July 12th, 2011
by Dawn Yun
In a former life I was a bargain shopper.
That was my job. I would write about and appear on TV to talk about sales. My bestselling guide was called The Joy of Outlet Shopping.
And it was a joy. Shopping. Saving money.
Then I had kids. I have never over-spent so much in my life.
But things are changing. With the advent of smart phones a bargain is right on my phone. How great is that? Continue… »
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February 20th, 2011
by Dawn Yun
After writing full-time at a news wire service in San Francisco I decided to move to New York City and become a full-time freelance writer.
My only writing connection was to a new women’s magazine that had changed its name from Feeling Great! to Feeling Good!
Genius.
The editor guaranteed me (alright, I begged) one article a month. That paid the rent on my 397-square foot studio.
Heat, food, clothing, clubs, and other essentials I would have to pay for through additional writing.
At a party with far more successful friends than I, was a writer who had graduated from Andover, Harvard and Yale. I know because he mentioned them as often as he did his name. Sometimes, I thought they were his name.
He said he was making money as a freelance writer so I asked him how he did it.
“Porn,” he said, downing bourbon straight up. Yep. A Yalie. Continue… »
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September 28th, 2010
by Dawn Yun
Once again it is that time of the year. Which means it is two months past my daughter’s birthday.
She was born at the end of July however her birthday party (party being the ONLY thing that matters) is the first Sunday in October.
Who should I invite?
My personal feeling is to include everyone in her class, friends from her former classes and friends she’s had since she was three. Mimi is now nine (and two months).
Finally, I got it together, went on Evite, picked a “card” that she approved and wrote engaging copy. It did have a certain rhythm. Catchy! Inviting! Who could refuse?
Well, it’s one day and already I’m nervous. I invited more than forty kids! I’m so insane. It’s that not wanting someone to feel bad thing that I’ve been dealing with for years in therapy.
So now it’s more than twenty-four hours since I sent the Evite and I’ve only received five responses (all positive). What if the other thirty-five don’t respond? Worse – what if they do? How am I going to fit forty screaming kids into a small pizza parlor?!?!?!?! Continue… »
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February 23rd, 2010
by Dawn Yun
My daughter loves to whine. When she does so she accompanies it with jerky body movements that some might think could be a new dance.
One shoulder slumps down, the other back, while her arms flail in front of her. This is accompanied by a chorus of, “I don’t want to. No. I don’t want to. No. I don’t want to. N-o-o-o-!”
Can you feel the beat? The girls got rhythm. And something else – an ability to drive me insane.
When my 8-year old is rockin’ out to her whines and throwing her body in all directions, it causes me to do the same only in an adult manner
“STOP. NOW. I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ANYMORE WHINING.”
Continue… »
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