ArchivesFebruary, 2010

At this time last year, apparel retailers were preparing for a slow year following a tough holiday season and even tougher first two months of the year. And retailers got what they expected, with apparel sales dropping 5.1 percent in 2009, according to the NPD Group. This year, retailers are heading into spring with a Continue Reading

I'm all for meal planning, and I'm getting a head start on our dinner plans for the month of March. But that's nothing compared to what one mom in Texas is doing. She has planned out her family's dinners for the entire year. That's right--she already knows what her family is going to be eating Continue Reading

Snow--again!  It's got us all dreaming of a vacation, preferably someplace that boasts delicious food. My kids are all fans of Asian food, so I know they wouldn't protest a visit to San Francisco's Chinatown.  However, it's looking like some schools are going to have to be making up some snow days, so there won't Continue Reading

That's one delicious way to get your vitamins, even if Ralphie wasn't too happy that all his Li'l Orphan Annie Decoder Ring produced was a commercial. I don't drink Ovaltine (I prefer my milk icy cold and plain), so I make sure to take my vitamins every day instead.  My kids take vitamins too, since Continue Reading

I have two children graduating this year:  one from high school and one from eighth grade. With graduation comes the obligatory Graduation Picture. I didn't realize, when my daughter's portrait was taken at the same time as her little brother's, that this was not the yearbook and graduation picture.  So I paid for the overpriced Continue Reading

With three kids in the house who range in age from 7 to 18, I've seen my share of lunchboxes come and go.   My younger son, in particular, is tough on lunchboxes.  We haven't even reached the all-important 100th day of school yet (and that day might be pushed back to April if it doesn't Continue Reading

Drive around any neighborhood that's been affected by this winter's heavy snows, and you'll notice a few trends. First of all, there are a lot of tree branches down.  Landscapers and tree trimmers are pretty busy, as are any neighbors who happen to own chainsaws.  That last storm packed a big punch in terms of Continue Reading

It's raining today, and I can actually see grass in half of my front lawn.  The backyard, however, is still pretty buried, and we've still got two-foot-high piles along the curb and the sides of the driveway.  I'm still wondering when the 2-week-old snowpile at the curb is going to give up the newspaper that's Continue Reading

If you're a coupon shopper, then you qualify as a frugal person.   Frugal people are concerned with making the best use of resources, whether those are financial, time, or environmental resources. One of your favorite stores is also concerned with wise use of resources:  JC Penney has been earning Energy Star awards for over 80 Continue Reading

Maybe I should rephrase that:  the post-blizzard diet. Who else gained some weight while hibernating inside during and after those paralyzing snowstorms that have been a hallmark of this winter?  Even Dallas got a foot of snow--when's the last time that happened? Thunder thighs only work for Olympic speed skaters.  The rest of us just Continue Reading