Since I became a vegetarian 21 years ago, I've consistently found myself left out of the Thanksgiving meal. Aside from my obvious disinterest in the main dish, many of the sides are cooked with meat or a chicken-broth base. My Mom has never been big on cooking, so we always went to a relative's house where I had little to no control over what went on in the kitchen. I often felt too shy or too silly to ask about the ingredient list for nearly every dish on the table. So, I would suffer the strange glances at my plate of cranberry sauce and dinner rolls. Once I grew old enough to care about my…

Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I love making my own costumes and figuring out how I am going to do my makeup. Over the years—and especially while I was a college student on a budget— I've learned some tips and tricks for getting a big Halloween look without spending a lot of money. One Halloween staple is fake wounds and bloody gashes. Hollywood professionals use liquid latex or scar wax, but those can be pricey and hard to find. So here's a way that I've discovered to create those real looking cuts and gashes with items you probably having lying around your house or can find at Target…

I happen to love a good consignment sale, and this weekend there is a huge one going on inside the gym at the Pip Moyer Community Recreation Center.  It's called the She Sale, and it features women's clothing, purses, shoes and jewelry. It also includes household items like lamps, end tables, DVDs and holiday decor. I went for opening night on Thursday, and before the sale even started a long line of women was forming outside the gym entrance. Trying to find a parking space was tricky to say the least.  Once I got inside the sale, I was pleasantly surprised to find that all the clothing was …

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I decided to sleep in. Like so many other early college mornings, I rolled over when my alarm clock sounded. I could pick up my contact lenses after class.  My contacts were waiting for me at a Lens Crafters in the mall beneath the World Trade Center. I was 17 years old and living in a dorm in downtown Manhattan—less than 1,500 feet away. The first plane crashed into the north tower about an hour after my alarm first when off. I woke up when my bed shook. I laid there for a moment trying to figure out if I had dreamt the vibrations. I tried to drift back to …

I enjoy trying new things, but sometimes the cost of being experimental with new and strange beers keeps me from broadening my malted horizons.  That's why I was giddy about discovering Annebeth's, located at 75 Maryland Ave. The store offers customers a chance to build custom six packs for $10.50 plus tax. Finally, I can try out new beers without the commitment of owning five more bottles I don't like. And each bottle comes at a price that won't make me wince if it turns out the beer just isn't for me. Earlier this week I posted my thoughts on the first three beers I tried from my customized…

When I am perusing the beer selection at a liquor store, often something offbeat will catch my eye. I stare at the label for a moment wondering if I would like a Dubbel or a Dunkel but, in the end, I go home with something tried and true; something I know I will like. I want to expand my beer horizons, but I worry about committing to six beers that I may not like. It's the same scenario at restaurants and bars—the price for failure often seems too steep. That's where Annebeth's, located at 75 Maryland Ave., swooped in and solved my problem. The store offers customers a chance to explore …