Yesterday at the grocery store I was amazed to see a new kind of cracker package.  Smaller "tubes" of crackers in a box, which I think was less than the 1 lb weight of the standard box, but of course more packaging so a higher price. My neighbor and I were shocked--we always take our Continue Reading

Super Bowl Sunday is only 9 days away!  Are you ready? We've already begun preparing.  The hoagies are ordered, so I won't have to cook dinner that night.  We can have our sandwiches in front of the TV. Unfortunately, that TV won't be a big screen.  We're still watching the 27-inch model that my husband Continue Reading

Someone very close to me received two diet and exercise books for Christmas from a family member. He had not asked for them, nor had he expressed any interest in starting a diet or exercise program.  But what amazed me was that he was not offended by this gift. I certainly would have been.  (Maybe Continue Reading

Around tax time, people always used to figure that I had it made.  After all, my dad's a CPA. So everyone thought that my siblings and I had access to all the secrets to a big refund every year. If Dad knew those secrets, he wasn't telling.  And when I was a beginning tax filer, Continue Reading

When I was getting ready for surgery, I received a lot of helpful advice from people who have been there, done that.  I learned that with laparoscopic surgery, there can be a problem with stomach discomfort afterward.  Some people recommended Gas-X, but others advocated a more natural remedy:  crystallized ginger. "Just nibble on it," they Continue Reading

By Robin Fiedler National Retail Federation announced its BigResearch results for the top retailers in customer service for 2009. BigResearch surveyed 8,600 consumers to tally up the “Customers’ Choice Awards” top ten retailers for customer service, and the top ten for 2009 are L.L.Bean Overstock.com Zappos.com Amazon.com QVC Coldwater Creek HSN Lands' End JCPenney Kohl's, Continue Reading

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am not the rustic type.  The country life is not for me. While I enjoy feeding the birds and watching the rabbits and chipmunks in my yard, larger wildlife like deer and bears isn't the kind of thing I'd want too close to my home. And then Continue Reading

How long has it been since you sent someone a handwritten note? I know that for me, it's been a while.  And I'm thinking that it's time to get back in the habit of writing a note instead of dashing off a quick email.  Let's face it--that mug of pens on my desk isn't doing Continue Reading

by Doug Desjardins Coming off a dismal year in which vacancy rates soared, the hotel industry is hoping to get 2010 off to a good start with bargains on weekend getaways timed for Valentine's Day. Hotels are in a promotional mood after a difficult year in 2009. According to Smith Travel Services, occupancy rates at Continue Reading

By Robin Fiedler The numbers show that consumers decided to shop after a year of restraint in shopping with the last week of 2009 registering a 15% increase over last year’s sales for the same week. Shopper Trak reports that retail sales for the week ending Jan. 2 increased 15.3%, attributed to gift card redemption, Continue Reading