Life requires experts, and experts cost money. Here are some experts whose services I’ll be buying in April: THIS PRICY Kohler Karbon faucet WAS MY BEST-EVER SPLURGE FROM MY PRE-SHOPPING FOR HAPPINESS LIFE. AFTER SIX YEARS OF DAILY USE, I STILL THINK IT’S STUNNING. FAUCET DARLING, I COULD NEVER BEGRUDGE ANY MONEY SPENT ON YOU! A lawyer

I know next to nothing about Feng Shui, but enough visitors have commented that my home’s cluttered entranceway has “bad Feng Shui” that I’ve looked into what that might mean. I didn’t think pushing past piles of shoes and boots, baskets of partner-less mittens, kids’ backpacks and ukulele cases was a good way to enter or [&

Since I started Shopping for Happiness last fall, I’ve become much more comfortable buying some big-ticket items, like a ticket to Venice – I’m going in May! – and a new handbag. But I’ve noticed another change: I’m also more comfortable spending small sums on things I used to deny myself, and it’s making my life a […]

 “What shall I spend money on this month?” I asked my husband. He’s been wholly supportive of my Shopping for Happiness project — but this time, instead of weighing in on, say, shoes versus gym bag, he had a critique for me.  “If you’re having trouble finding something, the problem may be that you’ve restricted […]

I wore my mom’s diamond ring to work this week. It actually belonged to my grandmother, who died just months before I was born (I’m named after her), and I was quite young when my mom first told me the ring’s origin story. There are two salient points: my grandmother bought it for herself— and […]

In the spirit of seeing what kind of thrills I can get for my money, I gave the casino a spin. Here’s my short report on the outcome.

I can read and toast the New Year at the same time with this Champagne flute – it’s printed with a quote from The Great Gatsby.  Happy New Year! To be honest, I found some holiday milestones tougher than expected this year – when I went Christmas shopping at the mall I used to go to […]

I made up for not shopping in November by shopping a lot in December. I’ve put up a gallery of my latest fantastic finds on my “I bought this” page. See it here!

The perfect is the enemy of the good. – Voltaire The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30. – Lorne Michaels This month I purchased my first expensive handbag – and made my first “unboxing” or “haul” video. It’s not perfect and I’m not ready, but hey, this year […]