Shop Local and OnlineThe Web site http://www.etsy.com is an online marketplace that buys and sells handmade and vintage items. The majority of the people who place their products on the site are not large business owners; rather they are local (often "hidden") artists …
Shaggy'sImagine yourself back in the '70s, in a VW van with a disco ball, lying on the couch telling your buddy to pass the J. You're looking good in John Lennon glasses and your shag hairstyle with a pair of …
Love in a Bottle: Edible GiftsMy experience with Secret Santa has been a never-ending cycle of gag gifts and prepackaged hot cocoa in holiday mugs. Two years ago, I received a parcel that changed my mind, filled with exquisite jellies and preserves, like rare gems …
Shake, Shake, ShakeSo, you already have a snow globe from every state, plus Guam and Puerto Rico? Then, get creative and make your own original shakers.
Holga HappinessThroughout our relationship, my boyfriend Mason and I have photographed our road trips and special dates with cheap disposable camera film. This tactic occasionally results in grainy and out-of-focus pictures, but it also consistently yields dazzling, comical images.
Tablescapes Made EasyDespite whatever opinions you have about Sandra Lee, Martha Stewart or any other domestic goddess, setting a table can make a party even more festive. With the holidays coming, you will have plenty of opportunities to decorate, so take the …
Reindeer GamesMy time line for the Christmas holidays usually goes a little something like this: wake up pre-dawn, cook, cook, cook, herd children, guard turkey, eat, clean kitchen, collapse. Even after everyone has devoured the last crumb of sweet potato pie, …
Hosts, Take NoteAs a child growing up in Mississippi, I observed many gracious hosts and hostesses. With the passing years, I came to especially appreciate the hospitality of my parents, as friends and neighbors came to our house to enjoy leisurely Sunday …
Party FoulsWorst-case scenario: Dinner is over, and your out-of-state guests remain for more dessert and a drink. They are very relaxed. What would your reaction be? Would you (a) politely ask them to leave or (b) just walk to the door …
Running to ReconnectRunning isn't just a corporal experience. I lace up my New Balance trainers and hit the trails in the afternoon not just to keep my physical body sound, but also my mind.
Angelia Budhraja and Rickey McAlisterOver several years, international borders and different cultures, Angelia Budhraja and Rickey McAlister found each other.
Maintaining the SexyEight Magnolia Roller Vixens, wearing team colors of black and blue, drop their bags on the concrete floor and start lacing up their skates. Sumati "Lizbeth Von Lush" Thomas, Jacqueline "Princess Sledge Rammer" Sledge-Prince and Bonnie "Golden Goonie" Dickerson stand …
Decoupage Your PumpkinMateo, my son, loves Halloween. He claims it is one of his favorite days of the year, but he says that about his birthday and Christmas, too. I like Halloween, not so much for the candy, but because it's a …
Sweet and SafeThese days, not a lot of people go door-to-door for trick-or-treating. Many families attend local harvest festivals or parties at their kids' schools or churches. Nevertheless, if you are taking your kids out this Halloween, remember to practice these few …
Halloween HappeningsLooking for a night of great family entertainment? Check out these places this Halloween and let the fun begin.