Grown-ish – Lucid Lilac

Birthday, Boxes, and Bad Timing: A Week in Controlled Chaos

Vanessa — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 15:00:00 +0000

If there’s ever a perfect time to catch a cold, it’s definitely not on your birthday week. But apparently, the universe missed that memo. This past week was…a lot. I moved! But not far. Same apartment complex, just a new unit. Which sounds like it should’ve been a “light lift”, but turns out it’s just as hellish as any other move. I’ve spent the last few days buried in clutter…

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The Weight of Expectations: Navigating ‘Success’ in Adulthood

Vanessa — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 02:39:20 +0000

I don’t know when it happened exactly, but somewhere between graduating college and entering my thirties, the word ‘success’ started to feel heavier than it used to. Like, instead of being a marker of “making it”, it became this never-ending checklist of things to accomplish: high paying career, house, marriage, kids, perfect health, a side hustle that somehow makes six figures…

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Not a Finance Bro, Just a Girl With a Plan to Retire Early

Vanessa — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 22:47:15 +0000

Over the past couple of years, I’ve developed an unexpected obsession: money. Not in a “lie, cheat and steal” kind of way, but in a “retire as early as possible” kind of way. It all started one afternoon at my desk, deep into an eight-hour workday. A light bulb came on and I thought, “You know, I don’t want to f$%@ing be here.” That moment sparked my mission to escape the corporate rat race…

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Homeownership in 2025: Still the Goal, or Are We Over It?

Vanessa — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 02:06:08 +0000

Are we still supposed to want home ownership? What happened to the “home buying” dream we’ve been fed since childhood, is it still valid? Because the way these home prices are looking, I’m starting to rethink if it’s the right choice for me. I mean, at this rate, I’d be lucky to own a room at the Motel 6 up the street. It makes me question: is owning a home still worth it in 2025?

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