The weekend, succinctly

I've officially joined the club. This weekend was spent doing things you never really prepared yourself for as a 21 year old. But then I have to remind myself, I'm no longer 21, I am 31. Things like babyproofing, picnicking at your very first Ravinia concert which happened to be a kids' one, and a trip to the Randolph Street Vintage Market (a designer's dream!) with a girl friend capped off with lunch at a retro diner. 

Graduate

The Fella had his fellowship graduation recently, so it was only fitting that we squeeze Baby Max into his doctor scrubs one last time to attend the ceremony, but only after playing with his new toy doctor kit, what else? A wee bit too snug now unlike the last time (though that's not why he's crying in all these pics), but perfect for the occasion and oh so cute that I can barely stand it. Like father, like son!

Saltine Cracker Brickle

I've had this old (and probably stale) box of Saltines sitting in my snack box for the longest time. Quite honestly, it's probably at least 9 months old because I think I bought it for my dad when he and my mom came to help out when Max was born. I've been trying for the longest time to recall this recipe my girl friend taught me to make once in college, involving at least a box of Saltines, chocolate and butter. For the life of me, I could not remember what this dessert was called, and yet I could still taste the toffee-like goodness it exuded. After searching high and low, I finally found the recipe on The New York Times! Try it sometime, maybe? You'll thank me. 

Jordana comes to Chicago!

Hosting houseguests is always tiring, even when they're helpful around the house and their 'lil munchkin happens to be well-disciplined (and not to mention, plain adorable!). I'm just now catching up on a lovely week with my sister and my niece from Texas––the pics make me smile when I remember the fun I had showing them my neighborhood, Wicker Park!

{ Baby } OOTD: Matching

Just what is this funky, swing-like contraption? It's a jumper that my friend has for her baby. It's the kind that you suspend from the doorway frame and Baby is supposed to go boiing! boiing! boiing! if only his little legs could reach the floor. I'm actually surprised Baby Max liked being in this, considering how much he haaaated the infant swings in Lakeshore East Park and Wicker Park the other two times recently. I guess that was SO five days ago, Mum! 

31 birthday candles

Yesterday I turned 31 without much ado. There was no great, big party on a rooftop like in previous years, no fancy dinner out, no night out at the bar. I felt incredibly sad I couldn't talk to my grandma this year, as I used to call her every year on my birthday. Nevertheless, yesterday I felt wholly surrounded by friends and family, both near and far––lots of birthday calls and cards, surprise deliveries, a new silk dress from the last birthday, and a picnic in the neighborhood park with my lovely, little family. 

{ Baby } OOTD: 50-year old tourist

We couldn't help but chuckle at Max. Somehow he ended up in a very mismatched, colorful outfit: wife-beater tank, red tracksuit pants and sandals. And a big gut, to boot. The Fella capped off the tourist look with a straw fedora. Who's ready to kick back with Max on Miami Beach with some Coronas?

Mario Batali's braised chicken with potatoes and basil

Last week Chicago much of the Midwest suffered from a record-breaking heat wave. We're talking triple digit heat indexes for days. On day three, the hottest day yet at a stifling 110 degrees, The Fella calls down to me from upstairs, "I just dressed Max and wait'll you see how adorable he looks!" He proceeds to come downstairs, proudly holding out Baby in this outfit:  

 

Last { holiday } weekend, succinctly

I'm just now catching up on last weekend, which really, seems like ages ago. Whenever there is a long holiday weekend, the week after always seems that much busier, that much longer. Fresh off a two week vacation in South Florida, I headed straight into Fourth of July back home in Chicago. This year, while we did not have energy for any of the usual lavish city festivities, and it was far too hot to BBQ in the record-breaking heat wave, we did sneak away while Baby slept to watch the big neighborhood fireworks show across the street. We sat on a park bench, eating ice cream bars and watching children do cartwheels around sparklers. For a little bit, I felt carefree and young again.

South Beach, by day

There are two South Beaches: by day, it's all laid-back European lover; by night, clubby and cray-cray, just like your best college girl friend. You know, the kind where you wear your sunglasses all night long a la Pitbull. By day, South Beach looks like this:

South Beach, by night

There are many nice things to be said about going home. One of those nice things is having a built-in babysitter (a.k.a. grandparents) so that we can sneak away for a night out on the town. Of course, it took a lot of convincing from The Fella for me to leave Baby Max overnight. But it had to be done, Miami awaits us! 

Tangerine tango

The color-trending folks over at Pantone named Tangerine Tango as the "It" color this season. It also just so happens to be the perfect vibrant shade to stand out from the crowd on South Beach, like say while shopping on Lincoln Road or beating the heat at a funky bubble tea house on Espanola Way. Tangerine Tango is so popular, even my mum is wearing it!

Quiet suburbia

When we weren't in South Beach, we were spending time in my hometown, a nice suburb outside of Fort Lauderdale. It has nice schools, nice restaurants, nice paved streets and nice, manicured lawns. I love going back home and being with my family. Even though I swear up and down to never live in suburbia, I know this is inevitable and coming soon to a theater near me. And I'll admit, after two weeks of not having to "wear baby" in the suburbs, this is a plus––hauling the stroller in and out of the trunk of the car (instead of up and down stairs) is a million times easier!