More Lifestyles category, Page 58
Bummed about a Christmas gift card? Sheetz offers trade-ins
Holiday gift cards can offer fun outings, restaurant meals, shopping excursions to one’s favorite places. Or, they can leave the recipient confused or even disappointed. Sheetz is among companies offering a gift card exchange program, giving patrons the chance to trade in unwanted/unused gift cards for Sheetz products including food...
Fiber arts groups knit community along with cozy creationsVideo
About a decade ago, we started hearing about hipsters resurrecting retro items like typewriters, record players and flannel shirts, along with those perpetual favorite pastimes of grannies everywhere — knitting and crocheting. Google “hipster knit hat,” and up pop pages of images, descriptions, patterns and knit-it-yourself kits for sale. But...
Handmade Arcade Winter Market debuts in Market Square
Handmade Arcade will extend the holiday shopping season, hosting its first open-air market in the Peoples Gas Holiday Market site in Pittsburgh’s Market Square. The winter market will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 28-31. The holiday market closed for the season on Dec. 23. According to Handmade...
Remember When: Dec. 23
100 years ago 5,580 youngsters get Christmas sweets New Kensington city hall on Fourth Avenue was the site of Community Christmas tree exercises where 5,850 boxes of candy were distributed to children. The Moose Lodge 53 band entertained at the holiday program. 75 years ago Rural school still snowbound West...
Living with Children: What did I think of Mr. Rogers?
With the release of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” inquiring minds want to know: What did I think of Mr. Rogers? I never met the man, but in the early days of my fatherhood, I watched Rogers’ show enough to figure out that as was also the case with...
A tale of 3 Santas: They’re making the holidays extra special
What makes Santa Claus, well, Santa? Beyond the red suit, sack full of gifts and general jolliness, it may come down to how he relates to the smallest among us. If children look past the generous belly, twinkling eyes and white beard and believe, truly believe, then Santa is Santa....
There’s a Pittsburgh spin on this line of nail polishVideo
Christmas is less than one week away. Still in need of a stocking stuffer or two, maybe a small but glam gift for a work party, or Secret Santa present? How about some Chipped Ham? Church Pierogi? Cookie Table? There’s nothing edible about those gifts, just three of the fun,...
Winter cacti are hard to name but easy to grow
Years ago, I had one of those spineless cacti that once a year splash colorful flowers out the ends of their flat, arching stems. Such plants are usually named for when they are supposed to bloom: Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter cacti. I just call them “holiday” cacti because they rarely...
O’Hara woman honored with national caregiver award
For Heather Bailey it’s not about the paycheck. She says the payoff is in the things money can’t buy. “I don’t do it for the money or the praise, because I have something burning inside me, a passion inside of me,” says Bailey of O’Hara, a home health aide for...
How Christmas decorations sent hundreds to the ER last year
On the first day of Christmas, the universe gave to me: A new toy and an injury … OK. That was bad. But things were worse for the 423 people who had a not-so-joyous Christmas last year, thanks to the injuries that sent them to emergency rooms because of the...
Tilted toilets nudge employees back to work
Are you reading this on the toilet? Many people find restroom stalls to be the perfect retreat for catching up on emails, social media or the day’s news on their phones. The theory is that we spend more time in the privy than is necessary to do our biological business....
Snap a photo with Santa and a penguin at National Aviary session
Talk about being poles apart — Santa Claus hails from the North Pole, while penguins hang out at the South Pole. But on Dec. 21, they’ll come together for a photo opportunity at the National Aviary. Photos With Santa and a Penguin is scheduled for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. that day...
How to host a holiday party on a budget
’Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry! That being said, when you’re hosting friends and family for the holidays, your grocery bill can easily double or even triple in no time. All that extra spending can add to the stress of the season, especially if you still have...
TribLive Test: Squeak natural cleaning productsVideo
This week, our TribLive Taste Test, well, it doesn’t involve any tasting. If it did, we’d probably be testing the effectiveness of our local emergency room staff, since this week’s test was on all-natural cleaning products from Squeak. The Squeak line of products was created by a mother of three...
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain finishes 10th in coaster rankingVideo
Kennywood’s newest roller coaster made the list of best steel coasters of the past decade — barely. Coaster101.com last week ranked the top steel roller coasters that opened from 2010 through 2019 and Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain took the tenth spot. The coaster’s nine inversion are a North American record and...
Last-minute handmade gifts available at Greensburg Art Center
Last-minute shoppers are invited to the Greensburg Art Center from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 19 for the final hours of the annual “Art of GIFTing” market. All items will be 10% off. The annual holiday show and sale features artisan gift items handmade by about 30 area artists. The show, which...
Study: Americans will spend more than $5.5B on Christmas trees in 2019
Martins Christmas Tree Farm is getting a bigger share of more than $5.5 billion Americans will spend on Christmas trees, and the Rostraver business has been a victim of its own success. “Last year was our best year,” said owner Brad Martin, who recently took the farm over after his...
Design-friendly holiday gifts sure to be loved
Home decor accessories can make great hostess gifts or holiday gifts, but how do you choose something you know the recipient will want? Unless you’re sure of someone’s personal style, it can be hard to choose larger things like vases or candlesticks, says New York-based interior designer Jenny Dina Kirschner....
Remember When: Dec. 16
100 years ago Robbers load cows on truck and disappear Boldly driving up to the barn of H.C. Moon, near Dorseyville, in an auto truck, thieves went to the stable, collected two cows, loaded them up onto the machine and disappeared. Police warned butchers to question anyone selling livestock. 75...
Living with Children: What is co-dependency?
“You’ve accused mothers of being in co-dependent relationships with their children,” she (a journalist) said, then asked, “What is co-dependency, exactly, and how does it apply to today’s mothers?” Great question! One that cuts right to the core of America’s parenting problem. A co-dependent relationship consists of a well-intentioned enabler...
Before you travel, take steps to ensure a happy homecoming
People tend to spend a lot of time planning their holiday travel but not a lot preparing for their return home. But returning to a mess — minor bummers like an empty fridge or stinking garbage can, or major problems like frozen pipes — can make it difficult to savor...
Wellness-focused EVEN Hotel opens in former Kaufmann’s in Downtown Pittsburgh
The EVEN Hotel doesn’t believe in odd-numbered rooms, hence the name. Located in the historic former Kaufmann’s department store in Downtown Pittsburgh, the brand from InterContinental Hotels Group opened in late October. The grand opening was Dec. 4. It is one of 12 such hotels, and the chain expects to...
Ring in 2020 at the Quality Inn ballroom in New Kensington
Welcome 2020 in style. The grand ballroom inside the Quality Inn in New Kensington will be dressed up for a festive New Year’s Eve celebration. The event has returned after several years’ hiatus thanks to Brenda and Daniel Leo of Leechburg, owners of the food and beverage and banquet facilities...
Greensburg children’s librarian turns page, opens book on retirementVideo
Janie Mason, “Miss Janie” to generations of readers, is nearing the end of a special chapter in her life. Early next year, she will retire from her role as a children’s librarian with the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library. As part of an early sendoff, and a thank you for her...
Downtown Greensburg merchants host holiday open house
Merchants in downtown Greensburg will hold their 51st Annual Downtown Greensburg Holiday Open House and Customer Appreciation Day from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 15. Mary Wilmes, owner of Penelope’s gift shop on South Pennsylvania Avenue, says the store has participated in the event for over 30 years. “At least...
