5 Ways To Use Leftover Popcorn

5 Ways To Use Leftover Popcorn. As good as it may be, a whole bag of popcorn can sometimes be too much for one person… or even a few people. But that doesn’t mean that you should let your leftovers go to waste. Instead of putting your popcorn in the trash, make good use of… Read More >

May Day Baskets

It’s that time of year, for May Day Baskets. Every May 1st, or the first Monday in May, is a holiday that children celebrate here in the Midwest with the sweetest custom: they make homemade baskets. They fill them with flowers and candy and deliver the baskets to neighbors. The gift is anonymous. It’s also… Read More >

The History of April Fools’ Day

….The actual origins of April Fools’ Day are foggy at best. Most accept the idea that April Fools’ Day came out of the switch to the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. Literary buffs, however, will sometimes argue that Chaucer made mention of April Fools’ Day in his famous “Canterbury Tales,” written more than a… Read More >

On The Hunt For The Best Gourmet Food at Trade Shows

We’re on the hunt for the best gourmet food at trade shows. Trade Show season is in full force and Trudy Abood took some of our team members to the Associated Buyers Annual Show and the Chicago Sweets & Snacks Expo. Trudy and our team had a great time at the shows and here is… Read More >

I Just Don’t Know What to Say — How to Write a Sympathy Note

When someone is grieving, the sympathy note is as important as the gift that accompanies it. Writing a sympathy note is not easy. Especially words that acknowledge a loss. We want to say something meaningful and comforting. Signing a name to the card isn’t enough. Expressing condolence is not easy, even for those of us… Read More >

Picking Blackberries Off the Vine – Blackberry Cake Recipe

I picked blackberries the other day. Nothing unusual about that. Most every day I go to the local fruit and vegetable mart, and ask, “Blackberries good today?” and then I decide whether to pick a small container or a large one.

What Is Going on Back There? Tips For a Family Road Trip

If there is a parent alive who has not suffered through a whiny chorus of “Are We There Yet?” or “He’s hitting me,” or “She took my . . .(you fill in the dots), “Do we have to listen to this station?”, my guess is that parent does not have a car. Or has a… Read More >

Tips From The Teacher: Back-to-School Advice

It’s after Labor Day, and most schools are again in session. So here’s a bit of back-to-school advice. When my daughters went off to college, I advised them about balancing bank accounts, safety, and getting along with roommates. And I offered them a few suggestions about what I know best:  How to please a professor…. Read More >