Stories | Best Buys
Portable Party Potties
Published Aug. 13, 2008
'Porta-potties?" asked Patrick, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "You're going to write about porta-potties? Just tell me you aren't going to open with a story about what Uncle Harold did to our downstairs bathroom at last year's ...
Dancing in Squares
Published Aug. 6, 2008
Restlessness grows daily in the Kelly home. Midsummer boredom is percolating in my kids and threatening to boil over. Some new hobbies are needed. Pal Bernice suggested square dancing. “We danced a lot of summer ...
Weight-Control Powders
Published July 30, 2008
‘It’s like my body flipped a switch and started storing fat,” lamented my husband Patrick as he stood in front of the mirror. “Ever since I turned 35, the battle of the bulge has turned ...
Hairbrushes Published July 23, 2008
I’ve fought a decade-long battle to keep hairbrushes in the Kelly home. I’ll snatch a few into custody at the store, but once home, they ... More Post a comment
Best Buys Published July 16, 2008
‘When my husband was young and on a swim team, they didn’t have goggles,” recalled Regina Paradowski of Paradowski’s Swim & Sports in Kearny Mesa ... More Post a comment
Shin Splints Published July 9, 2008
“If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon.” — Emil Zatopek Hubby Patrick is ... More Comment (1)
Carnival Snacks Published July 2, 2008
I treasure the stability of my childhood years, but my clearest memories are of the breaks from routine — family vacations, the time Dad let ... More Comment (1)
Father's Day Gift Ideas Published June 25, 2008
"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." — Bill Cosby Insert tie for soap-on-a-rope in the Kelly household. Another boring Father’s Day ... More Post a comment
RV Rentals Published June 18, 2008
My folks have been retired for five years, and they’re spending their golden years on the road. There have been trips to China and Peru ... More Post a comment
Wake Up! Published June 11, 2008
Hubby Patrick’s brother Kevin has been a small-time rock musician since he was 18. When he turned 38 this year and the band — Youth ... More Post a comment
Sunless Tans Published June 4, 2008
‘I need a tan — now,” said Tara, flopping on my couch and gazing out at the cool, cloudy afternoon. “No, I need it yesterday. ... More Post a comment
Singing Telegrams Published May 28, 2008
I had only seen it done in sitcoms — a giant hairy gorilla proposing to a girl standing shocked at the front door — until ... More Post a comment
Nutritionist Published May 21, 2008
The afternoon nappies are starting to take their toll on my husband Patrick. Coffee has become his drug of choice. I wondered if there might ... More Comment (1)
Clutter Busters Published May 14, 2008
‘Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them.” ... More Post a comment
Knife Sharpeners Published May 7, 2008
Pride goeth... My best gal pal Bernice has a niece, newly engaged and eager to learn the secrets of domestic bliss. Bernice sent her to ... More Post a comment
Cream Me Published April 30, 2008
Remarkable! Each lady I called had a different favorite body lotion. That’s a first for Eve’s surveys. Not one repeat. The search was for a ... More Comment (1)
Water Pumps Published April 23, 2008
“If I have to evacuate, will you take my goats?” “I’ll take your goats but not your kids!” I still can’t believe I said that. ... More Comment (1)
Paintball Published April 16, 2008
My man Patrick will be donning his goggles, taking up his gun, and heading to the field for his first battle. A work colleague has ... More Post a comment
Fishpond Published April 9, 2008
There is something about the combination of longer daylight hours and spring air that brings a hunger for back-yard projects. And it’s been growling in ... More Post a comment
Recycled Booty Published April 2, 2008
My jewelry box bears within it the booty of 25 years’ worth of self-adornment, and when I stopped to think about it, I realized that ... More Post a comment
She's a Keeper Published March 26, 2008
Spring is here and pal Bernice has soccer on the brain. A layer of dust has descended on her cleats in the closet. Her shoe ... More Comments (2)
Cat Condos Published March 19, 2008
“Mom, do you call Mrs. Phelan a cat lady because she looks like a cat?” Smart kid. Mrs. Phelan, who works as an aide at ... More Post a comment
Beer! Published March 12, 2008
“When I was a child in Mayo,” said my Irish mother as we drove along the Embarcadero, “my aunt used to send me down to ... More Post a comment
Living Space Published March 5, 2008
As my mother’s memory gets shorter, the East Coast winters that seep into her bones tend to get longer — especially when she forgets to ... More Post a comment
Pruners Published Feb. 27, 2008
The breath of heaven bush encroaches on my garden statuary. In the back yard, the trumpet vine escapes into the neighbor’s yard. And the branches ... More Post a comment
Tat Removal Published Feb. 20, 2008
I’m not too many years shy of 40, and the anchor tattoo on my ankle has been with me since I was 21. The guy ... More Comment (1)
Cart-Away Concrete Published Feb. 13, 2008
My husband Patrick comes down with the home-improvement bug a few times a year. And he’s had it bad lately. He’s tired of the tiny ... More Comment (1)
Astroturfers Published Feb. 6, 2008
‘I give it ten years before water costs as much as gas costs now,” said Patrick as he looked up from his morning Internet browse. ... More Post a comment
Quilting Published Jan. 30, 2008
My daughter was thrilled to sew a baby quilt with Aunt Rose during her Thanksgiving vacation. It would be her first quilt — an Ohio ... More Post a comment
Genie Machine Published Jan. 23, 2008
‘The emotional traumas of life have permanent or long-lasting effects unless you do something to intervene,” said Dr. Lawrence Stowe, the Stowe Foundation’s managing director ... More Post a comment
Biotherapy Published Jan. 16, 2008
‘Biotherapy? In La Mesa?” asked my husband as we strolled through town admiring the new shops. “Sounds like something you should check out.” The next ... More Post a comment
Electrical Donations Published Jan. 9, 2008
The after-Christmas glut of stuff landed hard on the Kelly home — every surface was laden with goodies waiting to find a place on our ... More Post a comment
Barn Owl Boxes Published Jan. 2, 2008
My husband Patrick is a bird lover. He spots birds and calls out their names to our kids. Birds of prey are a particular love, ... More Comment (1)
Personal Assistant Published Dec. 27, 2007
Uncle Max's lady friends come and go, along with their unsolicited shopping advice and their dubious aid in the lifestyle department. But he always comes ... More Comment (1)
Sparkling Wines Published Dec. 20, 2007
2008 is almost upon us, and the Kelly household is going to party. And party for many reasons: new babies, new engagements, newlyweds, and new ... More Post a comment
Xmas Tree Farms Published Dec. 13, 2007
My earliest Christmas-tree memories are not of candy canes or twinkling lights, but of cold knuckles and snow boots. Always, in the first week of ... More Post a comment
Calligraphy Published Dec. 6, 2007
A couple of years ago I took up lettering. Once a week I would spend a few hours copying letters, mainly the italic form. I ... More Post a comment
Auto Detailing Published Nov. 29, 2007
My great aunt Edna is the just-so lady -- "A place for everything and everything in its place." Her home in Pasadena might be a ... More Post a comment
Holiday Traditions Published Nov. 21, 2007
The Kelly household could use some fresh holiday traditions. I want my kids thinking globally during this holiday season. Happily, I have many friends from ... More Post a comment
Topricin brand pain reliever Published Nov. 15, 2007
For years, all I had to do was wince in the presence of my mother-in-law and out came the Advil. Mom was caring for her ... More Post a comment
Emergency Kits Published Nov. 8, 2007
The fires hit close to home; a few friends were evacuated. "We took nothing with us," said Andra, "which wasn't the smartest. If the fire ... More Post a comment
Reflexology Published Nov. 1, 2007
I got curious about reflexology after my sister-in-law convinced me to let a woman at a spa rub hot rocks against my feet for an ... More Post a comment
Men's Underwear Published Oct. 25, 2007
'I'm at the age and size when regular briefs -- or, as I call them, 'tighty whiteys' -- just aren't working for me anymore," my ... More Post a comment
Dictionary Published Oct. 18, 2007
They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon... -- from "The Owl and the Pussycat," by Edward Lear ... More Post a comment
Horse-riding Boots Published Oct. 11, 2007
My daughter is obsessed with horses. Her room is decorated with equine photos, her bookshelf stocked with classic horse books, and her dream is to ... More Post a comment
Peanut Butter Published Oct. 4, 2007
'You ever wonder about the 'high fructose' in 'high fructose corn syrup'?" asked Patrick as he scanned the ingredients of his Rice Krispies. "It sounds ... More Post a comment
Homemade Frozen Food Published Sept. 27, 2007
It's the year of the baby in Kellyville. Four families within our group of friends are expecting babies to arrive around the holidays. And Eve ... More Post a comment
Beads Published Sept. 20, 2007
'That's it," said my friend Bernice, exhausted and grumpy after what was supposed to be a relaxing afternoon of shopping. "Customer service is officially a ... More Post a comment
Board Games Published Sept. 13, 2007
Clean notebooks and sharpened pencils, white sneakers and new socks, homework and carpooling -- the school year has begun. This year's hectic schedule of school ... More Post a comment
Spoilers Published Sept. 6, 2007
'Tricked out?" I asked Patrick, incredulous. "You want to get the minivan tricked out? Let's get serious. I'm not sure that a Toyota Sienna is ... More Post a comment
Top-loading Clothes-washing Machines Published Aug. 30, 2007
My sister Meg has a growing brood and an overflowing laundry room. "I can never seem to get on top of the laundry scene," she ... More Post a comment
Roadside Auto Service Published Aug. 23, 2007
I strolled out of Nordstrom Rack, my bag heavy with suede pumps, cropped pants, and strappy tops. Just before I got to my car, I ... More Post a comment
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