Does your 2013 to-do list include any of these: Make new friends? Learn new skills? Expand professional network? Help others in the community? If so, you are a great candidate for volunteering!  Since April is National Volunteer Month, it’s a perfect time to think about getting involved. Continue Reading »

I often hear people say that common courtesy has become all too uncommon.   As March 21 is National Common Courtesy Day, it seems the ideal time to reflect on what it is exactly, and why we ought to try harder to practice it more.  As a starting point, I found a great definition of common courtesy from writer and consultant Tim Bryce: “Common courtesy represents a genuine respect for the human spirit and how we should interact.”  Continue Reading »

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and while many will focus on our romantic endeavors this time of year, there’s another kind of love to ruminate on – the unconditional love of a pet.  As a pet owner who just last month had to say goodbye to my beloved old dog, I can attest to the joy an animal can bring, but also to the cost of opening your home to one.  Over his fourteen years of life, Gabe went to the vet a few dozen times, was kenneled twice, cared for by in-house sitters on numerous occasions, and of course ate his way through countless bags of dog food and treats.  I never regretted my decision to take in that silly little puppy someone found on the side of the road, but I did have to adjust my budget to make room for him.  Continue Reading »

Oh, the holidays - the twinkling lights, warm cider, office parties, long lines at the post office – these are part of our traditions.  But there’s another one, a more sinister holiday theme that persists year after year- the Bad Gift.  Maybe your Aunt Matilda just can’t remember that your sweater size isn’t what it was when you were 12.  Or your neighbor Frank is so proud of his unusual crocheting skills, he foists a lopsided tea cozy on you in the worst color combinations imaginable, every year.  You awkwardly accept, express your gratitude for their kindness…and wonder what the HECK you are going to do with this thing? Continue Reading »

Do you know that November 12^th is the start of National Young Readers Week?  Susquehanna is dedicated to furthering the cause of literacy, and does so through its Mind Your Pennies events.  Mind Your Pennies is an interactive story time Susquehanna offers to local libraries over the summer months.  The program’s goal is to begin teaching young children about saving, while also encouraging reading as a healthy habit.  In honor of National Young Readers Week, which promotes literacy and a love of reading in elementary-age kids, I recently took some of the selections home for a test drive with my own young children. Continue Reading »