I am not a shopper; however, this time of year, I find myself in the shopping mood. My shopping sprees are not for me. Instead, I enjoy purchasing gifts to give. My goal is to offer unique gifts that keep on giving throughout the year. These gifts are great for anyone, especially those hard-to-buy-for friends...

Support local artists this holiday season Autumn Phoenix Designs Danielle Carlson Wire-wrapped jewelry and stained glass decor. Website: www.theautumnphoenix.com. email: autumnphoenix2@gmail.com. Chavenelle Studio Metal Works Gail Chavenelle Metal sculpture. Website: www.chavenellestudio.com. email: gail@chavenellestudio.com. Shop: Outside the Lines Gallery, 1101 Main St. or 101 S. Main St., Galena, Ill.   Lauren’s Custom Gifts Lauren McKay Themed and...

Football season is in full gear, which means many of you already have grabbed some parking lot space, popped the trunk, lit the grill and pulled something cold from the cooler while tailgating. Everyone knows the old-guard options of how to fill that cooler: Bud Light, Miller Lite, Modelo and, of course, welcome to the...

As a single woman, daughter, mother, friend, small business owner, new nonprofit executive and career minded creative heart, the delicate balance of expertly co-mingling many of the hats within a single week, if not, day can be interesting. I wanted to highlight some of the challenges and successes I have experienced in building a life...

Health experts say that establishing and maintaining family traditions can boost overall well-being and vitality, especially as we age. “As children become adults and move out of the house or away, the family traditions that bind us can sometimes get lost in the process,” said Aparna Abburi, president of Medicare and CareAllies with Cigna, which...