Gratitude list helps keeps blues at bay

March 22, 2021

Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about “journaling.” I put it in quotes because I doubly dislike the use of it as a verb. Even in my teens I was hopeless at keeping a diary, breaking open the one I had only to occasionally profess my love, or hate, for a particular boy. Probably my most successful attempt was the clothing log I kept in high school, where I would write down what I wore every day in order to avoid repeating anything for at least a month between wearings. Even that I gave up mid-junior year, when I guess I decided it was OK to put on those Guess ...

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 ...