I am wracking my brain on how to make Christmas special without presents. Don’t get me wrong, I know presents are not the reason for the season. But giving gifts is definitely one of my main ways of expressing love. I’ve been considering using one of those scrapbook sites and creating some sort of family/recipe book for each of the kids. The one my mom gave all us kids in our adulthood has been something I have used often. Anyone done this? Have recommendation for a site? I figure if I make all the books the same, then it will save me in time and cost. Does anyone else have any ideas? I’m real ..read more

This next month is going to fly by. I have enough work to pay January’s bills which gives me some breathing room to chase new ongoing work. Last December I was struggling on every level, every plan I had for 2023 had been quashed the by sudden end of my 5 year relationship and engagement, not to mention the ongoing job debacle. But it was really my personal life that threw 2023 for a loop. I did not start the new year in a good headspace at all. And it has been a rough climb out of that all year. But I’m back. My heart is mostly healed. I have reconnected some very special people from my high ..read more

As you have seen from my Tough Decisions and Selling the House posts and the comments, the way forward is not so cut and dry as looking at the numbers. I sincerely appreciate all the constructive feedback and ideas. The BAD community has given me lots to think about. And I will think about all of it, I promise. The girls and I enjoyed quiet Thanksgiving Day together. And used our Christmas decorations to shoot some social media images for a client of mine. Work and food. Here are a Couple of Actions Planned for December Creating a variety of versions of my resume with a concentration on sev ..read more

As of last month, my only remaining debts are for my student loans and my mortgage. I’ve written before about how I’ve decided to put the student loans on the backburner – paying only the minimum payment each month. They’re set to be forgiven through PSLF in approximately 2 more years. That brings us to the mortgage… Current Mortgage Status When my husband and I bought our home together in 2020, one of our goals was to have it paid off by the time my husband retires. He’s set to retire in under 9 years. We have a current loan balance in the mid-$200s. Since we bought it, we’ve made a double-p ..read more

First off, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Today my partner and I kept it really low-key. I decided to opt out of Thanksgiving this year to avoid all the hassle and expense of cooking a big feast. We didn’t make a special grocery trip for the holiday so we didn’t have to fight the crowds. And we were still able to make stuffing and potatoes au gratin with ingredients we already had on hand, so we felt like we got a taste of Thanksgiving. I’d love to hear what you did today down in the comments.  I also wanted to thank everyone for the feedback on my last post! It was encour ..read more

A divorce doesn’t have to take away the sunshine from your life and leave you drained and discontent. That’s because there are ways in which you can revive yourself while going through a divorce and emerge at the end of the process healthy and happy. If you have no idea about how to get through a divorce without losing your spark, read on to see some of the ways in which you can find the brighter side without necessarily having to spend a lot of money. Maintain a Healthy Routine The first thing that you should do is to come up with a healthy routine and maintain it. This should be one that inv ..read more

I believe I’ve written about this before, but maybe not all as one piece. My house. My mortgage. My thoughts. First, some background. The kids (Gymnast and Princess) and I have moved ALOT since my marriage fell apart. So much that I’ve lost count and don’t have the energy to count them up right now. Rental homes pulled out from under me because the owners wanted to move back or sell the house, etc. Then my dad wanting to sell the house he bought to give us some stability when he moved out of state. Job loss meaning, I couldn’t afford even apartment housing in the expensive area we lived in pre ..read more

In the retail world, clear chats between makers and home improvement shops are key to bagging top-notch goods and staying ahead in the game. To ace product sourcing, we gotta amp up our communication game, really get what customers are after, and build some solid teamwork with partners. This guide delves into the strategies that manufacturers and home improvement stores can employ to enhance communication, ensuring the availability of top-quality products that cater to evolving consumer needs. Understanding Market Trends and Consumer Demands To keep their game on point, producers need to keep ..read more

Last week, I was able pay one month’s mortgage payment, leaving me one month behind still and another payment due in just over 10 days. I do not have enough ongoing work to feel “safe.” And frankly, the holidays being here makes finding work that much harder. I’ve been through this before. I waver between hope and worry. But am working daily to cast all my cares to God and trust his care and protection: “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24 I begin to wander do I keep tryin ..read more

The twins’ birthday just passed. This next week will be the first Thanksgiving that I haven’t had all my kids with me. (There were a couple of years when one was away, but never like this.) And I couldn’t, COULD NOT do nothing. But I also knew that I couldn’t do much. I let the twins know that we could do a birthday celebration for all of us fall babies when we are together at Christmas. It broke this mama’s heart to not be able to do anything at all other than send them a text message. But with the tides turning, I had to do something for the three boys on their first Thanksgiving away from h ..read more