Like my friend Elise, I have yet to participate in an official edition of WIAW, but I love the concept and have some very special news to share today, so here goes! In short, there’s a hummus amongus. I (finally) made hummus! This is a project that has been a long time coming, so when […]
Lunch
SamSlam
The jam-packed summer adventures continue! This weekend, my fantastic friend Sam and her boyfriend, Alex, came into town for a Windy City reunion. Sam got in late Thursday night — just in time for the midnight premiere of Harry Potter! I wore my Gryffindor scarf for the occasion. 🙂 Jill, Sam and I were thrilled […]
Red, Red {Strawberry} Wine
What do you get when you combine strawberries and wine? A fabulous weekend excursion! On Saturday, Jill and I met Lauren (also known as X…don’t ask) and Kelli in the ‘burbs for the Long Grove Strawberry Festival. You may recall a very similar trip involving apples back in October. The event was just as exciting […]
Grass-Fed Family
Hello and happy Sunday! Hope you have been enjoying a fabulous weekend. 🙂 I may be back in Chicago now, but the last few days at home with my family in Arizona were packed with excitement. It all started with a Saturday morning hike up Pinnacle Peak, complete with a self-timed photo at the highest […]
The Birthday Boy Named Eric
I loved all of your guesses in my last post. I promise you that I will share what Polish dish I made soon, but right now, there is a very special announcement I need to make. My baby brother, Eric, turned 18 years young yesterday (June 17)! Look at that blonde hair! I’m here in […]
Birthday Bonanza!
Hello from the 25th year! The idea of celebrating the “year” rather than the “age” comes from a longstanding joke in my family. When my mom turned 49, Papa Bender gave my brother and me the idea to congratulate her on celebrating her 50th year. I am sure you can imagine how well that one […]
BABIES!! + Mountain Magic: Part Two
Happy Thursday! This week is absolutely flying by between the DreamChamps blog launch and the fact that I have had not just one, but three baby girls added to my life! I am now a new Cousin Jenn and Aunt Jenn!!!!!!!!!!! As you can see, I could not be more thrilled. My cousin Lisa (whose […]
Sweet + Salty
I’m a big fan of the sweet and salty flavor combination. Almond butter with jelly? Of course. Chocolate with pretzels? Obviously. Smoothie with meat-cheese-and-cracker platters? Wait…wha? I can guarantee you that they were not all thrown together into that blender. But did I at least have you thinking I was that crazy for a second […]