Betsy Simson, former creative director at Leo Burnett then owner of the very popular Corner Cooks cooking school and Jerry’s casual fine dining restaurant in Winnetka, was constantly being asked by her children and their significant others to write down her recipes in order to easily share them. Rather than just jot them down, Simson […]
Erika Christakis, author and early childhood educator at the Yale Child Study, tells a tale of two preschool art projects. The first, we all know: a cut-out of your child’s handprint with feathers and eyes glued on to turn it into a Thanksgiving turkey. It’s cute. The second is less aesthetically pleasing — a blot of […]
Media personality and parenting expert Donna Bozzo knows a thing or two about family fun. From keeping kids entertained in the cold, to great Chicago staycations, to how to go “glamping” (aka glammed-up camping), Bozzo has been sharing her tips with Make It Better readers and families across the country with regular TV appearances on the […]
Dacher Keltner is fascinated by the dynamics of power that permeate the everyday. “Power shapes our every interaction,” says the professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley and co-director of the Greater Good Science Center, who also happens to be the consulting psychologist behind Disney’s recent Pixar blockbuster “Inside Out.” He’s talking about everything […]
It’s almost Mother’s Day (last-minute shoppers can find our gift guide here) and these events are all about spending time with Mom or giving her some much-deserved time to herself. International Bodyflight Association Indoor Skydiving Competition May 6-7 Rosemont Some of the best skydivers and wind tunnel flyers in the world (ages 6 to 60s) […]
Psychologist Angela Duckworth became intrigued when, as a seventh-grade math teacher, she noticed her strongest performers didn’t necessarily have high IQs and her students with high IQs weren’t always her strong performers. In graduate school, she began studying what differentiates those who succeed and those who give up. What she discovered is a trait she […]
If you are considering a gap year for your son or daughter, here are nine compelling reasons to pursue this great option. 1. Find your passion or determine what isn’t Sitting in a classroom isn’t the ideal place to figure out if you want to be a doctor, journalist, teacher, etc. Hands-on internships or volunteer […]
Drum roll, please. It’s that time of year again: Make It Better’s Best of 2016 survey has arrived! Each year, we ask you — our valuable audience — to vote for your favorite businesses across different categories. This year’s survey is designed to find the best in Arts & Entertainment, Beauty, Celebrations, Dining, Fitness & […]
Mother’s Day brunch? A fabulous dinner? A day at the spa? Shopping to your heart’s content? Special events just for Mom? We’ve got you covered! Whether you’re looking for a traditional Mother’s Day buffet or a Mother’s Day tea, a weekend golf package, a painting party or a day of pampering, Chicago’s North Shore Convention […]
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to find that perfect gift to either spoil Mom or make her life a little easier (or both!). Our gift guide takes the guesswork out of shopping so you’ll have more time to spend with the moms in your life (and your kiddos if you’re a […]
