There are a lot of little things about buying a house in another country that you don't have to think about when you purchase in the United States. Other people may have different experiences, but when I bought my apartment in the US, it came with cabinets and most of the closets (I had to build one in the bedroom). The windows came with screens and the staircase had railings. My house in Mexico didn't come with those things. It's both good and bad. The good was being able to

I am a walking contradiction. I'm both a meticulous planner and someone who thrives on spontaneity. Definitely not a risk-taker, yet...

When I was younger, I never thought about my future in terms of who would get what after I died. It's morbid and we all want to think...

I swear the wait was about a year, but closing was finally within sight. I was a bundle of nerves and excitement. I'd never done anything...

After months of charts, spreadsheets, and late-night calls with my mother, I finally decided on the property that would become my new...

I do stupid things quite often, but I can usually think or talk my way out of any mess. Or at least get a good laugh out of it. This...

My decision-making process is just that--a process. Part of it is instinct and vibe, and part of it is old-fashioned pragmatism. Oh, and...

My mother likes to say when I get a bee in my bonnet, I’m going to win at whatever it is. I hate to admit there’s more than a grain of...

Like most people, I love being right. I don’t gloat, but I get a self-satisfied grin on my face or try to further explain why I’m right....

I’m a pretty cautious person, dipping my toe in the water, testing, swirling it around a bit to make sure nothing is going to bite me...

Confession: I used to love HGTV. I could sit for hours with the television tuned to my second favorite station. Myles of Style was my...

I am not a beach person (too many people). I am not a water person (can’t swim). I am, however, a person who loves sunshine and warm...

Purchasing a house is a big decision. Moving to a different city or state is a heavy lift. Building a life in a different country? That’s...

A friend once asked, “Girl, do you even have a pulse?” I wear my calm stillness as a badge of honor, chest poked out and everything, but...