diapers and skinny jeans

Nestled in a tiny, inconspicuous cove up in the north side Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Parson's Chicken and Fish is a delicious spot that is suitable for the whole family, and definitely not short on trendiness or flair. Erick and I knew this would be the perfect place to welcome his brother and sister-in-law home from their cross country move back to Chicago. Parson's is known for their delicious fried chicken, best use of a slushy machine , and the ever tempting funnel cake if you're up for dessert. You can relax in the summer sun in their extensive outdoor patio, play a round of ping-pong, or take photos near the gorgeous, lushly vined brick walls. As a brand new establishment opening up just recently this past June, I'd say they're off to a great start. ( Thank you to all of you that wished a little sunshine our way - it finally came out to play! ) What were you up to this weekend?

Thanks to the inside scoop from a good friend of mine, we were able to stop by a brand new coffee roaster in the Lakeview neighborhood today. Bow Truss is rustic, spacious, and simple- all of its decor reminds me of a snowy, vintage ski resort up in Vermont.  A strange, but welcome feeling in comparison to this Chicago summer. The prices are out of this world, nothing on their limited menu creeps higher than $3.  With an Intelligentsia across the street, they are definitely going to give them a run for their money.  I spent a good ten minutes chatting with whoever was working today, and unfortunately never caught his name, but I was thrilled at how genuinely interested he was in having sharing a conversation.  We talked about the launch, and he kindly gave me more information on their different roasts and how quickly the Bow Truss concept became a reality. I love this place. My only complaint is that I don't live close enough!...

Have you ever decided to be a tourist in your own town?  Today, that is exactly what we did. Erick, Sofia and I ventured out amongst the heat to the sweaty and overcrowded Millennium Park downtown in the city to show our daughter The Bean, the spitting fountain, the crazy cab drivers and painted sidewalks on State Street for the very first time.   She loved it. I actually ended up taking her running through the water for most of the day, and was most definitely not prepared for the consequences of my fully-dressed self.  While Sofia was able to  lose her shirt  and dry off for a few minutes, mama could not.  Not that I think it would have been appropriate in front of all the children, but wow, was that an uncomfortable walk back to the car!  I am so very lucky that Erick was able to capture a majority of these shots while I was busy discreetly trying to wring out bits and pieces of my ...

La  Colombe Torrefaction 955 W Randolph Street Chicago, IL 60607 West Loop Neighborhood Erick, Hector, Sofia and I all took a quick trip for some lattes on Saturday morning, and stumbled upon a new gem hidden in the city's West Loop neighborhood.  The West Loop has so many amazing little shops and restaurants that I don't think I've ever seen before, a lot of them opening up for the first time so we'll definitely be making a trip back.  It's so nice to have family in town visiting, we always wish they could stay longer (or live closer!) why you should visit • beautiful interior • fresh milk straight from the farm • full size, in house coffee roaster • awesome mugs and saucers • complimentary sparkling water good to know • no wifi • no menu (traditional espresso drinks only) • no fancy flavors what to order • latte • mocha • bottled iced coffee