Did you know 'vegan' can also apply to beauty products (not just your diet)? You might have seen a skincare product labeled 'vegan' or 'cruelty-free' while out shopping. Sadly, a lot of people get confused about this. Want to know what each label really means?  No worries: It's actually pretty simple to understand. Here, I explain what each term means and why they're certainly not the same thing. That said, it's important to note a product can certainly be both vegan and cruelty free at the same time.

Waking up in the morning, there is nothing like a fresh cup o' joe. While most of us are running against the clock in our morning routine, efficiency is key. Thus, the single serving coffee pod was born. Quick, easy, efficient, and in a variety of flavors, it became the new instant coffee. A blessing for the busy working individual, right?

It starts slowly. Icicles drip onto the sidewalks, snow mounds shrink under afternoon sunlight, and here in the Pacific Northwest, heavy, warm rains are ushered in. As spring approaches, our appetites desire light, fresh, yet still warming foods. Enter the classic vegetable soup.

If you want your walls to spread joy and make you and everyone at home happier, then here is what you need to do…

We are living in a time when industrialization is the norm, traffic is just a part of the day, and buying what we need instead of making it is totally acceptable. Light pollution can often blur day and night, and affect the natural processes of the world. . Light pollution is the artificial light that shines upwards and downwards, creating a skyglow which fades out the stars from above and also disorientating wildlife and insects down below.

When I started cooking with spices, my eyes opened up to a world of flavor. Going beyond simply seasoning with salt and pepper, my food was elevated from good to spectacular. The world of spices can enhance a dish with all the flavors you're looking for.

Need a bit of heat? Add some cayenne. Want to add some bite? Try ginger. Finding combinations of flavors that work is as exciting as trying a new recipe.

Genovese readers, please look away.

I’m about to do unspeakable things to your beloved pesto.

When we think about music composition, we’re often thinking about the finished product – the final song – rather than the process itself.  But composing music is a powerful tool of humanity that can improve one’s own life as well as the lives of others.  There are numerous health benefits to composing music.

Let’s take a closer look at one musician’s process, and then reflect on the health benefits that emerge from it.

Everyone in my family is fond of heavy white sauces, but not me; I’ve always been a fan of this thing called flavor. If you think you’re more of a white sauce person, think again. This velvety, luscious red sauce will even win over the hearts of Italians who think their nonna's “gravy” is the best hands down.