Do phones make good parents?
I'm struck by a disturbing trend. It seems like everywhere I look, parents are relying more and more on phones and technology to teach, entertain and even soothe their kids.
Should I fire good workers who are bad communicators?
I hired a couple to do my yardwork. I saw their ad online and gave them a call. The first chat was great. The woman asked a lot of questions, I told her what I needed done. She said to give a quote for their services she'd come take a look at my yard and let me know. Perfect. She said it would be that afternoon and she'd text me after. Afternoon went. Evening went. All of a sudden my dog started growling at 9:30 p.m. and out the front window I saw two people on my sidewalk. I assumed that was them and I'd get a text. There was no text. It wasn't until the next afternoon that she sent me the quote for the job. I responded within an hour and asked when they're available. She didn't respond until the next day and said it would be Monday in the late afternoon. (So from surveying, to quote, to availability we're going on three days already.) I asked what time would work and never got a reply. All of a sudden on Monday at 8:45 p.m. I heard lawnmowers and equipment outside my window. They…
Buff'ed choco-spresso dip
There are few culinary pairings I love as much as chocolate and Buff coffee. They just belong together, don't they? That rich bitterness of coffee perfectly complements the sweet depth of chocolate. And if you're like me, constantly looking for easy ways to satisfy a sweet craving that feels a little bit gourmet, then keep reading for my utterly addictive chocolate espresso dip.
We’ve all heard of them: the five love languages. (At least, single people have. Our married bosses hadn't.)
You'll die when you see this... which is fitting
I have to admit, I was rather intrigued when I heard Houston was home to the National Museum of Funeral History. And naturally I wondered if the place would be some morbid hole in the wall. Turns out it's a pretty fancy place. There are artifacts from decades gone by including a gallery of presidential funerals, showbiz tributes, 9/11 items and so many vehicles the place could pass as a car dealership.
There's a hot party in my mouth! (but not too hot)
Yeah, yeah, I should probably leave the food commentary to our resident chef, Ben. But I'm taking a break from reviewing the usual fitness, tech and lifestyle products for something that made my mouth really happy. Like, really happy!
My co-worker always says my name wrong... and it's maddening
My co-worker always mispronounces my name. No matter how many times I've told her she always says it wrong. I don't know if it's personal or if I should take offense but it's weird. How do I deal with her?
I had you at bacon. I knew it! Buckle up and get ready to take your taste buds on a trip. This one is good.
So many companies waste their money doing this
I’ve had an epiphany recently, a moment of clarity that connects two seemingly disparate observations: the astronomical rise in digital ad revenue for giants like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, and the bafflingly irrelevant ads that pollute my own feeds. And honestly, it boils down to something both simple and infuriating: a significant chunk of these platforms’ burgeoning wealth comes from advertisers who are, quite frankly, throwing away their money.
You had 1 job... (New Year's Eve fail!)
Well, the audio-visual guy at the party tried, but...
I'll admit it: I've become a word nerd
For most of my adult life, my relationship with spelling and grammar could best be described as... estranged. Or perhaps, more accurately, non-existent. I was the kind of person who saw a misplaced apostrophe and thought, "Eh, you get the gist." A comma splice? "It adds character!" And don't even get me started on 'their,' 'there,' and 'they're' – a linguistic Bermuda Triangle that I happily navigated with blissful ignorance.
Getting blown in Houston
On the surface, indoor skydiving might seem scary. I'll admit, it is a little intimidating. But when I arrived at iFly Houston and saw little kids -- and even a birthday grandma -- heading into the wind tunnel, it made me think that I would have no problem taking flight and taking a successful dive.
Your 'triggers' are your problem, not ours
“Your triggers are your responsibility. It isn’t the world’s obligation to tiptoe around you.”
A whiff for a woof
It's widely known that there are two dogs at Buff Loft. While the golden retriever and husky live mostly with their parents across the building and far away from us, they spend a lot of time with our group throughout the day -- especially when the dog parents are out of town. (And they travel a lot!)
He shoots, he scores! (Plus, FIRE!!!)
My recent trip to Montreal offered an incredible opportunity to dive deep into the city's vibrant sports culture, specifically attending a highly anticipated soccer match between CF Montréal and their fierce rivals, Toronto FC. It was an experience that truly encompassed the spectrum of live sporting events, from family activities to an incredibly intense, almost unbelievable, fan spectacle.
I just had a first date. Everything was going good. The conversation was a struggle at first. (It's weird how some people are more comfortable texting conversation than speaking face to face.) As things got going, he casually mentioned he has a "Lego room" at home. At first I thought it was a joke so I laughed. (Not super hard but it was a noticeable laugh.) Then he started describing it in detail. Turns out this is a hobby he'd never mentioned in the weeks of texting before we met. I think it's childish and juvenile. I compare it to an adult spending hours playing video games. I can't get over that when I think about how much I could've liked him had he not been into Lego. Do I give it a shot or give him the brush off?
It cost him $20 and he's never showing his face there again!
Stop TikTok dancing and just give us the news
I understand why people don't trust the news media anymore.
Celebs cheapen their brand with odd business launches
Celebrity endorsements are as old as advertising itself. We've seen it all, from fitness gurus hawking miracle machines to supermodels swearing by age-defying creams. But something's shifted.
Biggest Barbie collection ever!
During a recent trip to Montreal, amidst the charming cobblestone streets and vibrant arts scene, I stumbled upon a truly unique and utterly fascinating attraction: the Barbie Expo.
Goodbye grime, hello shine
Let's be real: cleaning water bottles is the worst. You try to jam a sponge in there, you swirl it around (maybe you find a long wooden spoon whose handle you slide in to guide the sponge), and you're still left wondering if you really got all that gunk out -- which you didn't.
Joan Rivers was right: You're not "years young," you're years old, bitch!
People are hilarious when they age. And by "hilarious," I mean a magnificent, often tragicomic blend of denial, delusion and the occasional fleeting moment of self-awareness.
I like sleeping in, my partner insists we wake up early
I enjoy sleeping in but my partner likes waking up early. Every time he wakes up early, the movement also wakes me up and then I can't get back to sleep. What's the compromise for this situation?
Buff'ed nan'er bread
There are few things as comforting as a warm slice of banana bread. One, of course is Buff Boy coffee. Come on, that goes without saying! Both are staples in my kitchen, go-to must-haves for breakfast -- and after a great meal for dessert.