Going home for the holidays is always an exciting time of year, but for many of us, a stressful time too.

People in the New River Valley are helping people who are experiencing homelessness. Teams at James Hardie, a manufacturing company with crews in Pulaski, Radford and Wytheville, created over 750 blessing bags filled with toiletries and personal items as a part of it's Giving Back Campaign. They also delivered 100 Wendy’s gift cards for families with children who are put up in hotels for the night.

Experts at Virginia Tech said smart toys can be great teaching tools for children but they want to remind parents there are some precautions to take.

In light of Wednesday being National Package Protection Day, there are some security measures that can be taken to ensure the gifts you order stay in your possession, and not get in the hands of porch pirates.

People are showing their appreciation for first responders battling the flames from the Matts Creek Wildfire.

Program Director of Vinton Chasity Barbour shares what’s happening with the wedding crawl happening March 5th.

There are so many rich choices these days when it comes to the world of travel – and with popular sites like Airbnb and VRBO, you can even stay in more unique places than ever before.

A box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers are certainly nice gifts to give to your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, but why not give a gift that can last a lifetime -- when you don’t even have to leave your house to get it?

Santa Claus is already delivering presents.

Whether it was a trendy gift or something particularly sentimental, we wanted to hear about it.

Let's get the Elf on the Shelf to work for us this year (and hopefully every year moving forward).

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, you might be scrambling for a gift idea: And we all know the usuals. Flowers, gift cards, maybe a cute purse or a trip to her local nail salon.

Do you have an easy-to-shop-for mom? Or is your mother a bit trickier, when it comes to buying her that perfect present? Either way, we have just the quiz for you.

Honestly, how fun is it to invite friends over for a game night?

We don’t know about you, dear readers, but Christmas gives us all those warm, fuzzy feelings: Of years past, of childhood, and all the magic that goes hand in hand with the holiday season.

Maybe it’s your first year decorating for Christmas, or you’re looking to up your game this year, or perhaps you’ve been so busy that you’re just getting around to it.

Remember when you were a little kid and you came up with some super cool invention that was going to get you rich? There are people who have actually done it!

Whether you love the idea in general or you think it'd be cute for Facebook or your next family photo session, we're here to provide some inspiration

Do you know what you’re getting your dad or husband -- or any similar father figure in your life -- for Father’s Day?

Calling all fathers, dads-to-be and paternal figures: We have an important question for you.

Golf is a notable Father’s Day pastime that’s not going anywhere any time soon.

Is your dad more sporty, more outdoorsy, more artistic or something else entirely?

For some, Father’s Day might not be a time to celebrate. Some fathers aren’t here anymore, and that might bring some sadness.

Father’s Day is almost here, but if it’s been a tight year, money-wise, just know that you’re probably not alone in feeling like you’d rather save the more expensive festivities for another time.

Mother’s Day should be every day of the year, and we know you appreciate your mom and all that she has done for you throughout her life.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and families and spouses might be scrambling to plan the perfect day just for her.

Take the headache out of finding the right Mother's Day gift.

Whether you’re trying to save money or you simply don’t have much of it right now, there are still so many ways you can honor your mom on Mother’s Day.

Shopping online has always been popular, and add in an unruly pandemic and it’s become the most convenient way to get things done these days, and there’s an unexpected player in cyber retail: local business. Now more than ever, the call to shop local is more important than ever, and if you didn’t know, a lot of local businesses are offering online ordering -- and most places will ship things right to your door. Book No Further in Roanoke, an independent book store, is one local business that has thrived at selling online, despite competing with powerhouses such as Amazon. That’s what is so great about buying from an independent book store -- the entire experience is personal. “You can only get that kind of service from independent book stores,” Vest said.

Some might say that’s one of the best parts of the holiday season: Splurging a little. So, what are some of the best things to buy and try this time of year? She and her husband Mike manage the family-owned business, and they’re quite the experts when it comes to all things chocolate. When you buy fair-trade, you’re also helping developing countries promote sustainable farming and working toward achieving better trade conditions. Happy chocolate shopping!

Having a baby, and bringing that baby home from the hospital for the first time as a new parent, is a whirlwind.

Amazon Prime Days are here, and as the author of this story, I have to tell you: I did a LOT more online purchasing than I planned on, just while sitting around my house in quarantine last year.

Board games are pretty popular among adults, who are, more and more, trading video games for game pieces. Honestly, how fun is it to invite friends over for a game night? Disturbed FriendsOn the box, it says: “This game should be banned.” Those who love this game will probably disagree. How predictable was it that a board game about memes would be made, considering how much people love them? Players have to fight off the game’s raiders and gain money by transporting goods, such as water and ammunition, across the game map.

On the prowl for a gift for your niece, cousin, mom, sister or friend? Or are you just shopping for yourself this holiday season?

Charcoal toothpaste has been making the rounds for a while now, so I had to see what the hype was about. Stop buying those (wasteful) throw-away makeup wipes -- this is what you need instead. “(These are) the best and strongest of all the wipes, well-priced, and they are great for so many things. I had about a million moms recommend this stuff, and after trying a few competitors' products, came to confirm that it's truly the best. Email us with your product recommendations and all the reasons why you swear by the stuff.

For those who are stumped about what kind of gift to buy for Father’s Day, maybe one suggestion that could help is this: Start with what not to buy for the occasion. Coupon Lawn surveyed more than 1,000 fathers in the United States to see what their most unwanted gifts were for Father’s Day. The survey found that 46% of people buy clothes as Father’s Day gifts. The responses found that 30% of fathers dislike receiving these, even though 59% of people who get gifts on Father’s Day buy cards. Coupon Lawn said as part of its survey that $5.3 billion is spent on unwanted Father’s Day gifts, although that is half of the $10.5 billion the site said is spent on unwanted Mother’s Day gifts.

It isn’t always easy to budget for graduation gifts, especially amid the pandemic and with other holidays that fall during the same season. Here are 10 all for $50 or less that we think the graduate in your life will enjoy. Put together a gift set that includes a laundry basket, detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets and a roll of quarters. Coffee makerA coffee maker is the perfect gift for a recent grad who regularly needs a caffeine boost as part of the morning routine. First aid kitRest easy by giving the gift of safety to your graduate.

As we all know, this Mother’s Day was quite different than most years, but that didn’t have to make it any less special. Even though this year was unconventional due to the coronavirus pandemic, we’re confident you all had creative and beautiful ways to honor your mother -- or another woman in your life, and we want to see what you did. Share with us a photo of how you pulled off Mother’s Day, despite some strange world circumstances.

NBC News – Of the many unique moments in 2020, one of them will be how we all celebrate the mothers in our life during Mother’s Day. But despite stay-at-home orders spreading across the country, you've still got many opportunities to give your mom a thoughtful gift — the best Mother's Day gift ideas persist despite the impact of coronavirus. Flowers might be a wonderful gift if you know your mother enjoys them, but if you know she thinks they're wasteful, then go with what you know,” Yip advises. Below, we offer Mother's Day gift ideas we found after searching for some of the best options, as well as products from our existing shopping guides whose high quality translates into functional and usable gift options. Happy Mother's Day!

On-the-go moms -- that's all moms, right? Trust me when I say these seven items will make the perfect Mother's Day gifts to do just that. Just an FYI, Graham Media Group may collect a small share of sales from the links provided on this page. Plus, after a long day, I love to brew myself some hot tea to relax. Robotic vacuum📷Speaking of moms working 80-plus hours a week, after all the running around and cooking dinner, then there's cleaning to do?

Anonymous donations have paid off $70,000 in layaway purchases at two Walmart stores in Alabama. According to WFAA, a company spokesman says someone paid off $45,000 in purchases at a store in the east Alabama city of Anniston on Monday. He says someone paid off another $25,000 in layaway purchases two days later at a Walmart in nearby Oxford. It's unclear whether the same person was responsible for both donations. Customers who arrived to pick up layaway items on Monday got a note that says: “God loves you.