Here are seven real-life characteristics of some marine life
Sometimes when you read fantasy novels, you can’t help but say, come on, this is so unrealistic. Unrealistic, that is until you come across articles about the ocean and its creatures.
I have a secret fascination with the ocean. It is so deep and massive and it holds so much mystery that it is honestly a little bit terrifying.
The ocean’s creatures are unique and mystifying. We know so little about some of these animals and other mysteries that the ocean holds. Discoveries continue to be made related to the open seas.
The mystery still held in the ocean can…
But I don’t believe in the “Retire Early” part
Let me start by saying that I didn’t retire by the age of 30, and I don’t have five streams of passive income.
However, I have found my version of financial independence. I fell into the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) movement by accident. I love what the movement stands for, although I don’t know if I believe in the “retire early” part.
FIRE can be different for everyone
I don’t see FIRE as one-size-fits-all. I may practice FIRE differently from other people: financial independence is my only goal.
Financial independence (the “FI” part) gives you power and control over your life. You have the flexibility…
“AM I DOING THIS RIGHT?” MODERN PARENT CONTEST
Muddling through the pandemic one decision at a time
Life requires many decisions.
Most decisions we make without thinking twice, but it seemed with the pandemic, the smallest decisions could be paralyzing.
How much risk was I willing to accept? Who, if anyone, would I interact with in person? Should I switch to a grocery delivery service versus shopping in person? Should I bring my small child to the store with me? Should I see family or friends?
Suddenly, I felt like a board member of a corporation, deciding its strategy and the risks it was willing to take. Only it wasn’t a company…it was my family. It was…
…and it’s not all the extra energy you feel
I waited until I was 35 to have my first child.
A few months into the parenting journey, my partner looked at me and said:
“Parenting is a young man’s game. Maybe we should have done this earlier...”
Being an older mom has some definite disadvantages. Less energy during fragmented nights and while chasing a toddler. Higher risk of chromosome abnormalities in pregnancy, like Down syndrome. Less time to save for college. Nearing retirement age when your children graduate from college.
However, being an older first-time parent does have some wonderful hidden benefits.
Women are having children later in life
Today, women tend to wait longer and…
This outdated security question is a powerful reminder to beef up your electronic security
If you’ve called your bank recently, you may have heard these words:
“For security purposes, what is your mother’s maiden name?”
Whenever I hear this phrase, I think “What??!!”
Let’s face it, this is not a secure question in today’s technology and social media age.
This exact security question has been in existence since the late 1800s. The question is convenient and people will always remember the answer, however, it is outdated and has no place in today’s list of security questions.
10 minutes or less to find your mother’s maiden name
Hackers must love Facebook. It is a gold mine of information.
People give their information away readily and…
Living with the personal damage of the coronavirus pandemic
One thing that I will always remember about my grandparents is how permanently they were affected by the Great Depression. It impacted their spending habits, life decisions, and their entire perspective on life.
As we pass the one-year mark of living with the coronavirus pandemic, it is okay to be depressed, yet a little hopeful, all at the same time. This crappy experience will shape us for the rest of our lives. We have already lived one year with significant isolation and stress and we are not out of the woods yet.
I’ve been affected. You’ve been affected. Everyone has…
One parent’s quest to instill gratitude in her child before it’s too late
My daughter’s birthday is fast approaching.
It’s her second birthday during corona restrictions, so it’s her second year without a party. I’m officially off the hook from the planning, the party favors, the big cake, and the decorations.
Am I sad? Heck, no. I’m relieved.
My child is two and has no concept of what she’s missing. Sure, we’ll have a small cake and a present or two from me and my partner. Maybe I’ll even get a few balloons and a few presents will trickle in from relatives over the next few weeks.
So why am I relieved? There…
The simple secret behind enjoying baked goods guilt-free
I won’t lie. I have a sweet tooth.
Let’s be honest. Baking is a fun activity and we all need a sweet pick-me-up now and then during this corona pandemic.
However, my family rolls their eyes at me a lot. The reason? It’s usually a response when I say some variation of this:
“I just made an awesome dessert…only I replaced the sugar with dates!”
I grew up not afraid of cooking or baking with sugar. After all, I’m a child of the 1980s. But when I started cooking more and more for myself, I found myself wanting healthier alternatives.
…
How do you celebrate the holiday after losing faith?
Like most people around the world, I won’t be going to a Christmas Eve church service this year. Thanks, coronavirus…
Christmas Eve service is one of my favorite things about the holiday. And that’s a bit funny because I am no longer religious.
Despite this, I believe church at Christmastime is magical. You walk in the door to candlelight and everyone dressed in festive clothes. It’s all about tradition — the holiday hymns, seeing everyone from childhood, the cozy feeling of inclusion, and the lighting of individual candles during the song, “Silent Night.”
It’s also all about family. My sister…
Where we are, how we got here and is there a good alternative
Disposable diapers are amazing.
Your child’s waste is contained. You see it for only a few moments (hopefully) and then you close up the diaper. Poof! Gone from your thoughts and into the trash can or Diaper Genie.
The invention of disposable diapers was a miracle of convenience for parents and it seems that the world has not looked back. No more washing poop from cloth diapers. After all, hasn’t society evolved past cloth diapers?
But let’s stop and consider the impact of moving to disposable diapers. An average baby uses between eight and twelve diapers per day in the…
