Hand-dipped. Carefully crafted. Family recipes. Locally made. Quality ingredients. There is nothing like handmade chocolate. Who wouldn’t want to receive a beautiful box of chocolates as a holiday treat? Candy and chocolate have always been a part of holiday celebrations, and in the West Sound you can choose yours from some of the finest chocolatiers […]
holidays
Posted inAt Home, Blog
A Traditional Christmas Bread Beyond Compare
Baking a traditional Christmas bread every year keeps us connected to our family traditions, dear friends and loving memories. My family had established Christmas traditions, such as making Grandma’s old-fashioned fruitcake on Thanksgiving Friday, eating oyster stew on Christmas Eve, and gobbling cookies and cocoa for breakfast on the big morning. I had no idea […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Spreading Joy and Merriment Year-Round
Many people who own pets in Kitsap or Mason counties are familiar with Jeff Berger — especially if they take their pets to Christmas photo sessions at the Kitsap County Humane Society or the Humane Society of Mason County. To them, of course, Berger is known as Santa. For years, he’s been a fixture at […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog, Featured
Homemade Gifts for a Heartwarming Holiday Season
Instead of fighting crowds at the store, head to the kitchen and whip up Pinterest-worthy treats and crafts. Whether you’re gifting a gracious host or just want a few extra presents on hand for unexpected holiday guests, flavorful and aromatic kitchen creations are a delicious way to show you care this holiday season. “Christmas cookies […]
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10 Tips for Creating Christmas Fun with Kids
For children all ages, there’s no more magical time of year than Christmas. There are twinkling trees, glistening snowflakes (maybe), flying reindeer, tree decorating, favorite Christmas music and baked cookies that make the whole house smell like a childhood memory. And don’t forget pretty presents wrapped in bows! But what can we do with the […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog, Featured
Five Tips To Make Your Holiday Season More Sustainable and More Peaceful
These days, it seems like the holiday spirit travels in a plane from far away and comes wrapped in an enormous amount of unnecessary plastic. In the middle of finding the perfect gift and trying to hunt down deals, it can be hard to keep our environmental impact in mind. Here are five tips to […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Celebrating the Season with Tom and Donna Torrens
Any time of the year, the home of Tom and Donna Torrens is an eye-catching affair. Sitting on 7 1/2 wooded acres in the Artondale area of Gig Harbor, the house and grounds are liberally sprinkled with Tom’s metal and wood sculptures, including several of the bells and gongs he is perhaps best known for […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog, Featured
5 Easy Tips to Get through the Holidays Stress Free
Getting through the holidays with ease and grace is no small feat. With the endless invitations, family coming in from out of town, extra spending and overindulgences, it can be somewhat stressful to navigate successfully. Here are five simple ways to decrease stress, so that you can enjoy this special time that only comes around […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Kingston Holiday Lights
A not-to-be-missed holiday-season outing is the Kingston Lights on the green spaces surrounding the Port of Kingston building near the ferry terminal. It all begins on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. when Santa arrives on a North Kitsap Fire and Rescue truck. Santa lights the Christmas tree and flips the switch to turn on […]