Stroller with a View!

The other day, I gave my camera to my son to keep him occupied in the stroller. When I downloaded photos that night, I was surprised by all the photos he took. It's nice to see things from his perspective.

Bouquets for mom

Does he know how much this melts my heart? Whenever the kids see Dutch Clover or Dandelions in the grass, they begin assembling a bouquet for mom.

Taste of Paris recipes from Apartment Therapy's the Kitchn

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-roundup/a-taste-of-paris-10-recipes-to-take-you-there-121443

Miles away...

Just recently, I have started reading the travel section in the Sunday Tribune again. I didn't realize that I had quit reading this section until a few months ago when I looked at it like a long forgotten friend. But for the past several years, the only traveling I've been doing is to the grocery store and back. And if I can do it alone, it feels like a vacation, a luxury.

But now that my babies are a preschooler and toddler, I find myself fantasizing about far away places, about exploring nooks and crannies of old neighborhoods and enjoying the tastes of new cuisine. Just simply getting lost in the love affair of traveling.

And for a few short moments, my coffee tastes like an italian espresso, my surface turns into a Parisian cafe table, my newspaper becomes my travel guide and I am miles away.

(I think I will dedicate Tuesday to posts about travel. Where I've been and where I dream about going. Until next Tuesday, let that wine, espresso, or travel section take you away...)

Now, if I could just get over my ridiculous fear of flying that I have seemed to develop since I've had children....

Summer Soiree

Our neighbors hosted a fabulous backyard (or back alley) party over the weekend in our courtyard. Beautiful pink, black and white lanterns hanging from the trees, chinese umbrellas hanging as chandeliers, white lights wrapped around the trees, and a Raspberry Mojito signature cocktail.




I had a difficult time capturing it all with my camera, but I tried.

B.B. Dakota

My obsession with B.B. Dakota began after I scored this amazing wool coat on the sale rack at http://grayboutique.com/ in 2007. I think it was something like $70.00 and the price per wear has been insane. I have made two really smart coat purchases.





The second: this Cynthia Steffe trench from a sample sale in NY in probably 2002. This trench just keeps on giving! I have my friend Suzanne to thank for making sure I pulled the trigger on this one.






Current B.B. Dakota pieces I am considering.




I really like this dress that The Bachelorette is wearing...but it is pretty much the ONLY thing that she has worn that I like. Bring back Jillian Harris' style palease!

B-A-N-A-N-A-S and blueberries

Banana Blueberry Smoothie!

Love dumping ingredients into a blender for a breakfast smoothie. Always a great treat and kids go BANANAS for them.

Ingredients in this one:

1 banana
Couple handfuls of blueberries
3-4 tablespoons of lowfat vanilla yogurt
Random amount of orange juice
Couple shakes of ground ginger

It's a Cruel Cruel Summer....

Elisabeth Shue. Ralph Macchio. Beach scene. Soccer knee dribbling lesson. Oh, how my 11yr old self dreamed of this type of beach date...pink bandana headband, photobooth and all.

Now, you can't remake that.

Rise and Shine

It's 6am at the lake house...everyone is sleeping EXCEPT for my two kiddos. Coffee is NOT brewing, paper is NOT here and kids are READY to go. After stalling with an hr of the Disney Channel, the natives are getting restless and the house is still sleeping. Down the back stairs and out of our sleeping quarters, which is the loft above the garage, we have made it out! Off to the farmer's market we go (sans coffee though, which is a little nerve racking).

We arrive at the Michigan City Mainstreet Assocation's Farmers Market to find that Lakeshore coffee has added a tent! Someone is looking out for me today. This is where we try our first pastry, a chocolate croissant.

http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M17553


Amish baked goods. Sampled a loaf of cheese/bacon bread...tastes as good as it sounds!


Tried our second pastry (apricot croissant) from this little gem of a tent from Truffles Bakery.
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=bakery+michigan+city&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bakery&hnear=Michigan+City,+IN&cid=1094366468920430968


The sunflowers were electric!






And after awhile, it was safe to return to the house and pack up for the beach!

Thank you, market!

Small Town America

"It's small-town America. There's a strong draw to go into these small communities for the nostalgia and to go into nature for the beauty."

~ Dody Laemmlen




4th of July in Long Beach, In symbolizes all things small town and summer.

Parade, Ice Cream Social, Fireworks, Farmer's Markets...







I wouldn't trade my life in the city, but I sure can appreciate small town summer celebrations.

Goodnight Beach.

And goodnight long summer weekend! Until Friday...

Take those blues away....

In our house blueberries are just "blues" and we can't wait to get back to Billy Boys Blueberry Barn this season. The kids put those cans around their necks and pick away! There's nothing better than getting your fruit right off the tree. Last year, we froze about 20lb and the only problem was that they were gone way to quickly.

http://www.billyboysblueberrybarn.com/

Happy picking!

Millennium Park: Check

Fountain, Bean, Bridge, Symphony Rehearsal, and a train ride home with two sleepy kids.

Gigi Bottega

What a wonderful surprise this little boutique was! My mother kept mentioning this Gigi store and I never even asked any questions, it was just on our list of places to peruse downtown Bloomington. And the list was small. I never imagined that it would be filled with some of my besties...B.B. Dakota, tons of Alternative, and lots of affordable adorables.

http://gigibottega.com/

'Mazing Mascara

Sometimes, I don't wash my face before bed. There, I admit it. There are several reasons for this. I may have fallen asleep on the couch and am doing a zombie walk to bed. I may fall asleep in mid-sentence reading Cat in the Hat to the kids for the umteenth time...or once in a great while, it is because I get home late and just simply can't wait to crawl into bed. Whatever the reason, with this mascara, I NEVER wake up with those crazy black eyes. In fact, I could probably go the next day without reapplying and pass it off as that day's makeup. I usually don't do this, but it's tempting. And I could probably get caught in a massive downpour, sans umbrella or shelter, and this mascara wouldn't budge. Def. a best!

I stumbled upon this little gem of a boutique after a trip to the Sawyer Market (which is an amazing place and will save for another post).

I saw this amazing space from across the road and it sucked me in like only a cute little boutique can. This is seriously the cutest space I have ever been in. The vibe is incredible...Mayberry mixed with urban loft feel. And because most everything is made out of recycled items, the greeness of it all, just adds to that good feeling. Hey, we all have to do our part, and if shopping here helps the environment, I am ALL FOR IT! There, easily justified.

Being so consumed with the space itself, and not wanting my peonies to start fading in the 90 degree car, I didn't take a super close look at the clothing. And the items that I was interested in were out in my size, so I can't really comment on the clothes. Except there was this amazing little shirt dress that I haven't stopped thinking about..a sure sign of a future bestie.

Catherine Doll is on my radar!

Old Sawyer Fire Station

5844 Sawyer Rd.

Sawyer, MI

269-426-3958

It's Complicated...but the kitchen is amazing!

Just returned from our Christmas weekend. Planning on a week of playing, cooking (thinking about getting ahead for the new year and freezing some meals), and recharging for 2011.

Repost from 6/10/10...Love this kitchen set.

My idea of a perfect Saturday that took place last weekend!

Morning: Run, shower, hang with the kids at the Green City Market...purchase Peonies, tomatoes, Brioche cup for the kids (and a little for moi).

Lunch with kids and hubs (fresh mozzarella, tomatoes from the market, avocado, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a little pepper - delish!)

Afternoon nap.

Late afternoon pool session with hubs and kiddos...sky has clouded over and as we step out of the locker it's starts pouring. Wait it out and walk home in a sprinkle.

BBQ and make dinner with kids hanging on the porch...it's still slightly raining. Enjoy a few glasses of vino during and after dinner.

Read to kids and put them to bed.

Open the windows, it's slightly stormy now, feel the cool breeze and cuddle up with my Barefoot Dreams blanket. Get movie from On Demand...I have been wanting to see It's Complicated. Enjoy every minute of movie! Enjoy the set design even more!

Can't go right to bed...so have to google It's Complicated set design first...of course. Slightly disappointed to find out that the interior of the house in the film is not real and was shot on a stage in Brooklyn. Not letting this put a damper on my perfect night...read on and on about the design in the film.

Fantasize about moving to Santa Barbara and buying the exterior house in the film and turning the interior into the movie set. Fantasize even more about owning own bakery, being an award winning actress like Meryl Streep, having a view of the ocean from my second floor, pastries....and doze off to sleep on my back (bc i heard that sleeping on one's back can keep facial wrinkles at bay)....

Just a little slice of heaven on a Saturday!

The lazy days of hanging at the pool, evening walks to the ice cream store, searching for beach glass along the lake all give me so much joy and are just about as comforting as mac n cheese with a side of mashed potatoes. And having children allows me to experience it all over again through their eyes! Summer awaits!

I was reminded of all this as I read the Chicago Tribune magazine on Sunday morning. The magazine featured "The Rules of Summer." With an intro by Rick Kogan (a Tribune writer who happened to grow up in my current condo unit) the magazine left me with a list of summer must do's and anticipation!

As I finished the magazine and enjoyed my last sip of hot coffee, all I could do was fantasize about iced coffees, lake breezes, fireworks, and dinners on the porch.

The kids and I all all wrote down things we want to do this summer on little posties...and we hope to pull them out one by one and do summer one day at a time.

Is summer really here?

Pretty perfect pair

+=
pretty perfect start to the day

(80% Rebel, 20% Stila)

(Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer,
Benefit You Rebel Lite )

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