Jennifer Bardsley

Caption: Each visit to a bridal shop marks a different milestone on life's journey.

Bridal shop visits are full of memories — with more to come

Bridal shops aren’t only for brides. They are places where women of all ages gather to celebrate each other.

Caption: Each visit to a bridal shop marks a different milestone on life's journey.
When nerve pain made long sleeves unbearable, a shawl came to the rescue. (Jennifer Bardsley)

Surviving the aches and pains of middle age

What it’s like to be 43 going on 90, and need a granny shawl to keep warm.

When nerve pain made long sleeves unbearable, a shawl came to the rescue. (Jennifer Bardsley)
Caption: The holy grail of kitchen appliances is one that most Americans don’t know about yet.

Can this pricey small appliance from Germany change your life?

Ronco’s Kitchen Magician has nothing on this gadget — especially its $1,500 price tag.

Caption: The holy grail of kitchen appliances is one that most Americans don’t know about yet.
Caption: Merlin, the nearly-toothless poodle, enjoying a quiet afternoon in Edmonds.

Should you brush your dog’s teeth? A cautionary tale

Seven years and several hefty vet bills later, Merlin the poodle is down to just one tooth. So yes, you should brush your pooch’s choppers.

Caption: Merlin, the nearly-toothless poodle, enjoying a quiet afternoon in Edmonds.
Caption: It might not be a necessary appliance, but tiny Crockpots are so darn cute.

Tiny Crockpot is a big help for cook — at least for now

You can make yummy things like spinach-artichoke dip in it. Plus, it’s so darn cute.

Caption: It might not be a necessary appliance, but tiny Crockpots are so darn cute.
Caption: Food delivery services offer tempting—but pricey—answers to that age-old question: “What’s for dinner?” (Picture of a Hungryroot box.)

6 meal delivery services that offer convenience for a price

When something throws your daily routine out of whack, meal kits can be a godsend.

Caption: Food delivery services offer tempting—but pricey—answers to that age-old question: “What’s for dinner?” (Picture of a Hungryroot box.)
Grandpa’s vintage sweaters are high fashion in 7th grade. (Jennifer Bardsley)

Middle-school fashion sense makes Mom scratch her head

Ragged jeans and grandpa sweaters — the baggie the better — are what The Kids Today are wearing.

Grandpa’s vintage sweaters are high fashion in 7th grade. (Jennifer Bardsley)
Here’s how to save time on a mundane household task. (Jennifer Bardsley)

How to save time on a boring task: unloading the dishwasher

You, too, can put clean dishes away in about three minutes if you follow these four tips.

Here’s how to save time on a mundane household task. (Jennifer Bardsley)
Caption: Like it or not, social media skills are essential for teenagers to learn.

Yes, our kids really do need digital skills for the future

Rather than asking teens “Why are you spending so much time on your phone,” we should be asking “What are you doing on your phone and are you doing it well?”

Caption: Like it or not, social media skills are essential for teenagers to learn.
Caption: Stay-at-home parents work up to 126 hours a week. Their labor is valuable even without a paycheck.

A mother’s time is not ‘free’ — and they put in 126-hour workweeks

If you were to pay a stay-at-home mom or dad for their time, it would cost nearly $200,000 a year.

Caption: Stay-at-home parents work up to 126 hours a week. Their labor is valuable even without a paycheck.
Caption: They might be too old for lunch box notes, but teenagers benefit from TLC too.

Fun ways to show the teens in your life that you care

The teen years can be challenging but they don’t last long. A little bit of extra attention can go a long way.

Caption: They might be too old for lunch box notes, but teenagers benefit from TLC too.
Caption: When the furnace broke in freezing weather, they were glad to have a wood burning stove and a newspaper subscription. (Jennifer Bardsley)

In need of a winter rescue, the newspaper delivered

When the furnace dies, “logs” of Daily Heralds stuffed with dryer lint ignite a warming fire.

Caption: When the furnace broke in freezing weather, they were glad to have a wood burning stove and a newspaper subscription. (Jennifer Bardsley)
Serve fish on Friday’s and other life hacks that will make your home run smoother.

A housework cheat sheet for the busy parent

Here are Jennifer Bardsley’s best life hacks for meal planning, tidying up and other homefront duties.

Serve fish on Friday’s and other life hacks that will make your home run smoother.
Bardsley

Holiday disasters that will live in infamy

Sewage raining from the ceiling onto the dinner table, and other red-letter days in Bardsley family lore.

Bardsley
Caption: The Suquamish Museum and nearby playground is one of many destinations worth exploring for kids of all ages. (Jennifer Bardsley)

This winter break, give teens the gift of cultural enrichment

Here are four places and one movie that will open their eyes to art, history and more.

Caption: The Suquamish Museum and nearby playground is one of many destinations worth exploring for kids of all ages. (Jennifer Bardsley)
Caption: CBD ointment can make a great present—unless it is orange.

She gets a spicy lesson on the importance of reading labels

A fiery encounter with a lotion that was the opposite of soothing would have been avoided had the word “capsaicin” been noted on the packaging.

Caption: CBD ointment can make a great present—unless it is orange.
Caption: Family photos like this one of the author’s grandmother give extra meaning to this family’s holiday decorations.

Memories linger like the scent of fake Christmas trees

On this family’s tree, the most important ornaments are framed photos of beloved family, especially the ones who have passed away.

Caption: Family photos like this one of the author’s grandmother give extra meaning to this family’s holiday decorations.
Bill Howell, a plant pathologist from Prosser, created the Lucy Rose apple variety as a cross between the Honeycrisp and an Airlie Red variety. They are notable for their red centers.(Jennifer Bardsley)

Sweet treats for the holiday season direct from Washington growers

Washington State farmers survived a difficult year. The fruits of their labor deserve admiration.

Bill Howell, a plant pathologist from Prosser, created the Lucy Rose apple variety as a cross between the Honeycrisp and an Airlie Red variety. They are notable for their red centers.(Jennifer Bardsley)
Get the china ready! Your holiday meal might come with a side of drama. (Jennifer Bardsley)

If Thanksgiving stresses us out then we’re doing it wrong

If Thanksgiving stresses us out then we’re doing it wrong

Get the china ready! Your holiday meal might come with a side of drama. (Jennifer Bardsley)
Tea, tissues and a COVID-19 test. Staying home sick from school presents new challenges. (Jennifer Bardsley)

A case of the sniffles isn’t what it used to be

When her daughter catches a cold, mom must navigate the flow chart from hell. It’s part of helping stop the spread of COVID-19.

Tea, tissues and a COVID-19 test. Staying home sick from school presents new challenges. (Jennifer Bardsley)