soup sunday- 50 things to grill in foil

Tags

bbq, food network, grill, hiatus, little birds, recipes, summer

photo via food network

I’ve been on hiatus long enough. so what better time to be back to the blog, than back to the beach weekend. I am feeling revived, restored, inspired and invigorated. and although I am a ‘fall’ kind of girl, I am so looking forward to lots of long, lazy days of summer with the little birds and my love.

the first hot weather holiday is upon us tomorrow, and nothing is more quintessential than a recent pin from my summer lovin board on pinterest. (besides, being nearly 100 degrees in chicago, I didn’t think anyone would be interested in a soup recipe, lol!) so, here is a list of 50 things to grill in foil via the food network. it’s so good, from jalapeno poppers to upside-down cake, you can throw the beef to the back burner. hope this adds spark to all your bbq this summer!

happy & safe memorial day!

xoxo s

ps….feels so good to be back!

thursday thoughts- love, lunacy and lipgloss

via www.adorevintage.tumblr.com

laughter? hmmm….somehow the mike got turned off and was replaced by a bought of lunacy. after a series of escalating events within just a few weeks, ie emmett broken arm, izzi broken tooth root (I know, what the what?! playground slide accident) evan needing to pretty much go blind from eyedrops to correct his vision, home project failed, plans to move put on hold, a case of strep throat for me, and being by myself with the little birds four days a week; I completely crashed. total rock bottom. pity party for one please. I felt so helpless and hopeless. ashamed to be ashamed. I told my husband I completely had lost my mind because I was talking to myself. thankfully, he said if you are able to problem solve and feel better after a conversation with yourself, you are still amongst the sane. but, I couldn’t blog, because I needed time to dust myself off, put some lipgloss on and figure out how to move forward. and so I did. and now I’m back. how? my husband asking, if ‘I was cashing in all my chips?’ I don’t know where my life would be without him… he is such an amazing friend and motivator. it lit a fire. no way, never giving up. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and it will bring you to where you are meant to be. because for the many not great things that happened, it seems like some pretty amazing adventures are on the horizon. I can’t wait to share them with you soon! thanks for staying around!

xoxo s

sweet tooth tuesday- french toast + family

Tags

anniversary, family, french toast, grandparents, recipes, smittenkitchen

the simple things like eating meals at the table as a family are so important to us. even if it is just sitting down to eat a bowl of cereal together (oh just watching the dribbles of milk from those little mouths makes me smile). this morning, I made a huge batch of cinnamon french toast, like this recipe from one of my favorite blogs smittenkitchen. as we sat there, evan looked over to me, his little glasses covered in berries, and said, ‘thanks for making this delicious french toast mama.’ certainly a sweet tuesday!

xoxo s

ps. happy 75th anniversary to my late grandma & grandpa bennett, who taught us all the significance of family with 13 children, 57 grandchildren and endless great-grandchildren! we miss you and hope you are dancing in heaven today!

sweet tooth tuesday- cakey lemon bar ‘brownies’

Tags

bakergirl, baking, lemon bar brownie, lemon bars, little birds, recipe, springtime/summer desserts, sweet tooth

image & recipe via bakergirl

today, I decided to make cakey lemon bar brownies out of the lemons of last week (baby’s broken arm here). clearly, I always find solace in my sweets, and this recipe I found is simple, perfectly sour and scrumptous. in lieu of the glaze, I made it even easier & just sprinkled tons of plain powdered sugar on top to give it that old-fashioned brownie feel. also, super fun to bake with the little birds…they enjoyed making homemade lemonade with the leftovers. (it’s amazing how much tart those tiny mouths can take!) this is definitely going to be my new signature springtime/summer dessert.

xoxo s

broken wings & blog breaks

Tags

baby bird, broken wings, bunk bed

just as my cyber ink was flowing and ready to attempt blogging at least three times a week again, our baby bird fell out of the nest, aka bunk bed ladder, and fractured his tiny arm. after tricking me via text from the hospital that he was waiting on the x-ray results and for a dcfs worker to interview for inadequate supervision, my husband (who is a case worker) assured me that there will be many broken wings, bumps and bruises. but I feel guilty that it was on my watch and when I was right there in the same room. he has a baby cast & sling but fortunately today he is back to his curious little self… already climbing and causing trouble with the other arm. so once again, I’ll be taking a short break from blogging to spend extra qt with my precious patients (our sensitive bird evan hurt his finger in a door last week and is still emotionally recovering) and practicing the letter ‘x’ with izzi, who ironically learned x-ray in preschool the same day. have a lovely week and hope to see you friday!

xoxo s

friday favorites

Tags

blogs, facebook, instagram, latte, little birds

my favorite part of the day is waking up to a hot latte, hopefully some sweets from the night before and checking on a few of my favorite blogs or facebook, while the little birds are still snuggled on the sofa with their favorite shows. it’s quiet and calm, because the rest of the day is an alternate universe. we’ve reached that milestone with the baby bird of non-stop action and adventure….climbing, falling, jumping, running, tumbling, and everything of superhero, stuntman proportion. and since I’m solo with my superhusband gone four days of the week from morning til midnight, it hasn’t left much time down time to blog. my breaks consist of cleaning, collecting my mind or completely crashing out in a bunk bed. someday I will become uber-organized, have meal plans and a closet ready for some chic editorial. but for now a girl can dream and I have my favorite things to get me through the week…

have an egg-cellent weekend!

xoxo s

march madness

Tags

bringing up bebe, do-rite donuts, family, friends, ice cream, iced lattes, manicures, manolos, march madness, miss lina's ballerinas, nutella, orland park bakery, park, pinterest, starbucks, valparaiso, zoo

the madness of march left me MIA with the blog. spoiled with countless days that felt like summer, we spent every moment possible outside with the little birds. lots of walks for iced lattes and ice cream, long naps and lazy afternoons. I’ve even gotten half-way through a fabulous book, bringing up bebe, which I plan to discuss upon completion. sadly, we all ended the month with a little spring fever, literally.  so I wanted to say goodbye to march with some of my favorite things that I had not gotten around to post…

one for you, one for me…books

I still can’t believe they closed my second home around the corner. luckily, everyone lit candles for me, including the baristas.

one of our many walks for ice cream

do-rite donuts delivered on my lunch break by my bestie (carrot cake, old fashioned glazed and pistachio)

notable moustaches to add some dude to dress-up

my sister kristen’s supreme sliders & sweet potato fries for sunday supper (turkey version of white castle burgers, even better than the real thing)

the entire orland park bakery brought to my house by my oldest and dearest friend, on a day when I sure needed both

our bennett cousin bash (mind you only 10 of us 57 grandchildren!) with cousin beth’s brown sugar cookies & nutella cheesecake brownies from pinterest, a clear indication we are related

picnic with papa…my sweet dad made sandwiches and such for our trip to the zoo.

cousins at noni & papa’s house & park

quality time in valpo country with my sister & brother in law

coffee talk & funny faces with my fabulous friend over at manolos, manicures & this mom (love you girl, you brighten my day & please don’t kill me!)

happy weekend & happy april!

xoxo s

makeup monday- feeling beautiful

Tags

beauty team event, bobbi brown, inner beauty, makeup, power of makeup

source

I love makeup…looking, touching, buying, applying makeup. some find that to be frivolous and I felt I had to justify being a makeup artist when I was around people whose jobs seemed more important (according to society standards). but I realized and was reminded once again at a bobbi brown event over the weekend, that I am so lucky to have a career that allows creativity and compassion. I always tell my clients that it is my privilege to do their makeup, because they are allowing me to touch them and teach them. there is a psychology behind a “makeover’ that involves a unique balance of analyzing, artistry and trust (wow, some of the stories women will share with a stranger). it is a pretty amazing feeling to watch someone who may be going through a hard time, trying makeup for the first time or just wants to feel extra special for one time, take that extra look in the mirror. the magical power of makeup can show the true beauty from within. and if I can help someone find it in themselves, that makes me feel beautiful.

happy monday!

xoxo, s

thursday thoughts- in memory

Tags

angel, family, in memory

on march 15th, my brother in law jonah’s mother passed away. I want to dedicate this post to a special soul the world has lost. jessie kinghorn, of lake orion, michigan, would have celebrated her 80th birthday on september 11th. although she was jonah’s grandmother, she raised him and was his ‘mother’ in every true sense of the word. she was a vivacious woman, filled with generosity and overflowed with emotion for everything and everyone around her. she loved her cats and chocolate, hand rolled cigarettes and home shopping. she was a proud danish woman, who was filled with surprises and stories. most recently, izzi was making her a card with stickers and had asked if jessie loved goats. my sister kristen and I laughed and said of course she did, only to find out in fact she did have a pet goat! she fought illness so valiantly for the past few years. we knew she had lived her nine lives but hoped there would be ten. this last time in the hospital, she said she had ‘tricked’ those doctors, for they had let her go home. and that was where she loved to be most, where she went peacefully, surrounded by her favorite people and favorite things. our hearts are heavy without her here, especially her beloved jonah, my sister kristen, her grandson jude, son jim, his girlfriend rochelle and her extended family. but her new life will be beautiful and blessed. for she is their angel, free to love and laugh for all eternity. vi ses, jessie. we will love you always.

xoxo s

sweet tooth tuesday- 12 flavor gummies

Tags

albanese confectionary, fashion star, gummy bears, little birds

since I’m solo tonight, I strategically took the little birds to the park until dusk to ensure a seamless sleep routine.  I regained remote control just in time for my new favorite show, fashion star and have rationed a five pound bag of 12 flavor gummies that my sister smuggled over the *border from albanese confectionary. they claim to be the world’s best, but I think they are beyond the universe. proudly made in merrillville indiana, they are highly addictive, ginormous, soft, chewy, fruity and fat free… which the latter is an important detail considering I still have to get through the replay of real housewives of oc. sweet dreams.

xoxo s

* referring to the indiana border where one can get gummies and gas at a mah-jor-ly more economical rate than in illinois