If you’re planning to spend a lot of time outdoors this summer, you’ll need to take precautions against ticks. This tip sheet outlines some basic tick safety tips, including what to do if you find one on you. Read more

When it comes to spring cleaning, few homeowners think about their plumbing systems. However, along with repainting, carpet cleaning and window washing, this is a good time to inspect and maintain the crucial plumbing fixtures in your home. Fortunately, all these tasks are relatively quick and easy to perform. Here’s your plumbing system “spring cleaning” list. Read more

Spring is here, and you know what that means: it’s time for spring cleaning! While this vernal ritual is a great way to get a fresh start on the season, it can be an overwhelming undertaking, especially if you’re unsure where to begin. To help you spring into action, we’ve outlined five potential starting points. Read more

This time last year, no one could guess what 2020 had in store for us. Within a few short months, those New Year’s resolutions to get fit, travel and connect more with friends went right out the window as the COVID-19 pandemic set in. And that’s just one of many factors that made this past year so trying.

Now we find ourselves on a similar precipice, looking into the unknown that will be 2021. Regardless of how this year actually turns out, there’s no sense starting it off with a whimper. Instead, we should keep our heads up with the expectation of better days to come and take the initiative to improve our prospects. Read more

In past December newsletters, I’ve shared recipes from my family’s Christmas Eve dinner that features Swedish meatballs, the heated adult beverage Swedish glögg and Green Goddess salad dressing. Now it’s time to tell you about the bread I make every year called limpa bread.

This Scandinavian bread was originally made from fermented brewer’s wort, a byproduct of beer making. While some recipes include stout beer as a key ingredient, mine uses molasses, orange rind, fennel and cumin seeds. Limpa is traditionally served at Christmas Eve smörgåsbords. Read more

This year, more Bay Area residents than ever before will be staying home for the holidays. With COVID-19 numbers continuing to rise throughout the region, local officials are urging people to put off large family gatherings and celebrations. While festivities may be smaller this year, it’s still important to take steps to ensure the safety of your household. Read more

Let’s face it—this Thanksgiving is going to be really different for most of us. My family started talking about how we might safely get together for the holiday back in October. All options were discussed, ranging from everyone doing their own “thing” to having a socially distanced barbecue outside. We also thought people could stagger their visits and stay outdoors (there are only nine of us) with some overlap. We all agreed on the main thing: it’s a pandemic Thanksgiving, so everyone has to be flexible. The final plan isn’t finalized and it will most assuredly evolve until we get closer to the holiday. Read more