It’s the question that stalks you, follows you, and bellows from the bottom of your belly…what to get for the cook in your life. Oh sure, it seems simple. But once you boil it down, there are some niche cooks that need to be catered to. Your journey should begin by defining just what kind of cook you are shopping for. So, I came up with a quiz to help distill the categories:

My favorite holiday gifts to give and receive are the homemade ones. When I was a little girl, my grandmother taught my brother and me how to make chocolate confections. We packaged our homemade goodies into the abalone shells from our diving trips. These family activities are my most fond holiday memories.

Want a great way to see lots of friends, whoop it up and still have time to get your shopping done? Want to entertain without the formality of a dinner party? Throwing a casual cocktail party is the perfect way to see friends for a quick but festive bite. Since holiday parties and family get togethers usually fall on a weekend, invite your guests over for a weeknight mixer. Set out a few of your favorite vintages or shake up a signature drink. They’ll love the mix and match informality, and the conversation will flow.

This holiday season, why not take some traditional recipes and prepare them with a different flavor—coffee. Local coffee roaster, Blind Dog Coffee, shares with us their story and some recipes that are tried and true.

This year I have been having a difficult time putting together a gift list that seems appropriate to the times. But after some careful thought, I have come up with some suggestions that will be easy on the budget, good for us, and appreciated long after the holidays.

During this holiday season show you care by giving thoughtfully, simply and responsibly. Thinking “green” during the holidays is important as we create a lot of extra waste during our celebration and merriment. The motto is: spend less, create more, and live greener.

1 Paint Painting is probably the quickest and easiest way to improve the looks of your home as well as protect it from weather conditions. There are many new colors and looks out there, and stores willing to help you with tips on decorating.

You can make a dramatic splash with your outdoor holiday decorations or keep things simple. By putting the main focus on your home’s entrance, you’ll set a mood that keeps the ‘Ho-Ho-Ho’ in your holiday budgets. Here are a couple of local, professionally decorated examples, as well as three simple ideas from decorators and suppliers for making your entryway festive and inviting.

As the weather of the season continues to beckon us outdoors into mid-autumn, it is a lovely time of year to consider your outdoor spaces and furnishings. Late summer is when retailers discount their outdoor merchandise, which provides an opportunity to upgrade or simply update at generous savings. For custom looks, there has never been a better time to peruse the selection in outdoor fabrics and bedeck your exteriors with upholstered coverings, companion pillows, and even draperies.

If you agree with the common definition that a weed is a plant that is growing where it is not wanted, then sprouts of many types of plants could be considered weeds when they are growing in garden beds or lawns. We tend to think of weeds most often as grasses or pesky herbaceous plants, but in fact, some trees can also be invasive in many environments.