'tis the season for CRAVINGS!!!

I haven't figured out what a true craving is yet. Truth be told, I have cravings all the time, whether I am pregnant or not. Constant Cravings. Teehee. Anyway, during my first 2 pregnancies, I had constant cravings for absolute junk. French fries, cheeseburgers, cream-of-anything soup with buttered bread...no wonder I gained so much weight with each of my pregnancies!!

This time around however...my cravings are so very different. Sure, I still want the occasional french fry or pizza puff, but for the most part, fried foods aren't appealing to me. Maybe because they have made me feel sicker. I don't know the exact science of this phenomenon, but I'm a bit relieved. Maybe that means I won't pack on the pounds this time. One can hope and pray.

So what am I craving, you ask? Sushi- perfect timing, huh? Just when I'm not supposed to have it. Freeze pops. You know, the perfect refreshment on a hot summer day? Yeah, I have things a little backwards considering the freezing temps outside. And citrus. Clementines, oranges, grapefruit...anything juicy and sweet and tart. So when I saw this salad recipe, I just knew I had to try it. Stay tuned for a review!

Recipe: Butter Lettuce with Avocado and Graperfruit
Source: Spry Magazine, December, 2010

Dressing
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 tbsp. minced fresh tarragon or 1 tsp. dried
1 tbsp. minced shallot
1/4 tsp. salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Salad
8 cups torn butter or bibb lettuce
1 medium avocado, sliced or diced
1 pink grapefruit, peeled & sectioned, juice reserved

To prepare dressing, combine all ingredients and whisk until well combined.
To prepare salad, place lettuce in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing and reserved grapefruit juice on top. Toss well. Divide among 6 salad plates. Top with avocado and grapefruit sections.

the first big snow of the season!

And of course, I had some amazingly fun plans scheduled with my sister Lindsay and one of my best friends Eunice. We were running the Santa Hustle 5K (complete with santa hats and beards!), taking a tour of the Intelligentsia Coffee Roasting Works in the West Loop, and finishing up with a yummy late lunch at Big Star in Bucktown. Running, coffee and food- 3 of my favorite things rolled up into a one great day! It's become kind of a running joke...almost every time I make plans that I look forward to, inclement weather hits. But this time, I was not going to let any kind of nasty weather get in my way!!

I left home early to start the drive into the city, just in case things got really nasty. It was snowing, but the plows had been out already so the roads weren't the worst I'd seen. I met my friend Eunice halfway and she piled into my car and we made it to my little sister Lindsay's in Edgewater in record time! We finished getting ready quickly and cabbed it to Montrose Harbor, where we were running the Santa Hustle 5K...in the snow!!

It was Lindsay's first 5K period, and mine and Eun's first race in the snow. If we were crazy for participating, then we weren't the only ones. The sea of Santas was impressive! Christmas music blaring, Santa hats and red shirts everywhere you looked...such a fun atmosphere!! As for the race itself, it was slow going. Running in the snow and slush made for some pretty awful conditions, but we made the most of it and even picked up some cookies and chocolate along the way! It was a pretty wonderful memory maker and I'm so glad I braved the elements to be there.

(l) the sea of santas en route to Montrose Harbor, (r) Lindsay, Eunice and I after the race

After a quick shower and clean-up at Lindsay's place, it was off to the west loop for a tour of the roasting facilities at Intelligentsia...one of my all time favorite cups of coffee! And what a great deal. For $15, you get unlimited samples of freshly roasted/brewed Intelligentsia coffee, a 90 minute tour of the building and a 1/2 pound of beans that are roasted right before your eyes. So if you're looking for something fun to do in Chicago sometime, check it out! We learned a lot about the entire coffee making process- from bean to brew.

(l) Eunice and I enjoying a cuppa coffee (r) some signage!

Then it was off to a late lunch of tacos at Big Star in Bucktown. I'd heard all about this place and wanted to give a try. Pork Belly Tacos? Sounds delicious to me!! We walked up and it's in an old service station. A big square bar is in the middle of the room with a few booths scattered so we snatched up the first opening at the bar we could find and ordered drinks. Horchatas (cinnamon-infused rice water) for Eun and I and a Chelada (beer with lots of lime and salt) for Linds. We were STARVING so our tacos, tostados and queso fundido tasted especially delicious. It was also fun people watching and seeing people get silly on $3 whiskey shots. A Big Hand to Big Star!

(l) queso fundido with chorizo and rajas with corn tortillas and vegetables en escabeche (r) queso fundido, tostado with chorizo and potatoes and the perfect pork belly taco- make sure to douse it with lots of fresh lime!

me and my stylin' little sis

It was a perfect day in the city, but by the end, of course I was missing my boys and was excited to get home to them. Can't wait to tell you all about my next little outing!

one frenzy ends and another begins...

With the amazing Thanksgiving holiday and Black Friday behind us, tomorrow we welcome the first day of December! It's hard to believe a month from now, 2010 will be almost just a memory and we'll be *thisclose* to welcoming 2011. But before we do that, let me list a few highlights from the past week that were special in our family.

* Thanksgiving Wednesday is hopefully becoming a tradition on my side of the family! What could be better than loads of shrimp cocktail, a gorgeous turkey perfectly roasted (even clean with a bag o' stuffing tucked inside!), or catching glances of my stepfather Shawn sporting an apron? And who could forget my lil' sister Lindsay's very first dessert contribution to the family meal?

Pumpkin Chocolate Tiramisu

* Thanksgiving Thursday!! The K side of the family was crowded and fun and many thanks to Dave, Sue, Wes, Raquel, Austin and everyone else who worked so hard to make the K 2010 Thankgiving so perfect. Tabitha, you can be on my Pictionary team any time!

* Matt's 5 day weekend which inevitably went by way too fast.

* And last, but certainly not least, the amazing news we shared with our families during the holiday...that we will be welcoming baby #3 to our family in summer, 2011!! Yes, everyone...I am pregnant and we are so excited for baby's arrival. And so happy to know that our families can't wait either. :)

So in a nutshell, we have so much to be thankful for...our families, our friends, our health, our happiness and a new little life that will bless our family on or around July 1, 2011. ;)

friday, black friday.

For someone who absolutely LOVES to shop, its a big surprise that I stay far, far away from the stores and the crowds on Black Friday. While I love getting great prices and even better deals, I just can't talk myself into braving the early morning rush...although this year, it's kind of turned into the late night rush, with the lure of early Black Friday interrupting the digestion of our Thanksgiving dinner.

That's not to say I didn't consider it last night and early this morning. Target had a wonderfully sweet deal on the Razor scooter I want to get Logan. And Kohl's was practically giving away these cute, cozy little ballet-like slippers. And of course the 50% off deals at Toys-R-Us beckoned. But a full 8 hours sleep was a little more important to me this year.

Oh, well. Black Friday and it's insane deals will still be around next year if I can talk myself into going.

What about you? Did you take advantage of all Black Friday had to offer this year?

ideas and such for our new bedroom.

Our new bedroom is slowly coming together. We have been sleeping on a mattress/boxspring and living out of boxes for the past few weeks and the past 2 nights, we have enjoyed the comfy confines of our living room couch. The fumes from Matt's recent paint job were pretty strong! Furniture is purchased and most of the textiles. Just a few more odds and ends which I plan to buy this weekend and our new haven will be complete!

Now just to personalize the space with artwork and knick-knacks and to light it up with some fun lamp choices. Check out some of my choices so far and stay tuned for shots of the finished product!!

1. 5 drawer high chest- Hampton Collection by Samuel Lawrence 2. Paint color- Urban Putty by Sherwin Williams 3. 8 drawer dresser- Hampton Collection by Samuel Lawrence 4. Draper Upholstered Bed in Oatmeal- World Market 5. Bennett and Tamara pillows- Crate & Barrel 6. Simply Vera Platinum Coverlet & Shams- Kohl's 7. Alvine Kottar curtains- Ikea 8. Organic Pin-Tuck Cotton Duvet & Shams- West Elm

holiday cards from shutterfly? sign me up, please!

Having worked in a brick and mortar stationery shop for over 10 years has made me a paper snob of sorts. So imagine my surprise to find that quite a few of the holiday photo cards for 2010 that Shutterfly offers tickle my fancy! Shutterfly card quality has really improved over the years and I would be love the smiling faces of my family to adorn one of these cards. The problem is choosing a favorite!!

Whimsical delight?

Timeless elegance?

Vintage modern?

My decision may be a difficult one, but yours doesn't have to be, with so many Holiday card options to choose from in so many different styles. And if you're looking for the perfect photo inspired gift, look no further than Shutterfly!

Fellow bloggers, to get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, just click here.

an incredible dinner.

Since an amazing meal at a cool restaurant is an indulgence for me, I thought I'd devote a post to a recent experience.

My sister Laura's 33rd birthday a few weeks ago was yet another reason to indulge in a super special dinner. This time, our culinary destination of choice was Girl & the Goat, an amazing new restaurant in the West Loop with a funny little name. We were joined by Amy, fellow foodie and an old childhood friend of ours who fits in perfectly with our sister dynamic.

It was a chilly autumn evening and as I was walking up to the restaurant, running a tad late as usual for our 8:45 reservation, I noticed how rustic the place seemed from the outside. But as I stepped inside, I was enveloped by the smoky smell of the grill and overwhelmed by the enormity of the space. For 8:45, it was PACKED and the energy was contagious. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time and I soon learned why!

My sisters and Amy saw me as soon as I walked in and they waved me over, but not before the hostess welcomed me and asked me if I was with the Laura party and officially showed me the way to our table. We had menus and I started salivating right away...I couldn't wait to get ordering!

The menu is divided into 3 categories- veg, fish and meat. Simple. Our waiter and his "associate" came over and introduced themselves and explained the concept of the restaurant and the flow of things. We took our sweet time ordering- we thought we'd order 3 dishes from each columm and decide if we wanted more from there. It worked out well- 2 of us were laissez-faire about what to order and 2 of us had specific ideas in mind regarding what we wanted to try (I was part of the latter group, go figure.). Laura placed our order, we ordered up some booze and so began the wait for the meal I'd been dreaming about for weeks!

Meanwhile, the service was spectacular. Our servers really took their time with us and stopped by more than a couple times through the course of our meal to chit-chat and make sure we were enjoying ourselves. The service had that perfect balance of attentiveness and nonchalance which completely impressed me. And our water glasses never went more than halfway empty. I felt like we were the most important people in the room, although in reality, that was far from the case!

First up- the bread. Amazing. Served with garlic oil and white anchovy butter, we couldn't get enough. Then our first course arrived- Chickpea Fritters surrounded by fried chickpeas, raw chickpeas in a romesco sauce. It was delicious. My expectations were set high now- if everything was as awesome as the first 2 dishes, we were in for quite a meal!

Next up- one of my top 3 tastes of the evening. Hiramasa Crudo, dotted with crispy pork belly, caperberry slices and crouton wafers and drizzled with an aioli sauce. I delicately cut the raw whitefish into 4 portions and then savored one of the most perfect bites ever. Wow.

Then we each selected 2 slices of the Smoked Goat Pizza. This was a different taste for me, but the meat was so succulent- goat meat has definitely been a hit for me this year! The roasted cauliflower came out next and this was another top 3 dish for me. The cauliflower florets were cooked wonderfully and accompanied by spicy pepper rings and mint leaves. Another perfect bite- I couldn't get enough and probably had more than my fair share of that course.

Roasted Beet Salad. I usually love beets but this dish was a bit different. It did present some great textures which I appreciated, but the anchovies were a tad strong for me. The scallops with fried brussels sprouts made an apperance next and they were beautiful- plump and perfectly cooked with a hint of some kind of nut flavor which really made the dish for me.

Goat, Pork and Beef Sugo over Papperdelle rounded out my top 3 dishes of the evening. My mouth waters just remembering the flavor of the meat sauce accompanied by little bursts of sweetness from the goose berries that accompanied it. Just incredible.

Then out came Calamari stuffed with Lamb Sausage. A very rich dish, but this was our chance to try sweetbreads...how very Top Chef of us. The sweetbreads looked amazing and were cooked well, but I am just not a fan of any kind of edible gland or organ. I wanted to enjoy them, but I couldn't get past the taste and texture. And the lamb sausage was very gamey. This was my least favorite dish of the evening, though the work that went into the preparation was impressive.

Face or Tongue? For our last course, we chose Pig Face. Prior to staring down Pig Face on a plate, I thought I loved all things pork. Yeah. All things pork except the face. I think it's one of those delicacies you don't have an affinity for right away...you have to grow to love the taste. I love pork fat, but the fat on the face was a bit much for me. I made my way to the meat side of things and liked that, but the rest of the dish was a no-go. Bummer.

Our desserts were interesting- to say the least. Not my typical idea of a dessert...and now I think that dessert doesn't always equal something super sweet. We had a sticky date cake with quince paste and housemade marshmallow. And a bittersweet chocolate cake with cocoa nib ice cream (with a candle for Laura's birthday!). For sure, an appropriate end to our meal.

The 9 courses didn't seem enough at first, but by the end of our evening, we were stuffed. There is something to say about spacing out a meal and eating slowly- I definitely felt more satisfied. We missed an opportunity to meet Stephanie Izard- Top Chef Chicago winner and the Goat's chef- there's always next time. And there will FOR SURE be a next time.

the color purple.

My husband is hilarious. It's one of the major reasons I fell so hard for him many moons ago. He knows just when to inject humor into a situation and he has perfect comic timing as far as making me giggle like a schoolgirl.

We were discussing accents for our new master bedroom design this morning and here is the exchange:

Me: I think we might have to have a decorative pillow made for the bedroom. I just can't find the color purple I want.

Matt: The color purple? Just ask Oprah!

Ba dum bump. :) Just the laugh I needed to start this day of on the right foot.

chick-fil-a has landed!

Well, actually 2 Chick-Fil-A restaurants have opened in the past month or so here in the Chicago area. Unfortunately (or maybe it's a good thing!) neither one is super close to me. But thanks to some clever route re-arranging, I was able to stop at one on my way home from a friend's house yesterday. Imagine that!

I had had Chick-Fil-A only once before- while visiting my aunt in Florida a few years ago. So the time had come to give it a try again...and the fact that I could drive there rather than fly, well, that was an added bonus!

The menu is all chicken. And waffle fries. And this delectable sounding peppermint chocolate chip milkshake I didn't see until after I placed my order. I'm all about the spice, so I ordered up the spiciest sounding offering on the menu- the Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwich and an order of small waffle fries for good measure. It was THE BEST fast food chicken sandwich I have ever had. Juicy, flavorful and just plain awesome. The finishing touch was 2 dill pickle slices nestled in the bottom of the bun. Gave my tastebuds just a hint of that southern style flavor and I'm usually one to remove the pickles. SO glad I didn't. I'm already planning my next visit so I can indulge in chicken sandwich goodness again very soon. Who wants to join me??

a sweet gift recommendation.

Outer Space and aliens are all the rage in my house these days. From Star Wars to Planet Tickle and everything in between, my 4 year old is obsessed and my 19 month old is quickly following suit.

That said, I wanted to give a shout-out to a special book we received last year as a Christmas gift.

Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett (yes, of Melrose Place fame for all you thirty-somethings out there!)

This is hands down one of the cutest books I've ever read and Logan and Meyer get a kick out of all the tickles! We have the laughter kit which includes the hardcover book and fingerless tickle mitts in a darling gift box. Give the gift of tickles to a child or children you love this holiday season and watch them light up with joy!

favorite snacks!

I thought it would be fun to get a few new ideas for kidlet snacktime. If your kids are like mine, they ask for snacks or treats all.day.long. It doesn't really help that both my boys are complete sugar addicts. I have tried going the healthy route- almonds, honey, natural peanut butter- most the time it's a no-go. It's like they have some kind of treat radar and can automatically detect if a snack has health benefits and if so, they refuse.

So please share a comment here if you have a no-fail treat solution for your little ones!

My contribution: healthy it is not, at least not completely, but it is a total hit in my house and it will surely satisfy Mom's craving for a Thin Mint!

Quaker Chewy Chocolatey Mint

Granola Bars

halloweekend!

Hello and goodbye to Halloween, 2010! Halloween should fall on a Sunday every year...it's such sweet anticipation for that trick-or-treating climax and it should last all weekend long. This is the first year that Logan really "got" Halloween, so it was lots of fun for us this year. We had 3 parties to attend so it was the perfect excuse for Logan to rotate his 3 costumes: a Star Wars Clonetrooper, Spiderman and Superman. He is going through quite the superhero phase, as you can probably tell. Dressing up for Logan is fun, but it's nothing compared to the treats. Logan is an absolute candy kid and was hopped up on sugar all week and weekend too. Some fun memories of our family this weekend:

* Matt's super-sized strawberry margarita when we went out for Mexican with friends. $20 worth of frozen fruity goodness!

* A sweet brother photo shoot to commemorate Logan's 4th birthday and Meyer's 18 month birthday. Some highlights:

* We sold our bedroom furniture!! Now to finalize plans for our new, cozy haven. Ideas coming soon!

* Logan the Clonetrooper's 2 rounds of trick-or-treating, complete with a costume change to Spidey in the middle. I think he could have gone all night, if we let him!

* Meyer the Pirate couldn't get enough treats himself. Every time someone came to the door with a candy basket, Meyer reached out as if to grab it all for himself!

Happy Halloweekend, from our family to yours!

updating my makeup bag.

I love makeup. Although you would never guess it from how rarely I wear it, I truly adore the way I can transform my look with a swipe of mascara, a sweep of shadow and a dab of gloss. However, being a makeup minimalist comes with it's own set of difficulties. Like how to create a mid-drama look for going out...I am SO not the high-drama type. I do like shimmer...on my lids and on my lips, but not at the same time of course. But wearing shimmer the right way (you know, with my age and all) is a mystery that I have to work on unraveling. In the meantime, I picked up a couple of things this week to help.

Stila It-Girl Shadow Palette...only $10 at Ulta!As far as nail polish goes...I've always been a fan of the pale pink/nude shades- in any season. Until I saw how awesome dark polish looked on my sister's toes. So I decided to take the plunge. She was sporting OPI's William Tell Me About It- which was a great color, but a little too matte for my shimmer loving taste. I opted for Black Cherry Chutney. My toes will be rocking this fall!

surprisingly delicious!

Boneless pork chops marinated in jerk paste and then grilled to perfection have been a staple in our house this summer. This amazing side dish that I just discovered is a great accompaniment. Add some basmati or brown rice and you have a meal that will tantalize your tastebuds!

Chickpea Simmer

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
a pinch of crushed red pepper
1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes
4 cups of fresh spinach, packed

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Fry onion, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper till softened, about 3 minutes. Add chickpeas and tomatoes, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer till liquid is mostly evaporated. Add spinach. Serve over brown or basmati rice. Enjoy!

not just wasted space.

I just adore my blog title photo. In addition to bringing back memories of one of the best days this summer, it just amazes me that I took such a great picture of the lake and Chicago skyline. It doesn't even look like Chicago to me! A few weeks ago, I was reading an issue of Chicago Parent and it listed the 6 best parks in the city. And guess which park made the cut? Berger Park in Edgewater, where this photo was taken! Must be fate.

You are probably thinking of course she loves the photo...that's why it's so huge!! Seriously. It's massive- you have to scroll halfway down the page just to pass it. But I can't figure out how to make it smaller. All you you blog experts out there...any ideas?

Another great weekend is almost on the books. One thing is didn't include enough of was time with my husband. He was a rockstar the past couple days hanging out with the kidlets while I was able to have some me time. Today it's his turn for some me time!

I have been on the hunt for some skinny jeans for a few weeks now. Keeping up with the trends at my age is such a fine line. Skinny...but not too skinny. Fitted...but not too fitted. You get the idea. I really wish I were more fashion inclined, like my friend Meghan. She's truly talented and I seriously drool over her fashion recommendations on her blog, Wit & Whimsy. Living vicariously through her blog posts is so much fun, and she's a sweetheart too. :) Maybe she should start a blog for fashion for the over-30 crowd! Maybe in a few years when she's in my shoes.

Anyway, I found my skinny jeans. I really wanted to indulge in a gorgeous pair of Skylines from Paige Premium Denim...but my budget-conscious self settled for a nifty pair of skinny Diva jeans from Old Navy. They fit like a glove and I feel cool and carefree while wearing them. Huge thumbs up!

Last night was an interesting combo of dinner and drinks. My dad, his girlfriend and my little sister Lindsay joined Matt, the boys and I for dinner at a Joliet institution. Merichka's has been around for a long time. Even the sign outside has a definite throwback quality...and if you set foot in the place, you definitely feel the vibe too. There aren't many places these days that have a relish tray on the menu, a la an episode of Mad Men. But relish trays and cracker baskets have a unique mainstay on Merichka's menu, much to the delight of my boys. Saltines and butter kept them both occupied for quite awhile! And Lindsay and I were delighted by our drink choice...Absolut Pear combined with Lemonade and soda. Mmmm. Will have to remember this one next summer!

But the main reason to go to Merichka's...the poor boy (pictured above). Hands down, it's the best poor boy ever. Another Joliet institution, a poor boy is an oblong patty of well done chopped cube steak set upon a 12 inch loaf of french bread that has been drenched in a delicious, sinful, odorous garlic butterine sauce. American cheese makes the sandwich for me, but you could also choose swiss cheese or none at all. Grilled onions or dill pickles can flank your sandwich also, but this is the one sandwich I've eaten that the meat and cheese (and garlic butter, of course) is completely perfect all on it's own. Heaven. Add onion rings or fried mushrooms and you have a meal that should only be indulged in annually. I don't even want to think about the calories I ingested last night. But it was all worth it, even the garlic perfume I am wearing today as a result. :)

Matt and I went home, tucked the kids in bed and I headed back out to hang out with some friends and catch the fabulous lead vocal stylings of my super talented sister and her band, Wasted Space. We rocked out to some fun tunes, most of which were from back in the day and my sister performed them to perfection. So it seemed fitting that the company consisted of old friends, a few of which I hadn't seen in years. Between sets were drinks, shots and catching up. Such a fun night...the only thing missing was the company of my husband. Next time for sure!

parties, pumpkins, perfection.

Hello out there! I'm sure you missed me, those precious few of you who have been following me and my family this past summer. We're a few weeks into fall now, though you'd never know it from the weather. Instead of bundling up in cozy sweaters and warming up with pumpkin spice lattes as I mentioned a few posts ago, we're trying to stay cool in this indian summer that has enveloped the Chicago area this past week. I have mixed feelings regarding the warm up...but I mostly wish that Mother Nature would let fall arrive already instead of teasing us with a season past. Picking pumpkins and going on hayrides just isn't the same in 85 degree weather!

We had such fun celebrating Logan's birthday for an entire week! What a special time for our family. His actual birthday was on a Tuesday, and he woke up to balloons and a special present from Mommy & Daddy. The celebration continued with meeting Daddy for lunch and a trip to the candy store...one of Logan's favorite places. I've never met a kid with a sweeter tooth! Thursday was Logan's birthday celebration at school. He got to wear a crown all day and he and his friends indulged in a special birthday pudding treat! All of Logan's other friends came over for a kidlet birthday party on Friday, where they gorged on sweet treats and cupcakes, played games and made a craft. The week was topped off by yet another celebration on Saturday with our closest friends and family. Whew! It was a supremely busy week, but so worth it to see the joy and happiness on Logan's face all week.

Just 6 days after Logan turned 4, I had a birthday. I turned 35 last week. Smack dab in the middle of my thirties. Incredible. I don't feel 35, I feel much younger, even though I've been seeing subtle differences in my looks the past couple years. This aging thing really plays with your head, that's for sure. Anyway, my husband spoiled me, as usual. Why is it that he goes above and beyond for my birthday, yet he won't let me reciprocate for his? My mom took me out for a special birthday lunch...sushi! I finally got the Chicago Fire Roll I'd been craving forever. Thanks, Mom...and happy birthday to me!

The pumpkin farm is a yearly excursion for our family. We've been to several, both near and far. This year, we made the 10 minute drive to Konow's Corn Maze. As I mentioned above, the weather was hot but we made the best of it. So many fun things to do. The boys rode ponies (Logan got Lady, Meyer chose Scout), jumped on the massive bouncy pillow (the size of a basketball court, no joke!), and Logan sank into a vat of corn kernels. We topped off our visit with a ride on the cow train...which is pulled by a tractor and is very bumpy. The boys and I had a ball! Till next year!

And last but not least...we took the train to the city to spectate at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. So much fun walking the streets of the city and feeling the energy of the amazing runners taking on the challenge of 26.2. We indulged in a delicious brunch at Eleven City Diner, enjoyed the best Chicago Mix popcorn ever, and just took in all sights and sounds of the energy that day. Oh, and Matt and I also decided to run Chicago 2011. Yes...we are both going to run our first (and last) marathons!!!!!

logan is fabulous FOUR today!

I remember the day I became a mom so vividly. It was 4 years ago exactly and I could use lots of words to describe it- but the first one that comes to mind is surreal. Maybe because my birth experience was a little bit different than most...maybe because it was happening to ME and not someone else.

They always say that time passes in fast forward when you become a parent and that is the absolute truth. The past 4 years have brought many challenges, but much more fun and more love than I ever thought possible. My boys- all 3 of them- are the most incredible things that have happened to me.

Happy Birthday Logan!!

yes, it's been awhile!

Between busy days and trying to combat sickies in my house (my husband and Meyer), I have had no time for blogging. Then the sickies finally fell on me...the only person in our family who rarely gets sick...and I was out for the count. But mommies really have no time or business being sick! So I fought my way through it and after a false alarm a few days ago, am finally feeling a bit better...just in time for a busy weekend and even busier week!

Our family has lots to celebrate these days. A milestone family anniversary, my mom's birthday, our niece's 20th birthday and Logan's 4th birthday. Not to mention my birthday is also on the horizon. But these events aren't the only reasons worth celebrating. We have so much to be thankful for and that reason alone gives us cause for celebration every day!

my little ketchup face.

Meyer loves ketchup. I think it's his favorite food- or at least his favorite condiment. If there is ketchup on his plate, it's always the first thing gone...smeared all over his hands, his tray, his face. I fed him lunch this afternoon. Grilled Cheese. His second favorite food. Next thing I know, he's facedown on his tray, licking off all traces of ketchup. I looked at him and cracked up and then he started giggling...my blue eyed little ketchup monster. Oh, did I mention that today was bathtime? ;)

school has started!

I just can't wrap my head around the fact that as of September 9, 2010 I have a preschooler! It seems like just yesterday Logan relied on me for almost everything, and now, almost 4 years later, he's becoming his own person and blossoming. What a sight to see.

We got an early start that day. I wanted to get some pictures of Logan with his brother and with his backpack before we started the 3 block trek to school. Logan looks so proud and Meyer looks even prouder, if that's possible. My boys...growing up so fast.

I had so many hopes for Logan's first day. That he would listen to his teachers, make lots of new friends and feel at home in his new surroundings. We walked up to the school and met with Logan's longtime friends Daniel and Owen and had a little picture session. Logan could not wait to start his day and a tiny little part of me hoped he would look back at me when it was time to go in the building...he didn't. He skipped right in to the next phase of his life with excitement and bravado. That's my boy.

falling into fall.

Literally. Fall comes out of nowhere along with falling temperatures, falling leaves, among other things. I have a love/hate relationship with fall. I adore the changing of the colors, wearing big, cozy sweaters, running in the brisk, cool air. I hate the fact that fall gives way to winter. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate some things winter, but overall it's my least favorite season by far. I wish I could fast forward to February when things start lighting up and warming up!

Labor Day weekend 2010 is all but a memory now. But what wonderful memories they were! Lots of quality time with family, friends and our little unit. I got a 10K race in there too and was pleased with my performance!

september morn.

Labor Day weekend. It's here. The weekend I dread all summer has finally made it's appearance. That means pools are closed for the season, school is in session and wearing white is a major faux pas until Memorial Day in May. Farewell to summer, 2010...it's been fun and we've made lots of memories.

change of plans.

I was supposed to tackle a long, 7 mile run this morning. Not happening. Not only was the heat and humidity ridiculously oppressing at 7 this morning, my sweet, adorable youngest was up for 3 hours last night which resulted in next to no sleep for Matt and me. Ugh. The only silver lining there are early naps for both boys...and I should really try to take a snoozer myself. But sleep during the day almost always totally eludes me. I am just not a napper. Just a professional rester. :)

Matt has taken a few vacation days this week so the extra long Labor Day weekend promises to be chock full of family fun! And a perfect official end to summer as...drumroll please...Logan starts pre-school next week!!! T-minus 9 days till my baby boy is off to school. I don't know where 4 years have gone but parenthood has been pretty spectacular so far so I'm really excited to see what the future has to offer! I just hope the next 4 years pass in slow motion. Who am I kidding? This week kicks things off with a parent orientation on Tuesday and new student orientation on Thursday. Maybe by then it will sink in that I have a pre-schooler!

On the healthy eating/lifestyle front...sigh. I'm having some difficulty there. Staying at an ideal weight, or what I think is an ideal weight for me, is a constant struggle. My love of running is not enough- especially when all I do is run- and then my body gets stuck in a rut. Also because I love to eat. Part of the reason why I'm on the go so much is that it helps me lay off the snacking. If I am home, the refrigerator and cabinets beckon to me and it's so hard to turn off that voice. So in an effort to kick start my efforts, I've started a 2 week diet plan that I hope will start turning the scale around soon. Here's hoping and praying!

eating, praying, loving...and oh, eating!

I saw the movie Eat, Pray, Love this past weekend with my mom, sister and grandma for my grandma's 85th birthday. 85 my grandma is. I just can't believe it. It was a great movie...perfect chick flick and I had a great time with 3 of the most important women in my life. :) I didn't read the book and I think I'm quite possibly the only person who hasn't, but I did enjoy the movie and amazingly, don't have any desire to read the book! The movie said it all for me...eating in Italy, praying in India and finding true love in Bali. If I ever need to find myself, I know where to go. ;) I never had a real desire to go to Italy. But after seeing this movie, I think that's changed. Knowing me, I'd probably gain 10 pounds by day 2.

This week I also indulged in a sushi lunch with my sister. I hadn't had sushi in way too long and it is one of my most favorite foods ever. Though it wasn't always. I remember being in Palo Alto, CA with my aunt back in 1995 and we walked past a restaurant that had a line out the door. I asked what the line was for, and my aunt, who has loved sushi forever, told me it was a sushi place and did I want to try it? Up until then, I wasn't very experimental when it came to food. I wasn't a big fan of seafood and the thought of it raw freaked me out for some reason. I told her no, but still looked longingly at the line. Finally, I got up the nerve to give sushi a shot in 1999 or so. My first experience was not exactly stellar. I think I left most of the food on my plate, which is unusual for me. My second, third, fourth tries were busts as well...I can't put my finger on the reason I wasn't crazy about sushi at first. I think it was a combination of the size of the pieces and the texture. I remember asking the waitress my first time if the sushi chef could cut the pieces smaller. She looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears. Guess that's a no. But there was also something about sushi that enticed me. I'm sure that was the flavors. I kept coming back for more until I was finally hooked. My favorite roll ever? It's called the Chicago Fire Roll and it's at the Sushi House locations in LaGrange and Westmont. It's raw tuna wrapped in seaweed and lightly batter fried then drizzled with this unbelieveable chili oil that I couldn't replicate if I tried. Just thinking about it makes me drool. Another favorite is a roll I had recently- the perfect rainbow roll. Spicy salmon with cucumber and avocado wrapped with assorted fish. Yum.

For all you sushi-doubters out there...try it!! It might take a few tries or it might take one (I'm still in awe of my friend Allison who conquered the spicy tuna roll and salmon sashimi her first time out!), but you will love it, I promise.

So anyway, Logan LOVES sushi- he tried it before he turned 2 and has loved it since. He loves picking up the roll, dipping it and stuffing everything in his mouth. He will also steal the raw fish from my rainbow roll. I swear, I have an easier time getting him to eat raw fish than I do chicken nuggets. Go figure. He also does a pretty good job manuevering his chopsticks, for a 3 year old. Meyer hasn't taken the sushi plunge yet, but I ordered him shrimp dumplings and he was able to spear little pieces with his chopsticks. Trust me, Auntie Laura is so proud. :)

All of this crazy eating has made me realize I've been eating way too much. And it's starting to show, at least to me. Thus starts round 1,390 of watching what I eat. Just goes to show running to eat doesn't always work. ;) So I registered for another race. I originally was going to run another half marathon, but I don't think I'm up for it. My longest runs lately have been only 7 miles and I just don't feel prepared. Fortunately, the half marathon has a 10K associated with it, so I'll be running that with a couple friends. And of course, we're already planning where to enjoy a yummy breakfast afterwards.

hail, caesar!

Long ago, I spent a winter break from college helping my aunt and uncle out with their 2 kids, who were 5 & 3 at the time. They lived in a cute town about an hour south of San Francisco. They really enjoyed cooking and entertaining and still do so I think a lot of what I've learned over the years about delicious, simple food I learned from them! So AJ and UT, thank you for that! A few recipes in heavy rotation were the following:

Black Beans and Rice

Jerk Pork

Garlic Roasted Orzo Pilaf

Cabbage Salad

Caesar Salad

I still use all of these recipes to this day and they have become favorites of my family as well. A few days ago my husband grilled a couple of chicken breasts so last night's dinner was Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken. The dressing recipe is homemade and it's from one of the Silver Palate Cookbooks that I don't have. I never wrote the recipe down, so sometimes I confuse the amounts of the ingredients. I use too much lemon juice or not enough garlic, or vice versa. But last night the result was perfection and I savored every last bite. I even made my own croutons and they came out great too. So if you love Caesar Salad, request this recipe next time you come over. :)

recipe: caesar salad

source: silver palate cookbook

4 anchovy fillets, minced

1 raw egg

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbsp. lemon juice

1/3 cup olive oil

Combine all the ingredients in a container with a tight-fitting lid and shake. The dressing will emulsify nicely. Set in the refrigerator for at least an hour to let the flavors blend.

Meanwhile, wash and dry a head of romaine lettuce. Tear into bite size pieces and put in a big bowl. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese over lettuce to taste, add a few grinds of fresh black pepper and sprinkle croutons over salad. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently. Arrange sliced chicken in the bowl and toss again. Serve. Enjoy.

I have been a running fool lately. The hot, humid weather is finally starting to break so this past week has been full of pleasant, comfortable runs. A few days ago, my husband and I took the kids with us on a run around the neighborhood. When I take the kids, I run in a grid for 3 miles in streets behind my house. There isn't a lot of traffic and I can run on the street. It is the most boring run ever, but hey, at least it's safe.

summer reading.

I posted at the beginning of the summer that I would be tackling Anna Karenina sometime this summer. Well, I didn't exactly get around to it. Not because I haven't been reading, but because a few other books have come up on my radar that I'd rather read! So I think Anna Karenina will be a fall/winter project...maybe I should just vow to read it before the end of 2010!

A few weeks back, my sister lent me The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. This book has become somewhat of a phenom, as everyone is reading it and it's being made into a movie. I read the prologue, and then a friend of mine made another book recommendation- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This one is in the young adult lit genre and I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, but I put it on hold at the library anyway along with Catching Fire- the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I read the first page and couldn't put it down. I flew through both books at lightning speed and am now anxiously awaiting the final book of the trilogy- Mockingjay, which comes out at the end of the month. I've also recommended the book...and now my sister is hooked too.

So after I finished that, I started up The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo again, which started out slowly for me, but once I got about halfway through it, I was obsessed. Between reading and catching up with my DVR, I have lots of ways to keep me busy in my spare time. ;)

birthday lists. :)

Birthdays are so much fun in our house. What makes them so special is that all of our birthdays are clustered together at opposite ends of the year. Matt and Meyer are both Aries and their birthdays are 3 weeks apart (in March/April) and Logan and I are both Libras and our birthdays are 6 days apart (in September/October). We didn't plan it that way- honest. It just happened! So every 6 months, we get ready for birthdays and parties and fun!

So now I'm starting to plan Logan's parties. Yes, parties. I always told myself that my kids would only have one party for family and friends each year, but the circle of family and friends keeps growing and growing and we can't fit everyone! So we have 2 parties. It seems to work out well.

Now, birthday lists? That's a whole other topic. Birthday lists and Christmas lists are a parent's secret weapon- at least for the first 7 years. :) Logan sees something in a store and wants it? It goes on the birthday list. I've tried to clarify that just because it's on the list doesn't mean it's a done deal, but I'm sure that Logan will be performing a mental checklist on his birthday to make sure we didn't miss anything on the list. That's just the kind of kid he is. He doesn't like to lose track of anything, especially things like presents and toys.

My birthday list?? Totally different story. I really never have a list but this year is an exception.

#1- stamped charms with my kids' names and birthdates, kind of like this. Super sweet.

#2- this tiny bow necklace. I adore simple jewelry and this is right up my alley.

#3- an iTouch. I'm not really a gizmo kind of girl, but my iPod mini is almost 5 years old and that's absolutely ancient in terms of technology. So I would love a new home for all my digital music! Plus, I need a better way to keep track of everything going on in my life now that Logan is starting preschool in the fall so a portable and user-friendly calendar is a necessity.

cooking class 101

Now that I've finally (hopefully) solved the mystery of Meyer's refusal to sleep through the night, I've started to come out of my funk. Which I probably shouldn't even have been in a funk to begin with, if I look around me and see how fortunate I am. My husband, kids and I are healthy and fulfilled and we really couldn't ask for anything more.

Logan has been participating in a cooking class all summer. There isn't a kids cooking class offered in our area, so a few girlfriends and I took on the challenge of creating our own schedule this summer. So for 8 Mondays, we alternated hosting fun cooking classes for all our kids. It couldn't have worked out better and gave us something for the moms and kids to look forward to each Monday! Our turn was yesterday and after racking my brain trying to figure out something fun to do that hadn't been done yet, I finally settled on a menu. Of course, I had the mom's menu planned out before the kids, totally typical of me.

The kids had a blast making their own turkey meatballs...at least the ones who really dug in and got their hands dirty! They dipped the finished product into white and red sauce and ate up some tortellini to go with it. For dessert, they made grilled cream cheese, nutella and banana sandwiches. Of course the most fun the kids had was making a supreme mess of the basement and Logan's bedroom.

I got the inspiration for my moms menu last week. I ran some kid-free errands and decided to partake in a kid-free lunch at a restaurant I was dying to try- Labriola Bakery & Cafe. I had a hard time deciding on my meal, but couldn't pass up this delicious sounding sandwich:

Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken on Olive Oil & Sea Salt Ciabatta
Oven Roasted Tomatoes, Spinach, Aged Provolone Cheese & Pesto Mayonnaise

Sounds amazing, right? Believe you me, it tasted even better. I wouldn't have been surprised if I received a couple of strange looks from fellow diners...I enjoyed every last bite. The best sandwich of my life.

So the decision for my moms menu was sealed... (trying to) recreate that sandwich. No recipe here, so here's what I did.

I brushed some olive oil on 2 slices of tuscan bread.
I made my own pesto and mixed it with some mayo and spread that on the other side. I put a slice of provolone cheese over that and layered fresh spinach leaves on top of that. Then the chicken. I pounded out a few chicken breasts and sliced them cutlet size. I drizzled olive oil all over and then generously sprinkled them with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper. I wrapped each cutlet in a slice of prosciutto and roasted them, along with sliced tomato, in the oven for about 25 minutes @ 350. I topped the spinach with a cutlet and some tomatoes and topped the whole thing with the other slice of bread. I then pressed the sandwiches on the griddle and served them piping hot to my friends.

I did not know that a sandwich could taste that delicious, especially one that I made. Unbelieveable. I think my friends enjoyed them too, at least I hope so!

funkified.

Maybe it's the relentless heat and humidity lately, the fact that summer is swiftly coming to a close, the non-sleeping of my youngest and his subsequent crankiness...or a combination of all three that has me in a definite funk lately. Every time I try dragging myself out of it, something else happens that pulls me right back in.

I'm sure a big reason has a lot to do with a friend losing her full-term baby earlier this week. I'm not a close friend by any means, but regardless, her loss has hit me hard. Why it takes a tragedy to help you see your life a bit more clearly will always be a mystery to me. All I know is that I'm hugging and kissing both my boys a little bit more these days and sending all the love and serenity I've got out to Sue and Nate who will undoubtedly be needing loads of support in the coming months as they cope with their unimaginable loss.

me + giada + ina + martha = bff.

When it comes to cooking, I like keeping things simple. I'll experiment with the occasional tricky or time consuming recipe, but they end up disasters more often then not. With Giada and Ina and even Martha, what you see is what you get. A few fresh, quality ingredients paired with a little tender loving care results in culinary magnificence every time. Case in point- my favorite summertime pasta sauce. I finely chop up 5 or 6 farmstand plum tomatoes and toss them with some olive oil, julienned basil, salt and 1 or 2 minced garlic cloves. Let the mixture sit at room temp for an hour or so to let the flavors meld and serve over hot angel hair pasta with lots of parmesan cheese. Perfection! And oh so easy!

Shrimp is one of my favorite things to cook. And now that we've perfected several methods of cooking them, I'm always on the lookout for great shrimp recipes. This one is a keeper. Healthy it's not, but it has a delicious, unique flavor that my husband and I crave. Logan's a shrimp lover too, so this is perfect for all of us!

recipe: nonna luna's rice
source: giada at home

1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, divided, at room temperature
2 cups parboiled long-grain rice, such as Uncle Ben's
3 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 clove garlic, minced
2 pounds small shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 cup whipping cream
Freshly ground black pepper

In a medium nonstick saucepan, heat 1/2 of the butter over medium-low heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken stock and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer covered for 20 to 25 minutes until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat and rest covered for 5 minutes.

In a large skillet, melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 to 2 minutes until aromatic. Add the shrimp, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp is pink and cooked through. Stir in the cream and heat through. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Using a fork, fluff the rice and arrange on a platter. Spoon the shrimp cream sauce over the rice and serve.


So yesterday, I also had a couple of small zucchinis...perfect for zucchini pancakes!!

recipe: zucchini pancakes
source: barefoot contessa at home

2 medium zucchini
2 tbsp. grated red onion
2 eggs, lightly beaten
6-8 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
unsalted butter and vegetable oil

Grate the zucchini into a bowl using the large side of a box grater. Immediately stir in the onion and eggs. Stir in 6 tbsp. of the flour, the baking powder, salt and pepper. If the batter gets too thin from the liquid from the zucchini, add the additional 2 tbsp. of flour.

Heat a saute pan over medium heat and melt 1/2 tbsp. butter and 1/2 tbsp. oil. When the butter is hot but not smoking, lower heat to medium low and drop batter into pan by the large spoonful. Cook 2 minutes each side or until browned. Serve hot.

My husband isn't a fan of zucchini...but he LOVED these- in fact, all my boys did! A great way to get veggies into all 3 of them. :) But I'll tell you what he IS a fan of. Brownies. And since I almost never make brownies (not even the box kind), I decided to whip up a batch from scratch this morning. Ina has a recipe from one of her episodes for Outrageous Brownies. I tested the recipe out a few months back...not so outrageous. Way too rich of a brownie for my tastes. Plus the texture was off to me. I was disappointed because they were time-consuming and expensive...so continued the search for the perfect brownie. And I found it, thanks to Martha. Her Double Chocolate Brownies are easy to make and only consist of a 1/2 dozen ingredients. They taste better than they look. I sure hope my husband appreciates the results of my efforts!



recipe: double chocolate brownies
source: martha stewart living magazine, april 2010

1 stick unsalted butter, cut into large pieces
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, sifted
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving a slight overhang on all sides. Melt butter and chocolate in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, and whisk in sugar. Whisk in eggs, 1 at a time, until combined. Whisk in cocoa and salt. Fold in flour until combined.
2.Pour batter into pan. Bake until set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan, about 15 minutes. Lift brownies from pan using parchment. Remove parchment, and transfer to a wire rack. Let cool completely. Cut into 9 squares.

catching up.

What another phenomenally fun weekend! Times like these will definitely be fondly remembered in the dead of winter when there's a foot of snow on the ground. Then we'll be looking forward to another fun summer! Summer and spring are my favorite seasons and I could bask in the warm weather all year round. But my husband loves the changing of the seasons...as I get older, I appreciate it more for sure.

Both boys participated in the summer reading program at the library these past few weeks. The theme was "Scare Up a Good Book!" and the children's area was decorated with creatures and scary ghouls which confused Logan a little bit at first- he thought it was Halloween time! It's a fun program. Each week, in reward for completing the required reading, the boys got treats like free ice cream cones or free meals at local restaurants. They also got to spin a wheel for a prize like candy or a pencil. The last day of the program was Friday and they each got to choose a book! Logan picked out a book about penguins and Meyer's choice (my choice) was "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" which of course Logan has been requesting at bedtime. We celebrated the end of the program with Happy Meals from McDonalds. Fun!

Friday night was dinner with our neighbors. Greek chicken and this to die for Orzo Salad. The company wasn't half bad either. ;) Delicious!! Yesterday was dinner with more friends. The hosts recently became engaged so there was lots of wedding talk. And my husband was asked to be a groomsman!! Woohoo...I get to see my hubs in a tux. Can't wait. I would also like to take this moment to sing the praises of a new favorite summer cocktail. Smirnoff Blueberry Vodka mixed with lemonade, poured over ice and garnished with fresh blueberries. Absolute heaven in a glass.
Because of my indulgence, it's a miracle I woke up bright and early to meet a friend for a 7 mile run this morning. I love having a running buddy. It really takes my mind off the distance and I think it builds up endurance too- gabbing the entire 7 miles. :) We were pretty quick too...1 hour and 3 minutes.

Then it was time to get ready for the highlight of the day...a trip to the city to visit my little sister and check out her apartment and her neighborhood. She lives in the Edgewater/Andersonville area of the city. Her building is vintage 1930s and has such character. Her living space is tiny, but very well organized and super cute. I expected nothing less. :) We walked down Sheridan and stopped for coffee at Metropolis Coffee Company. Love.

Then we headed to Berger Park with some pretty awesome cafe au laits in hand. The boys had tons of fun at the playground making friends and running around while the rest of us were in awe of the views. Incredible. It seemed like we were spending the day at the beach on the east coast, not at Lake Michigan.

Lunchtime! Our options were brunch at Bananas Foster Cafe, which was tiny, crowded and didn't really accommodate out stroller, or burgers at Moody's Pub at their outside beer garden. Fantastic onion rings, fresh cut fries, 1/2 pound burgers...nothing wrong with that!

Moody Blue Burger and fresh cut fries

Then it was time to wrap it up and head home for naptime. Thanks again Lindsay! Pizza for dinner for an awesome end to a perfect weekend. :)

farmer's market escapades.

I just adore farmer's markets. I love checking out all the beautiful, fresh produce and talking with the farmers and learning a little bit about their lives. My town just started hosting markets this summer...there are only a few vendors so far, so when I was in Burr Ridge this past week, I made a point to stop by. It wasn't very crowded because of the rainy weather, but that didn't stop me!! My mom was with me and she picked up some basil olive oil from The Olive Tap...super tasty! If you haven't tasted plain olive oil, you're missing out. There's something about the smooth, buttery flavor that is super appealing. Hope you and Shawn enjoy it, Mom! A few booths later, I just about died. I've been wanting to pick up some fresh flowers to adorn my little house, but I do NOT have the knack of arranging. And of course the flowers that appeal most to me are the priciest. It turns out that 2 of the vendors at the market are from 1 farm- part is fruit and vegetables, and part is flowers. There were bucket after bucket of sunflowers, zinnias, azaleas, fillers...you name it. The best part? $5 for as many stems as you could fit in your hand. What a steal, I tell you! Sold. So here's the bouquet I came up with. Can't wait to head back next week- maybe I'll pick up flowers for a few rooms!

Another vendor had gorgeous Patty Pan squash and samples of yellow, red and orange cherry tomatoes that burst with bright, fresh flavor in your mouth. We got to talking and we even exchanged a few recipes! That's when the boys discovered the fountains and had such fun traipsing through them and soaking themselves. It had started to rain again by then anyhow so what's a little more water? Who knew my boys would turn out to be such water babies?

what a week!

Things have been so busy lately that my head is likely to explode! While the rest of me implodes from this muggy, disgusting heat. But if there's anything I love about summer, it's keeping me and my boys busy- preferably out and about. It's so much fun to catch up with friends and keep the boys occupied while doing it!

The week started with cooking class and playtime and was the beginning of Logan's current obsession with Zhu Zhu Pets. What is the deal with these things anyway? I don't get the appeal of a furry, battery-powered hamster...I must be missing something.

Then it was time for a dentist appointment for Logan! He did a great job...went straight back to the chair and even the dentist, who has been my dentist since I was 5 years old, commented that he was amazed Logan's my son since I had a terrible fear of the dentist. No cavities, which is pretty incredible considering the amount of candy Logan consumes. :) I also got to satisfy one of my cravings for dinner...a carnitas burrito bol from Chipotle. Delish, and I guess the cheese quesadilla Logan and Meyer shared wasn't half bad either since Logan polished off his portion.

We also headed to the zoo for some fun with friends and animals! Logan loves the zoo and again was asking all about the skulls of some of the animals. We met up with some friends and Logan loved hanging out with the older kids for sure! Logan slurped up an ICEE and splashed around a little bit at the splash pad to cool off on a hot day. I made some fresh tomato sauce and served it on pasta for a delicious warm weather dinner.

I just found out that the Ford Explorer is being redesigned for 2011. The new look hasn't been unveiled yet, but I'm so excited to check it out! Other cars on my wishlist- the new Subaru Outback crossover and the Subaru Forester. For some reason, I just love the look of Subarus. Sporty and stylish all in one.