When the world (or at least our little corner of it) seems too overwhelming and chaotic, it's tempting to exert some control. That control can take different forms for each person, ranging from healthy conflict management to dangerous eating disorders, with a bit of bossiness thrown in for good measure. In an effort to stay on the healthy, pleasant-to-be-around end of the spectrum, I tackled the closet...

In my adult life I have now moved cross county twice and lived in a few very different cities. Most recently I made the move from Boston to San Francisco, and once again find myself attempting to settle in and feel at home.

During the year I carried my home on my bike, I spent the Easter holidays in the Italian town of Todi with a large family, the father of which was a duke. The family lived on a really beautiful property with many buildings, including a small church. The meal itself was elaborate, cooked by the women of the family, and there were many guests at the midday meal. 

At the head of the table on one side was the Duke and at the other, the town priest. Everyone spoke Italian, and I barely understood a thing. The food was delicious. 

As any city renter will tell you, any amount of outdoor space in an urban environment is a boon. While some are lucky enough to have their own private patio or, in rare cases, a whole yard, most outdoor spaces come with neighbors attached.

A friend of mine is dealing with the myriad tasks involved in selling a house, packing up, and moving, so I offered to help a bit yesterday. I wouldn't be able to decide what to do with paperwork or childhood memorabilia, but I do have strong opinions about clothes! I sorted his entire closet into three categories: Definite, Potential, and Questionable. Of course, the Questionable section was the most entertaining...

The print above reflects an optimist's view for my upcoming move from cosmopolitan San Francisco to the prairies of Illinois. Although no quiz could really accurately predict how I'd feel living in any given city, I still thought it would be fun to see where the all-knowing internet predicts I would be most happy. I was not expecting the word "Arkansas" to be involved...

A few weeks ago I wrote about giving up your pets and my sister's difficulties in the process of adopting out her two sweet cats. Over 100 comments were posted with similar heart-wrenching pet stories and advice on dealing with allergies. So I wanted to share with you what happened with the two cats.

Just after I finished college, I set off on a long bicycle trip around the world. I had a great bike, front and rear panniers, lots of gear carefully tucked away... I had a down coat for winter, spare cycling shoes, tent, stove, pots and pans, books to read, a number of changes of clothing. 

I was really well equipped. I was prepared, ready and I had EVERYTHING I needed. 

Please know that I mean absolutely no judgement here, but when I saw Michael Wolf's photos of Hong Kong high-rises, I panicked...