When people ask me how Chris and I met, I say we met 14 years ago before the start of our senior year at Notre Dame. When I first saw him in the parking lot of a bank I thought he was the HOTTEST GUY I’D EVER SEEN. Perfect tan, sparkling eyes, handsome face, strong […]

I was recently asked by a local kids cooking school what my definition of “The Kids Table” is. It took me just a few moments of reflection to come up with my answer: time together. Kids should feel welcome in the kitchen at any time. It is the heart of every home, the place where […]

We are still enjoying excellent October weather. We’ve had some stressful weeks as a family, so the warm temperatures and sunny skies are a wonderful distraction. The impact Mother Nature has on our well being – emotional and physical – should not be ignored. I believe she gifted us this fine fall so we could […]

Oh. This has been a long two weeks. Perhaps the longest and most challenging I’ve had in my 7+ years of parenting. Chris and I were faced with some big, potentially life-altering decisions, and I think it is fair to say that I freaked out. For 14 days straight. Now that we are starting to […]

Everyone loves to complain about Chicago weather, but that’s only because everyone hasn’t experienced a Chicago fall. We have gorgeous days well into October – the bees are still busy, green leaves still rustle in their trees, mornings are crisp and clear. This September has been nothing but mild temperatures and sunny skies. As sad […]

Chris and celebrated our nine year anniversary this week. It doesn’t seem possible that we are fast approaching a decade of married life, but when I reflect on all that has happened in the past nine years I feel proud. Four kids, four moves, new jobs and business endeavors, travel. We’ve done a lot with […]

This is a ridiculously simple, fast and healthy lunch. I always have all the ingredients on-hand, and it is comforting to know that I’m always three minutes away from a truly delicious meal. Plus, I love tacos. In all forms. With any filling. And heating the tortilla in some butter or bacon grease adds an […]

Now that we are in the thick of summer, we are outside ALL THE TIME. Seriously, we don’t come in every evening until 5:30, which makes dinner prep almost impossible: by the time we are in, the kids are hungry but dinner hasn’t even been started! Whenever possible, I make dinner in the early afternoon. […]

Saturday morning. If ever there was a time for a homemade breakfast, the weekend would be it! We let the big kids watch a couple cartoons, Ben runs the length of the house over and over and over again, sometimes I go to the gym. It is a lazy day deserving of fun meal. Enter: […]

I think one of the simple, great joys in life is a homemade hot lunch. There is something so quietly indulgent about carving out a few minutes in the middle of an otherwise busy day to prepare a healthy meal from scratch. I don’t do it everyday, but that’s what makes it so special, right? […]