Fitness

Strength at Every Stage

How small intentional movements create big change, one transformational step at a time. Article by Patti Noble | Photography by Sharmila Taylor When Tracy Eberhardt Izquierdo opened a fitness studio in Algonquin in May 2024, she wasn’t simply launching a business—she was stepping boldly into the second half of her life with intention, courage, and a renewed sense of self.  Her studio isn’t just a boutique gym; it’s part of a national movement called Pvolve, a functional-fitness franchise built...

Health + Wellness

Wander into Winter

From wooded paths to paved streets, enjoy Crystal Lake’s best spots for staying active this season. Article by Patti Noble | Photography by David Bradburn When winter settles over Crystal Lake, the world takes on a quieter kind of beauty inviting you outside – offering a refreshing dose of movement and scenery.  Whether you're a runner, a snowshoer, or someone who just wants a peaceful walk, our community is full of places to explore. Veterans Acres & Sterne’s Woods A beloved local...

Food + Beverage

Picky Little Eaters; Feeding the Gut

A colorful plate is the key to a healthy gut microbiome, and a strong immune system for fighting winter sniffles Article and Photography by Klaudia Burian Basil Berries and Toast   Ingredients: 2 slices favorite grainy bread (lots of seeds adds plant variety) 1 ripe avocado ½ c chopped fresh basil 2 perfectly soft boiled eggs 1 cup chopped organic baby power greens 3 crushed raw walnuts 1 T. olive oil 1 T. honey ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional) Salt and pepper Handful fresh organic...

Health + Wellness

Changing the Game

How One Sheriff’s Office Is Reimagining Wellness, Leadership, and Legacy Article by Klaudia Burian In an era when health and wellness are becoming central pillars of workplace culture, Sheriff Robb Tadelman  discusses what genuine, structural well-being can look like inside public service. As a health and wellness coach, I sat down with him for a conversation, rooted in vision and lived experience, highlighting how organizations support their people from hiring through retirement. I began...

Style + Beauty

The Drip Difference

More than a med spa, a place where medicine feels personal again Article by Katie Bobrow | Photography by Ayaka Sano When you walk into Drip IV Nutrition & Aesthetics Clinic in McHenry, you can feel immediately that this is not corporate medicine. It’s warm, inviting, relaxed. No sterile lights. No rushed greetings. Instead, you’re met with easy smiles, hellos from behind softly lit counters, and the calm energy of a place built to make people feel better from the inside out. That feeling is...

Life + Culture

What Matters Most

A warm reflection on first responder holiday traditions that keep their hearts close to home. Article by Klaudia Burian | Photography by David Bradburn In a charming historic midwestern town, with Main Street and a train running through it, neighbors and window shoppers saunter about town, and relish in the magic of the season. Or take a walk past timeless established lakeside homes noticing warm scenes taking place inside the deeply loved and cared for dwellings along the way. December brings...

Life + Culture

Capturing Community Through Their Lens

How two local visual artists bring heart, friendship and connection to everything they create Article by Patti Noble | Photography by David Bradburn & Sharmila Taylor Each month, we introduce our readers to individuals who help define our community.  Sharing a person’s story so that it may inspire, validate, uplift, or relate to others is one of the greatest joys of my work. As someone who values connection and relatability, this month’s feature is especially meaningful to me because I have...

Life + Culture

Home for the Holidays

College breaks and rediscovering what home means Article by Katie Bobrow We’ve all been there before, either on the leaving end or the welcoming home end, maybe both. When the shape of home changes, it can feel complicated. The house looks the same, but the rhythm of it has shifted. The rooms that once held daily routines now hold memories, and when everyone returns under one roof for the holidays, it takes a moment to find that groove again. But change, while sometimes bittersweet, can also...

Life + Culture

Kindred Spirits

Veterans and Wild Mustangs Rebuilding Together Article by Katie Bobrow | Photography by Sharmila Taylor Some people, some places, you just know are special. It’s in the way they speak with sincerity, the way they make you feel the moment you arrive. There’s a place like this in Bull Valley, Illinois. Operation Wild Horse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by Patti Gruber and her assistant director, Megan Townsend. On a blazing August day, I had the opportunity to visit. The winding, tree-lined drive...

Home Services

No is Just an Option

How resilience turned setbacks into sparks of innovation Article by Patti Noble | Photography by Sharmila Taylor For some, the word “no” feels final—a slammed door, a dead end. For Scott Grafer, it has always been something else entirely. To him, “no” is simply a detour, a signal that the timing isn’t right just yet. His life and career are living proof that setbacks are often the first step to something greater.  Scott has always loved the problem-solving side of work and became known for...