11.03.2010
a sweet gift recommendation.
11.01.2010
favorite snacks!
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!
10.31.2010
halloweekend!
10.29.2010
updating my makeup bag.
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!
10.19.2010
surprisingly delicious!
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!
10.15.2010
not just wasted space.
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!


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!
10.11.2010
parties, pumpkins, perfection.
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!!!!!
9.28.2010
logan is fabulous FOUR today!
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.
9.25.2010
yes, it's been awhile!
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!
9.13.2010
my little ketchup face.
school has started!
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.
9.08.2010
falling into fall.
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!
9.02.2010
september morn.
8.30.2010
change of plans.
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!
8.24.2010
eating, praying, loving...and oh, eating!
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.
8.19.2010
hail, caesar!
8.14.2010
summer reading.
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. ;)
8.12.2010
birthday lists. :)
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.
#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.
8.10.2010
cooking class 101
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
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!
8.06.2010
funkified.
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.







