Our Place’s Roll Out Rack is Perfect for Small Kitchen Spaces

I will forever be championing small space solutions. I have a penchant for simple products that are beautiful but mighty. The Roll Out Rack from Our Place falls under such a category. Released only a few weeks ago, it is IMHO the best accessory Our Place has launched. It appeals to small spaces, minimalist homeowners, college students and parents alike … really anyone wishing to simplify their life. The stylish design lends to a clean result, both literally and figuratively. And it is versatile. For all these reasons, Our Place’s Roll Out Rack is perfect for small kitchen spaces.

Quality

First and foremost, may I say that I’ve owned a roll out rack before. I first saw this invention in a friend’s kitchen in 2022. I hopped onto Amazon and bought one right away. It was a rollable metal-rod contraption that was light-weight, easy to use, and affordable. But it was cheap. The metal rusted, and aside from loving its functionality, I absolutely disliked it’s aesthetics and quality. Quality sets Our Place’s roll out rack apart from the rest of the products on the market.

Packaged in a sustainable box without the frills or plastic, the first thing I noticed was its heavy weight. This isn’t a flimsy kitchen accessory. While light-weightiness has its uses, I loved the feel of the roll out rack. Stainless steel rods were covered in velvety silicone, which prevents them from rusting. It is smooth and soft to the touch. I now my delicate ceramics are safe. It came with a pink silicone sponge and two very functional baskets which can be hung on the side of the rack. For anyone working in small kitchens, you can easily roll the rack away, stack the baskets, and tuck everything underneath the kitchen sink.

Function

Even with my previously cheap roll out rack from Amazon, I have loved this extremely functional innovation. I bought it primarily to serve as a drying rack over the sink. We use the dishwasher daily but don’t run it until night-time. Meaning more precious hand-held kitchen items needed a place to dry.

I spent years immediately drying them and putting them away, but for the sake of simplifying my life, I bought the roll out rack from Amazon when we were expecting Casey’s arrival. I was attracted to it for it’s small footprint and zero real estate. I have loved that the dishes drip over the sink, no puddles in sight! Unlike drying on kitchen towels, the design allows airflow and circulation preventing that mildewy smell. And it rolls up and stores away efficiently and nicely!

But the Roll Out Rack is more than a space-saving drying rack. It also is useful for rinsing fruits and vegetables. I dry the produce directly on the rack, saving on paper towels or linens. The Our Place baskets double as colanders for washing berries and cut up fruits.

I’ve also used roll out racks as trivets. We have a small island in the center of the kitchen where I can rest pots and pans in order to clear up stove or oven space. Using the rack as a trivet protects our beautiful countertop while creating the air circulation that allows the pots and pans to cool.

Lastly, I’ve used the roll out rack when I handwash kitchen rags or towels and need them to dry. If you use eco-conscious Swedish dishcloths or dish-washing gloves, you can also dry them on the rungs of the roll out rack.

Aesthetics

Here’s a big one. It fits my beige-house-aesthetic. It even matches our beloved and recently reviewed Beast Health Blender. Yes it only comes in one color. But all the better that it’s a neutral color that works with dark and light counter-tops. It is seriously so beautiful!

All in all, I would highly recommend Our Place’s roll-out-rack. It makes for a great housewarming or wedding gift. For only $50 a piece, it’s a great kitchen upgrade that is practical and beautiful. Some links in this post are affiliate links. As always, they will generate a small commission that supports this space should you choose to buy via my links. Thank you for supporting my small space.

The Art of Time-Blocking for New Parents

Time-blocking the schedule is a strategy I learned before Casey was born. By adding blocks of time to the schedule for specific tasks to get done, you are setting boundaries in your day that allow for focus and efficiency. Pre-motherhood, I engaged in the practice of time-blocking in order to increase output. I used it to increase work-efficiency, as outlined in Cal Newport’s latest book “Slow Productivity”. Post-motherhood, I am time-blocking for my mental health. The art of time-blocking is an under-utilized strategy for new parents. But I think they can benefit greatly. Here is why every new parent should consider the art of time-blocking.

How My Schedule Changed When I Became a Mom

When Casey was born, I did not expect to accomplish all the things I used to. Rightly so, as I managed two side-hustles on top of a day job. But despite reducing my work load significantly and clearing my calendar, I still had trouble caring for Casey and getting stuff done. I quickly realized that babies need intermittent but immediate attention. While he took frequent naps, there was zero predictability as to when he would wake up and my free time would end. And once a baby was awake, they needed immediate attention.

In early motherhood, I found myself multi-tasking with frequent task interruption. This led to massive frustration. As a high-performer, I greatly dislike unfinished business. Unfinished tasks are like clutter, for the mind. Also, because my attention was being pulled in all directions, things were getting missed or forgotten. I struggled to get anything done!

Why Multitasking is Stressful

Our brains aren’t made to process more than one thing at a time. Studies have shown that the neurons in our brains are actually switching from task to task when we think we are multi-tasking. This constant switching of attention is costly in terms of energy.
Distractions slow down progress. It is better to work for five minutes straight with undivided attention than it is to stop half-way for a 30 second interruption.
Confusion is frustrating. Our brains will get over-whelmed when there are too many inputs to process. This can lead to confusion, which can lead to frustration.
Juggling tasks with childcare is dangerous. Babies need undivided attention. Something can go wrong in the blink of an eye. Since our brains aren’t REALLY multi-tasking, juggling tasks means we aren’t focusing on our babies when we are doing anything else.
Mistakes can be costly. We have an increased chance of making mistakes when we try to do too many things at once. In motherhood, the stakes are higher. A mistake can lead to a lot of stress and guilt!

Why Time-Blocking Works

Time-blocking avoids misdirected frustration and anger.

Sometimes, when we are trying to complete a task and the baby takes up too much of our attention, we can have misdirected feelings towards the baby. It isn’t the baby’s fault that you feel the need to complete the task. It isn’t their fault that they still need a lot of help at this age. Unfortunately, that misdirected anger really should be targeted at the limited time or resource that you have, rather than the task or the baby itself. It is up to you to time-block every task to have your focused attention. Not enough time in the day? Delegate tasks to other people. Declutter unnecessary tasks. Simplify what you need to accomplish. Ask for help.

Focused attention is more efficient than divided attention.

It can take me ten minutes of undivided attention to accomplish a task. With distractions, it will probably take me at least double the amount of time. Why? Our brains require time to switch from one task to another. It isn’t immediate. Sometimes, our brains need to reorient itself and pick back up a few steps back from where it left off. This results in re-doing what we have already spent time doing.

Children are taught healthy boundaries early on.

Another great thing about time-blocking is that you are modeling to your child how to set healthy boundaries around your time. A child may feel ignored if you are distracted all day. They will see you doing other things and will process that as not spending time with them. Practicing the art of time-blocking as a new parent means you get to explain to your child that for the next hour, it is just you and them. You are making room in your calendar to spend quality time with them. Then it will be time for you to do XYZ, and your child will have play-time. Setting these types of boundaries around the schedule teaches the child that they are important, but they are not the only thing in the world. It also teaches them to focus when they are doing tasks. And it helps them communicate with others how they want to spend their time when they are older.

We are in the present moment.

When we set aside dedicated time to be with our child, we are being fully present. My phone is on “Do Not Disturb” and in its docking station in the living room or my bedroom. I am enjoying every moment I have with him rather than thinking about what to do next. I am not upset about all the things I have to do later, or the things I didn’t finish. Why would I be? This time was already planned for and it is not getting “in the way” of anything else. I saved this time for my son.

Flow is more easily unlocked.

As a creative, accessing flow is super important in my work. Both in dentistry and writing, distractions lead to creative death. Time-blocking things such as writing is crucial to productivity. I have to set aside focused time when Casey is either asleep or with someone else.

A stronger parent-child relationship is accomplished.

There is no greater gift than undivided attention. Since time is the most limited resource we have, it is the most special thing we can give. We have the opportunity of forming stronger bonds with our kids when we spend quality time with them. For me, the moments when my parents gave us their undivided attention form my core memories.

What to Time-Block

Of course, there are many tricks to time-blocking. I highly recommend checking out my post on how to optimize timing in a day before you get started. This is because order matters. You want to align tasks with energy level, depending on your chronotype. Prioritize your tasks and put the hardest ones during the time of day when you have most energy. Then, I would recommend blocking out time for the following:

Visualization.
Planning the calendar.
Quality time with your child.
Household chores.
Creative work or WFH.
Administrative tasks like checking emails or making phone calls and appointments.
Breaks or rest.

Now I know some of you are thinking, “Time-blocking is impossible!” Maybe you are a stay-at-home mom, single parent, or have an extremely needy child. I get it. It takes resources to have your hands free-enough to time block. And sometimes we are limited on resources. But I believe time is the most limited resource of all. Yes, more than money! They say you spend 90% of all the time you will ever spend with your child in the first five years of their life. Then they will be off to school, sports, activities, college, work, and their own lives. So I say, find the resources!

Finding The Resources to Time-Block

Hire a nanny. In order to make sure you find the right one for your family, I made a list of interview questions for a great nanny you may want to consider.
Gather relatives. Ask grandparents to watch them for an hour a week. Ask siblings to take them out on outings.
Ask a neighbor. See if they can watch your kid for an hour, and then maybe you can trade off and watch their kid for another hour. Lean in on community. It would be great if you could befriend parents with kids similar in age to your child.
Unplug. Stop wasting what precious time you DO have on social media or online. In fact, go to your phone right now and look at your screen time. You may be surprised to realize that the “time you don’t have” has actually been there all along.
Have some fun activities that can engage your child’s focus for a certain amount of time. If you have an older kid, talk to them about the importance of concentration. Ask them kindly to read or play in their room so that you can make them a yummy dinner, or fold their clothes so they have something to wear. Better yet, try to engage them in the chores themselves. If you need to fold laundry and you have an older child, have them help you with the task. This way the task will be done sooner and this will leave you with more dedicated time for your child. Just make sure the help isn’t counter-productive.

Thoughts: On Work

Earlier this week, I came home from working a day of dentistry. It was Monday, which is a day I am usually off. I was covering for a friend who went on vacation to Korea for a month. I pulled into my driveway as my neighbor was putting away the groceries. She saw me wearing my Figs scrubs (the only brand I wear for work) and cocked her head to the side. “What else do you do besides taking care of dogs?” A funny question, as the dog business is my side-hustle. But here in my neighborhood, I’m known as a dog caretaker, not a dentist. So I told her I work as a dentist and she appeared even more confused. “But if you’re a dentist, why do you bother taking care of pets?” she asked.

Now it was my turn to get a quizzical look on my face. This happens a lot in my life. A sort of disconnect between myself and others who follow the formulaic status quo. I could tell right away that she didn’t understand the point of working if it wasn’t for pay. It was also obvious that she viewed work as a job that one must do, whereas I viewed work as fun things I like to do. She is a stay-at-home mom and might be proud of the fact that she didn’t have to work. It’s also possible she was insinuating the question, “Do you not make enough as a dentist that you have to do more side-hustles?”

So I answered her as truthfully as I can.

“I take care of pets because I like to. It’s fun for me, and I fall in love with them and treat them like my kids. I started out watching just one or two here and there, but now I get requests all the time. Since I have a lot of time on my hands, I accommodate as many as I can. This way, our neighbors can go on their vacations with peaceful minds, knowing who is taking care of their pet family members.

I actually do a lot of things! They are all fun for me and give me joy. On top of taking care of pets, I am helping a bakery grow and I write a blog to help new grads, moms, and people in debt live minimalist lives in order to get closer to financial freedom. I also volunteer at the farm down the street. You should join me sometime!”

Her son came out of the house at that point. A saving grace for both of us. ‘Ah, okay’ as she backed away. I hope I didn’t freak her out. But it’s true. I can’t say at what point during the pandemic I actually became financially free – in the sense that I am not tied to my money, and I stopped working for pay alone.

Perhaps it was when I had enough FU money to quit the job that I hated. More likely it was the healing time period when I learned that I could create any position for myself. Or maybe it was after people reached out to me to help them. Did you know that I never asked to work at either of the two dental offices I currently work at? Actually, I was expecting to never work in dentistry again! I also did not apply to be a wholesale director of the bakery. In all three cases, they came to me and asked if I could help at times when they had no one.

I do my work because it entails helping others. That’s what I like to do. Not because of the money anymore. If my jobs were taken away from me today, I wouldn’t be sad, mad, upset, or worried. I would probably just shrug my shoulders and keep contributing myself to this life, keep showing up for people I’ve gotten to know. Not much would change, except maybe a pivotal shift on where I spend my energy most.

When I think about work, I don’t think of it in the traditional sense of a job. I just think of it as another day where I go and help a few people out. That’s all. I am not dependent on a specific company or career. I am only dependent on myself. I’ve focused on building myself up rather than building a career. (That’s advice I would give any college student!)

My neighbor was probably thinking to herself, “Poor gal. She has to work so hard to be able to live.” I’m over here thinking, “How do I get this neighbor out of her box to join me in this thing called life?” Hopefully we become fast friends. Bringing over banana bread might do it.

Do what you love, and call it work. Some say it can’t be done, but I’m trying my darndest to prove them wrong.

Self-Reflection Questions to Guide the New Year

Every year, I spend a day on self-reflection (or rather, a few days) before planning for the year ahead. Asking self-reflection questions is an important step because it tells me where I’m at, which ultimately guides where I want to go. When self-reflecting, I use my Unbound Planner to start this practice, but my brainstorming bubbles over to its own thing after only a few minutes.

The main questions I ask myself starts with the word “Why”. Why do I think this goal is important? Why do I place value on this idea? Or why do I feel this way about certain things? And so on. Of course, there are a multitude of questions to ask oneself. But after every answer, I always go back to ‘Why’.

I decided to round up a few self-reflection questions worth pondering over this morning. Even if you’ve already opened your planner and started preparing for the New Year, these are still good to think about. Sometimes, after asking myself these questions, I find that I planned for things that aren’t aligned with my true goals. This is because we may do things because other people expect us to do them or because we think other people would want us to do them. But in reality, we ourselves don’t want to.

A good example of this is last year’s goal of running 6 miles under one hour. I never got around to accomplishing it. I realize that I wanted to do it because it would be ‘an achievement’. But achievements are only important to the people around us. Achievements are status symbols. Achievements do nothing for our well-being, except add a psyche boost when other people recognize them.

I do not actually love running, and when I do go for a run, I like doing it because I am out in nature and nature relaxes me. The parts I like most about running are the wind in my hair, the sun warming my skin, the sound of birds, and the smell of grass; not the time it took for me or the number of miles.

Realizing that my motivation for running was all wrong, I now know that my goal should be changed. Instead of ‘Run 6 miles in under an hour’, my new goal is to ‘Get outdoors more often by running, hiking, or taking a walk a few times a week.’ That goal is more aligned with who I am as a person, which means I am more likely to do it!

2022 could be the year of balance. It could be the year you embrace your genuine self. But it needs to start with understanding who you are. I hope you enjoy going through these questions. I recommend writing down the answers like I did! My newly acquired Surface Pro Pen has been a godsend for brainstorming! I scribble down all my ideas, erase them, cross them out, circle them, etc. I absolutely love the Surface Pen and aim to use it to help me with my goal of going digital and reducing paper clutter. Without further ado, here are the questions!

Self-Reflection Questions To Guide the New Year

If someone close to you was to give a speech about you, what would they say? What don’t they say that you wish they would?
What are your core values? Do you feel they are well integrated in your daily life? What changes can you make to better build a life around your values?
What are you most proud of in the year before? It could be a favorite memory or a big accomplishment.
What do you love to do? What brings you peace? Joy? How can you make more time for these things?
What drains your energy? What makes you feel anxious or worried? How can you address these things?
What are your talents and strengths? How can you share these with others?
What do you struggle with? Why?
What challenges or distractions hold you back? How can you move past them?
What does being successful mean to you?
How do you want to grow this year?
What motivates you to take action?
What are you feeling called toward or inspired by?
Name one positive habit you want to establish this year.
Name one skill you want to master this year.
What is one fear you want to overcome in the new year? Why do you fear this thing?
What is one dream you want to act on in the new year? Why do you have this dream?
What are your most important relationships? How can you nurture them better?
What does your typical week look like? What is your ideal week?
How do you experience energy levels during the day? How can you structure your day so that your body best supports you? I suggest reading this blog post from Canyon Coffee.
Are there daily routines (morning and evening) that help establish a sense of peace, productivity, and well-being?
What are you most grateful for?
Name one change you can make that will have the biggest impact?
What is one question I want to answer this year?
When am I at my best?

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t forget to ask yourself ‘Why’ when answering these self-reflection questions. You may realize something about yourself that you never knew before. These little discoveries can better align your life to your truth. And once you’ve gotten a bit of insight, go ahead and start planning! I made a list of favorite planners in this post here. I hope you have a wonderful year!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.

A Rainy Day Starter Kit

Rainy season is here and I have put together a rainy day starter kit for Fall! I absolutely love the rain. As a kid, I used to post up by the window panes and feel the thrum of raindrops as I read a book. As a teenage, I loved to hide under the blankets and listen to music or talk to my friends. Adult me is about the same. I now love drinking coffee, writing on my blog, and flitting across Pinterest on rainy days.

It may seem weird to say, but I do like to set up my surroundings on rainy days. That’s why I made this rainy day starter kit! I’ve got to create the right atmosphere before settling into the cold, gloom, and rhythmic lull. This means pillowy blankets, candles, coffeehouse music, and quiet spaces. I create forts where the cat would find me. I dim the lights and play pretend I’m in the Nordic North. My attire matches the event by wearing dark colors, and itchy socks. Together, I’ve wrangled a list of things you need to make the most of your next rainy day.

Candles to set the mood.
A cold-weather capsule wardrobe: robe, leggings, slippers, and socks.
Cozy blankets.
Aromatherapy.
A great read.
Perfectly weighted stoneware mugs.
My favorite kettle.
Something to do.

Related Posts:

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Intentional Living: Invest in Rest

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A good night’s sleep is one of the best forms of self-care. It is regenerative for the body, mind and soul, and much to any frugalist’s joy, it is free. Often viewed as an unproductive activity, getting a good night’s rest lies low on the priority list for the majority. On the contrary, I attribute much of my productivity and success to sleep – and a lot of it, too!

Ever since I was young, I was very fond of the stuff. My parents love to tell the story of how I would nod off in my high-chair, often plopping my face down on my food. I was the last to wake up on Christmas morning (well, every morning for that matter) and the first to fall asleep at night. At family get-togethers, one could be sure to find me on the couch, hogging up the sitting space asleep in fetal position. I took afternoon naps until high school and even in college, I was one of the few people who got eight hours of sleep, frequently trading in a night of partying for my warm sheets.

There was a time when I went against my sleeping pattern and took up midnight shifts as an early-morning baker. I noticed the toll it took on my health. Even though I was still sleeping eight hours every night, the fluctuation between night shifts and day shifts every other day really wrecked my body. I started depending on coffee, lost a lot of weight, and had trouble eating. My mind was exhausted and I noticed that I was on survival mode, less productive overall and more lenient about my tasks and deadlines. It only took three months for me to realize the effects, and while I was happy and alive, my body was barely keeping up.

As I gained awareness of my body’s circadian rhythm, I learned that my optimal sleeping time is 9 hours per night. If I receive less than that, it is best if I take a mid-afternoon nap. Now there are groups of people who would argue against the health benefits of this. But every person is different and the range of ideal sleep time is vast. Regardless of what the actual number of hours is, sleep is a crucial part to your overall productivity and here is why you need to make sure you get enough of it.

Reasons to Invest in Rest

Sleep is important for memory and processing daily experiences.
A night of sleep more than doubles the likelihood that you will solve a problem requiring insight.
Sleep clears toxins in the brain.
Sleep is the most crucial factor for peak performance, memory, productivity, immune function, mood regulation.
Even mild sleep reduction has detrimental effects on cognitive function many days afterwards.
One-third of working Americans sleep less than six hours a night.
Sleep deprivation was declared a public health epidemic by the CDC in 2018.
Lack of sleep increases the risk of heart disease, obesity, stroke, and cancer.
Getting consistent sleep is very important to your health.

As a person trying to live an intentional life, I care a lot about sleep. I understand that the long-effects of getting enough shut-eye will outweigh the few hours I lose each day. Investing in rest doesn’t just mean making the resolution to sleep a set number of hours each night, although that is the FREE self-care part of it. However, one must also consider what they sleep on.

I spend a lot of time curating my bed, and highly recommend getting a mattress and pillows that are ergonomically beneficial. Spinal problems caused by having a cheap bed will translate to decreased quality of life and productivity. My personal favorite company is LEESA. We own their mattress topper and pillows, and it has been such a game-changer. I used to have a lot of neck and back pain due to maintaining static postures and craning my neck at the dental office – so much so that I would wake up in the middle of the night from the pain and spend entire Saturdays lying on the couch unable to move. Once we switched to high-quality pillows and added the LEESA mattress topper, the pain went away! After watching my dad undergo three spinal surgeries in the last two years, I knew that I was not going to wait until my own symptoms got worse. If you want to step up your bed game, Try LEESA! Get up to $400 OFF a LEESA mattress this MLK weekend by clicking on my affiliate link. They have a great trial-period guarantee. For those who are wary about making such an expensive commitment to their health, LEESA also offers 0% financing through Affirm for as low as $25 a month, the equivalent of 8 drip coffees! Think of it as getting better sleep and saving on the coffee.

Likewise, I also invest in high quality bedsheets made out of clean fabrics that are good for the skin. I really like Parachute’s linen sheets and have written why Parachute sheets are the only sheets you need to own this post. Since then, we’ve tried a cotton duvet cover from them as well, pictured above, and we love it just as equally.

An alternative for those who wish to have cotton sheets is PACT. Pact is an eco-conscious company who makes clothing and textiles for the home. Currently, they have a sale on their bedding and bath products lasting until January 31, 2021. Simply use the code REFRESH25 to receive 25% OFF. You can access the sale by clicking on my affiliate link here.

Other rituals I have around my sleep include making my bed every morning so that the sheets stay clean, turning on a humidifier, and putting my phone away an hour before bed. We also wash the sheets frequently, vacuum the mattress, and rotate the toppers and pillows as outlined by my ultimate cleaning list.

Regardless of what you do to make sleep an important part of your day, make sure to prioritize it for the years to come!

Related Posts:

Why A Kitchen Reno Is Not Happening Any Time Soon

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Sometimes, this space is as much for my readers as it is for me – a place where I can store letters to myself or record the reasoning behind this experimental project which I call life. Today, it serves as the latter, although my readers may find the value in it too; A kind note to myself as to why a kitchen renovation is not in the cards in our near future, and why that is perfectly okay.

I toyed with the idea of re-doing our kitchen in December, after visiting a few friends who underwent just that. Their pretty white cabinets and shining appliances made an impression on me and had me stumbling down a rabbit hole of quartz countertops and custom-made wooden doors. In my musings, I mulled over all the flaws of our tiny kitchen space – the creaking faucet that is sure to break any minute now, the super thin metal sink banged up from carelessness, the water-logged floorboards caused by a leak every time we ran the dishwasher left undiagnosed until three plumbers later, the oven that clicks without a fan in the rear, the plastic microwave with its sticky hooded vents, the peeling panels stickered onto the laminated cabinet doors and the crusty chipboard slowly giving up underneath these fake countertops – all the things that my dream kitchen did not have.

My consideration even went so far as physically going to Ikea, planning a kitchen with a consultant, getting quotes from the third party counter-top company and the installation crew, and coming up with a game plan to ensue renovation at a moment’s notice. As usual, my husband gave me pause and we agreed to dog-ear the project and revisit at a later month.

During which, all the things I love about the kitchen re-surfaced. I had already written another note to myself about How to Fall In Love with a Kitchen but forgot it in the midst of celebrating all the newness of our friend’s “new” home. Which goes to show that sometimes, we need reminders of our love, such as that which I hold for my own space.

How it was my own bakery for a year of my life, how I know exactly the way my breads will turn out in this faithful oven of mine, how the light hits the fake-wood and adds a soft glow to my mornings and late afternoons, how the countertops never cause me worry and allow me to thoughtlessly spill sauce that would certainly stain marble and leave hot pans unattended which would certainly burn wood, how the kitchen fridge holds enough food for the three of us, how my dishwasher keeps my hands from drying out in the winter time, how we eat breakfast and prep meals around the free wooden island that came with the house and those fold-up-Ikea chairs, how there is just enough room to store all our belongings, how a cabinet in particular holds the exact dimensions needed for my beloved KitchenAid Mixer, how there is a very specific counterspace wide enough to house our espresso machine and coffee grinder, and how it brings me so much joy to stare at my kitchen from the couch, thanking my lucky stars that we get to call this abode our home.

With all of this recognition for our kitchen’s enoughness comes the flaws of doing a renovation. Redoing a kitchen would definitely put us behind on our loan repayment journey, which serves as our number one priority and biggest goal. Redoing a kitchen would take away time from our daily lives, as well as erase my bakery’s memories. Redoing a kitchen will unlikely bring us lasting happiness, as I continue to spill sauce on new countertops and drop things in a new sink while relearning the workings of a new oven. Lastly and most importantly, redoing a kitchen is not exactly what we are about.

In an effort to practice gratitude for what we already have, to live freely from working 9-5, and to live purposefully and to the fullest, I have decided after much consideration not to tackle the kitchen renovation. And while Instagram will feed me mementos as to why renovation is a must, I will be baking away in this darn kitchen, grateful for it supporting all my culinary endeavors, forgiving my experimental failures, and hosting my favorite people while learning and relearning the beauty in the aging of things and the growing of ourselves.

Other reminders and related posts:

The True Cause of a Spending Problem

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Do you have a spending problem? Are you someone who just can’t make ends meet? Have you found that no matter how much you increase your income, you can’t break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle? Do you find yourself shopping when you are stressed or tired or sad? Perhaps this post is for you.

It may not be what you want to hear, but the truth is this:

A spending problem is the result of not knowing who you want to be, or where you want your life to go.

Emotional spending occurs because a void needs filling. Unfortunately, more often than not, the spending itself fails at solving the problem. Rather, it extenuates it by creating a loop cycle that enlarges the void and brings us further from our true goals.

For example, have you ever tried to treat your stress by shopping online? At first, it felt good, but after a while, regret starts to sink in and your newfound purchase falls short of delivering lasting happiness, not to mention instantly decreases in value. Does it sound familiar to you? Because it sure does to me.

Not knowing who we want to be or what we want our life to look like makes it difficult to know what is worthy of our time and money. If we do not have a clear purpose, goal, or ambition, then it becomes easy to fall into the cycle of spending our resources on what people around us promote, rather than what we need. Because what we gain was never truly for us, it doesn’t fill the void at all, resulting in spending again, and again, and again.

If you want to treat a spending problem, my financial advice is to start with you. Define who you want to be and where you want your life to go. At least, that’s what we did and it worked for us. Because I used to be like you, too. I had $30,000 in credit card debt. I had more than half a million dollars in student loans. I went shopping every weekend in my early twenties and bought avocado toast while I was in dental school. I had a serious spending problem, until I realized who I was and what I wanted.

I am a simple person. I enjoy reading books and baking bread. I find joy in quiet time and yoga. My mind is healthiest when I am outdoors collecting rocks on a beach. I wanted a life of financial freedom. I wanted to be able to choose a job to my liking. I wanted the autonomy to work in a way that is aligned to my values. I want the freedom to call my own hours, to choose days of rest, to pursue other passions, and I understood that I couldn’t do that if I chose material stuff, trends, and status symbols. That’s how this all started.

I was lucky enough to find a financial advisor in my early years who delved deeply into what I wanted for my future. It was only then, when I saw the big picture, did I have the motivation to get rid of my spending problem. And if I am being honest, without a clear picture of where I wanted my life to be, I would just as likely have reverted back to my previous ways. It was the clarity that kept me going.

The true cause of a spending problem is not being intentionally clear enough about your life.

Here are good places to start:

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If you have trouble paying off your credit card debts, you can always try The Credit Pros. They will help identify the most damaging and most helpful credit items, as well as provide advice and educational tools.