Kate Chacksfield was at a loss when her dog Ruby became rapidly sick in less than a week. She took Ruby to the vet, and wracked her brain to figure out the source of this sudden ailment, but came up with nothing. After Chacksfield paid almost $13,000 in medical bills, Ruby died. The cause of...

Sarah Biren
Food Journalist
Sarah is a baker, cook, author, and blogger living in Toronto. She believes that food is the best method of healing and a classic way of bringing people together. In her spare time, Sarah does yoga, reads cookbooks, writes stories, and finds ways to make any type of food in her blender.
Thailand authorities are warning tourists to stop riding elephants in their country as heart-wrenching images of the beaten animals exploded on Twitter. The caption was: “You can stop inhumanity tortured on elephants by stop riding an elephant!” The pictures in question are suspected to be from Phuket, one of the most popular vacation spots in...
The white-throated rail is a bird about the size of a chicken. It is native to Madagascar and tends to colonize individual islands, specifically an atoll called Aldabra, a ring-shaped reef in the Seychelle Islands. The reef had contained no predators for the rails, and eventually, they became flightless. They also became extinct 136,000 years...
The late Edith Macefield may have left this world in 2008, but her memory is still living on in Seattle. She did something remarkable, holding onto what she loved with her all her heart, no matter the cost. Her home in the Ballard neighborhood, Seattle, got in the way of developers looking to erect a...
Consumer Reports (CR) found heavy metals in dark chocolate bars from various brands. Although dark chocolate can contain health benefits, these products can potentially cause many health issues. The Consumer Reports researchers tested 28 dark chocolate bars and found cadmium and lead in all of them. These included products from five of the most well-known...
Whether you are in or out of the housing market, there’s no doubt that you’ve seen the rise in alternative housing. These creative and ingenious options will have you reconsidering traditional houses as you know them. From shipping containers to pallet homes, tiny houses to mobile homes, and earth berms to treehouses, there’s one more...
We’ve all had days when the morning didn’t go well. We woke up tired, weren’t sure which task to tackle first, ate a poor breakfast, procrastinated, and the dreary mood continued into the afternoon. These days are unproductive slogs; we don’t get much work done, and we can’t enjoy any rest or self-care since we...
Rob Osman of Bristol, England, suffered from anxiety and depression since his 20s. The 38-year-old had hit rock bottom when he had no choice but to live in his sister’s basement. There were no windows, only enough weed for Osmond to forget his troubles. He managed to pull himself out of this descent and has...
At 96 years old, Iris Apfel is not what you would picture any other 96 year old to be. Her signature big glasses, flashy clothing, and confidence have defined her as an icon for all those who want to stand out and be different. Not only has she become an icon in fashion, modeling for...
Burning sage is an ancient spiritual practice from different cultures, including certain groups of Native Americans. Historically, it’s been used in spiritual rituals, to connect to a mystical realm, enhance intuition, and reflect on inner dilemmas. It’s also traditionally used for healing, whether for physical, mental, or spiritual ailments. As burning sage becomes more mainstream,...
Blueberry season feels too short. Yes, international farmers keep the berry section stocked for several more months, but there’s nothing like the fresh and local versions. If you enjoyed tasting blueberries straight from the bush, you know there’s no comparison. Fortunately, you can have that experience from the comfort of your own home. Growing blueberries...
Many people are in the habit of washing poultry before cooking it. After all, rinsing chicken and turkey helps remove bacteria, just like with produce, right? However, this is far from the truth. Raw turkey and chicken can be contaminated with bacteria like campylobacter and salmonella, which can cause foodborne illnesses. But rinsing poultry doesn’t...