• My Kid Has Mad Skillz,  Too Funny To Ignore

    No Self Esteem Issues Here…

    I’m happy to report that after this exchange in the car with J yesterday, it has been confirmed that there are no self esteem issues in this house. None. Nada. Zilch. Me: “Oh, the leaves are changing. We need to see what Julesie’s availability is in the next couple of weeks so she can take your senior pictures. Do you have a nice sweater you can wear?” J: “Boy, DO I. I have a sweater so ugly it’s going to be great.” Me: “Wait, I don’t want you to wear an ugly sweater in your senior pictures.” J: “It’s ugly, but in a good way.” Me: “What does it look…

  • Review,  The Dailey Method

    The Dailey Method: An Update For Hy! (And You.)

    One of my friends (Hyacynth) asked me a couple of days ago if I have written a post recently about how my workouts at The Dailey Method are going. I have not, and thought that it was a great suggestion. Back in the summer (from mid-June to mid-July) I participated in a blogger review program of The Dailey Method. I wrote three posts about my experience: Post 1 is the one in which I wrote about what The Dailey Method IS along with how my first class went. Post 2 is about how I became hopelessly addicted to The Dailey Method, along with an interview I did with the owners…

  • I've Got Mad Skillz,  Jew Stuff

    (It’s Not) Hard To Say I’m Sorry

    Today is Yom Kippur, the most sacred day of the year in the Jewish religion. It’s our “Day of Atonement”, meaning that we are apologizing for the sins of the past year and seeking forgiveness. A big part of Yom Kippur is saying “I’m sorry”. Saying those two words is very easy for me. Although I have perfectionist tendencies (ya think?), I have absolutely no problem admitting that I have made a mistake. In fact, usually when I discover I’ve made an error I completely overcompensate in the apology department because I feel so terrible about it. (That’s an issue for another day. Or for a therapist.) I consider myself…

  • Review

    Chicago Cutlery DesignPro: On The Cutting Edge!

    Last week I had the pleasure of attending an event at the Merchandise Mart location of The Chopping Block in honor of the Chicago Cutlery DesignPro line of knives. When I received the invitation from Mom Central I was excited for two main reasons: 1. I have attended a couple of events at The Chopping Block and they are fun and well put-together. 2. I have really old, cheap knives that are in terrible shape but learning about new knives is something I’ve always been too lazy to take on, so this event would be the kick I needed. When I arrived, I got excited for another reason: we would…

  • Reflections on Parenting

    The Knowing Is One Thing; The Realization Is Another.

    I had the extreme good fortune of being able to spend some quality time alone with Jim this weekend. Much of Saturday was spent just taking care of things around the house, and in the evening we went out for dinner and a movie. I think it was over steaks at Texas Roadhouse when Jim said, “You realize, don’t you, that in a year it will be like this almost all the time…just us?” And while I knew that already–we’ve talked about it for years, how we’d be in our mid-forties when the kids stopped living at home full time–at that moment the realization truly hit me like a ton…

  • Queen of Denial,  UGH.

    Technical Difficulties…Maybe. (Darn You, Feedburner!)

    Well, this has been a confusing morning so far, thanks to Feedburner. I’ve been hearing a bunch of chatter in the last week or so that Feedburner will be shutting down/changing/discontinuing service/majorly messed up/imploding as of October 20th. Those of you who are bloggers and/or subscribe to Suburban Scrawl via Feedburner know what that means; those of you who don’t blog and/or just pop in here from time to time may not know, and it won’t affect you as much (or at all). I’m not sure if the rumors are true, but what I do know is that, this morning, everyone’s Feedburner subscriber count went to zero, and none of…

  • Favorite Things,  My Kid Has Mad Skillz,  Review

    Tie The Knot and The Tie Bar Sittin’ In A Tree…

    This just in… “Modern Family’s” Jesse Tyler Ferguson (along with his fiance’ Justin Mikita) has just launched a foundation called Tie The Knot. They are partnering with The Tie Bar (which, ahem, also happens to be the workplace of my son J) and will launch a collection of ties designed by Jesse around Thanksgiving. The proceeds from the ties will be divided among several organizations that advocate for equal rights in the LGBT community, including, of course, Marriage Equality. I think this is the perfect partnership! Before I go on, check out this ADORABLE video: “Like” Tie The Knot and The Tie Bar on Facebook (and follow them on Twitter…

  • Random Thoughts

    The Ask

    Homecoming weekend is coming up, and that means there’s a dance on the horizon. J and his girlfriend will be going, but only after he executes “The Ask”. Asking a date to attend a dance these days isn’t a matter of just, well, asking. It’s a big production which is only limited by the creativity and the resources of the person who is doing the asking. D once presented a friend with a huge, ten-pound chocolate bar which was covered with a homemade (and adorable) wrapper that said, “HOMECOMING?” He asked his prom date to the dance by arranging to be a guest on the high school morning news brief…

  • Food,  Review

    Come On, Eat! (Or Not.)

    I hope you enjoy this month’s contribution to Hallmark’s “Life Is A Special Occasion” campaign! (Go grab a snack. It’ll enhance your experience.) These days, dinner around this house goes pretty smoothly. Someone does the cooking, calls everyone to the table, and, well, we eat. Conversation goes on throughout the meal, and then when we’re all done–because nobody leaves the table until everyone else is finished eating–everyone helps to clear the table and then a couple of us (but not the one who cooked) do the dishes. It hasn’t always been that way, mind you. Mealtime around here used to be stressful when the boys were little. In addition to…

  • Childhood Memories,  Confessions,  Fun in Chicago,  Review

    Xanadu At Drury Lane: Magic!

    Back in August of 1980 I was eleven years old and really excited to see a new movie starring Olivia Newton John, “Xanadu”. I had enjoyed her music for a long time but after seeing her in “Grease”, I was a Superfan. Perhaps my Superfan status is the reason why, when most of the general public thought that “Xanadu” was one of the worst movies ever*, I (and my sister, too) fell head over heels in love with it. I loved the plot, the Greek mythology elements, the music, the wardrobe (even the legwarmers), all of it. I mean, come ON. Look at this and tell me that you aren’t…