Snow Much Fun

If Stella could talk I'm fairly certain our conversation at the park today would have gone down like this: "Aunt Stace, I'm only smiling because my cheeks are frozen. That, and because my parents are taking me to Florida tomorrow for Thanksgiving. You've got about 5 more minutes before I lose my shit.  Literally. But don't stop pushing the swing because then I turn into a Crab Rangoon. Just do as I say. We cool?"

#gotmewrappedaroundherfinger
  

Landfill Harmonic

Have you ever gotten intoxed on a Sunday night and caught up on copious amounts of 60 Minutes on DVR? 

Welcome to my every single Sunday!
{pun intended}

I don't have all that much to give but I'm out at least 20 bucks at the end of every week cerca 8pm donating to some incredibly awesome cause that they've uncovered and blessed the world to know more about.

  

Case in point:

The Landfill Harmonic

Talk about music to my earlobes!

And with that, 

I've officially found my wedding band :) 

  

***

HOMELAND needs to start soon before I go broke 

(or brown out ;)

 

Dreamy

Lincoln Park Zoo, you complete me.

Be sure to check out the addition of the ice rink in the Farm-in-the-Zoo open from November 29th - March 2nd!
  

Little Free Library

Stay tuned for the blueprints as I plan to turn my "front yard"
(aka: this under-used patch of grass) 

into a Little Free Public Library destination.  

I'm so excited about it I can hardly wait!

Random Acts of Kindness

Make my heart smile :)

LOVE

  

The Creative Minds

My after school writing class voted on the name, "The Creative Minds" for our book and blog. I love it :)

Over the course of the last month we have covered: haiku's, short-stanza rhyming poetry, fantasy, personification exercises, biographical writing, and cartoon illustration. 

Seeing these 20 kiddos each Wednesday is 
without question, the highlight of my week. 

This is the cover of our work-in-progress collection:

#GIRL POWER

I can't wait to share some of their wonderful work with you. 
Here's a sneak peek :)

      

Catching Fire

I bribed Cody to bring me as her "plus one" to the Catching Fire Chicago premier and IT WAS AS WONDERFUL AS I'D HOPED AND THEN SOME!!!

Bottomless champagne ta boot?!
Yes, please, thank you :)

One for the Record Books :)

In the Fall of 2001 I brought four girlfriends home from college for the weekend so we could all stay at my parents house, have my dad cook us chili, have my mom buy us a case of craft beer, and to all go to watch the Northwestern/Michigan game in Evanston -- to cheer for our respective alma maters. 

   

A dozen years later, this bi-annual "house-divided" tradition has turned into an epic afternoon of tailgating with friends and family that we love. 

Whatever I did right in my last life, I'm ever so thankful to be reaping the rewards of in this one :)

Stella's first tailgate. Warming up a bottle of the house white ;)

GO BLUE BABY!

Post victory rain dance!

Last people in the parking lot :)

BLISS

     

Nobody Nose

Nope, you're not missing anything. 

There is 110% no point to this post.

  

Learning How To Paddle

Last night the paddle coach on the court next to us gave me the stink-eye because my laugh is so loud. Ummmmm, riddle me this: how am I not supposed to giggle with this bunch?!?!

Love-love

{paddle pun intended}

Goodbyyyyyyyyye my loooooooooove!!!!

I got spoiled having this beautiful human stay with me for the last couple weeks and found myself talking to the walls over coffee this morning. 

So I'm putting it in the universe big time that the perfect job brings you back to Chicago. Yes, please, thank you :)

6 Months

My littlest best-frand is already 6 months young and I've loved every minute of being there along the way!

I always roll my eyes when my mom-friends are all like, "I really can't remember my life before {insert child's name here} was born" and I'm all like, "Fuck off! YES.YOU.DO...Babies don't give you amnesia. I was there and it was AWESOME." And then we both awkwardly laugh. Point being, I certainly can remember what my life was like 6 months ago, but it is sooo much better now :)

Happy half-year birthday, Boosh! 

I love you

  

Guilty

About Time

INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOUR SOUL

Step 1: Go buy copious amounts of Kleenex

Step 2: Bring it with you and clear your schedule to

Step 3: Go to see this movie :)

PS BTW: Do not watch the trailer beforehand!

LOVE

Ever so proud of Illinois today :)

Story Of My Life

Segway Sunday

I can't quite put into words the ha!larity and awesomeness that is the Chicago Lakefront Segway Tour.  My mom bought a Groupon, and well, that pretty much says it all...

I haven't stopped laughing since yesterday.

THIS.HAPPENED!

Hahahahahaha

LOVE

Chicago, 

You complete me :)