We don’t have much dry cleaning.  My husband wears jeans or athletic shorts to work every day, and my usual uniform consists of yoga pants or leggings or, if I’m feeling fancy, jeans.  I’m very grateful for this as dry cleaning is expensive, and the spooky chemicals involved can’t be good for anyone.  Dry cleaning [...]

I don’t think I am a judgmental person – I firmly believe that God made all of us different because we are all special.  Although I live a certain way, I don’t expect everyone to live like me.  That would be foolish!  However, I am pretty judgmental when I see someone drinking out of a [...]

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 [...]

Last week the Breast Cancer Fund released a report about concerning levels of BPA in many prepared Thanksgiving foods.  BPA, an estrogenic chemical linked to breast cancer, is most often found in plastics (one of many reasons I try to avoid plastic altogether).  However, BPA is also found in other surprising places like grocery store [...]

Trick-or-Treaters will be knocking on doors in just about 48 hours.  I have yet to purchase Halloween candy – time to get to the grocery store!  Maybe this year I will hand out candy alternatives as I wrote about last year. Sometimes its fun to think outside the box! If you decide to pass out [...]

While reading through a local magazine the other week I came across a review of “Homegrown & Handmade,” a book written by Deborah Niemann.  Because she is a local Illinois woman who left the urban jungle in search of the country life, I was instantly intrigued. This is my new favorite book for so many [...]

Shortly before my daughter turned 3, we moved her out of her crib and into a big girl bed.  I must admit that I was a bit anxious about the transition – would she sneak out of bed? would she fall out of bed? would she miss her crib?? To ease her into the idea, [...]

We live in the center of a huge city, but I still want to expose my kids to nature and the country. I grew up on a small farm in a rural part of Illinois surrounded by horses, dogs, cats, sheep, geese and chickens – not to mention a dairy farm across the street! – [...]

Considering its size and dense population, Chicago is a shockingly clean city.  Everyone who visits always says, “Chicago is like a clean version of New York.”  However, on Sunday mornings after a weekend’s worth of festivities the corner garbage cans are overflowing.  I suppose I should be grateful that the trash is properly disposed of [...]

Its hot. Its also July. So, will everyone quit the complaining?  I waited ALL winter for this kind of weather, and I L-O-V-E it!  Honestly, if it was hovering close to 85 degrees every day you’d never hear a negative peep outta me. I’m a summer girl trapped in the northern hemisphere, and its likely [...]