Laurie's light travel travel tips

Hiya, greetings from London . Though my body is in Blighty, part of my heart remains with the good ol' U.S.A., especially at holiday time. With Easter fast approaching (April 1 both here and in the States), time to think of one's favorite treats. Yes, I love a good chocolate malt ball-stuffed bunny or a blue Peep or even some of that finely glazed ham Mom makes. But I really love butter-flavored Jelly Bellies. Source: CandyStore.com Thus, I was tickled to see that my former state of Connecticut agrees with my choice, as reported by Candystore.com. The company has provided a beautiful graphic delineating each state's preference. Here are the top 6 faves: #1 Buttered Popcorn. As Candystore says, yes, "it's polarizing" but it's also America’s #1 favorite for a reason - with its salty-but-sweet flavor reminiscent of a trip to the movies, it's unmatched. Wish I had a handful right now. #2 Black Licorice. Black licorice was one of the original Jelly B...

Some of us have never been married, much less been a housewife, but it doesn't take much of an imagination to see domesticity can become dull or frustrating. So much is written about "girlfriend getaways" but who ever talks about the solo housewife break? Women, perhaps especially wives and mothers, are so busy giving to others that very often they neglect themselves. Being a martyr, especially a tired and grumpy one, won't earn you any points in the long run. So take my advice: get the heck away from the walls that bind you, the cooking, cleaning, crying kids and demanding hubby. Take your iPhone, drawing pad, comfy sneakers and anything else that brings you happiness but just go alone. Paris Whether you come for the French Open, or simply long to stroll along the Seine, Paris will bring out the explorer, single gal and giddy kid in you. Stay in the 10th Arrondissement where you can escape a lot of the tourists and just take in the people, cafes, and sites. Don...

Top 10 Coziest American cities: 1. Boston, Massachusetts 2. San Francisco, California 3. Seattle, Washington 4. Albany, New York 5. Portland, Oregon 6. Rochester, New York 7. Minneapolis, Minnesota 8. Sacramento, California 9. Denver, Colorado 10. Salt Lake City, Utah Honeywell has compiled its fourth annual list of the country's coziest cities. I like this list because I'm from #2 and have spent a lot of time in numbers 1 and 5. But beyond that, I like the notion of visiting a "cozy" city about now. Whatever your politics, everyone can agree that the populus is stressed. If ever there was a time to cozy up in a blanket before a roaring fire, this would be it. For the fourth consecutive year, the marketers of Honeywell Heaters and environmental researchers have set out to define coziness and have shared the list of cities that embody this quality. Last year's list placed Asheville, NC at the top spot, Boston at numero do...