I have this fantasy. Stick with me, here. It involves having an automated email response set up for one whole day, the kind that knows how to accept emails I’m excited to get from family, friends, and work ops that’d be fulfilling, and filter out the multitude which are weird, offensive, stupid, unpaid, unpaid AND unethical, ask for my help getting the unpaid and unethical stuff “to the right department,” or follow up to my “that won’t work/that’s not a {Read More}
Ready for literally anything with Netflix & the #StreamTeam
October 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Disclosure: As a member of Netflix’s #StreamTeam, I take my role of sharing potentially autumn-saving media with you extremely seriously. Read to the end of this post for a pretty rare, pretty awesome Netflix subscription giveaway! Although I’m compensated, all thoughts, opinions, and organizational tendencies are entirely my own. *** Fall can be an incredibly fast-paced, ridiculously intense month if you’re not too careful. I am generally careful. Alongside my supply of extra hoodies (because I swear my kids leave them {Read More}
What kind of friend am I?
October 12, 2017 By 3 Comments
Am I a good person? I’ve been wondering that a whole bunch lately. (You know, in between posts about how everything is falling apart, excessive birthday sentimentality, and the nonstop parade of theatrical endeavors. God bless you, nonstop parade of theatrical endeavors.) And no, I’m not looking for a bolstering message of- Oh my GAWD, you are SUCH a good person. Because I mostly know. Not that I’m “good,” per se, but that I’m kind. I don’t kick people and {Read More}
Windy City Playhouse’s ‘Becky Shaw’ the date you’ll never forget
October 11, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Ah, families and romance and crumbling class hierarchies: You know how I’m always touting family-friendly entertainment and stuff that the kids will simply adore? Becky Shaw, Windy City Playhouse’s razor-sharp new production, ain’t that show. That said, this is the show where you should bring your girlfriends, established relationships and, at least in my case, a husband and a mother. The comedic drama opens with a wealthy, dysfunctional family on the verge of relative poverty with more than their share {Read More}
Six years of Suzy
October 4, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Dear Susannah, Hey baby girl, happy birthday. Six! SIX. Exactly six years ago we met, and the squirming, kicking, cantaloupe-and-liverwurst-craving boy I had been so sure I was having… …turned out to be a rosy-cheeked, blonder-than-blonde dollface of a ladybug. You, kiddo. Since then, things have gotten pretty noisy. Since then, things have gotten pretty wonderful. I love how your heart leaps out of your chest to comfort a crying classmate, a meowing kitten, or a UPS guy who maybe {Read More}
It’s all (mostly) okay.
September 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Here’s what’s okay: Asking your pal for help trimming up the back of your head/accidental between-haircuts mullet and listening to (and believing her) when she tells you that you looked gorgeous beforehand, anyway. Having the kids fed, bathed, jammied, and reading in your bed at 5:45pm on a Tuesday (and maybe pretending it’s waaaay later in the evening than it really is) because P.J.’s on a work trip all week and come ON, what can even be done in Seattle {Read More}
A flat tire, but buoyant spirits (eventually)
September 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Yesterday started out really, really well. It lasted about 20 minutes. But during those 20 minutes, it felt pretty great to have everyone’s breakfast, backpacks, hairstyles, and varying bathroom needs wrapped up a little earlier than usual. I even had enough time to finish my first cup of coffee and kiss the kids goodbye in time to hear- “Uh, we have a problem.” P.J. drives the girls most mornings to their school (due southeast of our ‘hood), so hearing that out {Read More}
Chicagoland’s ‘All Seasons Orchard’ (& the tastiest apples ever)
September 18, 2017 By Leave a Comment
You can keep your pumpkin spice lattes; the real autumn draw in the Midwest is a superb orchard. And guess what? After years of [diligently] trying them all out, and [selflessly] downing cider and donuts, we have a new fave. All Seasons Orchard… …in Woodstock, IL, is worth its weight in Honeycrisp apples. (Which, by the way, are enjoying their peak season rightthisverysecond.) One of the largest orchards in northern Illinois, they have over 15,000 apple and pear trees, an {Read More}
