La Colombe.  Hands down the best cappuccino in Chicago.  West loop.  Check it.

Don't forget to vote! You can still vote once daily through January 23rd!

Happy Friday.

coffee date

How was your holiday?  I've been so immersed in family time and the relaxing days that follow the December craze that I had taken myself off the hook from blogging, amongst other things.  Until this morning, when I stumbled upon Alissa's Coffee Date Friday link-up and I decided that a coffee date I did not miss.   This week, the coffee of choice has been Intelligentsia's El Diablo and I'm on about a two and a half cup routine.  I just want to savor these mornings when the kids don't have to rush off to school, we don't have to rush off to work, and everyone can just be.  We can awake slowly, lounge in our pj's for hours, and cozy up to each other around new games and books.  I can say yes to question after question like, "can we do this craft, mommy?"  There's no where to be, no deadlines, no conference calls, no homework, and I can be the YES mom for awhile.

at the people spot in front of heritage bike store
 

Sometimes, you just need to take yourself off the hook for things to take the stress level down a notch.  When my son was born, I took myself off the hook for holiday cards, we do Valentine's cards instead.   I'm even taking myself off the hook for downloading the photos that I was thinking of including in this post and instead including ones that I never posted from this summer.  So, take yourself off the hook for something today and enjoy.

And just so you don't think I've lost my usual undertones, I am typing this from my favorite part of the day - the early hours of the morning when I'm the only one awake in the house.  I'm currently the YES mom, but I'm also the - please don't wake up for another hour so I can drink my coffee in peace mom, too.

link up your coffee date post with alissa

natural skincare class

Chicago besties, mark your calendars!  There's a natural skincare class at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum on December 12 @ 6pm.  I've posted a few homemade recipes in the past and can't wait to learn and share a few more.  We will also learn which product ingredients to avoid (yes, this feeds my paranoia but also makes me feel smart about the products I purchase).  With this class, my beauty bag may almost be complete with all the commercial and homemade products that I can feel good about.

Green City Market Winter Love

The Green City Market has returned to its winter locale at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum and what a wonderful site it is.  While we are still in welly and not Sorel weather, the market remains half indoors and half out, lining the sidewalk entrance and setting up shop in the back courtyard.  The smell of hot apple cider and tamales fill the air and the abundance of colorful vegetables can be seen from all directions.  It was a wonderful opportunity to try some of these flavorful radishes with the watermelon variety (white ones) being our favorite.

Listen up Chicago parents!  The best kept secret is the "Market Membership" at the Nature Museum. For a mere $25, you and your family can enter the museum during market hours.  This means snowy Saturday mornings can be filled with market perusing + museum playing all in one morning.  I'd say that's a parent/kid win win weekend day. 

heritage bicylces general store

Bike shop in the back; cafe in the front - heritage is everything you'd imagine to see in a quaint little shop walking down the streets of Portland, Maine.  But, it's on busy booming Lincoln Ave in the middle of Chicago.  Lucky me! This little gem of a general store cannot be overlooked.

 

My kids had a ball typing old school - like how "mommy used to"

the apple doesn't fall far

Nothing says real food like picking an apple straight from the tree. We spent a Sunday morning in a row all to ourselves at Garwood Orchards several weeks ago.  The skies were gray, the ground wet, but the kids were all smiles.

And no better place than an orchard - with tractors and all - to break out the wellies and quilted barn jacket.  I'm going to break down my daughter's outfit - because I think she nailed it.

hello kitty wellies:  target, quilted barn jacket: ralph lauren, super soft double layer leggings:  oshkosh target

Urban Campfire & Country Kicks

This past weekend felt like a weekend in the country, but we didn't go far from our urban abode.  Saturday night, we gathered with about 40 neighbors and friends in our back alley, which happens to be landscaped and lush, but let's keep it real here, it's technically still an alley.  We fired up the chiminea and the kids roasted marshmallows and turned all sticky fingers from their's s'mores.  We all contributed to the food table and enjoyed chili, corn muffins, mac cheese pie and more....We sipped wine and craft beers.  And the most amazing three-piece band played right below our balcony.  You could hear children's playful screams and the lull of chatter while everyone swayed to the music and took in one of the last warm nights of the season.  A reminder that we all have a little bit of country in us and we don't have to go far to get it.

Our fall festivities continued the next day as we took the kids to Design Harvest.  We've been going to this festival since its inception and this year, they really stepped up the kid activities about twenty notches.  Hayrides, a petting zoo, corn maze, pumpkin decorating - the works!

adorable kid swing by k. dille designs
check out her other stunning and creative designs!

and just a reminder that these fall festivities took place within our concrete jungle

           

i found these during a target run for $15; no joke
they are much grayer than this; see above

Close, but no cigar

My husband has been collecting cigar boxes in anticipation of making guitars out of them.  I have yet to see this project in full force, though the variety of cigar boxes coming into our house is multiplying.  In assembling gift certificates for a few friends' bdays, I realized that the cigar boxes, with their ornate patterns and fancy details, would make great gift boxes for certificates or other small goodies.  No additional wrapping needed as it is in the box itself.  We found these boxes at Up Down Cigar in Old Town, here in Chicago.  Prices range from $2 - $20, but most of the time, the owner has just given these to my husband at no charge, claiming that he has hundreds in the back.  There are so many different styles, colors, and sizes to choose from - it's really fun to sort through them.   Found a lot on ebay after a quick search.

Lolla Take One

 A few better late than never pics from Lollapalooza!  Nothing like experiencing Lolla for the first time with my kids.  So, when they are asked about their first rock concert, they are going to respond "Florence and the Machine and Jack White."  Seriously, I was never this cool. 

The mysterious woman in white was my favorite fashion moment of the weekend.

Subtle body glitter, sweat band on the right wrist, ankle boots, the perfect package.  Despite the fact that I had my sleepy four year old in my arms, the woman in white was hesitant to let me snap her photograph.  Ummm, I've got a kid in my arms and just have a silly little mommy blog, COME ON.  I had just let another blogger take my photograph and with the kids no less, so lighten up, it's Lolla.  Eventually caving, she let me take one and when asked who makes her dress, she responded:  "I'll never tell, maybe it's me."  Okay, then.  If it WAS her, I'd be taking the credit, because it was stellar.

Side note:  Two week later my husband saw the mystery woman at the park with a child.  

Small world. 

protecting the innocent

 In other news, the winner of the fabulous DALiiA eyeliner is HEATHER H!

Thanks to everyone for entering.  Another giveaway is scheduled for September.