Ellie May Toldo graced our lives in June of 2020. I am not sure what came over me the day our eyes first met at the Humane Society of Genesee County. I have always liked cats. I love all animals; but I have historically been a dog person. I cannot explain it, but my heart simply melted when I laid eyes on sweet Ellie.
June is the official start of summer and as soon as Memorial Day passes, there’s always so much going on! SHIFT is here to style you for graduation parties, Summer Solstice celebrations, end-of-school-year events, backyard BBQs, summer weddings and of course, the ramp-up to July Fourth and all the related festivities! Let’s dive into the trends …
After peaking at nearly 45,000 points in early February, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sank to 36,645 on April 8. The Dow then staged a remarkable 3,000 point rally on April 9 following President Trump’s 90-day pause on implementing his tariffs. The Dow is at 40,000 points as of writing this column, which is about halfway between its early February high and its April 8 low. Why is the stock market reacting so strongly to tariffs?
Ah, June … the official start of summer – a time when the air is thick with the scent of charcoal, fresh-cut grass and perhaps a hint of overly enthusiastic lawn fertilizer.
Well, in a couple weeks, my family will celebrate another exciting milestone. My oldest grandson, Brennan, is graduating from Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton! Not only is he graduating, he received an amazing job offer in Rochester, MN and will be moving there to start his new life. Time just flies too fast, doesn’t it? It seems like it was only yesterday that he graduated from high school.
In the U.S., New Jersey is the only state where motorists are prohibited by law from pumping their own gasoline. I need that kind of joy in my life!
I tend to associate “beach people” with sand. They love the feeling of it between their toes, the wildness (or calm, depending on the day) of the sea or ocean waves. They’re drawn to that return-to-nature element of the beach trip. There’s a childlike wonder to it all; a nostalgia for our younger selves, maybe even for another time entirely, when people lived by the water, on the water, because of the water – that ancient, instinctive pull of the sea and waterways that shaped civilization as we know it.
As of this writing, President Trump has implemented record high tariffs across numerous countries. The stock market responded by dropping by 10% within two days. This has pushed the market 15% below its peak in February 2025, resulting in the loss of trillions in shareholder value.
The flags still wave, though the crowd has gone home.
I am one of those blessed people who made it to midlife with a living grandparent. I was 46 years old when my maternal grandmother, Barb, passed away in July 2014. There has been a gaping hole in my life ever since. You see, Barb was more than my Gramma, she was the best friend I ever had. I was named after her – my real first name is Barbara. My mom chose to call me Leslie, but I have always been a Barb in my heart.
The month of May is filled with celebrations and significant events that bring people together to honor traditions, express gratitude and share joy. From cultural festivities to heartfelt tributes, this month’s STYLE seeks to remind you of the vibrant occasions that make it a month to remember and shares the styles to support YOU in your celebrations!
The law does its best to be fair – we assume this to be true.
