I love the oversized sweater trend that made a splash this fall, but let’s be honest it is not the easiest trend to wear. Anything big and baggy can lead to frumpy looks, which we all want to avoid, even on our most relaxed days. So how can you wear the oversized sweater trend without feeling like a shapeless balloon? Try the tips and techniques below and check out the polyvore collage for more mixing and matching ideas.

How to wear an oversized sweater:

1. Always wear a structured and fitted bottom. A pencil skirt, a pair of skinny jeans, leggings if the sweater is long enough.
2. Cinch it with a belt. To give some shape to the shapeless item try belting it at different places to see where it works best.
3. Add a bold scarf. This little addition will create emphasis on your face drawing other’s attention away from the bulk of the sweater.
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Packing for vacation, whether it's a weekend away or several weeks, is no easy task. How many of us have accdentally packed too much? You heave the suitcase in the trunk of the car and cringe at the thought you might need to pay the over-weight fee at the airport. Packing lightly and smartly takes time and practice. You need to put an effort into thinking through versatile outfits and packable clothing items.

I've done a fair amount of traveling over the years and now I've got it down to a science. Here are my thoughts on packing light and how to get the most out of your suitcase:

1. Start with basics. The little black dress, the basic pencil skirt, the perfect-fitting pair of pants, etc... Each of these items should be highly interchangeable.
2. Keep it all in the same color family. If you pack a bunch… click here to read whole article and make comments

After nearly three months, my brother has graduated from boot camp and is now a full-fledged Marine. Most of my family had the opportunity to go out to San Diego to see him graduate. I got the next best thing – a lot of FaceTime and Skype time with him. (Here's the post I wrote when he left for boot camp.)

The amazing thing to me is to see all the changes he has undergone. There are physical changes. He lost more than 30 pounds while there and packed on the muscle. He is leaner in the waist and perhaps broader in the shoulders. Before leaving it was difficult to convince him to run a mile with me; on his last physical fitness test while there he ran three miles in 18 minutes and thought he could have done better. His face is more defined, his head closely shaved. He stands taller. (The picture below was taken as… click here to read whole article and make comments

Like most Americans, when I was 17 I was faced with a difficult decision. Which school would I attend? I applied to a handful of schools – only those that had both a nursing and a journalism degree since I was undecided about my future aspirations. Of those schools, I was declined from one and got into all the rest. And then the real decision began.

Although, to be honest, it wasn’t much of a decision on my part. I wanted Marquette – a private Jesuit-run university. From the first moment I visited I fell in love with the small urban campus and the gothic interior of the church. I felt attuned to the students there and wanted to be part of a small but active College of Communications. (pic from 8000Credit.org)

The real decision was convincing my dad it was a worthwhile financial obligation. He offered me an alternative, the same that… click here to read whole article and make comments

A few months ago I hosted my very first clothing swap. The premise is simple, every attendee brings gently used clothing that they are no longer using. You get the chance to get rid of things you can't fit into or are no longer interested in and can take home someone else's quality castaways. A swap can be a great event to pull in a couple friends or to plan for your local community. While I’m no expert, here’s what I did to plan and pull off the event. If done right these events can have very little overhead costs and don’t require as much time and planning as other kinds of events.

I have to be honest, the one thing that drives me crazy about the Pro-Life March is the constant complaints about the media coverage. I will be the first to admit there isn’t much written about the hundreds of thousands of young people protesting the Supreme Court decision. But as a journalist I do take exception to the complaints; especially when this very thing is within the reader’s power to change.

I’ve talked about this many times on Tiger Print, but we vote with our clicks while on the internet. Every article we click on, every blog we read, every article on a newspaper’s website we choose to view – all of that is sending a message to the publishers, bloggers and writers. It sends the message we want more of this. Usually I talk about this working to blot out the negative; declining to click on useless news and celebrity gossip in favor… click here to read whole article and make comments

Today, Monday, January 23, marks the 39th anniversary of Roe vs Wade. Hundreds of thousands of young people journeyed to our nation’s capital to protest this Supreme Court decision. This is nothing new; the protest and march has been going on for years, and it has been gaining in popularity. In fact it seems to me the entire pro-life movement has grown in recent years, especially among the younger set.

I think a large part of the movement’s growth is due to the use of social media and the determination of several outspoken and creative young people. Last summer I had the privilege to meet Lila Rose, the courageous and tenacious leader of Live Action. Honestly I have never met someone about my age who was so well spoken, articulate and convincing. She is whole and entirely behind ending abortion in this country and she won’t stop until she sees that day come. (photo from Secularprolife)

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The Peter Pan collar is back -- in the northern winter, at least, and how attractive it looks, especially on young women. Let's hope there's a summer version to protect us from the bare chest brigade.

Slate has an interesting story about how the fashion originated from the first American stage production of J M Barrie's play in 1905. And the video above shows you how to make your own.

Enjoy.

A couple months ago I upgraded my phone, finally, to an iPhone and have now spent the last several months learning the ropes. It’s been a fun experience and one I have enjoyed. There are so many applications to try and I’ve found that a number of them make life surprisingly more simple. Here is a list of my favorite applications, at the moment.

Here in the United States, this time of the year is marked by the sale of cookies. These little delectable goodies, which sell for about $4 a box, are a tradition. They are sold by little girls in brown uniforms as a fundraiser for the Girl Scouts. Years ago I sold these treats to neighbors and relatives; going door to door with my best friend offering a smile and a plea to buy boxes of cookies.

The same happens today. Only now the Girl Scouts and the organization’s true colors have begun to come to light and our hard earned money is going to promote their agenda under the veil of adorable grade schoolers dressed in little brown uniforms.

The reports of pamphlets handed out to Girl Scout members at a UN conference provided by Planned Parenthood have been well documented. As have the financial reports that prove the girl’s leadership organization… click here to read whole article and make comments