I spent the weekend playing with my camera (that’s my 14-day-old niece above), working and getting ready for the book fair at Kiwi’s elementary school…in between numerous engagements that kept me out and running around. I’m beginning to consider hiring a personal assistant. Someone who could scrub my dining room floor and do dishes and laundry. Let me know if you’re interested. I will cook for you. Several of our meals are going to be things that come together quickly... more

October? No. It can’t be. I am in serious denial. Yet here it is. Leaves turning, weather getting colder and still I can’t believe we’re here in fall. Fall has innate the ability to force me into cleaning, purging and organizing before the temperature drops to below zero and outside is something you have to bundle up for. I went through the basement today, kicking off my October purge. Here on the blog, I’m helping you get organized this October by hosting my first... more

I was transported back to 1987 today, except I was the same age as I am today and in awe of Richard Dean Anderson, who had just saved the day and pulled a classic MacGyver by getting the car started using nothing but the power adapter wiring from the tape deck, some discarded plastic, a twist-tie and a screwdriver, just in time for us to escape from the antagonist’s carefully laid trap. Then I snapped out of it and realized that it wasn’t 1987. It was 2009, and Richard Dean Anderson... more

We headed off to the farmer’s market today again. I came back with produce for the whole week, including apples. I love fall at the farmer’s market. Most of the produce in Minnesota is harvested in the fall, and the bustle and bushels and baskets of peppers, corn, tomatoes and onions make it that much more enjoyably…for me, at least. We came home with a fantastic bushel of early apples, perfect for eating and eating and eating some more. A few more weeks until peak apple season... more

We made it through the first week of school! We’re off to a great start so far. I have to say I kind of liked the quiet after I sent all but Kidney Bean off to school or preschool, even if it is just in the morning. I was so much more productive for that small amount of time. We tried something new tonight and walked to the grocery store. We’ve biked before, and we’ve walked for small trips. It was an adventure. I have to say the cool night air was nice, but I’d leave... more

It’s here. The end of summer. I’m both excited for school to start and to have the kids in a more stable routine, but I’m sad that lazy pajama mornings and my afternoon projects with Kiwi and Kola Nut are coming to an end. To celebrate the end of summer, we find ourselves at the Minnesota State Fair every year – multiple times – eating, riding, people watching and walking. The weather was great, and the kids were troopers. Tomorrow is the last day before school and my list... more

Only one weekend left until we send our kids off to school. I have to admit I’m looking forward to it, not because I don’t want them around, but because I think they’ll be happy to have some routine that involves other kids, other activities, someone – anyone – other than me. We spent the weekend with family, going to the zoo and bumming around the neighborhood. I also fit in a short photo session with my nieces and nephews and we took a family walk, all 12 of us, down the... more