My Latest Obsession

GMC and Santa talking it out

Off to the Nutcracker 

Happy Friday! This morning the gals were getting ready for their last day of school before winter break. They have their holiday concerts (LOVE) and parties today. We leave SUPER early tomorrow morning for AZ. We are all so excited to spend Christmas in Arizona with JuJu and Grandpa T. We are looking forward to some quality down time w/ one another. I imagine we'll be watching lots of movies in our pajamas and playing board games.

Now it is back to packing!

Have a fabulous weekend and wonderful Christmas! XO - D2

Some of my latest faves...

• So, it looks like Ryan will be coming back to Parenthood after all. Interesting. 
• WOWSER, the season finale of Homeland was VERY intense. Sad too. So curious what Season 4 will bring. I'm hopeful we'll see more of Quinn. Love him. I'm going to miss Brody but it was time for him to go. I will for sure miss Saul though. 
• Homemade fudge w/ just 4 ingredients = MUST make soon. Maybe my youngest sister and I will make this for my mom's party that she always has after Christmas. YUMMY! 
• This viral Christmas Card is pretty hilarious. Gotta love their Christmas jammies! Love it. 
• Some gorgeous wedding dresses. 
• Town Hall Bingo = perfect family gift. 
• I saw these pretty Chindi Reindeer at a friend's house. I love them. Festive and colorful. Here's a DIY Chindi Reindeer. This would be a fun project! 
• Pretty gold rimmed dinnerware. 
• My sister had a baby boy this past weekend. He is adorable! Great name too = Hunter Robert. Here's a fun Hipster Baby Name Generator. I tried it out. Some of the following names popped up = Roderick Rickey, Adolfo Brady, Leona Miriarm, Crotts Cottman, Wales Schoen. Hilarious! 
• Some etiquette guidelines for Black Tie. And a helpful dress code decoder. 
• Helpful secrets of a home baker. 
• I love calligraphy. I love a handwritten note. This is a cute calligraphy starter kit. 
• Awesome little letterpress quilt tags. These printable holiday tags and wrap are fabulous. 
• GMC is obsessed w/ transformers. He carries Heat Wave around w/ him everyday. Heat Wave goes w/ him to school (in his backpack) and comes w/ us on errands (along w/ his fire hat). We picked up one of these cubebots the other day and it is GMC's new fave. He named his cubebot "Ruda" - a variation of Rudolph. Cute. 
• Santa is bringing me these sparkle knit leg warmers. Love them. I saw them on someone the other day in a workout class. Perfect way to wear my shorter cut workout pants during the winter! No more gym class draft! 
• PFC and I are sneaking off to Sedona for a night while we are at my mom's in AZ. She and Grandpa T will watch the kiddos for a night. We are heading to L'Auberge for the night. Super excited! Anyone have any Must See or Must Do items in Sedona?! I've been before but PFC has not. 
• I haven't been to Eataly yet. I plan on getting there after our trip. The fine dining restaurant, Baffo, just opened. 
• This year we will be having a relaxing NYE at home in AZ. Maybe we'll catch up on some movies we haven't seen yet! Here are some trends to try this NYE. My personal fave = the full skirt. And this glitter garland would be perfect for a NYE party. 
• Totally digging John Legend's song All of Me. I love him. 
• Babykins = cute nickname that Prince William has for Kate. Probably sounds even cuter w/ an accent! 

My Latest Obsessions

CMC and MMC (photo by Alma Veliky Photography)

G$

Happy Friday! The countdown is OFFICIALLY on = 12 days until Christmas! And we leave the Saturday after next for AZ. Super excited. We haven't spent Christmas w/ my mom in a long time so we are very excited to spend some time w/ my mom JuJu and Grandpa T! And GMC is excited to go flying through the sky!!!

This weekend will be filled w/ more holiday parties. Tomorrow morning we are having breakfast w/ Santa. GMC is very excited to wear his new holiday bowtie that PFC splurged on yesterday. So cute. GMC loved that it had trucks all over it! GMC is following in PFC's footsteps = rocking the bowtie! I love it and the girls squeal w/ delight when they see GMC dressed up (especially when he is wearing a bowtie).

And Sunday I'm taking the girls to see The Nutcracker. I told them last evening that we were going. They are beyond excited. They have been talking about seeing The Nutcracker since last Christmas. AND Sunday pm = the season finale of Homeland. OMG, it has been a great season. Super intense. I also need to catch up on Thursday evening's Parenthood. So curious what happens w/ Ryan and Amber.

Have a fabulous weekend! Stay warm. XO - D2

• This two bean soup with kale is super tasty (and great for chilly winter nights). I added 4 links of Trader Joe's Andouille Sausage (totally gave it a little kick). I also doubled the carrots, celery and onions to make it a heartier soup. I brought it over to a girl gathering Wednesday evening. It received a thumbs up! 
• I adore my group of girlfriends from college. We have done a great job of staying in touch through the years. I cannot wait for our trip together in the spring! Wahoo! Here is a cute article about friends that have traveled together for 20 years. 
• I'm sure a lot of you have seen the WestJet Christmas Surprise. I LOVED it. I even teared up a bit. Brilliant marketing! 
• Wouldn't this soft serve ice cream maker be a great gift for a family? Or what about a popcorn maker? 
• That thing called juggling. Great post on juggling work, kids, husband, life. Everyone has different things they are juggling and we all do it differently. 
• What a cute flippy little skirt. Very versatile. 
• Holiday parties call for a little sparkle or plaid. I saw a friend wearing these tartan wool pants at holiday party last weekend. Love them! PFC is excited to bust out his holiday blazer this weekend! I've gotta say that my green flannel shirt from Target has definitely gotten its cost per wear the last couple of weeks! 
• I think I'll always be a coffee drinker. I start every morning w/ a cup of coffee. However, I would consider starting my morning w/ some lemon water too. 
• I appreciate things that are personalized and monogrammed. Here are 35 personalized and monogrammed gifts for folks on your list. You can never go wrong w/ a golden monogrammed mug. 
• We taught the girls early on that they needed to stay in their rooms until 7 am. They could wake up earlier than 7 but they need to hang in their rooms as to not wake the rest of the house. They have had a digital clock in their room forever (for that reason). Here is a great digital clock for a kids room. 
• These are the most adorable owl mugs. Perfect for your hot chocolate! 
• GMC had curriculum evening at his school last night. At one of the stations they had the kids stringing cheerios and fruit loops. So simple and easy yet GMC loved making his strand. What an easy activity to do at home. 
• This Vanilla and Smoke Mast Brothers chocolate bar is the perfect little hostess gift. I love Mast Brothers for their beautiful wrapping alone (and the the chocolate itself is fabulous).  Love this Cocoa Nibs bar. Read about the brothers behind the chocolate bars. 
• These peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies look AWESOME! We'll definitely be making these over winter break in AZ! And they are only made w/ 6 ingredients (no flour and butter)! 
• I cannot wait to head over to West Elm after the holidays. I'm hoping to snag some of their holiday decor on sale! And I love their collaboration w/ Baggu on these great dipped totes.
• A pretty throw to curl up under. Give me the throw, a book, and some hot chocolate and I'll call it a night! That totally plays in to my introverted side! 
• This Claire Vivier clutch would definitely add a little punch to an outfit. 

My Latest Obsessions

Polar Express - Chilling w/ Santa. LOVE GMC's intense stare. 

Kiddos left out their slippers for St. Nick

Happy Friday! I cannot believe that it is the 6th of December! Wowser. That means 19 days until Christmas. Yikes! Thanksgiving was super late this year. Speaking of Thanksgiving we had a wonderful time last week. My mom (JuJu) and Grandpa T were in town along w/ my youngest sister and my two stepsisters and their families. We had not all been together in a VERY long time. It was super fun and especially great for all of the kiddos to get together. They had a ball! And this year PFC's birthday fell on Thanksgiving. We had a yummy german chocolate cake on hand to toast PFC. 

The countdown is on until Christmas. Lots of upcoming holiday parties and concerts. This weekend we have holiday gatherings Saturday PM and then Sunday I'm heading to The Drake for a holiday tea w/ some girlfriends. Tis the season!

Have a wonderful weekend! Stay warm. XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• The world was saddened yesterday to learn about the passing of Nelson Mandela. His impact on American activism, politics and pop culture. 
• Okay, so I tried a new brussels sprouts recipe out on Thanksgiving. It was a HUGE hit. It has been added to our Christmas Eve dinner menu. I polled folks on FB for help w/ a new brussels sprouts recipe. You MUST try these = Brussels Sprout Hash with Caramelized Shallots. DIVINE! Other winners included these creamy mashed potatoes (from The Pioneer Woman) and this traditional sweet potato casserole. 
• 10 modern holiday wreaths. My fave = this antique bloom wreath. 12 modern Christmas stockings. Love the Otomi ones. 
• Okay, I saw this amazing a capella group on someone's FB page. They are AH-MAZING. Check out their version of Drummer Boy. Here is the group's official website. 
• I bought a pair of these fleece lined handwarmers last year at Anthropologie. I LOVE them. Super cute too. I bought the multi-colored pair. Great gift item for a friend. 
• This article made me really think = Milestones that Matter. 
• My stepsister's little gal was wearing these cute jeans. Adorable. 
• My sister in law came over the day after Thanksgiving to hang w/ our crew. She brought her famous Salsa-Baked Goat Cheese Dip. It goes fast! Super fast. Here is a version of it. 
• My youngest sister's architecture firm was tapped to help out Detroit's downtown. Pretty neat. What a cool project to be on. 
• I love tiramisu. I've never attempted to make it. Maybe I will! 
• NPR's list of best books of 2013. Speaking of books I'm supposed to be done w/ And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini by next Thursday. I have yet to start. Yikes! I've been hearing great things about the book Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. Anyone read it or heard anything about it? I need to add it to my list. 
• An article about PFC's uncle. Great guy and he does amazing work. 
• Three great party dresses to wear to all the upcoming holiday parties! Great price on this cute one! Or if you aren't much of a dress gal check out this festive shimmer tee. 
• I'm super anxious to check out the highly anticipated Eataly that opened this past week in Chicago. I think they had me at Nutella Bar. Enough said. 
• How cute are these mini wreath gift tags?! Love them. 
• I've gotta get started on our Carr Christmas Cookies! We make our own holiday version of these Cowgirl Cookie Mixes for friends/family. 
• I'm looking forward to afternoon tea at The Drake on Sunday. A great way to get in to the spirit of the season. 8 places to take afternoon tea in Chicago. 
• Kickstarter is such a cool concept. Check out Andreagems. Very unique jewelry. 
• Wouldn't this Vosges Advent Calendar be a treat?! Yummy! Here is a neat DIY Pantone Advent calendar. 
• The sides of Paul Walker you may have missed. So sad. 
• And I'll leave you w/ some yummy hot chocolate recipes. 

My Latest Obsessions

I cannot believe it has been 4 years!
Happy Anniversary, PFC (my best friend, partner in crime and best dad ever). 

Happy Friday! I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week! We are super excited that JuJu and Grandpa T are spending the week w/ us. My youngest sister Carrie will be here too along w/ my stepsisters and their husbands and kids. We haven't all been together in years. Onion's article on siblings gathered around a powerpoint hashing out topics that cannot be discussed (during Thanksgiving) is pretty hilarious! Every family has its threshold on topics, right?!

Tonight we are off to C and M's piano recital. They have been diligently practicing their songs. And then PFC and I are off to Skrine Chops for a dinner w/ a bunch of folks. I love their 2nd floor and their food = awesome! The rest of the weekend will be spent organizing the house a bit for Thanksgiving week!

Have a fabulous weekend. XO - D2

Some of my latest obsessions:

• Wow. Has it seriously been 4 years since we got married?! Sometimes it feels like yesterday and sometimes it feels like it has been 10 years. We had GMC's Thanksgiving performance at his school last night so that is how we spent our evening. It was super cute!
• I ordered The Catalina weekender bag for my youngest sister (for Christmas). Love that there is a bottom compartment for shoes or what not. You can save 20% off your order until Thanksgiving. I stumbled upon Lo & Sons via Oh Joy. 
• I picked up this plaid shirt at Target the other day. Thought the navy/green was a bit festive and would look cute tied and paired w/ a skirt. 
• I think I'm going to make this Loaded Philly Cheesesteak Baked Potato for PFC one evening. It is right up his alley! 
• I'm a huge fan of gold. And rose gold in particular. Here are some rose gold items for inspiration. Love these simple delicate rose gold heart earrings.  
• I had my sisters wear a black dress of their choice for my wedding. I just had the 2 of them stand up so I didn't make them wearing matching dresses. They appreciated me for that! How great is this long convertible bridesmaid dress?! Very pretty. Check out all the different ways you can wear the dress. 
• Have you seen the Jean-Claude Van Damme's video for Volvo? Well, check out Channing Tatum's spoof on it? Love it! Speaking of Tatum, I loved him in Magic Mike. Remember these dance moves?! 
• Holiday TV Guide for the kiddos. 
• I saw P!NK this past week w/ some friends. She is an AMAZING performer. Wow. And here are reasons why P!NK is the role model every girl should have. 
• 28 rules for fathers of sons. So many great ones. Love #19 = give him bear hugs. 
• On Facebook I asked for brussels sprout recipes. We are having them as a side for Thanksgiving. Lots of recipes came pouring in. Some of them include the following: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Garlic and Shallots; Brussels Sprout and Apple Salad; Miles End's Brussels Sprouts with Candied Walnuts and Apples; Brussels Sprout Hash with Caramelized Shallots and Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto. Any more that folks want to share? I haven't made a final decision yet! 
• Anyone that truly knows me knows that I would so appreciate these Thanksgiving Worksheets. Love them. They can be downloaded here. 
• Charleston, SC is on my must visit list. Why Charleston is America's Favorite City? 
• My dad's mom (Grams as we called her) made this super yummy cranberry orange relish for Thanksgiving. It reminds me of her. We are making it next week for Thanksgiving. Here is a similar recipe. 
• I hit up Costco every 2 weeks or so. 11 Reasons to Love Costco. 
• I have a holiday cookie exchange in a few weeks. I'm trying to find a recipe. Any faves out there? Here is a list of 100 cookie recipes. 

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! My mom (JuJu) and Grandpa T are in town this weekend along w/ Carrie. LOVE having them here. Carrie has a gallery opening tonight for some furniture she designed. Very excited to check it out tonight. We are then heading to The Dawnson for some dinner and celebrating. And how fun that all of them will be back again very soon for Thanksgiving! The rest of the weekend will be spent relaxing and hanging out with the family.

Have a fabulous weekend! XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• I LOVE making baked dishes and casseroles in the fall and winter. I think this Baked Pasta w/ Broccoli Rabe and Sausage is next on my list. Looks yummy! Oh, and these Farro and Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash look yummy too! 
• December 1st is around the corner. Here are some advent calendar ideas.
• It is the 10th anniversary of the movie Love Actually. I LOVE the movie and always try to watch it again during the holidays. What is your favorite holiday movie? Fave scene = Hugh Grant dancing. LOVE it! 
• The girls are OBSESSED w/ making rainbow loom bracelets. Genius. Wish I invented the loom. I bought these personalized cases for them for Christmas. Cute. 
• I love colored pencils. I prefer them over crayons any day. Love this Brass Colored Pencil Set. 
• I was in GMC's class the other day and the kids helped me make these yummy Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies. It was so much fun to see Georgie at school. 
• Fabulous = River Forest schools rank top in state! 
• Cute new Uggs. This pair w/ the bows are cute too. I live in my Uggs all winter long! Cozy. 
• The kids enjoyed watching Master Chef Junior. My cousin's daughter Molly made it a couple of rounds. We all loved the youngest contestant Sarah. We were amazed by all of the kids but Sarah was a hit w/ Cate and Margaret. 
• LOVE this dress. Very pretty. Another pretty dress.
• What a cute lookbook from Zara - for the mini set. Cute little coat. 
• Adorable little bunny ornament. 
• 18 Things Everyone Should Start Making Time For Again. I want to try more of the following: disconnect from technology (super hard for me to be away from my phone) and reading an actual hard copy of a book (vs an e-book). 
• Some cute messy braids. 
• Beautiful return address stamps. 
• I had a great time visiting friends in Minneapolis last weekend. I highly recommend the restaurant Bar La Grassa for dinner. Oustanding! Oh, and cupcakes from Sweet Retreat in Edina. Their cupcakes are divine! 
• A high school friend's wedding is featured in Style Me Pretty = FABULOUS! 

My Latest Obsessions

GMC's preschool pic - age 3

MMC's 2nd grade pic - age 7

CMC's 4th grade pic - age 9

Happy Friday! I'm leaving shortly for out of town. I'm visiting some friends in MN. PFC will be holding down the fort w/ the kiddos. The girls have a swim meet on Saturday and they'll be off to a family birthday party on Sunday. I'll be home in time on Sunday for Homeland! Hooray!

I cannot wait until next week! My youngest sister Carrie will be in town and my mom (JuJu) and Grandpa T are coming too for a visit. We'll all be heading to Volume Gallery to see Carrie's gallery opening on Windsor Chairs. And then we are heading to The Dawson for dinner. Excited to check out this new restaurant.

Have a fabulous weekend! XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• Cute flats. Perfect for the Thanksgiving host who is running around! 
• How to be a Happy Overachiever. Totally agree = avoid negative people. 
• The girls and I watch Pioneer Woman from time to time. They enjoy it. They wanted me to make this sourcream noodle bake. I made it last Sunday. It was a hit in our house. 
• Super sad = Charlie Trotter passed away this week. He totally revolutionized the dining scene across the country and put Chicago on the map in terms of restaurants. 
• How do you exit a party? Sometimes we say goodbye but most times (depending on the type of party) PFC and I sneak out (otherwise we end up getting caught in convo for another hour). I love this = ghosting. 
• We are hosting Thanksgiving this year. I'm working on our list of sides and dishes. I consulted Pioneer Woman's list of sides. These mashed potatoes are on our list for SURE. They are excellent. We made them last year! Rave reviews. And these brussels sprouts with balsamic and cranberries sound super yummy. Here is a great list of spots to get your Thanksgiving pie (in Chicago). We are getting our pies from our fave pie spot = Bang Bang Pie Shop. 
• Fun birthday message = banner in a box! 
• Some cute place cards for Thanksgiving. However, I decided to buy this stamp and make my own placecards! Fun. Pretty Thanksgiving decorations. 
• I love hanging w/ the Bravermans! Here is a Braverman house tour for those of you that enjoy Parenthood! Last night's show was great - lots of little story lines going on. 
• I picked up both of these books from the library = The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Excited to cozy up on the couch w/ these books! 
• I love these wood blocks and prints. This would make a great gift. I think we'll make one for PFC to bring to work. 
• I try to be on time. It is tough though when you are w/ the kiddos. 33 reasons why moms are late. 
• This gas station jam session is pretty funny! Enjoy! 
• 19 habits of really healthy women. 
• GOOP for Paperless Post. Some cute designs. 
• 2 dear friends have collaborated and have started an interior styling and staging firm. They are super talented. Excited for them. 
• Here are the 2014 Chicago Michelin Bib awards. Two local faves are on the list = Autre Monde and Marion Street Cheese Market and Sen Sushi. 
• And super hooray to my high school, Wyoming High School (in Cincinnati), for making the 50 Best Public High Schools in the US. #18 = go WHS! 

My Latest Obsessions

Pistol Pete and his biker chick

Fireman Georgie

Our Vampires

GMC's preschool pic (age 3)

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had an awesome Halloween yesterday. The kids were SO excited to wear their costumes to school and then go trick or treating. We spent yesterday morning w/ the girls at their school to see the Halloween Parade and then I went to GMC's school for his Halloween party. So cute. It was fun to see him w/ all of his buddies.

We need to catch up on last evening's Parenthood. And we're looking forward to Homeland on Sunday. It is getting good! Tomorrow PM we have a party and I think PFC and I are going to sneak in a little dinner date beforehand.

Have a fabulous weekend! XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• I LOVE spinach artichoke dip. This spicy spinach artichoke skillet dip looks super yummy! 
• This Pure + Good Striped Ruffle Jacket looks super cozy and cute too. 
• These apple hand pies look so yummy. You had me at salted caramel! 
• I told CMC that she could get her ears pierced when she turned 10. So this January we'll get her ears pierced. Very exciting. Aren't these little studs cute?! 
• This past week I went and heard Rebecca Skloot speak about her book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. She was super inspiring. It took her 10 years to write the book. Amazing. 
• Super neat take on a calendar = 2014 A Year in Stitches (cross stitching calendar kit). 
• Check out this video and see why we have an absolutely ridiculous standard of beauty. Sad but true. 
• This is HILARIOUS = the candy hierarchy. My faves = almond joys (which are second tier). 
• Very cool farmhouse. 
• Interesting article = The Curse of the Connector. 
• Another baking question answered = why we use large eggs in baking. 
• How to look like a French Girl. 
• When the temps drop I start my evening routine ends w/ a cup of hot chocolate. I love it. I sip it while watching one of my weekly shows. I MUST try this hot chocolate recipe w/ coconut. 
• Halloween is over but aren't these fashion icon costumes great (done up by little ones)?! Love these. Anna Wintour = fab! 

My Latest Obsessions

Pumpkin Ice Cream sandwiches = DIVINE! 

Happy Friday! We saw some snowflakes here and there this week. YIKES! We also pulled out the winter coats (boo!). Fingers crossed that the temps will rise a bit for Halloween next Thursday. Speaking of Halloween PFC and I have two Halloween parties this weekend! Fun. Tonight I'm going as a biker chick and PFC is going as a cowboy (his usual costume). And then on Saturday we are mixing it up a bit and going as Johnny and Baby from Dirty Dancing. PFC will be in all black and I'll sport some jean shorts and a white blouse. I did contemplate putting together this photobooth strip costume. Maybe next year!

Saturday I'm taking the girls horseback riding with some folks and PFC and GMC are going to have some daddy/son time! I'm assuming they'll hit up a local estate sale or they'll snuggle in for a little American Pickers action. I think PFC secretly wants to be Mike or Frank!

Have a fabulous weekend. XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• I LOVE this cool LA loft. Check out the cool interior beams. 
• These Skinny Mummy Cake Balls look fab. You had me at cake ball! 
• Hilarious little read = My son showed my underwear to his preschool class. 
• I'm super excited to read Donna Tarrt's new book, The Goldfinch. I absolutely loved her book, The Secret History. I still think about that book even 10 years later. Speaking of books, here is a great list of books. 
• I'm a HUGE Law & Order: SVU fan. Huge. I love Liv. It was a sad day and episode when Richard Belzer retired as Detective Munch. 
• I love this. Tell a friend she is a good mama. Great post. This letter to my old friends made me SUPER excited that I have a trip booked w/ my gal pals from college in the spring. 
• Some fun DIY stationery ideas. I especially like the doily cards. Very pretty. 
• Very pretty leaf hair accessories. These bobby pins are pretty too. 
• Check out Tavi Gevinson = all grown up! 
• Gorgeous dress. Olivia Wilde likes it too! 
• What candy bar are you looking forward to on Halloween? I LOVE almond joys. Don't these homemade twix bars look yummy?! 
• Wow = 9 surprising foods with more sugar than a krispy creme donut. UGH. 
• A little Braverman fashion from Parenthood. 
• Very pumped for my youngest sister Carrie's gallery opening for "wrong chairs." 
• Did someone say nutella bar?! No way. Wowser. Stay tuned for Eataly. 
• This article got me thinking about our annual weekend in Milwaukee. For several years now PFC and I have been heading to Milwaukee for a weekend in February. Love it there! It gives us something to look forward to after the holiday madness. I think we need to add Boswell Book Company to our list! 
• Okay, these ghost meringue cupcakes look AH-MAZING. And super cute. Maybe we'll attempt these this weekend or next week! 
• Granted I haven't stepped foot in an H&M in forever. But the collaboration w/ Isabel Marant looks FAB. Everyone has a friend that can rock these sequin pants! Totally digging the sweater coat. 
• Wouldn't a party feel even more festive if you received this invitation?! 
• Totally been loving Lana Del Ray's song Summertime Sadness.
• Love this brass cuff. Pretty calendar.
• These pumpkin pie ice cream sandwiches look divine! However, save yourself some time and buy some of Jeni's Cinderella Pumpkin ice cream and triple ginger cookies from Trader Joe's. Make little sandwiches and you are all set! YUM! I get my Jeni's ice cream from Marion Street Cheese shop. See pic above! 
• I think Jamie Dornan will be just fine as the new Christian Grey in 50 Shades of Grey. Check out these pics of him. Yummy. 
• Take this fun Mood Map quiz. It tells you where your mood and temperament would fit in state wise. I matched up w/ Georgia! What about you? Savannah has always been on my list! 

My Latest Obsessions

The kiddos (photo taken by Alma S. Veliky)

Happy Friday! The girls are off w/ PFC this weekend for an Indian Princess Campout so it is just me and Georgie. We'll have a chill weekend. I'm hosting 2 Dailey Method classes in Oak Park for their opening weekend. And I'm looking forward to catching up w/ PFC Sunday evening and then watching Homeland. It is getting intense!

This week I was able to see a dear college friend who is in town from London. A couple of us got together for dinner at Longman & Eagle and then one night at Lula Cafe. Such great FOOD! My favorite item at Longman & Eagle was the homemade burrata. Yummy! And we all LOVED the peanut butter pie at Lula Cafe (OMG, ah-mazing)! I think it would be fun to check out one of Longman & Eagle's overnight rooms. Perfect for a guest that doesn't want to head all the way downtown but wants to be in Chicago. Logan Square is hopping for sure.

Have a fabulous weekend. XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• This is great = 15 recipes every parent should know. It is always good to have some great go to recipes in your arsenal. And I LOVE these 100 rules of dinner. I love Jenny's book. It is all about the family dinner and how to make it happen and what to serve. One of my favorite memories growing up includes enjoying a meal around the dinner table. On Sundays my dad always made chicken stir fry and I always LOVED my mom's chicken divine. And here are 15 great cookbooks for fall. 
• My sister Stephie and I lived together for years in Chicago. It was the best. And I've gotta say that having a double wardrobe was FAB! I love that C and M have one another as sisters. Love it. 21 Reasons It's Awesome to Have your Sister as your Best Friend. 
• How exciting. Bang Bang Pie Shop is now serving brunch and lunch (and dinner will be coming soon)! Awesome! My sister is in charge of desserts/pies for Thanksgiving and I recommended that she hit up Bang Bang Pie. Cannot wait! The chocolate pecan pie sounds DIVINE! Yum. 
• Last evening we discussed The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. AWESOME book. Great read if you are looking for a new book. Loved it. 
• Doesn't this dutch oven apple crisp look awesome?! Super yummy. 
• How gorgeous is this look book for Rifle Paper Co.? So pretty. What a cute way to say hello to a friend! 
• 18 fun doormats for fall. Faves = Hex in Black and White Polka Dots. 
• A couple great fall/winter coats = Loop Knit Coat, Wraparound Coat, Sabrina Coat, Wool Alpaca Coat and Heritage Coat. 
• 50 pumpkin recipes. This Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili looks great for the falling temps! And this Butternut Squash and Sage Lasagna looks super yummy. 
• What a stunning pumpkin! 
• I LOVE this shimmered tweed dress. Check out the back! And check out the back on this Mulberry Dress.
• I need this braided metallic headband. Love headbands.  
• Ginger snaps and pumpkin ice cream = YUMMY! Buy some of Jeni's Cinderella Pumpkin and some triple ginger snaps from Trader Joe's and you've got yourself a tasty treat! 
• This caused a bit of a stir on facebook. Thoughts? I honestly don't think the photo itself deserves some of the comments it has received. 
• Amy Poehler and Tina Fey taught us everything we should know about being a woman. And here's an article on how to wire your brain for happiness. 
• I LOVE this messenger tote. Beautiful and practical. 
• Amazing baby shower w/ a southern flair. 
• Cozy fall outfit. 
• AWESOME collaboration w/ Kelly Wearstler and Paperless Post = gorgeous e-invitations. 
• The Novogratz Collection just arrived at CB2. Remember the Novogratz family? They were on Bravo's 9 by Design. 

My Latest Obsessions

MMC + CMC on picture day at school

Happy Friday! We had another gorgeous fall week. Love this weather. Fingers crossed that the gorgeous weather continues in to the weekend. This weekend we have PFC's 25th Fenwick High School reunion. Yes, 25th! FUN! He has been planning away and I'm excited to see it all come together. The kids are SUPER excited to head to the football game on Saturday. Saturday evening we are meeting up w/ everyone for dinner at Skrine Chops = YUMMY!

Good luck to all the Chicago Marathon runners! This weekend always brings me back to my days of marathon training w/ my sister and some good buddies. We had a blast. However, I have yet to run again! Yikes! It was awesome but my running days were short lived.

Have a fabulous weekend! XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• 25 cake stands and 11 cake recipes. YUMMY! Pretty cake dome. 
• Glitter loafers. Just because. 
• I make baked ziti for the kiddos about once a week or so. I tried this healthier version this week to good reviews. 
• There are some things worth splurging on. I mentally calculate cost per wear ratios all the time. I agree w/ Joy's article for sure = pots (Le Creuset - love my french oven) and boots (hunter boots). 
• It has been fun watching Parenthood again. Love the Bravermans! Here are some of the outfits from last week's show. I do like the transport tote that Sarah uses.  
• I'm super excited to see Samantha Hahn's book, Well-Read Women. Here is an interview w/ her. 
• Young Adult books that changed our lives. Are you there God? It's Me Margaret is on my list. 
• I LOVE this tea towel! Who doesn't love to lick a cake bowl?! 
• Awesome gift for your best girlfriend = monogrammed Clare Vivier jewelry pouch. 
• Some great hostess gifts. 
• Some cute kid halloween costumes. Here are 15 dresses that Betty Draper would wear. 
• Apple Pie Panini = seriously?! YUM-tastic!  
• Awesome gift for a new little one = 10 Puffin Classics. 
• I cannot wait to make this dish for PFC = Baked Chicken w/ Jalapeno Pesto. Looks awesome. 
• Love these simple monogrammed letterpress notecards. 
• Cute print for a kids room. 
• I did see check out last Saturday's SNL w/ Miley. She did a great job (poking fun of herself). A bit redemption for her VMA performance. Here's a little Jimmy Fallon, Miley Cyrus and The Roots. Love this! 
• What your coffee order says about you. Lattes all the way! 
• Pretty fishbraid tutorial. Fun waterfall braid. 
• LOVE this Maison Gold Dottie Bedroom for a girl. FUN. 
• 9 pumpkin recipes. The pumpkin chocolate chip oat bars look YUMMY! And this pumpkin meringue pie looks divine. 
• 8 things every happy woman should have = fabulous. Love it. 
• I LOVE gold. Wouldn't it be fun to throw a golden party?! 
• I'm SUPER excited for Thanksgiving this fall. We are hosting a full house of folks. My two stepsisters will be in town w/ their husbands and kiddos. I'm thinking I might need to make these gilded harvest place card holders. And how to create a beautiful fall centerpiece. Gorgeous. 
• I LOVE this necklace. 
• So, my NutriBullet arrived. I LOVE it. I've been making juices for breakfast. Why you should start drinking your breakfast. 
• Do you like the sound of peanut butter and chocolate covered cheez-its? If you do, be sure to head over to Little Goat to pick up a piece of Stephanie Izard's wedding cake. 

My Latest Obsessions

GMC

MMC + CMC

Happy Friday! Wow, how are we in October already?! Nuts. I'm looking forward to a chill evening tonight. The kids are excited to watch episode 2 of Master Chef Junior. My cousin's daughter Molly is on it! It has been so much fun watching her on TV! Here is a little clip. Tomorrow we'll be up bright and early for our first swim meet of the season. I'll be hanging w/ the girls while PFC is chilling w/ GMC. And then Saturday evening we have a friend's wedding celebration! Fun!

Totally looking forward to Sunday's Homeland. And it has been fun catching up w/ the Braverman family again. Love Parenthood. I've gotta say I'm not super excited for Amber and Ryan's engagement. 

Hope everyone has a FABULOUS weekend.
XO - D2

Some of my latest faves...

• Halloween is fast approaching and PFC and I have two Halloween parties to attend. Now the question is what should we be?! Here are some costumes for couples! 
• Cool video that Ralph Lauren did w/ Avicii. 
• 5 Chicago restaurants that don't go out of style. One of my faves is listed on the list = The Bristol. We had our rehearsal dinner there. Such a fun night! 
• I've often wondered the difference between baking soda and baking powder when used in recipes. Here goes! 
• I LOVE this Stripe Travel Mug. The colors remind me of the Hudson's Bay blanket. Here is the Pendleton version. Perfect for getting cozy on the couch w/ a book or movie. 
• Top 10 recipe websites. I frequent the following from the list of 10: Skinnytaste, the Pioneer Woman, and Simply Recipes.  
• Very cool = Robert Allen and DwellStudio release Decorative Modern. Check out some of the pretty fabrics here. I love the Ming Dragon print and the Folkland. 
• Love this Halloween card. 
• GORGEOUS wedding invitations. I LOVE the gold calligraphy and the vibrant colors used. I know this bride from years ago. She made a beautiful bride. Wishing her all the happiness in the world. Much deserved. 
• Some fall decorating tips from Great Country Homes. 
• I LOVE these preston punched loafers. Such a pretty gold! Comfy too. 
• Every birthday girl deserves a gold crown! 
• I LOVE this Burke Collection for a boys room. Fun and Foxy! 
• I try hard not to use the word 'perfect' with the girls. Ladies, stop trying to be perfect = well said. 
• How cute is this little backpack? I love the red/white polka dot pouch. 
• My brother in law collaborated w/ a few folks and is opening this cool recording studio and music school. Wishing them the best of luck! 
• 15 ways to rock 'made in USA' clothing. I've bought a few things from Everlane. I have a Ryan Tee and a sweatshirt (softest thing EVER). And Steven Alan just opened a store in Chicago = exciting! 
• A couple recipes I want to try = Spaghetti Squash w/ Meat Sauce, Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna rolls, and this Sour Cream Noodle Bake. 
• I'm contemplating getting the Nutribullet to make juices and smoothies. Anyone have one? Would love to hear some thoughts on it. 
• Okay, I discovered a great new nail polish color = Essie's Mind Your Mitten. Love it. A greyish blue. I love grey nails however, it wasn't the polish that caught my eye in this post but the delicate gold bands. I found out that the gold beaded band is from Basha. 
• Everyone is pretty excited for the opening of The Dailey Method in Oak Park. I cannot wait to try it. My city friends rave about it! 
• I LOVE this coat. 
• We MUST hit up our local apple farms ASAP. Last year we enjoyed making this ah-mazing apple pie (w/ caramel). It was a HIT! 
• How adorable are these silhouette rings? Love them. The heart is so cute. 

My Latest Obsessions

GMC chilling

Happy Friday! Fall has officially arrived. LOVE IT! Love all the changing leaves on the trees and I LOVE mums! They are so pretty. My mom JuJu and youngest sister Carrie arrived last night. The kiddos and I took a trip to the airport to pick them up. We LOVE having them in town. Last night we stayed up late talking.

Today we are going to check out the new fashion outlets in Rosemont and tonight we are just going to chill. We are excited to check out Junior Master Chef as my cousin's little girl Molly is in it! PFC is off this weekend on a guys fishing trip. And I think we'll head to my sister Stephie and Sean's new pad this weekend.

Oh, and Sunday I'll be excited to hunker down w/ PFC and watch the season premiere of Homeland!!! Wahoo. And I DVRed the season premiere of Parenthood that debuted last pm. Cannot wait to watch that one either!

Have a FABULOUS weekend! XO - D2

Some of my latest faves:

• Trend watch = colonial revival. They featured the windsor chair. My youngest sister Carrie and her partner created what they call the Wrong Chair. Pretty cool. Their work will be at Volume Gallery in Chicago starting November 16th. Very cool! And better yet that means Carrie will be in town again SOON! 
• Coffee drinks explained = PERFECT! I've always been a huge latte fan w/ skim milk. That is usually my go to coffee drink when I order one out. However, when I studied abroad in Bath I was turned on to Cafe Au Laits. 
• Losing is Good Too = for sure. I'm a huge fan of the "suck it up cupcake" saying. I can hear my mom JuJu now! 
• Everyone can use a good  chocolate cake recipe. YUMMY! 
• Good ole Denido (Denison University) will preserve a landmark = Granville Inn. Great move, Denison. 
• This has been my go to birthday gift for friends of MMC = Color a Bag. 
• "#Hastag" w/ Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake = #fabulous! 
• Every once in awhile I'll bust out a braid in my hair. Here is a pretty fishtail braid. 
• This salty sweet trifle looks AH-MAZING. 
• I LOVE these salad plates - from Shanna Murray for West Elm. Very cute. And here is her Pie Recipe tea towel. And speaking of West Elm, I LOVE their collaboration w/ Baggu. These Baggu Dipped Totes are super cute. I would love a gold dipped monogrammed one! JuJu would love these Dapper Animal Plates! So fun.  
• I put together my Steve Alan wishlist. It was kind of fun to put it together. You should too! If I win I'm getting the following items: Claire Vivier Messenger Tote, Rachel Comey Mars Boots, and these Super Skinny jeans. Fingers crossed. 
• I LOVE calligraphy. Beautiful ink to paper = FAB! Elizabeth Hardink's calligraphy is gorgeous. 
• My best cost per wear buy the last few months = Women's Denim Western shirt. I wear it ALL the time. Check out all the ways you can wear a denim shirt. 
• I was checking out some of Minted's new holiday cards. Stumbled upon the following cards. We'll use these names for the times that PFC and I want to change it up = Annie and Daniel, Julia and Brian, and John and Ella. 
• Some great clutches. Very unique. Check out the lookbook. Love this clutch. 
• Adore these plates done in collaboration w/ Karen Ford. So pretty. 
• I love yellow. How fun would it be to have this sunny yellow window sill in your house?! We used various shades of yellow throughout our house (hawthorne yellow in the guest room, waterbury cream throughout our entryway and leading up the staircase, concord ivory in the family room and kitchen (one of my faves!). All of these colors are part of the historical colors from benjamin moore. 
• Oh, and lastly, I LOVED our dinner at RPM last weekend. We tried the following items: imported Burrata w/ grilled peaches and honey, cremini mushroom wood fired pizza, stuffed squash blossoms, shredded brussels sprouts w/ avocados, and mama depandi's bucanti pomodoro.