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Perimenopause: An evolving playlist of micronutrients and self-care

This week's discovery on my wellness journey - the importance of being earnest . At least, being earnest about my health and changing body.  Earlier this year, I realized I was in perimenopause. What was my clue? You might think it was hot flashes. Nope! It was my hair, or lack thereof. Then eventually my nails, which had became so weak, they were always splitting. I couldn't keep them short enough to stop the splitting. As a result, a few months ago I began adding collagen to my daily diet, along with other micronutrients. Collagen starts declining in your 20s. By the time a woman reaches her 40s, its one of the reasons you start complaining about crows feet, laugh lines and other tell-tell signs of aging. I only recently figured this out. Hopefully I saved you a little time.  So, earlier this year I started researching natural ways to increase collagen in my daily diet. I figured I could help offset for what my body no longer produces. Here are my fave ways to get more collag
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How I saved money this month (June 2020)

The subtitle of this post should be "life is different. That means my savings strategy is going to be different too." I'll be honest. It hasn't been easy saving money these past few months.  Originally, I thought COVID-19 and the subsequent shelter in place mandate would mean we'd be saving oodles and oodles. When our community went on lockdown in March, I was thinking about all the 'drinks with the girls after work' that I'd miss, and the lack of a daily commute, adding money back in to my bank accounts. I was wrong.  Sure, we definitely are not filling the gas tank on the family vehicle weekly like we did pre-SIP, but any savings were offset by increases in other areas of the monthly budget. Additionally, some areas of the household budget have INCREASED! The grocery budget increased, as we now ate all meals at home. The utilities have definitely increased too as we wash more dishes, do more laundry, use electricity all day long.  I live in drought p

Saving Money on Youth Sports and Activities

Any budget-conscious parent of a kid between the ages of 5 - 18, has more than likely balked at the high cost of their activities and interests at least once. As the parent of a grade-schooler, I've noticed the steady increase in number of activities our kid participates in year after year.  Of course, I could just not enroll him in these activities, but I don't think that is the best solution. Our kiddo is an only child. As such, I'm keenly aware of the importance friends play in his life. I feel strongly that the sooner I help him develop strong friendships and hobbies in our new community, the sooner he'll feel "at home." That is money well spent.  Grade School Boys Baseball Team Sitting Inside Dugout As my mother's daughter, I know both old school and new school ways to stretch a dollar. Once I became a stay-at-home-mommy, I became even more diligent about maintaining our household budget. Frankly, I delight in my domestic prowess and ab

Is a frugal lifestyle tacky?

I should've subtitled this post, "how to pay for stuff using coins without being a jerk" Or better yet, "Exchanging Coins without Coinstar. Not for the faint of heart." OK, I have a confession...and a question.  Is it tacky to pay for things using coins??? I mean, like, using coins to pay the entire bill ? I don't think it is, but I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority on this one. When you think about it, coins are in fact  legal tender . Still, spending coins is increasingly complicated in our cash-loving, credit-swiping, Bitcoin-centric world. First and foremost, you have to mentally prepare yourself for the "judgy" looks you'll receive from others when you do use them. In my experience, the minute you start counting coins, people will give you the side eye for any perceived inconvenience. U.S. Coins on a table Here's when I started using our coins in earnest. A few years back I had a day when I had no time to go to t

Wednesday Workday Book Review: 44 Secrets That Will Get You Hired

For this "Wednesday Workday" post, I'm reviewing a fantastic book I just finished called, "  What Does Somebody Have To Do To Get A Job Around Here? 44 Insider Secrets That Will Get You Hired " written by Cynthia Shapiro, MBA, ELC, PHR. It's perfect for people entering the job market. Oh...like MOMS! Whether you're a stay-at-homer, a work-from-homer, or traditional nine-to-fiver. Chances are we all at some point are going to need to interview for a job or a project. Because of my career in public relations and lots of experience with news media, I considered myself a people person. I also think I'm a great interviewer. Still, after reading this book I realized some subtle mistakes I'd made during past interviews that probably made the difference between me or somebody else getting the 'gig.' Cover of book, "What Does Somebody Have To Do To Get A Job Around Here?" by Cynthia Shapiro Let's be honest. Nobody ever t

That Time My "Free" Family Activity Cost Us $50

Regular readers know I've bragged , er, written about my ninja-like skills when it comes to finding a deal. I pride myself on finding ways to enjoy a first-class lifestyle on a coach-class budget. I may be frugal, but never at the expense of lifestyle, style, or quality. Well, today I'm admitting I make mistakes too. Case in point, last weekend. My "free" family activity ended up costing me fifty dollars! As a stay-at-home mom, most of the planning of social activities fall under my control. My husband works hard, but Saturdays are all about family time. I put a lot of energy into planning fun for us every weekend. So I have a basic check list when I'm looking for activities. It includes: Educational? Fun? Something or somewhere someone in the family has asked to do or see? Easy location and parking? BONUS if its free or frugal Well, last week I completely failed. I scheduled for us to attend the "The Big Draw" event at the Walt Disney Fam

Autumn Is My Favorite Time of Year

Autumn . It's absolutely my favorite time of year. Bright sunny days and cool nights. Leaves begin to change colors. Then of course there are the weekend activities like watching my kiddo playing soccer and fun community events that are traditions for us like making our own Apple Cider at the town's Cider Squeezes and finding the perfect gourds to decorate our front porch at a pumpkin patches. Last, but not the least of my reasons for loving the fall season is the fashion ! Having been raised in the rainy Pacific Northwest, about 65 percent of my closet is fall/winter type clothing. Autumn is MY season! I have coats and jackets, gloves and hats. Turtlenecks and boots and I can't wait to drag them out of my closet again. Ooh...just thinking about all my "new" clothing options makes me a happy girl! You know what this frugal mom doesn't like as much? The hit my budget can take due to the many events, activities, and holidays that take place during this