Gardening Season Never Got So Easy

Gardening Season Never Got So Easy

My New (Inanimate) Best Friend

The lilacs are out in full bloom and the air smells sweet with their scent.  It’s gardening, season in Chicago.  And this Windy City Momma has a secret: when I garden, I like to get REALLY, really dirty; no knee pads and gardening gloves for me!  When I get in my garden, I dig for [...]

All Hail The Mighty E-Book

At 9:15 p.m., along with “Mommy, I just threw up in your bed” one of the last things a mother wants to hear from her child is “Mommy, I forgot to do my homework and it’s due tomorrow!” Despite reminding her to finish the assigned reading this week, my daughter “forgot” to do it because, [...]

The Babysitting Chronicles: When the Babysitter Lies to You

The Babysitting Chronicles: When the Babysitter Lies to You

"Outsourcing?  We're just going OUT-FOR_DINNER!"

My husband and I are really lucky when it comes to childcare.  When we go out, we have a built in babysitter anxious and willing to spend a few, uninterrupted hours with our child: Grandma.  And while we don’t always agree with what transpires while we are out, in general, the household rules are followed.   [...]

A Law & Order Fan’s Dream Comes True

Yes, it’s not “Wordless Wednesday” but when have you ever known me to “wordless” anyway?  Just had to share this great photo (okay, great photo of Adam and Kathryn Erbe) from this past weekend’s Steppenwolf Red or White Ball.  Who says dreams can’t come true?  The actress was really gracious and seemed genuinely interested in [...]

Pimping my “Passover” Eggs, Easter Style!

Pimping my “Passover” Eggs, Easter Style!

Done!  Now, who is going to eat all of these?

It’s Spring!  The flowers are blooming, birds are chirping (at 6:30 in the morning) and the rabbits have started nibbling on my early lettuce.  And like so many Springs in the past, I am compelled to follow the Passover traditions of not eating anything with leavening while consuming massive quantities of hard boiled eggs.  I [...]

Finding the Easter Bunny: Memories of my Father

Finding the Easter Bunny: Memories of my Father

Now, where is the Easter Bunny?

A long time ago… See that child? Hard to believe that’s me at age one year. This picture sat on my father’s dresser for as long as I can remember.  I am wearing my Mother’s Easter dress which seems a bit ironic because we are Jewish.  Nevertheless, the non-secular celebration of Easter was a tradition [...]

Could I Be The New Dwight Schrute, Famous Beet Farmer?

Could I Be The New Dwight Schrute, Famous Beet Farmer?

Digging in the Dirt for Beets

 The gardening magazines are piling up on my desk.  Looking out my office window, I catch a glimpse of my sparse garden and romanticize what, in a few short months, could be growing: strawberries, arugula, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, various herbs, tomatoes, basil and yes, beets.  My garden will be divided in two sections: a [...]

“The Crate” Or How Urban Legends Get Started

“The Crate” Or How Urban Legends Get Started

dogcrate

The weather has been stellar in Chicago this week and the neighborhood kids have started emerging from their houses to play together outside.  Our house tends to be party central for K and two of her neighborhood buddies. Here is living proof that sometimes spending too much time with her mother can get K into [...]

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?

The short answer?  Studying Hebrew.  (And yes, I know that it rythmes) It’s the end of January and the big day is on May 26th.  I received my torah portion a few weeks ago and I am beginning to wonder if 5 months is going to be enough time to learn, memorize and clear the [...]

Peace, Love & Cupcakes: Making Cupcakes At Jilly’s

Peace, Love & Cupcakes: Making Cupcakes At Jilly’s

Willy Wonka's or Jilly's Cupcakes?  Yummy!

Your email:  American Girl dolls. American Girl dolls is all I have been hearing for over a year.  Our daughter can’t get enough of them and when asked what she would like for her birthday, the holidays, or on a Wednesday (joke), she doesn’t pause to take a breath or give the question any additional [...]