Dog owners are famous for loving their pets—like, seriously doting on their dogs. Doggy sweaters, doggy ice cream and cookies, doggy daycare; some canines live in the lap of luxury. If you are one who lavishes love on your pooch, hold onto your kibble. You’re not going to believe the latest in smart home technology…for dogs. Doggy smart homes are emerging on the market, each with more exciting features than the last. Some compelling developments in canine smart homes enhance entertainment, con... read more

Five Hidden Spots to Clean This Spring   “Spring” and “Cleaning” go together like “Cute” and “Kitten.” When you think of one, you think of the other. The sun comes out, the world turns green, we open our windows and bust out the dusters. As you work through your spring cleaning routine, remember these hidden spots.   #1 Rain Gutters. It’s amazing how much flotsam and jetsam can gather in your gutters over the winter: leaves and twigs can block down... read more

‘Tis the season of winter, and even if it’s more wet than frozen this year, it is definitely dark. On winter solstice in December, we get only about nine and a half hours of daylight, total. Strings of bright lights and holiday shopping marathons keep us distracted for a bit…but once the excitement of the holidays dies down, we have several weeks to go before the sun wakes us again in the morning.  Those last weeks of winter can drag like a sleigh with no runners, but they don’t have ... read more

Among the many things we love about living in the River Valley is the region’s eagerness to celebrate—especially during the holidays. We set out to capture some of the best of those celebrations, and even we were surprised at the number of opportunities available to get your jingle on.Here we share those events for 2015. Many are free and family friendly; all help capture the spirit of the season.Rotary Lights (La Crosse), Nov. 27—Celebrating Christmas cheer and goodwill, this lighting celebration... read more

Holiday season means holiday parties. The cost and effort of putting together a soiree can be substantial, and it’s good policy as a guest to arrive with a gift to thank your hosts. They say it’s the thought that counts, but it’s worth putting some real thought into a gracious gift. If you’re not sure where to begin, take a look at our ideas for host gifts that won’t break the bank.  A Clever Cookbook: Combine your hosts’ love of reading with a reverence for all things culi... read more