We never have cold cereal for breakfast – the few times I tried feeding it to Evie she looked at me as if she was thinking “Sorry, Mom. This just isn’t going to cut it.” During the week I usually make steel cut oatmeal or a smoothie, but on the weekends I spend some extra […]

I recently stumbled upon www.VBS.tv, an online broadcast network that streams free original content 24 hours a day. With eclectic, thought-provoking, and smart coverage of some of the world’s best hidden stories, it is the sort of site that will keep me coming back for more every day. I’d like to encourage you to view […]

Inspired by a meal I enjoyed during our recent trip to an eco-retreat in Mexico, today’s breakfast of fruit filled crepes was delicious and healthy. A perfect way to start a busy day! I used the crepe recipe found in The Joy Of Cooking. I was a little intimidated by crepes – they are so […]

Good news! Clorox just announced that alkyl phenol ethoxylatess (APEs) and phthalates — chemicals linked to reproductive harm, birth defects and fertility problems — will no longer be included in their products’ fragrances. APEs are surfactants found in laundry detergents, stain removers, and all-purpose cleaners. Often detected in rivers, they have been found to reduce […]

We are going to watch the Super Bowl at our friends’ house on Sunday, and I offered to make a couple appetizers. While browsing through my “Appetizer” recipe folder I found this very handy guide from cookbook author and New York Times columnist Mark Bittman. It lists 101 simple appetizers that can be put together […]

Sunday mornings are always quite busy for us. After dropping my husband off at work, Evelyn and I take care of a few errands and all the grocery shopping for the week. By the time we get home we are both ready for lunch and Evie is getting ready for her nap. But, just because […]

A few years ago I quit buying dryer sheets. Why, you may ask? Because they simply aren’t necessary and they definitely aren’t healthy! In 2000, Anderson Laboratories conducted a study to determine if the chemicals used to make dryer sheets can cause health problems for some people. Researchers exposed mice to five commercial fabric softener […]

My friend Kendee shared this quote with me just before Christmas . Several of us were discussing over email about how busy moms can be during the holiday season (and all year ’round, actually!). This saying hangs in her mother-in-law’s home, and it is recited all the time by her family. Cleaning and scrubbing can […]

My wonderful friend and fellow blogger Sarah at PersonalFaves.com asked me to participate in this blog-chain-mail thing called “10 Things That Make Me Happy.” It is a really fun exercise, and I think if everyone did this (either in the privacy of their own home or on a blog) we’d all quickly realize just how […]

We just returned from a nice long trip to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Getting away from a Chicago winter – if only for a little while – gave us the strength to make it to spring! We were fortunate enough to visit Chichen Itza, a true wonder of the world, where we introduced little Evelyn to […]