I’m really not a crier. Not at movies, when I’m sad, when I’m frustrated, nothing. It just doesn’t happen. My entire family is that way, we just aren’t wired to shed tears.

I flew home for a funeral two months ago and my mom’s best friend from childhood came over, sobbing her condolences as she handed us boxes of muffins and pastries. After she left, the three of us looked at each other, our brows furrowed, until finally my mom …

No-bake cookies may not be aesthetically pleasing, but they’re so delicious it’s worth embracing your inner chubscout and forgetting their appearance. You can make them on the stove, get your chocolate fix, and keep the mess to a minimum. A-mazing.

Please note that there is peanut butter in this recipe, so for those with allergies, I apologize for being a tease.

You’ll need:

1—medium saucepan

2—sheets tinfoil (for your cookies to dry on)

½ cup (or one stick)butter

½ teaspoon …

A close set of girlfriends is like a corset, generally helping you maintain as much poise as possible through all walks of life while proving to be an incredibly tight system of support. If you’re lucky, they know you better than you know yourself (or than you’d prefer to admit to yourself) and love you anyway, all the while sharing their wardrobes and opinions on whether it’s time for a new hair color.

I wouldn’t dream of replacing my girls, …

Mmmm, brunch. Hands-down, this is the best part of my weekend. I love a diner as much as the next New Yorker, but I was raised in the Midwest on the kind of French toast that will have you longing for lazy Sunday afternoons in your kitchen. This is what I usually make for one person… but feel free to double if you’ve got company…

You’ll need:

3 slices of bread (switch up as you prefer, but it can be …

People in relationships baffle me. They spend their lives living vicariously through singles, dragging them into their cult of couplehood, when really, what must they want other than to be back in those uncomfortable but oh so attractive shoes? It’s schaedenfreude.

They’re not happy until we’re miserable like them. They obsess over adding new couples to the guest list for charades or a round of Trivial Pursuit: the Pop Culture edition, and leave no stone unturned when seeking out converts-to-be. …

Nothing says summer like sangria. Whether you’re planning in advance for Cinco de Mayo (beware of drunken frat boys in sombreros…) or feel like you should upgrade from Carlo Rossi’s gallon jugs, here’s a simple recipe anyone can follow, courtesy of DrinkoftheWeek.com

You’ll need:

* 2 bottles of red wine (750ml)

* 1/2 cup Triple Sec

* 1/4 cup tequila

* 1/4 cup sweet vermouth

* 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

* Lemons, limes and oranges (sliced)

* Sugar to …

A good playlist at the bar is important. A great playlist during pregame is critical, because let’s face it, pregame is more fun than going out itself nine times of ten.

Hate it or love it, here are some throwback jams to start your evening:

“OPP” by Naughty by Nature

Yeah, you know me!

Other people’s property? Sure… that’s what it means. Whether you know any of the actual lyrics or not, you can’t not scream the chorus.

“Shoop” by …

Two accessories are universal to everyone’s college experience: a black NorthFace fleece and a Nalgene bottle.

I joined students nationwide in their fear of collapsing of dehydration in their respective college towns. Nalgene-carrying has become a trend to be reckoned with. Much to my dismay, as well as that of 75 or more percent of the collegiate and camping population, the company has decided to recall its hard plastic bottles within the next few months.

The containers are made with …

Just when I had you convinced I’m a lazy cow, I took some action. The weather’s gorgeous, I have many a short little dress waiting to come out, and frankly, the time has come for me to take your advice, which has been much appreciated. I’ve started walking to and from work rather than hopping on the subway, and so long as it’s sunny and nice, I’ve decided that my new habit is going to be a post-work run, and …

Summer, for me, is a blessing and a curse. As much as I love cute little dress season, my skin isn’t quite as easy to please. This time of year is when I start chucking my foundation or tinted moisturizer, because there’s no way a liquid is going to do anything more than melt and cause breakouts. I’ve been a faithful Bare Essentials user for years, but as I’ve tried to manage my budget and seem to go through it …