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Well, I think it’s safe to say that Winter has come to Northern Virginia. Despite the fact that it was 75-degrees and sunny a week ago, the past few days and have felt like they’re of Winterfell-level proportions. Lows of 29 and 30 – brrrrr! The upside?

 I’ve been able to make use of these stinkin’ cute fleece bodysuits that make Penny look extra-strength adorable.

 We’ve certainly been keeping busy since last we checked in with you guys! Lots of time spent with family (that’s Uncle Ben hanging out with Penny in the photo above) and friends, old & new, plus Penny went to her first party and had a grand old time!

So, Wednesday night I finally got fed up with what was going on with my roots, and tried to re-dye my hair under the VERY MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION that Penny had gone down for the night and I had at least, like, 90 minutes before she woke up again. Well, I was unsurprisingly very wrong, and with Sean already asleep and me not wanting to disturb him (he has to get up very early for work), I had to pull my very best Tim Gunn and make it work.

 Sooooo yeah, this resulted in a nice bleachy nursing session and lots of prayers that all of my hair wouldn’t fall out from bleaching too long, lol. Thankfully, I managed to get her to go back down pretty much right away after she was done, and thus escaped with hair unscathed and repurplefied!

And so I was able to look presentably vibrant (and very easy to spot) for my #momsquad coffee date the next morning! Now that Penelope and I are nice and comfy with each other, I’ve been really eager to meet other mamas in the area with similarly-aged kiddos. So being the totally level-headed and not-in-any-way-overzealous person that I am, I joined like, four different new mom Facebook groups and also downloaded the Peanut app (which is literally Tinder for moms, lol). I’ve been fortunate to connect with some lovely ladies and their even lovelier bebes!

It’s so nice to have other ladies with whom to get together and commiserate over developmental milestones, spit up, blowouts, and sleepless nights, hehe. Most of my friends’ babies are at least 8 – 10 months older than Penny, and right now the age difference of even a few months makes a huge difference in the whole parenthood experience. So while by this time next year, Penny and my friends’ babes all might be able to play together, it’s especially wonderful to have found some new mama friends with birthdays close to Penny’s — since they’re going through literally the exact same things as us.

On Friday, I met up with my friend Vicky for coffee in the morning. Mayhaps you are starting to see a pattern here: COFFEE. IS. LIFE. I’ve always enjoyed coffee, but was never really a habitual drinker. Didn’t need my daily cup of joe to get through the morning or anything like that. But now? HAAAAA! You should see the amount of stars I’ve racked up on my Starbucks rewards account. Lorelai Gilmore would be so proud.

And after yet another successful coffee date, Sean’s mom came by for a visit! Not only did she bring a delicious spread for lunch (homemade chicken pot pies!), but she also watched Penny for a stretch while I took a glorious and much-needed nap. Fri-yay indeed!

Which brings us to Saturday! We were invited to my coworker’s daughter’s first birthday party and were super excited to have Penny experience her first party! Naturally, she slept terribly the night before (go figure), so we got a pretty late start to the day. When I eventually had to jump in the shower, I asked Sean to get Penny dressed and returned to this bit of fashion-forwardness:

Bahahahahahaha. He gets major points for matching, but she is 100% missing the actual dress that’s supposed to go under the cardigan and over the bloomers. ::laughing crying emoji::

  Much better.

The party was so much fun! There were sooooo many kiddos and babies there, and it was really fun for Sean and me to see what our future holds, hehe. My fab coworker Kimberly did an amazing job with the theme, decor, and food (there was a Chipotle bar!!), and gave me serious goals for next August when we’ll be going through the same thing, hehe. Oh man, I’m getting emotional just thinking about that. I know that sounds ridiculous since it’s so far away, but I mean, I already can’t believe Penny will be 11 weeks on Wednesday! ::sniff::

 Kimberly also arranged to have a Tunes 4 Tots session at the party, so Penny also got to experience her first music class! I can’t wait ’til she is, y’know, able to like, sit up and clap her hands and actually do stuff. But even though she was literally just sitting up in my lap watching it all unfold, I like to think she was having a grand ol’ time, hehe.

Later that night, Penny and I met up with one of my oldest friends, Megan. We’ve been friends since meeting in Taiwan in 2001, where we both attended high school! 16 years of friendship and counting…! Not that that makes me feel old or anything, heh.

After dinner, I dropped by my parents’ house, as another one of my uncles was visiting and wanted to meet Penny (she is far more popular that I could ever be!). This turned out to be a great thing, because while I was also supposed to see my parents again the next day, my mom came down with something so it didn’t work out.

They had originally offered to babysit for Sean and me while we went to a show, but since that didn’t happen we ended up having a nice lazy Sunday at home. TBH, it was really nice. I love having a reason to get out of the house (and I still did end up taking Penny on an errand run… and to get more coffee, hehe), but all the social engagements, coupled with the fact that Penny’s sleep has continued to be very unpredictable, did leave me feeling pretty drained.

So Sean, Penny, the dogs, and I all got to enjoy being home together — cooking (Sean), playing (Penny and the dogs), napping (everyone but me ::laugh/cry::), and taking care of stuff around the house (meeeeeee, heh.)

 Which catches us back up to today! We’ve got lots of additional plans for fun this week, including our first Crybaby Matinee, more mommy dates, and a trip this weekend — whew! I’m also hoping that I’ll be able to get another one of the (many) parenthood posts I would like to write up this week, but guff, finding time to blog really is a challenge these days. I don’t know how actual mommy bloggers do it!

‘Til next time!

Dave and I had been talking about a summer weekend in Chicago ever since we visited the city in December for Christmas shopping along the Magnificent Mile. That weekend was unseasonably cold, rainy, windy, and didn’t allow for any time outdoors. A late-July visit just had to be better. So, we jumped at the chance to plan a warm-weather escape when Hotel Lincoln invited us to stay for a weekend. Unfortunately, it was on the chilly side again. (I even had to buy a pair of tights. In July.) But, a 65-degree day is always better than freezing temps with a full itinerary and a gorgeous hotel to keep us in good spirits.

The original Hotel Lincoln was built in the 1920s. It eventually became a Days Inn, fell into disrepair and closed for six years before Joie de Vivre Hospitality took over the property in 2010. The new owners gave it a multi-million dollar face lift with a vintage-meets-modern vibe. There’s a gallery wall of bad art, more fabrics and textures than you can count, a reception desk made of antique drawers (not all open, but some have candy in them), and a quirky menagerie scattered around the hotel. Really, it shouldn’t work, but it does. 

I can’t believe a hotel with such prime real estate sat vacant for six years. Hotel Lincoln doesn’t waste a bit of the incredible Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan views. The hotel’s rooftop lounge, The J.Parker, overlooks the lake. It’s an upbeat, upscale venue with craft cocktails and imaginative shared plates. We snagged a quiet table to share a light dinner and toast to our weekend in The Windy City. The lonely Peekytoe crab beignet below is testament to how delicious it was (we remembered the camera just before devouring the last one). The fries with paprika aioli were a surprising standout. It’s open seating with a few reserved spots. If you’re planning to stay for snacks, arrive early to swoop in on a just-abandoned table.

The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at Perennial Virant, the street-level restaurant connecting to the hotel. The interior is beautiful with large farm style tables and plush seating. We ordered the housemade sausage and the three-egg skillet. Honestly, the sausage was a little dry, but the side of breakfast potatoes mixed with cheese curds was incredible - so much so that I Instagrammed it, Facebooked it and raved about it to our friends that evening. (Wisconsin should have been doing that for years!) The real highlight were the fried green tomatoes (a surprise from the chef). I first tried the Southern dish in Savannah earlier this year and Perennial’s version was just as good. We ended brunch with breakfast cocktails: a Bloody Mary garnished with an elk stick (seriously) for Dave and I sipped on a seasonal mimosa made with fresh raspberries. 

We stayed in a junior king suite with a breathtaking view of the lake, a spacious seating area and two bathrooms (!). I’m happy to report that the reception area’s kitschy design flows into the guest rooms, albeit in a much more understated way. A serene palette of olive, blue and brown creates a sophisticated backdrop for the hotel’s signature red accents. At check in, you’re warned that finding some of the amenities is a bit of a scavenger hunt. I forgot about this the next morning when I was searching for the hairdryer. Eventually I did find it, along with an extra roll of toilet paper and additional bedding. Historic hotel don’t always have the closet space to accommodate these necessities, but it adds to the charm. (I know that “historic” and “charm” are sometimes code words for less-than-stellar accommodations, but Hotel Lincoln doesn’t skimp on the upgrades. There’s a fairly large flat screen TV, an iPhone dock and Kohler fixtures.)

Make reservations with Hotel Lincoln online or by calling 855-514-8112. Upgraded stays are available with special packages like the “Bark in the Park” package for pups (a doggie turndown service!) or the “Bed to Baseball” package (a romantic getaway with your guy?). No Chicago plans yet? Keep up with the hotel on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. 

A huge thank you to Hotel Lincoln for the incredible stay! 

Almost as much as I love organizing and building my wardrobe, I love the arrival of spring as it means I get to shop for my yard and garden. And the good news is that it is far less draining on my budget.

Cooking for me is very pleasurable and often therapeutic. And in an effort to try to cook food that is in season for more flavor and better prices, I try to grow what I can in my herb and vegetable garden. And while everything I plant doesn’t always grow as I had hoped, when they do, I can’t help but do a mini happy dance in my kitchen.

Whether you live in a small studio in the city or a sprawling country estate, creating a mini garden that is easy to access while you are in the kitchen creating your culinary works of art is a simple and relatively affordable idea.

During the summer months, I have a small herb box attached to my house just outside the door near my kitchen (images below) which allows me to quickly step outside in my bare feet to pick a few leaves of basil, fresh flat leaf parsley, handful of lettuce or whatever my recipe may call for. I simply love cutting a few leaves of basil and drinking in their fragrance which to me symbolizes summer, good health and scrumptious eating.

Here are a few things you’ll need to know to help you get started:

1. Seek out the sunshine. Most herbs and vegetables need access to full sun at some point during the day. Whether you are placing small pots on your window sill inside your home or putting them outside on your porch, determine how much space you have to work with.

2. Pick out the containers. Perhaps you would like to use a handful of small pots or one large one, or maybe you have a creative planter in mind (a few ideas are below). Have fun picking out the size, color and material, but make sure you choose one that allows the plants’ soil to drain (terra-cotta works wonders, but so do other pots as they already have designated holes in the bottom for just this purpose).

3. Choose your herbs and/or vegetables. Simply knowing that each time I purchase cut basil at the grocery store for at least three dollars for one meal and that I can purchase a basil plant for four dollars that will produce enough basil to last the entire season is motivation for me to grow my own.

Determine which herbs you enjoy with your food, as well as vegetables that you’d like to have on hand throughout the summer, and then seek them out at your local venders. Plants are still available at most farmers’ markets and nurseries, so be sure to have fun perusing for what you’d like.

A glimpse at my herbs and vegetables, as well as a list of what is shown and not shown:

• sweet basil
• Italian (Genovese) basil
• Thai basil
• dark opal basil (purple)
• sage
• rosemary
• dill
• lemon thyme
• thyme
• oregano
• chives
• Italian flat leaf parsley
• Roma tomatoes (not pictured above as they are in another area of my yard)
• Heirloom tomatoes (not pictured above as they are in another area of my yard)
• lettuce

4. Soil and water. If you will be putting them into a bigger pot with other plants, you might have to pick up some potting soil. Just regular potting soil works fine. Then be sure to water it regularly, especially when the temperatures soar. Purchase a fun watering can (I love this one), and indulge your green thumb.

5. Enjoy! Not only will having your own mini garden enhance the flavor of your meals, but the aesthetic of your home becomes even more beautiful and welcoming.

 

  Images:  (1) source (5-6) Real Simple (7) source (8) source (9) source (10) source (11) source (12) source (13) source