Happy Halloween Everyone!!

*photo by Enrico Fuente

Share the Love, Rock the Vote

I officially exercised my right to vote today - and it felt good. Sometimes it seems as though I can't even remember a time when this campaign wasn't happening and after all the reading, watching, commenting, debating, hoping, praying, searching...standing in that line and touching that important screen felt amazing. My right. My privilege. My obligation. My voice.

Early voting came at a cost - the cost of my time - but the rewards made me forget that 2 hour wait almost before it was even over. In a fun Chicago twist, I met Oprah while waiting to vote. Yep - THE Oprah - not making it up. I love her, admire her, am often inspired by her. To see her in just that place at just that time was really pretty special (even if I am being a little schmaltzy). I said hello and her words to me were brief. And right on. "Hi! Get in there and let your voice be heard girl!" I did Oprah.

And I hope you all do too.

Happy LOVE THURSDAY - may you recognize this unique moment in time and share the love that got us here.

And because there is no way for me to NOT post about this, check this out if you need a little love reminder (but have a tissue handy too). A special thank you to the law officials who helped this Mama Bear in her time of need.

Special Friends

I have never been one of those people to consistently keep up with huge groups of friends. I've certainly known an amazing variety of folks through my various life stages, but at the end of the day, I have a pretty small circle of the kind of friends that just make life worth living. These are women who have known me at my best and my worst and loved me equally. They've helped to shape me, change me, inspire me and keep me going when I needed them the most.

It has been my life's journey to be geographically separated from my best friends more often than not. This has created stress and doses of sadness for sure, but the more important side effect has been the incredible ways in which those relationships have flourished anyway. We've proven that distance is no barrier and that the love of a friend doesn't equate to the frequency that you're in the same place at the same time.

Today, I am thinking of one friend in particular. She is embarking on such an exciting new chapter in her life...she will welcome an undoubtedly gorgeous baby girl (trust me - with her gene pool, there is simply no other way for this to turn out) into the world in just a couple of short weeks. This friend is creativity personified. She is bubbly and warm and can lighten any load in a matter of moments. She transcends labels and stereotypes and truly just spreads joy everywhere she goes - every single day.

Rob, welcome to this limitless space of the blogosphere - I'm thrilled to be connected with you in yet another place. Thank you for your friendship, your inspiration and all the ways you've made my world better. Just by being you. That is one lucky kid.

We Heart Halloween

My love of holidays is no secret and having dogs makes me enjoy all holidays even more. We got an early start to our Halloween fun this weekend. Hubby and I spent Saturday night in Park Ridge with the niece and nephew and about 20 other kids for a little house party. The costumes were adorable and we had a great time catching up with family.

The fun continued today with a Halloween pet parade sponosored by one of our favorite little doggie shops. Besides an early mishap (I screwed up the time, so we missed the beginning and had to join the pups at the park instead of the store), it was a really fun day. The dogs were adorable, the weather was perfect and our little froggie and monkey enjoyed themselves immensely (even if Cooper wasn't a huge fan of his costume).

Stay tuned for next weekend's post about our neighborhood event - Trick-or-Treat on Southport!

We hope your weekend was just as fun!

Peace

I began one workday really early last week and was feeling a little stressed and just needing a break. On the drive to work, I noticed it was a particularly beautiful fall day, and when I got to my office - eerily quiet since I was the only one there - I was greeted by this amazing sunrise. Nothing better to add a little perspective. It was Friday before I knew it...

It's The Little Things...

I am kind of particular about certain things. Like eyebrows. Eyebrows are important; they frame your face and if someone has a mishap with the waxing, things appear uneven - like for example, my whole face!

After much searching and trial and error (more error than anything), I have finally found a great esthitician in Chicago. Thanks to my fabulous sis-in-law Robin for the referral.

Anyway, I love Alina - she's terrific and my brows are definitely rebounding under her care. Beyond evening things out though, she's reminded me of the importance of details. I love everything about her shop. It is super tiny and she is a one woman shop, so only sees one client at a time. But everything from the actual location to the decor when you enter to her peaceful disposition really makes you feel so relaxed and doted on...it feels indulgent. And luxurious. And I love every minute I'm there - every time I go.

Reminded me it is really the little things that set the stage for the greater experience.

Love Through the Cracks

I've been thinking a lot about love lately. Lots of different thoughts, many different lenses to shift perspective, but the same core theme.

I've thought of love through the lens of politics and struggled to understand why so many adamantly deny any form of love in a world so riddled with hate. Since I can't solve this complex problem, I mollify myself with the reality that our country gives us the freedom to not only have those types of views and opinions, but the freedom to express them. And part of enjoying that freedom is recognizing others' rights to hold opinions and views I don't agree with - or even that I despise. And that is something I can love.

I've thought of love through the lens of personal experience and I've realized I'm infinitely blessed because I have not walked one step in my life without a full network of love and support to catch me if I fall.

I've thought of love's role in the bigger picture of life's journey and realized that finding my life's partner was my greatest gift. I live that love every day and it makes me relish in the normal and find magic in the mundane. Even when my expression of it is less than stellar, it is there. And it fuels everything in me that shines.

Happy LOVE Thursday everyone - may you recognize love in the cracks of your life- after all, that is where the light comes through.

Last Haircut til Spring!

The boys and I had a very productive weekend. My aforementioned love of lists was in full effect and I crossed many errands off. Top of which was Jack's final grooming of the season - the temps are getting cooler here in Chicago so we went in for one final styling session. This time we just did the basic trim so he doesn't look too much different - just clean and fluffy and lovable.

While Jack was getting the full treatment, I did my usual self grooming job on Cooper. Thanks to some doggie ice cream, it was actually a fairly simple session and he looks adorable if I do say so myself - albeit slightly crooked - but whatever.

We just finished a brisk fall walk and since we'd just done the bath thing, I pulled out the boys' coats to keep them cozy. They weren't thrilled at first, but they warmed to the idea (note the pun) pretty quickly.

Here's hoping your snug this fall evening - in front of a fire with warm tea and maybe some yummy soup. Have a wonderful week!

Jackson before...

Cooper before...Jackson after - a close up! See how fluffy and huggable??Cooper after - you can't tell b/c he had just rubbed his head all over his bed making his hair crazy like this, but he actually looks pretty good and we cut a good bit of scruff off him!Both boys snuggly warm & ready for our evening walk. XOXO

Making my lists, Checking them twice

I love lists. I make lists of the lists I need to make. I get an obnoxious amount of fulfillment and accomplishment from crossing items OFF my many lists.

I have decided tonight to make two important lists - evolving ones really - to challenge myself to move beyond the normal and the comfortable once in awhile. And also to set and track future goals - more on this later as I got the best idea from my sister-in-law over lunch this week (seriously, love her idea) - because to write it down is to make it real. And seeing it in print encourages commitment to follow.

Without further ado - I live in a great city that I really haven't made much of an effort to discover in the almost 2 years I've been here, so I'm starting my list thusly:

1. Go see the ballet.
2. See Dirty Dancing the MUSICAL (and part 2 of this is to find someone to see it with me since I'm not sure it is Hubby's cup of tea)
3. Check out a museum. We have so many, the opportunities are endless.
4. Check out the smart home that is part of one of said museums. Love this concept and want to see the final result of so much effort.
5. See a concert and have a picnic at Ravinia (might have to wait for next season on this one - no bother, its going ON the list).
6. Discover great hiking trails in the Chicago area. Reunite with hiking on said trails. I love hiking and you can STILL hike in the fall. Even in the tundra that is Chicago. ON the list.
7. Find an indoor dog park that we can frequent during the colder months. Running around with the munchkins is one my greatest joys - and snow doesn't have to eliminate it.
8. Dedicate one weekend night as "date night" with Hubby - try new restaurants in various sections of the city until we've really gotten to know all the options available to us.
9. Sign up for one class with Hubby (and maybe another couple) at The Chopping Block!
10. Go to Michigan or Wisconsin for a long weekend. I've heard amazing things. I'd love to go apple picking...or hiking...or wait for a summer lake adventure. Or all of the above.
11. Go ice skating in Millenium Park (or anywhere else for that matter).
12. Wine tasting - don't care if its Napa or a local spot (although Napa would be great one of these days).

And now for list 2 - to focus a little more on goals. Behold:

1. Learn at least the basics of photography and get a good camera to work with. I've always wanted to do this - since high school! I have no idea why I keep putting it off.
2. Really learn yoga and practice it regularly. I love what it does for my mind as much as what it can do for my muscles.
3. Make physical fitness a life priority and be CONSISTENT with it. I'm tired of hearing myself whine about this one. Time to mix up a bunch of my favorite activites, create a schedule and start sweating.
4. Pay more attention to my philanthropic side and dedicate time to it. As my place of work says, Live in COLOR.
5. Learn at least the basics in the kitchen. I feel like a bumbling fool right now, but I need to throw caution to the wind and just get in there!
6. Try something new every season (thinking maybe tennis lessons with Hubby for the winter).
7. Try - seriously try - to focus my energy on positive thinking. Limit road rage, nagging, frustration, etc by slowing down and breathing before responding. Hopefully this will inspire calm and patience - not all the time, just more often.
8. Start a family. And be good at creating balance.
9. Be fiscally aware. Perfect the art of discretionary spending and define and stick to savings plans. Basically, take charge of my own personal economy (and that of my family).
10. Rescue a dog. And give him/her the best life possible.
11. Travel. I'm one of the only people I know that hasn't seen Europe yet. I mean really - there is a great big world out there. And I want to see it.

I think this is a good start, don't you? I will track my progress via the blog and will let you know when I'm adding entries...I find this especially appropriate as I wind up my 20's and head straight toward 30.

Bring it on.

A Sneak Peek...

We are gearing up for some serious Halloween related fun over the next couple of weeks. After a pretty thorough search of several of our favorite spots, we found this year's costumes. I thought I'd give you a little sneak peek on this lovely (chilly) fall Friday.

I'm psyched to enjoy the festivities with my little Monkey (Coop) and Froggie (Jack). And because I can't help it, a few more images of fall and of the little buggers snuggling with their Halloween blankie.

Happy Friday all - enjoy your weekend!!

And Then They Marched Home

I've been meaning to post about this for more than a week, but kept getting sidetracked. I've said before that I am an ardent supporter of a good variety of animal relief organizations and IFAW is one of my favorites. These people are just amazing; doesn't matter the species, doesn't matter the location (the more far flung the better apparently), and certainly doesn't matter the conditions it will require to get to an animal in need. They roll up their sleeves and they jump right in. I admire them. At times I envy them too. I think to go to work every day with that kind of passion is a true gift.

And it inspires me to find similar pieces of passion in my daily life. I've read a lot about the recent pack of penguins this group rehabbed, and in this instance they have clearly disproved the old saying that you can't go home again.

As I watch these adorable critters taste their new freedom and head home together, I can understand completely why the rescue team said it was worth it.

Happy Love Thursday everyone! May it be a day that reminds you of the passion of your home - wherever and with whomever that may be.

A View From the 62nd Floor

I'm pretty lucky to have a stellar view from my office window. I'm on the 62nd floor of my building, and although that does have some freaky, fear-inducing double decker freight elevator (another post. another time.) experiences associated with it, the perks deserve mention too.

I face East, so my view is of Navy Pier, Lake Michigan and various other buildings in downtown Chicago. Oh, and I can see a small portion of Millenium Park too. And if I really squint during the summer, I can enjoy dogs (even though they look like ants) running around in a small dog park!

Certain days, I look out my window and it is like I'm inside a cloud - fog is freaky from 62 floors up. But other days, I look and see the view depicted in the below photos.

Apologies for the blurryness (is that a word?) - hard to take a good pic through a window!

Enjoy a view of my own personal stress relief.

Fabulous, Fantastic FALL

I adore fall...living in Southern CA for six years, I had almost forgotten how fabulous the season really is. Last year, we skipped fall in Chicago - went straight from hot and humid to frigid and snowing and stayed there for longer than I care to remember. But I digress...

This year, fall has been spectacular in the windy city. We have had very mild weather, crisp and clear and the leaves are beginning to change adding a new layer of splendor to the commute along neighborhood streets and Lakeshore Drive.

I've been wearing my sweaters and boots (except for the few truly warm days we've had - closing in on 80 degrees last weekend!) and have even pulled out the light rain jacket a few times. Oh, and I canNOT get enough soup. Seriously - vegetable, tomato bisque, minestrone, french onion - bring it on! I adore soup - redefines comfort for me.

Beyond wardrobe and diet, I've begun my very favorite time of year - the run of holidays and my associated decorating!

As most who know me are aware, I'm pretty obsessed with pumpkins and mums for fall. Seriously. I am every bit as excited as kids at pumpkin patches and I just get a huge smile on my face when I think of the fun associated with seasonal decor. I credit (or blame??) some of this to my Mom - we have always made a huge deal of holidays in our family and now that I have my own home, I do NOT disappoint.

I found the most amazing, full, vibrant mums over the weekend - seriously, I was THRILLED by this find. And...they were on sale, so I got them for next to nothing! Would have bought more, but could not carry them...they are HUGE.

Then...I came home from work on Tuesday a little bummed b/c Hubby had left for his final tour stop of the summer season. And then felt instantly better when I found a "special surprise" from him and the boys. 3 mini mums and a pumpkin! Even better? He promised a trip to the pumpkin patch when he returns early next week.

Ah yes, its fall...and I'm enjoying every minute.

These Paws Were Made for WALKING - Mutt Strut 2008

Ready to get the walk started w/ Dad!
Pausing for a picture w/ Dad before we go
Action shot - note Jack pulling aggressively - he's a great walker!
Enjoying our post event cupcake! MMMMM
Daddy's shirt - he thinks their slogan is so funny!

Thank you again to everyone who donated to sponsor us in our recent walk. We were disappointed to have our annual Mutt Strut event cancelled a few weeks ago, but we awoke to a perfectly beautiful fall Saturday this past weekend.

We joined our furry friends and their people and walked a little over 2 miles for a most worthy cause.

Jack had a blast as always and Cooper surprised everyone by walking the entire way like a little champ. They met some new buddies and browsed the booths and treats on site.

And as a special finish line treat, the boys shared a cupcake that they LOVED. I haven't seem them go that crazy over food of any kind since peanut butter.

We hope you enjoy the photos of our 2nd big walk this year.

If You LEARN Something, It Isn't A Failure

I like this saying. Always have. I've always been drawn to quotes - often posting them on bulletin boards, office walls, on the fridge, etc. This one in particular, I have seen in several variations and credited to several different sources. No bother - I just like the concept. It's simple. And to me, so true.

Have you ever had a flaw pointed out in a way that just...HURT? Like a raw, shooting pain in the gut and "oh please let me catch my breath" kind of hurt? I'm pretty aware of my shortcomings - I'm not even terribly shy about volunteering them to almost any audience. But sometimes - just the right person can point them out in just the right way - and it kind of just destroys me for a moment. Even when I know that was not the intention. Even when I absolutely know it to be very true. It doesn't stop the hurt.

But if I learn from it, and even better - I improve upon it - then I can't package it in misery and label it failure. Right? This is important because I lean toward the VERY self critical and it doesn't take much to classify certain things bad, negative, a failure.

And I want to be good at things. A lot of things. But a few things, I MUST be good at. I won't settle for less. Daughter. Sister. Mother (yes, even if only the fur variety thank you very much). Friend. WIFE...

I am not perfect and (really) I don't even aspire to be. But I want the key people in my life to always know that I'd go to the end of the earth if they needed it. I'd walk through fire. I love immensely, crazily, without fail or condition. My expression of it can often leave a lot to be desired (and I'm sorry for that with my whole being because it is so far from the truth of what I feel)...but it doesn't change the intensity of it. Or the fact that it is there. Without fail.

So I will focus on the lessons learned from tough conversations and moments. I will improve upon skills I believe to be important (whether basic or complex). I may lose the moment, but I will not lose the lesson.

In the end, it will be enough. Right?

PAWS Walk - the Video!

For those of you who just can't get enough of our walking adventures, here's a little video. Apologies for the noise - that is actually WIND - it was a crazy weather day here in Chicago.

Enjoy!

PAWS Walk Chicago

Trying to strike our pose...

And we're off!
Pooped and ready for a little boost...

Mom & her boys Jack is ready to go.
The starting line
Family photo on Lake Michigan

As most of you know, we're scheduled to do our annual Mutt Strutt next weekend.

To start things off right, we had our first experience with Chicago's largest animal welfare organization on Sunday and we joined thousands of other dog lovers and every size, shape and breed of dog you can imagine in the PAWS Walk For Their Lives event.

It was terrific to see the outpouring of support for such a terrific organization and we had a fabulous time walking for our fellow furry friends.

It was a very windy, grey day but the boys had a great time making lots of new friends.

Irish versus Boilers

Enjoying the beautiful football day...
The spread...
Touchdown Jesus!!
Dressed to support the Boilers!
Football time

We took a quick day trip to South Bend last weekend and enjoyed an exceptionally warm and beautiful September Saturday and watched our first live college football game of the season.

BJ's Boilers did not perform well, but we enjoyed our tailgating adventure with Dave & Heather, and, despite a nasty bout with bronchitis (for me), a good time was had by all.

Fall is officially here and I'm enjoying my boots and scarves and what I refer to as "hoodie weather." I know what is to follow and it makes me nervous, but for now, the fall has been gorgeous and fun. Hope the same is true for all of you.

Happy love Thursday! (more on this term later - I've stumbled upon it recently and am pretty enthralled by the idea).