The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a PM-10 health watch for Tuesday.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is issuing a high pollution advisory (HPA) for Monday.

Many Americans have embraced outdoor decorating, filling their yards with fluffy sofas, gleaming end tables and even outdoor rugs.

It's cold out there. In much of the country, now's the time when home serves as a cozy refuge from the ice and snow. We light our fireplaces and wish for springtime.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's internationally-acclaimed ski resorts are the main reason people visit Salt Lake City in the winter, but there are plenty of fun, free and interesting things to do in Salt Lake City while in the area and other times of year. Here's a sampling:

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a health watch for fine particulate matter pollution (PM-2.5) for Monday. As a result, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department has issued “no burn day” restrictions, which includes a ban on wood burning activity including fireplaces, fire pits or open outdoor burning. This is the fourth consecutive “no burn day.”

"No burn" restrictions are in effect in the Phoenix metropolitan area due to high particulate levels in the air.

Children can learn about air quality in a fun way, thanks to a new coloring book released by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The book, “Winter in the Desert,” was designed as a tool for students to learn about air pollution and to take preventative actions and become good environmental stewards, according to a release by the department.

Air quality regulators are banning wood burning in Maricopa County on Monday because of high levels of pollutants already in the air.

Some artificial Christmas trees glow cheerily even without lights: The branches themselves softly glow, fading on and off in different colors at the tips.

The Nativity scene with the manger and all the ceramic figures including Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the shepherds is tucked away in a box somewhere, likely at my mom’s house in Ohio with some of my other stuff I didn’t bring to Arizona when I moved to the Valley nearly seven years ago.

Here are The Associated Press’ reviews of selected holiday albums:

It’s a busy time of year but Valley organizations are reminding residents not to forget about safety during the holidays.

Give your home the sophisticated charm of an English manor by decking the halls with the equestrian-themed holiday decor that is captivating hearts. Depending upon your fancy, you can take this timeless look in any direction, from whimsical to classic.

With all due respect to pumpkins, but when the Indian corn arrives, so has fall.

Edward Rutherford has been writing historical sagas for more than 20 years but I just discovered him this summer with “New York, the Novel (2009).” After a passionate reading, I wanted heartily to recommend but hesitated — would most readers consider it “old news?” However, when Hurricane Sandy recently ravaged the East Coast, I felt compelled to do the review as it certainly wrote another chapter in the history of this amazing American city from 1664 to the year 2009.

My parents were fairly normal, back in the ’60s. Like something out of “The Donna Reed Show,” they’d get together with their best friends and play bridge.

A beloved pet dressed in a Halloween costume, posed next to a lit jack-o-lantern, sounds like a great photo opportunity — but it's also a fire hazard.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued a PM-10 health watch for Thursday.

Relax with family and friends in the comfort of an outdoor living space. Add character to your outdoor furniture by replacing worn out cushions or create a casual look by arranging cushions of various colors around a fire pit or fireplace. Receive a storage bag to protect your new cushions with a purchase of $250 or more. Limit one per household.

By pricing their energy-efficient homes aggressively, two East Valley men have developed a business partnership in combination with their friendship.

BLD (1920 W. Germann Road, Chandler [480] 779-8646). Short for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, BLD serves up chef-crafted comfort foods in a casual neighborhood environment, with a healthy disregard for when you’re “supposed” to crave dishes like bacon-studded waffles paired with fried chicken. (Breakfast is available until 2 p.m. daily.) A drive-thru window serves barista-made coffees, specialty drinks and meals on-the-go when you’re in a hurry — but a couple of bites always convince us these are meals best lingered over with good friends, good drinks (also available) and good conversation. $$