We have well and truly managed to screw ourselves over in the age of convenience. Don't get me wrong, things are better than ever for many people, and I'm not advocating a return to days of serfdom and lighting from lanterns filled with animal fat, but we have to understand that there are consequences to… Continue reading Putting a Proper Timeline on Expectations
Author: Secondhand Thoughts
A 30-something teacher trying to be an adult in Vancouver, Canada.
Setbacks are Inevitable
You have to love governments - they really know how to bring the hammer down hard on you. I was coasting along, having had a lovely May long weekend, feeling good about life, when a letter came in the mail. Not thinking too much about it (I'd paid my taxes on time, and got a… Continue reading Setbacks are Inevitable
Challenge Day 4: Tragedy and the Next Meal
As I mentioned in my previous post, I've become too habituated to ordering food online and having it delivered. It is so simple and easy and stress free that it sucks me right in. My wallet has been taking a reasonably hefty hit - about $250 extra per month on a handful of meals. That… Continue reading Challenge Day 4: Tragedy and the Next Meal
My New Make Everything at Home Meal Challenge – Day 1
So lately I have been becoming very lazy. About once a week I'll text my husband, ask him what he wants for dinner, and I'll get the response along the lines of: "I don't know. What do you want?" I'll look at the uninspiring contents of our fridge and suggest sushi/Thai/Indian/literally anything that doesn't involve… Continue reading My New Make Everything at Home Meal Challenge – Day 1
Beer Gardens: A Gift and a Curse
The weather has turned, and boy oh boy is it about time! In my particular area we went from 9 degrees Celsius to 22 degrees Celsius in about a week, after a particularly long and cold winter. Barbecues were being dusted off and fired up at an incredible rate this past week, and suddenly everyone… Continue reading Beer Gardens: A Gift and a Curse
Mother’s Day Gifts for a Mom Who Wants Nothing
Do moms ever actually like breakfast in bed? So many crumbs! Gone are the days when my sister and I would "sneak" to the kitchen with my dad on that special Sunday morning and make mom a special breakfast (usually involving very cold toast and on one memorable occasion mixing tea and coffee together because… Continue reading Mother’s Day Gifts for a Mom Who Wants Nothing
Cutting Others Some Slack
I love the Internet. I feel it is a massive accomplishment by humankind and I love to take advantage of all that it has to offer. I am also not blind to its pitfalls. The ability to find anything instantaneously and to a satisfying degree has made me discover something nasty about myself: I am… Continue reading Cutting Others Some Slack
Forcing a Spark of Creativity
Oh man, this has taken a while to get to. After going on holiday over a month ago and coming back to the routine of home, I had lost any motivation to create anything. That spanned different areas of my day, from creating new resources for my classrooms to creating an enticing meal that my… Continue reading Forcing a Spark of Creativity
The Airport is a Huge Money Suck
This week I have the joy of boarding a long-haul international flight. I love travelling, and I actually don't mind flying, but what I absolutely despise is the waiting. My dad instilled a very strict "BE AT THE AIRPORT THREE HOURS EARLY!" rule from since I was very young, and I've never been able to… Continue reading The Airport is a Huge Money Suck
The Spending Bug Bit Me
I pride myself on being incredibly frugal. I've managed to save up a reasonably large amount of money by not buying clothes I don't need, finding cheaper vacations (camping for the win!) and having a cash diet for fun money every month that in theory should keep the credit card bills down. Lately, however, my… Continue reading The Spending Bug Bit Me
Secondhand Thoughts 