Welcome to Collecting Daisies
A blog about life.
I’m assuming you have read something online that made you click on my About Me page – cool. That means my past successes in the 9-5 grind are finally paying off or you read something I wrote and found yourself nodding your head like I was talking about you. Either way, welcome to my crazy, I hope you stick around and enjoy the adventure with me!
I started blogging a couple years ago to help me sort through the crazy that was circulating in my head – my hero, Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess) would understand. I’m sure of it, although I have no proof. I just think she’d understand.
My original blog, Whiskey in a Tea Cup described me perfectly: I am a strong, type-A, ex-agency girl that has strong opinions and little control over my inner monologue – this has gotten me into a lot of trouble over the years but as I get older I am learning to curb it (aka accept the consequences). I am a hurricane wrapped in a whole lotta sunshine. And this has worked for me. I have been successful in spite of myself.
What I realized, while I was randomly writing about my crazy life, was that blogging was self-medicating for me and folks said it was therapeutic for them – people seemed to love my everyday rants about life because they could relate. I guess I was their Jenny. So cool.
So, at 42 and after years of climbing the corporate ladder, I realized that success was no longer my definition of happiness. This prompted some seismic changes in my life, all of which were guided by ‘do what makes you happy and be more intentionally with your choices’.
While I have been read a lot about intentional living, it became clear to me that it was the only way to live for me. I have since left the gruelling 9-5 world behind (sort of) and have chosen to live more intentionally.
By doing so, the choices I make and the inspired actions I take are a true reflection of who I am today.
I believe that by living in the present, not the past or future, I remain focused on what is truly important in my life – my kids, husband, puppy and our health. It’s all about finding happiness in the simple things.
In addition to this blog, I now own two businesses that allow me to be purposeful and intentional in my work as well. I’ve been been happier, or healthier.
I have found that jumping all in is still ok at my age. This means that I prioritize experience over having expensive things. And you find me saying yes to crazy adventures that probably don’t make sense to most folks out here.
This blog is a safe place that I hope you’ll find inspirational, supportive and chalked full of feel-it-in-your-bones truths. You may even find yourself entertained by my sometimes funny, always honest, raw and uncensored posts about mental health, weight loss + gain, travel, living intentionally and all of the stuff in between.
Join me in collecting daisies…
Living life on my terms.
Fun facts…
Get to know Erin…
Finds inspiration from: great music, road trips with the windows down and hikes in the woods
Stating the obvious: black t-shirts, stan smiths, tattoos and sunshine
What and who I want to be when I grow up: Beth Dutton
Bucket list: Thailand, Bali, Bocceli live in Italy and watching my kids live long, happy lives
Erin Abbatangelo
American-born, Canadian-raised adventurer that never turns down a reason to be covered in sunshine. At just over 50, I see and experience the world differently now, and for that, I am grateful. I write when I am happy and sad. So you’ll never know what to expect. I’m fun like that.
Phineas
Born on the streets of Greece. Adopted by Canadian parents at about 1+ years old – they changed my name from Tyrone to Phineas for obvious reasons. Loves long walks and cuddles from anyone offering. My favourite activity is providing anxiety-reducing support to my mama, Erin.
On the blog…
Lessons Learned in Childhood about Character
Character matters to me. It's what I value most about myself because it's a currency I control, and I have strong feelings about human decency. We learn about what character means and what contributes to it as early as kindergarten. As we get older, we continue to...
Visiting Pearl Harbor: A Personal Reflection
Visiting Pearl Harbour the week before the 2024 US Election felt right—it was a time to honour the past and, in some respects, bid adieu to certain rights and freedoms... Being at Pearl Harbor was unlike any other historical site I had visited. It wasn’t simply about...
2020: A Gift that Keeps Giving
If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that mind over matter is real. That mindfulness is better than any therapy. And most importantly, I learned that I am in control – but I needed to want it.