We created Family Living Today over four years ago to answer your questions about everything to do with modern living. Our fresh perspective speaks to a spectrum of ages, income levels, and backgrounds. We value sustainability and have a deep understanding of how technology can serve us – and when it doesn’t. Our articles and guides are written by industry experts and backed by in-depth research and analysis. We go beyond general consensus and easily-found product specs to give you the most important facts to help you and your family bloom.
Our Expertise
We’ve lived in everything, from studio apartments, condos, townhomes, houses with yards, and even an RV, which also means we’ve had the opportunity to test, examine and compare a wide variety of products for a million different uses. Our actual experiences inform our consumer advice, and we’re up on what’s new and current. In our rapidly changing world, we all need a resource that’s relevant to today’s lifestyles and concerns. After all, what worked for your mom may not be best for you.
We also know that what’s new is not always better, so we’re not easily distracted by sparkly but useless gadgets. It seems like any appliance can be connected to Bluetooth, controlled via an app, or set to run itself. There are times where these features are highly valuable, but sometimes you’re just paying for complicated technology that you probably won’t use. We lay out the features a product is promoting in an easy-to-understand format, and give you a frank analysis of whether or not you should really care. Living smarter sometimes means saving your money and going for the classic version.
Our Background
We all have different chapters to our lives, and what worked well in one doesn’t always translate to the next. There’s a reason many parents divide their lives into “before kids” and “after kids.” The same is true of any event: marriage, career change, degree completion, etc. No matter where you are, we’ve been there, and we’re here to help you live a better life. We’ve also traveled around the world, experienced different cultures, and come away with some great ideas.
Sustainability is at the core of who we are. From eco-friendly materials to responsible manufacturing, we incorporate sustainability into all our reviews. It’s also who we are. We have a healthy skepticism of green marketing claims and do the tough, in-depth research to determine if a product is really better for people and the environment. We believe what’s good for the planet is also good for business – and your family.
Laura Rubin
Managing Editor
Born and raised in Illinois and a midwesterner at heart, I’m now in love with my new home, beautiful Denver, CO. With our toddler in tow, I spend my days thinking of – and trying out – ways to make our lives better, easier and more fun. I’m always on the lookout for whichever product is going to be healthiest for our son, but my interest in green products started long before I was a mother. I have a background in sustainable business operations, starting with an undergraduate degree in environmental science, which led to a career as a sustainability manager for a large hospital system, and an MBA in sustainable business.
David Rubin
Head of Research
A native of Denver, CO, I graduated from Franklin University Switzerland with a B.A. in Communications and History, and later earned an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver. In the last three years I bought my first house, got married, and had a son. Needless to say, there has been a lot to learn about basically everything. A relentless researcher with a background in online marketing, I’ve delved into everything from lawnmowers to fridge repair to how to handle a screaming toddler. It’s been a fantastic journey and we’ve learned a lot along the way. I have a love for sociology and human behavior, travel, and trying anything new.
Learn More About Family Living Today
Board of Advisors
Rachel Fiske, NC, CPT-NASM
Rachel’s interest in integrative medicine was sparked at an early age, and she went on to study Holistic Nutrition at Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition in Berkeley, California. She later studied Functional Medicine at the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy and mentored under Dr. Daniel Kalish, and became a Certified Personal Trainer through NASM. Rachel has worked in private practice providing individual support and focusing on issues of weight management, hormonal imbalances, GI issues and more via a whole foods diet and lifestyle. She’s also had the distinct pleasure of working as the Programs Director for Natural Doctor’s International, an integrative medicine NGO in Nicaragua. Currently, Rachel works as a diabetes prevention coach along with her private practice seeing clients and offering health writing services. You can learn more about Rachel at her website: www.madronawellness.org.
Amanda A. Kostro Miller, RD, LDN
Amanda A. Kostro Miller is a Registered Dietitian from Chicago with experience in nutrition counseling, weight loss and medical nutrition therapy. Early on in her career, she worked with with United States veterans, patients with eating disorders and those with a variety of acute and chronic diseases. She currently writes nutrition content for websites, blogs and medical software. Amanda also creates podcasts, meal plans and weight loss guides for a variety of audiences.
Our Writers
Cynthia Lopez
Cynthia is the assistant editor and frequent contributor. She’s passionate about helping families find the best advice for family life and safety, and has been writing about family-focused topics, advice and trends since 2014.
Jenny Jarvis
Jenny has been a wife for 15 years and a mother for eight. She has three children who have taught her so much more than just facts and numbers and has researched all things family and home out of necessity and fun. She’s used that expertise to write all things family since 2011.
Kristin Hitchcock
Kristin was raised in Tennessee and still lives there with her husband and toddler. She seeks to help others make informed decisions for their family through her writing by providing clear and concise information on all sorts of topics.
Emma Stenhouse
Emma is a freelance writer, specializing in writing about pets, outdoor pursuits, and family living. She is also a qualified Science teacher.
Caitlin McCormack
Caitlin is based in Toronto, Canada, where she lives with her husband, two sons, rescue dog, and cat in a century-old bungalow. Caitlin is passionate about helping people learn about the newest, trendiest, and most helpful products to help keep their home running in tip top shape.
Is There Something You Want to Know More About?
We try to stay ahead of trends and keep up to date on the latest products, but if you want to get the FLT perspective on topic or product, please let us know; we’ll happily take any suggestion under consideration to give you the information you need. Plus, we like a challenge.
How We Support Family Living Today
Family Living Today is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We include Amazon links to many of the products we feature on our site. If you click on one of those links and make a purchase on Amazon, we receive a small percentage of the purchase price in the form of a commission directly from Amazon. You can read more about The Amazon Affiliate Program here.
This is how we’re able to fund and support the work we do at Family Living Today, so that we can bring you the best family news, tips and product buying advice for consumers and remain a free and unbiased resource. Whether or not you choose to visit Amazon.com through our site, we will always provide free access to the resources on Family Living Today.
