Chicago Tribune
How to (peacefully) sell vacation property after a death in the family
Four years ago, Paige Hansen’s grandmother died unexpectedly, leaving her three grown children (Hansen’s mother, aunt and uncle, all in southwest suburban Chicago) two ski condos in Colorado. “It was where the family had vacationed together,” Hansen said. The...
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What should you do if your purse is stolen or goes missing?
I am sitting in a Starbucks in downtown Chicago, wrapping up a work meeting. I reach down for my purse. I’d wedged it between my foot and the wall. It is no longer there. “Where’s my purse! Where is it!” I leap to my feet and thrust my head under the table. No purse....
Visiting tips for dog owners and their guests during the holidays
Even if you're looking forward to visiting relatives this holiday season, you may not be happy about visiting their dog. How can you make your entry through a relative's front door more joyful and less jump-filled? There are 78 million pet dogs in the country,...
Tips to save time and money in the kitchen
Time, money, and wits are your resources. Better meals are your goal. These back-pocket tips can power up your culinary game to make you a faster, smarter cook. Cookies at the ready Make cookie dough, scoop into balls and freeze in a single layer on a parchment-lined...
Taking a chance on the rest of your life
There is not much time left. You may be 50, or 64 or 32 when it hits you in the gut that life is finite and if you're going to make a contribution to this world, you'd better start making it. Fiona MacLeod on top of Ben Nevis in Scotland, Britain's tallest mountain....
Raising a teen son? How to talk to him when he’s not motivated
Know any teen boys who do just enough to get by? Who have time for YouTube but not homework or household chores? Who aren’t in real trouble, just disengaged? An “opt out” teen is like a Chinese finger trap: the harder you push, the more he’ll resist, says Adam Price,...
Prepper movement, while not mainstream, no longer just for doomsday outliers
The prepper movement, while not mainstream, is no longer just the province of outliers holed up in doomsday bunkers. (Wolfgang Kumm / picture-alliance / dpa) 'I wouldn't call myself a survivalist, just a realist," says "Craig," a financial analyst in Cincinnati....
Male anorexia often goes undiagnosed, untreated
Eighteen months ago, Alex Levy, then 19, fell while rock-climbing, injuring his foot. He was midway through freshman year at college in California. Levy loved to hike, cycle and run. He played Ultimate Frisbee on a school team. The foot injury didn't only snap bones...
Magic diets don’t change behavior. Tips to lose, keep off weight
A couple of pounds here, a few more there. Weight gain for Matt Baretich, a biomedical engineer in Loveland, Colo., was insidious but steady. By his early 60s, he weighed 300 pounds. "As I approached that number, I was aghast and began to stagger back from the brink,"...
How to manage your wedding seating chart
When the wedding guest list is done, venue chosen and ceremony planned, one touchy task remains: assigning seats for the reception meal. Don't wait until crunch time to begin, wedding planners say. And don't throw up your hands and not do it at all. "Walking into a...
How to enhance your self-confidence
Job interview? Sales pitch? Big date? How you see the situation can affect how it goes. Psychologists know that when you change how you perceive a challenging situation, how you present it to yourself, your performance can improve. No need to feed yourself pep talk or...
Help children embrace wonders of science
Most parents read to their children daily. Make science part of everyday life, too, says Asia Citro, former science teacher and author of "The Curious Kid's Science Book: 100+ Creative Hands-On Activities for Ages 4-8" (The Innovation Press). Science is creative, and...
Don’t worry, be hygge: The cozy Danish trend perfect for winter
Hygge, a Danish concept that rolls up a sense of belonging, relaxation and enjoyment into one simple word, is the latest trend to promise happier homemaking. Here are some items to bring hygge to your everyday life. Hygge, a Danish concept that rolls up a sense of...
Busy mom shares easy make-ahead breakfast ideas
As fast as a Pop-Tart? More filling than an energy bar? Definitely cheaper than the drive-thru. This back-to-school season, discover make-ahead, packable breakfasts. "I don't remember the last time I ate breakfast sitting at a table," says Kelsey Sprowell, an account...
Best friend for hire? It’s a real thing, and participants say, don’t judge
He was 67, a former race-car driver living in a retirement community. She was 23, vibrant and attractive, happy to listen to stories of past glory. It’s not what you think. Her name is Tara, she lives in Los Angeles and she’s available to be your best friend — in a...
Ask yourself the real reason you want to lose weight
We know how to lose weight: reduce calories and increase movement. Yet we don't do it. Or if we do, we gain it back. What's missing is your answer to why you want to lose, says Dr. Holly Wyatt, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado...
Don’t be that guest: Lake house etiquette tips from the pros
Wait, what? No soy milk?! Expressing dismay at the larder is one faux pas that otherwise well-meaning folks make when staying in someone else’s vacation home. There are a handful of things hosts would like you to know as the season of sun, sand, and surf rolls in —...
In-law bylaws: Keys to becoming a great mother- and father-in-law
Congratulations! Your daughter or son is engaged. Now, are you ready to navigate your future role as a father- or mother-in-law? First, tattoo this on your brain: Don't tell your son- or daughter-in-law what to do. "Learn to bite your tongue," says Teresa Vendetti of...
Baby boomers, are you fit for everyday life?
Old age isn't what it used to be. "Our expectations have changed from dying at 75 to living well into our 90s and even to 100," says Robin Robertson, a gym owner and trainer in Bellingham, Wash., who specializes in fitness for those 55 and older. "We could all use...
What does a dog really cost?
You'll have to buy kibble, a collar and a leash. That, plus the upfront cost of a new pup, pretty much covers it, right? Not quite. Most new pet owners grossly underestimate what it actually costs to own a dog, say Wisconsin veterinarians Race Foster and Marty Smith,...
How to make better coffee at home, plus the best makers for the job
It's remarkable that a simple seed can contain such depth and breadth of flavor. Like the coffee bean, Jessica Easto’s book "Craft Coffee: A Manual" (Agate Publishing, $19.95) dives deep and reaches wide as it teaches consumers how to improve their daily cup. Coffee,...
