When Should You Let Your Teen Wear Makeup?

With the countless number of makeup lines, innovative beauty products and addictive YouTube makeup tutorials, it seems now more than ever, teens are fascinated with the beauty industry and love trying out new looks on themselves. But, at what age is it really appropriate to wear makeup and how much makeup should your teen be […]

15 Stunning Wedding Inspiration Instagram Accounts

All brides need a little bit of inspiration for their upcoming nuptials and Instagram is a fabulous resource. We’ve selected some of the most visually stunning Instagram accounts brides-to-be should be following. 1. Martha Stewart Weddings A photo posted by Martha Stewart Weddings (@martha_weddings) on Oct 23, 2015 at 10:27am PDT 2. Carats & Cake […]

What People Who Are Grieving Really Need

Losing a loved one, be they family or friend, is a hellacious experience. Your brain is foggy with grief, and at the same time there are veritable mountains of truly important decisions to be made. Not an ideal combination. Having a support system to rely on — be it friends bearing casseroles or a trusted […]

Stay-at-Home Dad Sets the Record Straight About Full-Time Parenting

Ah, the eight-hour workday. You wake before the sun and run to your train, festering in filmy sweat-stank slacks, only to arrive at work and endure pointless meetings, invasive cubicles and crowded deli counters until 5 o’clock rolls around. And, all that while, the sweat-stank slacks crystallize to such a degree that your pleated trousers […]

4 Awesome After-School Programs for Creative Kids

Sports often seem to dominate the conversation when it comes to extracurricular activities for kids. But, what about the kids who want to exercise their creative and cognitive muscles? Turns out, there are some really cool after-school opportunities for school-aged children to build, dream, express – and do. Here are a few of our favorites […]

Why (and How) to Hire a Wedding Planner

A wedding to plan. Ideally, those words elicit joy. “Hip hoorah! Yes! A wedding to plan!” But also, this opportunity can (and should) trigger concerns. Most weddings are expensive and complicated. The average cost of a Chicago wedding in 2014 was $50,000, according to a study by The Knot. The average cost of weddings in North […]

Considering Buying a Car for Your Teen? Read This First!

In what seems like the blink of an eye, children go from being precious cargo to being (literally) in the driver’s seat. There are few parental decisions that have the magnitude of deciding what kind of car your teen will drive, especially given that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 14-18 […]

The Critical Thing You Should Do Before Your Kids Turn 3

Dana Suskind, M.D., Professor of Surgery and Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program at the University of Chicago, recently presented her findings in the area of child learning and development at a Family Action Network (FAN) program at Skokie School. Her insights and advice are important for all parents and caregivers of young children. Curiosity […]

Is Your College Senior Prepared for the Job Market?

Did you do a jig when your son or daughter was accepted to college? Excited for their future and yours? Fast forward a few short years, graduation is on the horizon, and you find yourself asking, “What will my soon-to-be college graduate do with his or her degree?” “Is she prepared to face the job […]

My Husband Left His Law Firm to Sell Pot

When my husband called from work last August to announce he was going to quit his steady job to pursue his dream of starting a business, I wish I could say I was entirely supportive. That there wasn’t a pit in my stomach at the thought of him sacrificing his stable law career to work […]