A Work in Progress

I'm not sure if you remember, but a little over a year ago, I wrote a post about Pennies. ◄ (not just) Penny Jar  Namely, finding the small -- very inconsequential -- things of life and not only making them an intentional part of your life, but making them a gift. To yourself. These gifts are everywhere -- if we're willing to look past our own negative expectations. Here's the jar today. After a year of doing this, of not passing up a penny when I just happened to walked by one, or picked one up at my feet as I got out of the car, I've changed. Here's how: 1. Expansion : It didn't just stop with pennies, it became dimes and nickels and quarters. And then it became dollars. And then jewelry and keys! There were more gifts around than I thought. I began to find dollars and five dollar bills in the vintage clothing I sold at my Etsy shop. It became comical. My oldest would walk to his car after school and pick up dollars on the ground in front of

This year is my year of yes. At least, more yes than no, and more yes's even when it hurts to say yes. Why? Because cool things happen when one says yes. (Yes to the right things, anyway). But, I'm serious. You can't imagine the crazy good things that happen when you let go and say yes. Case in point: We went to the California Auto Museum here in Sacramento a couple days ago. The coolest little museum with vintage perfection all over the place. With doors like this, you know cool has to be its middle name. But, as we left, my husband casually mentioned that he saw "on the news that the train station here was refurbished and reopened and the grand re-opening was today," and should we go? I said yes. Even though I had a zillion other things to do, I still said yes. We literally sailed into the building.  Literally. Sailed. Got almost instant up-close (across the front door!) parking, walked into a tour that was

Ah, the mother's life. For you ladies who work outside the home, I honestly don't know how you do it. My work -- writing, (soon teaching) and selling vintage -- ALL can be done from home. I'm lucky. Actually, luck has zero to do with it. I chose these things so I could be with my kids. But, that I CAN do this -- work from home-- is a huge blessing. Obviously, not every woman gets to choose their working life specifics, due to life's curve balls and what not. But, for the moms who do everything and work outside the house, I'm sure something's got to give. I was thinking more about this, while I pondered our living room and dining room. It looks pretty clean because my boys don't hang out much in there. I like this. When the rest of the house is a mess, I can always stand here and pretend the whole house looks this spotless. So, what has to give? 1. An entire spotless house. I guess Cheerios on the floor for many days isn't awful (or the res