Author Archives: Darcy Cronin

About Darcy Cronin

I'm a Mother/Coach/Blogger/Business Adventurer from Portland OR. My family consists of my Hubby of 12 years, our 8yo Kieran, 5yo Makenna, and 1yo Teagan. I love dreaming about a better future, and making it happen.

Green Work

The so-called green collar jobs sector has exploded, but you can work on sustainability issues no matter your title or workplace.  I’ve believed this ever since I decided to become an “professional environmentalist when I grow up.”


Here are my favorite places to find green jobs:

My career started in the non-profit sector doing climate lobbying, and my Master’s is in Environment and Community. But I don’t mind that sustainability isn’t in my current job description. I still keep my environmental impact in mind with all of my decisions and look for green opportunities regardless of the task. I also serve on our Green Team, which meets monthly to discuss the challenges and progress of reducing our collective carbon footprint. We tackle everything from reducing to office paper waste to shifting our social workplace norms about what it means to be green.


Really the key is to love what you do and continue to advance your skills in ways that give you meaning and pride in your work.


Do you have a so-called “green job”?


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Sustainable Family Finances
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.

What I Am

I came across Will.I.Am’s Sesame Street music video of What I Am, and it’s so playful and powerful that I can’t help but share it with you. 


It’s so important that we impart a deep confidence in our children, and live as role models who feel positive about our impact on the world. Attitude is the true key to financial success. I also can’t help but share 15 Surefire Ways to Impress, at the base it’s all about accepting yourself in order to connect deeply with the world.





Does this video inspire you?
Have you shared it with your kids?


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Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.






Get Out Your Green Vote!

You are probably as tired as anyone with all the campaigning, but we’ve made it to the all important election day. I know we are all busy with our everyday lives, and I’m just grateful for Oregon’s vote-by-mail system where I voted while the kids napped and then dropped it off at the library.  But democracy isn’t about convenience and elections do shape our economic and natural environments.


12 Environmental Facts to Remember When Voting


So in case you haven’t connected already, become more informed about how your representatives walk their talk with the League of Conservation Voters . If you want to get wonky and academic, you can read this article about why environmental issues don’t get political attention yet as they do socially: easy answer is voters still aren’t really voting green.


The important this is that you do your civic duty and vote!


Have you voted? 
What matters to you in this election?


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Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.

Month of Hundreds

The “Month of Hundreds” is now over, a social experiment of sorts that a Portland woman, Jill Ginsberg, chose as a way of honoring her recently belated mother. She spent every day for the past month giving a hundred dollar bill to a stranger, and then sharing her/their story in her blog. Like many, I first found out about her quest in an Oregonian article.


Jill’s mother was a holocaust survivor, and after loosing her affluent lifestyle at a young age, lived the rest of her life “Believing financial ruin was just around the corner.” Even once she should have had no founded fear of providing for her family, she “lived forever with a deeply held conviction that life was defined by scarcity and want.” Jill seems to appreciate most of the values her mother passed along, but she is honest in questioning whether her mother’s adversity toward charity really helped her live her life to the fullest.


I would highly encourage you to read Jill’s blog, it’s partly a story about shifting your view of money and giving, but more so a story about how important it is to connect with others, and how we can all make an impact in the lives of others – C note or not. And, fair warning, it may make you cry.


Could you give a hundred dollars to a stranger?


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Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.