As of late I've been looking for ways to break up the mundane, to find another way to enjoy Mother Nature and to save a few bucks.  No matter where you turn these days, there is always an article on how to save money, to increase your savings and budgeting.  I review my budget almost daily.  An obsesion I've had for quite some...

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I had taken this previous week off from work, to have a vacation.  My sister has been in town and I need to regroup for work.  It turned out to be an ideal week for weather too.  Unfortunately, I spent the first three days of my vacation working.  In the mornings and in the evenings, hunched over the work laptop.  Wednesday afternoon I...

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I cannot tell you how much I love to be surprised with little things.  Like Thursday for instance, I was in the basement helping my nephew Nicholas make a stuffed octopus.  As I sat at the sewing machine adding all six legs to the body, I thought to myself I should blog this.  I yell to my niece Erika who was in the...

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My sister Sharon and her three children are here in town visiting for a couple of weeks.  They left the humidity and heat of Florida behind ... to get a break of being cooped up inside because its too hot to be outside.  There are a couple of benefits of their visit.  I get to spend quality time with Sharon and the kids,...

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I'd like for you to meet my friend Veronique.  She is from France, ok, I should really say she originates from France, but has been many places.  Currently she resides in Luxembourg. Vero and I met working together in early 2000's.  She transferred from the France office to Chicago.  I was immediately fascinated by her.  She was so different than anyone I've met...

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This morning, my sister Laura and I headed to Tammen Treeberry Farm along with half of Chicago, to pick fresh blueberries right off the shrub!  I wasnt a big blueberry fan until a few years back.  As I was picking the plump blue berries off their branches I started envisioning blueberry pancakes, blueberry muffins, blueberry smoothies, frozen blueberries and blueberry jam.  All items I would have avoided years back.  I am now looking forward...

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While at Wal-Mart looking for a bug light to kill off the gazillion mosquitos nesting by the water main drain in my backyard, I found these goodies in the Garden Center.  All for $4 apiece.  Whoa! Deal!!I now have a tomato + basil planter, a bell pepper planter and a green + red lettuce planter. I've never grown a vegetable in my life.  Its high...

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Doesnt this look good??  Let me tell you, it is good!  I saw an episode of  Giada at Home a couple of weekends ago and was inspired to make everything she made in her show.  I, of course, am no where near as talented as Giada, but when I find easy recipes that are easy to make, I sure do feel as talented...

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This afternoon my sister Laura and I attended a memorial service for my sister-in-law's late father.  He passed away unexpectedly and at a relatively young age, sixty.  But when its your time, its your time.  He will be missed.  When Laura and I arrived, my brother handed us the boys and asked that we keep them occupied during the event. Instead of sitting in the church and...

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 Its the season ... Summer Reading Season.  Every year for as long as I can remember, at the begining of the summer, my mother would take my brother and I to the library to sign up for the summer reading program.  We would then get to select a handful of books to bring home.  Not sure about my brother, but I looked forward...

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  (trying new picture size)I wanted to write this impressive post about my love for Chicago, the feelings I have whenever I set foot within the city limits.  I've started this post several times, only to hit the delete button several times.  Like many things today, I give up.  Here it is. I love Chicago.  My roots are here in city, dating all the way back...

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GREEN LINKSChicago CaresCatalog Choice Bite Sized Green IdeasDelightful Grocery Bags50 Ways to Help the Planet Recycle ElectronicsINSPIRATION LINKS The Recessionista Design*SpongeMartha Stewart Tastefully Entertaining Joy of Baking PEOPLE LINKSMagic Happens Opinion Generator   ...

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How do you feel when you come home to something surprisingly good?  Today when I walked in the house from a night away, I wasnt expecting to see this: I was oblivious to the bloom at first when I walked in, unloading the car.  As I started putting things away is when I noticed the beauty.  I said out loud, 'Oh my!'.  And smiled.  I pulled...

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Every year, first week in July, Chicago shuts down a few streets and allows all sorts of food vendors to come in and serve their 'best sellers' to basically the entire population of Illinois.  This event is best known as the Taste of Chicago, or The Taste.  I usually avoid this event because of the number of people that attend the event the...

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