Model Tested: 2016 Kia Optima SX LTD Engine: 2-liter turbo gas direct injection 4-cylinder Transmission: 6-speed automatic with active eco function EPA Ratings: 22/city, 32/highway, 25/combined Base Price: $35,790 As Tested: $36,615 Overview: The Optima — Kia’s game-changer — is all-new for 2016. … read more

Model Tested: 2016 Mazda CX-3 Touring All-Wheel Drive Engine: Skyactiv-G 2-liter 4-cylinder Transmission: Skyactiv-Drive 6-speed, sport mode automatic EPA Ratings: 27/city, 32/highway, 29/combined Base Price: $23,210 As Tested: $26,050 Overview: The Mazda CX-3 is an all-new SUV-like subcompact crossover. Despite its basic crossover-type … read more

For 2016, the trend forecast is highlighting more innovative color combinations for the home and interiors. As media outlets, including online resources, continue to move toward more evocative, imaginative and innovative uses of color, consumers are being exposed to color stories that are … read more

There’s a sweet scent rolling across the fields. Can you sense it? Do you feel it? That’s the aroma of new love in the air. It’s a glorious feeling, isn’t it? There are secrets untold, mysteries yet to be discovered and new avenues … read more

Raise your garden to new heights for easier access and greater productivity. Raised beds allow you to overcome poor soil by creating the ideal growing mix, plus make gardening time more comfortable thanks to less bending and kneeling. Whether you purchase a kit … read more

The third annual Key Peninsula Mardi Gras Masquerade is ready to celebrate Fat Tuesday on Feb. 6 in a unique Louisiana style at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn. This authentic Mardi Gras celebration will feature Richard Allen & the Louisiana Experience’s … read more

“…You don’t have to be a hunter to buy a duck stamp. You just need $25. So go out and buy the stamp.” Jim Williams, co-author of the book “Questions and Answers about Backyard Birds,” made that statement in an article he wrote … read more

Even for talented cooks, dessert can be a different story, especially when you go beyond baking mixes to make pastries from scratch. “Pastries, and the doughs that give them life, have daunting reputations, but they’re not as complicated as they sound,” says Russel … read more

Add some homegrown flavor to your winter meals. From microgreens to tomatoes, it is possible to grow produce indoors. Microgreens are a quick and easy way to add some flavor and crunch to your plate. Just plant seeds labeled for sprouting or microgreens in a … read more