When D left for college for the first time in September 2010, we were wide-eyed parents, navigating the parent end of secondary education in the best way we could. Like anything, there were little surprises here and there (nothing we couldn’t handle: don’t worry, all of you with younger kids!). One of those little surprises was the occasional appearance on our monthly college invoice of small charges: $1.50 here, $1.10 there…I had no idea what was going on. Was it a charge to fix the cable? Did they charge us to change a lightbulb in the dorm? No clue. Rightfully wanting to know what we were paying for, I made…
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The Balance of Parenting
I think it’s important to have hobbies and interests that aren’t directly related to my children. I have always believed that if I focused 100% of myself on raising my kids, I would be gasping for air when they eventually went out on their own. Me, rolling myself up in the fetal position in a corner of my house when J, the younger of my two sons, waves goodbye really isn’t an attractive mental image, and so although I am a very active parent, I maintain activities that don’t rely on my kids being around. I feel like it makes me a better parent, that I have more to offer.…
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Something Old, Something New
My Dad is a very interesting fellow, one-of-a-kind, for sure. He’s hilarious most of the time, he is very smart with more common sense than most, and he makes the best prime rib you would EVER taste, as evidenced by the fact that he made that for us for dinner on Friday night and I still can’t get it out of my head. He’s not without faults, though. His intense dislike for anything Will Ferrell has ever done–especially “Elf”–is something he talks about enough to make me wonder if he really likes “Elf” deep down but has talked so much trash about it that he would never admit it. (Not.)…
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Chicagoland Food Swap Debuts December 4!
You are probably sick of food, being just a few days removed from Thanksgiving and all (unfortunately I have never had that problem, being sick of food), but I have a pretty exciting food event to share with those of you who live in the Chicago area. My friends Emily and Vanessa, along with a couple of other ladies, have created the Chicagoland Food Swap, which will be happening once each month at various locations all around Chicagoland and makes its debut next Saturday, December 4. The Chicagoland Food Swap brings together those who share an appreciation for making/baking/growing their own food and involves swapping jams, canned goods, cookies, eggs,…
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Travel vs. Home
“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float To gain all while you give To roam the roads of lands remote To travel is to live.” (Hans Christian Andersen) My sister and I have been ruthlessly mocking the way that the contestants on “The Amazing Race” had to recite this quote to a Danish judge as a part of last week’s episode, and though I love the quote and believe it is true, after a long Thanksgiving weekend full of fun with family and friends, I’m currently a fan of THIS quote: “There’s no place like home.” (Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz)
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Pocket Full Of Posies
I adore public sculptures of all kinds, but I have a soft spot for sculptures of people. (Remember one of my favorites, Magdalene?) Today J and I were at a park that I hadn’t explored before, and we came across this beautiful sculpture of a little girl. I said, “Look…she has a pocketful of posies.” He replied (a little too happily, if you ask me), “Oh, well, THAT’S bad news.” “Ring around the rosy A pocket full of posies ‘Ashes, Ashes’ We all fall down!” (If you don’t know the supposed meaning of this verse, click here to understand why J was happily “doomsday” about the little girl’s flowers.) Want…
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Happy Turkey Day!
I am working with a spotty internet connection at my parents’ house and just took about an hour to write a post about KeyLime Cove (which is HERE, if you want to read it!) that should have taken about twenty minutes, so I’m just stopping in to say Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I am thankful for many, many things in my life, and YOU, my readers are included in that long list. I hope you enjoy today, whether you’re with family or not, and whether you’re eating turkey or not. Big hugs all around!
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Hanukkah Gift Idea (If You’re Shopping For Me)
Every single time I walk by Atlas Galleries on Michigan Avenue, this painting stares at me, begging me to buy it and bring it home. It is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world. The name of it is “The Windy City” and the artist who created it is J. Scott Nicol. If you have an extra $1,299 taking up space in your wallet, please consider giving this masterpiece an excellent new home…with me. Want to make this a long-term commitment? Please subscribe to my feed by clicking here.
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A Bunch of Randomness For Your Enjoyment
Well, technically it’s for your enjoyment AND my being able to fulfill my commitment to NaBloPoMoFo in a hurry today, since I have very little time. Ready? Here we go. 1. I am driving a Chevy Suburban for the next week (and will be reviewing it, of course). It is HUGE. I have to admit, I feel like a tough girl when I’m behind the wheel. Weird, I know. 2. I get to meet my buddy John Cave Osborne for coffee tomorrow. He hates when I call him a mentor (even though he is), but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t mind when I call him a friend (because he is).…
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Time For Fitness
I get this a lot: “OMG Melisa! You’re so busy, and yet you still exercise! How do you find time??” Answer? I don’t find time. I MAKE time for fitness. You can too, if you really think about it. If it’s something you truly want to do, you’ll do it. Oprah does it, and she’s a pretty busy lady. (Just sayin’.) If you’re the type of person who gets up early for work or kids, and then you’re goinggoinggoing all day long until dinner time, when you have to feed your family and then help kids with homework or clean house or have a social life, you could get up…