Things that have happened since Charley has been born: November - January

November
I cant even believe Charley is 6 months! Wow this has flown!

• We started food! First with peas, then apples.  As of 11/6 she isn't that into it, which is shocking.  
• She started sitting up!  She can sit up on her own for a few seconds at a time.
• She rolled over from back to front on the play mat in her bedroom - it was so exciting!
• Charley is sick again.....boooooo.  
• She loves Mangos.  
• Sneak peek of our Christmas card!
• Charley went on the bus! Twice!  The armitage bus from day care.
• Charley experienced snow for the first time on 11/21/15
• Allergies: peas and possible green beans. This sucks because she loves them. Tonight Charley broke out in massive and scary hives after eating peas....ugh.
• Did I mention Im sick again?  Oy. Miserable.  Charley is doing better and Bill is fine of course! 
• She is waking up every 2-3 hours now...what gives? We need to move her crib to the other side of the room.  

December

• Charley weighs 16lbs, 12oz!  7 months old! 
• She is sleeping better, but I am an enabler, so she sleeps in bed with us a lot. 
• She cut her first tooth on 12/8/15 - which explains a lot of crabbiness of her behalf!
• We had dinner as Russell's with Mackie and her family the day after Thanksgiving!  She met Levi, and they had a great time.
• Cicily, Alec, Avery and Alistair came over while they were in town from Austin - Charley and Alistair had a great time! 
• Charley sat in a high chair at a restaurant for the first time! 
• Charley went to Goldyburgers for the first time too!
• We had Christmas and Charley got lots of toys! Her favorite are the blocks and the piano.  Everyone was so generous!
• We have had a lot of people to see this week: Molly and her girls, Amy and Joshie, Erica,  Denise and Colleen, Frankie and Emily, and Erin!
• Her first new years eve was spent sleeping as mom and dad had beef tenderloin and Angies stuffing. 
• Here is to a great 2016!!!!

January

I got a new job! That is big news for January - I am the new Academic Coordinator for the Harold Ramis Film School at The Second City.  I have been so freaked out, but while I leave a job with amazing health insurance and benefits, wonderful co-workers and friends, and stability, I have decided to take a major risk to take on a new job with a new for-profit school that hasn't even been announced yet.  If anything. I think that it shows Charley that you can't stay comfortable - you have to take risks and challenge yourself.  

This month Charley discovered broccoli, and feeding herself little pieces. She is amazing and almost crawling!  

She has two bottom teeth, and is rolling rolling rolling! So close to crawling but not yet!  

Game night at Mary-Frances's

Photo of the Family

Carrots!

Bundled up for the walk to daycare!

Fun dinner at Jeremy + Shirleys, visiting friends Ferris + Paloma!

Morning Hair!!!

Charley little cowlick. So cute.

In the thick of May!

May is a very important month to me.  It's our wedding anniversary, Bill's birthday, Joshie's birthday, David Carmona's birthday, Matt Lawrence's birthday, Victors birthday and Lenny's birthday.  Its a big month.  The season in May can be cold, rainy and warm on all the same day.  It means the end of a semester of teaching, a quieting down in life, but also more of a financial struggle.  The first of the three day weekends of the summer, the beginning of white pants, and the start to attempt to get color on my skin.
Oh May.  You're always that turning point month for me.  Before the end, though, Bill and I get to treat ourselves.  Yesterday was our two year anniversary!   We went to Taxim for dinner, a modern take on Greek food.  I honestly can take or leave Greek Town, so this was a nice alternative.  We  had the House Cured Sardine, the Ramps with leeks, dill, feta in phyllo dough, the lamb sausage and the wood-grilled Octopus.  Also for the main courses I had the leg of lamb with orzo and bill had the lamp chops.  It was delicious!

Today is also Lenny's birthday.  Here is his two year old picture:

Tonight starts the half-yearly sale at Nordstrom, so Bill is going to working like a maniac these next couple of weeks.  Sigh.  We are having his birthday party on Monday, Memorial Day so that should be fun!  We're having grilled sausage + pepper sandwiches, the Carmona pulled pork recipe, grain salad and chicken legs.  Sorry, drumsticks.

To you, Spring 2011 semester!

And finally I can relax.  Industry Night went off without a hitch....I was stressed out and working 10+ hours a day for a while there, and now its over.  The semester is over and my Film & Video, Television and Radio event was great.  Through all the concerns that came from people in various departments, it was the best we ever had.  Friday I was exhausted and made it to one art exhibit for Manifest. Here's a photo.

I made it to the grocery store soon after and just chilled all evening.  Saturday I went to Girl and The Goat with Mackie, Mary-Frances and Erica. It was great.  Erica and I are all about our 2011 to do list, and so I made these reservations in February after crossing off "get a new job" on my list.
We had: Pan Fried Shishito Peppers with parmesan, sesame and miso; Chickpea Fritters with romesco, hazelnut hummus, sesame and goat feta; Grilled Baby Octopus with serrano, treviso, celery root, braised pistachio and red bliss potato (it was so good it was crazy); Escargot Ravioli with bacon and tamarind-miso sauce; Goat Chorizo Flatbread with ramp pesto, rhubarb and fresh ricotta; Wood Oven Roasted Pig Face with sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro and potato stix;  Goat Liver Mousseline with ham hock jus, citruis marmalade and crumpets; Grilled Pork Ribs with tomatillo-mushroom slaw and grilled scallion vinaigrette and for dessert, Blood Orange Sorbet with parsnip pot de creme, pistachio cake and three sisters cornmeal crust.  Wowzer, it was an awesome meal with awesome friends, which was long over due and super, super fun and necessary!  I can't wait to do it again soon!

2011 MASTER LIST

Ok, per a heavy duty FB conversation today, here is the beginnings to my 2011 accomplishment list. Items left over from 2010 will be marked with a *.
1. Hot Dougs - 3324 N. California*
2. Modern Wing @ the Art Institute*
3. Pho Pho Pho*
4. A bike ride*
5. The Green Market*
6. Use my Chicago Public Radio Membership card for restaurant discounts*
7. Ramen Ramen Ramen  **WENT TO ARAMI 2/18/11.  THE ARAMI RAMEN WAS AMAZING!!!**
8. Korean BBQ (I'm on an Asian Food Kick)
9. Visit Rachel and James  **TRIP IS BOOKED FOR SPRING BREAK, MARCH 2011******
10. Visit the Pacific Northwest
11. Have a romantic weekend with Bill
12. Avoid the same old 2010 haunts (Oak Oak Tap, Clutch, Cleos, all those same old places)
13. Master brand new Soups
14. Make a recipe out of EVERYTHING in my CSA, not just the stuff I'm familiar with
15. New gig, please **I START 2/28/11 - DREAM JOB!!!****** FYI - amazing. Awesome. So great.
16. Get Bill to actually donate some articles of clothing, shoes, etc.   He Donated TWO shirts. Its a step.
17. Margie's Candies
18. Girl and the Goat ***reservations 5/14!***
19. Start a business plan for a doggie daycare "Victors Garden"
20. Get a piano
21. MOST IMPORTANT!  A DINING ROOM TABLE!  I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year, and at this rate we will be eating on the floor!

It's Fall Around Here!

It sure feels like it, although tomorrow its supposed to be 88 degrees!  My classes are going full force at Columbia, I have three sections of Producing 1.  My students are great, and I really think its going to be a great semester.  Lenny is adapting more and more each day, although we do toy with the idea of Doggie Day Care, for the days we are gone longer then eight hours, and Bill wants to get another dog so he's not alone.  Doggie Day Care is cheaper.

Regardless, back to the soup.  As soon as there is a nip in the air, I do what I do best.  Make soup.  I have more soup recipes that I can make in a year, but I also love winging it!
This evening last week, I made a spin on my grandma's zucchini soup - It was tomatoes (thanks CSA!), onions, veggie stock, cannelloni, garbanzo, and kidney beans.  And of course the most delicious spicy sausage from my corner Italian store, Fiore's.
We invited Lex, who said he was missing homemade soup and we chowed.

Fresh tomatoes!

Parmesan Rind is awesome in soups - freeze it when you're done with your hunk o' cheese!

Happy, full boys

I made my first tapenade, too! 

Oh Rachel, I miss you so!

My wonderful friend Rachel was in Chicago for six weeks, from May 14 - June 22 and she stayed with Bill and I.  Rachel and I have a long strange history though working various jobs together, but our friendship was really bonded when she and her boyfriend James moved into good old 2350/52 W. Ohio.  The four of us were like Melrose Place, minus the fights, the sex scandals and drama.  Just good old fashioned fun, gardening, parties, and Cubs games.  On the roof of course!

Regardless, Rachel and James moved to Los Angeles in November, right after Obama's election.  It's been a long time, and here is hoping that the pilot she was working on Chicago gets picked up, because we need Jamesy and Rachel back!!!! NOW!  And as a thanks to Bill & me, Rachel bought us a ridiculously generous gift certificate to Longman & Eagle, just voted Best New Restaurant by the Chicago Reader!  And that also means Date Night!

Julie is....I mean Bill is...cooking Part Six

Ahhhh Pork.  The best I have ever had was in North Carolina with the Carmona's.  Bacon, bratwurst, and of course the slow-cooked spicy pork burritos.  Heaven.  We attempted to recreate it.

Cooked for 9 hours and seared with a dry spice rub, cooked in beer, adobo peppers and spices.

And the best part is how it falls apart. 

And of course we had many, many people over for dinner that night!

April is Alright by me!

Thus far, April has been the best month for me in 2010.  I hate to jinx anything, its only being April 7th, but so far for this month, I'm super excited to be nominated for the board chair of the student division for Women In Film Chicago.  Its such an honor and I am so excited to be on the board - I would be encouraging students from all colleges with film programs to be involved, to network, and make their film experience better for them as individuals.  And 1 million more things!

Secondly, it was my 32nd birthday.  Wow - 32.  I can't believe its already happened!  I had Friday off (for Good Friday - April 2 - and I had a wonderful day with Mackie going to JAM for breakfast, off to get our nails done, and of course a tad of Shopping!
Then we went to Resi's Bierstube.  Pictures to follow!

Third - its finally Spring time and we mulched the hell out of our yard.  It looks so awesome!

Lastly, tomorrow we are flying to visit the Mighty Carmona Family!  I can't believe it until I'm there!

Julie is Cooking Part Cinq

Thanks to Rachel, I made one hella a sandwich. You know when you really just need a really great sandwich?  Well - welcome to the Julie Caprese!  I went on a grocery shopping spree and the greatest grocery store ever, Caputo's  and I got lots of fresh veggies, cheese, bread and irresistible Italian Pesto.

Pictures after the jump!

Julie is Cooking Part Quatre

So heading back into the kitchen, we decided to do an "International" dinner night with John + Kadima.  They were coming over for Greek, and soon we will be dining at their house for Chinese.
Somehow dinner turned into a party, but above all the food was good. I just wish I remembered to photograph all the food!  DUH! I made Hummus (my recipe is way better) - amazingly delicious -, Chicken + Beef Soulvaki, grilled veggies and Tzatziki.
Yummy photos after the jump!

Julie Is Cooking Part Trois

Wow.  It's really really cold and very Captain Winter is at the reigns.  This means for me - stocking up on sales at Jewel, Trader Joes, and using every ounce of my weekly Winter Produce Box.  And, of course, utilizing what I have stashed away for days that I really just want to make something with what we have in the house.
I am a self diagnosed soup whore.  I love soup.  I can eat it every day, it being cold out, hot out, or whatever.  I can make Italian soups, Moroccan soups, Vegetarian soups, Vegan soups, Meaty soups, Hearty soups, Winter soups, Summer soups, and Whatever is left in the Fridge soups.

This week, I went for a Kale and White Cannellini Soup.  It was so good I couldn't stop raving about my own cooking!  Pics after the jump.

Restaurants to Dine in 2010!

I guarantee that this list is going to grow and grow and grow....

1. Not fancy - but I have always wanted to try it - Tommy's Guitars and Cafe
2. I would like to RETURN to A Tavola for my 32nd birthday this year. BILL IF YOU ARE READING THIS HINT HINT.
3. Green Zebra
4.  Hot Dougs
5. Great Lake Pizza - voted by GQ one of the best pizzas in America.
6. Cafe Matou - Perfect for Valentines Day!
7. Taxim - Also Perfect for Valentines Day!
8. Breakfast + Brunch time - Pura Belleza Coffee & Art
9. Thank you Puerto Rico!
   
10. This is in my neighborhood. I have no excuse - Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar.
11. 
    

Julie Is Cooking Part Deux.

So I signed up for a winter vegetable box.  Not quite a CSA, but a super affordable version of local, non-local and organic produce.  Two fruits (Bill and I don't eat enough fruit) and four veggies (we eat TONS of veggies) each week - pickup on Mondays.  I'm so excited about it because it means I get different things then what I buy at the store each week. And I get to try new recipes, like the one below.  And I love supporting a local business.  Read all about it on the Green Grocer's website. They're so nice and friendly - I'm happy to be doing business with them.

This week I got some radishes, spinach, sweet potatoes, an acorn squash, bananas and pears.  Awesome! 
So, tonight I went out on a ledge and made Sweet Potato and Sausage soup.  I haven't been eating much meat lately, but at the  Logan Square Farmer's Market Bill and I bought organic sausage from happy pigs on a happy farm.  Ironically,  I'm still struggling to eat it.

But, the soup turned out well!  Check out the pics below!

Happy Sausage from a happy, organic pig.  And a happy farmer - really nice guy!

Onions, garlic, red potatoes,  + sweet potatoes - before adding the organic veggie broth.

Finished product, mashed up the potatoes, added lots of paprika + pepper and a bunch of spinach!

Julie is Cooking

I LOVE cooking - its something I love even more when I have a dishwasher, which I do.
Bill LOVES to eat, so it really makes cooking fun.  One of the best gifts I got for Christmas was a dutch oven. I have wanted one for SO long, and its an awesome orange color.

Bill really wanted a crockpot, and I didn't, but of course my mom bought him one.

Anyway, tonight, upon inspiration from one of Rachel's recipes - I am baking chickpeas with smoked paprika.  When they are out of the oven they should be crispy and I'm going to douse them with a little honey.

1 - 15oz can of chickpeas - rinse and pat dry
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
1 1/2 TS of smoked paprika
1 1/2 TS of kosher salt
1/2 Tablespoon of honey

Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, take them out, dump them in a bowl and spoon about 1/2 tablespoon of honey over them. Mix well and serve!  Yum!  **Update - Bill ate them all. I had about 10 Chickpeas**

More things I'm obsessed with

Shoe Pants!  What the.....
http://cocoperez.com/2010-01-05-introducing-the-shoe-pants/?from=PH

FOOD:
http://skyfullofbacon.com/blog/?p=342

Angry People in Newspapers:
http://www.veryshortlist.com/vsl/daily.cfm/review/1443/Website/anger-management/

Ukrainian Candy - by what do you mean???
http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2010/01/04/just-opened-nuts-2-you-a-ukranian-candyland

PosieTint from Benefit:
http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B0015YFJ4W/ref=ord_cart_shr/175-0704828-8564365?ie=UTF8&bcBrand=core

Oh Bears, you have problems. Not that I care, because I don't.

And because I married a Greek:

http://www.greekinternetmarket.com/2560-01001.html

Awesomeness. Because I hate chain restaurants.

http://eatingtheroad.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/where-to-eat-chain-restaurant3.jpg