I grew up in hot, tourist-filled Florida – a place where the seasons are seamless and coat closets house mostly jean jackets. The vista out of my childhood bedroom window was static: Palm trees and dried grass in the winter, palm trees and even drier grass in the summer. I’ve come to especially appreciate Illinois’ […]
If you looked at my bookshelf, you’d think I could give solid advice on disciplining children, being a better leader and 10 other things. But, the books are only partially read or, more likely, never read. Stacks and stacks. Either I don’t make time to read them or don’t fully buy into their promises. To […]
The line for the most recent Family Action Network talk stretched out of New Trier’s auditorium, around the corner and down the block. The eager crowd was there to see Brené Brown, author of the New York Times best-seller “Daring Greatly.” A man paraded past ticketholders wearing fluorescent “notice me” colors, while waving a large cardboard […]
When late-night comedian David Letterman was asked why it took him so long to marry his girlfriend of 23 years, he joked, “We wanted to make sure we had the prenup just right.” The quip alludes to the sometimes-prickly process of entering a marriage while simultaneously creating a plan for its potential demise. A prenuptial […]
Hot and heavy may be great for kissing—but not so much for a summer meal. Opt for cool and light instead. Vietnamese shrimp summer rolls consist of fresh ingredients wrapped in rice paper and served at room temperature or cooled; they’re not deep fried or otherwise cooked on the outside like egg rolls or spring […]
Crisp weather may signal the end of summer, but it shouldn’t mean the end of enjoying your outdoor space. It’s easy to overlook fall landscaping while we’re reeling in hoses and storing ceramic pots for cooler months, but the season brings our most vibrant colors and our best opportunity to prepare for the seasons ahead. […]
In summer, we’d rather warm up outside than in front of a hot stove or oven. Summer meals should be fast and easy and utilize the bounty of the season. Cold soups fit the bill. They’re a great way to convert fresh fruits and vegetables into a refreshing meal. Gazpacho is the heavyweight of cold […]
Often when we witness acts of kindness, we are spurred to act kindly ourselves. Giving begets giving. This is exactly what has happened in Highland Park. Four years ago, seventh grade English teacher Melissa Arof worked with several teachers and the Elm Place Middle School principal to create the town’s first Day of Giving. The […]
Lettuce wilts. Mayonnaise spoils. It takes a special salad to maintain its flavor and appearance an hour into the heat of a summer picnic or barbecue–coleslaw, potato or Caesar won’t do. You can place this tasty and colorful corn salad on any buffet table and rightly expect to take home an empty bowl. The recipe […]
Peek-a-boo, I see you. Now where’d you go? This year, it feels like our Midwestern summer is a fickle toddler hiding from us. Our hot days have been infrequent and brief, which means we have to be ready to spend time outside when one comes along. These fish tacos will have you firing up the […]
