It’s Monday morning and the neighbor’s landscaping crew is at it. Again. The imposing whir of mowers and blowers penetrate the air until finally, it stops. Bird song returns but clouds roll in. Just as the downpour begins, another neighbor’s sprinkler system announces its morning cycle with a sputtering shush. Water runoff gushes toward the […]
For Make It Better’s spring fashion photo shoot for our special “Water”-themed March/April issue, we asked the Fellows family of Chicago to help us showcase spring fashion for the whole family using the spectacular backdrop of Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. Jon and Valencia Fellows live in Chicago with their children, McKenna, 12, and Jaden, 10, who attend […]
The past five or six years have seen an explosion of credit cards that offer rewards. An entire genre of rewards-focused bloggers has sprung up, new credit card offers get covered by dozens of websites, and, in general, consumers are far more savvy about free travel and cash rewards than they were a decade ago. […]
Interactive food stations are a fun party trend that allow guests to create their own, perfect-for-them dessert. If you’re planning a wedding, baby shower or philanthropic event, treat your guests to a s’mores bar from A Dash of Joy. This Chicago-based dessert bar company has been around since 2015, when they began offering customizable cupcake bars, […]
Beauty products help women feel more beautiful, but wouldn’t it be nice if they also helped women feel like they were making a difference with each swipe of blush or application of lotion? Here are eight skincare and cosmetics companies that donate a portion of their proceeds to various philanthropies. Burt’s Bees We’re a sucker […]
Illinois has 1,431 townships. It had 1,432 until 2014, but the City of Evanston and its voters went through the process of dissolving the township and consolidate services elsewhere. Because of the state’s ballooning deficit, bills are pending in the state legislature that would make it easier for other communities to eliminate their townships. It […]
How is it a universal truth that every closet is bursting at the seams, but its owner is consistently left with nothing to wear? Cliché as this may be, this quandary is far and away the most common wardrobe stylists encounter. With a new season approaching and bombardments of floral frocks, it may seem logical […]
Imagine an all-you-can-eat buffet that offers only meat. No veggies. No fruit. Not even water. Would you go? Probably not. This is how pollinators see your landscape, particularly if it appeals to only one type of pollinator. Whether your yard is a work in progress or you have an established landscape, a few simple plant […]
Whether you’re on the hunt for that perfect gift or simply want to treat yourself, here are a few of our favorite things. The best part? Each of these products and the companies that make them are contributing to making the world a little bit better in their own important ways. Kammok Firebelly Trail Quilt Outdoor adventurers will […]
With 150 million monthly users, there’s a good chance you’ve used Pinterest. Whether you’re looking for an easy recipe for dinner, fashion trends, craft ideas, wedding inspiration or fun ways to pay it forward, Pinterest is there to help. In January, The Economic Club of Chicago welcomed Pinterest Co-Founder and CEO Ben Silbermann at their third […]
