My Latest Obsessions

Yummy breakfast at Bouchon

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Took this pic for Georgie

Happy Friday! Halloween is around the corner and PFC/I need to get going on our costume! The kids officially finished picking out their costumes last evening = a witch, a zombie and a transformer. Tonight we are off to Cate's school for a family fun fest and then tomorrow night I have a dinner at Ada Street. Excited to check it out! And I'm more excited to hang w/ some people I haven't seen in awhile.

Have a fabulous weekend. XO - d2

Some of my latest faves...

• PFC and I had a blast in Vegas last weekend! It was nice to spend some one on one time without the kids. They were in good hands with JuJu and Grandpa T! We LOVED our dinner at Mesa Grill. Amazing. We want to replicate the pork tenderloin. We had a great breakfast at Bouchon. I had the croque madame and it was excellent! And then on Sunday we went to this amazing bagel spot (recommendation per our waiter from Mesa Grill) = Bagel Cafe. Best bagels EVER! 
• 10 books you must read if you loved Gone Girl. 
• Cute ghost lollipop bouquet! 
• The night before we left for Vegas I made this chopped greek chicken salad for dinner w/ JuJu and Grandpa T. It was a hit! I made this chicken noodle soup casserole this past week and it was a big hit w/ the kids = adding it to the rotation! 
• 100 non-toy gift items = LOVE! PFC/I always do these types of things for one another and we should start doing more of them for the kids! 
• Kind of funny = Martha Stewart's blatant mocking of Gwenyth Paltrow. 
• Cute booties. 10 way to wear ankle boots. My sisters have the Rachel Comey Mars Classic booties = super fab. 
• A better way to introduce your friends at parties = perfect for upcoming holiday parties! 
• LOVE farmhouse style. 
• Slim jogger pants = look comfy and cute! Cute hooded wool coat. 
• PFC loves shortbread. Looks like we might need to make this = vanilla bean shortbread! 
• Yummy = salted caramel rice crispy treats! 
• Family dinners and the Do You Know scales. 
• I finished the book, Orphan Train = great read. 
• I have some catching up to do this weekend of Parenthood. I cannot believe it is the last season. 

My Latest Obsessions

Apple Picking at Jonamac Orchard

Happy Friday! Peter and I are off to Vegas shortly (super early AM flight) for a wedding. We're pumped to get a few days away in warm weather = the perfect way to regroup. My mom and stepdad flew in to watch the kiddos. The kids are excited to hang w/ JuJu and Grandpa T. There were talks about ice cream trips to Peterson's!

Good luck to all of you who are running in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday! I know some folks running and I'm anxious to hear how they'll do. Fingers crossed for perfect running weather. Nuts to think that almost 10 years ago I ran the Chicago Marathon (and I haven't run a day since then!).

Cheers to a great long weekend ahead!

XO - d2

Some of my latest faves:

• PFC and I are having dinner just the two of us tonight in Vegas. We debated for awhile where to make reservations. We finally settled on Mesa Grill. We debated on the following ones = Scarpetta,  Carne Vino, Estiatario Milos, We arrive SUPER early this morning and are going to head to Bouchon for breakfast! All this Vegas talk reminds me of my girls trip to Vegas this past spring w/ my college gals. 
• I've been on a reading frenzy lately. I've finished the following books over the last few weeks: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, The Vacationers by Emma Straub, and The One and Only by Emily Griffin. I picked up a few more books yesterday at the library = Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, The Heiress by Sara Shepard, American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. 
• Did anyone watch the premiere of Homeland last Sunday?! Interesting! 
• After Sunday's day of apple picking we came home with LOTS of apples. We made this yummy caramel apple pie = insanely delicious (especially w/ some vanilla bean ice cream). And a few days ago I made some homemade applesauce = a first. We all LOVED it. And doesn't this chai-spiced slow cooker applesauce look yummy?!  
• So, we tried the following new recipes for dinner t= baked broccoli mac and cheese and Rachel's Special Lasagna. I want to try this baked ravioli dish. I think the kids would love it! 
• I heard Carrie Goldman speak the other day at Margaret's school. She was fabulous. Here is the post that kicked off her career on bullying. 
• PFC and I need to come up w/ some costumes for a halloween party in the coming weeks. Any suggestions?! Last year we went as Johnny and Baby from Dirty Dancing. How cute is this butterfly? 
• How awesome do these sesame salt pretzels look?! Yum! Or this pie = sinful. 
• PFC and I saw Gone Girl this past weekend. It was awesome! I typically don't like seeing movies of books I have read (as usually the book is much better). Gone Girl was excellent. Very well cast. Til death do us part. 
• An interesting article on homework. And getting your kids to eat (or at least try everything). 
• Lessons from Farmers = blurb about Kinnikinnick Farm. 
• Love this tote. It would look great monogrammed. Loving this poncho! 
• Interesting article = Being a Stay at Home Parent is a Luxury...for your Spouse. Interesting perspective (and one that I think about for sure). I've always thought of it that way.