Best of North Shore Web

Talented and passionate people live all over the Chicago area and they’re prolific bloggers. Here are some of our favorites.

Creativity, Art and Photography

janefultonalt.blogspot.com/
Jane Fulton Alt is a fine art photographer in Evanston who has exhibited her work widely. Photography buffs will find inspiration in her blog, “On Life, Love and the Creative Process,” such as the photo essay “Crude Awakening” she created to raise awareness for the gulf oil spill.

Cooking and Food

spatulatta.com
A James-Beard-award-winning website by two ‘tween girls in Evanston and their families, this site is a great resource for kid friendly recipes, and recipes the whole family can cook together! There are videos, as well as links to current article on cooking, health, nutrition and kitchen safety.

worldplates.wordpress.com
Featured in our Mama’s Gotta Have It kitchen appliance story, Amy Miller writes about and photographs eclectic dishes from her everyday life. She’s an avid cook who spent many years living in Italy.  

italianamericancook.com
A blog of classic Italian recipes and Italian-American culture in Chicago by Make It Better contributor Patty Lamberti of Chicago.

lazycookcrazycook.com
The “Lazy Cook Crazy Cook ” concept is the brainchild of Lazy Cook Dr. Cathy Kapica and Crazy Cook Liz Barrett, comparing the ideas, recipes, tips and techniques of someone who hates to cook but does so occasionally to eat well, with someone who loves to cook and does it for fun and entertainment. Barrett is a Make It Better contributor.

imadedinner.net
The creative culinary explorations of Spanish teacher and Make It Better contributor Mara Rosenbloom of Hoffman Estates.

Cool New Products

thenextbigzing.com
Mom Dhana Cohen of Deerfield founded her own product-review site so that she could share her famous gift recommendations with a wider audience.

Family Life and Motherhood

fortyfabulous.blogspot.com
The 40s are the best decade ever, according to Make it Better “Sex in the Suburbs” columnist Marjie Killeen, who will definitely make you laugh with her blog.

pullupachair.org
Tribune reporter and Wilmette resident Barbara Mahany shares wisdom gleaned from everyday suburban life in this thoughtful and often moving blog.

Fashion and Life

writing4dummies.blogspot.com
Make It Better contributor Laura Tiebert, a married mom with two young sons, has authored several Chicago guidebooks and Dummies books. Follow her through her fashion experiments and other adventures.

Gap Year

newlifetravel.tv
Dissatisfied with his corporate life, this 20-something from the North Shore is taking a year off to bike across Asia.

Health and Wellness

healthywithhart.com/
Local radio personality and Make It Better contributor Kathy Hart focuses on healthy living through diet, alternative medicine and eco-friendly options.

healthykidsideas.com/
Find healthy recipes and tips for feeding your kids right, from friends of the Winnetka-based nonprofit Nurture, which provides cooking classes and supplies to low-income families.

TheDecadeofShe.blogspot.com/
A Ph.D. nutrition scientist and mother of 3 daughters offers health and wellness tips.

hyperhidrosisandme.com/blog-2/
This isn’t a sexy topic, but some people actually have a medical condition that causes them to sweat excessively. If you’re one of these people, this blog will show you you’re not alone!

Home Décor and Design

strangeclosets.com
A design blog about people, Strange Closets features weekly home tours, interviews with artists/designers and a guide to Chicago's grooviest design shops. And the groovy guy behind this blog is Make It Better’s own, Tate Gunnerson.

thesnoopster.com
Inspiration, ideas and finds for your Chicago home, by former editor of the Chicago Tribune’s House & Home Section and Make It Better contributor Elaine Matsushita.

confessionsofateardown.com
Starting from scratch, building their dream, Kiki Luthringshausen and her husband are literally tearing it down and starting over. Follow their ups and downs.

thejewelboxhome.com
How to decorate, entertain and live happily in a small house.

Homeschooling

ordinary-time.blogspot.com
A blog about parenting a large family and home schooling. Witty and wise, this blog answers every question from why you would home school to how parents of large families keep it all together.

Infertility Struggles

infertilityrollercoaster.com
Support for men and women going through infertility struggles by Iris Walcher, a social worker whose daughter was conceived through infertility treatment.

Local News

gazebonews.com
News and stuff about Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.

livefromskokie.blogspot.com
Karen Kring lives and writes about her community of Skokie.

abetterwinnetka.org
A news blog committed to making the village of Winnetka, IL a better place.

Sandwich Generation/Aging Parent

agelessons.com
A website and blog about the big issues that boomers face raising children and helping aging parents. By Laurel Kennedy, author of “The Daughter Trap.”

Did we miss your favorite local blog? Add it to the comments section below!