work is bigger than any one person can tackle alone.
Whether you’ve been researching for years or you’re just getting started, you’re part of a community that understands: our stories deserve to be saved, and shared.
When I’m Not Researching…
When I’m not researching, you’ll find me running, traveling with my husband, or planning our next European Christmas market adventure. I hold degrees in Biology and Physical Therapy, love coffee (but not coffee-flavored things), and will defend candy corn until the day I die.
Most importantly, I’m someone who understands how overwhelming this work can feel—and how rewarding it becomes when you know what you’re doing.
Start Here
Ready to dive deeper into your family’s story? Join thousands of others who get weekly insights, research tips, and memory-keeping inspiration delivered straight to their inbox.
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