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The Pulse: Wins, Wings, and the $1 Protein Goal
The past week flew by, but not without some serious "Organista" wins. My weeks are usually top-heavy with clients from Monday to Wednesday, but Thursday always provides a lil reprieve—a chance to run errands, make a platelet donation, and tackle the "computer work" that keeps my household systems humming before I round out the week and hit the weekend. The "Convenience Store" Strategy I’m currently maximizing a monthly $10 benefit and a $10 quarterly credit across two of my C
7 days ago
CURRENTLY MAKING CENTS OF:
CHAOTIC THOUGHTS
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
4 days ago
The Pulse: Wins, Wings, and the $1 Protein Goal
The past week flew by, but not without some serious "Organista" wins. My weeks are usually top-heavy with clients from Monday to Wednesday, but Thursday always provides a lil reprieve—a chance to run errands, make a platelet donation, and tackle the "computer work" that keeps my household systems humming before I round out the week and hit the weekend. The "Convenience Store" Strategy I’m currently maximizing a monthly $10 benefit and a $10 quarterly credit across two of my C
7 days ago
The Stockpile: Freezer Reset with the Help of AI
I always struggle with the "What's for dinner?" mental loop. I get mucked up in the mental load of auditing the pantry, freezer, and fridge while trying to balance three very different needs: The Boys: Crowd-pleasing, kid-favorite dinners. The Morning Rush: Quick, high-protein breakfasts that are eaten without a fight. The Solo Nights: Fuel that requires the absolute least amount of dishes possible. To stay ahead, I map out my week so the "front end" requires zero thinking
Apr 17
The Ledger: Minding Money - the Kroger Layer
The Basics Let’s talk basics. When it comes to saving—whether it's at the grocery store, eating out, gas, big purchases, or outings with my boys—I am always looking to pay below MSRP. My boys know my tried-and-true response to a request is usually, "Is it on sale?" or "Can we wait until we're home so we can price shop?" Throughout grad school, the early days of my marriage, and whenever the dust settled after a busy season of life, I devoted daily (or at least weekly) time to
Apr 12
The Start - A Bingo Card, a Pivot, and a Playlist
Well, here we go... It’s only taken a year of procrastinating and shying away from the thought of writing about myself and this 'new normal,' but we’re finally here. Gemini told me this first post needs to be the 'Manifesto of the Value Maximizer' to hook y'all in, but 'manifesto' sounded a little too intense for a Monday (and yes, it's not Monday). However, I do want to map out the vibe of this space, acknowledge its current 'under construction' state, and highlight the cha
Apr 8
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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FOLLOW THE CHAOS
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