Holiday gifts for pets following high-tech trend

A holiday present for Fido or Fluffy used to be an extra table scrap or a new squeeze toy. But as with gifts for their human counterparts, pet presents are becoming increasingly high-tech.

'Smitten Kitchen' blogger and author offers perfect recipes, solidarity for home cooks

Deb Perelman, named the top food blogger of 2011 by Saveur magazine and praised by Martha Stewart, doesn’t work out of a swanky, gleaming high-tech kitchen.

Great gift ideas for kids to give

Between family, friends, coaches and teachers, some children give as many holiday presents as they receive. This year, encourage your child's creativity with easy kids' crafts they'll give as gifts.

EDITOR’S LETTER

The story of Mario Batali cooking his way to the top of America's foodie darlings mirrors the success of the Lake Michigan coast. Those of us who grew up in Chicago and the suburbs were pre-programmed to taking a day trip to the beach at Cedar Lake or the big beach at Mount Baldy or further …

Pinteresting ideas invade Halloween

In the world of handmade holiday crafts, the empty roll of toilet paper is replacing the piece of uncooked macaroni.

EDITOR’S LETTER

High fashion was always kind of enigmatic to me, kind of like contemporary German philosophy: Knowing what makes sense for me apparel-wise, but without any idea of how my personal style—which I probably work on unconsciously from the moment I get dressed in the morning—has any relationship t…

Home decor, design fans share ideas on Pinterest

Looking for new home design trends or fresh ways to brighten up your living space?

EDITOR’S LETTER

Especially this summer, entertainment tends to take care of itself; faced with this many ultra-perfect beach days, I can hardly tear myself away long enough for an evening of music, an afternoon of lavender harvesting (my friend Pamela was kind enough to bring me an aromatic stash for cookin…

Pinterest inspires fervor for sharing interests, DIY projects

When Sally Skowronski is looking for new ideas to use in her fourth-grade classroom at Hammond's Harding Elementary School, she turns to Pinterest.

VIDEO: Pinterest inspires math class

Fourth grade teacher Sally Skowronski implemented a math lesson she found on the web site, Pinterest

Steve Pangere talks to Central Elementary students

Steve Pangere, who is blind, lets kindergartners at Central Elementary in Portage pet his service dog, Hope, after speaking to them. Pangere told students they can still do anything even with a disability although sometimes it takes more hard work.

Steve Pangere talks to Central Elementary students

Kindergartners at Central Elementary School in Portage ask questions to Steve Pangere, who is blind, and his wife, Georgiann, at Central Elementary in Portage. The students learned about being blind and his service dog, Hope.

Steve Pangere talks to Central Elementary students

Central Elementary School kindergartner Ava Melendez, 6, hugs Steve Pangere's service dog, Hope, after he spoke to students Tuesday at Central Elementary School in Portage. Pangere has rod-cone dystrophy which has left him blind.

Steve Pangere talks to Central Elementary students

Steve Pangere, who is blind from rod-cone dystrophy, speaks to kindergartners at Central Elementary in Portage about living with his disability and how he overcomes it.

Pinterest inspires fervor for sharing interests, DIY projects

Sally Skowronski, a fourth-grade teacher at Hammond's Harding Elementary School, looks at guides her students created last week to illustrate geometrical terms. Skowronski found the project on the website Pinterest.

Pinterest inspires fervor for sharing interests, DIY projects

Sally Skowronski, a fourth-grade teacher at Harding Elementary School in Hammond, glues toothpicks to paper last week while making a guide to geometrical terms during class.