forever home

the chicagoan. reinvented.

2012-02-29T16:44:00.001-06:00

Have you heard about the new Chicagoan? I'm really excited about it! You can read about it here. Essentially, it's a literary journal with pieces of writing by Chicagoans and about Chicago with various forms of art and culture mixed in. It's nice to see a publication that wants to elevate the reputation of Chicago and take it seriously. (And it's not hard to love the city with this warm weather we've been getting lately!) The Chicagoan isn't new but it's been on hiatus for quite some time and the name seems to be the only thing that will be staying the same. The idea is to release the mag biannually with enough stories inside to let you read a new one each week. The first copy includes what should be a fascinating look at Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel that I know will captivate Mike. I'll be checking my mailbox daily until it comes!

Just wanted to share. Later this week, I'll post about my February "Happiness Project" goal as well as some things going on in our forever home. For now, I've got some Indian food calling my name!

moulding progress (finally!)

2012-02-25T14:30:00.001-06:00

Someone's been pretty busy upstairs. Take a look!

a third trimester survival guide.

2012-02-20T13:14:00.000-06:00

We've officially made it into the third trimester! With work, a soon to be 3 year old, and organizing around the house I'm sure these next few weeks will fly by. The third trimester calls for a whole new approach to pregnancy so I've thrown together a little survival guide. Take a look!

valentine's day: the working mom edition.

2012-02-14T06:26:00.001-06:00

As a working mom, I have to accept that there will be things I miss out on. For this Valentine's Day, however, I decided to throw together a little surprise for Mila so even if I can't spend the day with her I can still make it special. This afternoon, we worked on decorating a Valentine's "mailbox" and she's now anxiously awaiting what special treats might be in it come morning! Since I'm off to work well before she wakes up, I set it up in her doorway so it'll be the first thing she sees in the morning.

Oh, and I didn't forget about Mike of course!

Will you be celebrating today? I don't care about all the "manufactured" holiday arguments about today, I still enjoy being doted on and now having a little one to done on myself. As for Mike and myself, we have a special dinner planned at Green Zebra that I absolutely cannot wait for.

sunday check-in.

2012-02-12T17:46:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone. Mike is over at Home Depot looking at molding and I'm on the couch with a stuffed up little one. Poor ladybird has a little cold. I swear she hasn't been sick since she was a little baby but thankfully she's handling this cold like a champ. It does mean a little more "Caillou" time than usual though. It's really the only way to get her to rest. Anyway, just wanted to check in to share a new phone app I found. It's called Bloglovin and it's a really easy way to keep up with the blogs you follow on your phone. I rarely use my laptop so I'm excited to have all the blogs I look at for design/parenting inspiration all in one place. I linked this blog up there too. You can check it out here:

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Oh, and here's the inspiration for Mike's Sunday night Home Depot visit:

Image Link

I'm working on a third trimester survival guide to post later this week and I'll definitely be sharing some photos of the molding progress too!

bury my heart.

2012-02-10T12:44:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday, everyone! Did you get the Etsy email on Wednesday? It was right up my alley. Our inspiration for the new nursery is coming from old southwestern and native american themes. A portion of my family has its roots in this region and this boy will be part Cherokee/Choctaw like myself. And, of course, I'm just really loving the influx of southwest design lately. It's refreshing to see something besides mid-century floating around out there. I know, the feathers and dreamcatchers are already almost as ubiquitous but let me have my moment!

Anyway, here are a few of the things I'd like to get into the nursery soon (check out pinterest for the unabridged version!):

Via Etsy

I absolutely love this. I haven't hit the "purchase" button yet though since we already have this Bison print framed and ready to hang. There is a difference between a room with a theme and a room with pieces of inspiration, you know? We're walking that fine line.

Via Etsy

Alright, this sold already but I'll certainly be keeping my eye on the etsy shop.

This rocker from CB2 seems sturdier than the Urban Outfitters version and I like the dark fabric. I'll have to venture out to the store and test it out myself. Although, at almost 7 months pregnant, I'm not sure I'll be able to get back up!

Oh, and for those expectant and new mothers out there, have you seen this blog? It's a series of "inspiration boards" for nursery ideas. She's got great taste and I've definitely stolen more than a few ideas. Enjoy.

workspiration.

2012-02-08T16:09:00.003-06:00

As a teacher in the public school system, I am all too aware of the hostility toward our profession. I'm not sure why it's suddenly en vogue to bash teachers, to claim we go home by 2:00 pm everyday, that we live it up all summer without thinking twice about our job, or that we even cheat the state out of millions through undeserved and inflated pensions. With all of this, I am so thankful to teach in a community that still values and understands the importance of having well-qualified, energetic, and devoted teachers. And a few things have me pretty excited about my job as of late.

Last night, I attended a lecture given by the editor of the newest Malcolm X biography written by Manning Marable (he, unfortunately, passed away just days before the book was published!). I can't wait to crack this book open. Did you know that Alex Haley deleted entire chapters of the autobiography (you know, the autobiography) before publishing it? Thankfully, Marable had access to these mysterious chapters along with countless other sources. Want to talk Malcolm? I'm in.

And I'm even more excited for this:

The documentary is the work of Alex Kotlowitz along with the director of Hoop Dreams and focuses on the Ceasefire organization (Chicagoans, you know their "Don't Shoot" bumperstickers). Luckily, I was able to get the organization to plan a visit to our school and talk about the film! They're even sending one of the men featured in the film. The film airs for the first time on the 14th. They're doing great things and I can't encourage you enough to save some time to watch it, talk about it, and support the program.

And it appears that I'm not the only inspired one around the house lately. Mike's been working hard on new songs and new record ideas. I think "low-tech/no-tech February" is really good for us. Oh, and I can't forget about Mila. The little lady started doing math! I'm not sure who she got that from because it definitely isn't me...

So, anything exciting or inspiring happening at your job? I love hearing about people doing important things.

my daughter, the introvert.

2012-02-05T20:53:00.000-06:00

This weekend, as my daughter burrowed her tiny head into my coat at the Disney on Ice show, I was reminded of how much of my own personality she has inherited. Mila is a textbook introvert. Same here. In social situations, she is the observer - and she sees everything! I'm constantly amazed by the details she remembers and the emotional subtleties she picks up on. She likes going out, trying new things, and socializing but I can tell it can be draining for her and she needs quiet moments to recharge. And as long as she continues to try new things I don't plan on pushing her to, "break out of her shell." Because, honestly, there's nothing wrong with being an introvert. The New York times ran this article last year that explores society's attempt to "treat" introverts and it's absolutely fascinating and I couldn't agree more. We live in a culture that appreciates and encourages extroverted behavior and I think that not seeing all that introverts have to offer is a mistake. Mila is thoughtful, sensitive, and creative. She's a thinker. Quiet isn't a bad thing.

She may not have been squealing with delight at the Disney on Ice show but once she got past the excruciatingly loud music and unnecessary light show, she focused her serious little face on the ice skating and loved it.

I'm constantly amazed at how much of a child's personality is out of their parents' control. I'm so excited to find out what this next little guy will be like. I can't help but to picture a little Mike running around!

happiness project v.2

2012-02-01T17:31:00.001-06:00

Happy February, everyone! January and February are usually the months than can drive even the toughest Chicagoan a little stir crazy but we've been so lucky these past few weeks. The sight of bustling parks, sunglasses, and joggers sans jackets may be strange but no one is complaining (except the scientists, of course). Along with the optimism these mild days have brought, I'm also feeling pretty good about the progress of my "happiness project."

If you recall, after reading Gretchen Rubin's book, I was inspired to put together my own list of resolutions to focus on this year. And I kicked off the year with the small goal of reading more. At this point, I'm on pace to finish 1.5 books a month. That should easily get me to my goodreads goal of 15 this year. I know that doesn't sound like many but I decided on the number after considering what a hectic schedule I'm going to have when this baby boy arrives in a few months. This past week, I've been absolutely consumed with this book:

One of the lessons I'm finally giving into is that it's OKAY to give up on a book that doesn't keep my interest and that it's perfectly FINE to read a book that I might not be able to directly relate to teaching (even though this book is going to greatly influence the way I teach hate groups in Sociology!). I have a long list of books I can't wait to get to and having a new book store in the neighborhood isn't going to help make it any shorter!

On to February! This month, the goal is to unglue my smartphone from my hand. I'm excited to set a goal that Mike is behind and wants to work on with me. We plan on instituting some "tech-free" hours during the day and maybe even some "tech-free" days now and then. I'm hoping this goal will help me appreciate my time more, let me focus on my family, and make me more productive! I'll check in with my progress in a few weeks.

in the blood.

2012-01-29T19:32:00.000-06:00

In our home, music is a sort of omnipresence. Mike's been playing in bands for a little over half of his life now (crazy to say that!) and I spent most of my weekends, in my late teens, trekking to the Fireside with friends even when we didn't know who was playing. Mike and I even met at a show (he opened for a friend's band).

When I was pregnant with Mila, I played a whole lot of Sam Cooke loud enough for her to hear and managed to rock her to sleep as an infant to The Adicts - of all bands! Just the other night she was mesmerized by Joanna Newsom's perfomance on Austin City Limits (so much so that it knocked her right out). It goes without saying that we want music to be a part of her life and she seems to possess both an interest and a knack for memorizing songs already. I think she may have set some sort of world record for amount of times anyone has ever sung Frosty the Snowman this winter...

We've introduced her to lots of "play" instruments and she even has a mini drum set at my parents' house. But now I think it's time to start thinking seriously about music. It's no secret that playing an instrument has all sorts of documented benefits for learning and opens up so many doors in the future. I don't have any intention of becoming a tiger mom but I do plan on sticking to whatever lessons we sign her up for (unlike those swim classes that lasted, oh, a day). I played piano when I was younger and really wish that I didn't whine my way out of it. And now that the house is opened up and we have space to fill, we'll be keeping an eye out for a pretty, yet playable, vintage piano to get Mila started.

My dilemma, though, is if piano or violin should be the first serious instrument for her. Both serve as great "foundation" instruments but I just don't know which to choose! Any suggestions from players out there?

nesting.

2012-01-24T20:52:00.001-06:00

We still have a few months before the new little one arrives but we've already been working hard preparing his room. We literally had to build the walls and I'm pretty amazed at how far we've come. Mike still needs to put up some molding around the window and on the base of two of the walls but otherwise it's time for the fun part! The crib is up, with pink sheets, but it's up. Mila's old furniture held up quite well and should hopefully last us through this next baby phase.

I also got this beautiful frame made out of reclaimed wood for this print. I "pinned" the print over on pinterest a little while ago and my thoughtful husband picked it up for me! It's part of the 20x200 project which seeks to make art more affordable. I'd recommend checking it out if you have some wall space to fill!

I'm still on the hunt for a faux fur rug that's not too realistic and some cute organic sheets. If you happen to see some pass them my way!

old couch. new life.

2012-01-22T12:08:00.000-06:00

Do you own a klippan loveseat? I bet you do (or at least did back in college, right?) We've had ours stored away for years and now that we have some extra space we're going to put it to good use. Currently, it's in the back "reading nook" but I'm not sure it's going to stay there. As of now, it's got the simple black cover on it which isn't working out so well since it's Oscar's favorite place to nap and that dog can shed! Did you know that Ikea isn't the only place to get a cover for it? I remember my sister showed me this site years ago and now that we are ready to bring it out of hiding I'm glad to have found it again.

I'm liking this simple grey cover by marimekko. I'm not loving the price, though. It's practically the same cost as the couch itself. Maybe one day...

Oh, about that second floor main room I posted yesterday. We were talking walls today and I found some inspiration and started a new pinboard over at pinterest. It's a tad sparse right now but that should change soon, I hope!

home is wherever i'm with you.

2012-01-21T16:31:00.000-06:00

Things are good over here! Mike is home from his mini west coast tour and taking a nap upstairs. Mila is getting a little t.v. and milk in (Yes, we let Mila watch a bit of television. No shame.). And I'm sitting here thinking about what to do with this room:

This is our second floor main room. It's beautiful and airy and I can't wait to get started on it. But I need some inspiration. We live in a victorian so most of the rooms we've tackled so far are tiny and easy to design. This, though, is a whole lot of space and somewhat overwhelming! Got an ideas?

We've also been working on the little ladybird's room. She still needs a new dresser and a proper closet setup but so far things are coming along nicely. Take a look:

6 months.

2012-01-18T17:08:00.004-06:00

6 months

Hooray! I've made it to the 6 month mark in this pregnancy! Although some people keep telling me they forget I'm pregnant most agree that I really do look it now. And feel it too. 6 months is a great milestone because it's the time that most doctors agree a baby has a chance of surviving if born early. It's also the time that people start offering to do favors for you and won't let you carry anything on your own. I don't mind that at all!

Unfortunately, it's also the time when it's hard to get away with regular clothes and maternity wear is basically the only option. I'm thinking about hitting up H&M this weekend for some easy dresses that can hopefully take me through the next few months.

I've found myself reading more "mom blogs" lately. Thanks to instagram and pinterest I've discovered a few that I'm enjoying and would like to share:

This mom somehow manages to maintain a level of optimism that I'm not sure I'm even capable of. She's a former teacher with a musician for a husband so I can relate.

Her pictures are beautiful! As a public high school teacher, I'm absolutely fascinated with her decision to homeschool.

rockstar diaries

Another mom with impeccable taste and an adorable baby. She's also expecting her second so it's fun to see how she deals with it.

mlk

2012-01-16T13:47:00.002-06:00

I hope you are all enjoying this day off in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. I'm lucky enough to have the day off so we ventured out to IKEA to take advantage of smaller crowds and free breakfast! On the way, NPR aired a portion of Studs Terkel's The Train. He interviewed a wide array of people headed down from Chicago to Washington DC for the March on Washington. It's fascinating to hear people talk about anticipating the event. Imagine riding down, not knowing at all if anyone would show up and then seeing this crowd of 200,000! You can download the podcast here if you're interested.

Mike is downstairs working on a new couch we bought (more on that soon!) and Mila and I are about to pitch in with some cleaning but I thought I'd leave you with this adorable conversation:

Me: Do you know who Martin Luther King was? He was a very special man that made sure everyone was treated equally. So now we remember him.

Mila: So they gave him a golden prize?

Me: Yep.

a working man.

2012-01-14T13:59:00.001-06:00

If you haven't been paying attention, Mike's got a few shows lined up for this winter/spring. He tried to plan a few short tours before we get too close to my due date (early May) and hopefully he'll start working on putting together a new record during those first few months of newborn-insanity.

Anyway, if you are out West check him out next week! The lovely, El May will be opening so be sure to get out early enough to see her.

I have a little time for myself (Mike and Mila planned a playdate in the burbs since I had a workshop on Civil Rights this morning) so I'm thinking about getting some organizing done in our home. The mattress has officially made the move up from the basement to the second floor! It only has one floor to go until it's in its proper place.

I snapped a few shots of the carpet and floors but I can't find the cord to plug in my camera. Typical. So here's two shots of the new second story remodel from Mike's phone until I can find it:

If you go back to this post you can see the difference. Enjoy the long weekend!

new(ish) art.

2012-01-10T18:55:00.001-06:00

Don't you love when you uncover something you forgot you owned? It seems like that happens a lot over here since so many of our belongings are stored in the basement. Just tonight I found this map my sister bought me for my birthday. I've gone a little overboard with ordering prints lately, no thanks to etsy, so it's nice to have something a little different. It's been rolled up for awhile so it'll need to be flattened out before we find it a home. I'm thinking it'll fit perfectly in the new baby's nursery.

Oh, and here we are happily indulging in a huge meal at Native Foods to support dogs who need homes. I got a fake bacon cheeseburger and ate most of Heather's fake chicken sandwich too! Normally, I'm not a huge "faux meat" kind of vegetarian but knowing where the money was going made the trip worthwhile.

Dining with the ladybird, my sis, and Drew. Not pictured, Mike, who doesn't like to have his picture taken.

Mike convinced Mila to eat almost all of her quinoa so we didn't feel so bad about her snacking on that frosted cupcake. We are so lucky to have a lil lady that absolutely loves fruits and veggies and all things healthy.

eat vegan. save dogs.

2012-01-09T20:16:00.001-06:00

Just popping in for a moment to let you all know about a great way to support One Tail at a Time (an absolutely wonderful rescue). Tomorrow, Native Foods will be donating a portion of their profits to OTAT. If that wasn't enough of an incentive, they're offering a free dessert for everyone who buys an entree! I'm in. Hope to see you there!

Hey look! It's Oscar as a pup. And we wouldn't have him if it wasn't for a rescue.

Mila and I at an OTAT event this winter.

waiting game.

2012-01-08T10:24:00.000-06:00

We've been playing the waiting game over here for the past few weeks. And I'm not even talking about future baby! I'm talking about getting some floors installed upstairs. Hardwood floors are going to be installed in the new nursery this Wednesday along with some carpet in the halls and a runner on our new beautiful white stairs. After that, we can finally start moving on up! Can't wait. Here's a few shots of what we had to do to get the upstairs ready for its new floors:

This is a shot of the new walls for the nursery going up. Before this, it was a second floor kitchen if you can recall.

That dark wall is actually chalkboard paint. We figured it'd be cute to put it up between the kids' rooms (baby's door is the open one on the left and Mila's is directly across from it). That way they can leave each other messages and I can write some of my own too. I'm already imagining sweet little messages before they get ready for school since I'll be out of the house before they even wake up!

I posted that first bathroom picture a few days ago. Since then, Mike and my dad have been working incredibly hard to get all the tile up and grouted. That last picture was taken mid-grouting process which explains the foggy floor. Today, we're hoping to buy a vanity and I've started a kids' bathroom board over on pinterest. The hard part is going to be highlighting the tub and working with it rather than trying to hide it. Any ideas are welcome!

five things i'm loving right now.

2012-01-06T17:43:00.001-06:00

This quick list is making its way around the blog world and I figured since I'm waiting to share house things (I know, I know I keep saying a post is coming but it really is!) I'd join. Here goes my list of five things I'm loving this week:

22 weeks pregnant.

1. Planning the new boy's room.

I'm a little bit shocked at how much fun I'm having planning the boy's room. We painted his room a greyish-blue (picture above does not do it justice) and are getting hardwood floors installed this coming Wednesday. You can check out all of my ideas for his room over on pinterest.

January Sunset

2. This crazy weather.

Holy weather! It almost hit 60 degrees in Chicago today! I actually do like having four seasons and love the excitement that snowy winters bring but, I won't lie, I'm pretty happy with this warm streak. Especially since we've gotten a lot of sunny days this past week. Mila even went to the park today. Seriously strange, toddlers in the park in January...

Instagrammed Meal

3. Instagram

I discovered instagram quite some time ago. In fact, I think it made my list of favorite things last year this time. But now that many of my favorite people are on it I'm loving getting a small peak into everyone's days. You can find me on it if you like; my username is in the photo.

4. Home-cooked dinners and indulgent desserts.

See above, again. Mike's resolution is, like many people, to eat better. He's made some amazing meals this week including spaghetti and vegetarian meatballs. I'm so lucky to have my Italian cook to keep me from just eating pizza every night. Oh, and the healthy dinners means I don't feel so bad about indulging in desserts, sometimes two, on any given night. Right now I'm loving Breyer's Chips Ahoy blast. Don't forget the chocolate syrup.

image via wikipedia

5. Ernest Hemingway

I never really gave much thought to Hemingway before Midnight in Paris. And now that I'm reading The Sun Also Rises I'm a bit hooked, you could say. I can't wait to finish it and start another. And to see Midnight in Paris again! Do you have a favorite book or short story to recommend?

So, there's my list. What are you loving at the moment?

January Resolution: Read More

2012-01-02T22:09:00.002-06:00

one of my many overcrowded bookshelves.

I managed to match each of my twelve resolutions I mentioned in my post about the happiness project with a month! I decided I would start January off with a goal of reading more. Now, I read all the time for my job. I'm constantly surrounded by books, articles, and websites but I'm never reading all of one thing so I don't get that sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a book. So, I've set a goal of 15 books for 2012 and I hope this month will set me on the right track. Last year, I finished, from cover to cover, about 20 and I'm thinking with a new baby in the house I shouldn't aim so high. My friend Evan set up a place over on goodreads to keep track of our goal and what we read (he has utterly dwarfed my goal with his own of 55 books!).

I'm hoping to try and get in a good solid 20 minutes a night. That might not sound like much but my schedule really doesn't allow for more than that. And, I'm cheating a bit. I just started listening to the audio version of The Sun Also Rises. I decided a Hemingway book was an appropriate pick this month since I start teaching WWI tomorrow. He was a veteran, in case you didn't know. I also downloaded Emma so I can read without the light on while Mila sleeps. I really want to like Jane Austen and I'm hoping this book can finally convince me.

So here goes resolution number one! Wish me luck. And let me know what I should read next!

P.S. Do you love looking at other people's bookshelves as much as I do?

from basement floors to nickelodeon resorts.

2012-01-02T14:00:00.002-06:00

Last week, Mike and I packed up the little one and headed down to the Sunshine State for a short vacation over my winter break. Our first stop was the Nickelodeon Resort in Orlando. We planned on staying two days and then heading over to Tampa for a quick night. Mike played a show in both cities. One of the perks of his job is that it helps pay for our vacations!

The trip was great and it was wonderful to see Mila have so much fun. And by fun, I mean jumping on hotel beds and making fake phone calls from the room. Veteran moms know that the first thing you do when entering a hotel room is unplug the phone :)

It's funny to think how different our traveling has become now that we have a child. We've been really fortunate in seeing so much of the world thanks to Mike's job. In fact, one of my first "real" trips was to Japan when Mike and I first started dating. I was 22 and hadn't done much traveling outside of the states. He was going out there with Maritime and my sister and I decided to meet them in Tokyo. Since then, we've spent most summers in a foreign place. And somehow, whether we're in Tampa or Shibuya, my husband knows exactly where to go for a great meal or the best neighborhood for walking around. I guess that's what happens after 20 years of touring!

Trips used to mean staying in anarchist squats or sleeping on the floors of strangers' homes. It meant not knowing the next time you'd be able to shower and very late nights at clubs. Now it means a more orderly routine, kid hotels, room service dinners, and early bedtimes. I think because I had so many great travel experiences I can really appreciate the type of traveling we do now. We'll eventually show Mila a different side of traveling, but for now, we let her experience the type of trip a two year old dreams of.

Here's a few shots of our life as tourists before and after Mila. Enjoy!

Before:

In Leeds in front of a club. I cut my hair myself hours before hopping on the plane! (2007)

Mike adding his mark to the anarchist squat we slept at in Vienna (2007).

Bob and Megan trying to figure out how to get all that stuff into a
tiny European car in Bremen, Germany (2007)

A homemade Italian meal in Arezzo (2007).

Relaxing in Madrid after 4 long weeks of tour in England (2005).

Exploring castles with locals in Wales (2005).

After:

Exploring a deserted beach in Tampa.

Enjoying our extra large desserts in Orlando. Somehow Emeril's restaurant had an amazing vegan (even labeled that way on the menu!) dinner.

Two whole days of pure kid enjoyment.

I usually forget to take a picture of the two of us now!

One of those cases of Mike remembering a favorite meal of his in Tampa.

Sweet moments with my family.

a new year.

2012-01-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

Goodmorning, 2012! We started the year off by sleeping in just a bit; Mila spent the night celebrating at my parents. We are going to spend the morning cleaning up a bit and then hopefully visit my new niece again. Before I really get moving, I thought I'd share my ideas for this new year's resolutions.

Have you read The Happiness Project? It's a bestseller and the type of book you pick up at the airport (I did on the way back from NYC). Anyway, Rubin details her attempts at a happier and generally more fulfilling life by coming up with one resolution a month. This year, I thought it'd be interesting to try my own little project. I've been brainstorming 12 things I'd like to work on a bit more throughout the year and although I don't believe accomplishing any of them will lead to some sort of euphoric state, I'm excited to simply be a little better. Isn't that what resolutions are all about?

So, each month I'll share my "resolution" and give some updates on my progress. Here's a tiny preview of what you can expect (descriptions of each will come monthly).

12 Resolutions for 2012:

1. Eat Better

2. Read More

3. Lay off the technology

4. Enjoy my time with Mila (and future baby) more

5. Get the things organized I've been meaning to organize for years

6. Clean better

7. Cook with Mila

8. Get better at yoga

9. Get better at sewing

10. Become a better gardener

11. Catch up on culture

12. work more efficiently

There they are! I still have to decide which resolution fits best with each month and which to begin with. I invite you to try the project too! Or feel free to offer any insight you may have.

(Sidenote: I really think "the happiness project" is a misnomer. True happiness only comes from helping others, right? Insert Gandhi quote. I feel lucky to be in a profession that allows me to feel that type of fulfillment...and stress.)

florida (part one: mila)

2011-12-31T10:39:00.002-06:00

Happy New Years everyone! We are about to head over to the hospital to visit my very first niece! Before we leave (and Mike wakes up from his nap) I thought I'd share some photos from our mini-vacation/tour of Florida. There's something special about these shots though. They were all taken by Mila with her new camera. She's loving it. Especially looking through all of her photos whenever she takes a new one. The quality is pretty awful but for now this is all she needs. Enjoy!

I love when you can see her little finger over the lens. I'll be back with some of my own photos soon.

back in five.

2011-12-29T16:43:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone. We hope you had a fantastic holiday and are looking forward to the new year! We are currently somewhere sunny and warm but look for some posts this weekend. Some things on my mind that you can expect to read about are:

- vacations of the past (that will never happen again)
- my failed (but very good) attempt at a reading challenge
- new year's resolutions, of course.
- lovely, lovely home updates!

Looking forward to catching up here soon.

making a house a home (an upstairs update).

2011-12-23T11:00:00.000-06:00

Most of the work going on upstairs is dramatic to us but not much to post about. I'm not sure you all care to see drywall going up, walls being sanded, or pipes being rearranged. But Mike has gotten some more exciting work done in the past few days that I can share. Take a look!

He's been working hard on Mila's room. Our contractor fixed the door, we rearranged some electrical work, and Mike painted. She chose the color, of course.

He also started on the kids' bathroom. We accidentally bought this tile when we were working on the downstairs bathroom and figured it's a good fit here. I can't decide what to make of that blue tub! Either way, our budget is the determining factor (ie. it's staying put for awhile).

One of the cool things about an old house is discovering little details that really add character. These plates and knobs are on most of the doors throughout the house. They've been covered in paint and rust for who knows how long but Mike's working on cleaning them up. So far, he's boiled the paint off and now we are going to look for a way to get the rust off too. Wish us luck!

flashback friday

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

Are you as excited for the holidays as we are? Here's a flashback to Mila's first christmas at 9 months old.

Have a wonderful weekend!

making a list.

2011-12-22T16:48:00.000-06:00

This week is absolutely flying by. I cannot believe it is already Thursday. Thankfully, I can say I've check a lot off that list I posted below and Mike has been incredibly busy upstairs too (pics in tomorrow's post!). Last night, Heather and her pups dropped by for a Hanukkah dinner. I made noodle kugel and matzah ball soup and she brought my grandmother's antique menorah. I'd like Mila to have a sense of her family's traditions on all sides. Too bad this year her only question was, "what happened to the candles?!" when they melted :)

matzah balls ready to cook, fake chicken noodle broth, and cooked kugel.

Today we met up with Mary and her fam to see the holiday display at the Museum of Science and Industry. Did you know teachers get into most Chicago museums for free? This time we bypassed the lines since Mary is a member and went right up to the exhibits. The display includes christmas trees from around the world with descriptions of their specific holiday traditions. If you have a chance, I recommend stopping by.

Are you looking at that crazy moptop on Mila's head? We made an emergency stop at a kidsnips on the way home....

chicago holidays

2011-12-21T14:56:00.000-06:00

This morning I met up with my mom and sister to take Mila to see the windows at Marshall Field's on State Street (yes, I realize the store is now called Macy's but as someone who teaches Chicago history I'm not quite comfortable with giving it up!). The window displays are really beautiful this year. They're half whimsical half minimalist so I was easily won over. We went inside to visit Santa for the second time this year and deliver Mila's letter to the North Pole. They have a special red mailbox inside just for that! Oh, and you can see we skipped the Walnut Room for another Chicago favorite, Portillo's!

It's really something special to watch little kids believe with no reservation in magical things.

Here's to answered letters and cozy holidays!

toddler gift guide

2011-12-20T19:50:00.001-06:00

Need some gift ideas for a toddler? Here's a sampling of the things we picked up for our tot.

1. Vtech Globe. She loves the globe in my office so I figured she should have one of her own. It's never too early to get started on geography!

2. DK Space Encyclopedia. Our little lady loves talking about space. We picked up this encyclopedia, along with some other space related books, hoping to foster a love of things young girls aren't always encouraged to study.

3. Radio Flyer Scooter. She's soooo jealous of the big kids and their scooters. This little one should be a big hit come spring.

4. Fisher Price digital camera. I can't wait for her to play with this. She loves taking pictures and is always asking to use my camera. Now she can play and I can relax.

5. Moon Print. I ordered this in pink from etsy. As I mentioned, our tot is always talking about space and walking on the moon. This print was too perfect and should fit nicely in the collage that I'm planning for her wall. Speaking of, Mike is upstairs painting as I type. Her room should be ready soon! See?

winter breakin'

2011-12-19T08:38:00.003-06:00

Last night, Oscar and I dropped off our holiday cards in the mail to start my winter break on the right foot. Speaking of, take a look at this adorable outtake that didn't quite make the cut:

Since the family is hitting the road next week we have a lot to fit into the next five days. Here's what we are going to try and do (with a whole lot of xmas movies and hot chocolate in between):

1. Visit Marshall Field's to see the tree and drop of Mila's letter to santa.

2. See the holiday exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry.

3. Drive up to the Cuneo Mansion and marvel at the lights in the warmth of our car.

4. Host a small Hanukkah dinner.

4. Finish up some holiday shopping at a few independent shops. I'm thinking: Renegade, Penelope's, and Myopic just to name a few.

I'm hoping this list isn't too ambitious. We still have plenty of home related things that need to be taken care of as well. (At this very moment there is a plumber in our basement and a contractor on his way.)

Did I forget anything? Is there something a toddler needs to see this holiday season in Chicago?

flashback friday.

2011-12-16T13:21:00.000-06:00

It's a festive and happy day in high schools all over the country. Why? Two weeks off, of course. In honor of the celebratory spirit, enjoy these shots from our holiday party a whole five years ago. Can you believe it? We were such babies...

Featuring Weekend Nachos and The Damned Things.(and Meehan!)

The very bearded Mike. Don't let him see this, he might try to grow it back.

The very talented heather who has traded in her bottle opening skills for
something much more impressive, dog saving.

Funny boys and a bobbed me. Flattop soon?

Happy winter, everyone!

when the sun gets tired...

2011-12-13T08:06:00.000-06:00

Have you seen the latest Owen video? What a lovely setting.

Speaking of the song, take a look at this pretty print I had made for Mila's room. It's a line from the song and I decided it belonged on her wall. Since I'm anything but an artist, I asked Mia Christopher (a San Franciscoan by way of Chicago) to draw something up. I had seen enough of Mia's work to trust her to come up with something perfect and fitting and she definitely did that! I can't wait to get Mila's room painted so I can frame this and hang it up. Excuse the bad iphone/flash photo:

Thanks, Mia!

house & life update

2011-12-11T12:30:00.001-06:00

The second floor renovation is coming together so fast I almost can't believe it! The most noticeable change is a new single front door to replace the two. We tried to stick with something arts & crafts style to fit with the house and picked this beauty. (No pictures of the stained outside yet though - it's too cold to go out and snap one!)

There used to be a wall here separating the two apartments.

We decided to paint the door white on the inside since we don't get a lot of light over here.

It might not seem that impressive yet but it's getting there. Oh, and upstairs we've literally been putting up walls. Take a look at what used to be the second floor apartment kitchen and is now shaping up to be a perfect little nursery. You might need a little imagination to really see it.

Perfect for this little BOY we found out. A boy?!?! It was a bit of a shock for both Mike and myself. Honestly, we never even considered the possibility of a boy. I have to admit though, it's a bit of fresh air for this pregnancy and exciting to think of all the different ways we need to prepare for the lil' guy. Somehow, we might actually have a name picked out already. A lot different than than the in labor decision we made with our little girl. No spilling yet, though. At least not on the internet.

18 week bump.

Our little boy.

I'm trying hard to not buy anything yet for the nursery until we can actually put things in the room. I am doing a lot of looking though. Check out my pinterest to see what I'm thinking!

a friday find.

2011-12-09T10:09:00.001-06:00

While searching the strangest of terms on Etsy (my biggest vice at the moment) I stumbled upon the lovely shop of Amy Perrotti. Her Matryoshka doll illustrations are so simple and beautiful. I'm definitely going to pick up a print of this:

Native American Matryoshka

The combination of a russian tradition and native american girl covers at least part of my background! I may just have to look into a few other prints as well....

Future tattoo anyone? I'm thinking about it....

christmas fever.

2011-12-07T18:06:00.001-06:00

Things have been pretty festive over here lately. Mila knows the words to every Christmas song imaginable and we've watched Rudolph more times than I probably have in my entire life up to this point. We've exhausted gingerbread house making, gingerbread man shaped cake making, christmas tree crafting, and just about everything else. So, today we started wrapping! We bought a 30 lb. roll of butcher block paper that should get us through, oh I don't know, the next 50 Christmases and started to decorate. Take a look:

I bought these pretty tags from Etsy.

Mike did a test run of potato stamps and here is the lil one testing them out.

Putting them on a gift.

Stamps!

This present was just a test run. Once we get the rest of the presents wrapped we'll make some more and post pictures!

moop!

2011-11-30T15:33:00.001-06:00

Not so long ago, I mentioned a favorite independent shop of mine called Moop. Recently, Mike helped them out (old friends) with a photography shoot to showcase the bags. Doesn't he look dapper? He'd kill me for posting this.

Camera shy.

As a thank you, they sent us a lovely package of various home goods including this cookbook for Mila. I can't wait to make something out of it! I'm thinking gnocchi this weekend.

Also, take a look at this great "market bag." It's next on my list. And what a great holiday gift for just about anyone.

owen does graham elliot.

2011-11-29T18:01:00.001-06:00

Remember this video I posted awhile back from Mike's new live series? Well, this weekend he got an amazing opportunity to film another at Graham Elliot's restaurant here in Chicago. We've been to dine a few times (thankfully for us, the Chef is a big fan of Chicago/Milwaukee punk and he's invited us in) but this experience was quite different. Mike set up in a corner of the very busy kitchen and Craig Shimala recorded what you see below:

A big thanks to the crew at GE for letting us stay to dine along with a few friends after the filming was complete. A ten course meal? Yes, please!

(ps. I'm hiding in the back left corner!)

pinterest.

2011-11-29T17:25:00.001-06:00

Are you on pinterest? I just started and I have to admit, I was skeptical at first. I thought it would be a waste of time and I'd lose interest but so far I'm finding it to be the opposite! It's helping me organize all the things I want to remember when we start decorating the second floor.

You can find me here!

upstairs renovation update

2011-11-26T18:29:00.001-06:00

Take a look! Progress on the upstairs has finally begun. I'm just checking in to post a few photos of the messy work being done up there.

The entrance to Mila's room. There used to be an oddly shaped closet where that hole in the wall is now.

Trying to get rid of these old appliances isn't an easy task. Luckily, getting rid of that old floor was.

Yep! That's a giant hole in the wall. The staircase that used to lead up to the second floor is now open to us!

thanksgiving

2011-11-24T19:41:00.001-06:00

This is Mila's centerpiece for our annual pre-thanksgiving dinner with friends. She picked out the flowers from Whole Foods and made the adorable turkeys (with a little help from yours truly).

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are all cuddled on the couch watching Charlie Brown specials like we are!

Tomorrow's plans include Christmas decorating. Check back for some photos soon.

Infant Survival Kit

2011-11-22T11:09:00.001-06:00

Carrying around this baby and planning a baby shower for my sister in law got me thinking about what's coming in May. Since this is our second time around, we've learned what is really necessary to survive those hectic first few weeks of life. Enjoy the second installment of my "survival" guides:

1. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets: Most pregnant ladies are showered with receiving blankets as gifts but these are honestly the only ones you'll need. They're so soft and perfect for making a tiny burrito out of your little one. We survived the first few months with the pink and brown ones you see above - in a month we'll find out if we can keep the pink or will have to swap it for some blue!

2. Pink Noise: Pink noise is a slightly less annoying version of white noise. The constant static used to turn Mila into a sleepy zombie within seconds. It must be reminiscent of the swooshing they grew accustomed to over the past nine months.

3. Nasal Aspirator: Okay, not everything on the list can be cute but this one is a must-have. Babies are snot machines and this little invention helped our tiny one sleep soundly. Well, that is, when Oscar the dog wasn't too busy trying to eat it!

4. Lounger: This lounger is by Ouef NYC. We never used a swing or any other fancy contraption but a bouncer/lounger is so incredibly helpful when you need a hand. Mila was perfectly content to sit in hers.

5. Pack'n'Play: Again, maybe these aren't the prettiest but they are practical. Mila slept in this for her first three months or so. Now that we are going to have a grand total of four floors of space the pack'n'play will make nap time that much more convenient.

6. Kimono Tops: Onesies might be cute but trying to get one over a wobbly infant's head can be difficult. Besides easy on and off, the kimono top also allows that "heart to heart" contact that infants love.

pregnancy survival kit

2011-11-19T10:50:00.001-06:00

Our family is expecting our new addition this May! And while I haven't had much time to think about being pregnant with a very active toddler around, I was able to throw together a list of things that help me to get through pregnancy. I hope any expecting mamas out there find it useful!

1. Prenatal Yoga DVD: This is really the only kind of exercise you can ever find me doing. And honestly, I do it for the mental benefits more than anything else. In pregnancy though, it's almost a cure all for aches and pains. Between work and family, I'm not sure I'll have time to get out of the house for it so I prefer this DVD. It features a woman in each trimester so you can follow along at any stage.

2. Rubber bands: Do you know the rubber band trick? It's a real life saver in the early stage of pregnancy. You know, the stage where suddenly nothing fits. Not your old pants. Not your newly purchased maternity clothes either. So, here's the solution: take a rubber band and wrap it around your normally fitting pants button and through the button hole. Voila! Pants fit again. (Note: You will obviously need to invest in some long shirts to cover up your new little pants expander.)

3. Preggie Pop Drops: So everyone admits "morning sickness" is a misnomer since it can come on at anytime and last all day so why not call it what it really is? 24 hour nausea. Mine seems to last all day between 6-12 weeks. These aren't miracle workers but they will help you get through the day.

4. Mama Mio Tummy Rub: It's a little pricey but totally worth it. I managed to make it through my first pregnancy without a single stretch mark. I'm not sure if genetics or mama mio is to thanks but either way, I'm not taking any chances with this pregnancy! Bonus: it smells wonderful.

5. J Brand Maternity Jeans: Maternity clothes are the worst. Treat yourself to a nice pair of jeans. It'll make the 6 months or so that you are in them that much more bearable. I'm a fan of these J Brands (I'm actually wearing them now). They fit under the belly so they're a little awkward in early pregnancy but fit perfectly later on.

6. American Apparel T-shirts: Like I said, maternity clothes are the worst. These t-shirts are soft and stretchy and you probably already have a few in your closet if you are anything like me. It's nice, when you are feeling huge, to be able to put something on that you would wear anyway.

Have something to add? Let me know! It might be my second time around but I could always use the advice.

take back the...commute?

2011-11-11T15:39:00.001-06:00

One of the complaints I hear most often from new parents is how difficult it can be to find any time to do anything for yourself. Now, I recognize that this isn't much of a complaint at all but it can be disorienting to suddenly realize you haven't picked up a book, gone for a coffee (hot chocolate, in my case), had a night out, or even put on a record that wasn't kids christmas songs in ages. With baby #2 on the way (yep!) my exhaustion has kicked in full force and I've been falling asleep at the same time as baby #1 - who is actually a full-fledged, fully energized toddler/force to be reckoned with. With a wake up time that beats the sun and a full time job as a teacher, I'm left with, really, no time at all. My solution?

Listening to books on my commute. Not any books. Books that are light, and sort of fun, and easy. Books that feel indulgent. I've started with Mindy Kaling's new "memoir" which is exactly all those things I just said (her list of words for "fat" had me cracking up). It's no classic and I'll probably forget that I even read it a couple months from now but it's making the drive a bit more enjoyable. But most importantly, I come home a little less tired because I feel as if I got to do something for myself.

Now since I don't normally read this sort of book, I'm going to need some suggestions for what to read/listen to next!

I still love you, New York.

2011-11-02T16:50:00.001-05:00

Really. Even after you snowed on me all weekend I still love you, New York. I rarely get jealous of other people's hometowns, but New Yorkers give me that little twinge. I think I could eat at every restaurant, visit every museum, and walk every street without ever feeling tired or bored. Mike and I are currently on our flight back home from a weekend get away to the city so I thought I'd take advantage of the unusual peace and quiet to talk about our trip.

I managed to take a personal day this past Friday so we could bypass any stress of getting into NYC for the festivities of Joe and Marie's wedding. We got in around noon and save for a harrowing cab experience (read: me almost puking on the side of the queens midtown expressway ) the travel part of the trip was unusually simple. After traveling with a toddler an adults only trip is something not to be taken for granted.

First stop, was of course a New York slice followed by a visit to Justin's office which just happened to be blocks from our Manhattan hotel. Then, somehow, Mike's cousin Nate happened to be walking right past our hotel after work and decided to join us for a vegan meal and a walk through the east village. He took us on a bit of a hike to see a secret garden of sorts complete with a treehouse smack in the middle of the city.

vegan brownie cheesecake!

We then made our way to standings to watch a bit of the world series. Free pizza every Friday? Yes, please.

Finally we made our way over the the Cooper Square Hotel for the wedding welcome party. The hotel couldn't have been any cuter but my phone died right when we arrived so no pictures.

We woke up Saturday morning to snow that didn't stop all day! Even though I was drenched and cold its always exciting to see those first few flakes fall. Since we managed to pack so much in the day before neither of us felt guilty about spending the day getting an expensive brunch and hanging around the hotel. After some relaxing we finally made our way to the Angel Orensanz Foundation for the wedding. The venue was absolutely beautiful. Apparently it is one of the oldest temples in the country that was then renovated by a Spanish artist. Mike declared it to be the best wedding food ever and the guestlist was reminiscent of an early 90's hardcore show (Brent Decker's catch up on racetraitor basically describes the company for the evening). It was really great to see people that I haven't seen in years!

inside le parker meridian for fancy brunch

celebrating!

katz's deli

On our way out we stopped at Katz's Deli for some grilled cheese and corned beef (mike, not me!) and are now on our way back home to celebrate Halloween with a certain Minnie Mouse.

Next family vacation on the menu? Florida!

ghost town

2011-10-25T18:52:00.002-05:00

Have you seen this series yet? Mike's been recording some videos in various places around the city for his soon to be released album, Ghost Town. The first video, on the front porch, features Mila (this is actually her second video appearance!). Craig Shimala has been recording/editing etc. the videos and they look great.

I've seen the next unreleased video and it's the best one yet! Stay tuned...

in progress: basement bathroom (part two!)

2011-10-24T17:03:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe my last "basement bathroom" post was in February! Have we really been neglecting that room for so long? Yikes.

Anyway, I finally have some updated photographs. The big news is that we put in a whole new wall and door. We decided it made more sense to have the bedroom (soon to be movie room) flow into the bathroom space and then separate the back storage area from there. I don't have a before picture but you can imagine laundry and loads of storage (ie. junk) behind this door:

Hmmm, maybe that door needs an extra coat of paint?

Besides the door, Mike stained the back wall behind the toilet again, we patched up all of the holes from our plumbing snafu, and installed the countertop.

Freshly stained wood and a fixed wall!

Soon to be glass blocked window.

We bought a square floating sink to sit on top of this countertop.

Obviously there is still much to do. We need to attach the molding, install the bathroom door (a sliding barndoor may just be in our future) fix up the plumbing, install the sink (already purchased and hanging out in the basement) and faucet, and decorate! I'm just excited to see the walls looking clean and that door installed. Oh, and the plan is also to replace the window with glass block. Who needs a window in a basement bathroom? I sure could do without it.

(everyday is) halloween

2011-10-16T13:33:00.000-05:00

We're back and we have lots to talk about! I apologize for the lengthy blog hiatus but it was for good reason, I promise (to be explained in another blog post shortly). But now I'm excited to share what we have been up to in and around the house. Really, we've just been thinking about Halloween and other fall related things. Now that Mila is two, she is starting to understand holidays which makes this time of year so fun. She has her costume picked out (a secret for now) and has been helping me decorate the house. Our decorations might look, well, a little homemade, with messy glue and glitter galore but I'd like to believe they're better than anything the Halloween store down the street is selling. Take a look:

These "pumpkin balls" were incredibly easy to make and, of course, incredibly difficult to photograph!

We bought these foam pumpkins from Target and let Mila go to town on them. I came home from work to find that Mike had strung them up above the hallway!

We made these cutouts today and used some glitter glue and sparkles to decorate.

Alright, so we bought a few things. I love these wall adhesives! If only they'd actually stick...

And here's Mila enjoying some Halloween themed sugar cookies.

Our neighborhood is filled with little kids so Halloween gets a lot of attention. I mean, how many neighborhoods do you know of that recruit the high school band to dress up in costume and lead the local kids in a parade all to the tune of Thriller?? But this also means bags upon bags of candy need to be purchased and the frontyard needs to look a little more graveyard and a lot less garden. I've been a bit (and by a bit I mean a lot) under the weather lately and finally am feeling a little less like a zombie so I hope to tackle that project this week.

Is Halloween a big deal in your family? Any great craft ideas? I'd love to hear them.

Blog Break

2011-09-29T12:06:00.001-05:00

Check back in next week for both house & life updates!

window shopping: toddler beds

2011-09-17T07:51:00.000-05:00

It finally happened yesterday. Our little acrobat realized she can apply her tumbling skills to sneaking out of her crib. Mike heard some commotion, walked down to her room, and found her playing by her bookshelf! She looked at him and said something like, "Daddy, I'm not going to nap, you nap, I'm going to play instead."

This, of course, means one thing. Bed shopping. She was lucky enough to dangle one of her skinny legs right onto a container of Lincoln Logs but we can't always count on a clean escape. I hoped to put off this purchase until we are moved upstairs and she is in her new room but safety is triumphing.

The dilemma I'm running into is whether to buy a toddler bed or a regular twin. Mila is a whopping 27 lbs right now. Quite the shrimp. Getting in and out of a regular bed might be too much of a chore for all of us. But, then again, spending money on a toddler bed that she'll outgrow soon enough is also making me hesitant. Anyway, here are some options I'm considering:

Via DesignPublic

Option 1: This is a toddler bed and costs about $250. It's cute and should stop any midnight rolls/crashes.

Via Ikea

Option 2: Mike thinks we should go to Ikea. I'm not sure I trust Ikea for kid's furniture yet. This toddler bed though only costs about $60 which means we can spend more for a good mattress and cute linens.

Via Ikea

Option 3: This is a regular twin. I like the idea of a bed with storage since her room is so tiny. I'm not in love with the black and white though. I know plenty of people have tried to paint Ikea furniture so I'll need to do my research and find out how plausible that is.

Hopefully window shopping will turn into real shopping and I'll have something to show you soon! In the meantime, here is a shot of Mila's incomplete nursery before she occupied it:

Yes, her crib does convert into a toddler bed but we've decided to save it for a future baby. We'll probably keep her color scheme, pink and green, the same in her new "big girl room." I snagged this adorable chair from Pottery Barn Kids (for quite the deal) to start the process:

our weekend.

2011-09-05T19:44:00.001-05:00

Not pictured: countless American Revolution books and dvds.

happy labor day.

2011-09-03T08:02:00.002-05:00

After my first full week back in teaching I was absolutely ready for a 3 day weekend. This weekend's plans include: cleaning up the backyard (thanks to some environmentally friendly tips from friends), stopping by the Logan Square Farmer's market, a birthday party or two, and a family bbq in the burbs.

Oh, and reading:

2011 Reading Challenge

Ryan has

read 18 books toward her goal of 50 books.

hide

18 of 50 (36%)

view books

I'm thirteen books behind my goal. Yikes. I better get moving. Any good books you've read lately? I could use a recommendation or two, or thirteen....

fall weather

2011-08-28T20:38:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you but we are excited for some fall weather. Nights in Chicago have been cool, maybe even a bit chilly, lately and we did some shopping today to get prepared. I love fall because it means moccasins. Luckily I found this faux-suede pair to match Mila's:

Mila tried them on and said, "they soft, mama!" Exactly, Mila.

back to school

2011-08-27T14:48:00.001-05:00

Schools back in session and one thing I found myself in desperate need of was a new bag. After a frustrating search for something cute and functional sans animal skin, Mike reminded me of Moop. Have you heard of them? Mike knows Jeremy from his Joan of Arc days and he and his wife put out a beautifully crafted line of bags and purses. We've been using a Moop bag in place of a diaper bag for a awhile now so I was pretty excited when I found this letter bag to lug my school laptop back and forth:

Image from Moop. Much cuter than me or my own photo.

Check out their blog too!

P.S. Mike and my dad built a door of all things today. Remember this project? We are finally working on it again! Details soon...

what's in a name.

2011-08-23T20:28:00.000-05:00

Picking a name for your baby is both amazingly fun and panic inducing all at once. With our little one, we battled throughout my pregnancy for the perfect fit. Luckily we found out we were having a girl because neither of us could brainstorm cute boy names. But that meant we were left with a list for girls that seemed to just keep growing. We made the mistake of letting others in on the discussion which led to many unwarranted opinions but nobody actually heard the name we ultimately chose until the day she was born. Why? Because we never discussed it until I went into labor! Not once. And when we finally did, it went like this:

Me: What about Mila?
Mike: Yeah.
Me: Okay!

It was that easy. And it better have been since we only had hours to go! The origins are eastern european/slavic (as is most of my background) and the name translates to something along the lines of, "pleasant" or "one that is loved." We liked that it wasn't too popular but not too kooky either. We love that it is classy and feminine. Now that we have her I couldn't imagine calling her anything else.

Photo by the talented and lovely Tracy Schneller Tignino

But it looks like we aren't the only ones! Nameberry has ranked it as one of the hottest names of 2011. At least Mila, born in 2009, will be a little ahead of the game.

weekend project: entryway bench

2011-08-14T16:51:00.000-05:00

Mike devoted this past weekend to taking care of what I considered to be the biggest eye sore of our home, the entryway. This "room" quickly became a dumping ground for shoes, bags, coats, a play kitchen, and art projects. It needed some sort of organization but the french doors made that difficult; a piece of furniture would be in the way. I've been talking about an "entryway bench" for quite some time and after taking a look at a few on the internet here is what Mike came up with:

The entryway before we moved in.

detail

entryway bench process

It still needs some sanding and painting but I think it is exactly what we need. I love how the molding and beadboard make it look timeless and an extension of the house. It'll be perfect for backpacks and tiny boots this winter!

Oh, and while he was working I made these cupcakes from the Martha Stewart website. So good.

garden update.

2011-08-10T20:32:00.000-05:00

It looks like we will have some things to eat very soon! As long as nothing else gets to them first that is...

our life.

2011-08-08T09:59:00.000-05:00

an anniversary.

2011-08-07T14:52:00.000-05:00

Mike and I celebrated our five year wedding anniversary this past Friday. Five years is a long time. It's a good thing I married a keeper! Since we already took two mini-vacations this summer we decided to spend the day with Mila (we went to see Winnie the Pooh) and then go out for a simple dinner (Longman & Eagle). This also meant no expensive gifts. But here is what we chose for each other. Funny how we went with similar gifts; I guess that is what happens after five years of marriage!

Mike got me the scrabble tiles you see above. He explained that five years is the "wood" anniversary and we used to play a lot when we first started dating. He forgot that he also put my ring in a scrabble bag when he gave it to me! He is much better at gifts than I am even when he doesn't realize it.

And I gave him this poster. Once I get the frame I ordered I will post a photo of it in our home. I picture it going in Mike's basement bathroom or the future movie room (doesn't movie room sound better than t.v. room?).

the upper peninsula, in detail.

2011-08-01T15:44:00.002-05:00

Okay, I miraculously found my camera cord and somehow am feeling slightly better (not sure what happened but I got hit with some sort of awful bug on the ride home yesterday). So here goes:

One thing midwesterners are good at is lake homes and cabins. If we have the means, we like to carve out a small space of our own along some water where we can escape city life. While we might not be so lucky, my brother and his wife have a cozy spot in the upper peninsula that we got to visit this weekend. Thinking about a seven hour car ride with a two year old sent shivers down our spines and we....caved. We picked up a portable dvd player. This seemed wrong for so many reasons. One, the technology just seems so outdated we felt a bit foolish asking the cashier at Target to open the locked case for us. I kept expecting him to say something like, "really, you want this?" but he didn't. And most obviously it seemed wrong because we don't want to be those parents. You know what I'm talking about. Thankfully, Mila was a doll on both rides and we only had to use it for a few short bursts of temper tantrumdom.

Anyway, after seven hours, we arrived. The first thing we saw was a bear! He was just hanging out near a house scrounging for something to eat. This, of course, did nothing for my nerves that were already rattled a bit from driving into the wilderness with no cell phone reception. The next thing we saw, though, was this:

Dinner Lake

We spent the weekend: swimming, tubing, building sandcastles, eating at cozy restaurants, and watching bad movies on vhs. Mila couldn't have behaved better. The only sign that she is in fact two came when we went out on the boat to pull her dad on a tube. Mike had a great time, which is hard to see from this iphone photo. Mila, well, you can see quite clearly how she felt about it.

Excuse the bangs, please.

On the boat with Tom & Sarah

Our little Oscar actually swam!

Hopefully, one day we will have a little cabin to call our own as well. I may just need to start doing some research...

the upper peninsula

2011-08-01T12:41:00.000-05:00

We're home. I'd be happy to share my trip as soon as I don't feel like death and I figure out what I did with the camera charger. In the meantime, here's Mila on the pier:

go back in your mind, twenty years in time.

2011-07-27T15:05:00.000-05:00

When I was a freshman in college I went to see Alkaline Trio play in a tiny church basement to a crowd of maybe 50 or so kids. I managed to leave before they even played (whoops!) but not before catching the opening act. I had to ask a whole slew of people before anyone could tell me his name. But eventually I figured out who the guy with the guitar and vintage reel to reel tape recorder was:

Since then, I think Ted Leo might actually be on my list of bands I've seen the most. I took the above photo at More Than Music Fest that same summer in Ohio. Yep, that's film. It was 2000! I hitched a ride to the fest to see bands like The Explosion and Milemarker play, both of whom cancelled. What I did see was a young Conor Oberst play to nobody and Ted Leo getting some hipsters (wasn't even a word back then!) to dance.

And here he is playing the Fireside Bowl, eleven years later, last night:

There's no better place to see a show if you are feeling nostalgic than the Fireside Bowl. The Fireside, for all its non-locking bathroom doors, holes in the ceilings, wonky bowling lanes, and rumors of car bombs in the neighborhood, played a seminal role in almost every Chicago punk kid's life. It was like a second home to many of us. We'd drive in from the suburbs to catch bands we loved or just to see who was hanging out. The shows might not cost $4 with a canned food donation anymore. We might go home early because we have to work the next day. But I'm still up for standing close to the speakers and getting some Bacci's on the way home every now and then. Thankfully, now home is only 5 minutes away.

This was taken a few years back on Heather's birthday. We were there to bowl!

holiday part II: the actual holiday part

2011-07-26T15:48:00.001-05:00

We've talked babies now let's talk vacation! I like California. I don't love it. I don't want to live there either. But I don't mind visiting and getting touristy. Pete and Missy were nice enough to play hosts and put up with us in Los Angeles. We ate some good food and spotted some whales as opposed to celebrities. Oh, and of course we posed in front of Danzig's house.

After a day in Los Angeles we headed out to Palm Springs where we were joined by Isaac. We rented a house, which turns out to be about the same cost as getting a hotel. Maybe even cheaper. Here are a few shots of the house. Mid-century modern and Palm Springs are basically synonymous. This house had a lot of orange. I tend to equate anything orange with kitsch but sometimes I guess kitsch has its place. We had a nice time relaxing, making food, swimming, reading, and watching movies outside.

The trip ended with a late night sausage (and faux sausage) dinner in L.A. with aforementioned company and the addition of Meehan! Apparently, getting full on encased meats and beer makes a red eye flight easier. I wouldn't know, I stuck to strawberry soda and truffle glazed french fries.

This post seems very "dear diary." Sorry for that. I really just wanted to share some pictures from our mini-holiday.

holiday part I: traveling with(out) your children.

2011-07-26T12:50:00.000-05:00

Last Mother's Day, while dining at Green Zebra, Mike surprised me with a plan to travel to L.A. and Palm Springs for my birthday. I guess all of my "you know, turning 30 really is a big deal" comments worked. The hitch though? It was going to be just us. No baby. Now, this isn't the first time I've traveled without the little one but there is something about a talking toddler that makes it so much harder to leave. I'd love to hear other parent's thoughts on traveling with(out) children. For now, here is what I've learned about traveling sans children:

- You will feel guilty at times. But you will also not. And then you will feel guilty for not feeling guilty.

- You shouldn't feel guilty. Children are much better off when their parents have happy and fulfilled lives. I'm not saying ditch your babe every chance you get but a trip here and there is a way to make you feel that you aren't just a parent but a person. And in the end, you'll probably come home with a new appreciation for your everyday lifestyle. I know we did.

- We are incredibly fortunate to have three grandparents who can't wait for us to travel so they can hang with the little lady. A big thanks to them. They are the only reason we even have a decision to make in the first place; I recognize not everyone is nearly as fortunate.

I spent a lot of time looking at this on our little trip. If we traveled as a family I wouldn't have sat down for a moment let alone had a chance to catch up on some Graham Greene books. With that being said, I cannot wait for our next trip this coming weekend. It's to a cabin in Michigan. And why am I so excited?

Because Mila is coming with.

home.

2011-07-25T12:56:00.000-05:00

Whew. We are home from a quick extended weekend getaway. I'm looking forward to writing a bit about traveling with(out) your kids and what Palm Springs is like if you are not a retired person. Here's a quick photo of the house we rented. And hopefully, when I recover from a sleepless redeye flight I can put together a few coherent thoughts.

Pretty, right? Just wait until you see the backyard!

backyard update

2011-07-18T15:27:00.001-05:00

We've been busy in the backyard for the past few weeks and it all began with the installation of Mila's 2nd birthday gift from my parents. They bought her a house. No seriously, take a look. It's a real house. I've lived in apartments that were almost the same size. It's a bit much, sure, but what little kid doesn't dream of a fort or a treehouse. Our backyard space is limited and she'll never have a swingset or room to really run but now she has a place to call her own:

It took a lot of helpers as you can see.

Mila's forever home!

Like all home improvements, the house made us realize how unfinished the area directly next to it looked. The area under the deck has been an eyesore ever since we moved in but, well, it's under the deck so we figured why bother? But with the addition of the house we knew it was time to give it some attention. Mike came up with what seemed like a simple plan to replace the old brown pebbles and bricks and give it a more clean look. Who knew a few white rocks could weigh nearly 3,000 lbs?!

It's getting there.

We still need to find some stepping stones we like for the side door and clean up the line where the rocks meet the grass. We'll have to wait a bit for the latter since a patio is possibly in the works. It's hard to not just plant some flowers along that line but knowing they will probably be torn up later is keeping me from making any compulsive purchases. At least for now.

Oh, and if you were wondering, Mila picked the paint color.

a new must have?

2011-07-18T13:50:00.001-05:00

Thanks to ohdeedoh, I have what will probably amount to a new book obsession for the little one. Check out McSweeney's new line for children:

Via McMullens

The new line, McMullens, seems like it will put out some beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully worded children's books. The bundle (as seen above) is $40. A bit expensive but our trips to the library will offset that I suppose. I'm excited for the reviews to start rolling in.

30

2011-07-13T15:13:00.000-05:00

My birthday present to myself came one day early:

It's a Mat and Nat bag and I'm pretty fond of it. I, also, did not spend the listed price on it. I've mentioned the company before but if you are unfamiliar with the brand check them out. All of their products are vegan and made out of recycled products too. The lining of this bag is made out of 29 recycled plastic bottles.

Tomorrow I turn 30. I'll be attending a Minor Threat cover band featuring my husband. Sounds more like 18, right?

kitchen tour

2011-07-11T19:47:00.000-05:00

How have I not done this sooner? The kitchen was the first room we tackled when we moved in almost two years ago. The room was, literally, unusable. The bank, who owned the house prior to us, threw together a hodge-podge of cabinets and appliances that we promptly removed. I'll spare you the remodel details but you can catch a glimpse of what we dealt with in the fourth photograph below. Hopefully, this will be the first of a few room tours.

Here are a few shots of the kitchen in its "before" state:

The kitchen in its current state:

A list of what's what:

Cabinets

The cabinets were bought in pieces from Menards. We painted them white, added crown molding to the top, and beadboard to the outer sides. Mike custom made the feet for each cabinet and the island.

Backsplash

The backsplash is glass subway tile that we purchased from the Tile Outlet Store on Fullerton in Chicago. If you are ever in need of tile, do yourself a favor and check this place out.

Countertops

The countertop is silestone. If you are joining the rest of us and are sick of granite, silestone is a great alternative. It's strong, resistant to stains, and comes in solid colors.

The island

My favorite part of the kitchen. The island is actually three different cabinet pieces attached together. The butcher block is from ikea and was cut by Mike to fit. Again, we used beadboard on each side so it's impossible to tell that it isn't one cohesive piece. The bottle opener is original to the house. Mike wanted to keep it on a wall and I wanted it in the back stairwell. I figured the island was a good compromise.

Oscar portrait:

We won this at an OTAT party. You can read about it here. (And see what it looked like before Mike thought it would be "cute" if Mila gave it a kiss...)

you are what you wear

2011-07-09T10:20:00.001-05:00

and if you are wearing feather extentions, that means a dead chicken.

This morning, I opened my email to countless retail promotions as usual. Normally, I just delete them (I know, unsubscribe!) but when I saw a new line out by Vince I decided to look. I really like Vince; they put out structured, muted, and minimalist clothing that is very suitable for the workplace. Grays and blacks? Yep, I'm in. But when I looked at the website this morning the first thing I saw was their new fur throw. Fur? Are you kidding me? How is it acceptable to wear fur again? I don't think I need to refer anyone to the PETA site to explain why fur is cruel. Any designer that puts out a new fur product can take me off their list of potential buyers. You know better.

There's a new trend though that is somehow flying under the radar in terms of cruelty: feather hair extensions. Good put out this short piece explaining that, yes, if you are putting one of those long feathers in your hair, that chicken from where it was plucked has to die. ReadyMade also did an interview with a stylist who explains why she will never do these extensions. I don't understand how cruelty ever translates into fashion. And come on, is it worth it? Do you really look that much better with another creature's feather in your hair? Oh, and if you are taking your fashion advice from the likes of Ke$ha and Steven Tyler you may need to think again anyway.

if you have five seconds to spare...

2011-07-07T20:37:00.001-05:00

Tonight, Mike finished a little art project he has been working on for the past several days. Even with both of us home, a very busy toddler can expand a project exponentially before you even realize it. But check out what he made! He's had these Smith's singles for a long, long time now and thought they were too pretty to be hidden with the rest of our records. And, we've had this wall with no idea what to do with. So, it made perfect sense to slap those covers up on the wall. But the records are 10" which meant we probably weren't going to find a perfectly fitting frame in any store. Hence, the art project:

Here is how he did it:

Step one: Cut the wood. That's the extent of my knowledge. What goes on in the garage is a mystery to me.

Step two: Glue the corners together and let sit for a few hours.

Step three: Sand and remove pesky stickers.

Step four: Stain those frames!

Meat is Murder had to be in the center, right?

two wheels.

2011-07-06T13:58:00.002-05:00

First family bike ride? Check. Last week, we took a stroll over to Roscoe Village Bikes to get Mila a bike seat. We had been debating between a trailer or seat but made the choice to get the latter fairly easily. It seems a bit scary to have a toddler so low to the ground and behind you when you're riding in the city. Anyway, they carried the topeak seat that earns excellent safety ratings and isn't too costly. The shop even installed it for a small fee to ensure that it was done properly. Here's Mike and Mila giving it its first ride on the road:

Today, we all rode as a family over to the library. I, finally, after years of living in the city got myself a card and we checked out all the Max and Ruby books they seemed to offer. The library is the perfect ride; long enough to feel like you are going somewhere but short enough to not leave you winded. Oh, and not a single busy street. I think it's safe to say that we will be back soon.

Do we ride with helmets? Yes, of course! It's just not pictured.

Riding in a skirt? Yep. And check out this lovely post about doing just that. Thanks to Emily for a heads up on Joanna Goddard's blog!

lake day

2011-07-05T17:00:00.002-05:00

After four barbecues (1 hosted / 3 guested), I could probably go a whole lifetime without ever looking at another boca burger but I did willingly extend our long weekend of pure americana one more day for a little lake visit. City living is great for a whole slew of reasons but it's hard to deny the pure joy of a private and quiet lake. Take a look:

A few things I've learned from toting a toddler to a water destination:

1. Don't expect anything about the experience to be relaxing. Leave the magazines and books at home, you won't make it through the first page.

2. Just because it isn't relaxing doesn't mean it won't be fun and rewarding and adorable.

3. Pack snacks and drinks a plenty. But don't forget them for yourself. A cranky, hungry parent is a tough role to play when your toddler is demanding all of your attention.

4. It may seem gratuitous to pack two different kinds of sunblock but the roll-on version for the face is so easy and convenient it is worth throwing in the bag along with your spray.

independence day.

2011-07-04T10:27:00.001-05:00

50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, on the fourth of july, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (true "frienemies") passed away. Neither had any knowledge of the other's passing. Happy fourth!

(Featuring: Mike's french silk pie, darling ladybird, veggie corndogs, and patriotic beer)

future endeavors: a before post

2011-07-03T11:40:00.001-05:00

I have a few moments to myself since Mike took Mila upstairs to watch some tennis with Paul. Speaking of the upstairs, around December we will actually begin the work to convert our two flat into a single family home. Thanks to a refinance, the sting of lost rent money is slightly less and that has us thinking about what we are going to do with all that space! So, I thought I'd share a few pictures I took before we moved in and some hopeful plans for the future. I wasn't really thinking about quality when I snapped these but once we move in I'll try to take some better "before" shots.

Main Room:

The main room will be used for a play/music space. Plans include: kids' work table, upright piano, and cozy lounge chairs. I'm really looking forward to having a space that we use daily that does not have a television! (In case you were wondering, the t.v. will be in the basement where our bedrooms are currently located.) I think the hardwood floors are beautiful and so classically Chicago so I'm hoping with a little love we can save them.

The Kitchen:

The kitchen will be torn out and replaced with a laundry closet (thank god for second floor laundry hookups!) and a possible third bedroom.

The main floor bedroom/office and dining area:

This room, which is typical Chicago tiny, will be Mila's. So tiny that I couldn't even get a good shot with my camera. We figure she'll have so many other places to keep her toys that having a microscopic bedroom will be a non-issue. Well, at least until she's a teenager....

This is the "dining area." It's too small to make into a third bedroom so we are, honestly, at a loss as to what to do with it.

The main bathroom:

This will be the kids' bathroom. Kids love blue bathtubs, right?

Master bedroom and bath:

The master bedroom and bath are a lofted fourth floor. Not being on the same floor as the kids will take some getting used to but thankfully those spiral stairs aren't the only way to get up. An anxious toddler can also use the fully carpeted, short steps, around back to wake up her parents. Oh, and I'm claiming the master bath as "my project" since Mike has complete artistic control over the one in the basement.

There it is! Our second half that will make our house complete. If I had any photoshop skills I'd draw up potential future plans but I don't. Instead, I'll stick to some internet-window shopping and let Mike, when he's done with his current project (pictures soon), have fun with that.

window shopping

2011-06-28T13:46:00.001-05:00

On our way home from patio furniture shopping I spotted this in a window off Clybourn:

From The Little Nest

I'm not going to even tell you how much it costs, you can follow the link and be shocked on your own. I will say that it's adorable, cliche, and that I will never own it.

Buying for children is tough. Maintaining a balance between style, function, and affordability can seem overwhelming at times. I haven't photographed Mila's room yet because we are still temporarily in the basement but that will change come winter! It'll be fun to plan a new room for her but for now, I'll stick to window shopping.

you send me, honestly you do.

2011-06-23T22:12:00.001-05:00

Like many other cities, Chicago likes to honor its own with street names. Just this past week, one of my favorite singers, Sam Cooke, had his name added to the list in historic Bronzeville. I'm fairly positive I listened to his music every morning on the way to work when I was pregnant. I was hoping if I refrained from my usual regiment of late 90's Chicago punk my daughter to be might actually have a refined taste in music. Now that she's two and expressing her likes and dislikes for just about everything (just today she told me she "loves playing with scissors" - and for the record, no, she has never played with scissors) she's proving me somewhat correct on this one. In honor of Sam Cooke and his new street, we listened to him on the way home from dinner. I'd like to think the fact that she sang her own songs the whole time meant she really liked it!

Cooke in the studio.

Anyway, I have a thing for music that I can relate to historical moments. (This, by the way, is why I linger when a song like "Fortunate Son" comes on the radio. Embarrassing, I know.) There's no doubt that Sam Cooke is the voice of the Civil Rights Movement. And he's an amazing singer with an array of eclectic and wonderful songs to boot. If you try doing some research on the man you are likely to end up with the controversy surrounding his tragic and untimely death. And some pictures of a cookie-cutter porn star with the same name. But what I recommend is checking out the American Masters by PBS on him. His life is so much more interesting than his death. I'm not sure how easy it'll be to find, I'm thinking about ordering a copy myself but here's a trailer to show you what I'm talking about:

Oh, and here I am in 2008 at the Obama rally in Chicago. See the baby belly? It's there, trust me. During Obama's speech, he made a reference to, "change finally coming." This may have sounded like campaign slogan talk to the untrained ear but for us Sam Cooke fans - we knew.

rainy day solutions.

2011-06-22T15:25:00.000-05:00

The weather has been plain weird in Chicago as of late. Perfect days have been turning into rainstorms only to turn back to beautiful sunny weather just as quickly. That means planning outdoor toddler time has been a bit tricky. We've been getting to the park, taking walks, and eating outdoors as much as possible but have also found a few things to keep us busy indoors during those bursts of bad weather. While Mike was recording, yeah he's still doing that, Mila and I perused the kids crafts section at Joann Fabrics and found these fun suncatchers (which I referred to as shrinky dinks, incorrectly, and now Mila does too):

Adding the "sprinkles."

My little artist, contemplating her next move.

Proudly displaying her work.

She may be a little young but I found suncatchers to be perfect for working on the skills most two year olds lack (re: anything involving patience). She had to choose two designs from a wide array, learning she couldn't have everything she wanted, then carefully add the sprinkles, and, hardest of all, wait the thirty minutes for them to cook.

Today's rainy day solution? Blueberry muffins! And now that it is sunny and calm? She's napping.

a fathers day post.

2011-06-20T14:24:00.000-05:00

Mike and Mila. Day one.

Yesterday should've been Mike's day to sleep in, refrain from dishes, and let me do the driving to the 'burbs. In typical Mike fashion, however, he woke up with the rest of us, did all of the dishes from the night before, and drove me to the suburbs. Good thing I remembered to get him something nice:

This is one of the outdoor speakers I bought him. Once we remember to buy some batteries, they will be joining us on the deck and in the backyard this summer. They even work with the record player. I hope our neighbors are ready for some cracklin' Sam Cooke and Impressions records!

So happy fathers day to my favorite. Hope you had a great day.

sox for strays

2011-06-16T13:06:00.002-05:00

Summer = baseball. And I cannot wait for this:

OTAT is at it again. Another fabulous event. Did you know that they serve veggie dogs at sox games? How great is that? We already have a block of tickets for the family and are really excited to see Heather and the rest of the OTAT gang on the big screen! If you've been looking for a way to support local rescues this is a great opportunity. See you at the game (I'll be the one simultaneously cowering from fly balls and eating ice cream). Oh, and read Heather's post about it too.

garden progress.

2011-06-14T14:20:00.002-05:00

Apparently the Shedd really knocked Mila out! While she sleeps, cuddling her new Beluga Whale (see post below) I'll get these garden pictures up to start the documentation of our summer. Mike decided to paint the railings on the deck white this week which turned out to be more difficult than anticipated thanks to the rain we've been getting. He's mostly done:

The deck last fall.

Newly painted.

He also added bricks around the garage. He's been busy! Oh, and he's in the studio finishing up a new record. Here's the artwork designed by Paul Koob.

I planned on mowing the lawn before taking this picture but Mike has the only key to the shed. I swear!

Tomato.

The enemy.

Planters Box (cilantro and basil)

There are some peppers and tomatoes on the other side of the box that aren't pictured. I'm not sure we'll actually get to eat what we grow this year but we're learning.

summer break (day one)

2011-06-14T13:15:00.000-05:00

It's officially here. Those aforementioned pesky essays are graded. All school work is (somewhat) neatly tucked away. And for the time being, I am a tourist in my own city. This is how we spent day one:

It's "discount week" at the Shedd Aquarium which is spectacular and horrifying all at once. Thanks to Mila's internal alarm clock we were out the door by 9 am and missed the lines stretching into oblivion that hundreds of poor saps are standing in at this very moment. Lunch over looking the lake reminded this midwesterner how much I love Chicago and I can't wait to share it with my ever increasingly cognizant toddler.

And once that toddler stops battling her nap I plan on snapping a few shots of the backyard so you can see our progress (re: painted deck, growing tomato plants, blossoming flowers). Stay tuned!

summer vacation

2011-05-28T10:27:00.000-05:00

Ten days. That's my countdown. Ten more days of a windowless classroom with checked-out teenagers. Ten more days until sunny afternoons on the deck, in the park, at the pool, and both planned and potential vacations. My lack of posting is due to the strange cloud I tend to find myself living in during the weeks before the end of the school year. My daydreaming about summer has a tendency to shroud all of the pre-summer odds and ends I really should be focusing on. Case in point: thoughts of a lively and fruitful garden have definitely been winning out over those few pesky make-up tests I have to grade. (I will get to them but maybe just not today.)

To say I don't have a single shade of green in my thumb is an understatement. Over the years, I've gotten the deserving reputation of plant killer. Years of city living with tiny balconies and sunless rooms can do that to you. But with our newly usable backyard, I have no excuses. And, gasp, I'm actually excited about it! There is so much to do to get the yard into the shape I want but for this summer we've decided to experiment with some edible varieties, pretty annuals, and a space for the little one to play. Here's a reminder of what our yard looked like when we moved in:

Last summer, we took the first step toward fixing it up with some landscaping. Besides the hardwood floors and garage, the yard is the only other place we've paid someone to come in and do some work for us. It was worth it:

We considered the landscaping a way to start over. Neither of us are interested in a perfectly manicured backyard but this seems much easier to work with than the shrub graveyard we had before. So, finally, this summer it's all about really using the space we have. Mike built a beautifully simple planters box that we transplanted some seedlings into about two weeks ago. I planted a few annuals along the garage. And we have some tomatoes, peppers, and basil in some containers on the deck. We're also working on keeping the front in good shape and eventually plan on replacing the chain link fence that currently exists. In part due to the pavlovian bark Oscar lets out every time the stupid fence squeaks open. But mostly because it's ugly.

The second picture doesn't show the completed box. Mike added a lip of sorts to the top to make it look a little more finished. You'll see it in later posts.

I know, way to let the grass die right? Honestly, it's only partially our fault. That dirt line is from trenching the electricity wiring to the garage. The rest, our fault.

New flower boxes

The first picture is from the frontyard. I'd like to eventually replace the bench with something more our taste but I'm a little nervous it might get stolen! The plants you see are peppers, tomatoes, and some basil.

This guy is obviously a new indoors investment. Our horticulture program is nothing short of phenomenal at the school where I teach and they were selling this succulent for a measly three dollars! I couldn't pass it up.

I'm really excited to see how everything turns out! Our expectations are low (although I think mine are secretly higher than Mike's) for this season but the trial run for future years should be quite the education. Speaking of, my habit of needing a book for everything I do lead me to these two purchases:

Yougrowgirl.com is a fantastic blog and I'm more than impressed with Gayla Trail's gardening abilities so I picked up her book along with another geared toward urban gardening. I'm finding them both to be really useful and, most importantly, written in quick segments so I can fit in a chapter when I get a few spare minutes from my real job(s).

I have a lot of plans. I'd like to slowly replace the grass with some native species, build a birdfeeder, maybe a pond. But for now, here's hoping we get a tomato or two! As soon as Mike and Mila get back from music class (the only reason I have time to write such a long post) we plan on picking up a few more containers for our currently homeless plants and getting in a little bit of work before the rain comes. Oh, and get some milkshakes. We'll be doing that too.

diy dog rescue

2011-05-16T20:29:00.000-05:00

I've posted a few times about my sister's amazing dog rescue and here I go again. This past weekend, we attended a fundraiser trivia event for OTAT. We may have walked out empty-handed (and there were some very impressive prizes to be had) but had a great time and can't wait for the next event. I can't say enough about this organization and not just because I have a special place in my heart for one-eyed dogs and tripods.
Watching people you know take an idea and transform it into a fully functioning, non-for-profit, activist organization is just, well, awesome. Growing up, the punk scene meant a lot to most of us. Beyond the music and the boys with mohawks (Who I will also always have a special place in my heart for. Yep, that's right mohawks and one-eyed dogs. I never said my heart was a normal place.) punk music provided those of us with a desire to do something an outlet. I can't remember a show at the fireside that didn't have a table set up with flyers about food not bombs or zines spouting out young marxist ideals. And now that we're old, it can sometimes seem like we just don't care as much, at least not in the way that we used to. But OTAT is DIY activism all grown up. And I will cheerfully give my money to them at any event. Even if it means embarrassing myself with the worst possible answers in a trivia game.

Oh, and if you're interested, the next fundraiser is another installment of "doga." Oscar, as usual, was quite the troublemaker at last year's doga but that won't stop us from attending again!

a (new) tradition

2011-04-26T21:03:00.001-05:00

When I was little, I had a serious fascination with the prepackaged easter baskets sold in supermarkets. The plastic, the confetti, the cheap plastic toys. I wanted it all. And never got one. My parents always managed to concoct something for easter morning that was, by all accounts, way better than the store variety but I still couldn't keep my eyes off those baskets. And now that I hold that awesome responsibility of making sure there is something waiting for the ladybird on the dining room table when she wakes up do you think I bought her one of those baskets?

Of course not. They're filled with junk! My poor kids will be just like me, slowing down a bit in the aisle of easter goodness to see what some other kid will wake up to. But, I have high hopes that I've started a nice little easter tradition for the fam that will far surpass the desire for mass-produced holiday cheer. As much as I love festivities, the consumerism and waste of holidays always leaves me feeling a bit queasy. So this year, we bought some candy and stickers and packed them into this basket with one other surprise. Some flower seeds. Once Mike drills a hole in the bottom of the basket, we are going to plant some lovely flowers for the backyard. I think it's a nice way to offset the ephemeral with a little something permanent.

Note: This picture is post-easter and doesn't do justice to how it
looked prior to being torn apart by an excited toddler.

texas is the reason.

2011-04-18T20:59:00.003-05:00

Two weeks ago, we celebrated my spring break with a brief tour of Texas. Mike played a few house shows and Mila and I tagged along. The tour took us to: Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Ft. Worth. I had only previously been to San Antonio, and as appealing as another tour of the Alamo sounded, I was excited to see some more of the Lone Star state. Here's my breakdown:
Dallas
Not much to see but worth a visit for the Sixth Floor Museum alone! Yeah, we love the Kennedy family around here. The museum is well-done; a healthy balance of respect and conspiracy. I picked up a few things for my classroom, Mike interrogated a few museum workers about Mac Wallace, and we were on our way.

Dealey Plaza

Houston
Eh. We had a good tapas dinner but that was about it. I did learn an important lesson about pricelining a hotel, though. First, using priceline will put you in a fancy hotel with a 26th floor pool jam-packed with NCAA coaches and media. BUT, using priceline will put you in a fancy hotel where you will still need to pay too much money for valet services and room service. (I acknowledge I probably didn't need to get room service, but still, it was expensive!)

Austin
People love Austin, I get it. It's cute. It's easy to like. But you know how you can be inspired by a certain decade's style? Or you can just be stuck in that decade? Yeah, that's Austin. We had a good time, enjoyed the weather, and ate good meals with good people but I'm not paying dues in the Austin fanclub anytime soon.

Austin food trucks

Our ladybird magically slept like a real baby on both flights and behaved like a debutante the whole trip. She did tell us she wanted to go home a few times, but that wasn't anything a milkshake couldn't solve. And there were plenty of milkshakes.

two.

2011-04-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

Woah, backblogging! I have a lot to tell you all about and, as promised, here is a post about the lil' ladybird's SECOND birthday party.

Planning a second birthday is surprisingly more complicated than the first. The first is, well the first, and warrants a lot of attention and love. The second, well is the second, and it's hard to expect people to get pumped for another kiddo-party. Two year olds also don't have many friends. So, determining who to invite can be rather tricky. We went with a pared down family party with a few close friends. The next obstacle is figuring out what kind of soiree to throw. Not only do two year olds lack in the friends department they also don't have many interests which means it's my job to come up with a theme. We decided to dress Mila up in a Cinderella costume and blow up a couple Hello Kitty balloons but let the adults have all the fun. I was pretty set on having a "do it yourself" pizza party and although some doubted my ability to pull it off (to be fair, those in doubt have witnessed my many past kitchen debacles) I'd like to think the party was rather successful! Here are some highlights:

An array of pizza toppings

A homemade kitty cake

The birthday girl

Once people got over the shyness of rolling some dough (from Trader Joe's) everyone seemed to enjoy cooking up their own creation. Having the island as a work zone complete with bowls of toppings helped our guests navigate the kitchen fairly easily given our small space. Mike even fired up the grill for some variety.

Long naps were in order for the whole family after our last guests left but that's the sign of a good party right?

on vacation.

2011-04-01T17:40:00.000-05:00

We promise to write as soon as we return to the real world (ie. 50° weather, grad classes, home improvement projects, and high school students).

Until then, you can find us on one of the many patios in Austin.

Posts to come:
- tales of a successful second birthday
- Texas tour reflections

kitchen update

2011-03-21T17:02:00.001-05:00

Mike has a habit of seeing things as works in progress when I think they are complete. Case in point: the kitchen. This was really the first room we tackled after moving in. The process included: replacing defunct appliances, ripping out old cabinets, installing new cabinets, sanding/painting new cabinets, ordering and installing hardware, and building an island. Done, right? Not according to Mike. A few weeks ago, he got the idea to add feet to the cabinets and just finished up his handy work on them today. Take a look:

The state of our kitchen this weekend.

Wood glue, sand, repeat.

The island in process.

Done!

The island, complete!

The process:

1. Purchase wood boards and draw out a few designs.

2. Settle on a design and use a circular saw to cut out the feet.

3. Attach feet with nails and wood glue.

4. Sand the heck out of them.

5. Paint to match.

逃しなさい

2011-03-15T21:20:00.001-05:00

I feel rather ill-equipped to comment on the tragedy in Japan. Like the rest of you, Mike and I have been watching the news with an awful feeling of helplessness. Japan is one of Mike's favorite countries to visit and it was our first big trip together. I sifted through some of my favorite photos from 2004, when my sister and I joined Mike and the boys in Maritime for a two week trip across the world. It's a nice reminder of what a beautiful and wonderful country Japan is.