About NotesByPenny

I started this blog because I found myself moving through life on autopilot. Laundry cycles, grocery runs, school drop-offs, bedtime routines — the rhythm repeated so predictably it felt invisible. I was doing everything, but not really noticing.

Then I began asking questions. Why do I pinch pennies at the grocery store only to splurge on a closet full of Lululemon? Why am I hardwired to build every meal around protein when my Chinese ancestors thrived on bowls of rice? Why does the bedtime routine with my two energetic boys feel like a masterclass in negotiation and patience — lessons I carry into my work life every day?

Those questions changed the way I saw my routines. What felt like chores turned into case studies. Patterns. Data. Little experiments in how money, family, time, and self intertwine.

That’s what NotesByPenny is: my notebook in public. A place to pause, reflect, and share the stories and structures hiding in plain sight. Not rules, not a manual — just notes reframed through psychology, history, culture, and the daily experiments of parenting, working, and living.

What You’ll Find Here

• Essays that uncover the psychology behind spending, saving, and small luxuries.
• Stories of family life — equal parts joy and logistics.
• Reflections on time, systems, and the invisible labor that shapes our days.
• Notes on self and wellbeing — the health, creativity, and rest that hold it all together.

Who I Am

I’m Penny — a working mom, writer, and curious observer of everyday life. By day I manage projects and people; by night I manage dinner-table negotiations, bedtime stories, and the occasional late-night writing sprint. This blog is where I bring those worlds together.

Join the Notes

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to follow along. I publish one essay a week — thoughtful, curious, sometimes witty — delivered straight to your inbox.

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