Retired teacher and principal Becky Van Vleet wanted to memorialize the tradition of passing down a family heirloom. As she wrote down its history, the story led her down a new career path as a children’s book author.

If you overindulged on December 31, rejoice, because January 1 is both National Hangover Day and National Bloody Mary Day. Those are just a couple of the little-known holidays you’ve probably never heard of or observed before. Here are more weird and wonderful reasons to celebrate in 2021.

I am the mother of five grown children. As our family grew, I adjusted my shopping, food prep and cooking methods to accommodate. One by one, as my children began to leave the nest, I found that shopping and cooking meals for a smaller household presented its own challenges. I went from preparing meals for a family of seven down to two—my husband and me.

Little white lies aren’t so bad when you’ve been gifted a not-so-great sweater. But when it comes to your diet, honesty is the best policy. The small food fibs you tell yourself (“I need to eat this macaroni and cheese to get through the pandemic”) can sabotage your health goals. Here are a few common examples of diet self-deceptions, and how to combat them.

Upon entering The Inn at Garden Plaza, there’s a sense of comfortable elegance. The open space offers cozy seating areas around the fireplace, while a nearby baby grand piano beckons to be played.