This post may have been better timed for a Friday so you could spend the weekend exploring local shops, but nonetheless, today's Gift Guide is all about supporting small businesses through your holiday purchases. Did you know that at bookshop.org , you can support your local booksellers through your online purchases? A few of my favorite gift ideas come from small businesses here in the Midwest: 1canoe2 and Posie Pots. This mini desk calendar comes in a variety of themes -

This year has certainly had its ups and down. So, if you want to give something a little more personal, a little more special--we get it! And maybe, a little more practical, with a custom seasoning that can be used all year long on family dishes. Try a taco seasoning or a popcorn topper with a tag designed on Canva and printed on Avery stickers. If either crocheting or knitting is your thing, there's still time to whip up some thoughtful ornaments or pretty scarves for speci

This week, we'll start sharing our gift guides. As we have in years past, we will have creative suggestions for everyone on your list - Family, Friends and Coworkers. In the meantime, check out some of our favorite gift guides from past years! In our first year of blogging, we shared this Gift Guide for Women : This Gift Guide for Kids from 2021 still has items our kids use and love. The Nugget, Paddington, Stitch Fix are still high on our lists! Our Gift Guide for Men f

We express our deepest appreciation for our veterans. We are grateful for their sacrifice, bravery and commitment to our country. Thank you!

And I'm back with another month dedicated to the kitchen! The kitchen is absolutely the hardest working room in the house, and at 35 years old, it needs regular maintenance. This is the time of year when we have people over, make lots of food, and want our kitchen to look and function at its best! ` As a reminder, here is my process for assessing each space: Clear, clean and repair. Identify any materials needed in advance to make this possible. Assess how we use the space f

November first is always the unofficial start of the holiday season. The commercials reflect this even earlier, and all the stores have rotated in their holiday decor and foods. It projects a very happy time of year. However, this year has a bit of a different feel. There are people without paychecks and people without food. Small businesses have been hit by huge tariffs to produce and import their shop goods, and they are struggling. Nonprofits that provide items like clothi