I made a huge purchase I’ve wanted to make most of my life — a grain mill. I had been shopping for a used one for a couple of years. Last week I decided I should do it before the tariffs kicked in. I already bake our bread. Now searching for a local farmer who will sell me some wheat right off the farm.
I did not make it often when I was running a newspaper and raising kids. But it’s surprisingly less time consuming than you think. You don’t have to knead this bread. (I do but it’s optional). You can just do the lift-and-fold method. Once your dough is done, you can leave it the fridge for a couple of days — it will wait until you have time. Then, you shape it and put it on parchment. Preheat a cast iron Dutch oven to 500 degrees and put the dough — paper and all — into the pot and cover. Timing varies a bit depending on the volume of your loaf. It takes a day or two to make, but the hands-on part is really just a few minutes here and there. I can do it because I work from home, but you could also arrange the hands-on parts to coincide when you’re around.
Or you could come to. my house and slice off a piece. :)
It wasn't a huge purchase, but one that will help my daughter on her education journey. She's decided to get her degree in journalism (and boy do we need journalism with integrity now) so I bought her a comprehensive journalism guide from Writer's Digest. A resource to get her started until school begins.
Congrats on selling all the books you brought to the conference. So much brilliance in that package - it will be their joyful spend for the week. 💥
Got myself some new run/walking shoes this week without restricting my budget. I’d postponed this for no good reason. My daily walks bring me so much joy! A gift that keeps on giving. 👟
Always delightful to talk with you, Dana. Excited we can record and share. 🎤
Fucking exhausted, indeed. But welcome home! And YAYyyy to Wisconsin this week! My fellow red-state household was celebrating! Here's my Money Date:
* Joyful: I received a stack of books I'd ordered from an independent bookstore. They cost me more than if I'd used the library or purchased on my Kindle; but I'm divesting from Amazon, breaking up with my Kindle, and prioritizing supporting the people who make their livelihoods from one of my greatest joys -- books.
* Change/Avoid: I'm still working on breaking up with DoorDash. Sigh.
* Support your goals: I, too, am self employed. And a longtime boundary of mine has been not to schedule appointments with clients on Friday. But for a number of goal-related reasons -- both income as well as truly enjoying my work with a particular client -- I thoughtfully chose to start seeing one client once a month on Fridays. That starts tomorrow.
* Changes to commitments/goals: I'll finish paying off my car later this year, and my intention was always to then begin putting that monthly amount toward paying down our mortgage. Amid <all of everything this week> I began considering whether I may decide to stash that monthly away in savings instead for the purposes of having more cash on hand.
Joyful: I booked a hotel room for my partner and I to go on our anniversary trip in May! He had the idea that we should have a romantic weekend in Paris (we live in the UK) and he bought EuroStar train tickets like 2 months ago. I decided to book a hotel in the neighborhood that I most want to be in (Montmartre), rather than just trying to find the cheapest acceptable place.
Change/avoid: I am super ashamed to admit this (I have not told anyone, actually), but on Tuesday I accidentally left a burner on in the house for a lot of hours. I am so so so grateful that I didn't cause any damage - it was on the lowest setting and my cast iron skillet was able to absorb that heat all day without bursting into flames or anything. But I feel wasteful and also dangerous.
Supporting goals: I booked flights for my partner and I to go visit the place where I am negotiating an academic faculty job. The university won't pay for this trip, but we can't make that big of a life decision if he has never visited the city before. It's not even that much money, since we'll stay with friends during the working part of the trip and we'll get a chance to see my family as well.
Changes to commitments/goals: Everything is in flux! I don't know what country I'll be living in, come this time next year!
I made a huge purchase I’ve wanted to make most of my life — a grain mill. I had been shopping for a used one for a couple of years. Last week I decided I should do it before the tariffs kicked in. I already bake our bread. Now searching for a local farmer who will sell me some wheat right off the farm.
There's nothing like fresh homemade bread! I wish I had the patience to do it, but I just enjoy the spoils of those who do. lol!
I did not make it often when I was running a newspaper and raising kids. But it’s surprisingly less time consuming than you think. You don’t have to knead this bread. (I do but it’s optional). You can just do the lift-and-fold method. Once your dough is done, you can leave it the fridge for a couple of days — it will wait until you have time. Then, you shape it and put it on parchment. Preheat a cast iron Dutch oven to 500 degrees and put the dough — paper and all — into the pot and cover. Timing varies a bit depending on the volume of your loaf. It takes a day or two to make, but the hands-on part is really just a few minutes here and there. I can do it because I work from home, but you could also arrange the hands-on parts to coincide when you’re around.
Or you could come to. my house and slice off a piece. :)
Healthy Rich bread exchange!
You would get tired of me showing up at your door with a plate in hand! ha!
It wasn't a huge purchase, but one that will help my daughter on her education journey. She's decided to get her degree in journalism (and boy do we need journalism with integrity now) so I bought her a comprehensive journalism guide from Writer's Digest. A resource to get her started until school begins.
That's fantastic! I love that she's going into journalism 💖
Congrats on selling all the books you brought to the conference. So much brilliance in that package - it will be their joyful spend for the week. 💥
Got myself some new run/walking shoes this week without restricting my budget. I’d postponed this for no good reason. My daily walks bring me so much joy! A gift that keeps on giving. 👟
Always delightful to talk with you, Dana. Excited we can record and share. 🎤
Thank you! Excited to share :)
Fucking exhausted, indeed. But welcome home! And YAYyyy to Wisconsin this week! My fellow red-state household was celebrating! Here's my Money Date:
* Joyful: I received a stack of books I'd ordered from an independent bookstore. They cost me more than if I'd used the library or purchased on my Kindle; but I'm divesting from Amazon, breaking up with my Kindle, and prioritizing supporting the people who make their livelihoods from one of my greatest joys -- books.
* Change/Avoid: I'm still working on breaking up with DoorDash. Sigh.
* Support your goals: I, too, am self employed. And a longtime boundary of mine has been not to schedule appointments with clients on Friday. But for a number of goal-related reasons -- both income as well as truly enjoying my work with a particular client -- I thoughtfully chose to start seeing one client once a month on Fridays. That starts tomorrow.
* Changes to commitments/goals: I'll finish paying off my car later this year, and my intention was always to then begin putting that monthly amount toward paying down our mortgage. Amid <all of everything this week> I began considering whether I may decide to stash that monthly away in savings instead for the purposes of having more cash on hand.
Joyful: I booked a hotel room for my partner and I to go on our anniversary trip in May! He had the idea that we should have a romantic weekend in Paris (we live in the UK) and he bought EuroStar train tickets like 2 months ago. I decided to book a hotel in the neighborhood that I most want to be in (Montmartre), rather than just trying to find the cheapest acceptable place.
Change/avoid: I am super ashamed to admit this (I have not told anyone, actually), but on Tuesday I accidentally left a burner on in the house for a lot of hours. I am so so so grateful that I didn't cause any damage - it was on the lowest setting and my cast iron skillet was able to absorb that heat all day without bursting into flames or anything. But I feel wasteful and also dangerous.
Supporting goals: I booked flights for my partner and I to go visit the place where I am negotiating an academic faculty job. The university won't pay for this trip, but we can't make that big of a life decision if he has never visited the city before. It's not even that much money, since we'll stay with friends during the working part of the trip and we'll get a chance to see my family as well.
Changes to commitments/goals: Everything is in flux! I don't know what country I'll be living in, come this time next year!