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>Spontaneous Fishing
>Yesterday, after a long day cooped up in the house during bouts of heavy rain, we snuck out spontaneously and took the kids fishing. You can read all about our expedition at NJ Moms Blog in my...
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What Will You Serve for the Superbowl?
We are what you might describe as a football-know-nothing family. End zones and touch downs are a mystery to me, but I still enjoy the spectacle of the Superbowl, even without wardrobe malfunctions....
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Beach in the City
Chicago has been home for almost two years, but in many ways we’re still newcomers here. We still rely on the GPS to get around, still hunger for ketchup on our hot dogs, still marvel at the flatness...
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Licking My Wounds
Sometimes the only thing to do is just to go home, call it quits, and lick your wounds. Although I generate some income from my blogging and freelancing, for the most part, I inhabit the warm cocoon of...
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Winter Sunshine Therapy
I flew to Toronto again last week to visit my father who is still in the ICU, almost three months since his lung transplant. It’s a long road back, plagued by infections, pneumonia, and set backs. He’s...
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Life Lessons in the Little League Dug Out
I never gave much thought about the different dynamics of sports until my kids started playing them. I’d played soccer, basketball, and softball, with varying skill, but didn’t realize how different...
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Mango Shrimp Tacos and Asian Steak Tacos: Taco Night Al Fresco Fiesta!
Taco night has been a longstanding tradition in our household, long before we relocated to Chicago. But the rich Mexican community here and the abundance of delicious taco joints has inspired us to...
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Quiche Lorraine: Bacon, Swiss and Picnic Bliss
When you think of summer picnics, does quiche come to mind? You might have relegated quiche to that folder in your mind labeled 80s concepts best forgotten, but I’m hoping that after you read this...
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Making Memories and Simple Strawberry Jam Fresh from the Fields
Adventures are best when they’re spontaneous. And when they involve strawberry picking, they’re spontaneously delicious. Last weekend, after what felt like months and months of baseball games, dance...
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Homemade Pizza on the Grill
For our engagement, Steve and I got a bread maker, a giant white box that filled the house with amazing smells as it baked overnight. The bread was a little too thick and chewy, but we were addicted to...
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Apple Jelly and Apple Picking to Re-Unite a Family
The family activities that take the most amount of hustle often pay the sweetest dividends. I’ve always wanted to have that house, that neighborhood hangout house that kids flock to after school. Since...
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Storing Sweet Corn for Winter
Summer corn is my children’s favorite food. On the cob and off the cob. On the grill and boiled. They’ll take their corn any way they can. In years past, we’ve spent all winter missing the surprise...
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Bringing Great Books to Life with Family Movie Night
Friday night family movie night is one of my favorite rituals. After a week of running around, settling deep into the couch with whole crew sprawled around me in front of the big screen is pure bliss....
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Holiday Baking: No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Long before the snow starts falling, when my toes are brightly manicured and my legs are still tanned, I start clipping recipes for holiday cookie inspiration. They sit neatly organized in red and...
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Perfect Meringues Bring Generations Together
When I was a child, my mother reigned in the kitchen. I was her willing sous chef for the main course, but dessert was my gig. Baking didn’t interest her very much and I was (and still am) a...
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The Terror of Summer
My yard is more mud than riot of color, but it’s trying. My valiant magnolia has exploded into its yearly pink fireworks, encouraging the rest of the garden to follow suit. The azalea joined in this...
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a Few Recipes to Celebrate Bastille Day
When I was a little girl, the Bastille Day fireworks were so close to my birthday that I always thought they were in my honor. Three years ago, we were in Paris on Bastille Day, feet dangling over the...
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Cooking Classes at Carnivore in Oak Park
Taking cooking classes is a hobby of mine. Nothing beats meeting new food lovers while gathering some inspiration and valuable tips along the way. Hands on or just demo… it’s all good fun and my idea...
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Mardi Gras Crepes: a Reluctant Celebration
The last few weeks have been huddle tight and lick your wounds kind of weeks, filled with mornings when the urge to linger in bed, with the blankets piled over my head, is overwhelming. My dad has been...
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A Real Corn Boil on the Farm
My sister Jessica and her daughters come to visit us every summer from California. For a week, we enjoy the miss and you’ll blink it Chicago summertime, spending lazy days at the pool, and showing...
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