advice Archives - What Would Betty Do?

Betty Says: Awkward Conversations

Written on May 15, 2013 by Alisa.

What Did You Say? Today, you can advise me. Not to beat a dead horse about this whole bike riding thing, but I’ve noticed something very interesting. Biking with the kiddo: Aww, cute. Biking solo, not kitted out in racing gear: What’s wrong with you and why aren’t you driving a car? But the most […] Read More

Betty Says: Find the Fun

Written on May 8, 2013 by Alisa.

Silly Stuff Enjoy this photo recap of the recent weeks. Exhibit A: The Flowing Vest This is a tunic/dress with an attached vest. It’s nice and flowy. Put me on a bike and it flaps behind me like billowing black wings. Just call me Batgirl. The registration form said to request gendered styles. I chose […] Read More

Betty Says: Park the Car

Written on April 10, 2013 by Alisa.

Walk More, Ride More Last weekend, the Tiny Kitchen Assistant got a new bike. Naturally, as any kid with a new toy, he’s looking for every excuse to ride it. On Sunday, we rode to the ballpark for baseball practice (the long green park at the top of the outer circle), with me towing two […] Read More

Not Your Usual Holiday Gift

Written on December 10, 2012 by Alisa.

I don’t know about you, but I think most of us have reached the point where the holidays roll around and we’re all absolutely stumped. It’s rare that a fiend of family member actually asks for something that they specifically want or need, so we’re left stumbling blindly, trying to figure out something useful to […] Read More

Betty Says: The 10 Commandments of My Kitchen

Written on October 31, 2012 by Alisa.

Kitchen Commandments 1. Thou shalt not put anything in the freezer unlabeled. Failure to follow this commandment means will result in some very strange meals in the future. 2. Thou shalt not stack dishes in the sink because you don’t feel like unloading the dishwasher. Don’t be lazy. 3. Thou shalt not complain that the […] Read More

Betty Says: My Supermarket Test

Written on September 5, 2012 by Alisa.

Testing Supermarket Bagger Competency Dear Betty, Who are these inept kids that bag my groceries at the supermarket? Shouldn’t there be some sort of competency test before you’re allowed to put a bag of potatoes and a dozen eggs into the same reusable bag? – Crushed in Concord If I ever open a food retail […] Read More

Betty Says: Don’t Overshare

Written on June 20, 2012 by Alisa.

I swear on the Tiny Kitchen Assistant that this is a true story. On Monday afternoon, I camped out at the coffee shop to get some work done. True, I could have worked at home, but because my trip was looming large in my brain, I was having a serious case of pre-travel ADD in […] Read More

Dear Betty: What’s In Your Fridge?

Written on June 6, 2012 by Alisa.

It’s been a while since I’ve answered questions from you, my lovely readers. I’ll fix that today. Dear Betty, I looked in my nearly barren refrigerator and discovered that I have three open bottles of white wine (I had a wine tasting at my house over the weekend, and we didn’t finish the whites), one […] Read More

Betty Says: Just Talk

Written on May 9, 2012 by Alisa.

Over the past few months, I found myself repeatedly crossing paths with a woman who looked like a serious runner. She had the gear, the KT tape… she was definitely a “real” runner. Naturally, I thought that she was completely out of my league. And then, one day, as I slogged away on the elliptical […] Read More

Betty Says: Playing the Role of Mommy

Written on March 21, 2012 by Alisa.

Sometimes, you just need a change of perspective. Dear Betty, I feel like my kids (and possibly even my husband) don’t appreciate what I do. Nobody notices dinner unless it’s bad. Nobody notices the laundry until nothing is clean. Nobody ever says thank you. It makes me crazy. How can I make them appreciate me […] Read More