By now, you’re probably making your list and checking it twice. Before you finish buying gifts for the little ones in your life, check out these popular playthings that we scoped out at the recent Chicago Toy & Game Fair at Navy Pier, one of the country’s biggest toy trade shows. Our list includes a […]
Parenting teenagers requires a delicate balance of giving kids increasing amounts of freedom and independence while still being hands-on enough to help them navigate the real world. That proposition is complicated, and even more so when it comes to teens and their technology. To help you navigate this tricky new terrain, we asked experts for […]
There are all kinds of cookies on the market: those in the store bakery that tempt you while the deli slices your turkey, the shelves full brand-name packages with ingredients you can’t pronounce, and even logs (conveniently chilled next to the milk) that you can slice for a quick fix. But, armed with some easy-to-make […]
According to a recent Gallup poll, 96 percent of Americans rank family as the most important thing in their lives. So what’s the secret to making family life fantastic? It’s not as hard as you might think! Here are 10 simple, silly suggestions that you can easily fold into your routine starting today. 1. EnJOY one […]
Your holiday to-do list seems never-ending. But, all it takes is a few minutes at your computer (or perhaps one afternoon with your kids) to make the holiday season much brighter for your neighbors in need. Here are three of the simplest ways you can make a difference this month. 1. Fulfill a Hospitalized Child’s […]
Getting ready for your next holiday party becomes fun again when you have a little help. Visit any of these salons with dress and jewels in tow and your hair, nails and face will soon be picture-perfect to match. Relax before the big event, and let these professionals give you a Cinderella makeover. You won’t […]
When choosing holiday gifts for kids, don’t forget the fine print. Great books can provide hours of entertainment during cold weather and weeks off school. Updating your pre-schoolers storytime library? Consider new titles like “Skippyjon Jones Snow What” (Dial Books for Young Readers), “Happy Holidays Ladybug Girl!” (Penguin Books) and “The Book with No Pictures” […]
This year for Hanukkah, light a menorah that brings new meaning to the Festival of Lights. At Chicago’s Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, you can marvel at (and shop!) a new exhibit titled “Reinventing Judaica,” featuring traditional Jewish ceremonial objects designed to inspire a deeper understanding of their symbolic significance created by Evanston-based […]
Cozying up to a roaring fire sounds eco-friendly, in theory. After all, what’s a more natural fuel source than wood? Turns out, burning wood is really inefficient if you’re dealing with old fireplaces and woodstoves, which lose much of their heat through the chimney. Inefficient fires also produce excess smoke, which is not so hot […]
Mary Ostyn has 10 kids, six of whom have been adopted. The author of “Forever Mom: What to Expect When You’re Adopting” and her husband, John, adopted two boys from Korea and four girls from Ethiopia, and they’re one of many families in the U.S. who have adopted. According to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption […]
