I’ve had a lot of jobs. Close to 20 if I’m being honest. I’ve worked as a preschool teacher, a law office assistant, an online ESL teacher, a travel agent, a Walt Disney World Cast Member, an ice cream scooper,...
It’s my fault my family is in debt. Grabbed your attention didn’t I? Let’s visit the me of several years ago. You see, I liked material things. I craved the momentary comfort and thrill that I felt when I purchased...
Party planning is not what it used to be. Back in my own 1980s birthday party heyday we played games like Drop the Clothespin in the Jelly Jar and passed out home-popped popcorn in brown paper bags as favors....
My student debt has me trapped, and I’m paying for a degree that I don’t even use. I just had a birthday, and each year as I inch closer to 35 I think about my dreams. I review the plans...
I am an engineer with spacecraft in orbit and on Mars, and am a parent to two wonderful kids.  I have designed some really crazy stuff as an engineer, and still spend a lot of time doing activities with my kids.  So, why then do I feel like a failure at work and at home?  Shouldn’t I be proud of all that I’ve done? I have Impostor Syndrome, a feeling of persistent incompetence and fear of being found out as a fraud.  It makes you feel like you don’t deserve your role, in spite of being highly qualified and prepared for what you do.  All of this is a cognitive misperception, but feels very real.  I experience Impostor Syndrome as both a parent and as an engineer.
According to CNN’s middle class calculator, my family lands firmly in the middle class for Chittenden County, Vermont. I checked other sources as well, and sure enough, it appears we are a middle class Vermonter family. Well… pop out the...

Gaga for Goodwill

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A few weeks before starting  my new job, I realized that my current wardrobe, heavy in yoga pants, jeans and skirts was not going to cut it in my new hands-on environment. I had to go...pants shopping. For this gal,...
As I write this, we have been in a state of emergency for 185 days. I know that because it started the day my second child was born. In those past 185 days, I have learned something very important...
In my adult life, I’ve always worked full time. If not more. Sometimes, I was also working part-time and volunteering, too. So much of my identity and sense of both value and worth were tied to my professional life....
What is it about summertime that sends my grocery budget flying out the window? I’ve noticed our grocery bill, and food costs in general tend to increase during the summer months. I guess it could be due to all the...
Look, I am no financial expert.  My husband hasn't worked at a for-profit organization since his teenage days in the Wal-Mart technology department.  He was a total stud, I wish I had known him then. Recently I paid our mortgage...
It’s a fear we’ve all had. For us, it began once we placed our sweet babies in daycare. For others, maybe it struck in the checkout line while purchasing diapers, or at the pharmacy, picking up yet another antibiotic, or...
I'm always on top of finding deals when it comes to acquiring clothing for my kids. It helps that children's clothing is typically less expensive, however it's also become second nature to me to really dig for the best...
I will be proud if my kids grow up to be garbage men. Louder now for the people in the back! Yes! It’s true. Frankly, I’d be proud if my kids grow up and work in any trade. Plumber, electrician, carpenter,...

In + Around Vermont

Moving to the Vermont Gayborhood of Our Dreams

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My wife and I, with our then 2-year-old, moved to Vermont in 2021 from rural Missouri.  While we had great friends and community in Missouri,...
A featured image for a blog post about hating fall.

Why I HATE Fall… Y’all