Charley at the Beach

Charley had her first trip to the beach in Beverly Shores, Indiana on June 20th!  Her first sleepover, too - we were at Lex's dad's house.

Look at those little pink feet sticking out!

Olive LOVES rolling over and over in the sand!

Lenny and Olive had a great time, too!  I haven't seen them that happy - well - ever!

City dogs need to be reminded to take their flea and tick medication. We found one on Olive a week later, and I found a HUGE tick on her just 2 days ago!  Whoops!

Lenny and Olive

Although they can be a pain in the butt, I sure love these pups of ours.  Lenny has decided its fun to destroy window air conditioner units....yea!  But they're still pretty cute.

Small Medium & Large!

Hello February!

Man it is FREEZING outside!  Like so cold that after our garage door broke (bad and old sensors) the actual door to get into the garage froze!
When it is this cold all I want in life is soup, and I found an awesome recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I'm a sucker for chard, sausage and garlic - as well as lentils so it is totally in my wheelhouse!

And the dogs are saying chill, too:

 Doesn't Lenny's paw look like it has an angry rooster face?  Or is it just me and too many Daisy Cutters?

Olive was totally over our dance party last night:  Bill and I are up to 5 action packed hours of sweet jams for our Valentines Day Party!

Winter Time Updates!

Happy Winter Everyone!  Although I feel like life has finally slowed down a touch, things are nutzo in their own right.
I had my Women In Film Kickoff Party that I was part of the committee last week.  It was a success, but we were way over budget and didn't break even whatsoever!  Its our big membership drive, but I think people really had fun and that is also what matters!

It was a fun night, I think it went well!!!

We're still working on getting Lenny acclimated to the new house.  He is really having a hard time getting used to it- we thought a bigger space would be better for him, but I guess not.  His new thing is attempting to break into the refrigerator.  It's really annoying.  We have to put baby locks on the fridge and push the Butcher Block Island in front of it...its getting old.  We don't know what else to do!

Also - don't put plants in front of the window!  Lesson Learned!

Kyle & Marie-Elena moved to Minneapolis, but Kyle was in town and brought Tequila over for a play date with Lenny and Olive.  They're the greatest folks around, and I am already missing them so much!

And of course, my obsession with Olive continues...per usual.

Welcome, 2013!

New Years Eve was wild - we went to a wedding to the ceremony and cocktail reception for Bill's boss, then went back to the city for a party at James & Rachel's.  The photos tell this story:

And for New Years Day:
Our Huron neighbors have an annual NYD hangover brunch, and we had lots of food and good times. What made this year special and different, and that our beloved Kyle, Marie-Elena and Tequila are moving to Minneapolis.  While its super exciting and ME is so excited about her new job, its not Chicago, and we have become very near and dear friends with them.  And Tequila and the dogs love each other.

Olive still in bed, I think she and Lenny hit the town or something.

Yes, that IS bacon wrapped pineapple.

Summer, oh summer.

I feel like at least 60% of this blog is about how slowly or quickly life is moving by.  Its pretty lame.  So I'm just going to enjoy the 100 degree days we have had, hide my sadness of summer being half over (ahem) and be looking forward to everything else.
Coming up:  Mackie, Amy, Mom, Dad, Joshie and Sammie and heading to Milwaukee on Friday for an old fashion Ford Family trip!  It should be super awesome, I'm stoked.  We're going to the Sprecher Brewery for a tour, then to Art Smart's Dart Mart Juggling Emporium, not because I juggle but because its rad, then to Maders Restaurant for lunch.  Then on Sunday Mackie, Mary-Frances and I are taking our first ever girls trip!  We're going to to Wisconsin, and heading to Lake Lawn in Delevan, WI.

I wish Bill and I could afford to go somewhere this year, but once again its out of the question.  It sucks.

Anyway,  here are some thing that have happened this summer, all in photos, of course.

 My CSA from Angelic Organics - Yum!

 Some crazy chick on the back of a motorcycle on the Kennedy - WTF!

 BINGO with my neighbor friends - super fun!

 Lenny and Olive, cute as can be!

 Grilling with my neighbor Kyle - July 3rd 2012

 The loves of my life - my gorgeous, happy and healthy tomato plants!

 The most awesome pretzel ever at Genes Sausage Shop in Lincoln Square!

 Cute Face Lenny Alevizos!

 My first encounter with fancy ass doughnuts from Do Rite Donuts.

 Lex - looking dapper.

 Bill at Pitchfork.

 The good old Roseanne Family.

Planning meeting for Women In Film - the events I'm planning.

And there goes summer!

How on earth, is it that when you feel like as a kid that summer goes so fast, but as an adult it goes faster? Well, I lost my cord for my camera, and it was a teeny, tiny cord, so I had to do some fast magic to download these pictures.  Anyway, here is the rest of the summer is summary.
Work was mellow during the summer, now we have two new creative liaisons that started in the portfolio center and thus far, barely two weeks it seem to be working out ok.
However, here is the real reacap on life.

My lovely friend Amanda's birthday party!  She's third from the right and one of the coolest people ever.

John & Kadima's engagement party at the Bristol Renaissance Faire....amazing as you assume.

Bill and I at the Ren Faire, what a great and awesome engagement party!

Our lovely Christian and his girlfriend Jackie moved to Miami, and this was his going away party. He is a crazy talented cinematographer, and just a wonderful guy.  He worked at Sip Coffee House and we have known him for at least 5 years.  Hell of a guy, super sad that they moved.    But they're doing well in Miami, for now!

 Oh how I love Denise and Colleen, our downstairs neighbors.  This is Denise at her birthday party, straight off the trolley.  We are honestly blessed to have instant, awesome and amazing great people right downstairs.  It made the summer even funner, and makes it even harder for us to move!

Mr. Bob Sage was in town, Bill's best dude.  He's awesome, and a lovely man who is crazy smart and a wonderful person.  It was so great to have him around for a few days, Bill was over the moon with him in town!

 Ryan and Harper about to eat their birthday cake!

 How are these girls so grown up?  Sofia and Zoe with little Jimmy.  How in the world is Zoe a freshman?  I'm not ready!  I'm not ready!

 News flash!!!!! This hat is going to be on everyone's Christmas list this year!  I mean, how can you not want an Alevizos hat!!!!!!!

Our little bunny Jimmy.  check out those smudge legs!  I love him!  What a joy he is!
Hmm....anything else?  Lets see.  Work. Summer. Love.  Oh wait, sleeping dogs!

How can you not love those faces????