12 Questions to Ask a Girl Before Marriage

So you want to get married. You’re ready to cue the romantic music, drop those pricey rose petals, and propose, but wait! Don’t get down on one knee just yet. Instead, grab your significant other, pull up a comfy chair, and get ready for a heart-to-heart talk. These are the questions you want to ask … Read more

Can You Have a Healthy Relationship Without Arguments?

I avoid arguments in my relationships because I hate conflict. I also despise feeling weak or vulnerable. I’m not keen on expressing pain, anger, or disappointment either. It’s one of the reasons I write in this blog. I write to expunge my feelings. Then I convince myself I don’t need to talk about them. I … Read more

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Ding dong. The doorbell rang, and I darted to the front door to greet my best friend for a sleepover. “Check out my new clothes,” K screeched as she twirled in a circle. “My mom took me shopping this morning,” she said as she pointed at her off-the-shoulder Benetton sweater and acid-washed Guess jeans. “Then … Read more

Intentional Living the Key to Health, Wealth & Happiness

What is the greatest key to success? Ask a group of people and you’ll hear many different answers. Discipline, hard work, intelligence, persistence, confidence, race, ethnicity, privilege, and luck usually top the list. I hear this question time and again and I often ask myself the same thing. Did one characteristic lead to my success … Read more

invisalign retainer

Invisalign Cost: How to Find the Best Price for Invisalign

  How Much Does Invisalign Cost? How much does Invisalign cost? Oddly enough there isn’t a one-size-fits-all price for Invisalign treatment. The cost of Invisalign depends on how many adjustments your teeth will need. Some patients need minor orthodontic work. Their teeth are relatively straight and their top and bottom teeth match up when they … Read more

Homeschooling for the First Time

A month ago my husband and I withdrew our children from school for the 2020-2021 school year. In the midst of this pandemic we’ve decided to start homeschooling. My youngest will be a kindergartener this year. My oldest will be a third grader. Why did we choose to homeschool? In-person school wasn’t an option for … Read more

can money buy happiness

Can Money Buy Happiness? How to Measure Your Joy

Can money buy happiness? Psychologists have been investigating this question for decades. Are we happier when we earn and spend more? What do you think? I think we can let researchers continue to run their surveys and experiments. In the meantime, we can use a spreadsheet full of emoticons to decide for ourselves. Tracking our … Read more

Honest Financial Conversations in Difficult Times

This post feels like a confession. It feels like a deep, dark secret that I want to keep in, but feel the need to let out.  Have you ever read Post Secret? It’s an ongoing art project created by Frank Warren back in 2005. When this project first started Warren asked people to send him … Read more