How to Motivate Kids: 5 Proven Steps for Success

Wondering why your teen is on Instagram instead of studying for an upcoming test? Frustrated with a kid who spends more time playing video games than practicing for the upcoming game? Parents want their kids to reach their full potential, and sometimes it all comes down to motivation. There’s a lot of conflicting advice out […]

11 Great Parenting Podcasts to Listen to This Year

Parenting can leave one feeling lonely, full of questions, and without much free time to seek out answers. (Seriously, what overstretched parent has time to read an actual parenting book?) Thankfully, podcasts are here to help. They can be sources for stories from fellow parents who are in the same boat, and often offer valuable […]

How to Talk to Your Kids About Mass Shootings

Talking to your children about tragedies such as the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, can seem impossibly difficult, especially when you’re still grappling with questions of your own. But, in the aftermath of the Florida shooting — in which a gunman killed 17 people and injured several more — having those tough conversations is […]

Love, Chicago Style: 3 Swoon-Worthy Real Chicago Weddings

Three sets of Chicago newlyweds share the stories of their unions, adding to the patchwork of personal, beautiful, and truly unforgettable ways our city’s sweethearts say I do. Natalie Stone and Caleb Pearson Chicago Botanic Garden, Aug. 26, 2017 When the universe sends you a sign, you take note — and if you don’t? No […]

Where to Party Like It’s 2018

New Year’s Eve is a weird mix of wishful thinking and hard, cold reality. Wishful thinking: You’re going to have the best time of your life tonight because it’s New Year’s Eve and that’s how it works. Just stand there and good things will magically happen. Reality: You forgot to book a reservation/make plans/do any […]

11 Ways to Go Green With Your Gift Wrapping

This holiday season, consider giving the gift of sustainability. According to the EPA, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, household waste can increase by more than 25 percent. And between food waste, ribbons and bows, packaging, and shopping bags, this can mean a 1 million ton increase in landfills. Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice […]