From the heart

Nonprofits ask their community for a helping hand

Give what’s in your heart. It’s a phrase that, when applied in the figurative sense, precisely summarizes what most social service agencies ask of their donors, hoping that in those hearts

Gifts for gear heads

From a full-blown electric vehicle to a set of spark-plug cufflinks, auto enthusiasts will get a charge out of these car-crazy gifts.

Auto aficionados tend to be a breed apart from mere motorists. No, motor oil does not course through their veins, but their interest in all things vehicular runs much deeper than that of the average d

Straight from the handmade heart

Grab the shredded coconut, old photos, sequins and a trusty glue gun and get ready for a Christmas to remember

Reluctant to dig out the same old, tried-and-true holiday decorations that helped usher in the aughts?Indulge. It’s time to switch up that worn-out Christmas routine. Head to the craft store ins

Cheap, easy and eco, too!

Throwing a party dosen’t have to be expensive or wasteful. Here are some simple tips to make a holiday shindig ‘green’ without spending a lot of dough.

Arriving at Pat Smith’s home for her holiday party, one might think her little tree, perched on a table and adorned with a delicate strand of lights, is an homage to “A Charlie Brown Chris

Books un-covered

The best gadgets for the (geeky) bookworm on your list

Amazon Kindle $139.99The latest generation of the Kindle makes it easy to lighten the load in a backpack or briefcase. Owners can carry up to 3,500 eBooks in the device – which weighs less than

Let’s go slow

Slow cooking is perfect for the annual holiday pot roast, but this year turn it up a notch

The assortment of counter-clogging cookware you need to braise, bake or warm a holiday menu can be replaced by this year’s one must-have appliance: the slow cooker. This trusty tool, which cooks

Community Wish List 2010

Lend a hand to these central Illinois organizations this holiday season.

Helping Hands Of Springfield200 S. 11th Street 217-744-0470Helping Hands of Springfield is a non-profit organization whose mission is “. . . to shelter the homeless, provide support, promote ind

Dynamic Duo

This year’s tantalizing flavors aren’t exclusive to the dishes you’re preparing, but are shared by the accompanying cocktails.

A hint of peppercorns; the sweet-tart tang of a Meyer lemon. That’s right. The before-dinner drinks are headed to the dining room table. Pairing food with mixed drinks is this season’s hol

Live in your living room

For the music lovers on your gift list, let them know concerts are never expensive when they’re being watched from the comfort of the sofa and music videos don’t have to be a forgotten thi

Community Wish List for 12/17/2009

Lend a hand to these central Illinois organizations this holiday season. Thank you to all of the organizations who participated! Sojourn Shelter and Services, Inc. 1800 Westchester Blvd., 726-51