FourSidedENJOY, an Urban General Store As Mother’s Day gets closer, we wanted to highlight the plethora of unique boutiques Chicago offers! Beyond the usual retail giants, Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods boast charming, independent boutiques, each with its own style and handpicked gift selection. Whether you seek exquisite jewelry, artisanal home décor, or a custom-made fashion piece to convey heartfelt gratitude, shopping locally in Chicago adds a personal touch to your Mother’s Day present while supporting the city’s creative community. Let’s explore some of Chicago’s most popular places to ..read more

Chicago has so many wonderful options for afternoon tea service, and I’m lucky enough to have tried quite a few over the years! Whether you’re looking to celebrate the holidays, Mother’s Day, or other special occasions, these beautiful restaurants are open year-round and change their menus seasonally. Here’s The Chicago Good Life Guide to Chicago’s Best Afternoon Teas! LondonHouse LondonHouse Chicago (Loop) is a gorgeous hotel on the river that offers daily tea service this Spring from 12 pm-3 pm. This is a modern tea with great views and is priced at $90 per person. We love LH! The Lobby at ..read more

It’s spring in Chicago, hooray! And with the nicer weather comes flowers, patio weather, and Mother’s Day! I’ve put together a list of online gifts and now, I want to talk about my favorite gifts: events and experiences! Here’s a round-up of my picks for celebrating Mother’s Day in Chicago! P.S. If a mom sent this blog to you, Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12, 2024. Beauty & Spas There’s nothing like a spa day to pamper mom! All we want is someone else to care for us for a little while! Here are some of my favorite salons and spas.  AIRE Ancient BathsFace FoundrieNOW Massage AIRE Anc ..read more

The Unwaste Shop in the West Loop In celebration of Earth Day, I want to make sure you know about these three zero waste and eco-friendly shops in Chicago! Here’s how it works: bring your jars and containers from home or borrow one from the store, weigh your container and mark the weight, pick out what you want (detergent, shampoo, spices, etc.), and pay for only the product you took. Each of these stores has a real sense of neighborhood community judging by how many regulars seemed to pop in during our visits. Some customers donate their own containers and tote bags, and at least two of thes ..read more

Chicago has some of the best farmer’s markets around the city! There are quite a few I really like that aren’t as crowded and are on Sundays or even during the week. I organized the markets by day of the week and included their address! Their IG, Facebook accounts or websites are also linked if they have one! Double-check before you go because sometimes their hours change weekly. Enjoy some fresh produce and treats from Chicago Farmer’s Markets! Mondays Edgewater – 5917 N Broadway. Mondays, 3pm – 7pm. Jun. 3-Sep 2024. The market has gotten bigger and will take up the entire Broadway Armory p ..read more

In 2019, we took our first family trip to Lollapalooza and to our surprise, absolutely loved it. Kids under 10 years are free and at the time, Mila was 6 months and Noah was 3 years old. There is a big Kidzapalooza area, which is family-friendly with lots to do. There’s a big kid’s area with a kid’s stage, performers, instruments, etc. Tattoos, face painting, photo booths, and more. All are included in an adult ticket. Even air-conditioned bathrooms! Last year, the kids even decorated and personalized their own backpacks. Here are some things that made the entire experience at Lollapalooza rea ..read more

One question I frequently receive is about the best hotel pools in Chicago. As spring break and summer are on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to present the official Chicago Good Life indoor hotel pool guide! Have you heard of Swimply and Resort Pass? Swimply is like an Airbnb for pools, allowing you to book private pool spaces by the hour. Search by town and filter by indoor pool, hot tub, etc, to see what’s available near you! Meanwhile, Resort Pass is all about the daycation. You can browse by city and amenities to find hotels near you that offer day passes and discounted rates. For ..read more

Road trip season is officially here! Here is a list of great Chicago road trips you can do a day or long weekend. Many of these make family trips and a weekend couples trip, all 6 hours or less from Chicago. If you are looking for some road trip essentials like travel pool toys and things to keep kids entertained on trips, you can see my shopping guide here! Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota Although this might be a short flight away, I know many people who have driven it. We just did Mall of America in Minnesota and it’s like Vegas – but for kids. There is SO much to do. Not only is the ..read more

There’s SO much going on in the city right now, so if you’re planning a Spring Break staycation and feel overwhelmed, here’s The Chicago Good Life approved guide! Our great city has it all – gardens, zoos, professional children’s theatre, world-class museums, and tons of kid-centric play spaces! Let me know if this was helpful and if you’ve found anything else worth checking out!  Gardens and Outdoors Chicago has tons of great green space! My favorite kid-friendly parks to visit are these: Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park Palmisano Park in Bridgeport Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chin ..read more

Throughout the month of March, Chicago hosts numerous women-focused events throughout the month to honor badass women from Chicago and beyond! There are things to do like visiting landmarks like Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and supporting local women-owned businesses including restaurants, cocktail bars like BIPOC queer owned Nobody’s Darling, boutiques, and checking out independent bookstores like Women and Children First Bookstore. Check out recommended events below! CHICAGO MARCH EVENTS Rooftop patio at AlmaHappy hour at AlmaWomen’s History Month event March 9th Girl Heaven at The Second ..read more