Community & Lifestyle

It’s 2022, and the pandemic is still part of daily life. It has changed everyone’s life in some way and, more specifically, the economic impact of COVID has changed the way many people think about money – how to spend money and how to save it. Were you financially prepared for such a disruption? If […]

There are countless diets in existence, all touting various and often contradictory methodologies aimed at improving well-being. The do’s and don’ts of what and how and when to eat can be dizzying, and it can be incredibly overwhelming to try and simply figure out what to have for dinner. Specific diets aside, the best way […]

Now that the holiday season has come and gone, a lot of people have begun to feel the unwelcome effects of winter. Short days, early sunsets, frigid temperatures and gray skies can begin to affect our mood in ways we may rather not admit. When you add in continued concerns about COVID-19, it makes complete […]

Celebrating the holidays with children is magical, but let’s be honest, the lines and the crowds and the stores and whatnot can also be downright chaotic. For some of us, the slowness of 2020’s holiday season was a sort of reprieve from the hustle and bustle of all that merry-merry-merry. If you are apprehensive about […]

If your entertaining skills are feeling a bit rusty after months of Zooming and streaming, we’ve got your back. Our guide will help you put on a festive soirée that you, the hard-working host, can actually enjoy too. Menu planning Whether you’re planning a multi-course dinner party or a casual afternoon with cookies and cocoa, […]

You may not be able to catch the twinkle in Santa’s eyes, but your eyes can see lots of twinkles at holiday light displays in central Illinois. A variety of places offer delight to driving or walking visitors with the bonus of being a safe activity during the pandemic. COVID-19 concerns and the cancellation of […]

As increasing numbers of Americans abandon traditional churches and belief systems, many find themselves seeking something that provides meaning to their lives, but outside of the traditional religious purview. The idea that a person can be spiritual, but not necessarily religious, is drawing more adherents. Many people still desire the feeling of community, hope and […]

Downtown is a can’t-miss destination for the holidays, thanks to the organizers of this year’s Memorial Holiday Fest, presented by PNC Bank, and Downtown Springfield Inc.’s Old Capitol Holiday Walks, presented by INB. Both events are taking place in coordination over nearly four weeks in downtown Springfield starting the Saturday after Thanksgiving, celebrated nationwide as […]