No matter what goal we’re trying to achieve in life, resiliency is key. I’ve often said that I’m not special, talented, or influential… the reason I’ve been able to do what I’ve done is because I understand the importance of GRIT. After all, persistence beats talent every time. (Paraphrasing a favorite quote by Calvin Coolidge.) […]
Aldi vs Costco: who has better prices?
Long-time readers of this blog know of my love for Aldi. I even wrote a book about eating a whole foods diet with Aldi. If you love Aldi too, read on for my thoughts on Aldi vs Costco! Warehouse clubs had tempted me in the past, but a couple of things always held me back. […]
Save Money On Utilities and Wireless Bills
I declared it the year of financial optimization. I’m analyzing every line item in the budget and figuring out how we can save money, with the purpose of putting more into our retirement investments. Here’s what I’m doing to save money on utilities and wireless bills. Photo by Katie Harp on Unsplash Internet/Cable We actually don’t have cable […]
My Morning Routine
If you’ve read this blog for a bit, you know that I love to talk about morning routines. Years ago I read a short ebook called What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. (I’m a sucker for a productivity or success hack!) And then I wrote a post called What the Happiest Moms Do […]
Lowering food costs (for a family of 9)
Groceries are my family’s biggest expense. Even higher than our mortgage. Interestingly, we spend roughly what the government says is reasonable for a family of 9. So I guess it’s not terribly bad. Still, it’s a huge figure and I know I can do better. What I Won’t Do to Lower Food Costs In the […]
The Year of Financial Optimization
The start of fall has always felt like a new year to me. Perhaps it had something to do with the start of school. Cracking open those September issues of Seventeen magazine. Gazing longingly at all the plaid skirts, tights and long-haired models against a backdrop of an Ivy League school … be still my […]
My healthy, 41 year old husband had a stroke
My healthy, 41 year old husband is currently in the hospital. Sunday, he suffered a massive stroke on the right side of his brain. The prognosis is still unclear. We still have no idea why this happened. He didn’t have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. He’s never used drugs or smoked. He had no pre-existing […]
so what had happened was…
Wow. So I’ve become one of those bloggers who suddenly disappears and leaves her readers wondering what in the world she’s up to. Or worse, a blogger who loses all her readers because she’s become boring. Even worse… a blogger who engages in metablogging! Argh. I’ll stop now. Since I started my SeneGence/LipSense business 3 […]
Friday flâner
A few things I enjoyed from the internets this would that I thought you might like too! This article from Laura Vanderkam, my favorite writer on the topic of time management: 10 Tiny Tweaks That Will Change Your Life This podcast with Tim Ferriss and Marie Kondo. She sounds so dreamy speaking her native Japanese! […]
Friday flâner
A few things I enjoyed while gallivanting around the internet this week… Victorian-era Daguerrotypes of Women Breastfeeding – how fascinating that these were not considered immodest! Today we see more of a woman’s body than we want to on the cover of a magazine while waiting in line at the grocery store checkout, yet breastfeeding […]