Can organizing your batteries make you happy? Gretchen Rubin believes it can. Because little things do matter. Rubin is the author of seven books, including bestsellers “The Happiness Project” and “Happier at Home.” Her books have sold more than 2 million copies, she writes a popular blog, and she does a weekly podcast with her […]

Snapchat isn’t just for teens these days. The popular social platform is on track to outpace Twitter and Pinterest this year with 58.6 million U.S. users – nearly 1 in 5 Americans – according to a recent forecast from the research firm eMarketer. The report estimates that by 2020, U.S. users will increase to 85.5 […]

It’s a mixed bagof treats out there This year, Americans will spend an estimated $62.75 billion on pet products, some unknown billions of which go to toys. That is a reasonable amount, because pet toys rarely last long. For instance, give your dog a toy – a rawhide chew, a tennis ball, or even this […]

NEW YORK — A high-energy Hungarian herding dog is the latest new breed headed to the Westminster Kennel Club and many other U.S. dog shows. The American Kennel Club announced this past week that it is recognizing the pumi, the 190th breed to join the roster of the nation’s oldest purebred dog registry. That means […]

There are two types of beards that can be found in restaurants. The first one is preceded by the word “James” and followed by the word “Award.” The second type is where things get, well, a little hairy. When The Washington Post ran an article on its front page about the Michelin Guide’s arrival in […]

As the end of June grows closer, summer is showing its glory. Lettuce, spinach and radishes are ready to harvest and enjoy in a fresh, homegrown salad; blackberry and raspberry blossoms promise a good harvest come August; the elderberries are tiny, but will soon grow into rich purple clusters; and the tomato plants are beginning […]

With all due respect to the beleaguered, hairnet-wearing, spoon-wagging, stereotypical lunch ladies of yesteryear — who did their best with what they had — today’s lunch ladies and lunch men have raised the bar. In most school districts, the days of breaded, fried fish sticks, instant mashed potatoes and syrupy sweet fruit cocktail have given […]