Patrons of the Galena (Ill.) Food Pantry can find many essentials, from food to used clothing. For years, though, one type of item has been notably absent: Feminine hygiene products. Now, a local charitable group hopes to remedy that. Women and Friends Making a Difference, of Galena, has launched an initiative to gather feminine hygiene...

We don’t need science to tell us that spending time with our girlfriends is good for us. But just in case … Plenty of research confirms that notion — including a pair of Michigan State University studies involving nearly 280,000 people. The studies found that friendships become increasingly important to one’s happiness and health. “Not...

For some of us, vacationing is about taking respite from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. For others, it can be about more. Last fall, three local longtime friends decided to take a trip to Thailand. But it wasn’t just any excursion. It found Cally Burkle, Jaime Ellerie and Lea Droessler fasting, getting...

If there’s one trendy thing your parents (and sometimes grandparents) are way ahead of you on it’s recycling. Think about it. You’ve been in dad’s garage/basement/shed/workshop/weight room/cave of classic rock/World War II book depository, and you’ve seen all those glass jars filled with assorted screws/washers/bolts/nails/anchors/bits/bobs. If you’ve been in mom’s craft room, you’ve inevitably seen...

Spring is the perfect time to freshen up your home and bring the outdoors inside with the aromas that you enjoy and love. The aroma of first cut grass, and the soft scent of magnolia trees blooming has a positive effect on our emotions. How can we bottle these amazing scents of the great outdoors...