What Ana Does

It's not often in Illinois that we get snow in October. Usually Mother Nature has the good grace to wait for the leaves to turn and fall from the trees before dumping the white stuff all over the place. This year, it seems She was too excited to get to snow ... October 31, on Halloween, and we get a few inches! Not that anyone here was complaining.  They couldn't wait to get home from school and play in the snow.  Still all here the next morning! And look at that sky!  I think Bruce loves the snow more than anyone on the house. He spent the day playing and jumping and slipping in the backyard. So, I guess this week, at least, it's winter! Related posts: More Winter posts

As much as I miss summer days, I love Sundays in October. Normally, we stay home. Dave turns on football ALL DAY. And the girls and I putter around the house, watching a few snippets of the games, sorting, cleaning, playing. Lately, Dave and I have been doing our weekly food shop on Sunday mornings. Just the two of us. It's kind of a date. Then, we'll make something BIG for lunch to eat with the girls in a very casual way at the island. Maybe in the crockpot? Dave has been prepping food for lunch and dinners on weekends, as well, in an effort to eat more balanced meals. So he also spends much of Sunday in the kitchen, where he can watch the football games while cutting up veggies and making rice. Last weekend, Leah decided to film him to make a cooking show. As a self-proclaimed, proud HOMEBODY, Sundays in October are just about perfect to me. And they make saying goodbye to summer temperatures and looking down six months of cold, winter weather almost doable. ...

At the beginning of September, I created a list of goals for our first Fall here in Paris (you know I love a goals list!) and here's the update.  (Post: This Fall in Paris I Will...) I'm happy to report things are really starting to roll. Ballerina Alice First, I got the girls into some (not a lot) after-school activities. Alice joined a French ballet class -- as in not one person, including the teacher, speaks English. She's learning quickly. Leah decided to join the school soccer team, after almost two years off. And now that she's taller and so much more coordinated and confident, she's so good! I'm so happy she was willing to try again -- though, I think it had more to do with the friends who are also playing. For me, I found a yoga class, and friend, to take weekly. And a bootcamp class through another mother at school. Then, I committed to take up a weekly CrossFit class because it's something David loves and I thought we could eventually d...

Summer is just about over and I'm starting to think about back-to-school. I'm a sucker for getting all geared up for school in September. It's in my DNA. Leah is going into 7th grade, so her look is transitional girl-to-tween wear. Luckily, she's not into "trendy" or belly-bearing fashions. And just wants to "not look like a baby." Alice is going into 4th and is similarly modest, but loves fashionable looks. So, here are a few of my favorite picks from the stores I'm shopping ... Boden From my favorite shop for the girls (the clothes are cute and high-quality) I found this adorable rainbow patchwork tee ( see it here ) And these roller skate leggings ( see them here ), for the win!  I'm also really into these tunic-dress-sweaters in jersey and fun prints. They're great for the girls to throw-on with leggings (short or long) or tights. ( See it here. ) Old Navy My other staple is Old Navy. They do great basics and ...

Darn you Pinterest for making me feel like I can just up and leave my job. I was already thinking about this, but then my Pinterest board just kept sending me these mantras and I was subconsciously influenced. Where are the motivational mantras about being financial prudent? See my Words of Wisdom Pinterest board . But, warning, it might make you do something crazy.

The very best thing about Fall is the arrival of a ton of new books that keep me up far past my bedtime and have me daydreaming about what will happen all day long! I'm such a book nerd. Here's my annual roundup of books I've been eagerly anticipating ... My very-favorite book of 2015 was  Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. I can't gush enough about how totally blown away I was by the storytelling and characters. Six distinct characters pull off an impossible heist in a fictional world with a cliffhanger that nearly killed me ... INEJ!! At the end of September comes the sequel Crooked Kingdom and OHMYGOD I've been waiting long enough to find out the disastrous results of their heist and what will become of Kaz and his crew.  I picked up Ember in the Ashes audiobook last year and it was so intense I was stressed about listening to it for a whole week. But I couldn't stop. That sequel, A Torch Against the Night , is coming out on August 30 and I've b...

September is my least favorite month of the year. Oh, wait. Second least favorite -- my loathing of February runs deep and true. But September always feels crazy, unorganized and rushed. For everyone this is a month of transitions, from summer to fall. And into the school season. But it takes weeks for us to settle into a routine and that always makes for stressful situations for all of us. And the weather yo-yos between hot and chilly. I never get the right clothes into place, so we're walking out the door in a mishmash of sweaters and summer sandals. This year, a majority of Leah's sweaters have magically disappeared. And I've not had the time to check in all my usual spots. Plus, through in travel. We always seem to be going somewhere in September. Europe, this year. And this kicks off Dave's busy travel schedule. And his annual guys' sports weekend. Then there are all the birthdays, including Alice's and the party I pull together. That eats up time...

Sunday might have been the best day ever. Both Leah and Alice had playdates -- one away, and one in the house. So they spent the morning cleaning, prepping and talking to each other about their plans. They even built a fort and created a reading club. And, of course, asking me "how much longer" about every 20 minutes. Then, they were out of my hair for hours. I went all homemade-crazy-kitchen-lady and made yogurt (as usual), granola bars and applesauce. And for dinner, homemade chicken nuggets (with leftovers for lunch today). The fridge is bursting with good foods for the week, and that always puts a smile on my face. Dave spent the day cozy on the sofa watching football and folding a mountain of laundry. I really do miss football season when it's over. He did leave the house to do some research on a new dishwasher, which is desperately need. The situation is getting bad -- I'm contemplating hand-washing dishes. NOOO! After dropping off Leah at her BFF's ...

I haven't actually sat down and watched a game in, well, years but (as I've mentioned before) I love football season. Mostly because of this ... Thumbs Up! My adorable football fanatic husband will watch the NFL Red Zone channel for hours and do load after load after load of laundry.  I can putter, run errands or take the kids to a play (as I was about to do just before I took this picture) and he'll just keep washing and folding. Marvelous. Related links: More Family Room posts

The weather is turning cooler, with chilly nights and shorter days. Feels like fall! So, it's time for a seasonal spruce-up on this blog background. I choose a fall orangey-red texture to get ready for all those pretty autumnal colors. Hope you like it!

This week was the first week back to school for my girls.  They were both pretty excited to meet the teachers and start a new schedule. With my new job starting next week, I'm also looking forward to a little more structure in our lives. Happy but busy week getting everything where they needed to be.  Me and the Pre-K-er Look Who is In Second Grade?!  She Was Pretty Pleased About Her New School Clothes

Last Fall! As much as I love summer, and I absolutely do, there are a few things that happen in the fall that eases re-entry into cold, chilly and awful weather. And since I'm into making lists lately, I'll give you a top 5 list. (You're welcome!) 1. Back to school - the return to a more regular schedule. Especially this summer, because I only worked part time. Not that I'm complaining, but it all felt a bit surreal. I'm back to full time this fall and so are the kids. And in our neck of the woods, school starts in late August. We're ready to roll.  2. School supply shopping. I have fond memories of all the supplies my Mom would buy, especially when all five of us were in school. I remember the smells of new paper and delights of choosing my supplies -- fueling my optimism for the year ahead. I get the same feeling when picking through folders and #2 pencils for my second-grader. Happy new beginnings.  3. School clothes shopping. Because I'l...