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The Pulse: Screamless Roads, Rock Climbing, and the Illinois Road Trip
Last week was the first full week of summer, and if how quickly that week went by is any indication of how the summer is going to fly by, I'm not ready. I wrote that as I lay in bed before the start of camp drop-offs. I'm not one to get teary-eyed, but dropping the boys off at camp this week made me sad for the rhythm of this summer. I'm gonna have to work on my outlook and figure out how to best approach this summer's look. The prior week, we made it through the last days of
1 day ago
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CHAOTIC THOUGHTS
The Pulse: Screamless Roads, Rock Climbing, and the Illinois Road Trip
Last week was the first full week of summer, and if how quickly that week went by is any indication of how the summer is going to fly by, I'm not ready. I wrote that as I lay in bed before the start of camp drop-offs. I'm not one to get teary-eyed, but dropping the boys off at camp this week made me sad for the rhythm of this summer. I'm gonna have to work on my outlook and figure out how to best approach this summer's look. The prior week, we made it through the last days of
1 day ago
The Crew: Preventing the Summer Backslide
As I alluded to in my weekly update on Sunday, I have been working hard on the kiddos' summer packets. I really like to emphasize reading during our off-time—not only to build their love for it, but to keep their little minds working and not entirely consumed by screens. In my house, we have a clear system: the boys have to complete their household and hygiene tasks and get their reading time in before any screens are turned on. Thankfully, we have discovered several programs
May 21
The Pulse: The Final Countdown
Well, I made it through last week, mostly unscathed. I can say I probably wasn't the most cheery, nearly-turned-40-year-old. I think it was the expectations I had in my head, and what I thought I had worked through with my therapist, not necessarily aligning with reality. Live and learn, I guess. However, when I was loved on, it was to the full extent, it made my heart full. I felt seen and cared for, and it’s all about balance. I even had some helpers assist with gathering a
May 17
The Itinerary: The Systematic Escape
If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be booking a solo trip to the middle of the Atlantic, I would have laughed. Then I would have created a spreadsheet. Approaching 40 has brought a lot of 'heavy and light' reflections, but it has also brought the realization that choosing myself is a system worth investing in. Here is the literal 'cents and sense' of how I mapped out my Azores escape, even without my normal level of advanced planning. Let's map out the approach I tak
May 14
The Pulse: Reflections on and Evolution of the "Yes-Year"
As my "Yes-Year" officially comes to a close, I’ve realized it isn’t necessarily the end of the mentality—just a massive evolution of it. Since the start of 2025, I’ve challenged myself to say "yes" to everything. Looking back, I think I was running on a high fueled by the stress of life; that cortisol spike made it possible to juggle five activities a day on five hours of sleep. Early on, saying "yes" was easy. But as I’ve neared this milestone, it has become a challenge of
May 11
The Pulse: The "In-Between" Week
Usually, I start the week with a clear topic to process, but this morning feels a bit different. I’m officially in my last week of my 30s. It’s a week that wraps up with Mother’s Day and kicks off my "birth week" on the other side. To be honest, I don't care as much about the change in the number as I do about the "vision" shift. If you had asked me a few years ago what 40 would look like, this wasn't the picture. A lot has changed in the past two years, and how I foresaw cel
May 3
The Ledger: The Master Toolkit
The Strategy: From Paper Coupons to Power-Stacking I’ve already shared my go-to fuel savings strategy and how I maximize every trip to Kroger. But what does the "Big Picture" look like? This is a high-level overview of the methods I use to slash grocery bills, earn passive cash back on online purchases, and "stack" those savings with credit card offers and travel rewards. I didn't start using all of these at once. In my early days of couponing, I was clipping physical paper c
Apr 29
The Pulse: Holding Two Truths at Once
They say the days are long, but the weeks are short. This week, that rang incredibly true. My weeks are top-heavy: Sunday prep, followed by a Monday-to-Wednesday gauntlet of clients, group training, and spin classes. By Wednesday, I feel like the camel in those old "Hump Day" commercials—just trying to get over the peak to Thursday’s breathing room. But this week felt different. It felt heavy. Between a massive wreck near the Y, an unfortunate encounter with a bunny nest whil
Apr 26
The Itinerary...Solo in the Azores (Part I)
The Lead Up This Bingo card keeps coming into play as I write, and I am so glad I actually made it. What started as a New Year’s Eve craft with my boys has served as an anchor for my year. It’s a pulse-check for daily life. Sometimes I get so bogged down in the "daily grind" that I don’t reflect on what I’ve actually accomplished. I have a habit of raising the bar—stretching myself to grow but then getting upset because I don't feel like I'm where I thought I was "supposed to
Apr 22
MOTHER OF ALL CHAOS
Welcome to my chaotic world! I'm a single mother of 3 boys, navigating a new job, frugal living, and budget-minded travel. Join me as I share the chaos and adventures of my journey.
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