Category Archives: Lifestyle

Trying something new

Because my spouse and I don’t really go in for Valentine’s Day (except for that one time when he – very out of character – proposed while I was suffering from a horrible steak-induced stomach ache), this year I decided to gift myself something that I’d wanted for a while. So, after weighing the prosContinue reading “Trying something new”

Kids, do you know what “triage” means?

It’s never a good sign when you realize that you’re more than halfway through the school year, but you’ve somehow gone off the rails. And you did so awhile back without noticing. Today is February 10, we only have about four months of school left, and I’m finally accepting that we are very behind. AsContinue reading “Kids, do you know what “triage” means?”

Our K-pop life

Now that the kids are getting older, in addition to giving physical presents this past Christmas, I decided to also gift each of them with an experience. And with both of them really into music at the moment – K-pop to be specific – I decided to go with concert tickets. Three days ago itContinue reading “Our K-pop life”

Thank you, BTS

Music has never meant as much to me as it did when I was 14. Even in my 20s when I spent the bulk of my money and evenings watching my favorite bands perform throughout Boston, the connection was muffled. Alone in my room with headphones, record on repeat, and pouring over lyrics while sittingContinue reading “Thank you, BTS”

A certain view

Without fail, each time we spend more than a day in another place, I have the desire to move there. The highlight reel: I’ve opined about living in Pacifica and Monterey; Ipswich, Chatham, and Gloucester; Boulder and Nederland; Philadelphia, New York City, and Seattle. But Maine. That’s where I really sink my teeth in. TruliaContinue reading “A certain view”

The City of Spindles

Sometimes when you live near history, you take it for granted. I was reminded of that during February vacation when I took the kids to the Boott Cotton Mills Museum in Lowell. Growing up in Massachusetts, I was aware of the various mills in the state and the company towns that formed around them. It’s also hard toContinue reading “The City of Spindles”

Nature and technology meet at Gleason’s newest art show

by Karina Coombs   A series of ceramic scrolls from Bedford artist Carol Rissman. Rissman makes each tile from white or red clay before imprinting or stamping them with natural found objects. Pieces are then fired and stained. Tiles are selected individually for each scroll and mounted on a wooden backing. (Photo by Karina Coombs)Continue reading “Nature and technology meet at Gleason’s newest art show”

Women Who Will

I stayed up as long as I could this morning, but in the end I made myself go to sleep knowing what we would all learn eventually and trying to figure out a way to explain this to my daughters. They went to sleep thinking they would wake up to a bold new day: theContinue reading “Women Who Will”

Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show, 2016

Back when we were dating, my husband and I first went to the Brimfield Antique and Collectibles show. We spent hours strolling up and down the street and in and out of the tents looking for things that “spoke” to us. We acquired an enormous porcelain industrial glove mold, an old glass hospital paper cupContinue reading “Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show, 2016”

Giving city kids a summer to remember

My newest feature article from the Carlisle Mosquito. The link is here, with full text below. Giving city kids a summer to remember by Karina Coombs Running barefoot through the grass. Gazing at stars. Falling asleep to the sound of crickets. When summer arrives, many children in Carlisle will experience these simple pleasures. But forContinue reading “Giving city kids a summer to remember”

Small business with big plans

My latest feature on a local entrepreneur can be found here. Full text below. Small business with big plans by Karina Coombs Caitlin O’Connor knows a lot about brand management thanks to her time at Proctor & Gamble (P&G). Countless hours spent driving her four children to various activities has also taught her a lotContinue reading “Small business with big plans”

What is old is new again (to me, anyway)

For someone who thinks she is fairly aware of trends – and is clearly wrong about this fact – I can’t believe I wasn’t aware of terrarium fever until this past July. It was a visit to a local garden store with a little money and time to kill that first brought them to myContinue reading “What is old is new again (to me, anyway)”

A Plymouth Thanksgiving

We made the trek south for the annual Plymouth Thanksgiving parade.  It was freezing and we got there way too early, but once it got  underway it was worth the wait and cold. Photos of our summer trip to Plimoth Plantation are here.

Suspending Belief

Recently my 5-year-old told me she no longer believed in flying reindeer.  The conversation went something like this: E, “Reindeers can’t fly.” Me, “Well, maybe not all reindeer.” E, “Mama, you know no deer can fly.” Me, trying to think of something, “Okay, but maybe Santa uses some magic on just his reindeer to makeContinue reading “Suspending Belief”

Living in History

We have officially passed the one year mark in our Massachusetts house and have signed a lease for another 12 months.  Not a week goes by where I don’t miss the relative luxury we lived in while in Northern Colorado, but it’s getting better. If Colorado was my fat pants in terms of mind-numbing comfortContinue reading “Living in History”

Video Snacking

Prefunerale Luigi Virgillito  from Ground’s Oranges on Vimeo. ~ A pre-funeral celebration, parodying 18th birthday vanity videos popular in Southern Italy.  And now that I’ve seen a few of those pre-diciottesimo videos this is so much better in every possible way.  It’s weird, has great imagery, and shows that Americans haven’t cornered the market on narcissism in aContinue reading “Video Snacking”

Fruit Bearing Trees

We are going on our second year in the antique rental house.  And I can feel the familiar calling of fall now that the hard little pears are starting to fall to the ground with a distinctive thud.  I wish I knew what kind of pears they are or what to do with them.  WeContinue reading “Fruit Bearing Trees”

Video Snacking

~ I’m suddenly really interested in alternative housing and how ingenious people are in terms of making it work in surprising ways.  A bicycle elevator to reach a 30 foot treehouse?  Sounds like a good idea to me. Found at Colossal. Related articles Bicycle-Powered Treehouse Elevator (makezine.com)

New England News

After a summer of sloth, my newest article just hit the web and features a local guy that designed and built a tiny solar house that can also be a tiny solar houseboat.  I don’t know how I would manage living alone in 128 square feet, but he makes it pretty enviable. It’s at theContinue reading “New England News”