It’s less than a week until Christmas. My shopping’s almost finished, I’ve made my holiday plans and, of course, it’s cold outside. But there’s one thing missing: Snow.
Every year, I hope for a white Christmas. But I rarely see one. I’m from a city that overprepares for any bad winter weather (just a threat of snow means school closings, long lines at the grocery store, and lots of salt on the roads), but has some trouble when a real storm comes. By “real storm,” I mean flurries, or maybe an inch or two. Anyone who goes out drives no faster than 10 mph, and everywhere you go, nervous drivers have pulled over on the side of the road, blinkers flashing, waiting for the weather to clear or possibly wondering why they decided to brave the treacherous weather in the first place.
But that’s never the case on Christmas Day. Just about every Dec. 25 — in Louisville, at least — comes with sunshine, clouds or, sometimes, some rain, but rarely is there any snow.
So that’s my Christmas wish this year—not enough snow to shut down the city, but just a few inches to make it really feel like Christmas. I wouldn’t mind if it were more; in fact, I’ve already checked Angie’s List for a snow removal company, just in case. (I guess I’m just overpreparing, just like everyone else from my hometown.)
Then, if it must, it can go back to raining the next day.
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
Turkey Day is almost here, and I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to going home for a few days, spending time with family, catching up with old friends and, of course, eating.
Thanksgiving dinner is the best. Growing up, I was lucky enough to get to have two Thanksgiving meals in one day: First came lunch with one side of the family, and later was dinner with the other. I got to visit with relatives — some who I’d only see once or twice a year — while we all enjoyed turkey and stuffing. We’d talk, watch football, and make plans for Christmas.
This year, plans have changed a little, and we’ll only be able to make it to Thanksgiving lunch. But that’s OK — I’ve stopped working out as much as I used to (believe it or not — and lately, I can’t believe it — but I used to visit the gym regularly), so I probably should cut back on the holiday food, too. Besides, there will be plenty of leftovers to enjoy over the next few days.
And when I get back to work the following week, I’ll really need to try to start visiting the fitness center again. And maybe, as a way to plan ahead for the “get in shape” New Year’s resolution that will no doubt have to be on my list for 2009, I can check Angie’s List for a personal trainer as an early Christmas present to myself. Because, let’s face it: Christmas time will just mean time to do some extra snacking.
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
Happy Halloween! Here at Angie’s List, we have plenty of tricks and treats. Quite a few Angie’s Lister’s dressed up for the occasion, and we even had a costume contest this morning. (At left is a picture of last year’s contestants.)
Among the costumes this year: Hermione, Cookie Monster, and the whole Scooby Doo gang.
Besides preparing for the holiday with things like costume rental and holiday decorating (who says that’s only for Christmas?), there are plenty of reasons for you to check the List after Halloween, too. If you ate too much candy, Angie’s List can help you find a dentist to take care of those cavities. If your kids ate too much candy, check the List for childcare — just until the sugar high wears off. And if the pumpkins you carved and put on your front porch have since been smashed across your front lawn … well, you get the idea.
And make sure hang on to the phone numbers for those service companies — in a few months, you might want the guy who turned your house into a haunted one to come back and string up some Christmas lights.
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
I can’t say for sure that this is true, as I’ve never been to New York City. But that will soon change — I’m leaving tomorrow for a long weekend in The Big Apple.
I’m not sure what I’m most excited about — visiting a city I’ve heard and read all about but only seen on TV, catching up with my old friends also going on the trip, or just having a few days to get away from the real world and enjoy a vacation.
My only concern is how we’ll find time to do everything on our list in only four short days. Continue reading ‘I Heart NY’
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
Like Lindsay and YaShekia, I’m house-hunting. It’s for all the usual reasons — it’s a good investment, I’d like to have more space, and after a few years of renting, it’s time to take the next step and buy a home.
I’m not too picky. A safe neighborhood and good resale value are two of my top priorities, and of course I want a home that’s affordable and in good condition. But when it comes to the interior, there aren’t too many must-haves on my list. As long as the kitchen has enough room for a table and chairs, I don’t need a formal dining room. I don’t need a family room and a nicer living room, either — I don’t have that much furniture anyway. I’m not someone who simply has to have a fireplace. No dishwasher? No problem. (Although it certainly would be nice to have one.) But one of the main things I’m looking for has nothing to do with what’s inside the house: I want a fenced-in backyard for my dog. Continue reading ‘A house, a yard, a dog, and a dishwasher: House-hunting begins’
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
At Angie’s List, we work hard, but we play hard, too, with our soap box derby right before Memorial Day weekend, and an annual Dunk Tank event on Labor Day weekend.
Last week, Angie’s List employees got to nominate coworkers to go in the dunk tank. A list was compiled, and all week long, we voted for our favorites. But there was a catch — each vote cost $1. All the money goes to the Handy Helpers, a charity organization at Angie’s List that works with other organizations and schools in the neighborhood. Continue reading ‘A slam dunk: Angie’s List employees have fun for a good cause’
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
As I sit at my desk, I’m watching some of my co-workers pack up theirs. No, they aren’t leaving—well, not really. They’re just relocating to the third floor of the Blue House.
That’s right—it’s moving day here at Angie’s List. It’s actually a pretty common occurrence around here. With the way the company is growing (we had about 45 local magazines when I started working here a year and a half ago, and now we’re up to almost 75), we keep hiring more people, and we keep rearranging desks. Continue reading ‘Moving day’
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
Most Angie’s List members, when checking the List, look for a company to hire based on their prices, punctuality, and quality of work, and most reports reflect on these same factors. But there’s more to a service company than what’s in its report.
Members may not realize it without visiting the company’s website or hearing it from its employees, but many companies, when they aren’t painting, installing windows, or remodeling kitchens, are involved in their communities. Continue reading ‘Good companies and good neighbors’
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
I may not be the best driver out there — there was that unlucky streak of speeding tickets a few years ago, and I’ve driven over curbs and had my share flat tires — but at least I can say I’m a friendly driver. I let people in front of me when they’re switching lanes, I wave a thank-you when someone lets me over into their lane, and I often stop in parking lots to let a car back out of their space. (OK, sometimes it’s because I want to park in their space, but still, it’s a nice thing to do, right?)
But from my experiences in the year and a half I’ve lived in Indy, I can’t say I feel the same about many of the other drivers here. Continue reading ‘Road rage rant’
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
The Angie’s List fitness center has it all: lots of equipment; a great personal trainer, Kelsey; our very own version of The Biggest Loser; TVs with plenty of good talk shows to keep you entertained while you work out; and much more.
But if there’s one complaint any of us who use the center regularly might have, it’s the lack of space. The machines are crammed pretty closely together, and it’s tough to find a little bit of extra space to do some crunches or push-ups. There’s room for only two treadmills (although I’m not a runner, so seeing that both treadmills are taken is the perfect excuse for me to skip that part of my workout) and a few bikes. Continue reading ‘The Angie’s List fitness center — bigger and better’
Liz is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. She enjoys eating chocolate chip ice cream on the beach after swimming. She also likes colder, drearier places like London.
