From the monthly archives:

March 2009

Some money advice I'm happy to receive

March 27, 2009

While I read a fair amount of personal finance advice, I limit my sources. This is deliberate. In general, I’m an eclectic reader. I love to read a wide variety of opinions and perspectives on any topic I’m interested in. But money, especially *my* money (or total lack thereof), makes me very, very nervous. So [...]

Tagged as: money

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Interstitial learning, multiplied

March 26, 2009

Martin and I share a belief we call “interstitial learning”, which could be summed up as the notion that kids learn in between the stuff of their lives. Not when they’re doing a lesson or studying a book, but at some moment when they’rejust living and the pieces they’ve been exposed to fall into place. [...]

Tagged as: homeschooling, interstitial learning, math, rio

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We are all stars

March 26, 2009

“Mama, why didn’t you feed me 210 pieces of sun?” We are at the gas station. This question comes mere moments after her astute observation that I washed all the bird poop off her window. “Because you are my daughter,” I said. “You are a real girl and not a star, and I know you [...]

Tagged as: rio, rioisms

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Ten Tired Tips for Frugal Family Living

March 25, 2009

I read a fair amount of personal finance advice these days. I’m also a consumer of green living tips, and I enjoy learning about how people are making their lives more sustainable. But here are ten common tips that I would be happy never to see again: 1. Eat less meat. 2. Drink less soda. [...]

Tagged as: family, finance, frugality, money

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Get outside!

March 25, 2009

yes, the weather outside is frightful, but it still beats sitting indoors all day. Here are two great sites for getting yourself and your kids out into the great outdoors: The Green Hour offers suggestions for simple outdoor activities to do with kids. It’s updated weekly, and the site is a wealth of other resources [...]

Tagged as: garden, homeschooling, nature, play

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Ten Tired Tips on How to Save Money and Save the Planet

March 24, 2009

I read a fair amount of personal finance advice these days. I’m also a consumer of green living blogs and magazines, and I enjoy learning about how people are making their lives more sustainable. But here are ten common tips that I would be happy never to see again: 1. Eat less meat. 2. Drink [...]

Tagged as: money

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"I hope you have a daughter just like you some day…"

March 24, 2009

Yes, my mother cursed me with this, like most mothers do. Further proof that it worked came in the form of Rio approaching my desk today with a notebook in hand. “I am selling food,” she said. “What do you want?” “Pizza.” “We do not sell pizza. We are an ice cream and veggies store.” [...]

Tagged as: food, play, rio

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Trotsky, via stepchild

March 24, 2009

Ian is here for spring break. I am reveling in his intellectual energy. He flew in overnight, from Colorado, and had to sleep on the couch when he arrived because we had weekend houseguests staying in his room. When I came downstairs in the morning, both his little sisters were climbing all over him. He [...]

Tagged as: family, ian, teenagers

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at a loss

March 23, 2009

I’ve been on hiatus as a professional writer for three years in Babyland. I’m ready to spread those wings again. So before I left for my vacation, I wrote out a clear concise plan for getting my career off the ground. It had lists of markets to submit to, with their upcoming submission deadlines and [...]

Tagged as: parenting, writing

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