Trunk filled with garbage bags of clothes from my closet that I will donate
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Home Life | Uncategorized

Decluttering to Decrease Stress

I tend to live in organized chaos until I can’t take it anymore. Then I purge and throw out an entire van’s trunk filled with unused items. That’s what I did this weekend. I watched the documentary “The Minimalists – Less is Now. Then I began going through my dresser of clothes and about half …

Outline of a brain with this phrase saying: My brain has too many tabs open
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Culture | Home Life | Parenting | Personal Growth | Writing

Looking for Signs, Symbols and Meaning

How are you doing and feeling these days? I’m going to be honest. I struggle at times to make sense of (and in) this world. I’m always looking for signs, symbols and meaning that appeal to me or reach my core. A week ago, I set out for a three-mile walk alone. I put my …

fireplace inside a home with fire going
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Holidays | Home Life | Poetry

Holiday Season Poem for 2021

Embrace the messTime goes by fastThe sprinkles are swept awayBut the memories last The wrapping paper will ripAfter you carefully tape it in placeBut you’ll never forget that smileOn that other person’s face The stress of doing it allMay worry you todayBut remember the wonder, the excitementHappiness and joy on display Some are without loved …

Garden growing on back porch
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Home Life | Personal Growth

Staying Grounded and Planting Seeds

I just got off the phone with my mom, and we were speaking about finding joy in our current constant state of media, COVID crisis, and unkind world. This is not an easy thing to do on some days. People are feeling fatigued. A new friend of mine, Rocky, wrote this post about COVID fatigue …

Dog poop stuck on the bottom of a sandal
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Holidays | Home Life | Parenting | Personal Growth

Dog Poop Days

Mother’s day was last weekend and it turned out to be a nice day. Realistically though, I had no expectations of it being anything other than an ordinary day with more hugs and possibly hand written cards by my kids. I had not communicated that I wanted anything other than my husband to fry fish …

The best project you'll ever work on is you
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Personal Growth

1…2…3…How I Am Improving Me

My mood and outlook has been up lately. I’ve felt more positive and stronger, mentally and physically. This is saying a lot after an emotional rollercoaster year of 2020 and a worldwide pandemic. But I went into 2021 with more focus. I have devoted more time this year to myself and I’m seeing improvements. Therefore, …

Letters, cards, a binder filled of our love story
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Home Life

The Story of How We Met (The Valentine’s Day Challenge)

Once upon a time I put a personal ad out to find a man. LOL. Yes, that is true although that’s not how I felt at the time. I was on my computer, reading and writing, minding my own business…Then I received a pop-up ad from Match.com in August of 2001. Yes, match.com that is …

My daughter edits my work on the computer.
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Crafts | Home Life | Parenting | Personal Growth | Writing

In-House Editors

Something strange and wonderful is happening in my household… I never pictured this or dreamed it would happen, but I sure am happy about it. My daughters have become my in-house editors and beta (test) readers. My youngest daughter may become my next book’s illustrator too. There I said it…my next book. I’m ready to …

binder for the playlist
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Culture | Parenting | Writing

The Playlists Birthday Project

Some of you may recall that back in September of 2020, I came up with an idea to give 13 playlists to my daughter who was turning 13 in October. I wrote about it here and made a plea for music requests to be sent in. The project turned out to be a huge hit …

The words "A Slower Pace" are written over a field of grass
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Parenting | Personal Growth

Treading through Life at a Slower Pace

“I feel like I’m leaning back or going to fall,” my oldest daughter said. This was her first time on a treadmill. She held onto the sides with a firm grip. A machine that seems so normal and easy for me to use was strange (and a tiny bit scary) for my teenager. At least …