I'm working on a story about the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's rebate program. Basically, if you buy an Energy Star washer, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer or room air conditioner between April 16 and April 25 at certain retailers around the state, you'll instantly receive 15 percent off. The program is funded through stimulus money and obviously  has a goal of keeping purchases local.

I was running low on vital wheat gluten for making all whole-wheat bread this week, so I tried some of my recipes calling for bread flour.

Oh, my. If you're a bread machine user (or someone who makes bread the old-fashioned way, for that matter), you really should be using bread flour. It makes a huge difference.

I have a habit of seeing something I like in a shop and thinking, "I could make that."

In the case of the cork wreath, I was right. I sweet-talked a friend who'd been saving corks for a while, found these instructions online and got down to business with my hot glue gun.

I saw this post today on Apartment Therapy, and it got me thinking: I like the idea of corrugated metal as a shower surround.

This warm weather has me thinking of what happened a year ago, when I won a grill.

It's not quite spring yet, but it sure felt like it Saturday at Homer Lake in Homer.

I'd never been there, but my sweetheart swore it'd be fun. He was right.

Yesterday, I attended the first event of the year for the United Way of Champaign County's Emerging Community leaders Class of 2010.

A fashion-forward friend sent me this link, showing 15 skirts that would look just fine with a fitted T-shirt.

With the car thermometer showing today's temp at a balmy 65 degrees, I couldn't resist sharing with you. I have trouble believing that winter's really over, but it sure feels like it outside.