By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife What? You don’t know how to gift wrap a… box? I take my gift wrapping skills for granted and I wrongly assume that everyone else has them. I forget that I was lucky enough to hone these while working at my mom’s gift shop as a teen. Kind of unfair … Read more
By Greg Patent – Guest Contributor and Baking Wizard Here’s a perfect light and airy dessert for summer. Over forty years ago I fell in love with a recipe called Praline Soufflé Fifi, a creation of the late and great Michael Field. You beat egg whites with sugar to make a meringue and fold in … Read more
There’s a clear “return to Earth” movement going on in cityscapes. We’ve heard about urban beekeeping, kitchen farming (made some recommendations for that here) and now, the next logical step is countertop composting. Right? Composting was never thought of as a practical option for apartment dwellers and other city folk. But now, all you need … Read more
I haven’t had a chance to investigate this further, but I’m definitely noticing a trend with hands being used as a canvas for art and for advertising. What could be the underlying impetus for this wave? Inspired by body art in general, tattoo art? Or, is it that in our blasé -ness for all ordinary … Read more
By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor Last week, my daughter Thea and I were invited by Party City to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to attend a four-day/eight-parties weekend extravaganza. The sponsored series of events included attending a Football Kickoff Party, a Baby Shower, a Carnival, a Spongebob Birthday Party, a Rock Star Party, a … Read more
By Audrey van Petegem, Chief Editor I was recently on a short flight from Toronto to Chicago and sat beside a gentleman from France. I normally have casual chats with the person sitting beside me that either end as quickly as they start or we find a common interest and talk the whole flight. This … Read more
By Audrey van Petegem, Chief Editor Let me start this article by saying that I want to share with you a book that has literally brought new life into this aging body, mind and soul of mine. I learned about this book when Esther Perel recommended it after reading my article that mentioned her TedTV … Read more
For a man, fatherhood can be one of the most blissful events in his life. That small bundle of joy that comes into his life not only brings with it great pleasures, but also adds a whole new dimension. While mothers are initially given all the special attention, the joy and the sacrifice of a … Read more
By Susan Keats, Contributor & Seize-the-Day Propagandist I want to share this story because it is true and I think it is a beautiful story on many levels. It also helps to explain another reason why your small gifts or moments of kindness can be so meaningful. I was still undergoing chemo, but with my … Read more