My college friend Sarah is hitting a milestone birthday this year. The number shall remain secret. The ladies in our dance group want to shower her with gifts, and they’re thinking makeup. “Eve, can you …
October 3, 2012
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Stories by Eve Kelly
Getting old-looking? Supercharge your skin!
Best Places to Train as a DJ in San Diego
It started at Disneyland, of all places. The park brought in a DJ to perform in sync with a light show built around Tron: Legacy. My teenage son saw stars. He already makes music on …
September 26, 2012
Well Drilling
Who will dig your well in San Diego County? Will they certainly find water?
August 29, 2012
Gelato Sampling in San Diego
“Gelato is like tacos — it’s street food, not high-end fare.”
August 22, 2012
Hydrate While You Dehydrate with Coconut Water
“We should make a new drink, the Hangover Prevention.”
August 8, 2012
It’s Not All Sexy Times in the Face-Painting Biz
‘Face painting gets a bad rap,” said Megan Norgan of the Rosy Glow Paint Co. (858-633-ROSY; rosyglowpaintco.com). “People think it has that carny feel or that it’s cookie-cutter. But my aim is to show it …
July 25, 2012
Dogs Versus Rattlers
Dogs in San Diego County are at great risk of rattlesnake bites. Have them trained not to be.
July 11, 2012
Simple Snacks for the Road
"On the road again…” Every June, Patrick starts singing the Willie Nelson classic. He loves summer road-tripping. He doesn’t like planning them, however. Guess who that job falls to? This year he’s dreaming of his …
June 27, 2012
Shade Sails to Beat the Summer Heat
Getting out of the summer heat with shade sail options from local firms.
June 20, 2012
Loving, Hating, and Eating Frozen Fruit Bars
Fruit-bar feeding frenzy (voracious lip-smacking included).
June 13, 2012
The Incredible Accessible Uke
There’s a uke craze in the Kelly home. The ukulele comes everywhere: in the car, to school, to the beach. Our oldest son begged for one for months. “It’s so convenient and portable,” he pleaded. …
May 30, 2012
Detergent for Sensitive Skin
Learn to make — or buy — detergent for sensitive, rash-prone skin.
May 16, 2012
Soil, Worms, and Gardening
Most San Diegans need good soil for backyard gardens. Where to get it, how much, and for how much?
April 18, 2012
Tater Tot Perfection
Whenever I hear the word ‘tots,’ I think of Napoleon — Dynamite, that is, not Bonaparte. Bully kid: “Napoleon, give me some of your tots.” Napoleon Dynamite: “No! Go find your own!” Napoleon understood that …
April 11, 2012
Inside the Easter Basket
I snagged an invitation to Easter in La Jolla this year, so I decided to bring the host some fancy Easter baskets for her two lovely daughters. I started with the basket. Joe at World …
April 4, 2012
For Easter: Chicks?
I see the signs that spring has arrived at the Kelly home: hours of planting, barbecue dinners on the patio, wafts of jasmine floating in the kitchen window, and loads of requests for baby animals. …
March 28, 2012
Pitching Machines: Best Buys
Every park I see these days is swarming with kids throwing baseballs. My ten-year-old is pushing hard to join a team. But while he’s had years of catch with his dad, he hasn’t done much …
March 21, 2012
Irish Whiskey: A San Diego Taste Test
“You do know that God created liquor to keep the Irish from conquering the world, right?” I smiled at my Irish hubby. “And tea to keep Irish women’s mouths from yapping at their men?” he …
March 14, 2012
Boxing for Exercise
Patrick’s a little jealous of my new exercise regimen. I told him we should work out together, but he doesn’t want to belly dance. So we looked into boxing. “We offer Western boxing,” said Dustin, …
March 7, 2012
Who Is Riding Electric Bikes These Days?
“The greatest thing about an electric bike is that it operates just like a regular bike,” said Ike Fazzio, owner of San Diego Fly Rides (619-888-3878; sandiegoflyrides.com), located in the Gaslamp. “If you’re feeling strong, …
February 29, 2012
Scuba Lessons for Zonies
The Zonies are coming, the Zonies are coming! Friends of ours, actually, fleeing the heat of a Phoenix summer and looking to rent a house near the ocean. The first item on their agenda is …
February 22, 2012
San Diego Gardening in February
My husband’s happy place is in his yard. Around this time of year, he spends hours deep in thought, cultivating his land, composting, relishing the odors of moist, tilled earth. He’s prepared a bed for …
February 15, 2012
Roller Skating in San Diego
“Roller skating has been around since the 1700s,” Bernice read from her iPhone. “It’s funny to think of the founding fathers on skates. I’ve always associated roller skating with the 1970s.” “Did they have the …
January 25, 2012
Belly Dance Your Belly Away
New Year, new me, etc. Maybe lose weight with…belly dancing! “I’ve danced my whole life,” said Sabrina (858-337-1728; sabrinabellydancer.com). “I studied dance at UC Irvine, and in my second year I saw belly dancers at …
January 18, 2012
Sippin' the Diem: Black Tea
We spent an afternoon testing black tea in anticipation of my mother-in-law’s annual visit. Husband Patrick was assisting. The salesman at La Mesa’s All Things Bright and British said that it’s important to prepare tea …
January 11, 2012
Environmentally Friendly Burial
Ever since Aunt Azelda’s dog died, the dear old bird has been thinking of her own demise. “I don’t want to be in the way, Evie,” she told me. “Just burn me up and put …
December 28, 2011
Let Christmas Songs Inspire Your Party Decor
Am I suddenly in the middle of a 1940s Christmas musical? I wondered. Images of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” danced in my head as Alexis walked around her house, dreaming up ideas for her holiday-party …
December 21, 2011
Mulling in S.D.
“Mulling is when you infuse your cider with other flavors and aromas,” said Kathy. “You can use spices, herbs, fruits, or even sugars.” She pulled a pile of saucepans from under her stovetop. “Shall we …
December 14, 2011
Holiday Makeup Tips: Highlighters, Glitters, and Sparkles
“I think the wintertime is a great time to use your highlighters, glitters, and sparkles because it’s cold and gray outside, and you want to liven up your skin a little bit,” offered Alexis Hoerres …
December 7, 2011
Pet Burial, Goldfish to Horse
Aunt Azelda’s tiny mutt Taffy has died. I’m on duty for the burial arrangements. “We have taken care of pets ranging from goldfish to horses,” says Mick Palermo of San Diego Pet Memorial Park in …
November 30, 2011
Pumpkin Pies: A Ten-Pie Test
“You’ll have to do without the bourbon-cherry-apple pie,” I told Patrick. “This year, I’m bringing a ready-made pumpkin pie.” A few days later, after making the store rounds, Patrick and I sat down with friend …
November 22, 2011
The Best Apple Cider
The days are still warm, but the nights are getting cold enough for cider. Patrick and I hail from the Northeast, and this time of year starts us hankering. I didn’t make it up to …
November 16, 2011
San Diego Mobile Oil Change
“‘Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’, into the future,” I serenaded hubby Patrick with the Steve Miller song as I hustled through chores last Saturday. “Oil keeps on burnin’, burnin’, burnin’, out of my Chevy,” …
November 2, 2011
Advanced Degree in Gluten Free
My sister-in-law sold me on her gluten-free lifestyle over lunch last week. “The stomach aches are gone, digestion’s smooth, my perpetual skin rashes are gone. I feel great,” she glowed. “Oh, and I’m losing weight, …
October 26, 2011
Birthday Party? An Arty Kick: Ceramic Crafts
My friend Erica wants to make her daughter Elsie’s tenth birthday a special one, and Elsie is on an arty kick. “But do I dare let a whole party’s worth of kids just cut loose …
October 19, 2011
Gluten-Free In S.D.
My sister-in-law and I are scheduled for a birthday lunch, and she wants to go out. It’s kind of a rare event these days, because she discovered a year ago that she’s gluten intolerant. “Going …
October 12, 2011
Drink It Green
Dinners at the Kelly household have been deficient in veggies of late, and working in some more greens has become imperative. There’s been buzz over the Vitamix Turboblend juicer ($378.95 on Amazon), but I can’t …
October 5, 2011
Best Oktoberfest Beers in San Diego
October! Oktoberfest! Time for a party! Karl Strauss was my first local beer, way back when I first moved to town, so I put in a call to the brewery’s PR manager, Melody Daversa (858-273-2739, …
September 28, 2011
Comparing Mechanical Pencils
School-supply lists had come in, and I sat in the store dizzied by the multitude of mechanical pencils. Rather than sink dough into something that would be thrown away within a week, I called around …
September 21, 2011
Soil: To Test or Not to Test
“When are you going to learn?” asked Patrick as I lamented another failed crop in the front-yard garden bed. “There’s a witch buried under there. Nothing will ever grow. It’s just bad mojo.” “Nonsense,” I …
September 7, 2011