This is my very first painting and I can't say that I'm completely finished with it. I was until I painted August's and then decided I may need to tweak some areas of Brooklyn's portrait.  This was painted using acrylic paints from a photograph I'd taken of Brooklyn. This is my second painting. A portrait of August. And I will add that neither photograph...Read More

Now, Dad...don't even think of hiding that from me.  Yes, I see....this is a lovely pink cup...  I mean, it's ok if I eat it, right? Cause let's be honest, here...we both know it's headed to my mouth.  What? C'mon! I was just about to taste it! And no, there's nothing in it! See?!   Well, geez...now you're making me think I want that...Read More

Days like today when it rains all day long and doesn't storm... The enormous smile that slowly expands across Dorien's face when he sees me... Baking chocolate chip cookies... The yellow and orange leaves of the trees surrounding my house... Yoga... Browsing the gazillion fantastic ideas on Pinterest... Kissing my husband... Hearing August tell me unprompted, "I love you, Mommy." Hearing August tell...Read More

Chloe Chic by goshengal featuring rhinestone earrings ...Read More

Tailored Frills by goshengal featuring leather heels ...Read More

Two Tuesdays ago, this is how we spent our day.  At the Lincoln Park Zoo.I should be more accurate and say we spent our late afternoon/evening out in Lincoln Park because we did our schooling in the hotel, had lunch with Daddy at the RainForest Cafe, visited the StoneWard office and then drove out to Lincoln Park with our friend, Kyler, who lives...Read More

Life is full of beginnings and endings. Unexpectedly we arrive and unexpectedly we leave. Things grow, they live and they die.  These are things we know and see around us every day; yet somehow, we expect things to still happen in an order of relative predictability.  We figure when people get old, to a certain age, that death is more imminent.  What we...Read More

Monolith of a building, the Shedd is.  And unless I'm very much mistaken, the nearest parking isn't near at all.  I cruised around obscure parkways for some time before stumbling upon parking underneath Soldier Field which is smack dab next to the row of museums (The Field Museum, the Planetarium and the Shedd).  I ended up walking a quarter of mile with my...Read More

We country bumpkins stayed at the Residence Inn on Dearborn and Hubbard. Superb view and great rooms! They served a continental breakfast (from 6-9) and my kids slept through every one. E-V-E-R-Y  ONE!!! This great place also had an evening "Manager's Special" where they basically served you free dinner plus beverages (including beer and wine!). We did manage to make that a few...Read More