My Latest Obsessions

Easter Sunday (C + M + GMC)

Happy Friday! It has been awhile since my last post. I feel as though this spring is flying by and before we know it summer will be here - YAHOO! LOVE SUMMER = flip flops on a daily basis!

We were away the week before last for C + M's spring break. This is our 2nd roadtrip as a family. Last summer we visited my Mom and Travis in Montana and had a blast making the roadtrip part of our adventure. The majority of this past trip was spent in Williamsburg, VA visiting my Dad and then we spent two nights in DC. We loved seeing colonial Williamsburg and a highlight for me was to listen and chat with Martha Washington (via historic interpreter Lee Ann Rose) in an intimate setting. We were able to see some good friends and my cousin in the DC area - which was a blast! And we stopped briefly at The Madeira School (in McLean, VA) on our way back home where I worked for 2 years before I moved to Chicago. The gals thought it was so COOL that I worked at a school where you could board your horse! Altogether, it was a fabulous time, even counting all the "are we there yet?" questions from the little ladies in the biddy back!

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter and a nice Passover. Easter was so much fun this year - as all three of the kiddos are at such fun ages and the gals LOVED watching Georgie participate in egg hunting! I made the mistake of telling the gals that I heard that the Easter Bunny this year was trying to be a little healthier and not fill baskets with all things candy related. Ummm, oops, that opened up a huge can of worms. LOTS of questions. "So, who told you this?" and "Where did you read this, and who interviewed the Easter Bunny for the article you are talking about." OOPS! At the end of the day they were THRILLED with their baskets - even though they were filled with things like kid toothpaste w/ a bunny on the front and squeezable applesauce!

On Saturday, PFC/I are having dinner w/ my sister and her husband. SUPER excited to catch up with them. We are checking out the new Balena Chicago (by the guys from Boka Restaurant Group and The Bristol). I'm pumped as The Bristol is one of our FAVES for sure!

Some of my latest faves:

• I LOVE this post on table manners from A Cup of Jo. The illustrations (by Gemma Correll) are ADORABLE. Too funny, as I was showing CMC the "b and d" signs you make with your thumb and forefinger on Easter Sunday (when she was setting the kid table). These Place Setting Placemats have really helped the gals learn the proper way to set a table. Love them and they are FUN for the kids to color. I appreciate that JuJu (my mom) was a huge stickler for table manners. Love you MOMBO!
• I LOVE clutches! They are fun, easy, versatile and can add such a fun punch of color or texture to any outfit. Cute Copperhead clutch. So heart this Nixie Clutch. LOVE this Clare Vivier Foldover clutch (love it in PINK).  Here's a pretty one w/ a bit of edginess. 
• I've discovered my new go to baby gift = Zutano baby booties. My sister SWEARS by them. She was given a pair for her little guy and he wears them in lieu of socks everyday (and they actually stay ON)! FAB.
• So, my last book for book club was The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski. There were mixed feelings about the book in general, yet it prompted quite a great discussion within our group about one's own list of things to do. Each of us was asked to come up with a list of items that we wanted to do within the next year and within our lifetime. I have to say, actually putting items down as such (in written word) really make those items more real (and something to aspire to "check off" per se). I'm happy to report that I'm halfway there to already completing one of the items on my list = go on a vacation with just the 5 of us (where we can get away from it all - visit no one in particular - reconnect as a family unit and spend quality time together - and organically allow the trip to pan out as it may). And ironically enough, a good friend had just passed along this fantastic looking place not too far from here that fits the bill = Kinnikinnick Farm in Caledonia, IL where we'll stay in one of their farm tents. Check out The Haycation article in Country Living Mag on the place. Even Martha gives it a thumbs up! 
• Okay, and the above note leads me to another blog that I stumbled upon that I just LOVE = roam and home. I see that this blogger has been to a place that PFC TOTALLY enjoyed taking my mom to last time she was in town = Textile Discount Warehouse. How about it, JuJu?! Talk about rows and rows of fabric...! Oh, I loved reading through some of the posts in roam and home - she and her husband lead such a glamorous and adventurous life! Love it! 
• What an interesting combo = bag made with walnut and canvas = Buster Bag. And I love giving a little shout out to good ole Cincinnati = about the Brush Factory. 
• Oh, and much to the gals dismay we didn't get to take a peek into Sasha and Malia's bedrooms at the White House. They were hilarious when we stood in front of the gates and stared at The White House. It was as though they were expecting to see the Obama's dog Bo running around on the Lawn! However, now we can check out some rooms in the White House due to the Google Art Project - WAY cool! 
• A lovely friend of mine forwarded me this very neat website = O'verlays website. Check out these amazing before/after pics.  
• Oh, and lastly, I ordered Georgie's cute Easter bowtie from Etsy seller Baby by Stevie Handmade. She was FAB to work w/. Speaking of Etsy, we bought my sister a great Ipad case from the lovely Sidney Ann of Seattle. Highly recommend her site! I instantly developed quite a girl crush on Sidney Ann!

Have an AWESOME weekend! XO 

My Latest Obsessions

LOVING this old school vintage ball mason jar - St. Paddy's Day style

Happy Friday! I CANNOT believe that February is over and we have moved into March = NUTS! And this weekend we SPRING ahead an hour. There were several years in a row when I happened to be flying home the Sunday of Daylight Savings and I will never forget all those panicked looks of "OMG, shoot, that means my flight already LEFT, AHHH."

Lots going on this weekend! We have our local St. Patty's Day parade on Saturday and then on Sunday, Chicago's South Side Irish parade is back in action - and all of the fun parties surrounding the parades! CMC has some prep for First Communion this Saturday. Speaking of First Communion we think that she is going to wear a dress that was handmade by my maternal grandmother. I love that idea = a dress with meaning. Below is a pic of my youngest sister wearing the dress! So sweet.

Some of my latest faves:

• We have been blessed with some SPRINGesque like weather as of late. And yes, I've busted out the flip flops. I don't do socks unless I'm in workout mode so when flip flop weather semi-approaches I get VERY excited! Speaking of spring - here are some lovely and pretty spring things. I'm totally digging this one shoulder maxi dress. And how to wear those spring florals that we are seeing pop up.
• I HEART my iPad. LOVE it. We have an amazing relationship. And of course, just when you get used to your iPad 2 a new one rolls out = thoughts on the iPad 3.
• There is just something about Jenna Lyons that I love. I FOREVER wondered who J.Crew was refering to when they mentioned "Jenna this, Jenna that," but now I'm in the loop. Good ole Jenna. 12 things Jenna cannot live w/o.
• Speaking of someone who oozes that cool factor, my youngest sister always seems to have just enough of that hip factor that I never can seem to truly pull off. I blame it on the fact that I live in Chicago and that she lives in NYC. For instance, I can TOTALLY see her in some of these little Dolce Vita Drew Lace Ups. I wouldn't know how to wear them (yet see them and think they are adorable)!
• Favorite exchange of the week involved me trying to explain to MMC the filler word "like" (granted I always say "do as I say and not as I do" - as I'm right there w/ her in terms of my own over usage of the filler word "like"). We were having a conversation and I was trying to point out the filler word "like" and how we should think of other words to use. We went on with our convo and then she looked up at me and said, "You don't understand, we are supposed to use the word 'like.' It is one of my POPCORN words." Okay, I admit it, by that point in the conversation I was distracted and was on to something else. I then turned to her again when I mentally jumped back into our convo and I gave her a look that said "you just used the filler word 'like' 10x in one sentence." She gave me that look (that I cannot fully put into words but if you know her well enough you know EXACTLY what I mean) and she said again, "Um, Mom, LIKE is a popcorn word." OHHHH, those darn popcorn words. Right on. Okay. Time to explain the difference between her sight/popcorn words and "like" as a filler word LATER. I decided to save it for another time, another day. It was clearly time to pull out my Sorry We're Closed Eye Mask. I would only buy this mask if I could truly wear it and have it mean something! Are we ever officially closed?!
• We're heading to Williamsburg, VA in a few weeks for spring break to visit my Dad and his lovely friend. CMC has been prepping for our trip by reading some of the books about Felicity. She is one of the historical American Girl dolls from Colonial Williamsburg. The gals are super excited to see Williamsburg through the eyes of Miss Felicity! It will be awesome.
• And PS - I changed a setting on my blog which hopefully makes it easier to comment w/i a post. Try it as I would LOVE to hear from you!

My Latest Obsessions

M + C gearing up for a day of skiing and GMC just chilling

GMC chilling w/Daddy

Happy Friday! WOW, I am all out of sorts schedule wise due to the long weekend. We were literally gone for less than 30 hours last Sunday/Monday to ski and hit the waterpark. However, you would have thought we were gone for a WEEK! So, it was a very pleasant surprise when I woke up this morning to the kiddos doing the HAPPY DANCE (= FRIDAY)!

We get to dress up tomorrow evening for an event (= FANCY FUN) and then Sunday we get to wear whatever we want and watch everyone all dressed up at the Oscars (even better, right?)! I LOVE watching the Oscars - not sure what I enjoy more = seeing who wins best picture OR my favorite part altogether = checking out what everyone is wearing! Okay, so I answered my own question!

Some of my latest faves:

• TOTALLY digging this long asymmetric skirt. Great color too.
• OMG, how ADORABLE is this tweed jacket for a little gal?! LOVE. Oh, and I always seem to be drawn to birds somehow = maybe even more adorable than the tweed jacket - bird print dress for a little gal.
• Cool little vintage treasure trove in Chicago. And the gal behind this apartment has a blog = my little apartment. And here we have some French Farmhouse Style in PA. Love it! And she is the gal behind Miss Mustard Seed.
• I am a firm believer in authenticity. I can appreciate blogger A Cup of Jo's mother's thoughts on this topic. And here is one of her Motherhood Monday posts that I thought was so courageously written - real and heartfelt. We are all human. Bravo. And personally I never truly understood the ups and downs of nursing until I experienced it myself. I can now look back (over a year ago) and clearly see that I experienced some of the complexities that can occur during the weaning process. Definitely real stuff. Oh, motherhood...the good, the bad, the reality!
• 1stdibs article on the gals behind Serena & Lily = very interesting. Cool to see how the two have partnered and come together to create what we ultimately know as Serena & Lily.
• Okay, so I've stumbled upon another FAVE etsy site = sidney ann. FABULOUS. LOVE. Totally dig the gold envelope clutch. Gold tote bag = FAB. LOVE this zipper pouch w/vintage fabric. Sidney Ann's blog = such fun finds!
• OMG = LOVE this vintage handkerchief letterpress calendar. AMAZING. You can reserve one here.  I'm a little bit nutty when it comes to the calendar so I love having pretty ones around. And I love that little C appreciates the concept of calendars too. It makes me laugh seeing her get so giddy when she lists out different dates. I GET it. Calendars to me = comforting. 

And lastly, one of GMC's new things to do when sitting at the island eating = patting the stool next to him (meaning - set your booty there Mom or Dad or C or M). It is so endearing. His little face lights up if you sit there w/him while he eats (for some reason it is not the same to him when you are standing across from him). Very cute.

My Latest Obsessions

M, PFC, C (Daddy Daughter Valentine's Day Dance) 

Happy Friday! Lots of PINK, RED and PURPLE this week for Valentine's Day. M had her big Kindergarten Valentine's Day concert and reception on Tuesday. Their very talented and amazing music teacher does something right - as they don't miss a beat. Very cute. We are heading to Lake Geneva at the end of the long weekend for some waterpark and ski action (not exactly sure about the skiing though due to the warm weather we are having this February).

The month of February always seems to bring up the topics of love, friendship, relationships, and how we relate to one another. I appreciate the concept of social emotional learning (SEL) and emotional intelligence and believe that they are HUGELY important in life. I LOVE that both C and M have been working on topics in the classroom that have given both of them a better sense of SEL. Today Margaret and I were talking about her own "bucket" and what she puts in it. At school they read the book, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today."  And all month C's class has been talking about small acts of kindness and they even started a project called "daily heart prints." It has been great to use the words "heart print" to use around the house when talking about kindness, appreciation and love.

Some of my latest faves:

• Sneak peek at Diane Von Furstenberg for Gap - debuting March 15th. Cannot wait to check it out! Looks adorable. 
• These Homemade Skinny Chocolate cakes look YUMMY! 
• Good looking Octagonal Earrings - to wear w/a crisp black dress = perfect.  
• Wow - cutie little shoes for little gals. 
• If you have a moment you MUST read this HILARIOUS post about a Mom and her son. It is like a chapter in a book about one of her kids. LOVE IT. I'm still laughing about it. This blogger is an amazing writer and I was just turned on to her a few days ago (and honestly have not stopped laughing since). You will most definitely laugh (out loud)! 
• Love, Laughter and Lunch = Helen Tsanos Sheinman's book. 
• Border Cards and Handkerchief envelopes. LOVE THESE. 
• How appropriate for Chicago travelers = the O'Hare shopper tote. 
• This Cat Eyeglasses Sweater made me laugh. I don't truly care much for cats. But something about it made me smile. 

My Latest Obsessions

Take me back = view from my Mom's front deck (good MORNING)

Anguilla = enough said!

Happy FRIDAY! WOW, I feel as though it has been awhile since my last post. When I start to feel frazzled or drained by the daily grind I think back to both of the above pics (and instantly I relax).

My last post was right before I left (alone = no kids and no PFC) to visit my Mom in Prescott, AZ. I was joking with friends that I stayed at my own private version of Canyon Ranch (and that I was the only guest). One of the ideas behind Canyon Ranch = revitilize your spirit. And honestly, that is exactly what I did. I relaxed. I ate great food. I was able to fully catch up with my mom (and sister who was there as well) minus the usual daily obligations and distractions. I slept in = PURE BLISS. Amazing how simple things (especially when you have young kids) like sleeping in becomes such a luxury. It was so nice to take some days off and just BE. Special thanks to PFC for making the trip happen and giving me some much needed mom/sister and alone time. He held down the fort at home w/the kiddos and that in and of itself was great (as it gave us both some perspective - especially for PFC as he caught a glimpse into my daily world).

And literally within days of returning from Arizona, PFC and I took off for a trip to Anguilla (w/ two other couples). We love Anguilla and got to know the island fairly well when we were there for our honeymoon a little over two years ago. LOVE LOVE LOVE. It was great to catch up w/PFC one on one and also hang w/our friends in such a gorgeous setting. And random, but I usually never wear hotel robes when on vacation (even though I love wearing my own robe at home). They always seem impersonal to me, but WOWser LOVED the robes while away = the Sferra Berkley (did a little digging and found the maker...). Honestly, the BEST ROBE EVER.

Now we are back to our daily GO GO GO. I missed the kiddos. It is interesting though when you step outside of your GO GO GO world for a bit and just BE you are able to introspectively look at your life and things w/ some perspective.

And lastly, I'll leave you w/some of my latest faves and findings:

• Top Ten Sites to Help Develop Your Creative Side. For me, I find that my blog posts tap into my creative side and they have become a nice reprieve from the daily grind. LOVE.
• World Happy Day = Tomorrow (2/11/12). Unfortunately, I'm unable to see the Happy Day movie tomorrow when it debuts but I DEFINITELY want to get my hands on a copy of it. Check out the trailer. Happiness is a choice.
• Some Valentine's Day ideas - GOOP (Gwenyth Paltrow) style. CUTE ideas.
• One of my dear mom buds passed along this great idea to make w/the kiddos = How to Recycle Old Crayons into New Crayons (V.Day style). We started w/step 1 yesterday = crayon wrapper peeling party! Tomorrow we'll start breaking up the crayons and putting them into our heart shaped pan. FUN stuff!
• Speaking of Valentine's Day and all things sweet, check out these yummy treats = Knock You Naked Brownies (by the lovely Pioneer Woman). I haven't made them yet but they are on MY MUST BAKE ASAP list.
• Oh, and I saw The Artist. LOVED it. I don't believe I have ever seen a silent movie before (maybe clips here and there from a Chaplin flick) but WOWser. AMAZING. And you can't go wrong in the eye candy department =  Jean Dujardin (France's answer to George Clooney) and the gorgeous Bérénice Bejo (TOTAL girl crush).
• And speaking of the French = Why French Parents Are Superior (interesting article). And here is a post that has been making the rounds = 2011 Lesson #2: Don't Carpe Diem = can totally RELATE.
• And lastly, I'm signing off w/a video that makes me LAUGH so hard = LMFAO's Sexy and I Know It. ENJOY. I can honestly watch it over and over again. TOO funny.

And HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY next TUES!!!

My Latest Obsessions

Pic of C and M in Fall 2008 (secrets over some Tea)

Happy Friday! Well, FINALLY we can say that we have seen some snow in Chicago. The gals and GMC seem thrilled by the snowflakes however, I could do w/o all of it - but I cannot complain as we have had a very mild winter thus far. We dusted off the snowblower this morning - fun times.

Tonight we get to see two dear college pals that are in town for the weekend and tomorrow I get to celebrate a dear high school friend's son's first birthday. And the snow has fallen just in time for C and M's first ski lesson of the season on Sunday!

This Monday we are having C and M's combined Birthday Tea Party at our house. They will be 8 and 6 years old this month - crazy! The gals CANNOT WAIT for all of their school buddies to come over for some treats / craft time / dressing up and FUN! The lovely Mrs. Newberry (of Mrs. Newberry's Traveling Tea Party) will be here w/her vintage china, delicious tea sandwiches and sparkling lemonade. We had so much fun working on the invitations for the party. After spending some time in Paper Source I walked out w/the following items = Cup and Saucer Stamp, Embossing Heat Tool (for heat embossing w/rubber stamps), VersaMark Watermark Inkpad, and some Queen's Gold Embossing Powder (which I will say does indeed look like liquid gold after heated). I used the above items to dress up the envelopes. Umm, so I'm now a bit obsessed w/embossing. I had NO idea how easy it was to do. LOVE. I holed myself up in the basement office and was totally in the zone while working on these. 

Some of my latest faves: 

• The lovely BHLDN is holding a sale on top of their sale items = 40% off their already reduced items. Sale ends SUN. Cute bow-topped Bolero and pretty smoky Quartz Earrings. AND they are opening 2/14 (of course = Valentine's Day) in Chicago (their first one is in TX). 
• It is a new year - new start. Time for a new calendar. Some calendars (and cards) on Etsy. I'm loving my 2012 letterpress calendar from Linda & Harriett. 
• 2 for 2: Pay it Forward - great post by the wonderful blogger Kelle of Enjoying the Small Things. I saw this post on facebook and had to put it out there again. 
• All week I've seen items about Michelle Obama due to the book The Obamas that is coming out. Some interesting articles = Michelle Obama and the Evolution of the First Lady, Jodi Kantor Goes Inside the Obamas' Marriage in New Book, Kantor on the First Family's Private Quarters, and More Details from Jodi Kantor's book. 
• Some healthy recipes from Gwenyth Paltrow. 
• I'm heading to AZ next week for some alone time with my Mom and sister (who is visiting our Mom w/her adorable little guy Graham). One of my goals during the trip is to read the Girl w/the Dragon Tattoo - as I want to read the book before watching the movie. I've heard awesome things about the main gal playing Lisbeth Salander = Rooney Mara.
• C and M still have Bieber Fever (oh, and maybe I do too!). A friend posted this on FB = Justin Bieber Wedding Dance Video. OMG, hilarious. What a fun wedding!!!! And another one of my favorite wedding dances = JK Wedding Entrance (song = Forever). The gals love watching that one.
• For my new mom friends = crib bumpers that breath.

My Latest Obsessions



A pic from our lunch at American Girl Cafe - so much fun!

Happy Friday and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wow - 2012! This past year has FLOWN by. Georgie is almost a year and a half and the girls turn 6 and 8 this month. Today is our last day of winter break and the gals head back to school on Monday - back to reality and our usual schedule. One of our favorite activities during break was heading to American Girl for lunch. We had a blast - such a rite of passage for girls.   

A dear college pal and her husband are in town this weekend and a few of us are getting together Saturday evening for dinner. We are heading to Chicago q, a place that has been on my list for awhile. My sister has been raving about it and I just saw the Check Please! episode about it. This type of food is right up PFC's alley. And Sunday is my BIRTHDAY - which Elvis and I share together. I'll be playing tennis in the morning and then my tennis gals are taking me to brunch at Marion Street Cheese Market = YUMMY! Their brunch menu looks DIVINE. PFC asked what I wanted for my birthday dinner - when we'll celebrate w/the fam. I forwarded him this delicious looking recipe from Bon Appetit - Black Beans and Rice w/Chicken and Apple Salsa - excited to try it! YUM!

Some of my latest faves:

• The Etsy world can be intimidating - where do you begin w/o getting lost in the shuffle?! Great article on 10 Great Etsy Shops You Need to Know. Ummm, check out the Skinny laMinx store = FAB. I see why she gets so many hits. Lots of press for this talented gal.
• Big news in the restaurant/chef world = Charlie Trotter's is closing come August - and The Food Trends that Charlie Trotter Pioneered.
• I have been holding Thank You Note writing sessions w/the girls over break. We try to get one or two done a day. I want the girls (and eventually GMC) to understand the importance of thank you notes. My mom drilled this into us as kids and I still do my VERY best to make sure that thank yous go out (even if some slip thru the cracks). Here is a post on the Anatomy of A Thank You Note.  Cute vintage style thank you postcards.
• Great article on a topic that I have been thinking a lot about lately - in relation to our kids = Roots and Wings: Giving Choices and Setting Boundaries.
• I still love all things wedding related. FAB gown sale at BHLDN thru the 10th of Jan. The Metropolis Dress would be such a gorgeous dress for a non-traditional bride. And LOVE this couplet band - simple and sweet.
• So, I did watch the season premiere of The Bachelor this past Monday. WOWser - there is going to be LOTS of drama!!!! Some Dresses from the Premiere. An employer of one of the gals - Jenna Burke - speaks out.
• Crazy that we are already thinking about Valentine's Day = some fun valentine crafts.
• FAB Bubble Necklace - love it in the turquoise. Great statement accessory.