Ever since Gap, Inc bought out Athleta, Old Navy's active wear has increased in quality 10-fold. The compression pants are legit, and you can't beat the price. I am a chubby runner who has recently started doing yoga (last 6 months) and I used to buy compression pants from Fleet Feet when they would go on sale. No…

I was born in 1980, but I have a deep affinity for the '70's, including all the music and movies. My husband, who was born in 1972 likes to call me a poser, but I say "haters to the left."

I wish. The staid German side of my family would have a heart-attack. It's an interesting mix. I often wonder if my Italian gramma was rebelling by marrying my German grampa. They were a weird match.

Jesus H Christ, 300,000 dollars??? That is insane. You can buy a house outright for that. Well, at least in some places. I can't even begin to imagine that. $18,000 is pretty incredible too. Shit, I was psyched that we got less than a quarter of that. I felt rich at that moment.

Be my friend. I'm a 36DD. ;)

Gotcha. I've always taken the more classical view of the term Western (ie Greeks, Romans and onward) but I'm an anthro nerd, so there you have it. Then yes, you and I are in agreement.

Well, considering that my family is of mostly German and Italian descent, I'm pretty sure we are privileged as being white. So that is kind of a weird thing to say, as my family traditionally gifts cash at weddings. Also, I explained the place where most of those non-cash giving traditions came from, which was a very…

You should open those envelopes. We lived in Bangkok when I was a teen and many of my dad's business partners were of Chinese descent. One year, we all went out to this super fancy Chinese restaurant for Chinese New Year, and the evening's hosts gave my brother and I red envelopes. I opened it at home and expected a…

I'd say non-WASP traditions. Plenty of people who think of themselves as Western give money: see envelopes at Italian-American weddings and money trees at Latino weddings.

The original intention of a shower was to "shower the bride" with gifts. In my experience, you buy off the registry. Some people will also buy lingerie, which freaks me out, but some folks are into it. My MIL bought me sexy underwear and she was teh only person at my shower to do so. AWKWARD.

The cash we received from our wedding helped pay our property taxes that year.

My Italian/German-American family is all about the Benjamin's at weddings. Showers are for gifts, weddings are for cash. Boom, problem solved. Ladies and Gents, if you want cash, marry into an Italian-American family, especially from the mid-Atlantic states.

Good old Camelbeach. I remember when it was just the Alpine Slide. I miss the Poconos.

No, it was my best friend forever, not my boyfriend. My husband is a bit of a food snob, so I doubt he'd try it. They have those potatoes this year. I would like to try them. Every year the local food blog covers all the fair food. The potatoes look kinda awesome.

I had one of those when we visited Portland last year. I was not that taken with it. I felt like the maple glaze was too sweet.

The county fair started last week and there's some dude selling Krispy Kreme burgers. Ugggh. I haven't made it to the fair yet, but my BFF went and had one. Here's a picture. Also, why?

From 6th grade through my early twenties I always looked really puffy. I finally have cheekbones, although, now in my 30's my face is gaining a much more square-jawed Tuetonic look. My Prussian ancestors would be proud. Also, I hit my full height of 5'8" and was essentially done with puberty by the end of 7th grade,…

I'm not sure you can get a SpEd credential in CA in 2 semesters. I'm pretty sure that the program is at least 3 semesters. I know that the programs differ, from school to school. I went the CSU route in NorCal (for a single subject) and I had to take three pre-reqs one semester, and theN the two semesters of the…

Teach me the ways! My Italian gramma taught me how to make gnocchi, but my German gramma doesn't make spaetzle. Probably because she's like 3rd or 4th generation American. Luckily, there is a decent German restaurant in town, to satisfy any spaetzle and schnitzel cravings.

Not a mom (yet... Hopefully in the next few years) but also a teacher, and I think number 3 is so, so, so important. Reflection and reevaluation are so integral, to life in general and especially for teaching (and parenting). Yet, because it can be so difficult to honestly evaluate ourselves, I think many people skip…