I don’t consider myself very handy when it comes to fixing things around the house or in general. Thankfully, I married someone who compensates for my inadequacies. Mr. LH can take things apart, oil, tighten, fix parts then put the object back together good as new. It has saved us a lot of money in terms of not having to replace fans, vacuums, and many of our appliances through the years.

Tiny patios often aren’t utilized to their fullest extent because people brush them off as “too small” to work with. Instead, many are just used as storage space or collect cob webs from non-usage. But that need not be the case; with a little creativity, small spaces can be transformed into a quiet escape.

Since my Raleigh was stolen a couple of weeks ago, I have this pent-up energy and need to ride a bike again. It’s quite awful; it’s a feeling of freedom lost once known. I liken it to being a wild bird trapped in a cage. But bike shopping is by far the worst!

I love bungalow-style, cottage homes. Technically, cottage and bungalow are separate architectural styles, but often the two terms are conjoined to describe anything from a traditional bungalow, to a Craftsman, to a small home. I recently came across a real estate site that features exactly that: cottage/bungalow/Craftsman homes.

I’ve had renter’s insurance for years and have thankfully never had to file a claim until now; reason being – my bike was stolen. Now, most people who poo-poo a bike being stolen as reason to file an insurance claim, but my bike was important to me and wasn’t cheap.

Last summer my sister got married and all of my own wedding memories came flooding back to me; the evening ceremony, the dancing, and the great time I had with my guests. I had just as much fun at her wedding as I did my own.

But it also reminded me of how financially unprepared we were as young adults. Though I feel much more confident that my sister has a handle on her finances, I remember how my husband and I struggled financially those first couple of years.