Fall-Weathered Friends

It is about that time to make a trip to the pumpkin farm! If you are looking for a different way to decorate your pumpkins this year, check out my craft column in the October issue of Chicago Parent.

(We made this little guy with supplies from the craft store -- also a fun idea.)

Meet My New Friend Method

A few months ago, Method (you know, the eco-friendly cleaning product people) contacted me to see if I would be interested in becoming one of Chicago's "Method Mavens."

Those of you who know me know that I am certainly no "maven" of anything, but when I learned that being a "Method Maven" meant hosting a cocktail party for my friends where everyone gets free Method products, plus I get to try out new products as they become available throughout the year -- I was more than happy to try my hand at being a "Maven." Plus, I already use (and really like) some Method products around my house anyway (the Lil' Bowl Blu Toilet Bowl Cleaner is strangely delightful - try it).

So in late September, Method is hosting a party for my friends at their new pop up shop at 2034 N. Halsted. We will be sipping sustainable wine and snacking on organic goodies. Guests can bring in toxic household cleaners from their house to be disposed of safely and get a reusable tote bag full of Method products in exchange. We are also going to learn how to make our own natural body scrub with Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green. (Apparently she and Julia Roberts are good friends and it is going to take all of my restraint to not be a huge dork and ask her about that.)

Sounds fun, right? Well, I couldn't invite everyone I know to the party. So Method is going to give me some goodies to give away here. Check back in about ten days to find out how the party went and to enter to win some Method freebies to try out.

A Hat for Him

A few weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to make a hat and sweater for my baby boy to wear home from the hospital.

My sister-in-law was kind enough to give me a knitting lesson. Now, I have been transformed into an old lady who sits on the couch every night knitting while feigning minimal interest in whichever sporting event my husband is watching.

This little blue hat is my first real attempt. It isn't perfect -- but I am getting there. I am currently working on a slightly improved version.

I stopped by the local knitting store yesterday and couldn't resist buying this book full of hat ideas. . . . and some pink, brown, and green yarn.

Hats, hats for everyone (maybe even David).

I will get back to the sweater project at some point, but for now I am going to be making hats to cover all of the lovely little heads in my life.

September Eats

My finds from the Green City Market.

My latest CSA box.

Looks like it is going to be a delicious weekend around here.

What Ails Him

Brendan is having a rough week.

First, he has to deal with me constantly harassing him with, "Do you have to pee? Let's try. You can have a baseball sticker if you try." (All to great success, I might add).

Sunday night, he was awake for several hours with a puking session of unknown origin, but thankfully short duration.

Monday night brought a bizarre, trip-over-a-ball incident in the backyard which left him hobbling around with a twisted ankle (or some other foot injury) for two full days now. He can put weight on it, but the foot is swollen and he is quite limpy. I have been carrying his forty-pound body around like a sherpa (which has brought on my pregnancy lower back pain).

We are quite the hobbly pair.

Oh, the poor B. Hopefully, sunnier days lie ahead for the remainder of the week.

A Big Day for a Big Boy

He stayed dry for the whole day. The. Whole. Day.

Other mommies out there know what I mean when I say that it is hard to express the pride (and relief) you feel when it seems like your little one finally "gets it" in the potty training department.

For the past few weeks, I would say that we have been "dabbling" in potty training - with occasional successes but no sustained interest in the project. (Basically, if I was standing right next to him and was able to sense what was about to occur, I could usually coax him into the bathroom in time).

I have been waiting for some "sign" that he was ready for the real deal.

I am taking his all-day long dryness as that sign. This week is officially potty training week. We are wearing underwear to our Parent/Toddler class today. Wish us luck.

Lavender

I cut back my lavender plants last week and it all smells . . . . just lovely. I want to dry this lavender and do something with it . . . the question is . . . what exactly should I do with it?

My thought is to dry it out and use it in aromatic eye pillows. Eleanor took a yoga class last year and they had similar soft eye pillows to cover their little eyes during Shavasana (feeling calm, feeling very calm).

So my plan is to sew up two little rectangular eye pillows out of some fabric I have lying around and fill them with flax seed and dried lavender. I thought that my crazy little monkeys could use these when we are having some "quiet time."

Anybody else have a good idea on how to best use dried lavender?