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Babysitting Co-Op Revisited
It’s been more than 10 months since we made the move from Houston to Austin. Some people said it would take about six months to adjust; others said it would take about two years. Honestly, I think it’s both. I think it took six months to feel settled and comfortable; I think it will be two years before Austin really feels like home.One of the things we left behind in Houston was our amazing babysitting co-op. Since Matt and I don’t have family and town–nor do we have extra money to hire babysitters–we are left to barter babysitting (which I honestly don’t mind one bit). I love having… Read More -
Montessori Holiday Presents
As the holidays approach, I’ve had a couple requests to talk about how we communicate to others about what kind of toys we prefer for Henry. It’s a delicate situation, for sure. It’s difficult to sound sufficiently and authentically grateful for others’ generosity while simultaneously saying, “We prefer not to have plastic or battery-powered toys.” We’re lucky because our families ask for lists of things. When I gave them the list last year (see below), I tried to include a range from very specific items to general brands and/or stores that tend to sell more natural things.————Hi All,I hope this message finds you well!Matt and… Read More -
Budget Update
As many of you know, Matt and I had to kick our saving into high gear in order to move forward with building a house. We revised our monthly budget and have had to work really hard to live within it each month, so that we can bank my entire part-time salary.At first, the adjustment was really stressful. I was very bought into the plan. While Matt supported the plan, he had a lot more difficulty implementing the plan (primarily because it meant eating out less). Once we adjusted to the differences, however, it’s really been a lot easier. We eat out twice a week (spending less than $20… Read More
