the naming of things

Early Arrival

2012-01-22T11:49:00.001-06:00

Look who came early. We are in love and still reeling.

MLK

2012-01-16T09:48:00.009-06:00

I love Simon and Garfunkel, but can anything really top this?

Photo credits Seattle Times and Steve Schapiro

Days 1-15

2012-01-15T15:45:00.001-06:00

I have been participating in the photo a day challenge on Instagram all month. Days 1-15 are below. Do you Instagram? It has become one of my favorite photo applications for the iPhone. If you want to follow me, my username is myndid.

1. Day One: You

2. Day Two: Breakfast

3. Day Three: Something You Adore
new signet ring from c

4. Day Four: Letterbox

5. Day Five: Something You Wore
anything that fits over the 38 week belly

6. Day Six: Makes You Smile
scones and tea with an old friend

7. Day Seven: Favourite
saturdays with c

8. Day Eight: Your Sky

9. Day Nine: Daily Routine

10. Day Ten: Childhood

11. Day Eleven: Where You Sleep

12. Day Twelve: Close-Up
snowy days called for grilled cheese

13. Day Thirteen: In Your Bag
planner, book, headphones, lip gloss, gum, wallet, lavender hand lotion, shopping bag, notebook, pen, point and shoot, rosebud salve, keys, snack

14. Day Fourteen: Something You're Reading

15. Day Fifteen: Happiness
relaxing on a sunday after cleaning the house from top to bottom

Moonrise Kingdom

2012-01-13T09:07:00.000-06:00

this winter

2012-01-10T12:26:00.003-06:00

1. unplug.

2. bake bread.

3. embroider something new.

4. buy less, make more.

5. drink one cup of tea each evening.

6. sharpen the knives.

7. read a classic.

8. visit the light years exhibit.

9. cook a new fresh pasta recipe.

10. make something for the baby.

11. take one photo everyday in January.

12. make a snow angel.

13. write letters.

14. ~~braise short ribs.~~

15. write for one hour each day.

16. make a new playlist.

17. draw or paint something new.

18. cuddle the baby.

19. watch five (new to me) classic movies.

20. take a long walk in the cold.

What's on your list?

image via oh, pioneer

Resolve

2012-01-10T10:43:00.002-06:00

January is inevitably a time of reflection and looking ahead to the year in front of us. I love that clean slate feeling of the new year. Lofty resolutions are easy to form in the early weeks of January. It's easy to make a list of all you will set out to do in the new year, but harder to remember the goals you've set for yourself when March and April come around.

2012 will be a new chapter for us. Our family is expanding, Charlie's career is unfolding, and my new role as a mother is quickly approaching. I look forward to the year ahead, the new moments we will experience and the challenges we will face. I loved the list above so I thought I would share it with you. I will be keeping them in mind and reflecting on each one throughout the year.

Number three is an especially big one for me this year. I don't know about you, but in the last year I have felt overwhelmed by the barrage of technology and the constant feeling of being plugged in. I find myself struggling to unplug at the end of the day or on weekends. There always seems to be something to check or update, whether it be email, Facebook, Google Reader, blogs, and a stack of television shows on the DVR. And as much as I love technology and staying connected with people near and far, one of my biggest goals this year is to find a better balance and to unplug everyday. Charlie and I often have evenings after work where we are both on our laptops. The television is on, our phones are buzzing. We chat, but all of these devices are still turned on. I reached a breaking point a couple weeks ago when we were both sitting on the couch next to each other, casually exchanging plays on Words With Friends. Finally I said, "This has got to stop. Why don't we just pull out the Scrabble board? I can't look at a screen for another minute!"

Since then we've been making an effort to keep devices off in the evening. No phones, no iPad, computers, or television. We've been cooking dinner and lingering at the table long after we finish eating. Later we head to bed early with stacks of books and read or watch an old movie. I love this time. And I need more of it. I think the arrival of our little girl will help us unplug from the world and help us focus on the most important things.

Do you also experience the back and forth battle of staying connected and unplugging? I recently met up with a friend for coffee and she told me that she kicked off the new year by getting rid of cable television/DVR and removing herself from Facebook. What lengths will you go to simplify? How do you maintain balance? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy 2012!
M

Winter Rest

2012-01-03T18:00:00.006-06:00

Little D,

It is winter. Cold here, though we can't complain too much as it has been a pretty mild winter thus far. The holidays are over. The gifts have been given, received, the tree and decorations put away. The year turned over and it is now 2012.

Christmas was good, though surreal knowing it was the last one we would spend just the two of us. In just a matter of weeks you will be here! I can't believe it! I think back on this pregnancy and wonder where the time went. It has gone so fast.

Last I wrote you it was October and we were celebrating your dad's birthday. Since then we celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas (that photo above is of your dad opening some new records), and New Year's. We finished up our birthing class. We attended two wonderful showers hosted by family and friends. Your dad was sworn into the Illinois Bar. We traveled south to spend time with our family. My work schedule ramped up and kept my days and nights very busy. Your dad settled into routine with his job. It was a busy few months for us!

Now it is January and things are quieting down. I stopped working full-time at the end of December and will now have the chance to be home with you when you arrive. We rang in the new year quietly at home, over a large feast. We cooked all day together and danced around the kitchen to Al Green while everything simmered away (your dad loves, loves Al Green). We talked about your upcoming arrival and welled up with tears because since you began growing in my belly, we've become big saps and can cry on command (If you don't believe me, you should have seen me a couple weeks ago, crying away in the car. I was driving around town thinking about you when Etta James' "My Dearest Darling" came on the iPod. I started imagining your life, you growing up, and turned into a blubbering mess).

We are in final preparations for your arrival. Over the weekend we installed your car seat, finished washing all of your little things, read a few baby books still on the shelf. I am feeling a little anxious for your arrival, mostly the not knowing when it will happen. I'm assuming you'll arrive after your due date since everyone has told me not to put any stock in the due date. We will just have to wait and see. We are keeping our fingers crossed that any potential Chicago blizzard holds off until you are safely at home, tucked into our cozy apartment with us.

As you can imagine, you are the constant topic around here. We even cooked for you when we made breakfast a few months back.

Everyone is anxious to meet you, wonders what your name will be, who you will resemble. I wonder about these things too, but more than anything, I hope you are healthy and come into this world safely. My belly has grown large and you shift, hiccup, and kick to tell me you're okay. I imagine it's beginning to get quite crowded in there. It certainly feels that way to me!

We can't wait to meet you my little darling. What a wonderful year 2012 will be because of you.

Love,
m

In the New Year

2012-01-02T21:50:00.002-06:00

Levi's did it right with these ads didn't they? Good inspiration as we look forward to all 2012 will bring.

the new year

2012-01-01T07:00:00.002-06:00

via note to self

Goodbye 2011

2011-12-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

What are you doing for New Year's Eve? We're spending a quiet evening in, cooking dinner and watching old movies. I hope you have a lovely evening celebrating! See you in 2012!

Midnight in Paris

2011-12-30T16:00:00.001-06:00

If you haven't had the chance to see Midnight in Paris, I hope you will soon. We saw it in the theater and recently watched it again when it showed up in Charlie's Christmas stocking. The film is beautifully shot and so charming. I loved it. The opening credit scene is enough to convince you to book that ticket to Paris tonight. It doesn't seem possible that it's been eight years since Charlie and I strolled along the banks of the Seine. Must get back.

December Closes

2011-12-28T20:56:00.001-06:00

It is hard to believe 2011 is coming to a close. We had a fantastic holiday at home with family. Bits of the trip captured on my phone.

1. our humble tree, 2. ample reading time, 3. skittle ball, 4. traditional cup of chai, 5. dinner, 6. Harry, 7. Nila, 8. bells

December 24

2011-12-24T23:02:00.001-06:00

I am embarrassed to admit how many of these I ate.

Absence Makes the Heart

2011-12-04T16:39:00.003-06:00

There is much to say, much to post, but for the moment the radio silence here continues. 50+ hour work weeks and the final countdown to our little one's arrival have pushed this little blog down the priority list.

The good news? All is not lost and I will be returning soon to fill you in on the happenings around here. There will be some new recipes, photographs, and stories to share. Soon, soon.

Until then, wishing you lots of holiday cheer. Drink a hot toddy and watch a good Christmas movie for me!

M

Harry

2011-10-21T17:30:00.003-05:00

With each passing birthday of one of my brothers, I realize that I am old. Also? Getting more uncool by the day. This is especially true when it comes to the coolest of cool brothers. He was born Jacob, but he has more nicknames than any of us can keep track of. To some he is Harry, some he is Jake, others Jakeys. To me he is brother. Or affectionately, Harr. Ever since childhood, he has embodied this quiet confidence, this belief that he can do anything. It would be pretty annoying if it wasn't true. And if he wasn't the humblest of guys. He is the real deal and impresses us everyday with one of his many skills. Study advanced physics? Check. Crazy running and athletic feats? Check. Restore a Motobecane bike? Check. Design a house for fun? Check. Dance battle? Check. (Seriously, don't dance battle this guy. You will lose.)

Harr, I am so honored to be your big sister and hope you'll still talk to me as I grow more and more uncool. It has been so great to see you succeeding in school and excelling in everything you pursue. I can't say I'm surprised, but I am proud. We are so lucky to have you in our lives and I can't wait to celebrate your big day with you tomorrow.

Love,
M

Michigan

2011-10-18T21:35:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we decided to get out of town. We thought we should cash in on one last trip away before Little D arrives. We went up to Michigan without a plan and spent our days exploring the little towns along the coast. We browsed antiques, found some wonderful bakeries, spent a great afternoon at Greenbush Brewery, stocked up on apples and blueberry jam, visited a winery, hiked the dunes, explored the beach, and got lots of sleep. In the evenings we got cozy by the fireplace in our room and played some competitive games of Scrabble and cribbage. It was the perfect, restful weekend. After the past few busy work weeks, it was just what we needed. Good stuff.

bonded

2011-10-18T18:20:00.004-05:00

Little D,

It is a rainy fall night here in Chicago and I am waiting for your dad to get home from work. He is two days into a new job and beginning his new career as an attorney. It has been a very big month for him thus far. In early October he received news that he passed the bar exam! Then this week he started his job and today he celebrates a birthday. I can't help but wonder what we will do to celebrate his birthday next year when you are here. Maybe we can scheme up a surprise for him. I can't wait for you to meet your dad. I am biased as his wife, but I think most people would agree that he is a pretty incredible guy. He is caring, thoughtful, and funny. He is smart and talented and strong. He makes everyone in his life feel special and is the best listener. It's hard to sum him up into words. I have known him for almost ten years and it's difficult for me to remember a time when he wasn't there. In some ways I feel as if I have always known him. I imagine we will feel this way with you too.

Your dad and I met in a college fiction writing class. I still remember the first day of that semester, walking into class and spotting him seated down the row. It was probably the only time he arrived to class before I did (he was usually late to class, though he always found a way to make up for it when he arrived). I remember thinking he looked very smart, thoughtful, and handsome. He had an instant charm that drew everyone in class to him. He knew just when to lighten the discussion or to pose a serious question. He had friendly warm eyes, eyes I was too shy to look into when we first met.

Months later, I remember bumping into him on campus one afternoon. I was frazzled, leaving the art studio weighed down with my portfolio and supplies. He was strolling up through campus, on his way to class. We stopped and talked briefly, my heart racing the whole time.

Here we are, many years later, a similar afternoon passing by and I still find myself with a racing heart, waiting for the gate to open and for him to come into the door.

Little one, down the road I hope you too find a person that brings you everything your dad brings to me. I truly feel like the luckiest woman everyday to know him, to call him my best friend, and to share everything with him. It has been incredible to be on this path to parenthood together. I can't think of a better partner to go through this with. He is going to be a wonderful father, one I know you will have a special relationship with. Fathers and daughters share a unique bond and I know you will absolutely share one with him. He has been so great throughout this pregnancy, supporting me through every step. He is so protective of you and is watchful of anything that might cause you harm. He is bonded to you already.

We have been busy, busy preparing for you. Between birthing classes, appointments, and preparing your nursery, we have been trying to stay on top of everything. Last week when we were cleaning out some old boxes in what was once my office and is now your nursery, we stumbled upon a sealed envelope that read, "Not to be opened until August 6, 2010: 50 check-ins to check into when we are old." We looked at it curiously and opened it up. Inside we found a list we'd made together during the late summer of 2003. Jogging back through memories, we remembered we had made the list when we were moving your dad out to Baltimore to start his job as a high school English teacher. We wrote it in the car along the way. At the time I still had one year of college to finish. We were newly engaged. He was 24, I was 21.

The list of check-ins was pretty amusing. Some of the highlights included:
- won't buy matching pajamas
- no craft-o-matic bed
- won't spend more money on car than on fun
- keep traveling even if we don't have any money
- will visit all continents
- no pet birds, hamsters, and the like
- ride our bikes across one state
- have a dog
- be regular theater goers
- take our kids traveling
- will not be lame
- grow our own vegetables
- still dress up for halloween
- fishing trip somewhere
- take our kids to columbia, missouri
- fix up an old car
- keep myndi out of mom jeans
- have a studio
- some fancy sheets
- cook a nice meal once a week
- stay connected to old friends
- do not fall into soft rock radio trap
- take charlie to wisconsin

I don't think we've done too bad. We haven't visited all of the continents, but there's still time. You may have noticed you made the list too. Even back then we were thinking about you, this little, remarkable person to join us in our life together.

Your arrival is not far away now. In just a few months we will all finally meet face to face. You have been kicking and squirming around like crazy, usually in the mornings or in the evenings before I go to bed. I worry about you, hoping you are okay in there, getting everything that you need. I pray that you stay safe and sound and continue to grow and thrive. My belly is getting bigger everyday. Last weekend, your dad and I traveled up to Michigan and he took this photo of my ever expanding belly. We were exploring the sand dunes and this photo was snapped just before I was overwhelmed in a windy gust of sand in the face.

At the top of the dunes, which took us a long time to climb (see those tiny specs of people behind me?), we made a promise to bring you back next summer. Hopefully it will be a less windy day. I think you will love it there.

We are so excited for you to arrive. Based on your ultrasound photos, you are already a beauty. Inching closer to seeing you everyday and I can't wait.

All my love,
m

M-I-Z

2011-10-10T07:13:00.000-05:00

Did you know University of Missouri is recognized as the birthplace of the homecoming tradition? Wish we were headed back for the 100th anniversary this weekend.

Remember last year?

2011 Chicago Marathon

2011-10-09T20:07:00.002-05:00

We cheered on the runners at miles 10, 20, and 25 this year. After last year's race, it was wonderful to be on the other side of things; ringing bells, holding signs, shouting, and celebrating. I can't think of a more inspiring place to be than mile 25.

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." -John Bingham

this fall

2011-10-07T06:30:00.006-05:00

1. ~~bake with pumpkin.~~

2. jump into a pile of leaves.

3. ~~drink cider.~~

4. ~~carve and decorate pumpkins.~~

5. ~~see portishead play.~~

6. watch, "The Great Pumpkin."

7. ~~go hiking.~~

8. ~~build a fire.~~

9. make homemade applesauce.

10. make Christmas gifts.

11. ~~wear tights.~~

12. marvel at the trick or treaters.

13. ~~get out of the city.~~

14. try a new soup recipe.

15. bake squash.

16. collect leaves.

17. ~~celebrate c's birthday.~~

18. cozy up in a sweater and watch an old movie.

19. ~~go to a football game.~~

20. spend a Saturday playing board games.

21. ~~watch a classic scary movie.~~

22. make a fall playlist.

23. ~~cheer on the Chicago marathon runners.~~

24. ~~eat a caramel apple.~~

25. read a good book.

26. ~~try a new recipe in the slow cooker.~~

27. ~~take a long walk.~~

28. work on baby d's nursery.

29. ~~antiquing.~~

30. visit family.

31. ~~drink cinnamon tea.~~

32. ~~decorate for fall.~~

33. bake a pie.

34. visit the art museum.

What's on your list?

Tiffany's

2011-10-05T06:20:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite movies turned 50 today. I think this means we may need to watch it this weekend.

for thought

2011-10-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

via wallblank

Fall Weather

2011-10-03T06:29:00.000-05:00

25 clever ways to wear your fall scarf!

Concert Season

2011-09-26T06:03:00.001-05:00

Does anything beat the fall music scene in Chicago? Looking forward to Beirut and James Blake this week.

Favorite Memory

2011-09-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

video via Galvea Kelly

this weekend

2011-09-23T06:38:00.001-05:00

This Weekend:

Book Club
nursery assembly
Missouri vs. Oklahoma
roast chicken
lakefront walk
Dose Market
Bears vs. Packers

photo via BlackBook

Living

2011-09-20T07:13:00.000-05:00

via a conversation on cool

this weekend

2011-09-16T17:00:00.002-05:00

This Weekend:

In the Eye of the Sun
Cranberry pecan muffins
Wisconsin vs. Northern Illinois at Soldier Field
Cannellini and kale Soup

What Are You Reading?

2011-09-15T06:55:00.004-05:00

I am lucky enough to be part of a book club. When I moved to Chicago, I asked around to see if any friends were interested in forming a book club. Everyone responded enthusiastically and our little club grew and grew. We are now approaching our second anniversary and I can't wait to see what the years ahead will bring for our club. In the last two years we've welcomed new babies, celebrated engagements, weddings, new jobs, promotions, home ownership, and career changes. We have a great mix of intelligent, thoughtful, wonderful women, all with interesting jobs and great stories. I feel so lucky to know each of them. I thought I would share what we've been doing in our book club in case you have an interest in starting your own. If you belong to a book club, I hope you'll share what has worked for you!

1. We meet once a month. Every third Monday of the month we rotate houses and travel to different parts of the city for our book discussion. Each December we have a holiday party and everyone signs up for the month they want to host.

2. We read one book a month. The host gets to choose our next book. The book can be fiction, nonfiction, whatever they choose. Our only rule is that the book has to be available in paperback. In the last year we've chosen one long book to read during the months of November and December. We've also recently thrown one additional book a year into the mix. This book is chosen collectively as a group and is a longer, more challenging book that requires more time to read. Everyone is given a whole year to read the book on their own time when it works for them and the book is then discussed in December.

3. The host is in charge. The host welcomes everyone into their home and plans what they'd like to make for food. Initially I thought we'd keep it simple with dessert or a snack, but everyone loves to cook, so the food has gotten more elaborate as we've gone on. Everyone is a tremendous host and the food becomes something everyone looks forward to as much as the discussion itself.

4. We keep the book discussion pretty low-key. Some books lend themselves to more intense debate, but we always have a great discussion and it's usually pretty relaxed. Sometimes I bring along an envelope of printed questions in case the discussion begins to stall out or we get stuck.

I've included the books we've read thus far. I can't wait to see what we'll read next!

Howards End
The Shadow of the Wind
Everything is Illuminated
In the Woods
Gilead
Never Let Me Go
My Life in France
You Shall Know Our Velocity
Revolutionary Road
City of Thieves
Let the Great World Spin
Plainsong
Eventide
Reservation Blues
Room: A Novel
The Transit of Venus
Little Bee
The Blind Assassin
A Visit From the Goon Squad
The Lost City of Z
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
In the Eye of the Sun

Favorites List: Fall 2011

2011-09-14T06:45:00.004-05:00

Things I'm loving

Zara's Dear America 50 Photograph Series

Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Dish Soap (smells amazing and one drop goes a long way)

Beans + Kale

awesome people hanging out together tumblr

dreamy cabins

Clean Eating's recipes archives

Essie's fall colors

my new favorite drink: 3 parts seltzer + 1 part pomegranate juice

Rifle Paper's new fall products

teasers for the new season of Downton Abbey (can't wait for the new season to start in January!)

New pieces from Cursive Design

Clementine Bakery's Banana Cake

Pulling out the fall sweaters

On Finding Time

Kashi's Island Vanilla Cereal

West Elm's new fall items

mama ring

L'Occitane Lavender Essential Oil

Traditional Medicinals Pregnancy Tea

daydreaming about our little girl

The Big Reveal

2011-09-13T21:32:00.003-05:00

Oh what a memorable night.

Dinner together at one of our favorite spots. After settling in with a drink, we opened our big news together. Both of us let out an audible gasp, then came the wild laughter and tears, all of which scared the wait staff and other patrons a little bit. We then spent the entire rest of the evening saying, "I can't believe we're going to have a girl!"

Baby D is a she!

In the Quiet

2011-09-08T22:03:00.005-05:00

Little D,

Hi my little one. I am currently watching my belly, seeing and feeling your little kicks and movements. It is both mesmerizing and surreal. Each day as you’ve grown I’ve been feeling you more and more. Last Saturday, your dad and I attended a friend’s wedding and afterwards as we were readying for bed in the hotel, I began to feel you kick for the first time. Not a quiet little nudge, but a full on thump. It is such a wonderful thing to feel you moving. You seem to be most active in the morning and evening, tapping my belly to say good morning or good night.

I am sitting in a hotel room again tonight, back in Baltimore for work this week. Baltimore is a familiar and special place. Your dad and I had some great years when we lived here. It was a place of many firsts for us. It was the first large city we lived in together. We made great friends and found our legs as we started our first careers post-college. We shared our first apartment as a married pair, a creaky and beautiful back half of a wonderful old house that still remains my favorite apartment we ever lived in. We had a small, unfinished studio in the basement and we would spend time painting and writing, listening to music and dreaming big dreams.

Even though we knew Baltimore would never be our permanent home, we made it our own and soaked up our time here, making the most of every day. On Tuesdays we would meet our friends for half-price crabcake sandwiches. We would frequent the dark bars of the city and listen to great live music, play tennis in the early morning hours before work, drink beers at the Brewer’s Art, walk around our favorite neighborhoods, explore the countryside, and reflect on the beauty of Maryland. We also took advantage of Baltimore’s proximity to other great cities and would often travel to visit friends in Washington D.C. and New York City. But regardless of where we visited, it was always wonderful to drive back in to Baltimore. I can't wait to bring you here someday and show you all of the special places and “firsts” that mean so much to us.

I’ve realized that hotels are lonely places when you’re traveling alone. Typically when I stay in hotels I’m traveling with your dad and we are usually out and about, rarely spending much time in the hotel room itself. I recall staying in hotels as a kid, feeling like it was the most special, most incredible thing in the world. I couldn’t wait to test out the pool and always begged my parents to order room service. I would pretend we were staying at The Plaza Hotel in New York and would sit at the corner desk, writing important notes on the small notepad. Later I would pocket the vials of shampoo, lotion, and the shoe shining kit from the bathroom.

But sitting here tonight is less lonely thinking about you. We are just over halfway in this pregnancy, with 19 weeks and a few odd days to go. I read this morning that you are now as big as a banana, around seven inches long and eleven ounces. My belly is beginning to swell in earnest, but I am still feeling good, despite beginning to feel large. I am looking forward to next week when we will get a glimpse of you again, our first ultrasound in 15 weeks! Last we saw you, you were a teeny half-centimeter with a body that was just beginning to develop. You were just a tiny spec on the screen. Now you are fully formed and growing larger. We will also be able to find out if you are a boy or a girl. I am so curious to know more about you and can’t wait to find out the news!

We have been busy preparing for you. Your dad recently refinished a dresser for all of your lovely baby things. Your crib also arrived this week, which we promptly unpacked and examined thoroughly to ensure it will be the perfect crib for you. Gifts have begun coming in from friends and family near and far and many wonderful cards and notes have arrived, which I’ve saved for you to read someday. I can’t wait for you to meet all of these special people. I hope you will always know how much all of them love and care for you.

Thanks for keeping me company tonight little love. I am so excited for the months ahead and tear up just imagining that first hello we will share. Keep growing big and strong and I will continue to keep you safe.

Love you,
m

Wisconsin II

2011-09-04T22:25:00.000-05:00

Looking to the Monadnocks.

September 04

2011-09-04T22:21:00.000-05:00

Try as you might, you can never shake this place.

this weekend

2011-09-02T06:52:00.004-05:00

This (Long) Weekend:

Wisconsin
Cloud Atlas
Long walks
Seltzer
Board games
Taming the clutter
Blueberry frozen yogurt

image via BlackBook

How-To Strip and Repaint Furniture

2011-09-01T06:30:00.005-05:00

So this isn't rocket science. Most people can manage to do this easily without a tutorial. But we are new to the world of repainting furniture, and I wanted to share what worked for us just in case any of you are looking to redo your own piece of furniture and could use a little guidance.

We were on the lookout for an antique dresser we could use for a combination changing table and storage for the nursery. We scored a great piece on Craigslist for a steal.

The paint was a shade of blue we weren't in love with and a little chipped. Since it was antique, I was also concerned that it had been painted with lead paint, so we began by doing a lead check test to see if the piece contained lead paint. We used the 3M LeadCheck Instant Test and followed the instructions to swab the piece. Sure enough it came back with traces of lead, so we knew we would have to strip the furniture down to the wood, repaint it, and seal everything to ensure the lead paint was not an issue.

Stripping

Supplies
Furniture stripper (recommend Citristrip Stripping Gel)
Metal container
Scraper (recommend a plastic scraper so you don't gouge the wood, something like this works perfectly)
Paint brush
Odorless mineral spirits
Rag
Toothpicks
Toothbrush
Bristle brush
Gloves
Mask
Newspaper

Make sure you can work outside and place a layer of newspaper or a drop cloth down below your furniture. We used Citristrip Stripping Gel to remove the paint and it worked like a dream. I highly recommend it. Citristrip specified a metal bucket, so we poured the gel into a bucket and began brushing it on. We let it sit for about 40 minutes before using a plastic scraper to scrape the paint off. Remember to strip with the grain of the wood. The paint and gel come off in one gloppy go, instantly showing the grain of the wood beneath the paint. A wad of newspaper is perfect for clearing off your scraper. After removing most of the paint and gel, you may decide to do a second coat if your first coat didn't remove enough of the paint.

Use a little odorless mineral spirits and a rag to clean off any remaining paint. A toothbrush and toothpicks are perfect for clearing out any small crevices in the furniture.

Give your furniture 3-4 hours or let it sit overnight to make sure it has dried out before moving on sanding and priming.

Note: If your piece doesn't contain lead paint, you can probably get away without stripping it and simply sand it and move forward with priming.

Sanding & Priming

Supplies
Sandpaper (recommend 100-grit)
Dry cloth
Damp cloth
Primer (recommend this primer)
Brush

Use your sandpaper to gently sand everything. Remember to sand with the grain of the wood. No need to sand furiously, just sand consistently all over the furniture. Once you are done, wipe down with a dry cloth and then go back over everything with a damp cloth to collect any remaining dust. This is a good stage to clean up your area, make sure things are nice and clean before you begin priming. You may want to place a clean drop cloth down. After the furniture is wiped down, give it 30 minutes to an hour to dry out before priming.

Using your brush and primer, begin painting the furniture. The key here is to give it an even coat, though you're not looking for complete coverage, you will still be able to see the wood in some places. After priming the furniture, give it at least 3-4 hours to dry before painting.

Painting

Supplies
Semi-Gloss paint (1 quart should be sufficient for most pieces of furniture)
Assorted brushes
Small foam rollers (perfect for large, flat areas like the top of a dresser)

Finally, the fun part! Paint! At last! Plan on 2-4 layers of paint. Using a clean brush or roller, apply your first layer thinly. Thin is key. You want to shoot for the thickness of an eggshell. Less is definitely more. Paint with the grain and work from one end of the furniture to the next. This will help avoid making unnecessary extra brush strokes. Be sure to let each layer of paint dry thoroughly before adding the next layer.

Bonus Step - Sealing

Supplies
Brush
Water-based polycrylic sealer (recommend this brand)

This is the last step and ensures your furniture will look professional. With a clean brush, add two thin coats (allowing time to dry between the coats). As before, paint with the grain and work from one end of the furniture to the next.

Allow your furniture to dry for 2-5 days without placing anything on the surface. This will prevent any dents or flaws on your furniture.

For our piece, we picked out some new hardware at Anthropologie and lined the drawers with some canvas cotton liner. Now we're ready to stock the drawers full of little baby things. For you DIYers, any tips to share or anything I forgot?

Note: Don't worry, the pregnant lady didn't complete any tasks that required handling any hazardous materials. While I refer to "we" throughout the process, Charlie did the majority of the work on this dresser. I avoided all tasks that involved stripping, priming, and painting. Mostly I provided help picking out supplies, moral support, clean-up duties, and stocking the playlist with episodes of Radiolab and This American Life.

August 29

2011-08-29T23:00:00.000-05:00

Everything about this place brings to mind the best moments of childhood. I remember spending whole days in the lake and sleeping the most restful sleep through the night.

August 27

2011-08-27T15:54:00.002-05:00

Vows were exchanged as dusk fell over the yard.

August 14

2011-08-14T22:55:00.001-05:00

He has quickly been nicknamed, Charlie Vila.

August 13

2011-08-13T16:25:00.000-05:00

This is a momentous occasion: the first edible tomato grown on our patio.

August 12

2011-08-12T20:00:00.002-05:00

Motown records and a classic game of Risk. Good date night. (Note: This photo was taken right before I began dominating the world.)

August 10

2011-08-10T21:35:00.001-05:00

You know what's the worst? When you spend all day cooking a new recipe and it tastes awful. Chicken Vindaloo fail!

August 09

2011-08-09T19:43:00.002-05:00

In the last month, our basil plants have risen to Jurassic Park status, keeping our fridge and freezer stocked with pesto.

Musically Minded

2011-08-09T17:15:00.002-05:00

Little D,

It is a beautiful August day here. The unbearable humidity that blanketed the city over the last few weeks has finally lifted, a breeze running through our house. The cicadas are buzzing and the city is bustling with crowds, the sidewalks packed with tourists. Your dad is in the backyard, tinkering with his bike for a ride later this week. I am sitting at my desk in our little apartment listening to one of my favorite Sonny Rollins albums, Saxophone Colossus (this album is one of the greatest ever). You have been on my mind all day, as you are most days.

The early days of pregnancy have been surreal. I know you are there but have yet to feel you moving around (at least I don't think I have, you may have been dancing to Paul McCartney last week). I have felt so good, so much myself, that some days I've wondered if I am still really pregnant! I feel so lucky that I have had an easy-going time these past few months. Lately I've been dreaming about you. Sometimes you are a girl, sometimes a boy, but always with a mass of dark hair and big brown eyes. In my dreams I'm failing terribly. I need to change your diaper or feed you, but suddenly everything is running in slow motion. You know how that happens in dreams? I am moving in slow motion, trying to calm your crying and make things right. I wake up in a panic and it takes me awhile to calm down and fall back asleep. I'm assuming dreams like these are pretty normal for a first time mama, anxiously anticipating your arrival and wanting to be good for you.

Your dad's feet have not touched the ground since we first learned of you. Truly. Excitement can't begin to describe how he has been feeling. Two weeks ago he took the bar exam, capping off three busy years of law school. You should feel very lucky that all of this occurred before your arrival, especially during the past two months. He wasn't much fun to be around while he was studying. He was very stressed all the time and studying around the clock. I felt helpless to relieve the weight and stress he was feeling and mostly tried to stay out of his hair and make sure he was eating three meals a day. Since completing the exam, your old, fun, easy-going dad, the one I know you will love and hold close, is back.

These last two weeks have been some of the best in our years together. Law school and the bar exam are behind us and you are on your way! What more could we ask for? We've been filling our evenings with long walks, cooking dinner together, reading, and mostly talking about you. Last night we discussed baby names at length, trying different names on for size. We are pretty certain of what we will name you if you are girl. We are still discussing options if you are boy. Funny to think of you reading this someday, your name as much a part of you as your eyes and nose, and yet here we are in the month of August, thinking about what you will be called.

Your dad has been on a cleaning spree of our house, going through rooms and weeding out items he feels are no longer necessary. I tease him and tell him it's too early to be nesting, but honestly it's been such a wonderful help to have him pitching in around the house. He's also been taking care of the meal planning, pouring through cookbooks and looking for recipes that will be perfect for you. Our favorite so far has been a baked egg florentine he made for breakfast last week. On Sunday we went for a walk in the neighborhood and ended up in an old ice cream parlor sharing a gigantic banana split. It was the treat of all treats, more sugar than I've consumed all pregnancy, but man was it great. As we dug into the huge clam shell of ice cream (yep, this place serves ice cream in these huge ceramic clam shells), we talked about how protective we already feel for you. As soon as we found out you were on the way, something inside both of us changed. Or maybe the animal instincts we were born with suddenly perked up. Immediately our attention turned to you, our focus shifted to keeping you safe, making sure you are growing healthy and strong, getting everything you need. My guess is that you didn't need the banana split, but hopefully you enjoyed it as much as I did.

On a rainy Saturday, a few weeks ago, we headed to the record store to stock up on some new albums. Usually the mission involves finding a couple classics and maybe a few rarities. This trip? Our mission was stocking up for you. Criteria? What would Baby D like, and more importantly, what would Baby D like to dance to when it is Saturday morning and there are pancakes to flip and twirls to spin around the kitchen. We arrived home with an armful of recordings; Stevie Wonder, early Aretha Franklin, bluegrass, jazz, an audio recording of Walt Disney's Peter Pan, Abbey Road, and cowboy songs for kids from 1955. I suspect you will develop an eclectic taste like your Dad and I.

I am treasuring and savoring these moments of pregnancy. As anxious as I am to see your face and to touch your hands, I don't want to wish this time away. I want to remember it and savor it, enjoy it with your dad, and embrace what a miracle it is to experience this.

For all of those moments when I am wondering and hoping that you are still in there doing fine, this morning we heard you loud and clear, your heart beating so strong, so certain, almost like you were shouting, "I'm here! I'm here!" We are so lucky for you and so grateful for these glimpses of you.

Love you,
m

August 01

2011-08-01T23:59:00.006-05:00

An unforgettable night, one that I will continue to look back on and relive years from now.

Photo Credit: Charlie

Set List
1. Magical Mystery Tour (Beatles)
2. Junior's Farm (Wings)
3. All My Loving (Beatles)
4. Jet (Wings)
5. Got to Get You Into My Life (Beatles)
6. Sing the Changes (The Fireman)
7. The Night Before (Beatles)
8. Let Me Roll It (Wings)
9. Foxy Lady (Jimi Hendrix)
10. Paperback Writer (Beatles)
11. The Long and Winding Road (Beatles)
12. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five (Wings)
13. Let 'Em In (Wings)
14. Maybe I'm Amazed
15. I'm Looking Through You (Beatles)
16. And I Love Her (Beatles)
17. Blackbird (Beatles)
18. Here Today
19. Dance Tonight
20. Mrs Vandebilt (Wings)
21. Eleanor Rigby (Beatles)
22. Something (Beatles)
23. Band on the Run (Wings)
24. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Beatles)
25. Back in the U.S.S.R. (Beatles)
26. I've Got a Feeling (Beatles)
27. A Day in the Life (Beatles)
28. Give Peace a Chance (John Lennon)
29. Let It Be (Beatles)
30. Live and Let Die (Wings)
31. Hey Jude (Beatles)

Encore:
32. Lady Madonna (Beatles)
33. Birthday (Beatles)
34. Saw Her Standing There (Beatles)

Encore 2:
35. Yesterday (Beatles)
36. Helter Skelter (Beatles)
37. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End (Beatles)

July 27

2011-07-27T12:11:00.000-05:00

I predict we will be quite well fed this week.

sixty-eight

2011-07-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Mick!

Bookmarked

2011-07-18T22:00:00.001-05:00

Three links I swear you will utilize more than any others for the remainder of the summer:

1. Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee
The easiest and best iced coffee you can make at home.

2. Smoothies for Breakfast
26 healthy and delicious smoothie recipes I've been working my way through.

3. 101 Simple Meals Ready in Ten Minutes or Less
I keep this handy year round for quick dinners. So many great ideas. #43 is a favorite.

Makes Three

2011-07-18T06:40:00.005-05:00

It is hot.

We are in the depths of July and I'm looking back, as usual, and wondering where the summer has gone. What happened to June? And now August is around the corner? Luckily there are still plenty of summer weeks left. There are concerts to attend, picnics to be had, long evenings to enjoy in the backyard, ice cream to make, books to read, and dinners to grill.

Part of what has made these last few months such a whirlwind has been the most exciting development to ever happen in our lives. We are expecting a baby. This little family of two is becoming three and I am still sitting in wonder. Shock. Awe. An infinite happiness and welling up inside.

On the day we discovered our news, I had a feeling that something was different. I took the test and then got in the shower, anxiously wondering what news would greet me when I stepped out. Drying off, I glanced down at a very faint blue plus sign. Smiling, I grabbed the stick and went into the living room. Charlie looked up from his computer. What? he asked. I handed it to him. What does the plus sign mean? he asked. Positive, I said. We stared at it for a few moments, dazed and grinning, shaking our heads and hugging. We decided we needed a little more confirmation, so Charlie ran out for more tests and came home with a variety of different boxes. Five more for good measure.

It has been a surreal few months. Since finding out our news, we have had two appointments with the doctor. We saw a glimpse of our little one at six weeks, and just recently heard the whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of the heartbeat. What an incredible moment it was. For the first time I felt truly and wholly connected to this baby. To hear my own heartbeat slow and steady, and then faintly at first, then clearly the quick whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of the baby's heart, this tiny wonder working along inside me, growing and changing every minute.

I imagine this baby, the fingers and toes, the eyes, feeling the first flutters in my belly, what it will be to meet each other face to face, what our lives will be one year from this day. I think about the first few delicate months of his or her life and what a wonderful few months they have been. Great moments spent with friends and family, celebrating our anniversary, my birthday, Charlie preparing for the bar exam. I hope this baby can feel how much it is already loved. Each day Charlie lays his head on my belly and discusses the day and the future with the baby, sometimes quoting (rapping) Will Smith, "Daddy loves you, Daddy loves you" making me laugh.

These first few months have been extraordinary. I have stood by friends and family members as they've experienced pregnancy and wondered in disbelief about the incredible process of growing another human being. But being pregnant myself has taken that feeling of wonder to an entirely new level. What a beautiful and wonderful thing. Nothing short of a miracle.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

xoxo,
m

July 09

2011-07-09T23:59:00.000-05:00

It was the perfect day, one of those days when you arrive home and want to write a love letter to Chicago. Friends gathered to help Charlie and I cap off a birthday week with plenty of food, drinks, and great company. The weather couldn't have been better and I felt so loved and lucky to have everyone together. Thanks to everyone that made it!

Beach Time

2011-07-09T07:03:00.001-05:00

Today we're headed to the beach to celebrate my birthday with our friends. I can't wait! We will definitely be blasting my favorite summer jam that I've all but worn out in our house since June. Happy Saturday to you!

Hail Caesar

2011-07-08T19:40:00.002-05:00

I am trying to recall when I first discovered Caesar salad. I think it may have been back in elementary school at my friend Jessica's house. Jessica's house was pretty much paradise when I was a kid because she had all of the latest toys, TWO twin beds (which meant you got your own bed when you slept over), and a television in her room (where we watched the Mickey Mouse Club and Kids Incorporated religiously). Her mom also made these twice baked potatoes which perfectly defined my idea of heaven at age 8.

It must have been Jessica's mom Marilyn who introduced me to Caesar salad. Salads in our house were simple things comprised mainly of iceberg lettuce, sliced carrots, and French dressing. I sadly had a deep and stubborn aversion to vegetables at this age and only ate them when forced. I didn't count salad as a vegetable because it was pretty bland and safe. Caesar salad though was a treat. Fancy romaine lettuce, croutons, cheese, and dressing? Yes please!

In the last week I got a real taste for Caesar salad and was on the hunt for an egg yolk-free, low-fat, and delicious Caesar dressing. Leave it to America's Test Kitchen to save the day. This dressing is thinner than a traditional Caesar, but tastes just the same and includes 200 less calories per serving. Not to shabby eh?

We traded out chicken for salmon and traditional croutons for whole-wheat, garlic ones. You're left with a grown-up version of that nostalgic salad you love.

Grown-Up Caesar Salad
Serves 2

Salad & Salmon
1 bunch romaine lettuce
1-2 ounces Parmesan cheese
1 whole-wheat baugette
1 clove of garlic
A handful of cherry tomatoes (optional)
2 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper
2 salmon fillets
Caesar dressing (recipe follows below)

Caesar Dressing
America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook

Note: If you haven't bought anchovies before, never fear. Pick up a little jar of oil packed ones and store them in your fridge. They are really necessary to this recipe and round out the flavors in the dressing. They are the perfect salty addition to sauces and dressings and no one will be the wiser when they are included.

1/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 anchovy fillets, rinsed and minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 ounce)

Caesar Dressing Directions
Puree the buttermilk, lemon juice, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire, anchovies, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a food processor or blender until smooth, about 30 seconds. With the motor running, add the oil in a steady stream until incorporated. Transfer dressing to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan. Makes about 3/4 cup. Dressing will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days. 70 calories per 1.5 tablespoons.

Salad Directions
1. Begin with the croutons. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Slice off a quarter of the baguette and slice the bread length wise. Lay the bread flat and rub with the garlic clove. Slice into cubes and toss with one tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Pop into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the croutons are dry and toasty. Cool pan on a rack and set aside.

3. While your croutons are baking mix up your dressing according to the directions above.

4. After your croutons are baked, turn your oven down to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and place the salmon fillets skin side down. Brush with the remaining tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and bake for 14-18 minutes.

5. While the salmon is cooking, wash your lettuce. Once your salmon is out of the oven, finish putting the salad together. Top the lettuce with a handful of croutons, tomatoes, the Parmesan, and drizzle with a couple tablespoons of dressing. Gently mix the salad and divide between two plates. Top each plate with the salmon, an extra sprinkling of Parmesan, and pepper. Enjoy!

July 08

2011-07-08T06:31:00.000-05:00

Remember these? I wondered if I'd remember how to make them, but apparently these skills don't disappear.

bemo gets older

2011-07-07T18:12:00.003-05:00

Dear Brett,

You are now twenty-two, which means I must be nearing old age and becoming out of touch. You probably don't remember much from age two as you are pictured above. This is probably a good thing because I was a pretty bossy older sister. At this age you still did everything I asked you to, which may or may not have included dressing you up in dance costumes, making you play school, locking you out of the house, and ordering you around at all times and in all places. You had blond hair! You also adored camouflage pajamas, The Brave Little Toaster, and Matchbox cars. You carried a heavy backpack with you everywhere, overflowing with your beloved blanket, action figures, a pile of rocks, possibly a bag of dirt, and a large sword, which you would wield and wave at anyone that tried to get into your backpack. Hard to believe that we shared a room, but we did and I would read books to you every night before bed.

Things have changed and we have grown up, moved out on our own. I admire you for many reasons and it's been exciting for me to see you coming into your own, making your way in the world and pursuing what makes you happy. You manage to keep two jobs and go to school, all while maintaining good grades and a social life. I feel fortunate that you and Jake are not only my brothers, but also some of my best friends. I am thankful for a lot of things, but mostly

for time at the cabin
for weekends in Chicago
for farkle and cards
for Harry and Charlie and liquefied muffin
for Team Dougie
for dance parties and breaking out the jersey
for Boat Mixes
for birthdays a day apart
for quiet afternoons fishing
for phone calls, long talks, and catching up
for the Christmas season
for buying your first suit and becoming a professional
for 12-mile runs in the rain
for Bernie
for epic karaoke evenings
for Kant and Hegel
for wise guise
for the Badgers
for Ni

I am proud of the man you've become and we all feel lucky for you. I can't wait to see all of the things you will do in the coming years. You're well on your way and there are so many good moments ahead. Do good, be good. Enjoy this birthday, be safe, and I'll see you soon.

Love,
M

July 07

2011-07-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm going to argue that crispy kale might beat out popcorn for the perfect crunchy snack. Need the recipe? Click here.

July 06

2011-07-06T22:31:00.000-05:00

We had a few minutes before dinner to stroll through the park. A drunk bum admired us and said he wished he could take a picture. Then we savored an incredible meal. Good memories to keep.

July 05

2011-07-05T19:58:00.001-05:00

Spoiled good and rotten every year. Opening these boxes is like Christmas morning.

July 04

2011-07-04T14:53:00.001-05:00

"Then, in that hour of deliverance, my heart spoke. Does not such a country, and such defenders of their country, deserve a song?" -Francis Scott Key

July 03

2011-07-03T22:50:00.000-05:00

Walking towards his house, I was overwhelmed thinking about how good all of this is.

July 02

2011-07-02T21:46:00.000-05:00

The possibilities were endless. We tasted and discussed, choosing ingredients for a grand feast.

July 01

2011-07-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

A moment to linger and enjoy before the sun begins to set.

tomorrow it will be six years

2011-06-24T07:00:00.003-05:00

Dear Charlie,

Tomorrow is our six year anniversary. Can you believe we've known each other for almost ten years?

Thank you for these years. They have been the best in my life.

Thank you for making me laugh and our million and two bizarre jokes that only we find funny.

Thank you for your spontaneity, for being laid back, for your easy smile.

Thank you for letting me curl my feet under your legs when I'm cold.

And doing the chores I loathe.

Thank you for going to the grocery store when I've forgotten things.

Thank you for the fiction class that brought us together.

Thank you for grabbing my hand when we cross the street.

Thank you for making me feel beautiful and like there will never be enough hours in the day or years together.

Thank you for making the best coffee and poached eggs I've ever tasted.

Thank you for afternoons spent record or book shopping. They are my favorites.

Thank you for working so hard and caring so much for your community. You inspire me to do more and to be better.

Thank you for always doing the driving and never complaining when I sing Steely Dan.

Thank you for writing me perfect letters. You've always been able to say things best.

Thank you for always making a bad day good and finding new ways to make me laugh.

And for your crooked toes.

Thank you for knowing how to play early 90's hits on the guitar.

Thank you for movie nights when we open a bottle of wine and watch a double feature.

Thank you for allowing me to be 100% wholly myself.

Thank you for weekend mornings and long breakfasts. Even if you steal the crossword puzzle.

Thank you for your green thumb.

Thank you for your love of zip ties and quick fixes.

Thank you for our trips and travel adventures. I can't wait for the next one.

Thank you for saving mementos from our past.

Thank you for birthday surprises.

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and the way you care for every person in our family.

Thank you for writing stories. They are the greatest and someday you'll be famous.

Thank you for playing tennis with me and allowing me to win a few games.

Thank you for Saturday rounds of Scrabble and cribbage.

Thank you for loving to read.

Thank you for letting me yell and shout while watching sports.

Thank you for going to Mizzou so we could share so many wonderful college memories.

Thank you for your focus and determination to finish what you start.

Thank you in advance for the father you will be. You are going to be amazing. I am so happy that we get to create a family of our own together.

Thank you for grilling dinners in the summer.

Thank you for inspiring me and keeping me motivated to run the marathon.

Thank you for finishing it with me.

Thank you for Baltimore. For nights at the Brewer's Art, LP Steamers, for Thornbury, and Hampden.

Thank you for the gray hairs you are sporting and reminding me that we get to grow old together.

Thank you for your family.

Thank you for the notes you hide for me around the house.

Thank you for still making my heart skip a beat when I see you in a crowd.

Thank you for shuttling me here and there when the bus is slow.

Thank you for quiet Saturdays when it is just you and me.

Thank you for dinners around the city when we lose track of time and talk until the place clears out.

Thank you for camping trips in rural Missouri.

Thank you for letting cereal or scrambled eggs stand in for dinner when I don't feel like cooking.

Thank you for your dancing skills, especially your Harlem Shake.

Thank you for picking me up from the airport when I return from a trip.

Thank you for introducing me to Braum's chocolate malts.

Thank you for trusting my sense of direction.

Thank you for our first concert (Wilco) and the dozens of shows we've seen since.

Thank you for singing Sister Christian with wild abandon.

Thank you for epic trips to New York City.

Thank you for turning me on to biscuits and gravy and bourbon, although never enjoyed together.

Thank your for being from a small town.

Thank you for being so ticklish and your deep belly laughs.

Thank you for esta perpetua.

Thank you for always keeping an open mind.

Thank you for checking on the house when there are strange noises in the night.

Thank you for taking on challenges.

Thank you for knowing all of the words to Joe Tex - I Gotcha and singing it and dancing around the house.

Thank you for your on demand Shrek impressions.

Thank you for our New Year's Day tradition of recorded interviews.

Thank you for hilarious hours spent people watching in the airport.

Thank you for occasionally laughing in your sleep, even if it kind of creeps me out.

Thank you for being my partner and equal in marriage. We make decisions together and trust each other. I will never take that for granted.

Thank you for always saving me a seat.

Thank you for your kisses.

Thank you for helping me find missing things.

Thank you for always listening and knowing just what I need to hear.

Thank you for afternoons at the art museum.

Thank you for working a second job so you could come to London when I studied abroad. Thank you for Waheb, hummus lunches, tall cans of Boddington's, the 40 quid won at Brighton Pier, the Liverpool homeless shelter, the paper boats of chips and curry.

Thank you for greeting me with a hug when you return home.

Thank you for punchy. Thank you for bubala.

Thank you for being 100% wholly yourself.

Thank you for being by my side. Always, always, always.

I can't wait for to see what the next six (and seventy) years bring.

Love,
M

Ps. Six songs for six years.

Morning Walk

2011-06-23T17:20:00.000-05:00

Part of me expected to see a ship full of pirates or a whale to emerge from the fog.

this summer

2011-06-21T06:15:00.006-05:00

1. ~~take walks at dusk.~~

2. make ice cream.

3. ~~celebrate six years of marriage.~~

5. ~~watch our garden grow.~~

6. ~~visit family.~~

7. ~~play board games.~~

8. ~~attend pitchfork.~~

9. make some jam.

10. ~~watch fireworks.~~

11. see a movie in the park.

12. ~~celebrate post-bar exam.~~

13. ~~go swimming.~~

14. ~~declutter and organize.~~

15. go one week without spending any money.

16. ~~try some new recipes on the grill.~~

17. ~~r&r at the cabin.~~

18. ~~take advantage of free concerts in Millennium Park.~~

19. run along the lakefront.

20. ~~take a road trip.~~

21. ~~make friendship bracelets.~~

22. ~~celebrate birthdays and weddings.~~

23. take a photo everyday in July.

24. pick strawberries.

25. draw with sidewalk chalk.

26. ~~drink a milkshake.~~

27. ~~send a friend a surprise package.~~

28. build a sandcastle.

29. ~~make a new summer mix.~~

30. ~~listen to records.~~

31. ~~create a new summer sipping drink.~~

32. buy a popsicle from the ice cream truck.

33. make sun prints.

34. write a new story.

35. read a classic.

36. host a watermelon eating contest.

37. water balloon fight.

38. sit around a bonfire.

39. go on picnics.

40. peruse antique stores.

41. attend a baseball game.

42. ~~make pesto.~~

43. donate some books.

44. shop in Chinatown.

45. pick wildflowers.

What's on your list?

Essential

2011-06-17T06:35:00.001-05:00

Berry season has finally arrived in Chicago, which means we are putting them on everything we eat. Can you really go wrong with a handful of beautiful blueberries or raspberries? And for that matter, can you go wrong with a plateful of buttermilk pancakes and a cup of coffee? Combine the berries and the pancakes and you have the perfect weekend breakfast (or Thursday night comfort dinner as we are occasionally inclined).

Everyone needs a pancake recipe they can rely on. This is ours. It has never failed us and still gives you room to be flexible. We've recently been experimenting with a variety of different flours such as oat, rye, white whole-wheat, whole-wheat pastry flour. Feel free to sub a flour of your choice or a combination of two or three in this recipe. Oat, rye, and whole-wheat pastry flour make a great combination. Or stick with being a purist and go for all-purpose. Regardless of the combination you choose, you won't regret it.

If you aren't in the habit of buying buttermilk, I recommend picking some up. It's such a handy, low-fat ingredient to have on hand. If you don't use it often, measuring 2 cups of buttermilk into Ziploc bags, seal, and lay flat in your freezer. Then simply thaw and use when you need it. Alternatively, you can pour the measured buttermilk into ice cube trays, freeze, and then pop them into a bag when they are frozen.

Buttermilk Pancakes
Adapted from Marion Cunningham
Serves 4

2 cups of buttermilk
2 eggs
6 tablespoons of butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 handfuls of berries

Put the buttermilk, egg, and melted butter in a mixing bowl. Stir briskly until the mixture is smooth and blended.

Stir flour, salt, and baking soda together in a small bowl so they are well blended. Gently stir in the berries, coating them with the flour mixture. Stir into the buttermilk mixture only until the dry ingredients are moistened –leave the lumps.

Heat a skillet or griddle to medium hot (375 on an electric griddle). Grease lightly and spoon about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake. Spread the batter with a back of a spoon to thin a little. Cook until a few bubbles break on top. Turn the pancake over and cook briefly. Keep pancakes warm until enough are cooked to serve.

Enjoy with (REAL) maple syrup.

For Rye Pancakes: Use 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup rye flour.

For Whole-Wheat Pancakes: Use 1 cup whole-wheat flour and 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour.

For Oat & Rye Pancakes: Use 1 cup whole-wheat (or whole-wheat pastry flour), 1/4 cup oat flour, and 1/4 cup rye flour.

If you're interested in experimenting with different flours, and you don't have fantastic bulk bins available at your grocery store, I highly recommend checking out Bob's Red Mill. They offer a variety of great flours that are available at most grocery stores. Simply seal the flour in a bag and store in your freezer to keep fresh for months.

Notes from the Cabin

2011-06-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

a talented pair

2011-06-02T07:47:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to share this with you for awhile. Prepare to get inspired. Our friends Jesse and Jen are a fantastic married pair living in Minneapolis, friends who continue to raise the bar in all artistic endeavors. If you are in need of a visual storyteller, Jesse is your man. Click here to check out his site. Well done, friend.

al fresco

2011-06-02T05:05:00.002-05:00

It is the best part of summer.
The very best part.
Motown on the stereo.
A beautiful dinner.
Cold drinks.
Laughs.
Talking until the sun goes down.

Tangerine Sky

2011-06-01T00:00:00.002-05:00

While cooking dinner a few nights ago, we gazed out the window and wondered if the rapture had arrived slightly delayed in the form of a hazy and surreal orange sky. There was an eerie moment of stillness and then the clouds opened up to massive amounts of rain and hail. Luckily the storm passed quickly and we were not swallowed up into the ground.

I am still shocked by the images coming out of Joplin, Missouri. What a horrific and unimaginable tragedy. Sending prayers and strength to the families continuing to dig out, putting their lives back together.

June seems to be a month of wonderful possibility. Summer has arrived. There are concerts to attend, picnics to enjoy, boat rides and canoeing to fill lazy days, cocktails to drink, runs to sweat out on the lakefront, books to read in the backyard, and dinners to grill. Speaking of dinners, I've added a handy feature to the blog that may prove useful to many of you. If you look to the right, at the top of the sidebar, you will see a link to a recipe index. By clicking the recipe index, you will be led to a handy page with all of the recipes from the blog in one place. As I post recipes, this page will be updated, so keep it bookmarked for an easy way to locate your favorite, go-to recipes.

Wishing you a bright, sunny, hold-nothing-back June!

The Graduation

2011-05-31T20:15:00.010-05:00

May, where did you go?

I blinked and you were gone. Last time I looked it was April, the snow was melting and we were daydreaming of summer. And then it was 90 degrees yesterday and we sweat it out around the city wondering where spring was and how we missed it.

It has been an extraordinary month for many reasons. Most notably, Charlie graduated from law school.

Years of hard work and sacrifice culminated in an incredible weekend in the city celebrating with our families and friends. People traveled for miles to join us in an unforgettable weekend of toasting, eating, and celebrating Charlie.

We celebrated with a massive barbecue that no rain or wind could hinder. We put away dozens of cupcakes and brats, finished off a large keg, and enjoyed an unforgettable bourbon tasting.

The barbecue finished as most DeVore barbecues do, with a gang of friends, some massive balloons, and a large dance party.

The weekend made me eternally grateful for all of the wonderful people in our lives. To all of our family and friends wherever you may be, I count myself lucky for you everyday. You are a part of us and remind us to never take a moment for granted. I cherish our time together and I am so excited for the summer and all of the adventures the months ahead will bring.

*My apologies for the less than stellar quality of these photos. I was less concerned with getting a good shot and more concerned with the celebrating!

Bobby D

2011-05-24T07:07:00.001-05:00

Happy 70th Birthday Bob.

image via Life

May 07

2011-05-07T08:00:00.004-05:00

A small pleasure, the sun is out.

finish line

2011-05-06T05:18:00.001-05:00

This weekend:

watching the derby, drinking mint juleps
law school is over! let the celebrating begin!
stringing lights
Inside Job
baking and prepping for a crowd
Swamplandia
bulk shopping

image via inside my brain

May 05

2011-05-05T23:45:00.002-05:00

I predict a wonderful summer.

May 03

2011-05-03T05:55:00.000-05:00

Embarking on the next chapter, everything seems possible.

Perspective

2011-05-02T05:30:00.000-05:00

I can't think of better advice.

Ira

2011-05-01T06:30:00.001-05:00

via what made me look

good idea

2011-04-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

April Closes

2011-04-29T06:44:00.004-05:00

This weekend:

royal wedding (ps. don't you want to make this cake?)
The Hot L Baltimore
party planning
declutter
Gnocchi with Ramps
The Fighter
Southport Grocery & Cafe

image via paperless post

escape

2011-04-28T05:45:00.000-05:00

I recently started painting again.

It had been a long time since I'd picked up the brush and I was itching to reconnect again. For me, painting is therapeutic in a way that other things are not. It allows for total escape. The left side of my brain takes a rest, while the right side takes over and breaks the world into shapes and colors. I am shutoff and oblivious to my surroundings. My mind is quiet. Everything is quiet. And hours later I resurface again, look at my work critically (sometimes too critically), wash brushes, and return to regular life. It is a great release.

These hours are blissfully quiet, ones I have very much missed. In early January, with my dear friend Megan's birthday approaching, I decided to finally fulfill her request of receiving a painting and set about painting her son Henry. It's not a perfect likeness of him, but I am satisfied with the finished result. I hope she enjoys. I worked from a photograph and really enjoyed seeing little bits of him revealed each day.

Working on this project was a good reminder that there is always time for the things I truly enjoy. It is only a matter of making time. I don't need the perfect studio with the perfect light. Only a table, some music, some hours. Deadlines are also good. I should have set a more rigorous one with this painting.

I have been contemplating a portrait series of my family and maybe this piece will be the kick I need to get moving again.

Herzog

2011-04-27T06:30:00.001-05:00

can't wait to see

Common Threads

2011-04-26T07:45:00.002-05:00

For the past year I have been volunteering for an organization called Common Threads. Every Monday, I, along with my fellow volunteers and our chef Blanca, work together to cook a meal with a group of amazing elementary students. It has been such a rewarding and fantastic time, especially seeing the kids' skills and tastes expanding each week. Our kids are superstars. They interpret recipes, build sauces, and confidently chop onions and garlic with ease. Our spring session ended last night and though bittersweet, I think the kids had a great experience and will take a lot away from the classes. I'm going to miss seeing them each week.

Here's one of my favorite recipes we made last semester for Brazil week:

Tomate ea Caldeirada de Peixe (Tomato & Fish Stew)

8 oz piece, skinless white fish such as Tilapia, cut in medium dice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
½ red bell pepper, medium dice
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped in medium dice
2 large tomatoes, chopped in medium dice
1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 1/2 limes, juiced
3 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a medium size bowl, toss together the lime juice and the fish and allow to marinate for about 20 minutes.

2. In a large soup pot, heat up the olive oil until it is shimmering. Add the onions and red bell peppers and sauté for about 8 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and allow them to cook for another 4 minutes.

3. Add the garlic and chili flakes and toast for just one minute.

4. Add the tomatoes and tomatoes sauce and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken stock and allow the vegetables to become soft in the broth, especially the sweet potatoes.

5. Make sure the sweet potatoes are almost softened and then add the fish, lime juice marinade, parsley and cilantro. The fish won’t need much time to cook, just enough time to warm through. Season to taste.

6. Serve with sauteed kale and brown rice or polenta. Enjoy!

Easterly

2011-04-22T16:45:00.001-05:00

Francoise Hardy, 1965
via nineteeneighty

This weekend:

Sense and Sensibility
Gasland
Dyeing eggs
Mona's fried chicken and raviolis
Peep smores
Easter ham
The National & Arcade Fire

Symmetry

2011-04-19T06:37:00.000-05:00

I love Radiolab.

pause

2011-04-18T06:15:00.001-05:00

via blackbook

bemo's kitchen

2011-04-17T22:27:00.004-05:00

Yesterday afternoon my brothers called from the grocery store needing a little dinner inspiration. They decided to make enchiladas and with a little help from roommate Cam, chronicled their dinner adventure. Good job, guys.

eenie meenie miney moe

2011-04-16T13:00:00.002-05:00

This morning we rose early and headed downtown to check out the newly opened doughnut shop, The Doughnut Vault. Ooh wee, sweet success! Word of rapid sellouts got us there when they opened and we lined up with the 20 or so other early risers ready for doughnuts and coffee. I'm happy to say that despite waiting in the rain, the doughnuts did not disappoint.

We decided to try one of each. Gingerbread, chocolate, chestnut, pistachio, vanilla, and old-fashioned. My favorites were the gingerbread and chocolate. Still warm, we enjoyed bites of each doughnut on a quiet stoop before taking a long stroll around the city.

I highly recommend stopping in!

The Doughnut Vault
401 1/2 N Franklin
Chicago, Illinois 60654

middle month

2011-04-15T18:00:00.003-05:00

John Marin. The Red Sun-Brooklyn Bridge (detail), 1922. Alfred Stieglitz Collection.

This weekend:

forget what you thought

2011-04-14T22:47:00.004-05:00

For the past couple years I've featured recipes to replace staple items you typically purchase from the grocery store. In particular, I'm thinking of recipes for bread, granola, soup, tomato sauce, and pizza. I have a few more I'd like to share with you and today we're talking yogurt. Yep. I said yogurt.

I know what you're thinking. When I first thought about making homemade yogurt, I imagined a patchouli scented kitchen, crowded with hanging plants and meowing cats, and a crazy hippie lady stirring up strange batches of stinky yogurt. I swear that's not me. At least not yet.

The idea of making yogurt, honest to goodness yogurt, seemed like it would be a crazy complicated process. And even if you could make it at home, the texture and the flavor would never match up to store-bought. This is what I thought. And then last May I visited my friend Anna and she blew me away with an incredible breakfast of early season strawberries and the most wonderful homemade yogurt I'd ever tasted. Anna convinced me I could make it myself and thus began months of experimenting in the kitchen and trying to make yogurt.

Before I started making yogurt, I was a big fan of Fage (that's pronounced fa-yeh) Greek yogurt. My only issues with Fage? It's not organic. It also contains only two of those good for your body active cultures. Plus it's a little expensive. So my goal? Make an affordable, organic, homemade yogurt with good active cultures. And if possible, achieve a similar texture to Fage.

After a lot of experimenting, trying different cooking methods and times, I've come up with good results.

There are a lot of recipes for homemade yogurt on the Internet, most of them way too complicated and many of them inconsistent. I wanted a simple process with great results, one I could make on a weekly basis.

I started by using my slow-cooker. This gave me mixed and inconsistent results. Sometimes I had a great batch, sometimes it wouldn't come together and would be a soupy mess. Some recipes recommend using your oven on a low temperature or heating the milk and wrapping your pan in towels or putting it in a cooler. After many tries and inconsistent results, I decided to purchase a yogurt maker. Lucky for me, I received one for Christmas and immediately set about making yogurt every week.

If you're interested in making homemade yogurt, but don't have an interest in purchasing a yogurt maker, simply google homemade yogurt and you'll find a million recipes to help you get started. But if you love yogurt, eat it on a weekly basis, and want to make your own, I can't recommend purchasing a yogurt maker enough. If you're going to buy a yogurt maker, check out the Cuisipro Donvier Electronic Yogurt Maker. After two months of making yogurt at home, this machine pays for itself. So worth it.

And this is how easy it is when you have a machine:

Homemade Yogurt
(If you like thinner yogurt, this recipe makes six cups of yogurt. If you like thicker yogurt, about three cups.)

Ingredients
- 1 quart of whole or low-fat organic milk (I use 1% or 2%. Do not use skim milk, unless you want to add powdered milk.)

- starter at room temperature (for your first batch you'll need 1-2 heaping tablespoons of store-bought yogurt. Once you have a batch made, you can just use a bit of your previous batch of yogurt for your starter.)

Steps
1. Pour the milk into a 2-quart saucepan (for stove top) or 4-cup glass measuring cup (for microwave). Heat milk on medium-low, stirring occasionally. If heating in the microwave, cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring every two minutes and checking the temperature at 6 minutes. Temperature of the milk should be 185-195 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Confirm the milk has reached the right temperature and remove from heat. Let milk cool until it has reached 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit. This will take about 20 minutes. You can speed the process along by stirring occasionally or putting the saucepan/measuring cup in an ice bath.

3. Once the milk has reached the correct temperature, fill one of the jars with milk. Add the starter yogurt to this cup and stir well. Pour this cup back into the rest of the milk and stir well.

4. Pour the milk equally into the jars, snap on the lids, and place the jars in the yogurt maker. Place the cover over the jars and plug in the machine. Set the desired amount of cooking time. I recommend 8 hours for your first batch. You can experiment with longer cooking times. For a thicker, more flavorful yogurt, you'll want a longer cooking time. We usually cook ours for 10-11 hours. Press the start button and leave the machine.

5. When the yogurt is done, transfer the cups from the machine to the refrigerator and cool for 4-6 hours.

6. If you like thinner yogurt, go ahead and enjoy! Pop a jar into your lunch bag for work, or add a little granola and enjoy some breakfast. If you like thicker yogurt continue to step 7.

7. After your yogurt has chilled for 4-6 hours, you can pour the yogurt into a bowl lined with cheesecloth and leave for 8-24 hours. For me, using cheesecloth each week seemed wasteful, so I purchased a reusable strainer that I swear, makes the best Greek yogurt you've ever had in your life. Simply pour your yogurt into the strainer, cover, and leave in the fridge for 8-24 hours.

Then using a spatula, scrape your thick, lovely yogurt into a bowl and add back in some of the drained liquid (whey) until you reach your perfect consistency. I usually add a few spoonfuls back in. And don't toss that remaining whey! It's super healthy stuff. Mix it into smoothies, a glass of juice, or soup to capture those nutrients. Your homemade yogurt will keep about 10 days.

That's it! Easy peasy. Yogurt machine, thermometer, strainer, milk, yogurt. It is so easy and cheap to make yourself, I hope you'll try it!

Yogurt Tips
- I think Stoneyfield's organic low-fat plain yogurt makes a terrific starter for your first batch. Stoneyfield's yogurt includes six active live cultures. I've heard Danon works well too.

- Never use expired yogurt for your starter. Make sure the yogurt you purchase for your starter, or the bit you use from your previous batch is fresh. If you use expired starter, the yogurt will not come together properly.

- Heating the milk for too long or at too high a temperature will produce low quality yogurt. Just be sure to stir and check the temperature as you heat the milk.

Not a fan of plain yogurt? Here are some suggestions for flavoring your completed yogurt. Stir in a little:
- vanilla extract
- maple syrup
- agave nectar
- honey
- jam (our favorite jam to mix in is Bonne Maman cherry preserves)
- fresh fruit

If you start making your own yogurt, I'd love to hear about it! Special thanks to Anna for getting me started!

good song, good wednesday

2011-04-13T06:45:00.000-05:00

four weeks and growing

2011-04-11T19:00:00.002-05:00

Our friends Brendan and Tiff recently welcomed little Anna into the world. As expected, she is pure perfection; beautiful, teeny, lovely, and an instant charmer. It is wonderful to see our friends become parents. They are already naturals and it's hard to imagine a time when they didn't have Anna in their arms. Anna, you are one lucky girl. We can't wait to watch you grow!

rainy weekend

2011-04-08T07:20:00.003-05:00

Models in Window, New York, 1960
photo via pasteled

This weekend:

steppenwolf
meeting miss anna barker
clean and organize
the weeknd record on repeat
mail packages
animal kingdom
hello, baltimore

brass tacks

2011-04-06T07:00:00.003-05:00

Our apartment is not large. We have very little storage and recently I've felt a little overwhelmed by our stuff. We've acquired a great deal since moving here and we are now in need of a serious purge. Finagling a roll of paper towels from the mile-high stack of stuff in our laundry area, only to get pelted by pillows, blankets, and our humidifier, was the last straw. Our stuff is getting a major overhaul. I've begun the process of going through each room and sorting our things into piles. This applies to everything; shoes, clothes, books, kitchen stuff, everything! And let me tell you, I already feel lighter!

The Plan

- Assess each room and round up all items to sell, donate, or toss.
Organize remaining items.

- Only purchase items for our home that we truly need and love.
We've tried to cut spending on the little trifles that tend to make their way to our basket no matter where we are shopping. You know what I'm talking about, those cheap impulse buys like the $12 sunglasses from Target, or the DVD on the end cap for $5. Inevitably 20 minutes later you're at the checkout wondering how you spent that extra $60. I wish I could remember which blog I read it on, but a few months ago I found a great spending rule. For items you are tempted to buy that you truly don't need and cost less than $100, ask yourself, "Would I spend $100 on this?" If the answer is no, slowly walk away and don't make the purchase. For items costing more than $100, adjust your amounts to $200, $300, and so on. Then you can spend that extra $60 on something you really love. This has been a great way to cut down on unnecessary purchases.

- Keep fashion purchases limited to classic items I love.
Buy pieces that won't go out of style, the best quality I can afford. If I can't afford it, save for it. Don't settle for something else if I can't find what I want. Buy quality items that will last forever.

It feels good to have a plan. What are your tips for saving and decluttering?

Recreating the Impossible

2011-04-04T05:45:00.004-05:00

We need to talk.

Remember when I mentioned Peter Reinhart's bagels and linked the recipe on Friday? Well this is what came out of our kitchen Sunday morning.

A word about bagels: so many bagels get it wrong. Like really wrong. Most bagels are dry, bready things rather than what they should be. Living in Baltimore we were spoiled by Goldberg's and made the trip to Pikesville for big paper bags of bagels at least once every couple weeks. Since moving to Chicago I can count on one hand how many bagels I've eaten. It is impossible to get a proper bagel here.

So when I read Luisa's convincing post on just how easy Reinhart's recipe was, I decided we should probably give it a go. This recipe has been around the blogs for years and I'm kicking myself for not trying it sooner. I just always assumed bagels had to be near impossible to recreate in the home kitchen. I'm happy to admit I'm wrong if it means eating these for breakfast.

First, these bagels require little more than a few pantry staples. Second, they are EASY. Seriously. By the time the coffee was done, these bagels were cooling on the counter and ready to be devoured. If you can measure flour and wash dishes, you can make this recipe. And once you take a bite of your first one, you'll be looking for your next excuse to make them again. The hardest part of this recipe? Waiting for them to cool.

Get going. Make these now and report back.

Bagels
Makes 6 to 8 bagels

3 1/2 cups (1 pound) unbleached flour (bread or all-purpose)
3 teaspoons salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon instant yeast
1 tablespoon honey or barley malt syrup, if you've got it
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon baking soda
Poppy or sesame seeds (We didn't have any sesame seeds or rehydrated dried minced garlic or onions in the house, but you can bet next time we make these I will have some on hand to top the bagels before baking them.)

THE NIGHT BEFORE BAKING

1. By hand, mix the flour, 2 teaspoons salt, the yeast, honey and the water until the ingredients form a stiff, coarse ball of dough (about 3 minutes). If necessary, add a little more water. Let the dough rest 5 minutes.

2. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until the dough feels stiff yet supple, with a satiny, slightly tacky feel, 2 to 3 minutes. If the dough seems too soft or too tacky, sprinkle over just enough flour as needed.

3. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to several hours. Keep in mind that the bagels must be shaped before proofing overnight.

4. When ready to shape the bagels, line a baking sheet with lightly greased parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

5. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it into 6 to 8 equal pieces. Form each piece into a loose, round ball by rolling it on a clean, dry work surface with a cupped hand; do not use any flour on the surface. If the dough slides around and won't ball up, wipe the work surface with a damp paper towel and try again - the slight amount of moisture will provide enough "bite" for the dough to form a ball. When each piece has been formed into a ball, you are ready to shape the bagels.

6. Using your hands and a fair amount of pressure, roll each dough ball into a "rope" 8 to 10 inches long. (Moisten the work surface with a damp paper towel, if necessary, to get the necessary bite or friction). Slightly taper the rope at the ends so that they are thinner than the middle. Place one end of the dough between your thumb and forefinger and wrap it around your hand until the ends overlap in your palm; they should overlap by about 2 inches. Squeeze the overlapping ends together and then press the joined ends into the work surface, rolling them back and forth a few times until they are completely sealed.

7. Remove the dough from your hand and squeeze as necessary to even out the thickness so that there is a 2-inch hole in the center. Place the bagel on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the other pieces. Lightly wipe the bagels with oil, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.

THE MORNING OF BAKING

8. Remove the bagels from the refrigerator 90 minutes before you plan to bake them. Fill a large stockpot with 3 quarts of water (be sure the water is at least 4 inches deep), cover with a lid, and slowly bring the water to a boil. When it comes to a boil, add the remaining teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda, reduce the heat and simmer with the lid on.

9. Thirty minutes before baking, heat the oven to 500 degrees.

10. Test the bagels by placing one in a bowl of cold water. If it sinks and doesn't float to the surface, return it to the sheet, wait 15 minutes and then test it again. When one bagel passes the float test, they are ready for the pot.

11. Gently lift each bagel and drop it into the simmering water. Add as many as will comfortably fit in the pot. After 1 minute, use a slotted spoon to flip each bagel over. Poach for an extra 30 seconds. Using the slotted spoon, remove each bagel and return it to the lined baking sheet. Continue until all the bagels have been poached. Generously sprinkle each bagel with a topping.

12. Place the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the heat to 450 degrees. Bake for 8 minutes and then rotate the sheet (if using two sheets, also switch their positions). Check the underside of the bagels. If they are getting too dark, place another sheet under the baking sheet. Bake until the bagels are golden brown, an additional 8 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer the bagels to a rack for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Leftover bagels keep in the refrigerator for a week or in the freezer in a Ziploc bag for 3-4 weeks. Thaw in the fridge overnight before you want to toast them.

good advice

2011-04-03T00:02:00.001-05:00

via e.p. cutler

this spring

2011-04-02T13:36:00.015-05:00

1. ~~enjoy long runs outside~~.

2. paint some eggs.

3. ~~stew~~ ~~rhubarb.~~

4. ~~go on the first picnic of the season~~.

5. ~~wear spring dresses.~~

6. ~~attend the farmer's market~~.

7. ~~plant the porch garden.~~

8. ~~see the Uta Barth exhibit.~~

9. hike at starved rock.

10. ~~paint nails bright pink.~~

11. ~~enjoy my favorite, ranunculus.~~

12. ~~plan a barbecue.~~

13. ~~get inspired with my recent envelope of pencils.~~

14. ~~enjoy the flowering trees.~~

15. read long books in the backyard.

16. explore a new part of the city.

17. ~~watch a baseball game.~~

18. ~~canoe at the cabin.~~

19. make some sorbet.

20. ~~nap with the windows open.~~

21. ~~enjoy tacos and horchata in the sunshine at big star.~~

22. paint a new portrait.

23. ~~cook spring recipes.~~

24. ~~attend the modern vintage market on Randolph Street.~~

25. ~~eat dinners outside.~~

26. ~~fire up the grill.~~

27. ~~spring clean the house.~~

28. play tennis in Humboldt Park.

29. ~~walk along the lakefront.~~

30. ~~drink iced tea with fresh mint.~~

this weekend

2011-04-01T05:45:00.002-05:00

March, 2008

This weekend:

Green Zebra
The Transit of Venus
first run of the year along the lake
changing out the winter wardrobe
Pete Reinhart's bagels
13th of Paris

Swoon

2011-03-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

photo via Happy Accident

a break

2011-03-29T07:30:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I need to step away from this space to better appreciate it.

March has been a restorative month. It's been one of those months where I've made an effort to shutdown the computer at the end of the work day and focus my energies on finishing the miscellaneous projects on my desk and the stack of books near the bed. We've been cooking a lot and enjoying the turn from winter squashes and root vegetables to the bright greens of spring, delicate mushrooms, herbs, and lettuce.

Charlie recently enjoyed a two-week spring break and rather than getting away this year, we stuck close to home, saved some money, made plans, and relaxed. Recently we've made an effort to go to bed earlier and to wake up earlier each day. This, and a general cutback on drinking and spending, has made such an indescribable difference in the way I feel each day. How wonderful to wake up alert, restored, and ready for the day. It's been good to have a few weeks to take stock and quiet my mind. Spring cleaning for the brain.

I am anxious for it to finally feel like spring here in Chicago. It's been unseasonably cold and we are due for a proper warm up that actually sticks around.

I hope your March has been just as restful. Here's to a bountiful and wonderful spring!

Ps. Charlie cooked this recipe for us last week and it was pure perfection. You should make it too.

warming trend

2011-03-18T08:30:00.001-05:00

I apologize for the radio silence here. I'm not really sure where the first two weeks of March went, but here we are, the middle of the month with spring very near. The weather is finally warming, reminding us that the long days of summer are ahead.

This week as I was putting away groceries, I made a chance discovery in the freezer. Hidden away in the corner were two forgotten bags of fresh, shredded zucchini. Pulling them out of the freezer I had flashbacks to August when I helped my Dad pull zucchinis as big as my arms from the garden. And after a whole summer spent sauteing, baking, and slicing the stuff, we needed a new way to utilize all of the zucchini. We decided to shred what we'd picked and after dividing most of it into freezer bags, we made this cake. It is a favorite in our house. It's perfect anytime of the day, with breakfast, lunch, or dinner and can be thrown together in a moment's notice. Baking this cake on an unseasonably warm March afternoon, I couldn't help but be swept up with spring fever.

There are many great days ahead. Happy weekend to you all.

Zucchini Cake with Crunchy Lemon Glaze
Serves 12-16
Adapted from Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen by Gina DePalma via David Lebovitz

For the cake:
1 cup (135g) almonds, pecans, or walnuts, toasted
2 cups (280g) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 3/4 (350g) cups sugar
1 cup (250ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
zest of one lemon
2 1/2 cups (300g) finely grated zucchini*

For the lemon glaze:
1/4 cup (60ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar
1 cup (140g) powdered (confectioner’s) sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Grease a 10 cup (2.5l) bundt or tube cake pan** with non-stick spray or butter, dust with flour, then tap out any excess.

2. Pulse the nuts in a food processor until finely chopped.

3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, 1 3/4 cup (350g) sugar, and olive oil for 3 minutes on medium speed, until light and fluffy. Stop and scrape down the sides of the mixer, then add the lemon zest and vanilla.

5. Mix in the dry ingredients, scraping down the sides of the mixer bowl to make sure everything is mixed in well, then beat on medium speed for 30 seconds.

6. Stir in the chopped nuts and zucchini.

7. Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan, smooth the top, then bake the cake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake has begun to pull away from the sides of the pan.

8. During the last few minutes of the cake baking, make the glaze by whisking together the lemon juice, 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar, and powdered sugar.

9. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a cooling rack.*** Brush the glaze over the cake with a pastry brush and let the cake cool completely.

Storage: The cake can be wrapped (or put under a cake dome) and will keep for a few days. You can freeze the unglazed cake. However to apply the glaze, you’ll need to defrost the cake then warm it so the glaze will adhere properly.

*I recommend using the fine grating disk for a food processor to shred your zucchini. You can also grate the zucchini by hand, use the fine holes on a box grater.

**If you don’t have a bundt or tube pan, you can make the cake in a regular round cake pan.

***The best way to invert the cake is to lay the cooling rack over the top of the cake pan, then grasping both the cake pan and the rack simultaneously (if it’s too hot, wear oven mitts), flip them both over at once. Lift off the cake pan, then liberally brush the glaze over the warm cake.