My Latest Obsessions

GMC Christmas Morning

M + C and a little ski lesson action

WOW! What a week. I'm ABSOLUTELY exhausted. So tired. I don't want to look at another cookie or anything that has sugar in it! We had a wonderful Christmas. We were up at the Lake Christmas Eve and the kids enjoyed running around w/ all of their cousins. Christmas morning the kids were up early and we headed downstairs to see if Santa had come. After opening presents we enjoyed some yummy amazing cinnamon bread from one of our neighbors (we look forward to it every year)! It is sinfully delicious. We then headed to mass and on to PFC's parents house for Christmas day dinner and more fun w/ cousins.

The last few days the girls have had ski lessons. It isn't Colorado but it is nice for them to get down the basics. The above pic is hilarious - green grass surrounds the ski hill.

We are having friends over Saturday evening for a casual evening in. I'm making my old standby = Green Chile Chicken Casserole (which is always a big hit). I might try to make this Kale Salad w/ Apples, Cranberries and Pecans as well. It looks YUMMY! Salads are calling my name these days after the all the food and goodies as of late.

PFC and I are heading out for sushi New Year's Eve and then ending up at a friend's house for party. Looking forward to ringing in the New Year w/ some good friends.

Happy New Year to all!

Some of my latest faves:

• It is hard to think about food but I thought this Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer (3 ways) looked easy and oh so YUMMY!  
• I did end up buying the Skaist-Taylor vest from the Neiman Marcus/Target collection last week on one of my Target runs. I wasn't too impressed w/ much in the entire collection but when everything was reduced 50% I took another look.   I LOVE the vest. I have already worn it 3 times and have received many compliments. Here is how one gal has styled it. And another gal. And one last look. 
• Wow. Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek (via The Times) is pretty amazing (even if you aren't necessarily interested in the topic). It takes awhile to get through (maybe 12 minutes) but you'll experience some spectacular graphics and photography. 
• I LOVE these DIY glitter vases. EASY. Here's a DIY Sparkly Rustic Tray. And here are some chic ideas for winter parties. 
• Gwenyth on perfection. We try very hard in our house not to use the word perfect. 
• My youngest sister got me this great slate cheese board for Christmas. I cannot wait to use it! Here are 7 Secrets to a Beautiful Cheese Board. 
• And here is a pretty Spear Print Tray.
• Every once in awhile PFC makes big weekend breakfasts for our crew. Doesn't this star french toast look yummy!?  
• Wouldn't it be fun to have a fancy grilled cheese party?! Love this idea. 
• Some New Year's Eve fashion for you! 
• This Skinny Frozen Hot Chocolate looks yummy! And my good friend confirmed that Smitten Kitchen's Roasted Pear and Chocolate Chunk scones are amazing. I MUST make them soon! 
• I've added Les Miserables to my list of movies. It is getting rave reviews! 

My Latest Obsessions

GMC's school picture

Firstly, my heart goes out to all of those affected by the tragedy in CT. So very sad. I know that this has hit people very hard all over the world. I myself immediately thought about the tragedy close to home (being a mom to an 8, 6, and 2 year old) and have found myself quite emotional about it. I found this article entitled, "I am Adam Lanza's Mother" very interesting. And a HS friend of mine wrote this letter to her almost 6 year old son. Beautifully and eloquently written. I think we all (parents and non-parents alike) can relate to the raw emotions attached to what happened.

I woke up this morning super excited. C + M were up early and were excited to see the snow (the little there is) outside and they were excitedly running around getting ready for their holiday performances today. And of course they had laid out their festive dresses last PM before bed. The music teacher at their school is amazing so we cannot wait to see their shows!

Tomorrow we are heading to a family Christmas party. We are bringing jalapeno shrimp (amazingly good). Sunday I have tennis w/ my crew and then the rest of the afternoon will be spent baking some cookies and putting together our Carr Christmas Cookies that we give away to friends/neighbors!

Here's to wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! Safe travels for those of you heading out of town.

XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• PFC/I started a tradition this year w/ the kids. We are going to give them a new ornament every year that will be their own. I had my own box of ornaments growing up and PFC commented the other day on how nice it was to have my own box of special/meaningful and personalized ornaments. It was fun to go through my box as many of the ornaments were dated and each held a different memory. I bought their ornaments here. How cute is this recycled paper elephant by Cody Foster?! Love. Oh, and I LOVE these wallpaper covered deer ornaments. So cute! 
• Here are some great gifts under $50 for those hard to buy folks on your last minute Christmas list: Chevron Tea Light Votive Set; Glitter Round Buckle Skinny Belt (on sale too!); Alice in Wonderland book (fabulous cover); Multicolor Beanie and this Flavor Infuser Water Bottle (may even have to gift one of these for myself). 
• I sign many of my emails XO or XOXO. Interesting post on signing your emails as such. 
• I've added this Twine Star Decoration to my holiday decorating list for next year. Love it! 
• Love this Glamorous girly New Year's party inspiration! Show up in this sparkly number and you'll be all set to ring in the new year! Totally digging the back of the dress. 
• Every morning we all hug/kiss PFC goodbye before he heads out the door for work. Mornings are always very nutty around here but we NEVER miss our opportunity to get in our goodbye hugs and kisses. PFC and I have been holding our hugs with the kids and each other a lot longer the last week after the tragedy in CT. This article entitled XO Before you Go had me in tears. 
• We bought GMC his own Ukelele for Christmas. He is OBSESSED w/ guitars so PFC took him to the Guitar Center and they recommended a ukelele for him. We cannot wait to see his face light up when he opens it! I would love to handpaint GMC's ukelele and personalize it for him (if only there was more time)! 
• This article on Why You're Never Failing as a Mother has been circulating the world wide web this past week. It definitely resonated w/ me. 
• I love the festive and colorful designs that Jenny Bowers did for Bloomingdales. 
• One of my favorite bloggers Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen recently came out w/ a cookbook. I've already gifted it a few times (best price on Amazon). She feels like someone you would love to be friends w/ (and it would be fun to chill in her tiny NYC kitchen and watch her cook). I think I need my own copy! Here is a great NYTimes article on her. My good friend is making her Roasted Pear + Chocolate Chunk scones over the holidays. I cannot wait to hear how they turn out! They are on my list! 
• I started the long process of wrapping Christmas presents 2 nights ago. I started around 9 pm (ish) to make sure that C + M didn't wander downstairs and catch a glimpse of their items. Here is a How To on wrapping w/ scraps. 
• I LOVE all of these colorful bowls. 
• I thought these craigslist missed connections were hilarious. Gotta love work holiday parties! 
• I know that during the holidays I'm scrambling to put together different festive outfits. I strategically map out the various gatherings/parties and on many occasions wear an outfit twice (or more!) because I'm confident that I'm seeing a different set of people. I loved reviewing this 1 party dress done 3 different ways. Cleverly done. And they used such a cute dress to style different ways. 
• The Target + Neiman Marcus items are now all 50% off. I'm digging the Skaist-Taylor Vest.
• I want to leave everyone with some good laughs and smiles = 25 Funniest AutoCorrects of 2012. Mcdonkadonk = my favorite! talk about LOL. I was laughing so hard. Pee your pants hard! And here are some moments that restored our faith in humanity.

My Latest Obsessions

Georgie sporting his bow tie at Breakfast w/ Santa

Heading out to a Tea Party at the Art Institute

Happy Friday! It has been a festive week of holiday parties, baking and stuff w/ the kids. And next week is the kids last week of school before their break. I LOVE going to the holiday performances at school - so festive and fun. I'm really looking forward to them.

We had our book club's cookie exchange this week. I forgot how yummy the Oatmeal Carmelitas are - OMG, amazing! And the Cheez It bark turned out to be really yummy too. Perfect combo of salty + sweet. The girls were hovering over the 2 bins of yummy looking cookies that I brought back.

We had a really nice time at the Art Institute's Annual Treasure Hunt Tea Party last Sunday. The girls enjoyed being creative and making their own shadow boxes. And it was fun to be inside the Art Institute surrounded by such amazing art. We stopped to show them Grant Wood's famous piece - American Gothic.

I did not finish the book that was due for book club this week. I just couldn't get into it. However, we had a great discussion on it (Vaddey Ratner's book, In the Shadow of the Banyan). I did check out our next book = Steve Job's biography.

Tonight I'm heading to the Royal George Theatre w/ a few gals to see a parody on 50 Shades of Grey. It should be entertaining! And tomorrow evening we have nothing going on which we are so thrilled about as it will be nice to relax - especially since next week is going to be a whirlwind.

Some of my latest faves:

• I'm happy to report that I have all of our Christmas shopping done. LOVED shopping online this year. That made it really simple and free shipping = FAB. Here are some great gifts for kids. 
• Some New Girl fashion for you. My sister in law was sporting the Suzette Coat by Kate Spade. It is as cute as can be. Adorable! Prettiest shade of blue too. 
• LOVE LOVE LOVE this rustic elegant tabletop for the holidays. So pretty. Very well done. I love the monogrammed Linen Satin Stitch Dinner Napkins. 
• I love Giuliana and Bill Rancic. Here is a peek at their little boy Duke's nursery. What a beautiful nursery. 
• A good friend recommended this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. It is on my list of items to make SOON! It would be perfect for a cozy night in. 
• A HS friend of mine (the Food Editor at Time Out Chicago) announced his Kickstarter (funding platform for creative endeavors) for his project Middlewest (a new food magazine in the form of modern recipe cards). This looks so amazing. I'm excited to see the first issue. 
• Neiman Marcus + Target collaborated and came up w/ a list of 50 holiday items. Love the Marc Jacobs metallic clutches. And this sweet Marchesa dress would be perfect for a little flower girl.  
• I always have to watch Love Actually at least once during the holidays. The other evening as a family we watched It's a Wonderful Life (and now the girls are quoting George Bailey, "Is this your bad ear? George Bailey...I will love you until the day I die!"). 
• The girls were so in awe of each of their Portable North Pole videos from Santa. I too was pretty impressed. Uploading pics really personalized the videos. Highly recommend it. 
• The New Year is upon us. Time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions. Here is a pretty 2013 calendar with inspiring messages. 
• LOVE this striped Clare Vivier neon striped carryall. And it would be fun to have it monogrammed. 
• Cute needlepoint iphone case - for that one person that you are struggling to find a gift for. 
• I would never have paired a flannel shirt w/ a tulle skirt - but I LOVE the combo. I saw the skirt at Anthro and swooned over it a bit (that part of me that wants to be a ballerina). And here is the checked flannel shirt. I'm torn by the outfit. What do you think? Oh, and check out these DIY Glitter Heels. Cute. 
• We've been talking about manners in our house a lot these days (especially close to the holidays). My dear friend sent me this link about 25 manners every kid should know by age 9. Perfect. My mom was a stickler for good manners and I know I'm not perfect but I really want to instill good manners w/ our kids. 
• Aren't these dot skinny jeans so cute?! Adorable. 
• These Mini Snow Globes would be really fun to make. Next year! 
• I loved watching Jeremiah Brent on Rachel Zoe's show. What a cutie. He is dating Nate Berkus. What a great couple! 
• And lastly, the Golden Globe nominations are out!! 

My Latest Obsessions

GMC enjoying a taco = what a big BOY! 

Cate at her piano recital

Happy Friday! Well it definitely feels like we are in full on holiday mode. Our Christmas tree is officially up and decorated and our lights have been put up outside. And most importantly all the holiday gatherings have begun! I truly love this time of year even though it can be quite exhausting.

This past Wednesday night I went out to dinner w/ some of my city girlfriends. We met at The Bedford (which I LOVE) and we had a secret gift exchange. And then last night I was back in the city for a friend's annual Girls Holiday Party - lots of great food and catching up! Tonight we are staying in (which I'm SO happy about). I really need to finish my book, In the Shadow of the Banyan for next week's book club.

Tomorrow morning we are having Breakfast w/ Santa. I'm anxious to see GMC's reaction to him this year. And then we are off to two holiday parties in the evening. Sunday I'm heading downtown to the Art Institute w/ C + M for a holiday tea party = FUN + FESTIVE + GIRLY!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Some of my latest faves:

• LOVE this wrapping paper. I used some of my fave wrapping paper from Snow & Graham the other day for our gift exchange. And how cute is this Holiday Cupcake wrapping paper?! Love. And here's how to wrap presents in nothing but glitter. FUN. 
• Over Thanksgiving one of my sister in law's brought over this beautiful cheese tray. It was perfect for serving up some yummy cheese and crackers. 
• I came across this adorable deer mounted head hook. Wouldn't it look adorable in a little boys room?! So cute. 
• So, I've been thinking about what cookies I'm going to make for next week's book club. Our December meeting is always a cookie exchange = tons of fun (and of course, YUMMY)! I'm for sure making these amazing Oatmeal Carmelitas (always a hit) and I'm debating on also making this Cheez it Bark. My sister sent it to me and said a colleague of hers from work has given it rave reviews. If I make it I would love to package them it as such w/ some parchment paper and twine. However, these Chocolate Chip Nutella Candy Cane Cookies look pretty good too. Decisions! 
• LOVE this little dress from Zara. I totally wish they made one like this in my size. I would definitely buy it. 
• At dinner on Wednesday some of the gals were discussing the book, What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love. I have added it to my list of books to read. 
• I LOVE this DIY pom pom garland. Very clever. It would be so much fun to pick out some pretty colors of yarn. 
• I LOVE chai lattes. I'm excited to pick up Trader Joe's Salted Caramel Tea Latte Mix. I mean, the liquid form of salted caramels = AMAZING. I'll take some of TJ's salted caramel latte in this beautiful mug and call it a night! 
• I found this adorable coloring book for CMC at Marshall's (much cheaper!) = My Wonderful World of Fashion. Both girls love coloring and this book is super cute. 
• How amazing are these wooden tiles? LOVE LOVE LOVE. 
• Great hostess gift = Vosges Mini Chocolate Bar Library. Favorite bar = Barcelona Bar = Chocolate + Sea Salt + Roasted Almonds. So good! Another favorite gift of mine = Pig Cutting Board from Williams-Sonoma. I have it and use it to put cheese on. 
• This LOVE print would look so cute in C + M's room. It matches their color scheme. Such a sweet print. 
• Very pretty dress. It would be perfect for all those holiday parties! 
• GMC's latest obsession = toting around MMC's Bitty Baby Doll. And he INSISTS that we must change his baby's diaper before we leave the house. So if I'm late in the near future it may be because I'm tending to the baby doll (per GMC's request!). Kind of funny! 
• Some of you have asked me more information about PFC's cousin Julie's documentary entitled Miracle. Click here for more info. She is truly an inspiration young woman. 

My Latest Obsessions

GMC checking out some guitars w/ Daddy 

Our Graham Cracker House

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a great time up at the Lake. The kids loved running around w/ all of their cousins. LOTS of food. Speaking of food I'm kicking off the holiday season w/ a 2 day juice cleanse (from our local Juice Joint) starting Monday. Much needed! Maybe the cleanse will keep me away from all of the yummy sweets this month. I'm excited. I've never done one before. Have any of you? I'll let you know how it goes.

PFC and I had the best time celebrating our 3 year anniversary at El Ideas last Saturday. The 18 seat spot was very cool and you were literally in the kitchen. It was a very unique experience. The chef is super chill and you can tell he loves what he does.

My youngest sister was in town all of last week. She split her time between our house and our middle sister's place downtown. The kids LOVED having her stay w/ us! It was so great to spend some quality time with her and catch up. We both share of love of Law & Order: SVU - so we watched a few episodes during her stay! I miss Stabler, however, my sister does not!

The day after Thanksgiving we all got together to build our graham cracker house. We have been doing it for YEARS and YEARS. My Mom used to love doing this w/ us. She used to get SUPER detailed and even make window boxes for each of the windows. My sister Carrie (being the architect and all) designed the house and roof (via a carboard box) and the girls helped w/ the decorations.

Last night I attended an Advent Tea/Dinner. PFC's cousin was the inspirational/motivational speaker. Her speech was brilliant. She spoke about the little moments in life and the importance of friends/family and gratitude. The 400 women in the audience were in tears. She was so eloquent and poised (at age 20 mind you). I'm honored that she is in my life. I definitely left last evening's event with a lot to think about - especially as we move through the holiday season.

The kids have a lot going on this weekend. We have CMC's winter piano recital tonight and tomorrow C + M have their first ice skating lesson of the session. And then we are off to a swim meet in the afternoon. I'm hanging w/ the girls tomorrow and PFC is going to chill w/ Georgie for some one on one guy time! And then Sunday we will be getting out our Christmas decorations! FUN!

Some of my latest faves:

• Holiday parties are upon us. Here are some lovely dresses for the season! LOVE them all. 
• Kate Middleton's new layered haircut = LOVE! 
• I purchased GMC's holiday bow tie from Baby by Stevie. He will be channeling his daddy this Christmas season w/ his plaid shirt and bow tie! A good friend of mine passed along this site and I have been purchasing bow ties from here ever since. Speaking of bow ties - here are 4 secrets to tying a perfect bow tie. 
• I'm sure many of you have seen this photo that has gone viral = NYPD officer giving boots to a barefoot homeless man. There are good people in this world. I love this story. So heartwarming. 
• I first saw Ace + Jig's items via Anthropologie. Love the line. Here is an interview w/ the gals and best friends behind the line. I'm impressed at how they do it all and are doing what they love. 
• I've been eyeing this dress for awhile. It is now on sale. I saw it on someone last night. She accessorized with an amazing belt. She looked comfortable yet sophisticated. I LOVE the back of it. 
• Pasta w/ Butternut Sauce and Spinach = Must Try SOON! 
• Every mother will appreciate this post from Joanna of A Cup of Jo. For sure. And here is an article on What Boys Need from Moms. 
• How pretty are these gold owl napkins?! Love them! 
• Parenthood was so great this week. I cannot wait for next TUES!!!! Ray Romano was on Ellen the other day. LOVE him. Adorable and so funny. I LOVE that Adam and Kristina landed on the list of the Top 50 love stories of the past decade. I love them together. And some Parenthood fashion from this week's episode. 
• I'm OBSESSED w/ the slippers that I got all 3 kids for Christmas. And I scored on Cyber Monday w/ an additional 25% off. GMC is getting the otters, CMC the owls, and MMC the penguins. LOVE them. Wish they came in my size! 
• What a pretty dress - would be perfect for all those holiday parties! 
• These washi tape gift tags are so clever and cute. 

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Friday! I cannot believe that next week is Thanksgiving (and then on to Christmas)! We are heading up to the Lake for Thanksgiving this year. The kids are excited to see all of their cousins. My youngest sister is coming in from NYC for the entire week - hooray - and she arrives tomorrow! I haven't seen her in awhile so it will be nice to catch up w/ her.

We have a friend's birthday party tonight and then another one tomorrow evening. Besides the birthday celebrations we are just going to relax and lay low!

Have a great weekend and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Some of my latest faves:

• LOVE this lace maxi skirt. And here are some ways how to wear it. 
• Channing Tatum is this year's Sexiest Man alive for People magazine. I have to say he was pretty sexy in the movie Magic Mike. For sure. Definitely. Check him out. 
• It is definitely getting colder here in Chicago. A cute fall/winter coat makes the cold feel just a bit more fun. Here are some really cute ones = Double Breasted Coat w/ Contrast Buttons, Oversized Collar Coat (love this color!), My Tweed Lady Coat and this adorable Dots Life Coat. 
• Customized Puffin Classics for kids. This would make a wonderful gift. 
• Some shopping advice from Michael Kors. He sums up dating and shopping. Love it! 
• LOVE watching Parenthood. I love all the different players in the family. Here is the story of the Cancer Sweater that they mentioned in the show. 
• Here are some fun skirts from Target = Pleated Skirt and this Peplum Skirt. 
• Give me these cozy slippers, some hot chocolate, and a great book and I'll call it a night! 
• What a fun Alice inspired spread for Vogue shot by Annie Leibovitz. 
• Jenna Lyons of J.Crew was listed in Glamour's Most Inspiring Women of the Year. J.Crew listed out 11 reasons why she was their woman of the year. Great list.  
• I'm on a hunt for some new cookies to make. In December our Book Club always has a cookie exchange. I've found a few that I may try. Don't these Chocolate Caramel Coconut Cookies look amazing?! Or what about these Vanilla Almond Orange Cloud Cookies? Or these Nutella-Stuffed Brown Butter + Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie? They all look divine! Any tasty suggestions? 
• I would LOVE to throw a Vintage-Glam Winter Wonderland Dinner Party like this one. 
• I think this entire outfit is awesome. Love it. It would be perfect for Christmas Eve dinner. I don't know if it is something I could pull off. But I absolutely love the look of the dress w/ the Chelsea Boot. 
• My Mom used to always make gouda in a puff pastry as an appetizer for her parties. I remember watching her make it when I was little. I tried this Gouda in Puff Pastry recipe last Saturday and it was a hit. And I love how EASY this recipe is to make. 
• Great glitter clutch. This would add a little sparkle to any outfit. 

My Latest Obsessions

GMC waiting w/ Mommy to VOTE

Thought this was pretty funny! 

Happy Friday! What a week. The election is over (finally) and to be honest I'm thrilled. I was getting tired of all the political rants back and forth (hence the funny someecard above). Pretty funny. Everyone got a kick out of GMC as we were waiting in line to vote. They all loved his hat. He put it on that morning himself. Very cute. The election made me think of the election before last. I had just met PFC that spring. M was 2 and C was 4. Wild to think about it that way since GMC is now 2. It is crazy to me that GMC is the same age as C was when her angel mom passed and he is the same age that M was when I met her. That really puts things into perspective. Life. You never know what is going to happen.

Tonight we are heading out to dinner w/ some folks for dinner and then tomorrow PM we are having some of our city friends over for some chili. YUMMY. I love Cincinnati style chili which is a bit sweeter as it has hints of cinnamon and chocolate in it (and is served over noodles). We are serving honey cornbread muffins (best corn muffin recipe I've tried), Cincinnati Turkey Chili, and this super yummy apple pie with caramel (last time I made it there was not a crumb left!). And of course we are serving the pie with vanilla bean ice cream (from our local favorite Petersen's Ice Cream).

PFC/I are still looking for an evening to sneak away to see the movie Argo. Everyone that has seen it LOVES it. Have you seen it yet?

Some of my latest faves:

• I saw a little girl wearing the cutest little TOMS. I thought GMC would look adorable in these little Olive Cord Tiny TOMS. Speaking of TOMS here is a great DIY to waterproof those canvas shoes of yours. 
• PFC's sister and her husband just got back from staying at my Mom/Stepdad's cabin in Montana. It made me reminisce about our amazing roadtrip out there 2 summers ago. We had a blast! Some mountain inspiration = mountain screen printed bag, mountains are calling hoop art and let's move to the mountains. 
• I've been thinking a lot about the Hurricane Sandy victims out east. If I lived in NYC I would TOTALLY participate in this awesome bake sale w/ Dwell Studio + A Cup of Jo. And I stumbled upon this BRILLIANT idea on FB (from a gal I met on our honeymoon) = volunteers turn to wedding registries to help victims. And have you seen the cover of New York Magazine? OMG, it is an amazing picture of NYC taken from the air. And what an incredible story about how the photographer went about taking the pictures. 
• I LOVE butternut squash. Doesn't this butternut squash lasagna look DIVINE?! I'm putting this one on my list to make this winter! 
• I have yet to check out Giuliana and Bill Rancic's restaurant RPM but I LOVE following them via their show. PFC laughs at me. I find them funny and great (and fun that they live part time in Chicago). Windy City Live had Giuliana's mom (Mama DePandi) along w/ Bill and Giuliana on their show and she shared an italian favorite of hers (= Bucatini Pomodoro). 
• I'm in LOVE w/ this adorable and vintage inspired coat. Love it. 
• CMC loves pears. She would eat 2 at a time if we would allow her. I came across these yummy looking roasted pear and chocolate scones. She would GOBBLE them right up! I would too! 
• Very cool rustic wood box shelf.
• Thanksgiving is coming up SOON. I'm already thinking about sides. Here are 12 delicious looking sides. And how cute are these Turkey Cookies? The kids would LOVE them. 
• Peace, Love & Cupcakes = what more could you ask for?!
• A good friend of mine sent me this amazing DIY Owl Costume. I'm bookmarking this one for next year. Maybe MMC will go for it! 
• OMG, loving the new Made In Kind items for Anthropologie. Alexandra Grecoo's stuff is gorgeous. 
• Cute heartstripe sweater. 
• And I'll end w/ this great quote on friendship. Isn't that the truth?! 

My Latest Obsessions

Our "Bat"erina and Witch

Our Dino and Cowboy Daddy 

George-asaurus Rex

Happy Friday! What a week. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those that were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Wow. Here are some amazing acts of kindness during Sandy.

My mom (JuJu) just left this morning. We are so sad. She was here over a week and we had the best time w/ her. She was supposed to fly out to NYC Wednesday evening to visit our youngest sister however, due to obvious reasons she was unable to make that trip (so she stayed w/ us a few extra days).

My mom has made a tradition of coming here for Halloween the last several years. It is crazy to think that she met PFC for the first time 4 years ago during Halloween weekend (when he asked both my stepdad and mom for their blessing). I'll always laugh remembering how he approached them - in between houses trick or treating! Cute!

We had a very fun Halloween - filled with lots of candy, costumes, trick or treating, and the parade at school. C + M were thrilled w/ their costumes this year and GMC finally got into the spirit when he saw everyone else dressed up. His favorite thing to do was to "rawr" at each door when he was Trick or Treating.

Tonight we are just relaxing. Much needed. We'll be up SUPER early to take the girls to their swim meet tomorrow. We'll be pulling out of the driveway before 6 AM (yikes = a large french vanilla coffee from Dunkin Donuts for me). And then tomorrow evening PFC/I are heading to a party at The Bedford. FUN!

Oh, and Peter/I watched Magic Mike last Friday PM. It was good - definitely not an Oscar award winner by any means but a solid flick and great eye candy for sure. Channing Tatum can MOVE IT! I mean, seriously!!!

Some of my latest faves:

• Yummy = Canyon Ranch's Pumpkin Crunch. 
• Love this clutch from Pendleton's Portland Collection! 
• These Parker House Rolls look amazing. I might try them for Thanksgiving. Don't they look awesome?!  Speaking of Thanksgiving wouldn't it be fun to make these Oreo Turkey Pops?! 
• I watch the New Girl when I get a chance to do so. I like Zooey Deschanel. She is cute, quirky and likeable. LOVED her latest love interest = hottie David Walton. Hopefully we'll see him around a few more episodes. 
• I would love to take a look at the Smitten Kitchen cookbook. Love her blog. 
• LOVE these fabric envelope letterpress wedding invitations. Gorgeous. Reminds me of our invitations! 
• When PFC/I wake up in the morning he always says, "Time to make the donuts." And honestly I have never known where he got that saying. So, the other day he showed me the old school Dunkin Donuts ad from 1983. I get it now! 
• How gorgeous are these bridal shower invitations?! So pretty. 
• These glittery pine cones are so pretty. Maybe a fun project over winter break!
• I LOVE Zingerman's Legendary Sourcream Coffeecake. It is the perfect gift to send to someone after you have spent the weekend at their home. So YUMMY! You'll be sure to be invited back! JuJu used to send this coffeecake to us when my sister and I lived together in the city. We LOVED it so much that we had to hide it. And one time we found it (weeks later) hidden in the oven. Tells you how much we cooked! 
• Check out this yummy Thanksgiving collection of ice cream from Jeni's. OMG, the pumpkin 5-spice sounds divine! 
• Cute Owl ornament. Adorable girls owl tunic sweater. 

Have a great weekend! 

My Latest Obsessions

Hooray - it's FRIDAY! 

Happy Friday! JuJu arrived Wednesday evening and we have been having a blast w/ her. It is always fun when she comes to visit. C + M had fun putting fake cockroaches and bugs in her bed for a little Halloween surprise! And Georgie brought her to school on Thursday and introduced her to his buddies. Very cute.

Last evening we had my mom's old design partner from Cincinnati over for dinner (along w/ her daughter). The two of them are always fun to see and visit w/. Per JuJu's request I made one of my faves = green chile chicken casserole. This casserole is always a crowd pleaser (and best part is that I can make the casserole the day before and pop it in the oven the next day). We had a salad of romaine/sunflower seeds/craisins/parmesan/avocado and caesar dressing. LOVE this salad! And for dessert I made Pioneer Women's Strawberry Sparkling Cake. It was super yummy. I ended up using a store bought angel food cake but next time I want to try and make a homemade angel food cake.

Tomorrow we are hosting my sister's little guy's 1st birthday party at our house. It should be lots of fun. He is such a cutie. Tomorrow PM we are off to a costume party - FUN! And Sunday I've got a tennis match. JuJu will stay w/ my sister and her husband downtown over the weekend and she'll be back w/ us for the beginning of next week! FUN!

Some of my latest faves:

• Adorable note of the day by a little girl entitled, "If I get a Boyfriend." 
• I'm a HUGE fan of exposed brick. Lots of great walls here. My favorite is the one w/ the wall behind the oven. 
• Cute tieback booties. 
• Pretty necklace (in lovely fall colors)! 
• I'm obsessed w/ owls. What a fun owl sweater! 
• I LOVE power naps, so I loved reading this article. 
• All this rain has me wanting to curl up w/ a good book (and wear these cozy pants). 
• If anyone needs a last minute halloween costume here are some adorable ones. LOVE the Morton Salt Girl = so cute! If you have a little more time on your hands this Book Fairy Costume. 
• I'm definitely going to make this personalized memory game for GMC for Christmas. Love it! This would make a great gift too. 
• Love this reversible ikat crossbody bag. Adorable! 
• Totally digging the new Mauve Metallic Linen TOMS. 
• How cute are these chocolate chip cookie party invitations?! Love them. And how FAB a printable template! 
• PFC and I really want to see the movie Argo. It looks great and is getting such awesome reviews. I did watch Butter and really enjoyed it. Jennifer Garner is really great in it. And you gotta love Ty Burrell who plays her husband. 
• I've always been a fan of Kate Hudson. Here are some pics from her photo shoot for Anne Taylor. 
• LOVE LOVE LOVE this birthday idea = Pajama Soiree. So cute. 
• I used to LOVE chai lattes but now I usually get order a skim latte. However, this How To on chai tea inspired me to make some Chai soon! 
• And lastly, some Parenthood fashion. Ray Romano and Lauren Graham discuss Will Sarah Leave Mark for Hank?! 

Have a FABULOUS weekend! 

My Latest Obsessions

LOVE LOVE LOVE this pic = My Favorite Boys

Happy Friday! For some reason this week has felt really long. Maybe its all the rain and falling temps that are dragging this week on and on!

Last Sunday we surprised C + M and I took them to Tour of Gymnastics Champions at the United Center. They were SO excited to see the FAB FIVE and others. The gymnastics was one of their favorite sports to watch during the 2012 Olympics. Unfortunately, 2 of the 5 girls was not there as they were hurt but all in all it was an amazing show. Nastia Liukin (2008 Olympics) was there and she was really great to watch. The girls LOVED it.

This week I met up w/ some of my girlfriends from the city and we went to Hot Chocolate. OMG, I forgot how amazing their dessert is = YUMMY! We splurged and split the following: malted chocolate milk shake, banana ice box cake, and some yummy doughnuts. And my burger wasn't too bad either!

We've been chatting about halloween costumes all week! I saw this pinata costume on pinterest and I cannot wait to start making it. I've ordered my leotard and the crepe paper! Peter and I are heading to a big halloween bash next weekend. PFC is undecided at the moment but he may try to pull off Mitt Romney's "binders full of women" comment during the debate. We shall see. Pics to follow! C is going to be a witch (a pretty one of course) and M is going to be a "bat-rina" (a scarier ballerina). And GMC is going to be a dinosaur!

I'll be flying solo this weekend as PFC is off on a guys weekend. Wish me luck!

And lastly, we are SO excited that JuJu will be here in a few days. She will be staying w/ us for a week. Hooray!

Some of my latest faves:

• Amazing fall recipes (all look AMAZING) = Pumpkin Spiced Oatmeal, Pumpkin Doughnuts (yummy looking), Pumpkin Pear Crisps, Pancetta, White Bean and Chard Pot Pies, and Garlic Sweet Potato Mash.
• Clever idea for a kids halloween party = Mask Bar. 
• Folks have been a buzz about Brad Pitt's latest Chanel no. 5 ad. Here is some history about the best selling perfume. 
• LOVE this grecian-esque dress = Marchioness Dress. Gorgeous color. 
• Every Christmas PFC gets me the new Linda & Harriett Letterpress calendar. I cannot wait to see the 2013 one! WOW, her new Quilt Calendar looks pretty spectacular. Some other pretty calendars. 
• I'm loving this Lace + Leather dress from Zara. It would be perfect for all those holiday parties! Here is a cute Sequinned Heart Dress from their kids line. C + M would love it! 
• Homemade Butterfinger, Snickers + Kit Kat Bars = divine looking! 
• I LOVE fresh flowers but wouldn't it be nice to have a bouquet that you don't have to throw away = Paper Bouquet. 
• A chevron party = WHY NOT! 
• Pretty vintage inspired dress (by Princess Catherine's favorite designer). 
• Cute Peplum Pink Dress. 
• A Starbucks OOPS! 
• Great tote. Love the pink stripe! Cute cross body bag. 
• Some cute DIY matchbook notebooks. Love these. 
• I saw these awesome little apple pie-lets on the Food Network. They look so yummy (and easy)!  

My Latest Obsessions

C + M's first swim meet of Fall/Winter season

Yummy apple pie (check out the little heart)

GMC enjoying a little airplane action

Happy Friday! Fall is in full force. LOVING all the gorgeous leaves that are changing. Fall is so pretty. Our pumpkins are on our stoop outside (yet to be carved) and our mums are out too.

Busy weekend ahead. Tonight we are hosting a cocktail party for folks to meet our new neighbors. And tomorrow we have our niece's 1st birthday party in the city. I'm also playing a tennis match tomorrow afternoon (FUN)!

Our dinner party last Saturday was a HUGE success. The menu was FAB and all the dishes were SUPER tasty. I will replicate this meal again for sure. Menu = grilled Ribeye steaks (that we got down the street from Kinnikinnick Farm this summer), started w/ pistachio beets (FAB), mashed potatoes (cream cheese is the key ingredient), roasted brussels sprouts, and for dessert we had apple pie w/ Petersen's vanilla bean ice cream (so yummy).

Some of my latest faves:

• LOVE this glitter crown tutorial. FAB idea. Would be cute for a girls bday party. 
• I really want to see the movie Butter w/ Jennifer Garner. 
• I'm more of a sweets person (than salty) but when I get a craving for potato chips I want to try to make some baked kale chips. 
• Here are some pretty fall flower centerpieces for your next dinner party. 
• My sister's little guy Graham's 1st birthday is coming up. I think I'm going to get him this adorable crochet owl hat. How cute! 
• What a gorgeous dinner party. I would have loved to have been invited to this one. LOVE it. 
• I'm currently sporting Essie's midnight cami on my nails. LOVE it. Saw it first on A Cup of Jo. 
• Interesting article entitled, "The Fine Line between Marriage and Divorce." Iris Krasnow wrote the book The Secret Lives of Wives. 
• Some great quotes from John Lennon. John Lennon would have been 72 yrs old this month. 
• Pretty ombre candy corn cake. I really want to make this! 
• How COOL = magnetic wallpaper. LOVE it. The kids would love this. 
• Zara Home has come to the states. Very cute kids stuff. 
• I've been wearing an oldie but goody lately = a caftan dress from Rachel Polly (mine is in red). I got it years ago at a boutique in Bozeman, MT. 
• Parenthood was great this week. I'm so curious how the Ray Romano and Lauren Graham relationship is going to pan out. Even Pioneer Woman is wondering what is going to happen w/ the two of them! I would like to see them together. Here is some Parenthood fashion for you. 
• I definitely want to try this Chicken Pot Pie soup. Looks so yummy. 
• Last night I made baked acorn squash - reminded me of growing up as my Mom used to always make it! 
• I've been told that I MUST try the new legging cords from Gap. I'm in! A friend said that the vamp red are FAB. 
• A friend dropped off some AMAZING chocolate chip cookies. HONESTLY one of the best chocolate chip cookies I've had. I HAD to get the recipe = Perfect Chocolate Chip recipe. 

My Latest Obsessions

GMC's fave = eating breakfast w/ his pal Elmo

Happy Friday! Wow, the temps have DROPPED. But I gotta say I honestly love fall in Chicago. So pretty. I don't mind the cooler temps. Time to layer up.

Lots going on this weekend. We have the girls first swim meet of the fall/winter season tomorrow morning. And tonight I'm heading out w/ some gals as one of our friends is moving soon. We have dinner plans at Paris Club and then who knows where we'll end up. And then Saturday night we are hosting a dinner party for a group of 12 (PFC's college buddies and their spouses). FUN! And here is a fabulous guide for how much food/drinks to serve at a party. And Sunday I'm hoping to snuggle in and catch up on some reading.

Some of my latest faves:

• OMG. I'm kind of obsessed w/ these crystal bulbs. They are so lovely. LOVE them (but not their price tag). Wouldn't they be pretty in a grouping. LOVE LOVE LOVE. 
• LOVE these tea towels. My fave = the bows. 
• I made these yummy Santa Fe Turkey Stuffed Peppers last evening for dinner. Delicious and so healthy. I doubled up on the jalapenos to give it a little more kick! 
• I'm TOTALLY loving Ray Romano's performance in Parenthood this season. Love him. And I kind of want him to end up w/ Sarah Braverman (yes, she is engaged but I think that this might be a better fit). He is endearing and she can get him to warm up. And seriously, when Peter/I have any serious conversations w/ the girls I think we need to call upon the writers of Parenthood. Jasmine's talk w/ her little guy was perfect. And here is some of this week's fashion from the show. 
• PFC/I officially started watching Season 1 of Modern Family and we LOVE it. I love all 3 couples. Hilarious. I now understand the hype! We are flying through the episodes and soon we'll be caught up. 
• I sent my youngest sister a care package awhile back and I think she is due for another one. How FAB is this one?! Everyone likes getting mail or packages in the mail! 
• This article is great - The Last Time. LOVED it. Makes you want to slow down. GMC started crying a few nights ago around 10:30 pm. Peter went upstairs to check on him. I was secretly hoping that he would bring him downstairs. He did. I laid him on my chest and snuggled w/ him. Reading that article made me think about when those little snuggles will end. 
• Nutella Krispie Treats = brilliant. YUM-O! 
• Chivalry Isn't Dead = LOVE this. And doesn't Dita Von Teese look amazing?! 
• Cute Peter Pan collar shirtdress. Love the color. And how exciting - Madewell has arrived at Oakbrook.  
• This Deep-Dish Pumpkin Meringue Pie looks so delicious. YUM! 

My Latest Obsessions

Georgie's latest faves = his backpack and straw fedora

Happy Friday! It has been such a GORGEOUS week - beautiful blue skies and perfect temps (low 70s but cool in the AM). Love FALL! The flip flops have officially been put away but that is okay.We are hoping to go apple picking this weekend but due to the drought the pickings are slim. We shall see!

Last night we hosted a little painting class/gathering. It was SO much fun! It made me miss creating art and being creative. Very therapeutic. So, Saturday night we have a toga party. Kind of hilarious, right?! I need to practice putting on a toga (haven't done so since my college days).

Hope everyone has a great weekend. The weather looks FAB.

Some of my latest faves:

• I took advantage of J.Crew's 25% off + free shipping (thru Sunday) and bought the schoolboy navy blazer I have been eyeing. Excited to get it in the mail! 
• Pretty table linens. And that cayenne color is PERFECT for fall. Speaking of table linens I'm thinking of our menu for an upcoming dinner party next weekend. We are hosting some of PFC's college buddies. We already bought the meat (XX) and I'm thinking of the following sides/items to go w/ the main entree: mashed potatoes (from my fave = Pioneer Woman), roasted brussels sprouts and pistachio beets (similar to the ones from the Purple Pig = LOVE LOVE LOVE). And I'm debating on what to do for dessert = apple pie (using the apples from our apple picking excursion) or Almond Florentine and Black Raspberry Chip Ice Cream sandwiches (w/ my fave = Graeter's ice cream). Thoughts? I'm leaning towards the apple pie but OMG those ice cream sandwiches are heavenly. Honestly. 
• Scarves 25 ways = awesome. I learned some new ones I want to try! 
• I've always been a fan of gold (vs silver). I'm more into warm tones. Some gold inspiration. My favorite pair of flats are gold. 
• Totally digging this hair tutorial. Speaking of hair I need to get a new braidband. Aubrey's braidbands were featured in Daily Candy. How fun! 
• Ever feel a bit overwhelmed? Loved this post from A Cup of Jo. 
• I watched Alex Guarnaschelli make these Raspberry Beignets with Vanilla Dipping Sauce on the Food Network the other day. OMG - they look AMAZING.  
• So fun = Kate Spade partnered up w/ Paperless Post. Cannot wait to use one of their invitations. LOVE. 
• Another great Etsy store = Burlap Art. A friend of mine sent me her shop. Love her stuff. 
• I'm a Mom - interesting article. And yes, I get it. 
• My sister and I have been chatting about her little guy Graham's first birthday party. I'm digging these owl cupcakes for the party. 
• Another great episode of Parenthood this week. Some Parenthood fashion. Curious what is going to happen between Heather Graham and Ray Romano - looks like it could get interesting!