What Ana Does

If I could be doing anything right now -- this minute, money being limitless, I would be in a different country soaking up all it has to offer. With my family. Exploring. Writing. Walking. Eating. That's what I would do. And this blog would have a whole different flavor. But ... Anyway, a few months ago a friend pointed out this site, that's similar to AirBnB (which I would highly recommend) but with rental properties that cater to families with small kids ... and very large wallets. Each time I receive a Kid&Coe newsletter in my inbox I spend the better half of an hour clicking on the properties and imaging us all there. What would I have done this morning if we were staying in this apartment on Blvd Voltaire in Paris? Or the flat a few blocks from the Prado in Madrid. Is that kitchen big enough? Is there a market down the street? Sigh. Related posts: Other travel stories to prove my wanderlust

I'd love to read The Fault in Our Stars someday. John Green is a great writer and an all-around smart guy. But, as I've stated before, I have boundary issues with books and a YA novel about teens with cancer is way more than I can handle. I'd cry for days. However, I stumbled upon this amazing quote from that book recently and I just love it. Seriously. Love it. By John Green Related posts: All the cool quotes

I love the art of shopping: Discovering neat and different objects. Hunting for the best prices. Using coupons or big sales to get exactly what I want. I love bringing home new stuff. And the internet is my frenemy in this shopping fad. If Leah needs new snow boots, I can be picky and visit all my favorite "boot" sites, to find the best quality at the lowest price -- all on my lunch break. So -- for the past several years, as a reaction the major spending/shopping extravaganza that is Christmas and early January after-Christmas sales (love em), I've made a practice of cutting down personal spending in February (or sometimes March) to just the essentials. Essentials = food, kids activities and needs. And the "big NO" to clothes shopping for me, hunting new house decor, or books, etc. I usually have a surplus of new stuff I haven't even worn/read/framed from the holidays, anyway. The most important step to this shopping diet is to unsubscribe to all th...

I was walking through the Crate and Barrel today and fell in love. Yes, I've seen it in the catalog and was smitten, but nothing like seeing it in person. I sat in it and ... the world made sense again. Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine? Happy, yellow bench of my heart, I will watch for coupons and sales, and you will be mine.  Oh yes, you will be mine. Related posts: I always have more goals