Katharine the Great

I've decided to bite the bullet and get a tablet, but I'm balking at the price of the iPad. Now, I'm an

"apple girl", I love my iPhone, and my MacBook, and my iMac, and I'll never go back to owning a PC computer, but the iPad is so much more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet, for what looks like almost identical functionality...

So, is the Galaxy just as good, or is the anti-apple propaganda getting to me?

Is the iPad worth the almost $400 price difference?

I'm looking to purchase today or tomorrow (I live in China, but I'm currently in Singapore for business and I trust the products here just a little more).

Thanks!

I'm teaching English in China right now and I can't decide whether I should buy the iPad, and use it as a teaching device, or the iPhone.

I had the iPhone 4 in the US, but it's one of the ones that doesn't have a simcard, so I'm using an older model Samsung phone right now, and I miss my iPhone.

I've done some research, and while ultimately I will end up getting both of them, I can't decide which one I want to buy first.

So, my question is this: Is the iPad really a good teaching device? I have 15 6-7 year olds... will they just try to play games all the time, or will the plethora of phonics and education apps be useful in a classroom setting?

I've decided to get my husband a Nook SimpleTouch for Christmas.

He's not an avid reader, but I think having an e-reader will boost his interest in reading.

I have the first nook, and I've had it since just a little while after it came out. It's still works just fine, and I love it. The battery is getting annoying quick to go out, but I expected that...

But should I get myself a new one, the matching counterpart to my husband's, or does that detract from the gift?

I know he won't buy me one, and I'd like to upgrade to the newer model...

The other thing I'm thinking about is buying myself an iPad. I've wanted one for a while, and while they're most certainly not the same thing, I cannot justify the expenditure on both for myself.

Not that y'all care, but I'm looking for advice... our friends and family would just blab to him about my planned gifts, and ruin the surprise.

So:

1) Nook for him

or

2) Nook for us both

or

3) Nook for him and iPad for me?

I'm going to Puebla for 6 days next week, and I'm wondering what clothes to pack. I know that's a weird thing to ask people on the internet, but my mother-in-law keeps warning me that in Mexico people don't wear sandals or shorts around. I LIVE in shorts and sandals.

So what do I pack?

I checked the temperatures and the highs that week are high 70s (f) with lows in the 40s (f).

My sister-in-law lives there, and she said that whatever I want to wear is fine, but I'd really prefer not to be the only dinky lookin' person there... especially being the only "gringa" that's going...

Heeeeeelp :)

My husband and I are looking to go camping soon and I've been scouring the web, but I can't find anything on whether we can take our dogs or not. We're looking at Sam Houston National Forest.

With or without the dogs we also need suggestions on good, somewhat secluded areas in the National Forest to camp. We want the real camping experience, not a campsite between two RVs...

Thanks!

Two friends and I are going to Nicaragua this June (2012), and we were looking for advice on the best sites to see, the best cheap places to stay, that sort of thing. We haven't planned ANYTHING except that we're going, so we'd love any suggestions.

Also, I'm a vegetarian. Does anyone have any insight into how difficult it'll be to find good food?

Thanks!

Two friends of mine and I are going to Nicaragua for nine days this June (2012) and we're planning to stay mostly in hostels and guest houses, the cheaper the better. Any recommendations on what to see and where to say are very greatly appreciated....

But what I'm wondering about most is what type of pack I should buy.

I've done some hiking, and overland travel before, but not quite to the extent that we're thinking about for this trip. I'd really like to get the pack with the best value. Something with a detachable day pack, and room for all the essentials. We probably wont be away from "civilization", ie a hostel, for more than one night, tops.

But I'm also looking for a backpack I'll be able to wear next year when my husband and I backpack through Europe, where we're more inclined to be away from cheap accommodations for a longer period of time.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice!

My friends and I want to go out for Cinco de Mayo, but like most college students, we don't want to spend a ton of money. Where should we go? Are any places having drink specials?

I took yoga about 8 years ago from a yogi I really enjoyed, but I'm told she moved back to France, and I'm interested in getting back into it. Everywhere I've researched is either REALLY expensive, or really far from my house.

I've been told from various friends that for a beginner like me Bikram yoga (sometimes called Hot Yoga) can be really great, and also Anusara yoga. If anyone knows of a place that's less than 100 a month, I'd really love to know about it.

Thanks!

I'm making sure that I can connect all systems, but I have never tried my wireless router.

I was wondering if anyone in or near Houston Texas could recommend a florist for a wedding. We're not looking for anything elaborate, and we wouldn't like to spend a huuuge amount of money.

Any suggestions?

I'm getting married soon and I'm looking for someone to do my hair. I don't really DO my hair very often, or have a salon that I go to regularly, so I'm pretty open to any suggestions in the Houston area. My budget isn't really huge, so something inexpensive would be best.

Thanks.

I'm getting married in November, in Houston, and I have decided to do my makeup myself, but I don't really wear makeup much, so I'm looking for any and all suggestions anyone might have as to what products to buy. I need EVERYTHING -- What brushes, what primers, what shadows that'll last -- eeeeeverything. I'd also love it if anyone could recommend a good how to site, or video. I'm a true makeup novice, it's eyeliner and lipstick for my day to day.

Thaaanks!

I'm getting married in November, in Houston, and I have decided to do my makeup myself, but I don't really wear makeup much, so I'm looking for any and all suggestions anyone might have as to what products to buy. I need EVERYTHING -- What brushes, what primers, what shadows that'll last -- eeeeeverything. I'd also love it if anyone could recommend a good how to site, or video. I'm a true makeup novice, it's eyeliner and lipstick for my day to day.

Thaaanks!

I'm getting married soon and I have the Perfect dress. It's http://www.onewed.com/wedding-dresses/designer/ole...

And if that picture doesn't come up it's an off the shoulder rolled collar neckline with a fitted bodice and an a-line, floor length skirt. But I'm a fairly well endowed woman and I need to find a strapless brassier that will support "the girls" for the eight or ten hours that wedding business requires.

My mother has ordered a pair of spanx, for tummy control (yeah, thanks mom for that subtle message) for me but we're both a little stumped as to where to start for the upper half. I'm not looking for anything that's going to push up. I want shaping, strapless, and if it's a longline brassier, well all the better.

Soooo, anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

I want to start biking with my 50lb Husky, but I have no idea what bike attachments are best, or if any are really needed at all.

On a walk he's a puller, always wanting to be in front, or go faster, but when jogging he stays pretty close by my side.

What's the best brand of bike dog leash attachment, or do you think any is needed at all?

Thanks!

I'm hosting a large dinner, about 25 people, later this year for an out of town group staying near the Museum District of Houston TX and was looking for suggestions for mid-range restaurants convenient to that area.

My company has a budget of $15 per head, but would obviously be overjoyed if I could find a nice restaurant for less than that.

If anyone has any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I'm hosting a large dinner, about 25 people, later this year for an out of town group staying near the Museum District of Houston TX and was looking for suggestions for mid-range restaurants convenient to that area.

My company has a budget of $15 per head, but would obviously be overjoyed if I could find a nice restaurant for less than that.

If anyone has any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I'm going to host a rehearsal dinner for around 50 people in November in Houston and I'm looking for an inexpensive but tasteful restaurant. A family friend suggested the Nasa Hilton (where that lady ran over her husband maybe ten years ago...), but the rehearsal itself is going to be held in the Museum District, so I don't want to ask the entire wedding party to drive that far away.

I guess mostly I'm just asking for suggestions.

Also, the bride has asked about maybe just using my house to grill meat and have a casual but fun time for the rehearsal dinner. I'm open to that, but don't want to seem cheap, and I also don't want to have to be busy planning and doing a rehearsal dinner when the wedding, which I have been a key part in planning, is the next day.

What do you think?

I absolutely adore my engagement ring, it's perfect in every way. Except that I'd forgotten to mention to my fiance that I'm allergic to something in white gold, it makes my finger itchy. It just never came up... ... We're thinking about resetting the stones (three medium sized round cut stones) into platinum or sterling silver (I prefer silver, he the platinum). Could anyone give me an idea of the total cost I'm looking at with each of those options? I'm in Houston, TX if that makes a difference.

Thanks so much.