On Saturday my Aunt Sheila invited the ladies of the family over for a holiday cookie swap party. We all brought 3 dozen of a home baked treat, and we all left with several varieties.  It was such a nice way to spend a sunny afternoon.  I wish we could all get together more often, […]

Hard to believe Thanksgiving weekend is wrapping up. It has been a long and busy few days, that’s for sure! Thanksgiving on Thursday: A trip with Evie to the American Girl doll store on bustling Michigan Avenue on Friday: A cookie party at my Aunt Sheila’s house on Saturday: Christmas brunch with Santa and gingerbread […]

I’ll never forget my first experience with Maker’s Mark Bourbon. My college roommate Laura returned from summer break with a bottle she had hand-dipped herself at the Maker’s Mark distillery in her native Kentucky.  We drank it straight.  Luke warm. In martini glasses.  We still laugh about it to this day! So, when the folks […]

For the past couple months Trader Joe’s has had a shortage of almond butter.  Lately my husband has been using it every day in a smoothie, so the shortage at TJ’s was becoming an issue! Ha! I’m not sure why I continued to buy almond butter when we’ve prepared homemade peanut butter for so many […]

Thanks to the time change last weekend, the kids have been waking up a bit earlier than usual.  Their normal wake-up time is 7:00, and this past week they’ve been waking up around 6:30.  But, I know I shouldn’t complain: plenty of my friends have kids who wake up waaaaay earlier even without the time […]

My sister welcomed a beautiful and healthy baby girl earlier this week. We are all so excited about the precious new addition to the family! I have a feeling she will be good friends with my little Vivian once their 19-month age difference doesn’t seem quite so stark! I know hospital food can be bland […]

It has been a quiet little family day for us.  We took this kids to Boo in the Zoo at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and despite the suddenly chilly temperatures we managed to have a nice morning in the fresh air. Of course they ran right to the vintage carousel and begged for a spin.  […]

I originally shared the following post earlier this year on Mothering Spirit, a lovely blog written by a lovely mother who eloquently shares her thoughts on life, theology and parenthood. Check it out! As a mother to three young children, I am rarely afforded an opportunity to do something just for me. It seems like […]

Poor little Vivian. She’s got two sharp and nasty teeth pushing through her top gum, and for the past week she just hasn’t been her normal cheerful self.  She’s been grumpy and inconsolable at times, a far departure from the cheerful disposition we’re all used to.  She wants to wear snuggly pajamas all day, and […]

A couple years ago I wrote about a tour I took through a lovely rural Illinois garden. The organic garden belongs to my mom’s dear friend Pam, and every year her garden grows in size and selection.  I saw Pam last weekend, and she very generously offered to gift me with some of this season’s […]