by Melissa on March 30, 2010
Done. Besides our mortgage, that’s what our debt is. Making the final car payment last week, my emotions went wild … joy, relief, pride, heyday. Click, done.
Because digging through that awful pile of debt, I uncovered something incredible. A feeling of freedom that was worth every missed latte or shopping trip. Here’s a secret: We [...]
by Melissa on March 29, 2010
Finding your amazing work is overwhelming at first. You just sorted through all those old ideas, those old dreams in storage, and piled them up in plain view.
You’ll wonder: Where do I start? What next?
First things first: Grab whatever momentum you have going. Use the fire – the sparks-billowing-to-the-sky kind – to light the [...]
by Melissa on March 25, 2010
How To Make a Yummy Lunch in Less Than 1 Minute
Somewhere between cereal for breakfast and pizza for dinner, lunch got complicated. If there isn’t a neat container of last night’s stir fry or a sandwich constructed with 12-grain bread, honey ham, provolone cheese, creamy horseradish and mixed greens – fast food it and forget [...]
by Melissa on March 23, 2010
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about parenting, it’s to trust your gut.
And mine was telling me something against the norm.
Or maybe the norm is something my kids convinced me of. “Everyone gets to do that,” or “Why can’t you be like normal parents?”
Lately, I’ve been thinking, “Well if that’s normal, I’d rather be weird.”
Today’s [...]
by Melissa on March 22, 2010
We all know the Declaration of Independence gives us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But what does that mean to you? Do you take it seriously?
Most of us spend at least a third of our day working. Few of us have a say in how we spend that time [...]
by Melissa on March 18, 2010
What’s Your Perfect World?
In a perfect world, I’d get to sleep until at least 8 a.m.
Little Boy wouldn’t jump out of bed with his volume on maximum, whistling and shouting random orders to the dog. In fact, in my perfect world, he would quietly knock and ask, “Is there anything I can help you with [...]
by Melissa on March 16, 2010
What roads of life have you tested?
Where did you go? What did you see, feel, hear, learn?
I’ve walked plenty. Some paths led to happiness. Others to a hard cry over a boy, over a bottle of strawberry Boone’s Farm. At times I was just along for the ride, stopping to stretch, to become confident, to think [...]
by Melissa on March 15, 2010
If you’re a mom thinking: there has to be some middle ground between staying home and corporate slave – you’re right.
Meet Jennifer Hogeland.
She spent 8 (good) years in the corporate world before realizing a demanding career and kids don’t mix. Her husband’s job offer in a smaller city provided a fresh start. The Hogeland’s downsized [...]
by Melissa on March 12, 2010
Happy weekend everyone – take a break and check out my guest post at Jeffrey Tang’s awesome blog: The Art of Great Things.
I hope it helps you discover some things you really want.
xoxo
Melissa
P.S. If you’re new here, *swoon* welcome. Leave a comment and introduce yourself!
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by Melissa on March 10, 2010
“That’s SO nice.”
People tend to amaze me with their good ideas, acts of love and free hugs. Annie Dillard said it first, but I’ll say it again: How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. How are you spending your days?
Do you feel jealous? Irritated? One annoying person away from [...]