Three Words Carry Tons of Baggage

Back. To. School.

Those three words might by now be repetitive and obnoxious, but they don’t have to be.  Because as in-your-face as the commercials and printed ads may be, they also don’t lie: there are some killer sales going on now for back to school!

With so many deals available, it can sometimes be hard to narrow down the ones you need most.  I know at least I can get caught up on the sale frenzy—buying things I don’t really need, just because they’re marked down. Know what I mean?

As much as I like to be an easy going person, I find myself having to make lists when I go on shopping trips so I don’t a) forget something I need and b) buy more than is necessary.  In terms of back to school purchases, this is probably a good idea too, for students and their families alike.

The Smooth Solution to My Greatest Pet Peeve

If I wanted, I could probably have an entire blog devoted to pet peeves.  Who couldn’t?  No matter how accommodating a person may seem, we all have our idiosyncrasies and those that we don’t like in others.  It’s just a fact of life. 

That being said, one of my top ten pet peeves has to be my fellow females that go to the gym looking like they’re ready for a night out on the town.  You know the type: short shorts, tank top off the shoulder, fully made up. The girl that doesn’t break a sweat while she works out, but instead checks herself out in the mirror every ten seconds.  In short: the girl that’s looking to get picked up at the gym.

If you are that girl, I’m sorry but you’re not working out.  Look over to that girl on the treadmill.  You know, the one dripping sweat, hair a

T-R-E-A-T-S For Your Beloved P-E-T-S

We all know it’s fun to shop for ourselves and our loved ones—especially when those loved ones are furry and walk on all fours.

I know for myself I’m legitimately obsessed with dogs.  I don’t own one myself—unless you count the family dog, Lucy—so I take every chance I get to interact with the dogs that pass by on the street.  Much to my roommates’ annoyance, I point out each and every breed of dog that goes by, and dissolve into a puddle of happy goo anytime I see a puppy.

I love pet stores, too.  Even though my parents insist that Lucy doesn’t need any more toys, it’s always fun to poke around and pick out a present or two (or three).  The same goes for online pet shopping.  While not as much fun as visiting a pet store in person, it definitely saves time—and money.

Shopping For New Dads

Father’s Day is fast approaching, and this year I’m more excited than most, for two reasons.

1) My Dad (and Mom) are both visiting me, so we can actually celebrate in person this year and I don’t have to remember to send a card on time.  I always manage to be late on that!

2) My older brother is a new Dad this year! This is great news for me because I get to spoil my nephew rotten and then hand him back to my brother or sister-in-law to deal with tears or soiled diapers.  Yuk.

Though my bank account might protest, this means I need to find something to get my bro for Father’s Day—and stat!  I know if I walk into a baby store I’ll end up buying everything in sight, so I’ve decided to focus on the Father in this equation.

My brother isn’t too fussy about style—a tee shirt and

Savor the Moment: Photo Stops for Grads

A couple of years ago, when my childhood home threatened to go up in flames during the Southern California firestorms, my parents called me in Paris—where I was blissfully studying abroad—to ask what I wanted them to take as they evacuated.  Far removed from news of home, this phone call caught me off guard.  I scanned my memory of my room for items I couldn’t stand to lose and realized that as horrible as it would be to lose our house and our belongings, it would be absolutely devastating to lose a lifetime’s worth of memories.

That’s why I made sure my parents took my photo albums with them.  Luckily our house didn’t burn down, but it definitely made me realize how important our photos are.  They document the milestones in our lives, the people that matter, the places we