It starts after high school: You vow to stay close to your friends. Why wouldn’t you? You start off with Skype dates, phone calls and texts. But as life becomes busier and you don’t see those friends on a daily basis, those touch points become farther and farther apart.
Continue reading “On keeping in touch with far-away friends”
Summer, it seems, is everyone’s favorite season. And why wouldn’t it be? Carefree, warm days; green landscapes as far as the eye can see; the ability to leave the house without dressing in three layers.
Continue reading "Savor the season: Tips to make the most of winter"
I am, admittedly, an apple snob.
It’s not that what I eat has to be some heirloom, organically-grown, botanically-precious variety; it’s just that I have a problem when the fruit I’m eating makes a bar of soap look appealing. Continue reading “Apple Mania (and 4 ways to spend a fall afternoon)”
You know how most people’s guilty pleasures are things like trashy reality TV, or a whole pint of Graeter’s, or sleeping in until noon on Saturdays? I’m not saying I don’t like those things, too, but recently I’ve found myself with a new obsession. It’s called grocery shopping.
Continue reading “5 ways to save on groceries at Kroger”
Now that it’s officially summer, I love how easy it is to get outdoors – most of my Saturdays, in fact, are spent there! Read on for some simple ways you can get in the spirit of the season and spend some time in the fresh air.
How many times have you ever said this? “I’m just not a creative kind of person.” If you’re like me, you probably can’t count the number – and I write for a living. Not only is this mindset unproductive, though, it’s just not true. There’s no such thing as being an uncreative person.
Continue reading “Get the juices flowing: 5 tips to boost creativity”
From my training-wheel days to the summer on campus when my ancient red bike was my only transportation, from the time when a long ride was going down the block to the pool to the hilly countryside adventures I’ve taken since, I have plenty of fond memories of riding a bike (and some that aren’t so fond: Nearly breaking my wrist, for example). And the thing is, I’m sure if I asked everyone in the room, most would agree: Riding a bike is a simple pleasure, one that often begins in childhood but doesn’t have to end there.
Continue reading “Five ways to celebrate #BikeMonth”
When I was in elementary school, there was nothing in the world I loved more than curling up with a good book. I could easily spend a whole day reading, and the days we went to the library to pick out new books were some of my favorites. I devoured Little House on the Prairie and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Caroline B. Cooney and Sharon Creech. And as I got older, I loved reading the classics, great American novels that may have been written decades ago but have more than stood the test of time.
Continue reading “Spring into a good book: 5 of my favorite classics”
When I graduated from college, something I struggled with was scheduling my time. I wasn’t used to having a wide-open stretch of freedom each evening. Should I spend it exploring the neighborhood? Meeting old friends? Maybe picking up a new hobby?
I didn’t do any of those things.
Continue reading “The rule of three: Stay productive and find time to relax, too.”
If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30, you’ve probably moved enough times to have it down pat. I’ve moved or helped people move plenty of times, and each time I’ve learned more about the process. But when I moved into my first post-college apartment, I really wished I’d had a guide to tell me exactly what I needed to remember and what I didn’t. If you’re in the same boat, here’s a list I’ve created that outlines the basics you’ll need for a new place.
Continue reading “Moving to your first place? Here’s what you really need.”
bloom. 