Susan Moskop

Susan Moskop is an audience engagement editor. She was previously a digital editor in the Lifestyles section and contributed articles ranging from neighborhood guides to “we tried it” type pieces. Susan graduated from Loyola University where she studied digital and visual journalism and visual communication.

If your friend brings his dog to your party, recommend that he bring toys and treats to keep the dog from being tempted by other attractions.

How to deal with a pesky pet guest without insulting the owner

June 2, 2018 at 7:53 p.m.

Q: Your friend asks permission to bring his or her dog to your party. How can you set proper boundaries for the dog without offending your friend? If possible, set...

With Google and Uber in the neighborhood, deep-pocketed millennial residents have prompted the creation of a new food and dining scene in Pittsburgh's eastern neighborhoods, writer Brandon Presser said. Among the new offerings: the Ace Hotel, which opened in an old YMCA in 2015. All of the above is making the "Steel City's reputation considerably less rusty," according to Presser.

How to tell a guest she can’t hold your baby

June 3, 2018 at 8:01 a.m.

Q: Your visitors can't wait to get their hands on your new baby, but you're concerned about passing along germs or waking the baby from a nap. How can you...

Interior of the common area at 444 Social in Lincolnshire, Ill.

High-end Chicago-area homes: Cabin in the woods or mansion by the beach?

May 20, 2019 at 1:37 p.m.

Grand rooms. Privacy. Beach proximity. These sorts of perks delight homebuyers, and they can be found in a variety of locations and configurations. Consider these million-dollar options: A hidden, cabinlike...

Everett Reynolds, a Waukegan artist, paints a mural July 12, 2018, on the Zuniga Automotive Service and Towing building on Belvidere Road. The mural aims to inspire kids "to dream big" and pays tribute to Waukegan native Ray Bradbury.

How to address your kid’s nutrition at school — without being the pesky parent

December 17, 2018 at 2:11 p.m.

Q: You're concerned about your child's eating habits at school. How can you communicate nonmedical concerns with the teacher without sounding like a pesky parent? Schedule a face-to-face conversation with...

Two town homes under $700,000 offer vertical living or verdant landscaping

May 20, 2019 at 3:09 p.m.

Town homes have at least one thing in common — their walls. They're usually narrow buildings with adjoining sides, two or more floors and an aesthetic to call their collective...

How can you gracefully ask a borrower to pay you back?

How to ask for money that is owed

June 3, 2018 at 1:17 p.m.

Q: It's the end of the month, and you're taking a look at your finances and realize you lent out money without ever getting repaid. How can you gracefully ask...

When a friend presents you with alcohol, simply say, "No, thank you" with firmness, one expert says.

How to decline a drink

June 3, 2018 at 5:25 p.m.

Q: You're cutting back on calories, expecting a baby or just don't have a taste for alcohol, but your friends insist you have a drink with them. How can you...

How can you minimize small talk when you're riding in an UberPool or Lyft Line??

How to dodge small talk during a shared ride

June 3, 2018 at 7:49 p.m.

Q: You're riding in an UberPool or Lyft Line and a fellow rider or driver is talking your ear off. How can you minimize the small talk? Be upfront, and...

Even if you miss an RSVP deadline, it might not be too late to attend. But you must reach out to the host right away.

You missed an event’s RSVP deadline. Now what?

June 3, 2018 at 7:08 p.m.

Q: Although you have every intention of attending an event, the deadline to RSVP came and went with no response from you. How should you communicate this to the host?...

2 multimillion-dollar homes come with mind-blowing perks

May 20, 2019 at 3:09 p.m.

Buyers willing and able to shell out seven figures on a living space likely want nothing less than a complete dream home. Lavish finishes, castlelike exteriors and massive acreage come...

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