Millions of people around the country have been sheltering-in-place for about a month and are more intimate than ever with all aspects of their homes. These restrictions have given rise to many old-timey hobbies, including puzzles and coloring, but they’ve also led to a bigger interest in the natural world just outside. On the neighborhood […]
If you have ever wanted to grow healthy foods in your backyard, here is your chance. Smart Gardener, an online service that makes it easy to plan the perfect garden, is now introducing Smart Backyard. Smart Backyard works with you to create a one of a kind backyard garden full of your favorite food. […]
With gas prices pushing $5 a gallon in the Chicago area, Earth Day is a great time to start teaching your children the importance of conservation and care for the planet. Celebrated on April 22 this year, Earth Day began in the 1970s in Wisconsin as a simple “teach-in” day. By 1990, it was […]
Ask any woman—it could be 14-hour work days or 14 trips back and forth to a child’s golf camp—we could all benefit from a few minutes of solid meditation. The practice is good for the body and the soul, accomplishing everything from boosting the immune system to relieving stress and promoting better sleep. To truly […]
With all the rain (not to mention my wallet’s dearth of dinero), I just haven’t done a lot of entertaining out in my backyard this summer. You too? Well, heck, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet. Let’s do something about this. After getting your guest list together and before pulling out your favorite recipes, […]
During the summer, the only place we want to be on a beautiful evening is outside. Our yards—once as barren and frigid as the Artic tundra—are lush, green and inviting. Of course we want to entertain out there. But throwing a party in a kid zone can be tricky. It’s tough to work around […]
