Month: May 2026

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Top Posts

Jennifer Tilly’s $40,000 Crystal Bear Bag

Rachel Zoe Used These Beauty and Makeup Products on Season 15 of RHOBH

Amanda Batula’s Plaid Bikini

Kyle Richards’ Tan Leather Lace Dress

Kyle Richards’ Navy Tie Neck Shirt and Tan Woven Bag

Dorit Kemsley’s Brown Wrap Dress

Dorit Kemsley’s Turquoise Necklace and Gold Hoop Earrings

Dorit Kemsley’s Navy Satin Shirt and Belted Pants

Dorit Kemsley’s Season 15 Reunion Look

Rachel Zoe’s Season 15 Reunion Look

Rachel Zoe’s Rainbow Metallic Pleated Maxi Dress

Rachel Zoe’s Black Sequin Please Do Not Disturb Bag

Dorit Kemsley’s White Floral Embroidered Corset

Kyle Richards’ Season 15 Reunion Look

Rachel Zoe’s Black Paisley Print One Shoulder Dress

Amanda Batula’s Cartier Watch from Kyle

Originally posted at: Stassi Schroeder’s Brown Knit Fringe Dress

I am a fan of national theme months, of which we have many in this country, so of course I love Financial Literacy Month in April every year. But I’m also realistic enough to know that most of the themes are best practiced all year long, whether they are health related, money related, or otherwise. So in honor of that concept, I want to share some practical financial tips and tools that can and should be acted on all year round in case you missed learning or implementing something you read or experienced this past April.

Knowledge is Only the Beginning

Knowledge is part of the required first steps to improve anything in life but knowledge without taking action on that learning is not impactful at all. How many people do you know that talk a good game, perhaps about a lot of things, but then rarely ever act on those ideas? Anything that requires inertia and intentional effort, often gets left undone until it becomes an emergency. Either overwhelm or analysis paralysis often gets in the way. All of which is why I am a true believer in the value of checklists.

To Do to Ta-da!

You know the drill. You write it down, break the actions into smaller doable steps, check them off as you accomplish them and successfully accomplish what you set out to do. That is unless another shiny penny or squirrel (aka life) distracted you away! Maybe we need a mindset shift. What if we create a To Do list with the goal of feeling “Ta-da!” at the bottom of the list, complete with a reward to cement the “ta-da!” feeling? Maybe that approach would help us get to the bottom of the list?

Checklist Bundles

That was my mindset when I created Money Checklist Bundles – checklists for the various phases we go through in life. Whether we are just starting out on our own, getting married, having a family, empty nesters, headed to retirement, or shifting gears after a relationship change… practical guidance to stay ahead financially can be really helpful. Each bundle boils the main steps down to a checklist of 10 things to do (before and after the life event) and then also embellishes your options to plan and get your financial house in order with dozens of additional checklists. Who wouldn’t want to feel “Ta-da!” at every life stage?

Money in Motion

In the financial services industry, we often refer to these stages as “money in motion” times of life. Something happening financially is often the reason that people finally do something about improving their financial situation. Maybe they are changing or leaving jobs and now there is 401k paperwork to deal with. Maybe there are big expenses coming up (college, wedding, home purchase) to figure out how to fund. Maybe the family is growing or shrinking in size or relocating or upsizing or downsizing which are all financial changes that require some money in motion.

Crisis to Calm

But like most things in life, changes you can anticipate, prepare for, and have decided in advance what you will do if they happen are much less stressful than unexpected events. That’s why it helps to have a Before and After checklist. Turning potential crisis times into calm coordination is definitely a Ta-da! feeling everyone would welcome.

Your Sponge Days

It helps to remember that how you feel about money today, make financial decisions today, and spend or save today were imprinted in you during your childhood. You were a sponge absorbing whatever your environment was dishing out. You may have experienced role model behavior or trauma or everything in between. Your childhood may have made things harder or easier for you today from a financial personality standpoint. But acknowledging that childhood experience is the first step toward moving forward financially.

New Learning

Sometimes our financial To Do tasks are familiar and other times they require new learning. Learning something new may sound challenging, frustrating, or scary. Remember, new learning is like taking our brain to the gym so think of it like another adventure that is really good for you in several ways. Your mind is in charge of your brain so don’t let the brain get stuck in negative, fearful thinking. You are seeking the Ta-da! feeling but you can’t get there if you don’t expect it from the beginning.

Enjoy and Celebrate

No matter what life stage or To Do list you are working on, financially or otherwise, my last experience tip is to try to enjoy the journey and feel good about checking off the tasks even if you don’t complete all of them. In the process, you should feel more financial confidence and stability. And anything you complete is more than you had done before. So celebrate your Ta-da! since you are further ahead than before you started the list!

Let’s Chat:

What checklist is most calling your name right now? How have the life events you have experienced impacted your money habits today? Any “Ta-da!” steps that have been most impactful for you? Let’s have a discussion.

The next time you see a tree, let it remind you of the value of friendship and community.

When I turned 70, I found myself stunned and lost, wondering “Where did everyone go?” I had recently left full-time work, and around the same time, my grandson, whom I’d raised, launched into young adulthood. Life felt like a vacuum, and I did not know which way to turn.

I spent a lot of time walking in the forest. It turns out the trees had something to teach me. By understanding them, I realized I needed to tend my own forest of friendships more intentionally.

Scientists have discovered that trees communicate through underground networks, sharing nutrients with struggling neighbors and even recognizing their own offspring. A tree standing alone topples in the first serious storm. Trees standing together are more likely to stay strong through the storm.

At my wedding, I told our gathered family and friends that they were “our trees” that would help us stand strong through whatever came.

Here’s what the forest taught me about building and maintaining the connections that research tells us add not just years to our lives, but happiness during those years.

Spring: Planting Yourself in New Soil

When young trees need to establish themselves, they don’t wait for perfect conditions. They send roots down into whatever soil is available, testing, exploring, reaching out. We need to do the same.

I had never before thought about having to create connections and community. It had always just “happened.” I had friends through work, through raising children, and through the natural rhythms of a busy life. But those rhythms had changed, and I had to change with them. I had to start with where I was in life and grow from there.

The gift we have that trees don’t is agency. We can be rooted in more than one orchard. We can leave an orchard if it doesn’t serve us. We can join an orchard if it suits us. We can find the best context for us to be planted.

I used Meetup to find my Dragon Boat sisters; we paddle those long 20-person boats with dragon heads and drummers in competitions. I joined a hiking group. I looked at my acquaintances and asked myself honestly: Who do I truly enjoy? And then I nurtured those relationships intentionally.

This is your spring work: Ask yourself where you want to put down roots. Book clubs? Meditation circles? Volunteer organizations? Religious communities? The options are there if you look for them. Who else is active in areas that interest you? How can you connect with them?

Plant yourself somewhere new this season. Send down a root. See what grows.

Summer: Growing Deep Roots

Summer is when real growth happens. Roots push deeper, the canopy fills out, the tree becomes more substantial. This is the season of intimacy.

Sharing interests offers community, but not always the closeness of real intimacy. Both have value, but we all need one or more truly intimate relationships. This is where the tree metaphor becomes particularly instructive.

Trees share resources with their neighbors including nutrients, water, and warnings about threats. How do you share resources with friends? To me, this means being open to share what’s called to be shared at any point in time. We share information about good restaurants, hiking trails, and recipes. But at a deeper level, we share experiences, stories and perspectives that provide support and build connection.

My best friends and I listen to each other and we believe in each other. I pay attention to moments when I can amplify them and reinforce their gifts. One friend talked about feeling powerless given world conditions. I suggested that when she helps others meditate, that is a form of power. She nearly cried.

Trees also provide safety. Their interconnected root systems help each other stand through storms. I have friends I would not hesitate a moment to help if they called with a significant health, emotional, or safety challenge. If something happened to my health, home, or husband, I have friends who will be there for me. That is safety.

This summer work requires asking: What is the nature of your intimate relationships? How can you be more proactive in nurturing real intimacy, beyond just pleasant familiarity?

Deep roots take time, but summer is long.

Fall: Shedding What No Longer Serves

Fall is the season of letting go. Trees drop their leaves not as an act of loss, but as their cycle of life. They know what they can’t sustain through winter.

We need this wisdom too. Not every orchard serves us forever. Not every connection deserves the same energy. As we age, our time and energy become more precious. There is great value in focusing on the relationships that enliven you, and less so with others.

This doesn’t mean suddenly cutting people out of your life. It means recognizing when certain relationships have run their natural course, when groups no longer align with who you’re becoming, or when an orchard has become toxic rather than nourishing.

Trees send their resources to where they’re needed most. We can do the same. We can let some connections fade gracefully while we invest more deeply in others. We can leave communities that drain us and seek ones that energize us.

Ask yourself: Are there relationships or communities that feel obligatory rather than life-giving? What would happen if you released them? What energy would that free up for connections that truly matter?

Winter: Providing Shelter and Staying Rooted

Winter is when trees prove their worth. When storms come, snow weighs down branches, and everything seems dormant is when the strength of the root system matters most.

This is the season of showing up. Of being the tree that doesn’t topple, so others can lean against you. And others are there for you, should you need them. When my neighbor was diagnosed with lymphoma, I reached out to see how I could help with meals and family. I wore my “red socks” on the day of her biopsy to stand with her in spirit. We are closer now and that feels good.

In winter, trees stand together. Their underground network doesn’t stop working just because the surface looks dead. In fact, that’s when the sharing of resources matters most.

I often discover that I’m not alone in my experiences where I feel challenged, and that gives me peace. We all need to know we’re not the only tree experiencing winter. We all need the reminder that spring will come again.

Winter is also the season for reflection. What do you give and receive from your friendships? Do you have people in your life that you can lean on and they on you? Is it time to prepare for a new spring planting?

The Cycle Continues

The wonderful thing about seasons is that they repeat. You’ll have multiple springs, summers, falls, and winters in your friendship forest.

The research is clear and consistent that feeling connected and enjoying good relationships adds wellness, happiness, and years to life. Robert Waldinger’s work in “The Good Life” is just one example among many studies that support this finding.

Unlike trees, we have choice. We can tend our forests intentionally with awareness and purpose.

Let’s Reflect Together:

What season are you in right now with your connections? If you’re feeling lonely, what’s one first step you might take? With whom? Then, do it now. Don’t wait for perfect spring weather. Plant a seed today. Your forest is waiting for you. Like trees, we need each other.

If you have watched social media, YouTube or HGTV lately, you have likely seen more and more people choosing to downsize and live in a tiny home.

At first, they all looked similar.

Small spaces, clever designs, and a simpler way of living.

Tiny Homes are even being used as a manageable way to age in place for seniors with 40% of the population living in tiny homes above the age of 50.

But the more you look, the more you start to notice that these homes come in different shapes, sizes, and setups.

And that’s where the confusion starts because a tiny house and a tiny home are not the same thing.

It may seem like a small wording difference, but it can lead to big misunderstandings if you’re not careful.

The way they’re built, where they can go, and how you actually live in them can be very different.

Let me walk you through the difference between a tiny house and a tiny home.

Why Everyone Is Talking About Tiny Homes

A lot of people I talk to are at a point where the house feels bigger than their life.

The kids are gone. The rooms sit empty. But the bills, the cleaning, and the upkeep are still there. And frankly, you are probably just tired of it all. (I know I am!)

The thought of aging in place may seem overwhelming in a big house.

So the idea of going smaller starts to sound really appealing and you may be wondering if the investment in a smaller space is worth it.

That’s where the “tiny home” idea comes in, which is a key part in the tiny home movement.

With the evolution of the tiny home movement comes the development of tiny home communities as well. (A favorite topic of mine!)

It started as a way to live with less. Less space, less cost, less stress.

At first, most of the focus was on tiny houses on wheels which started popping up.

But over time, the idea expanded to include many sizes and types.

What Is a Tiny Home?

In my opinion, a Tiny Home is not properly defined with consistency anywhere over the internet.

So what do we do when this happens?

Define it myself and hope it takes off so we can eventually have a consistent definition and understanding.

Here is what a tiny home is, according to me.

“A tiny home is not one specific type of structure. It’s a general term for living in a smaller space that’s easier to take care of and live in day to day.”

You still probably have:

• A kitchen or eating space
• A bathroom
• A living area
• A bedroom or sleeping space

Just less extra space you don’t use and probably don’t actually need.

The prices of a tiny home could drastically differ too, depending on the type of structure you choose.

Some common types of tiny homes include:

• Backyard cottages (also known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU))
• A In-law suite in a multi-generational home
• Small single-family homes (400 square feet – 1000 square feet)
• Park model homes
• Tiny house on wheels
• Skoolies
• Yurts

What is a Park Model Home?

Let’s take a minute to define what a park model home is because I guarantee this is what you are seeing marketed the most online right now.

It’s:

• Usually under 400 square feet.
• Delivered to a site and set up – not meant to be easily mobile.
• Designed for long-term living.
• Often placed in communities or on private land.

It’s smaller, but it doesn’t feel temporary.

Park model homes have:

• Downstairs bedrooms
• Full bathrooms
• Full Kitchens
• Porches
• Laundry

They are one of the most common choices I see for people downsizing.

Why?

Because they feel familiar.

You walk in and it feels like a small home, and you get a move-in ready option.

You’re just living your life, in a smaller space.

Most park models fall somewhere between $60,000 and $120,000+ depending on finishes and location. That’s a big range, but even on the higher end, it can still be far less than maintaining a larger home.

And in many tiny home communities, you also get a built-in social life, which matters more than people expect.

The caveat is they are classified as an R.V., and you usually see them sold by the same dealer of manufactured homes.

What Is a Tiny House?

A “tiny house” actually has a real definition in the building code.

According to the IRC Appendix AQ, a tiny house is:

• A home that is 400 square feet or less
• Measured excluding lofts (so sleeping lofts don’t count toward that size)

They follow residential building standards, just with special rules that make small spaces more livable.

Some tiny houses are on a foundation and others are on wheels.

For example, the code allows things like:

• Lower ceiling heights in certain areas
• Loft spaces for sleeping or storage
• Compact stairways or ladders

Most are on wheels and designed to be moved. If they are on wheels, they can only be about 8 feet wide to be able to be moved on a road.

Tiny houses can cost anywhere from about $50,000 to $150,000 or more depending on how they’re built. Some choose to build them as DIY projects to save a lot of money.

So price-wise, they’re not always the “cheap” option people expect either. You still have all the expensive parts of a home but in a smaller package.

You can save a lot on insurance, utilities, taxes, and maintenance so the long-term savings should be considered also.

Tiny House vs. Tiny Home vs. Park Model Home

Sometimes a comparison is worth a thousand words.

Each of the structures has its own pros and cons as well as different uses.

Why This Gets So Confusing

A lot of the confusion comes from what you see online. You’ll see a beautiful photo and it’s labeled “tiny house.”

But it might actually be a tiny house on wheels, a park model, an ADU or a small home on land.

Everything gets grouped together because it looks similar.

But the details matter.

Things like:

• Where can you place it?
• How easy is it to live in?
• What does your day-to-day life actually feel like?
• Is it mobile?
• How is it classified?
• Can it be financed?
• How big is it?
• How is it insured?
• Is it certified?
• Can it be used as an ADU?

Final Thoughts

Tiny house and tiny home may sound the same, but they can lead to very different living experiences. Once you understand the difference, it becomes much easier to choose a setup that fits your daily life.

For many people, options like park models or small homes on land end up being more practical and comfortable.

If you want to explore these options in more detail, you can find more simple guides and examples on ReErin.com or on my YouTube channels Tiny Home Connection @TinyHomeConnection or the ADU Connection @ADUConnection.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you been researching tiny homes? What did you learn? Did you know there was a difference between tiny home and tiny house?

The next time you see a tree, let it remind you of the value of friendship and community.

When I turned 70, I found myself stunned and lost, wondering “Where did everyone go?” I had recently left full-time work, and around the same time, my grandson, whom I’d raised, launched into young adulthood. Life felt like a vacuum, and I did not know which way to turn.

I spent a lot of time walking in the forest. It turns out the trees had something to teach me. By understanding them, I realized I needed to tend my own forest of friendships more intentionally.

Scientists have discovered that trees communicate through underground networks, sharing nutrients with struggling neighbors and even recognizing their own offspring. A tree standing alone topples in the first serious storm. Trees standing together are more likely to stay strong through the storm.

At my wedding, I told our gathered family and friends that they were “our trees” that would help us stand strong through whatever came.

Here’s what the forest taught me about building and maintaining the connections that research tells us add not just years to our lives, but happiness during those years.

Spring: Planting Yourself in New Soil

When young trees need to establish themselves, they don’t wait for perfect conditions. They send roots down into whatever soil is available, testing, exploring, reaching out. We need to do the same.

I had never before thought about having to create connections and community. It had always just “happened.” I had friends through work, through raising children, and through the natural rhythms of a busy life. But those rhythms had changed, and I had to change with them. I had to start with where I was in life and grow from there.

The gift we have that trees don’t is agency. We can be rooted in more than one orchard. We can leave an orchard if it doesn’t serve us. We can join an orchard if it suits us. We can find the best context for us to be planted.

I used Meetup to find my Dragon Boat sisters; we paddle those long 20-person boats with dragon heads and drummers in competitions. I joined a hiking group. I looked at my acquaintances and asked myself honestly: Who do I truly enjoy? And then I nurtured those relationships intentionally.

This is your spring work: Ask yourself where you want to put down roots. Book clubs? Meditation circles? Volunteer organizations? Religious communities? The options are there if you look for them. Who else is active in areas that interest you? How can you connect with them?

Plant yourself somewhere new this season. Send down a root. See what grows.

Summer: Growing Deep Roots

Summer is when real growth happens. Roots push deeper, the canopy fills out, the tree becomes more substantial. This is the season of intimacy.

Sharing interests offers community, but not always the closeness of real intimacy. Both have value, but we all need one or more truly intimate relationships. This is where the tree metaphor becomes particularly instructive.

Trees share resources with their neighbors including nutrients, water, and warnings about threats. How do you share resources with friends? To me, this means being open to share what’s called to be shared at any point in time. We share information about good restaurants, hiking trails, and recipes. But at a deeper level, we share experiences, stories and perspectives that provide support and build connection.

My best friends and I listen to each other and we believe in each other. I pay attention to moments when I can amplify them and reinforce their gifts. One friend talked about feeling powerless given world conditions. I suggested that when she helps others meditate, that is a form of power. She nearly cried.

Trees also provide safety. Their interconnected root systems help each other stand through storms. I have friends I would not hesitate a moment to help if they called with a significant health, emotional, or safety challenge. If something happened to my health, home, or husband, I have friends who will be there for me. That is safety.

This summer work requires asking: What is the nature of your intimate relationships? How can you be more proactive in nurturing real intimacy, beyond just pleasant familiarity?

Deep roots take time, but summer is long.

Fall: Shedding What No Longer Serves

Fall is the season of letting go. Trees drop their leaves not as an act of loss, but as their cycle of life. They know what they can’t sustain through winter.

We need this wisdom too. Not every orchard serves us forever. Not every connection deserves the same energy. As we age, our time and energy become more precious. There is great value in focusing on the relationships that enliven you, and less so with others.

This doesn’t mean suddenly cutting people out of your life. It means recognizing when certain relationships have run their natural course, when groups no longer align with who you’re becoming, or when an orchard has become toxic rather than nourishing.

Trees send their resources to where they’re needed most. We can do the same. We can let some connections fade gracefully while we invest more deeply in others. We can leave communities that drain us and seek ones that energize us.

Ask yourself: Are there relationships or communities that feel obligatory rather than life-giving? What would happen if you released them? What energy would that free up for connections that truly matter?

Winter: Providing Shelter and Staying Rooted

Winter is when trees prove their worth. When storms come, snow weighs down branches, and everything seems dormant is when the strength of the root system matters most.

This is the season of showing up. Of being the tree that doesn’t topple, so others can lean against you. And others are there for you, should you need them. When my neighbor was diagnosed with lymphoma, I reached out to see how I could help with meals and family. I wore my “red socks” on the day of her biopsy to stand with her in spirit. We are closer now and that feels good.

In winter, trees stand together. Their underground network doesn’t stop working just because the surface looks dead. In fact, that’s when the sharing of resources matters most.

I often discover that I’m not alone in my experiences where I feel challenged, and that gives me peace. We all need to know we’re not the only tree experiencing winter. We all need the reminder that spring will come again.

Winter is also the season for reflection. What do you give and receive from your friendships? Do you have people in your life that you can lean on and they on you? Is it time to prepare for a new spring planting?

The Cycle Continues

The wonderful thing about seasons is that they repeat. You’ll have multiple springs, summers, falls, and winters in your friendship forest.

The research is clear and consistent that feeling connected and enjoying good relationships adds wellness, happiness, and years to life. Robert Waldinger’s work in “The Good Life” is just one example among many studies that support this finding.

Unlike trees, we have choice. We can tend our forests intentionally with awareness and purpose.

Let’s Reflect Together:

What season are you in right now with your connections? If you’re feeling lonely, what’s one first step you might take? With whom? Then, do it now. Don’t wait for perfect spring weather. Plant a seed today. Your forest is waiting for you. Like trees, we need each other.