Holiday

Yankee Candle Candles truly are the gifts that keep on giving. According to the National Candle Association, America’s love for waxing poetic burns bright: $2 billion is spent annually on candles and they are used in 7 out of 10 households. Versatile and inexpensive – they are a wonderful gift option for moms, grandmas, teachers, […]

Suzanne Kasler and Suzanne Alexander While the cast of characters and décor may change year-to-year, the traditions rarely do. These designers and celebrities share their favorite decorating stories. Suzanne KaslerAtlanta-based interior designer “I love decorating for the holidays. It’s a way to transform your house into a whole different look for an entire month. I always […]

There’s an old cliche in photography circles: The best camera is the one you have with you. For many of us, that’s our smartphone. For everyday use, smartphones are tough to beat. They have full-featured cameras, large, high-resolution displays, and fun apps for editing and sharing photos. In fact, sales of point-and-shoot cameras have been […]

Among the billions of gifts Santa sifts through this holiday season may be millions of the latest eighth-generation video game consoles: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Sony’s PS4 teases innovative game portability and simple social sharing. Microsoft’s Xbox One has the potential to replace your remote control. Both consoles promise next-level gaming and entertainment experiences, […]

Each summer, the top video-game media name the best gaming titles of the year. Here are their picks for the best of the 2013. Titanfall Best of ShowBest Original GameBest Console GameBest PC GameBest Action GameBest Online MultiplayerPC, Xbox 360, Xbox One$59.95 Watch DogsBest Action/Adventure GamePC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii-U $59.95 TearawayBest […]

Feeding yourself and your family is a cinch. Cooking for a large group? That’s another story. Whether you’re hosting a formal dinner party or having a backyard get-together, it can be tricky to figure out how much to buy and make. “You want to make sure no one leaves hungry, but you don’t end up […]

In her first book, The Dorm Room Diet (William Morrow, 2010), certified chef and integrative nutritionist Daphne Oz helped college students tackle dorm living. In her second book, Relish: An Adventure in Food, Style, and Everyday Fun (William Morrow, 2013), the daughter of author and TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz shares her tips on delicious, […]

By choosing local and independent businesses for your services, shopping, dining and other needs, you not only get real value and personal service, you’re helping in these many ways. Build community The casual encounters you enjoy at neighborhood-scale businesses and the public spaces around them build relationships and community cohesiveness. They’re the ultimate social networking […]

There’s no place like home kitchens for the holidays. Or that’s what it seems, at least, when guests congregate in the heart of the home to chat, snack and offer the host or hostess a helping hand. A crowded kitchen with a few extra cooks calls for extra preparation and organization. What it doesn’t call […]

You’re hosting a holiday feast and anticipate preparing a mouthwatering spread. But along with your special bread stuffing and your fabulous apple pie, you’re concerned with making appropriate dishes for your aunt with diabetes, your cousin who cannot tolerate gluten, your best friend who follows a vegan diet or her Paleo-diet spouse. Guests who must […]

Who: Local First SpringfieldWhat: Kickoff Party & Press EventWhere: Isringhausen Imports /BMW StoreWhen: Nov. 13 at 5p.m. The fourth annual Local First Holiday Sweepstakes officially begins on Wednesday, Nov. 13. More than 120 Local First Springfield business members are participating in this holiday promotion, which encourages consumers to focus their holiday spending with locally owned […]

Guests will jam your home during the holiday season, many of them staying for a week or longer. You don’t want your furnace to conk out. And you certainly don’t want your toilets to go on the fritz. Fortunately, you can take steps before guests arrive to make sure that your home is both functional […]