Not me, but I do wish Pizza Girl the best

February 21, 2021

Katie McDowell I tend to hate romantic comedies. But recently, some folks thought I might be living in one. After an ad ran in our paper last week seeking a mystery woman from the frozen pizza aisle, I had quite a few people reach out, wondering if perhaps it was me. You probably saw it: A big tagline reading, “If you like pina coladas … getting caught in the rain.” A description of a meet-cute at Sabraton Kroger, from a man desperate to know more about a girl he spoke to. She was buying pizza and pet products. Waxing philosophical about pepperoni. And talking ...

Hardship is no stranger this holiday season

December 20, 2020

Well, friends, here we are. Five days out. There’s no question Christmas will look different this year. Already we’ve seen some it: Socially distanced Santas, drive-through-only light shows, performances of “The Nutcracker” viewed on laptops instead of in theaters. Black Friday sales went online, as did the many craft fairs and church bazaars that usually mark the season. If we’re being smart, a lot of us will share family meals over Zoom, rather than around the table. Holiday toasts will end with a clink on a screen. It’s weird. Sad. Definitely not ...

Giving thanks in a very unusual year

November 22, 2020

Katie McDowell I have no idea how it happened, but with Thanksgiving a mere five days away, it seems it’s time for me to make my annual list of things for which I’m thankful.So I suppose I’ll get right to it. One: My health. In previous years, I’ve always avoided listing health as one of my grateful-fors. It just seemed to me a bit trite — one of those things that goes without saying. Or that people say, but don’t really mean, because they take their own good health for granted and therefore don’t actively feel thankful for it at all. It just is. Obviously, this ...

AMAZON PRIME DAY: SHOPPING GUIDES

October 14, 2020

It’s Amazon Prime Day! Hooray! Today I have shopping guides just for you – whether you’re styling your home, looking to try new snacks, or simply need to find some new reads I have goodies for you. Tomorrow I will be sharing a gift guide because it’s never too early to start your ...

Please say this, too, shall pass

July 13, 2020

There are certain trendy phrases that I can’t stand. “Throw shade.” “Spill the tea.” “Self-care.” “Real talk.” I don’t know whether I dislike these buzzwords more because they’re so overused, or because of the type of social media conversations where they tend to crop up. Lately, it’s “the new normal.” Which, absolutely, is irritating for its ubiquitousness. But also because there are so many things being normalized right now that shouldn’t be. And no, I don’t mean having to socially and physically distance from loved ones. I don’t ...

Movement in motion: Walk, listen, learn

June 29, 2020

Since this pandemic started, walks have been my salvation. Even during the past few weeks, as restaurants, shops and markets have reopened, I’ve opted to keep close to home. As we’re witnessing across the country — and in our state — the virus is far from gone, and I still believe it best to avoid public places as much as possible. Not only for my own safety, but for others’, as well. But the walls of my house, brightly painted though they may be, do tend to close in after awhile, and even a hermit like myself can feel a bit cramped. So I wander. I stroll through ...