2015 Gift Guide: Fitness

Blending practicality, style and fun, these fitness gifts are sure to be a hit for the cardio junkie on your list. 1. PROlite: Just right for the yogi-on-the-go, the PROlite mat is non-slip, comfortable and lightweight for traveling. $80, Manduka 2. HOKA ONE ONE Challenger ATR: For the avid runner who isn’t deterred by wintry conditions, […]

5 Ways to Relax During the Holidays

Hoping to chase away the winter blues or holiday stress? Research shows that being outdoors in natural surroundings triggers a variety of health benefits. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, you can find peace, joy and inspiration in the simple sight of a sunny yellow pine warbler on a fir tree or a long-eared owl puffing […]

2015 Gift Guide: Tech

There are always new tech products making waves, and this year is no exception. Find picks here that every techie (and parent, teen, friend) on your list will love. 1. Chelsea Carry-All: This vegan leather carry-all from Vintage Nest is a great gift for the techie on the go. It fits most tablets and can be […]

2015 Gift Guide

The holidays are magical … and stressful. Between family dinners and school recitals, we could all use a little help whenever possible. That’s where our 2015 Gift Guide comes in. We’ve already done the research so you’ll know exactly what to get everyone on your list — kids, teens, guys, even pets. Plus, you’ll find […]

2015 Gift Guide: Foodies

Satisfy your foodie’s wish-list cravings with these sweet treats. 1. Cooking Class at The Social Table: Sign up for public or private three-hour cooking classes. Dinner themes include country supper, Italian table and French Bistro. The sessions are kept small and are held nightly. Starts at $75 per person, The Social Table 2. Monogrammed Copper Mugs: These mugs are handcrafted […]

Helicopter Parents: You Need to Get a Life

If parenting is a pendulum slowly swinging through decades of prevailing trends, it might have just reached the pause — before it sways back away from the current standard of over-parenting. At least that’s what Julie Lythcott-Haims hopes, as the author highlighted at a recent Family Action Network event. As Stanford’s former dean of freshmen […]

Couples Counseling Before the Wedding? Why Experts Say Yes!

We’ve all seen those hard-to-watch (yet hard-to-look-away) “Bridezilla” moments on wedding reality TV. Brides and grooms freaking out on film over everything from escalating wedding costs to where to strategically seat certain family members to battles over linen colors may make for good TV. But, in real life, these types of serious breakdowns in communication […]

Not-So-Perfect Weddings: Stories From Our Readers

My father needed to be at the county clerk’s office in beautiful South Bend, Indiana by 4 p.m. to pick up his marriage license. The only problem — he had forgotten the pearl necklace he was giving my mom as a wedding present. After doubling back to Chicago for the necklace, he tried to make up […]

Top 10 Gifts Under $100

Not sure where to begin with your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping? We’ve chosen our 10 top gifts from Shop For Good that at $100 or less are easy on the wallet and sure to please even the pickiest on your list. 1. Key to Key Chain, $32 Gift a loved one the Key to Success or the Key to Happiness with […]