Real Estate Report
patrick.oconnor@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/ patrick.oconnor
Rooted Right Here
When I moved to Crystal Lake in 2008, I didn’t yet know how deeply this community would shape my life. What began as a place to land with my, then, husband and our 9 year old son, quickly became home–the place where my kids walked to elementary school, then high school, and quickly stopped feeling like just somewhere I lived and started feeling like home.
That sense of belonging didn’t happen all at once. It grew through everyday moments—conversations at local events, cheering from the sidelines, watching businesses evolve, and getting involved in organizations. I started growing roots.
What I’ve come to love most about this community is its connectedness. The genuine sense of care. I have met friends that have become my tribe and have had the privilege to assist non-profit organizations–from board representation to event coordinating. And each experience has taught me more about the community and deepened my roots. Combined with the history of Crystal Lake is an exciting evolution. New ideas are taking shape. Art, entertainment, and culture are finding fresh ways to thrive alongside long-held traditions. It feels intentional. It feels hopeful.
This issue’s theme, Love Local, reflects that spirit perfectly. Loving local isn’t just about where you shop or dine—it’s about investing your time, your energy, and your attention right where you are. It’s about supporting the people who are shaping our community every day, whether through creativity, entrepreneurship, service, or simply showing up.
One of the things I treasure most about this magazine is the role it plays in strengthening those connections. We get to tell the stories that might otherwise go untold. We get to highlight the people who are boldly, or quietly, making a difference. In doing so, we create bridges—between readers, businesses, organizations, and ideas.
February often gets a reputation for being cold or quiet, but around here, it feels anything but. There’s warmth in the relationships, pride in what’s being built, and love in the way this community continues to grow.
Thank you for welcoming me in, for trusting us with your stories, and for continuing to show what it truly means to love local.
and Huntley.
February 2026
PUBLISHER
Steve Rogers | steve.rogers@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Patti Noble | patti.noble@citylifestyle.com
STAFF WRITER
Katie Bobrow | katie.bobrow@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Klaudia Burian, Jamie Kayser
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
David Bradburn, Sharmila Taylor
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell Learn how to start your own publication at
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Seeing Dry Eye Clearly
BURNING QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY
DR. JESSICA HEINKE OF FAMILY EYE CARE
Dry, irritated eyes are easy to dismiss. Something to blame on screen time, aging, or a long day. But for many patients, dry eye is not a fleeting discomfort; it’s a chronic, often misunderstood condition that can significantly impact vision, comfort, and daily life. At Family Eye Care Clinic in Woodstock and Lake Geneva, Dr. Jessica Heinke has built much of her practice around treating dry eye, seeing firsthand how frequently it goes undiagnosed or undertreated. Through education, careful diagnosis, and personalized treatment, she is helping patients understand that dry eye isn’t something to simply live with but something that can be managed.
WHY DR. JESSICA HEINKE WANTS PATIENTS TO TAKE THIS COMMON CONDITION SERIOUSLY
Dry eye is often dismissed as a minor inconvenience and something to be managed with over-the-counter drops or chalked up to too much screen time. But for Dr. Jessica Heinke, dry eye is anything but simple. It is a complex, chronic medical condition that can quietly erode quality of life and, when left untreated, lead to serious long-term consequences.
Dr. Heinke is the seventh optometrist in her family, continuing a legacy of eye care that spans generations. She began her career working in her father’s practice in South Carolina before relocating to Illinois, where she and her husband have family. In 2007, she opened her own practice in Woodstock, followed by a second location in Lake Geneva in 2008. Over time, her clinical focus narrowed to an area which found her, she says, rather than the other way around: dry eye disease.
“I was seeing so many cases early in my career,” she explains. “At the time, there wasn’t much research and very few treatment options. Patients were struggling, and we didn’t yet have the tools we needed to help them.”
ARTICLE BY KATIE BOBROW | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHARMILA TAYLOR
As research expanded and new therapies emerged, Dr. Heinke began to see firsthand how life-changing proper dry eye treatment could be. That experience fueled her passion, leading her to conduct her own research and publish articles on the condition. Today, dry eye is the cornerstone of her practice.
Q: DRY EYE IS OFTEN BRUSHED OFF AS A MINOR ANNOYANCE. WHY IS IT ACTUALLY A MUCH MORE SERIOUS CONDITION?
Dr. Heinke: Dry eye is a chronic inflammatory disease of the ocular surface, not just a lack of moisture. It involves dysfunction of the oil glands in the eyelids, inflammation of the surface of the eye, or inadequate tear production and most often, a combination. Because it’s chronic and progressive, it can lead to persistent discomfort, blurred vision, and a significant impact on daily life if it’s not properly treated.
Q: WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND OR MINIMIZE DRY EYE?
Dr. Heinke: One of the biggest misconceptions is that a bottle of eye drops should fix it. People think dry eye just means their eyes feel dry, when in reality it’s a problem with how the tear film functions. Healthy tears require oil, water, and mucin working together. When one part fails, the whole system becomes unstable. Dry eye is also very common, so people assume it’s “normal”, just part of aging, screen use, or the environment. Many are surprised to learn that watery eyes, blurry vision, or eye fatigue can all be signs of dry eye. Over-the-counter drops may offer temporary relief, but they don’t address underlying inflammation or gland dysfunction, which is why so many patients struggle for years without real improvement.
Q: WHEN SHOULD SOMEONE RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR SYMPTOMS ARE NO LONGER “NORMAL” AND SEEK PROFESSIONAL CARE?
Dr. Heinke: If symptoms are persistent, worsening, or interfering with daily activities like work, reading, screen use, or if
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that a bottle of eye drops should fix it. People think dry eye just means their eyes feel dry.”
“Early evaluation and treatment make a tremendous difference.
When dry eye is addressed early, it’s often easier, more effective, and far less expensive to manage. Waiting until symptoms are severe limits treatment options and long-term outcomes.”
someone feels dependent on eye drops just to get through the day, that’s a sign it’s time to be evaluated.
Q: WHY IS DRY EYE OFTEN CHRONIC, AND WHY DON’T EYE DROPS SOLVE THE PROBLEM?
Dr. Heinke: Dry eye is driven by ongoing inflammation and gland dysfunction. Artificial tears can add moisture, but they don’t fix blocked oil glands, inflammation, or reduced tear production. Without addressing the cause, the cycle continues.
Q: HOW DO YOU DIAGNOSE DRY EYE BEYOND A STANDARD EYE EXAM?
Dr. Heinke: Diagnosis drives treatment. We evaluate oil gland structure and function, tear quality and stability, signs of inflammation, tear production, corneal nerve and cell damage, exposure issues, and lifestyle factors. Many patients have more than one type of dry eye, which is why a personalized treatment plan is so important. The wrong treatment for the wrong type simply won’t work.
Q: HOW DOES DRY EYE AFFECT QUALITY OF LIFE WHEN IT’S NOT WELL MANAGED?
Dr. Heinke: Dry eye can quietly erode quality of life. Patients describe difficulty reading, avoiding night driving, struggling with screen use, and constant distraction from discomfort. It affects productivity, mood, and confidence. When your eyes are uncomfortable, everything feels harder.
Q: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO LOOK BEYOND THE EYES THEMSELVES?
Dr. Heinke: Eyes can tell a lot of stories about what’s happening with a person’s overall health. Autoimmune diseases, hormonal changes—especially around menopause—medications like antidepressants or antihistamines, and systemic inflammation can all contribute to dry eye. As optometrists, we can also detect unrelated health issues such as autoimmune disorders or even brain tumors during an eye exam.
Q: IF YOU COULD CHANGE HOW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT DRY EYE, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND?
Dr. Heinke: I want people, patients and providers, to understand that dry eye is a real, progressive medical condition. Persistent symptoms shouldn’t be ignored or delayed. Early evaluation and treatment make a tremendous difference. When dry eye is addressed early, it’s often easier, more effective, and far less expensive to manage. Waiting until symptoms are severe limits treatment options and long-term outcomes.
As both a clinician and a mother of two adult children, Dr. Heinke approaches her work with empathy and urgency. Her message is clear but hopeful: dry eye is common, but suffering doesn’t have to be. With early diagnosis, personalized care, and growing treatment options, relief is finally possible.
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Making Space for Grief
How one mother is using her lived experience to guide others through loss
ARTICLE BY PATTI NOBLE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHARMILA TAYLOR
Grief is the great equalizer. It spans social and financial status, it crosses all lines of privilege or need. It forces us into a new place that will never be the same as the old one. Grief does not arrive with instructions. It doesn’t follow a timeline, honor milestones, or soften with good intentions. It changes the shape of a life—and then asks the impossible: How do you keep living inside that new shape?
For Lisa Orris, an ordained minister by vocation, that question became painfully real on August 7, 2015, her younger son Michael's birthday, when her oldest son, Billy, then 26, died tragically in an accident. Nothing in her decades of walking alongside others prepared her for the devastation of losing her own child. The loss stripped everything down to what was raw, aching, and unfixable. What was immediately clear was that nothing would ever be “normal” again.
What Lisa discovered in the aftermath was not a path out of grief, but a way through it—one rooted in presence, honesty, and the radical permission to feel pain without trying to solve it, fix it or “recover” from it. That lived-experience would eventually spark Grief Guide , a community-based approach to grief support with a mission to normalize grief and give permission for pain in a culture that is obsessed with pleasure and averse to leaning into that which hurts.
But first, Lisa had to grapple with her own grief and beliefs.
Lisa grew up in Pittsburg, a tough steel town, where she learned to “not let them see you sweat.” Determined and driven, she wore her stoicism as a badge of honor. Until the unthinkable happened and the grief did what grief will do, it broke her wide open, leaving her vulnerable and exposed - the brick wall in a pile on the floor.
The American Psychology Association defines grief partially as: “The anguish experienced after significant loss, usually the death of a beloved person…” Lisa would add that grief is normal, natural, and a necessary human experience. Grieving people are neither broken nor damaged. They do not need “fixing.” They need a safe space to process.
She challenges the Kubler-Ross Five Stages of Grief theory as it has been interpreted. It suggests that there is a fixed amount of time, a beginning and an end to our grief. “If I can just get to the last stage, then my grief will be complete.” It unintentionally leads people to measure and judge themselves about how “well” they are managing their grief. But grief has no finish line. It ebbs and flows, and often involves yearning over bargaining and adjustment rather than acceptance.
Lisa’s mission to normalize grief is deeply intertwined with the notion that her grief, pain, and sorrow - just as any of ours - may somehow serve someone else on their journey. If her scars can be shared to ease the burdens others carry, then the loss of her son was about teaching her that suffering reveals who we really are. It burns the house to the ground and strips us bare. And if we can sift through the ashes and sit in it long enough, we can see ourselves clearly, maybe for the first time, and become more of who we are meant to be.
As Lisa walked with her grief she began to realize that her calling was to also walk with others through their grief. This led her to create Silver Lake Retreat in 2021. It began as a peaceful space of solace carved out of a small section of the basement of their home situated on a small lake in Cary. And eventually evolved to include the purchase of the house next door to be able to open the doors to more people looking for respite.
When we visited on a cold, snowy day, the serenity of the space overlooking the lake felt warm and comforting despite the temperature. There is something healing about water…even frozen. Maybe it is the way it flows freely or can be affected by the storms but find its way back to calm. Perhaps it teaches us to change with the seasons and that each can be beautiful.
Lining the stairway to this lower level of their home are photos of Billy. Smiling, happy, alive. So much life ahead, yet not meant to be. It is a reminder of the life lost and that nothing can ever be the same. Recently, as our photographer Sharmila snapped photos of Lisa sitting beside the pictures, we listened as she talked about Billy–his unrelenting passion for life, his deep faith, his fearlessness, his pride in family and desire to keep everyone close. I wondered, to myself, if somewhere in his soul he knew he had only 26 years here, so he was going to live them out loud.
Our tears flowed as Lisa said, “It has been 10 years and it still stops me in my tracks sometimes when I say, ‘Billy’s dead’.” Both Sharmila and I each have a 26 year old son. Imagining him not coming home is unbearable. Yet, there we sat with a mom who suffered just that. If I close my eyes, I can hear the raw, primal cry of a woman discovering her son is dead. Gone. Never coming home. It physically hurts my heart to contemplate that. What also struck me was that Lisa was not shaken by our tears. She has a calm, yet honest and vulnerable way about her that gives the rest of us the “permission” to be exactly where we are on our journey.
As Lisa struggled to learn how to exist every day without her son, she gained a new perspective considering the power of “and.” The idea that we can be both: heartbroken and hopeful, crying and laughing, desperate and resilient, lost and found. But while she was ready to share her wisdom with the world, the story didn’t end there.
On December 17th, 2022, just as the vision for Silver Lake Retreat was beginning to take shape, tragedy
struck again. Lisa’s daughter-in-law—the wife of her younger son, Michael—died unexpectedly.
The loss was devastating…again. It was also unbearably layered: she was the wife of the son whose birthday now carried the weight of Billy’s death. Once again, grief collapsed time and meaning, leaving nothing untouched.
Everything at home stopped while Lisa spent six months in Bismarck, North Dakota, helping her son and twin four-year-old grandsons survive the unthinkable. When she eventually returned home, what remained was grief. But what was found was a deeper clarity.
After much time contemplating by the lake, in the fall of 2023 she discovered, more deeply, her calling. It was to guide people in their grief. What she has created is not therapy, not a checklist, and not a path toward “getting over” loss. Instead, Grief Guide offers something far more rare—permission to grieve as a human being. Today, Grief Guide is “the beautiful intersection of retreats, support groups, and awareness training.”
Lisa sits beside people on their journey, without judgement, timelines, or rules. Just acceptance.
Lisa shares her story in her book, Never Apologize for Your Tears, a raw and powerful look into not just Lisa’s grief, but grief in general. It challenges our culture’s interpretation of the teaching of Christianity, but isn’t about religion. It is about a path toward grace and hope and forgiveness. Throughout, Lisa encourages us to sit in the pain, to “lament,” to question, and to not apologize for any of it. She offers Grief Practices– exercises to help us move through the pain not just pass over it or shove it down.
While we were with Lisa at her home, as if on cue, her husband of 40 years, Bill, comes flying in the door. Full of excitement, warm, and friendly. A chaplain himself, he, too, knows how to show up for people in times of need. On this particular day, he was breezing in to pick up a signed copy of Lisa’s book to give as a gift to another grieving mom who recently lost her child. When we asked him to pause to take a photo with his wife, he eagerly agreed. As they snuggled into the couch, side by side, their genuine affection and admiration for one another was palpable. When others may have broken, this couple has managed to weather the most horrific storm together. Not without bumps in the road, of course. But with grace, compassion, and commitment,
they have learned to both rely on each other and give the other space when called for.
Sometimes, when you feel like the world is closing in around you and as if you’re being swallowed up whole, a person shows up to remind you that you are not alone, that your pain matters, as well as what you do with that pain. For so many, including me, that person has been Lisa. She reminds us that “Our tears aren’t just sadness, they are love torn apart,” and grief is normal and even needed.
The universe has a way of working things out. It often presents a lifeline, a light in the darkness, a path of hope. And maybe grief is the reason we learn to live an abundant life; one that Lisa says is full of joy, sorrow, celebration, despair, and hope.
Lisa Orris is proof that out of the depths of grief, rises grace, for oneself and others, and clarity about what matters and what doesn’t. Not because you pray harder or are a “better Christian.” Not because you believe that our suffering is “so that” we learn, earn, or give something better. But because grace and clarity come from sitting in the pain. From being silent and opening our hearts and minds to the possibility that if we allow ourselves to completely fall apart, we will be okay.
ONE LOCAL SIGHT HAS MOST PEOPLE DOING A DOUBLE TAKE WHILE OTHERS JUMP FOR JOY!
A SWEET PASSION FOR FLIGHT
On a patch of land, overlooking Fox River Grove, the trees open just enough to reveal towering ski jumps. For a better part of 120 years, the Norge Ski Club has stood as a local landmark. Founded in 1905, and in operation since 1908, it is the oldest continuously operating ski club in the United States.
The club began with an unassuming group of Norwegian men living in Chicago, with a deep love for ski jumping, who traveled west in search of a place to practice their sport. They actually built small cottages on the grounds first, so they could stay on site while building their dream. And in those early years, Norge was a major attraction. Crowds poured in from Chicago and surrounding suburbs to watch tournaments, filling the hillsides with spectators.
ARTICLE BY KLAUDIA BURIAN
It’s inspiring to learn that the people behind this magical place once transformed Navy Pier into a temporary ski jump where athletes landed directly in the water. Bold and innovative moments like that continue to form the club’s path. Today, their mission remains forward-looking and rooted in service. Norge prepares athletes for Olympic-level competition while fostering athletics at the local, national, and international levels. It also emphasizes education, sportsmanship, youth development, and community engagement.
Three local siblings have spent the last decade ski jumping. Sabina Sproch, 22, shares her story about growing up on those hills. Her story is about much more than just a passion for the sport. It’s about family, resilience, and new ways to channel passion when life takes an unexpected turn.
Sabina was just ten years old when ski jumping first found her at a Polish festival in Chicago. She tried a roller jump; a dry land simulation where athletes launch themselves onto a mattress.
“The guy running it told me, ‘You’re meant to be a ski jumper.’ I remember thinking, what is ski jumping?” Her sister, only 6 years old at the time, gave it a go as well. That single moment of curiosity quickly became a life-shaping path with Olympic sized dreams. Within weeks, she was riding a bus two or three times a week to Fox River Grove to train.
For Sabina, Norge quickly became a second home. Her first time on the hill, however, was anything but graceful. “I was petrified,” she said. “It was my first time ever on skis.” So, she started on the smallest hill and quickly was whisked away on the feeling of flight. “There’s nothing like it, that moment where you’re in the air; it’s freedom.”
What made the experience even more powerful was family. Her younger sister and older brother both joined the sport, and their parents were deeply involved. Her mother, she later learned, had been a ski jumper herself in Poland; her club’s first female jumper. “She told us after we started.” Her stepfather coached, and extended family members in Poland had competed, judged, and even gone to the Olympics. Ski jumping wasn’t just a sport; it was a shared passion.
As Sabina grew older, she traveled across the US, attending elite camps like Fly Girls in Colorado and Utah. There, she trained alongside girls from around the country, working not only on technique but on nutrition, yoga, and mental strength. One of her most influential role models was Olympic ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson. “She always told us we were capable of anything, Especially as women in a sport that hasn’t always been fair, hearing that at twelve years old, it really stays with you.”
Competition days were intense and exhilarating. “I was fired up. You prepare for hours for something that lasts maybe seven seconds.”
“Seeing people travel from all over the world to the hill you train on makes you proud. And if you’re passionate about something, don’t let anyone hold you back. That passion will take you places.”
Sabina learned to focus, tuning out the crowd and pressure. “It’s surreal,” she said. “Seeing people travel from all over the world to the hill you train on makes you proud.”
When asked what she would say to a young girl curious about ski jumping, Sabina didn’t hesitate. “Try it,” she said. “If you’re passionate about something, don’t let anyone hold you back. That passion will take you places.”
At sixteen, knee injuries and surgeries forced her to step away from competition, but the lessons remain. “Ski jumping taught me to really listen to my body,” she said. “It sparked my passion for nutrition, fitness, and self-care.” Sabina remains connected to the community through coaching, attends events, stays in touch with coaches and teammates, and cheers on her sister, who continues to compete at the highest level.
Today, Sabina is the founder of Sabina’s Sweets, a home-based baking business specializing in custom desserts and traditional Polish pastries. This sweet path took her toward something deeply familiar – baking with her mother. “I wanted to help people,” she said. Her desserts carry the same intention she once brought to the hill. She creates custom dessert tables, and Polish specialties for weddings, baptisms, and celebrations, often using recipes passed down through generations.
As this story shifts from the hills of Norge to the warmth of Sabina’s kitchen, the connection is clear. The discipline, courage, and love she found in ski jumping now are part of her personal ambition and recipe for success.
THE NORGE SKI CLUB
The Norge Annual Winter Ski Jump Tournament is a fun, inspiring, and close to home weekend for the whole family. This year, the tournament runs January 31 and February 1st, Saturday 11AM – 4:00PM, and Sunday Noon – 4:00PM. The club puts on a ‘Winterfest’ with hot food and beverages from a local brewery, and features VIP access to experience the club house, and includes lunch and dessert. The days will be spent watching athletes of all ages (some as young as 6 years old) from around the country, as well as Olympic hopefuls take flight.
Don’t miss your chance to experience fresh & fun events in Lou’s Lounge... The Dole’s underground speakeasy!
Scan to view our calendar from Special Events, NMP 4 Friday’s Art Show to Farmers Market dates, & More! th in th
Love
Valentine’s Dinner & a Show is a highlight this month!
Cucina Bella is back with a scrumptious dining experience then Jack Miuccio aka “Frank Sinatra” will whisk you away to a past era!
Don’t miss this special evening in Lou’s Lounge!
Don’t miss this special evening in Lou’s Lounge! a scrumptious dining experience then Jack Miuccio aka “Frank Sinatra” will whisk you away to a past era!
Lou’s Lounge Club Membership Makes a Great Gift!
Visit Lou’s Lounge on our website for details! Lounge for
Event Calendar Valentines Dinner & Show Dinner & Show
Design. Craft. Build.
Winter may be here, but your dream outdoor space starts now.
While the snow settles and the holidays wind down, it’s the ideal time to begin planning your deck or outdoor living project. Our spring and early-summer schedule fills up fast, and starting the design process now ensures you get the perfect spot for morning coffee, summer BBQs, and latenight conversations under the stars.
From modern composite decks to custom outdoor features, we bring craftsmanship, creativity, and heart to every project—no matter the season.
Let’s turn your vision into something extraordinary. Plan today. Build tomorrow. Enjoy forever.
Local Stories. National-Level Production.
Helping Crystal Lake brands stand out — one cinematic story at a time.
DAVID BRADBURN
From Main Street to the marketplace, every brand has a story worth filming.
David Bradburn helps local businesses turn their stories into cinematic experiences — commercials, drone footage, and product showcases that look and feel as polished as national campaigns.
With a director’s eye and a storyteller’s heart, he brings authenticity, emotion, and high-end production to the brands that make our community thrive.
Handmade for Your Honey
Ways to warm your loved ones hearts this Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day, why not put your green thumb to work by making a handmade gift: a beautiful bouquet for your sweetheart. If your green thumb is a little rusty, Jenna Dedina is here to offer guidance. Since growing roots in our community at a local floral shop, she received her Horiticulture degree, and is now a Florist Manager. She is the perfect individual to guide us through the process!
Beyond the typical rose around Valentine’s Day, Jenna suggests the “big hitters for romance” which include tulips, calla lilies, and stargazer lilies. These staple flowers are in season and come in a variety of colors from white to muted magenta. Carnations are colorful, always in season, and an inexpensive go-to as a backup. Mix and match using your loved one's favorite colors.
Next you'll want to include some fillers such as “stock flowers” – tall flowery stalks, wax flowers, and monte asters, which come in many colors. Of course, there is also the
classic baby’s breath–the tiny, pure white speckles that brighten up a bouquet. Baby’s breath is especially unique because floral spray paint can transform them into any color that complements your bouquet.
You can take this flower knowledge to your local floral shop and create your best arrangement, for Valentine’s Day or ANY day. As you are shopping, try to keep in mind how the different textures can fit together, as well as the colors. Florists can be your friend when gathering your supplies and for more tips. The options are abundant, so use your imagination and add your own creative eye to curate the perfect arrangement.
When building a bouquet, staples come first, followed by the filler, and lastly, leafy greens. Start with the largest flowers in the center and work your way out, mixing in other varieties and fillers.
ARTICLE BY JAMIE KAYSER
Once you are satisfied with the bulk of your arrangement, add some leafy greenery around the collar of the vase or bouquet. Leather leaf, sword fern, and eucalyptus add fragrance and texture, for example.
Jenna's pro tips when building a healthy floral arrangement: always start with clean supplies – including the vase and scissors, cut stems at an angle, and use enough flower food in the water for the flowers to “drink”. The key is to make sure the bouquet looks full and eye-catching from any angle, making it a 360° design. As a finishing touch, try adding a ribbon around the vase or bouquet and tie with a bow.
Perhaps Jenna’s best advice is that “it takes some time to adopt the correct design techniques and habits, but for a DIY bouquet, the biggest thing to remember is to have fun with it and pour your love into it. The special person receiving the flowers you make will love them no matter what.”
Complete this sweet gesture by creating a handmade card using paper and craft supplies you have on hand, and adding some homemade tasty treats. Go it alone or host a Galentine's crafting party, and let the creative fun begin.
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Date Night
AT HOME
THREE CREATIVE IDEAS TO CELEBRATE LOVE
ARTICLE BY BAILEY HALL
Not every date night needs to involve reservations or an elaborate itinerary. With a little creativity, you can create magical moments right at home. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or just want to reconnect, here are three ideas for unforgettable at-home date nights.
Transform your backyard or balcony into a dreamy picnic spot! Spread out a cozy blanket, add a few fluffy pillows, and hang string lights or fairy lights for ambiance. A small fire pit or lanterns can also add a romantic glow.
Pack a picnic basket with finger foods and a bottle of wine or sparkling water. Don’t forget a decadent dessert like chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Lay back and stargaze, identifying constellations or making wishes on shooting stars. To make it extra romantic, bring a bluetooth speaker and play soft music.
Unleash your inner artists with one of these three fun and interactive dates. Grab some inexpensive canvases, brushes, and acrylic paints from the craft store. Don’t forget aprons or old clothes to protect against spills!
• Paint each other’s portraits for a mix of laughter and creativity.
• Work on a collaborative paintingeach person adds their own touch to a single canvas.
• Try a themed painting challenge, like recreating your favorite memory together. Pair this date with a cheese platter and wine and don’t worry about being “good’ at painting - it’s all about enjoying the process together.
Start the day with love by turning breakfast into an indulgent experience. Prepare a tray with a DIY breakfast charcuterie board. Include mini pancakes, waffles, fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, bacon, and pastries. Add small bowls of toppings like syrup, Nutella, or whipped cream.
Mix up mimosas or serve coffee with flavored syrups and whipped cream for a café vibe. Then, snuggle up in bed and watch a favorite movie or TV series.
Sabina’s Signature Kolaczkis
A unique twist on this recipe elevates a classic to a perfect balance of flavors
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY KLAUDIA BURIAN
Sabina, from this month’s article on ski jumping, takes baking to new heights. Growing up, her favorite part of this irresistible cookie was always the preserves. She always felt the ratio of cookie to preserves was off. Once she started baking, she decided to balance the ratio to her liking, and created a show-stopping masterpiece. Blending silky cream cheese with quality butter offers this light and flaky cookie a subtle sweetness, making the addition of sugar to the dough unnecessary. It feels unusual to omit sugar from a cookie. Honestly, after months of sweets, it’s a welcome departure. Sabina’s unique shape creates a perfect vessel, and once the generous dollop of a favorite preserve melts into the airy nest, the omission of sugar becomes clear. Watching this cookie evolve from start to finish is a fun and mindful baking experience you can share with a kiddo or loved one. With versatility in shapes and preserve preferences, there’s opportunity for everyone to personalize their little cookie to be exactly how they want it to be.
This recipe level is creative and easy, and it does require a little precision, patience, and a tiny spoon. There’s enough dough to make about 20 perfect little cookies, and it takes about 2 hours from start to finish. Have fun!
Ingredients:
• 1 cup high quality unsalted butter softened
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• ½ tsp almond extract
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
• 1/2 cup preserves of choice
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar to top off cookies
• Tiny spoon for preserves
• Soft paint brush
Directions:
1. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream butter and cream cheese at medium/high until smooth. Once combined, add vanilla extract.
3. Add salt and flour in 3 additions to keep the dough light and flaky.
4. Flatten and plastic wrap the dough and put in the fridge for 45 min - 1 hour.
5. Use flour to roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick, and cut out 2 inch circles. Using a smaller 1 inch cookie cutter, cut out circles (or hearts for your sweetie) for half of them to form the ring that will be placed on top of the jam.
6. With your finger or tiny paint brush, brush some water on the outer edge of the 2 inch circle and place about ½ tsp of jam in the center. Then place the ring on top making sure the jam stays in the center.
7. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until a slightly golden color.
8. Once cooled down, sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JANUARY 5TH - FEBRUARY 2ND
Groundhog Day Prognostication
Woodstock Square | 6:30 AM
Will Woodstock Willie see his shadow, or won’t he? Will we have 6 more weeks of winter or is spring right around the corner? Join in this FREE family fun event on Woodstock Square to find out. Meet and take pictures with the groundhog right after the ceremony inside the Woodstock Opera House.
JANUARY 31ST - FEBRUARY 1ST
Norge Annual Winter Ski Jump Tournament
Norge Ski Club, 100 Ski Hill Road in Fox River Grove, IL | 11:00 AM
Cheer on the Norge Ski Club athletes as they take flight, competing against the best jumpers from across the U.S.! This is an all-ages Winter Fest, so bring the family. Enjoy food from the grill, plus beverages from Wild Onion Brewery, Miller Brewing and more! Tickets start at $20. Kids under 12 are free. No pets. VIP packages available.
FEBRUARY 7TH
SUPER ROLL Pins for Independence
Kingston Lanes, 1330 Easton Drive, Woodstock | 2:00 PM
Spend your Saturday afternoon at Super Roll Bowling Fundraiser. This 21 and over, Scotch Doubles event benefits the growing needs of Independence Health & Therapy (501c3). Registration includes three games, shoes, and pizza. Plus enjoy other games, raffles, and prizes, all to support their mission to promote independence and improve lives through care, education, and advocacy. $50/person $80/couple
FEBRUARY 7TH
Galentine's - Ultimate Girl's Night Out
Quarry Cable Park, Crystal Lake | 6:00 PM
This 4th Annual 21 and over event features dancing, cocktails, shopping, and plenty of photo-worthy backdrops. A DJ will be spinning the tunes, while you sip on themed cocktails, enjoy light bites, and browse the mini market of local vendors featuring clothing, jewelry, and skincare! This is an indoor event with limited tickets, $10 admission. Tables available for purchase.
FEBRUARY 14TH
Candlelight Ski & Hike
Harrison Benwell Conservation Area, 7055 McCullom Lake Rd, Wonder Lake | 5:00 PM
Cross-country ski on trails lit only by candlelight. Skiers of every level and age are welcome - bring your own equipment. Trails with 4" or more of snow will be groomed for skiing Not enough snow? Leave the skis at home and enjoy a candlelight hike. No pets please. This is a FREE, drop-in event, sponsored by the Conservation District.
FEBRUARY 28TH
Service League Casino Night
The Dole Mansion | 7:00 PM
Embrace winter’s chill with Service League’s high-stakes Casino Night complete with roulette, craps, poker, and blackjack. Enjoy food and live music while you try your hand at a round of cards or tossing the dice! All proceeds will support Service League’s charitable mission – “To provide discreet, direct, short-term assistance to residents in our community who need immediate aid. “
