Chicago has enjoyed a spectacular September.  Refreshingly cool mornings, sunny afternoons and sneaky 80 degree days scattered throughout.  As someone who laments the end of summer, this slow entry into autumn makes me very happy. Last weekend we decided to take full advantage of the delightful fall weather and spend a morning at the idyllic […]

Yesterday morning was a quintessential Saturday in our house.  I went to the gym, came home to find Chris and Mack playing an iPad game together while Evie and Vivian kept each other busy.  With everyone calm and occupied, I knew I had a few minutes to fix a nice breakfast. This recipe happened by […]

I’m posting this Broccoli Cheddar soup recipe at the request of my cousin Monika, who is spending the month with our family.  I prepared this soup for dinner last night, and she wants to make it once she returns to Poland in September.  She’ll be heading off to university in Krakow, and this is a […]

With my cousin Monika visiting from Poland for the summer, we’ve all had fun reconnecting with our Polish roots. Chris grew up with a Polish father and Polish grandparents, so he’s been practicing speaking his very rusty Polish with Monika, much to her amusement. My Dad asked that I learn how to make a traditional […]

Ahhhhh…mid August. The last gasp of summer. The final push to check off all the “to-do’s” we put on our list back in June. It always comes to an end too fast, doesn’t it? We’ve had a wonderful summer, but I still feel a pang of guilt. Kids only get a few summers as children, […]

My dad recently celebrated his birthday, so the kids and I went out to my parents’ house for a casual celebration. He’s an easy going guy who doesn’t ask for much fuss, but when the kids insisted on “surprising” him he was kind enough to play along. My dad’s birthday dinner request was simple and […]

  Sweet little Evie celebrated her birthday a couple weeks ago. Summer birthdays are the best – warm sunshine, windows open, cute little dresses.  I was born in January…in Chicago…and 30+ years later I still hate the winter! So, I love celebrating Evie’s special day during the warmer season. My parents came over for a […]

Last weekend my little girl turned 5. FIVE. She has grown into such a thoughtful and sensitive and smart young lady, and I could not possibly be more proud. Chris and I took her out to a special lunch at Birchwood Kitchen, where she felt like a grown up as she sipped fresh lemonade and […]

Lately we’ve been enjoying bacon and eggs for breakfast.  It is such a hearty way to start the day, and the eggs from our co-op are delicious in an addicting sort of way.  But, with summer here I am now in the mood for a lighter start to the day, so I’ve brought back our […]

The news out of Arizona this week is so sad.  So, so sad.  Nineteen firefighters tragically died when a wildfire they were battling grew out of control.  They leave behind wives and children and parents and siblings. Some left behind pregnant wives. I am haunted by these deaths.  These firefighters (all firefighters, really) were some […]