It’s true: Man’s best friend can come in all shapes in sizes. Whether yours is a dog, cat, fish, small animal or reptile, chances are your goal as an owner remains the same: Keep them happy and healthy. But that’s not all. Nowadays, pet owners are adding pampering to the list. Gone are the days when Fido is given a plain ’ol garden-variety squeak toy and a plastic food dish. No. He’s got a wardrobe any fashionista would be proud of -- and it may even include a raincoat and matching galoshes. (Fido might even prefer an organic treat, or two.) This is where Wags to Wiskers comes in. Located on …

We live in a culture that values photography. And we particularly appreciate photos of the people we love. This phenomenon is hardly anything new. From those cheesy Glamour Shots stores that permeated shopping malls in the 90s, to the more highly respected studios that capture milestones likes a baby’s first portrait or a student’s graduation, we like the idea of an image frozen in time. It’s tangible. It’s beautiful. It reminds us of what was. Yet, like everything else in this day and age, technology has changed the game. Equipped with camera phones, everyone thinks they’re a photographer. …

Understandably, backpacks, lunch pails, and No. 2 pencils aren’t on the minds of kids (or their parents) right now. It’s summer, after all — in Michigan — and we all know that these precious months seem to fly by faster than the Concorde. Who wants to interrupt their Slurpee-swimming pool-sandbox reverie by thinking about… school? But just as we can count on Christmas decorations to hit store shelves in August (hey, you know the holidays arrive sooner every year), we can also rest assured that school days will return in due time. Why not get a jump on things by doing your homework now on …

We all know how to talk.  It’s doing so in front a sizeable crowd that throws many of us for a loop -- or gives us the shakes. A 2006 study conducted by WebMD revealed that those who suffer most from speaking in public get more anxious -- not less -- as their presentation gets under way. And, unfortunately, the end doesn’t bring relief: When the speech is over, they feel even more anxious. "It is even scarier than rattlesnakes," Paul L. Witt, PhD, assistant professor of communication studies at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth tells WebMD. "The idea of making a presentation in public is…

Are you dissatisfied with your hair stylist? Have you ever thought that maybe -- just maybe -- it was time for a change? Have you gone so far as to desire said change, but didn’t know where to go next? Hey, I know breaking up with your hairdresser is hard to do -- “It’s not you…it’s me!” -- but let’s face it, change is inevitable, and sometimes it is downright called for. Now. And it’s not everyday that a little birdie tells you about a former Hollywood hair and makeup artist who has landed within Plymouth city limits. Dean Sadler knows hair. In fact, he knows much more than hair. He knows …

It’s hot out. Really hot. And you’re thirsty. Why not have coffee? Yes, you read correctly. Coffee. It’s not just for the colder months, you know. In fact, at Plymouth’s Espresso Elevado the bean has received a makeover. (Yes, if you’d prefer a regular ‘ol piping-hot cup of Joe, you’ll find it there, too.) But for those who wish to take it up a notch in taste -- and down a notch in temperature -- your taste buds are in for quite a treat. If you haven’t visited Espresso Elevado in downtown Plymouth, read on for reasons why you should. Plymouth Patch: I love the name Espresso Elevado. How did …

We’ve seen the following scenario in countless movies because, after all, it will likely evoke laughter: Bring a foreigner to the United States — or vice versa — and insert him or her into an unfamiliar social situation. Or perhaps, as a student of foreign language yourself, the joke was on you when you thought you were asking someone to pass the ketchup and, unbeknown to you, you were telling your fellow dinner guest to take a hike. If this hasn’t happened to you, well, fantastic. But if it has, you don’t have to let it happen again. A company called Speak Easy Languages right here in …

Talk about getting a new lease on life. Quite literally. Picture this: You and your spouse are seeking a change, more specifically one that involves a larger home. You’re adding to the family, you need more space, and your “starter” home or condo, as quaint as it is, just isn’t cutting it anymore. A larger home would help immensely, but there’s just one problem: You can’t sell the home you’re in. You know this because you’ve tried. Enter Marketplace Homes, a Plymouth company which enables homeowners to buy a new home from one of their preferred new construction homebuilders and helps …

Hey, all you movie buffs out there: Picture, if you will, the complete and utter splendor of having unlimited access to a movie theater. All-you-can-eat popcorn. The ability to pick the best seat in the house. The power to actually choose which movies are seen. The Works. This is what you may think awaits long-time Plymouth resident Ellen Elliott when she arrives to work every day. She is, after all, the executive director of Plymouth’s landmark Penn Theatre. But as entertaining as her job is, it includes far more than discussing the merits of choosing Milk Duds, as opposed to whoppers, to …

Ever watch talented, passionate thespians on stage and wonder, How do they do that? They’ve got the blocking down pat; their timing is impeccable; and they’ve memorized the lines so well, it seems as if there really isn’t a script at all. These actors and actresses make it all look so easy. Except that it isn’t. It takes work. And lots of it. But for Craig A. Hane, who founded Barefoot Productions, a volunteer-driven live theatrical company, in 2006, there’s nothing on earth that brings more joy. This month, Hane directs Lips Together, Teeth Apart, an off-Broadway play written by Terrence …

“It tastes like cardboard,” or “I’ve heard it tastes like cardboard.” Ask someone whether they’ve tried a gluten-free baked product, and you’ll probably hear one of the aforementioned refrains. Clearly, these people haven’t experienced Rumi’s Passion Bakery. “I love this place,” said Katrina Bezak of Farmington Hills. When I encountered Bezak, she was standing in line at the checkout, holding several packets of gluten-free gravy. “My favorite thing is definitely the bread. I’ve never been able to find a gluten-free bread that stays soft for the whole week that you don’t have to freeze or …

While some people were flooding post offices across the region Monday trying to get their last-minute filings in, the fact that it was Tax Day was lost on Plymouth resident Betty Curran. Curran, 61, works as an office manager for a civil engineering firm in Plymouth, called DuBois-Cooper Associates. She and husband Tom are the types of people we might consider freaks of nature, and I mean that in a good way. These are the types of people who actually file taxes early. The Currans are the types who are always one step ahead of the game. They are the types who are preparing their lawn for …

Sub-prime. Short sale. Foreclosure. These are just a few of the buzzwords that, since 2007 or so, have been tossed around like confetti at a surprise birthday party. Unfortunately, however, there’s nothing celebratory about them. For many, the condition of the housing market has placed a proverbial cloud over what has traditionally been deemed a highly anticipated rite of passage: Buying a home. But as the saying goes, there’s a buyer for every home, and the good news is that matches are indeed still being made. Despite the packing, organizing, and planning, few things compare to the euphoric…

Since I’m taking a hiatus from vegetarianism during this pregnancy, I decided now would be the perfect time to try a place I’ve long been curious about: Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken. There hasn’t been a time when I’ve traveled Ann Arbor Road and wondered how – amid miles and miles of your garden variety of nationally recognized burger joints – Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken is still going strong, despite eschewing conventional advertising. It must be good, I’ve often thought to myself. Well, I’ve come to inform Plymouth Patch readers that, yes, I thought right. Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken. Is. …

Weight loss. Smoking cessation. Pesky allergies. No matter the problem, it’s probably been said that acupuncture can help. But what is acupuncture? And can a few strategically placed needles really intercept one’s insatiable urge to eat or smoke? According to naturopathic doctor Julie TwoMoon, acupuncture is not a bunch of hokey-pokey. Rather it is a safe, effective option for maximizing one’s health. And she should know. Educated at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. TwoMoon has also received a Masters of Science of Oriental Medicine. In 2006 Dr. TwoMoon founded Breathing …

If you follow this column on an even semi-regular basis, you know my about my artistic limitations. I find drawing, painting, and the like incredibly beneficial – necessary, even. I’m just not good at it. Nestled within that aforementioned group is the art of knitting. Although my mother is superb at knitting’s cousin, sewing – and I’m sure she’s got the chops to make a respectable pair of socks, the talent apparently didn’t trickle down the bloodline. Yet I found myself drawn to Plymouth’s Old Village Yarn Shop one recent afternoon. And boy did I find yards and yards of pure, unrestricted …

“I’ve got to do my taxes.” Rest assured that, this very second, countless Americans on both sides of the Mississippi are rolling that dreaded phrase around in their heads -- yours truly included. I mean, sure, there are men and women among us – the non-procrastinators of this great nation – who have already filed and are now enjoying the fruits of their refunds (new flat screen TV, anyone?), and if you subscribe to that group, I say good for you. But the rest of us either have to a.) pull out those W-2s and get to work; or b.) pull out those W-2s and get to a tax professional like Martin …

If you’ve learned anything as a Plymouth Patch reader, it’s that this city is chock-full of some pretty amazing folks. There are those who accomplish spectacular feats, warm our hearts, and do everything in between. And within that in between are people who simply lead pretty interesting lives. Jeanne Goddard of Plymouth’s Benchmark Optical is one of those people. You may not know her by name, but if you frequent Plymouth’s Benchmark Optical, or are a patient of Dr. Brian M. Carney’s, who is a fourth generation optometrist, you will surely know her friendly face – or voice. Having worked for …

Thirty years ago, Plymouth resident Sandra Daniels was at a point in her life where she knew something had to give. Then an employee of General Motors, her life was overrun by stress. “I developed tendonitis and had lost the strength in my arms,” recalls Daniels. “I worked on a computer, updating shipping and receiving, and worked about 60-80 hours a week; I had no choice, I was non-union. And then when I was 40, I developed Essential Familiar Tremors, which kind of resembles Parkinson’s Disease. It got so bad at times that my head shook.” But an impromptu inquiry about – of all things – …

Sometimes you’ve just got to have it – and the it I speak of is a particular food. Sometimes said desire can be deemed a craving; or, if you’re pregnant like me, calling it a craving simply scratches the surface. Rather, it is better characterized as an insatiable yearning that – if not fulfilled – will turn you into a raving lunatic. Regardless of your condition, a good, juicy burger is often at the root of this hunger. But here’s the rub: Where you set out to get the burger is often contingent on whether the burger you want is of the meaty or meat-free persuasion. (And, again, if you’re …