Everyday Activities That Go Beyond The Ordinary — “What’s today?” my partner asked me one evening. I lowered the book I was reading and replied, “Today’s Friday.” He cheered, “We get bagels tomorrow!” Each Saturday, my boyfriend and I visit our local bagel shop and order the same items from the grill: I get a sausage, egg, and…

What’s the Difference, Anyway? — I’ve been moving around quite a bit over the past two months, and with very good reason; my boyfriend and I just moved into our first apartment together. …

How to Spread “Local Love” to Your Neighborhood Beyond Small Business Shopping — I come from a small town that’s less than a square mile. Needless to say with a town that size, I know the area like the back of my hand. In recent years, however, there has been a lot of changes to the area, including an influx and growth in…

A Little Darkness Can Make a World of Difference — I wrap a scarf around my neck, letting it droop over my shoulders, and put on my maroon bomber jacket. I slip on my black heeled boots and grab a pair of earphones from my inner coat pocket as I make my way out the front door. An owl hoots…

The Facts, Myths, and Lore about these Magical Felines — Even in this day and age, cats are one of the most revered creatures on this earth. Whether we think of the lion — king of the jungle — or our favorite internet cats, like Grumpy Cat or Pusheen, it’s clear that people love, respect, and find joy in our…

The Perfect Foil in Flora — In the autumn season, I love to admire the falling leaves that scatter across the earth’s floor. I never know what treasures I may find hiding in a colorful leaf pile; sometimes I…

Defining what is (and isn’t) a berry blows the old “Is a tomato a fruit?” question out of the water. — I try to pay attention to the little things when I go for a walk — things I wouldn’t necessarily notice unless I were purposefully looking for them. During my last few outings, the ‘little things’ I’ve recently taken most notice of were tiny, colorful berries that grew on nearby…

Why these often unnoticed street additions are everlastingly important — On my latest walk, I took a brief rest at a wood bench that faced a medium-sized lake. A gaggle of geese were swimming in the water, and a slight breeze blew over their closed wings. The faint chill that came with the gust signaled the oncoming autumn season, though…

A brief examination of the classic children’s game — In my recent weekend trip to Virginia, my boyfriend’s family and I spent a Saturday afternoon at Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir playing cards and various board games. It had unfortunately rained the entire time we were there (hence the games), though we ended up having a lovely day under a wooden…