As an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to work as a Peer Learning Assistant—otherwise known as a campus tutor. Another PLA and friend of mine, Melinda*, agreed to talk about the position and what it takes to be a good PLA.

How did you become a Peer Learning Assistant?

I saw a flyer on campus about it and knew it was the job for me. I wasn’t an education major, but I’m a smart person who enjoys helping people. I thought it would be a lot like volunteering but still getting paid.

Describe how the job worked.

I basically just hung out in the learning centers waiting for people to come get help. Most nights were very boring. I didn’t get many students. When I did, I helped them if I could in the subjects I knew, or I gave them the phone number of a person who could help them, like you.

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What a crock! Sorry - I couldn't resist. Speaking of things that can not be resisted - Sears has the Euro-Pro 6 qt. Slow Cooker (Crock Pot) on sale for only $18.99 (plus tax)! You can use pick up in store for free - or ship to home for a small fee. I know what your thinking: "this is so old fashioned and something only my mom would enjoy" - and while that might be true - crock pots can create some of the best tasting, moist, slow cooked food you have ever eaten with little or no effort. In fact, you could just throw all the ingredients you want to use in the crock and let them cook while you are at work or school and when you come back home your dinner will be ready to eat! Voila!

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Great AmericaWhere have I been?  Out of town.  We brought our daughter's laptop computer, as it's the newest one in the house, not knowing we couldn't post messages from it.  I'm sure if we had taken time to sit down and figure out why, we could have solved the problem.  But we didn't have time to mess with the computer.

We headed down to a place called Angels Camp, CA, just southeast of Sacramento.  My sweet cousin and her husband let us use their timeshare and it was wonderful!  Did I do well at staying on my eating plan?  Well, yes, and no.

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I love to look at food. I’m now addicted to the Food Network, and am known to grab everyday food items—like frozen pizzas or macaroni and cheese—and spice them up with various fruits, veggies, spices, and whatever I have on hand. I even had some party platters that I made from scratch become “all the rave” at a party I threw for my mother’s 50th birthday—something that I would have never been known for only a year ago. In short, I’m embracing my love of food rather than trying to suppress it, while still making healthy meals. I have Herb from The Next Food Network Star to thank for this new philosophy!

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Who ever said the bathroom was limited to bathing, shaving, and peeing didn’t experience the fun of playing with his or her partner in the small room. Bathrooms might be tiny (or not—I’ve seen some huge ones), but they are full of dozens of fun ways to have a good time with your partner. And while that may sound sexual, many are simply funny, or intimate, ways to spend time together. To prove it, here are a dozen ways to have fun in the bathroom without having sex.

12. Play Tricks on One Another

The next time your partner is in the shower, flush the toilet and make the water turn cold. Better yet, fill a squirt bottle with cold water and spray him or her!

11. Do Crosswords/Search-and-Finds

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When I read this, my heart absolutely sank. My child loves bounce houses. When she was a preemie, she had a sensory issue where she needed constant input and bounced or rocked all of the time. She still rocks sometimes as a self-soothing mechanism. Two of the things we came up with in a plan with her physical therapist (who, by the way, was made of awesome) were 1. using a bouncer that you sit on and hop all over the house with and 2. taking her to places like the park to swing and the bounce houses to jump around.

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Have you been searching all over the internet for a great deal on queen sized sheets? Are you almost ready to give up? Well, don't - you can get the Sateen Stripe 410 Thread Count Queen Sheet Set (white only) for only $19.99 (plus $2.95 shipping) from Overstock. This is one of those deals that can't be beat - for the quality at least.

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Get hammered in style with the Munich Beer Pitcher Set for only $13.49 from Sears. I know what your thinking: "Sears is still around? What is this 1975?" and the newer, hipper, Sears does not appreciate it. They are still offering some great deals that I think everyone should take advantage of - like this 7-piece beer and pitcher set. It includes 6 17.5-ounce pilsner-style glasses and one 90-ounce glass pitcher for all your drinking needs: beer, rubbing alcohol, mojitos - I think this would be great with some Sangria, too!

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The "Product of the Day" at Tanga is the Brain Buster Puzzles, Wood & Iron, Set of 5 for only $16.98 (with shipping). These are the best little puzzles for the price I am sure you will find - and they have many uses! You can keep the kids (or your significant other) entertained for hours trying to figure them all out (you will have to hide the included instructions/solutions), give them as gifts to friends or family, or use them as cute little decorations - they can really fill up a little space on a book shelf quite well (7.5 inch height).

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Do you have a big interview, or perhaps a social event that requires being well dressed (wedding, funeral, court appearance)? Well you are in luck because you can get the Executive 2 Button Sportcoat- Light Olive Tic Check for only $39.50 at JoS. A. BANK. This clearance Sportcoat features a smart 2-Button appearance, is fully lined, with soft shoulders and center vent and is 100% Wool. This is a "fancy" Dry Clean only item (that you should not wash) and it was imported (from where I don't know). As of this posting there are sizes 40 - 48 (long and regular) available. The original cost for this Sportcoat was $395 - so this clearance item is a real bargain - it is like 90% off! I have ties that are more expensive!

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