Thanksgiving, Thanksblessings, and Buy Nothing

You might call the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” (I call it my birthday–at least this year). But what you may not know is that it’s also known as International Buy Nothing Day (Nov. 23 – Nov. 24). I want to put this at the forefront of my post today because merchants are going hard

Thanks-and-Giving: She Calls Me Everyday

Thanks… For the past 8 months, my mother has called me almost every day to make sure I’m ok. It all started when I experienced my daughter’s explosive fits of rage last spring and was desperate for advice (my parents were able to keep me in line much better than I can do now single-handedly).

Thanks-and-Giving: How Much Do Compliments Cost?

Have you ever purposely changed something about your appearance–maybe your hairdo or a special outfit–and wondered if anyone (or a specific person like your partner) would notice?  Since my appearance has started to change from weight loss (17 pounds and counting), I’ve gotten some unexpected compliments from people who I didn’t expect to notice. Upon

Thanks-and-Giving: Closer

Thanks… Earlier this year, my daughter started acting out. She’s too old to have tantrums, and she wasn’t having trouble in school. Her anger management skills were non-existent, and we briefly went to therapy to sort out some issues. But now I’m so glad to say that my daughter and I are getting closer. I’ve