Don’t Mourn the End of Summer - Immortalize It

For a lot of us, this summer didn’t feel like a proper summer at all.  For those of us in Southern California, for example, it’s been one of the five coldest summers on record!

Boo hoo, I know: it’s so awful living here where—ironically—the winters are oftentimes nicer than the summers.

With that being said, Summer’s end doesn’t have to mean out of sight out of mind.  Drearier months can seem more bearable when sunbathing and summery good times can be conjured up—depending on the shape of your imaginative skills, of course.  Otherwise the blast from the past can be all too depressing when you’re staring out the window at your locale’s wintry landscape.

The way I like to show off my Summer adventures and shenanigans is through Mixbook—a site that allows you to build your

Getaway for Labor Day - No Laboring Necessary!

I know planning a Labor Day getaway now is kind of last minute, but some of the best trips I’ve gone on have been spur of the moment decisions.  There’s something to planning out say, I don’t know, a tour of Europe that has its benefits, but it must be said that the spontaneous adventures are often the most fondly remembered.  And if you just want a quick escape within your region—or country for that matter—there’s no better time than Labor Day weekend to get both three days off and some fantastic travel deals.

Expedia.com—one of my first online stops when booking tickets—for example, is offering savings of up to $450 when you book your flight and hotel together.  Don’t believe me?  Check it out here.  Sometimes it really does pay to fly by the seat of your pants and buy a ticket

Summertime Means Packing Light

I’m in a bit of a predicament, dearest cyber friends.

I’m in the process of moving my things—gradually—back to California from the East Coast, but in a recent trip to visit my parents and drop off some of my belongings, I left my convertible carry-on there.  I currently have in my possession two large suitcases and a backpack.

I know it sounds like I have plenty of luggage, so why exactly is this a problem?

Because this weekend I’m going to DC to visit friends and family for the holiday weekend, and my current luggage is ridiculously unsuited for the trip.  I need something portable, but with more room than a measly backpack.  Not that I can’t stuff an impressive amount of things into a small space—try studying abroad for a year—but it’s really not ideal.

Irv’s Luggage was

Let Summer Games Officially Begin

Summer is no longer on its way.  As of today, it’s officially here. Your summer plans are therefore no longer theoretical.  It’s time to put them into action.

For me there are no vacations this year—only the promise I made to myself that I’d really commit to getting in shape this summer.  I started jogging a few weeks back, and added yoga to the mix last week.  So far so good, but I have a long way to come before my limbs aren’t shaking in and out of downward dog.

As I came back from a run the other day, I realized that I really need a new pair of tennis shoes.  The ones I currently have aren’t giving me enough support, and I always end up with some painful blisters on my heels if I go for a run any longer than a mile.

How to solve the problem?  I headed over to Modell’s to

The Chocolate Enthusiast’s Father’s Day

Whoever said that all chocolate lovers are female obviously never met my uncle.

I still remember the German chocolate cake my mom made for my dad’s birthday a number of years ago.  It was rich and decadent: in short, every chocoholic’s dream.  Except that self-proclaimed chocoholics like me and my mom couldn’t even finish one piece.  Meanwhile my uncle eagerly helped himself to seconds.

The fact that guys like chocolate too puts a whole new perspective on gift buying.  Suddenly it becomes acceptable—and even desirable—to get your significant other chocolate on Valentines Day (good thing too, because in my opinion V-Day presents are the most difficult to figure out).  Birthdays are fair game, and so is Father’s Day.

Speaking of Father’s Day, there are only five days left to