Father's Day is one of the most important holidays for me. Growing up, my Dad was everything to me (and still is to this day). He inspires me every single day to work hard, stay humble and think critically about whatever situation I face in life. While it's impossible to ever show him how much I truly care, Father's Day has always been the easiest way for me to demonstrate my appreciation for all he does. The difficult part is, now that Elia has come along, I have to play double duty and ... [ Read More ]
Kid-Friendly Sushi Sandwiches
Keeping things fresh and unique in the kitchen is tough enough. Since adding in a picky 2-year old to the mix, things have become even more complicated! Every day, I rack my brain trying to think of new and innovative ways to get Elia to try new foods and help her explore different flavors and textures. I've partnered with Brownberry Bread to make the most adorable "sushi sandwiches" and my daughter thought it was the coolest thing ever. I even let her try and use chopsticks to help with her ... [ Read More ]
Why I Am Celebrating My Mom Tribe this Mother’s Day
I can’t believe it, but my second Mother’s Day is right around the corner! I’m not sure where the time went, but these days just keep on flying by. As I sit and reflect on my last two years as a Mother, I can’t help but think about how much my Mom friends, my “Mom Tribe” if you will, has helped me get through it all. I’ve always been an open-book about my struggles with motherhood, but I’m not sure I would have actually gotten through it all (while keeping my sanity) without my Mom Tribe. ... [ Read More ]
McDonald’s is Now Serving 100% Fresh Beef Quarter-Pound Burgers!
Recently, I was sitting down with a few of my friends and we were discussing the food trends we've been seeing lately. It was a group consensus that we see consumers really wanting more fresh options. To my surprise, shortly after this conversation, I was approached by McDonald's to come in and try their new 100% fresh beef quarter-pound burgers! When I arrived at their new, modern Wrigleyville location, I was greeted by a team from the McDonald's corporate office. Their enthusiasm and ... [ Read More ]
Mother’s Day Gift Guide- Tech Edition
I can't believe Mother's Day is just a few days away! As a new Mom myself, I find myself gravitating towards technology gifts and away from the traditional candles & slippers. While they are always appreciated, this modern mama is craving the latest and greatest. Here are the 5 gifts on my wish list for this year: Armitron Watch Armitron Watch ($25-$110): Armitron has been around since 1965 and for good reason. They pioneered many of the first affordable digital wrist watches and ... [ Read More ]
Shop Your Way x Gas Buddy Has Arrived!
*This is a paid sponsorship with the SYW/GasBuddy, but all opinions are my own. You know I love a deal. Whenever I can find a promo code, redeem a coupon, etc. I do. (Plus I like to share them with you!) A couple months ago, I was introduced to a program called Shop Your Way. The Shop Your Way program is free to sign up and you receive CASHBACK in points from purchases you make. Those CASHBACK points can be redeemed at a variety of retailers, so needless to say I have become obsessed. Last ... [ Read More ]
5 Cheesy Appetizers That’ll be a Hit Anytime
I love to host a good girls night or get together. It's what I live for. I love entertaining, I love cooking and I love seeing happy faces around the room when I watch people eat my food. I think the reason that I'm able to love it so much is I always keep things super simple. Over the years, I've learned that the number one reason people don't entertain is because they don't like to cook or feel stressed and overwhelmed. That's why I'm here! These 5 cheesy appetizers all have a wow ... [ Read More ]
The Perfect Daddy-Daughter Date Night at Chick-fil-A
Hi guys! Todays blog post is going to be a little different than usual because it's the first one that I haven't written myself! You see, my husband, Dan, took our daughter to the Daddy-Daughter date night at the Chick-fil-A at Old Orchard this week and really wanted to share his story on why he thinks these special nights are so important. After swooning for a minute (I mean, how sexy is that?), I came-to, and realized that this man hasn't even written me a card since we've been together. ... [ Read More ]
My Pinterest-Perfect Playroom (on a budget)!
If you're a reality TV junkie like me, home-makeover shows are in your queue more often than not. I can't help it, I'm obsessed. They give me so much inspiration and all these beautiful ideas. My reality however, is that I don't ever know how to execute these amazing design desires. My husband and I have lived in our home for a year and truthfully, I don't have half the decor I had envisioned when we first moved in. As many of us know motherhood, jobs, obligations, etc. tend to take priority ... [ Read More ]
Baby Back Mac & Cheese
The weather here in Chicago has been nonstop gray. We are either in a blizzard, frozen solid, or dealing with a balmy gross slush. This constant gloominess has had me craving comfort food, and lots of it. And nothing is better than BBQ! I find myself constantly craving the kind of BBQ that comes to your table on newspaper, where you can smell the smoker. The only negative is, venturing outdoors for that kind of deliciousness is the only option because BBQ made at home can be a huge ... [ Read More ]
