My mandarin orange tree and spider plants enjoyed a longer vacation than I did, having spent the entire summer outdoors on the back deck. But the party ended late last month when frost threatened. So I gave them a thorough hose drenching — leaves and all — to remove any would-be hitchhikers and poured a...

Irish novelist Cecelia Ahern said, “Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.” And she’s right. Scientists say people often crave certain foods because those meals remind them of childhood memories or foods they remember being given when they were sick (chicken noodle soup is almost certainly a universally loved comfort food). Winter brings a lot...

A recent LendingTree survey found nearly half of the 2,000 consumers surveyed are dreading the holidays due to the financial costs. This type of sentiment increases among women, especially as moms are more likely to buy gifts for the family than dads. But there are ways to reduce the financial stress of the holidays, save...

Homemade gifts are the best. However, I did not always appreciate this present. My mom has a talent for crocheting, and I didn’t respect her talent until I was older and understood the value of money and the love that shows in the effort of a homemade gift. My friend, Marilyn, taught me this lesson...

And just like that, we’ve approached the close of another year. Welcome to December, the month when we attempt to accomplish everything we’ve put off for the last 334 days. That said, the next 744 hours of 2023 represents our attempt to wrap-up a million things and see as many people as humanly possible. Make...