“In nature, nothing exists alone.” — Rachel Carson, 1962
Our world is changing. Maybe there was a boat leaving Middle Earth that we missed. But you don’t need Galadriel to tell you that mankind is having an effect on the planet. And despite chilling warnings and obvious struggles around us as Nature fights to survive humanity, we continue to pollute and punish the earth and, as a direct result, ourselves.

No one deep-cleaned like my grandma. She would gather her good old reliables, her trusted cleaning supplies she’d used since they were invented probably, and with her patented elbow grease and will power, she’d refresh, restore, and renew the whole house in one day.

I’ve been planning my 2019 garden “grow-list” since summer. Been mulling over varieties I loved, waffling on giving poor-show plants a second chance or not, and basically mapping out 2019 in my garden-crowded head … and dreaming.  Because that’s what we gardeners do. Dream. A lot. 

Warmer temperatures beckon us all to shake off the winter blues, put on a light jacket, and head outside. The call of spring is a primal urge to celebrate the end of the long nights and short days, to be outside again feeling the warmth of the sun, to begin anew. In this season of renewal, many of our local partners need your help to welcome residents and visitors who are also experiencing the whispers calling them to explore.

Sitting on the front porch is as iconic as a white picket fence— and it’s just as much a part of the American dream too.  A dream we are lulled into by listening to the sounds of cicada and crickets, drowsily watching the night lit up by lightning bugs and filtered moonlight, and rocking back and forth to the rhythm of times gone by.

Taking a break and focusing on what makes us happy every now and then is vital to our well-being, mentally and physically. And that can look like many things, but there are a few tried and true ways we know to beat the winter blues— taking time for self-care, enjoying some comfort food, and having a little bit of fun. 

Cold winter days don't mean you have to stay inside. There’s a whole new world dressed in glistening white to discover. There are winter activities for you to enjoy no matter your activity level or expertise. If you can walk, there’s something for you. So, head over to your closet and pull out those layers; we’re going to make a plan to make snow days the best days! But, you better hurry, there’s only about four or five more weeks to enjoy a good “snow day.” Read on for ways to enjoy a winter wonderland.

Love is in the air! But unless you want it to be even colder this Valentine's Day, that love better be in a nice gift bag too. Don't worry, though, we got you. We've compiled our top 7 choices for treating your sweetheart to a special gift that's sure to please-- and keep the cold at bay.

This year’s Be a Sweetheart campaign runs February 9^th & 10^th. All Mast Store locations will ask guests to open up their sweet hearts and help us make a sizeable donation to our food security partners. For each pound of candy purchased, Mast Store will donate a $1. Thus, we are encouraging guests to scoop up a traditional, sweet gift of candy for the sweethearts in their lives this Valentine’s Day and help us give back to our communities in heartwarming and meaningful ways.

Looking back at 1986, it was a year filled with notable events including the return of Halley’s Comet on its second 20th-century tour through the solar system, the national debut of the Oprah Winfrey Show, and the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger just 73 seconds after liftoff. On a much more local level, an employee came to the Mast Store whose work can be seen in EVERY store today and whose influence will be around for a long time to come. Years of sanding, staining, designing, and building are drawing to a close for Ronnie with retirement on the horizon, but as we look around, we’ll see him every day!

Daaaa-gum! They're baaaaack! Beeman's, Black Jack, Clove. Get 'em while we got 'em!

Tabula Rasa. What a wonderful phrase. But it doesn't mean "no worries." It does, however, mean just what we often need-- a blank slate, a reset, a doorway we step through into a brighter, unmarred future. But are we really prepared to fill that slate with resolutions that, even as we make them, ring hollow and loom too large an undertaking?

Reblogging this classic for your culinary pleasure . . . 
Here we are about to put another year in the books. How can 365 days pass by so quickly? With the New Year just hours away, it's time to begin preparing to greet the New Year in a traditional way in order to have a full year of good luck. 

Do you know how many accidents happen around the holidays? I don’t either, but I’ve heard it’s a lot. Trees dry as dust, overloaded electrical doohickeys, dinner left unattended until the fire department shows up. The holidays can be dangerous for more reasons than eating too much cheese or hogging the bean dip. So, to keep you from burning more than ye olde Yule log, we’ve got the tips you need to stay safe this holiday season. 

My mom is the queen of the holiday spread. She will put before you a feast fit for a king-sized appetite-- and for allowing plenty of leftovers for everyone to take home. This year, I'm looking to impress her with the recipes Mast Store has shared with me and have her take home some of these fan favorites I know she'll love. These are for you, mom, and for everyone looking to whip up holiday entertaining without breaking the bank or a sweat! Bon apetit! 

Whether your family caps gift values, you're secret Santa-ing, or you're looking to get quality gifts without breaking the bank, Mast Store has a baker's dozen of our top sellers under $25 that will still have you holding steady in your spot as #1 gift-giver . . . and we tacked on our top 5 that are just a few dollars more in case you want to stretch that budge a bit. 

Struggling to come up with gifts for those certain individuals on your list? We’ve curated some gifts to suit many personalities in your gifting circle. Read the descriptions, then refer to your list. We bet you’ll see some of these personas that need a check mark by their names. Find them below with our recommendations!

Did you know that some of your favorite Mast Store brands are the products of small businesses? That’s right. Mast Store supports local small businesses and artists and prides itself on sharing great products and talent with our customers. For this year’s SBS, we’d like to highlight a few of those wonderful brands that bring us all such great quality products right in our own backyards!