Rene Marie Sings Black National Anthem Instead

If the economy has you thinking cheap, genetically-modified corn-and-soybean junk foods may be the way to go, frugal foodies serious about cheap, tasty eats are blogging to convince you otherwise. Sustainable, yummy eats don't have to break the bank!

It's no secret that I love libraries. If I were the type to say so I'd say that I big puffy heart them. For the past year I've lived without a good library system. When I was in Montreal I joined a library that was way better than I was expecting for English books but now that I'm in Ottawa I'm not only part of a library but a library system. I got my own library card a couple of weeks ago (had to wait for proof of residency first - bah!) and started my book request list yesterday and already there are two books in transit to me. If I could I'd give my library a big hug.

Thinking about some new gadget for yourself or as a gift? Looking for information or ideas about a gadget? If you're a dude, you might head for Boing Boing for some male perspective and reviews on gadgets. But if you're a dudette, where are you going to look for the female perspective on gadgets? I know! I know! The BlogHer blogroll contains a large number of helpful female perpective sites for the gadget seeker. Let's check some of them out.

I would never argue that anyone NEEDS makeup; I know so many women who are stunning barefaced and natural. But I also hear women talk about how they wish they could tweak this or that small imperfection in their faces, and recently I've been hearing a lot of you say that you're tired of the dark circles under your eyes. I can help with that.Start with some simple strategies: get enough sleep and drink enough water. Not helping? Then let's move on to the Big Guns: let's talk about how to apply concealer. It's easier than you think, and if you do it right, it will change your entire look.

The video and tragic story of a woman waiting for over 24 hours in a psychiatric emergency room, before falling to the floor and dying, has been all over the news. The worst part of this story, is that so many people stood by and watched for almost an hour, and none of these people made any attempt to help this poor woman. What does this say about our society?

I spent Canada Day in my hometown. I stopped by the local museum, walked along my favourite beach, had dinner with my best friend and her family (and took a dip in their pool) and ended the night watching fireworks with my boyfriend and my mother. A quiet but perfect day. I was completely unplugged when I was in my hometown so I'm just now getting caught up on what my fellow Canadian BlogHer's were doing for Canada Day. Zesty did some daytripping in small town Ontario. There really is nothing like a small town celebration.

When I was a little girl, my Dad would walk with my friend Sandy and me to the local fireworks display, where we would listen to the volunteer town band play patriotic songs. The night was all about fireworks, popcorn, watching the pre-teen boys watching us, and the fun walk home in the dark with a flashlight for light surrounded by fireflies and the sweet hum of a New England sultry summer night.