Before moving to Georgia, the back-to-school issue that constantly stuck in my craw was dry-erase markers, of all things. Yes. Every child was required to bring a 4-pack of dry-erase markers as part of their supplies, at the kids' old school.

It's time to talk politics - Canadian politics. Yes, in the middle of the American election sweeps we're going to talk what's happening on the political front north of the 49th parallel. It seems that all the election fun that our American friends have been experiencing was just too much for the Canadian government to handle so they are calling an election. Not only are we going to get swept up in the election fever, we are going to have ours FIRST. So there. Kinda. Maybe.

These are expensive times, and families are having to get creative in maximizing their resources. One blogger, Mary of Owlhaven, is a mom of ten kids committed to teaching her kids common-sense frugality by example.

Looks like more trouble for those bloggers who leak MP3s. Kevin Cojill from the site Antiquiet was arrested last week on suspicion of violating copyright laws for leaking nine unreleased Guns 'N' Roses songs. His bail was set at $10,000.

It's human nature to overlay our own values and beliefs on other people's decisions -- particularly when the decision is to accept one of the most challenging and demanding jobs in the world. So you see this young mother with five kids who is given the career opportunity of a lifetime and you image it's you being asked to become vice president of the United States. You wonder, "Given the same circumstances, would you say yes to that offer?" While some would say, "Hell yes!" Many others would say, " Not a chance."

What's happening this week in the world of fashion?  We have Project Runway, killer shoe trends, and what to wear this Fall.  Plus, Fashion Week Spring 2009 begins!

There’s one of them in the window of every car on the lot. It’s the law! They’re the tools of both car buyers and automotive journalists, and even if you might take those lowly window stickers for granted when your're out shopping for a new car, did you know they have a name?

Reformer? Maverick? Defender of motherhood? Independent-minded woman? Former beauty queen? Serious politico? Moose hunter? As soon as John McCain announced that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would be his running mate, the liberal vs. conservative online discussion was off to the races! Progressive bloggers are shocked at Palin's positions on reproductive choice, gun control and religion in schools, just to name a few.

Since May I've been writing a series of posts on BlogHer about Cooking with Fresh Herbs. Now it's nearly fall, and I'm finishing up the series with sage today and a final post about thyme coming on Sunday. Both these are herbs I love to cook with, and I think both are underused in many American kitchens. If you have sage or thyme in your herb garden, but not too many ideas about how to use them, I hope you'll enjoy the finale.

So this week I had the joy of my annual trip to my OB/GYN. Well, I use the term "annual" loosely, because since I got an IUD (and so I'm not running out of birth control pills), it's really difficult to remember when I'm supposed to go, much less motivate myself to get there. And my doctor changed medical groups, which meant I had to change medical groups to see him, which my insurance took a month to do. But. Annual-ish gynecological exam: Done.

McCain surrogate Tim Kane talks economics with BlogHer's Mary Katharine Ham from St. Paul.

Huge TV viewing numbers last night for Gov. Sarah Palin, amazingly nearly matching Barack Obama's tally and far outstripping the viewership for Vice President Joe Biden, who is after all her opponent. Sarah Palin is not running for president. And only six networks carried Palin's speech, vs. 10 for Obama, so her numbers are even more impressive.