When it comes to baking, my skills pale in comparison to my sister Meghan’s.  She makes wonderful cookies, pies and pastries, all of which call for exact measurements and temperatures.  On the other hand, I love baking tarts and sweet breads that tend to be a little more forgiving when it comes to preciseness.  I […]

At the start of the fall season my mom gave my sisters and I each a lovely pumpkin cast iron pot.  We had been admiring the one she puts on display every year, so her thoughtful gesture really means a lot. Every time I look at my new pot I think of my mom and […]

My sister Colleen got married on Friday.  I can’t believe how fast the day came and went. She was such a beautiful bride, and I know she and her husband will have a happy life together. As a fun fall favor for guests to take home after the reception, my mom, sisters and I made […]

As any mother knows, there is no such thing as a weekend/vacation/holiday/day-off for a mom.  Tummies need to be filled, little bodies need to be dressed, boo-boos need to be kissed and curious minds need answers to their questions.  There is absolutely no break, but I am so grateful for every minute. With all that […]

As I’ve written about before, we start most days with a healthy breakfast shake.  The kids wake up asking for their “shates”, and should I ever dare serve them cold cereal for breakfast I think they might burst into tears or stage some sort of not-so-pleasant protest.  I’m so relieved they welcome this healthy start […]

Having kids changes EVERYTHING.  Before kids, a typical Friday night might have included a fun dinner at a fun restaurant, meeting up with friends, going to a movie, jetting off  for a quick weekend getaway.  These days, a super awesome Friday night for my husband and I now involves the following: *Chris helping Evie write […]

We love love love roast chicken.  Especially on a Sunday evening when the house has been calm all day and I’m happy to unwind with a cozy meal.  I buy delicious free-range chickens from our wonderful co-op, and every roast chicken comes out of the oven juicy and flavorful even when I season with nothing […]

My grandparents came over for dinner last night.  They had initially invited us out for dinner with them, but 18 month-old Mack H-A-T-E-S sitting still in restaurants, and since I wanted to actually enjoy the time with them I suggested we have a meal at our place.  It was nice to be hostess for an […]

My friend Paige recently shared a recipe for zucchini-blueberry bread.  She is a good resource for all things domestic – her house is stunningly decorated, she scrapbooks like a professional and her daughters are always dressed like little movie stars.  Her recipe blog is a good source for tried-and-true dishes that are Paige-approved. I knew […]

My mom’s friend and neighbor Pam recently invited me to take a tour of her garden.  She lives in a rural part of Illinois, so for a city girl like me spending a day surrounded by tangled vines, busy bumble bees and heirloom produce was a real treat. The garden was full of earthy carrots, […]