I think I was a Homemade Mother long before I was a mother.  I’ve always been borderline obsessed with taking care of our planet, and my independent streak has always pushed me to do things on my own.  I even made my own wedding cake – it just didn’t seem right to pay too much [...]

I’m pretty sure my favorite part of every day is the first 20 minutes.  Everyone is in a good mood, no one is whining, we’re all just happy to be awake and together.  Mack is usually first to toddle in, a sheepish grin on his face because he climbs out of his bed and he’s [...]

My sweet baby girl is already three weeks old.  I know she’s still a newborn, but I can’t believe how fast the time is going.  Her beautiful little face is filling out, her neck is getting stronger and she’s spending more time awake and alert.  Life with a newborn is terrifically exhausting, but at the [...]

In just a few weeks, on April 22, the world will celebrate Earth Day.  As a Homemade Mother I strive to teach my kids about taking care of our planet every day, a somewhat daunting mission with a 2 and 3 1/2 year old.  They are careful to turn off lights, put trash in a [...]

When we returned home from the hospital with Vivian on Saturday night, Chris continued a tradition he started with the arrival of Evelyn nearly four years ago: he put together a fun dinner with many of the foods I’m forced to go without for 40 weeks, including oysters, raw milk cheese, prosciutto and beer.  The [...]

Today was another beautiful summer-like day in Chicago.  With temperatures in the 80′s (!!) and no clouds in the sky, it was hard to believe that the official season is still winter.  Like most Chicagoans, we took full advantage of the perfect weather and spent a good part of the day outdoors.  I packed a [...]

Some of the ladies in my family gathered this morning for an informal brunch at my Aunt Margie’s house.  It was a celebration for many reasons: the end of winter, St. Patrick’s Day, the return of my mom and grandma who had been out of town for a few months, the two new babies my [...]

I am never a fan of Daylight Savings.  I am a big believer in keeping kids on a routine, so when the clock shifts an hour in either direction there’s always the potential for overtired kids.  Evie and Mack wake up every morning around 7:15, so I expected them to wake up at 8:15 this [...]

When I was 8 years old my mom’s brother married a woman from Bangladesh.  Feryall was outgoing and chatty and so friendly – she dove right in to our big family and fit in seamlessly.  Growing up, I remember that she never spoke down to the kids in the family – she made a real [...]

I don’t watch a lot of movies.  My husband could watch one every night of the week, but we only have one TV so we have to compromise on just about everything we watch.  When I do watch a movie I usually like something light-hearted that won’t stress me out or scare me.  And, sometimes [...]