What Ana Does

Spring has finally SPRUNG in Paris and it's so green (thanks to all that rain) and more lovely than we were imagining. The Parisians have been out picnicking in our park all day and into the night. And leaving the city on weekends. The Spring Walk Home Compared to the winter walk home. The Winter Commute There are a bunch of French holidays in May. The girls are off this Thursday and Friday (Victory Day and Ascension Day) and then again in two weeks for Whit Monday. I get asked a lot if our kids have more days off here than in the States, and while they get more consecutive days off -- Spring break was two and a half weeks -- they get far less single days off. In the States, it seemed like each month had a long weekend for one reason or another. Plus, they will be in school until the end of June here in Paris. Illinois is out at the end of May. Related posts: More Spring posts

I think I post this every year, but I'm just so happy to see that SPRING is finally gracing us with its presence. I know... I shouldn't complain because winter was "mild." But my definition of "mild" is in the 60s, not 30s. So there. As is custom, I'm starting to think about spring cleaning projects and various tasks to spruce up the house and, more importantly, the yard. Everything is in need of a new coat of paint or at the very list a power wash. And who doesn't love a good power wash?! More to follow!

Well, we're down to the last few days before Spring Break in London and, as you might have guessed, I'm deep into my packing routine. A packing routine? Don't scoff, it's something I've been perfecting for years. I've got it down to Three Phases of Packing . In a nutshell they are: 1) Research, what will we be doing? 2) Gathering and Shopping, what do we have and need? 3) Stacking, Sorting and Editing, what will actually fit/go into suitcases? I'm just finishing up Phase 2 and moving to Phase 3 by Friday. I may need a quick trip to Hanna Anderson for some leggings for Alice. She wears all her cheap leggings out at the knees. Also, I think she hit another growth spurt. Anyway, I've been noticing posts like these on Pinterest and I'm really digging them. An image that incapsulates what's in my suitcase?? YES! I have to try this. Right: LiveLoveSara | Left: Putting Me Together So these are my inspiration. My photo coming soon! R...

There's nothing that tells me it's Spring more than the scent of lilacs in my house.  Growing up, we had a large lilac bush in our backyard and every year my Mom cut an enormous bouquet of flowers for the dining room table that you could smell in every corner of the house.  Don't you love how some scents remind you of childhood memories?  These days I cut lilacs from a house up the street with a long row of lilacs -- as my attempts to grow them in our yard have been unsuccessful. (I swear the owner doesn't mind.)  Happy Spring -- despite the frost warnings this week.  Spring Lilacs Silly Alice At the Bus Stop Related links: More BACKYARD posts

As you stare at this BEFORE picture, let's remember it's early spring and it's been raining for the last six days. Also, please notice the crumbling brick stairs and sinking pavers.

The best part of being on vacation is no dishes to wash and put away. The worst part? Umm, can't come up with one. Sun burn? Daily Views Vacation means unhurried time with my family. Reading time. Swimming time. Time to eat. Sleeping in. No dogs to let out early. No school bus. No schedule. Putting Facebook on my phone because I have time to scroll through. Time to get dirty. Extra time to get clean. A different pace to the day that eases the knots of what's normal.  Related posts: Let's talk about traveling with kids 

With each season comes the opportunity to do some shopping for my girls. They continue to grow like weeds -- especially Alice. Her feet keep skipping shoe sizes! Anyway, there's nothing I love more than scouring my favorite kid clothing sites for some adorable clothes. And even though shorts and t-shirts are most needed for summer camp, it's more fun to look at dresses! Hannah Anderson is my current favorite place to shop for "good" essentials, especially the leggings, because they hold up soooo well. This little  nautical outfit  is on Leah's Spring list. I'm completely in love with it, too. And they've got red corp leggings to go with it. Hannah Anderson: Ribbon Sundress While packing for Orlando a few weeks ago, I discovered Leah has NO summer dresses that fit her. So we hit the mall Saturday evening to see what we could find on sale. Leah just got this green dress from the Gap  that's one of her favorite colors. Gap: Floral Bloom Flut...

Looking out my window this morning it's gray and rainy. BUT it's almost 60 degrees for the first time in weeks, so I'm trying to be optimistic. To that end, here's a list of things that are making me HAPPY right now: This Scarf(!): It's got these cute, printed bicycles and matches almost EVERYTHING in my closet. ... And what is it with me and bicycle prints right now? I also just ordered a new shower curtain for the girls' bathroom and it's all bikes, too! The Word Ephemeral : It's been in a few of the books I've read lately. I like to say it, read it, think about it as a concept. Why does this word make me happy? I just does. My Backyard:  And, more specifically, watching my girls play in the backyard. After months of looking at ugly browns and washed out grays, my backyard is starting to fill in with lush greens and even the weeds fill me with joy. And the little girls laughing on the swing-set they haven't used in months is jus...

Love to see lilacs in bloom! Lilac Hedge Near the School Bus Stop I will stealthily cut a few of these so I can have them on my kitchen table. 

Can we just talk about how bad this weather sucked this week? A 40 degree difference from Thursday -- when I held practice in 80 degree weather. And this weekend's tournament -- 40s with bitter wind and rain. It's a good thing I didn't tuck the winter coats away just yet. Oh you, fickle Spring weather. This is why we can't ever leave the house.

I love New York in the springtime! This weekend we took our little family on our annual trip to New York City -- tagging along on David's business trip. We arrived on Friday afternoon and headed to the first of two dates with old friends. The first up in Columbus Circle and the other down in SoHo. With no one in my current town that really knows me, it's always so great to be in the company of someone who has known me for a very many years. In SoHo , nostalgia kicked in over cupcakes and cobblestoned streets. Why did we move again? Of course, I stopped into Purl for some fabric and felt. Ahh lovely! Saturday started with Alice's Tea Cup , again, for a yummy breakfast served with fairydust and wings. Then a quick walk up to the Natural History Museum where we were blown away, again, by the big Blue Whale dangling from the ceiling and all the other treasures. The girls pulled out their iPad and took a thousand pictures of anything and everything that piqued their int...

I am wired to spring clean . Not sure what in my DNA makes this so, it just is. Did I spring clean with my Mom while growing up? I don't recall exactly, but I'm guessing I did. Also, I believe I was a farm wife in a past life, so cleaning out the house after winter finally departs is embedded deep in my psyche. This year, we've been doing so much travel, that I haven't even thought about Spring Cleaning 2015 and what I want to accomplish. Work is exploding, I'm coaching two youth soccer teams, two big birthdays and all the other general wackiness that accompanies early April is heavy upon us. But, so is the need to shovel out under the mountain of STUFF that accumulates over the winter months. I don't know about you, but I spend the winter burrowing under stuff and crafting, and not throwing anything away. So, what am I planning to do this Spring? Other than the usual clothes sort and cleaning out the piles of mail, papers and toys that are piled all ov...

... Well, likely past the time to order seeds. But I'm a direct-sow kinda girl so anytime before Mother's Day is a good time. Hoping to get the radishes and lettuce out soon -- as I'm told they can go in after the snow melts. We'll hit the garden center in May for all the baby plants, too. I usually get tomatoes and peppers this way. And I'm thinking of experimenting with peppermint -- in a pot on the patio, of course. Starting to really think Spring here!

As I sit here, the snow if melting and the sun in shining ... I'm starting to have visions of spring. I hate winter, so I'm not too sad to see it go. However, I am sad to put away my most favorite thing about winter ... these boots. Last fall, I started shopping for boots to get me through the dreary winter months and found two that I loved on Zappos. I sent links and sizes to my husband for easy Hanukkah shopping. (See? I'm a good wife.) I didn't know WHICH I'd get, but I would have been happy with either. I got these lovely Sorels in a wine and grey color. I wore them EVERYWHERE this winter. They looked awesome with my skinny jeans, and great with tights. I could wear them with or without socks. I even brought them to San Diego over Christmas and wore them in the morning and evenings when the temps dipped. And they got compliments everywhere I went. Ugg boots, you see them everywhere. But these Sorels are unique and practical. I won't miss the bi...

My basement (unfinished, thankfully) flooded a little bit this week. Mostly because large amounts of snow is finally melting but also because my sump pump is old and wheezy. And also because there are FROGS in my sump pump. FROGS IN MY SUMP PUMP. So many questions: Where did they come from? How long have they been there? How many of them are there? Will they emerge and play with the Legos? Of course I did the only normal thing TO do when faced with slimy possibly-somewhat-hibernating frogs; I asked my 14-year-old neighbor/dog-walker to fish them out of my sump pump. I GAVE HER GLOVES, geez. And I unplugged the sump pump. I'm not a monster. But she's a better dog walker than a frog catcher -- or the frogs are just super-crafty -- and she caught NONE of them. So I promptly fired her; from frog catching. She can have my dog. So there are still frogs in my sump pump well. But I'm able to unclog the pump enough to empty it out and not pour more snowy water into my baseme...

I just love my backyard in the Spring! Watching it go from grey and dreary to technicolor green is an annual miracle I don't take for granted.  This year, I'm still concentrating on the perennial bed around the right side of my lawn. I've added some pink peony (4 new plants) and pretty salvia. And I planted that sunflower bed I'm eagerly anticipating. I'm almost to the point where I'll need massive amounts of mulch to finish it off. I may need some help with that.  Asiatic Lilies Will Be Bursting With Color Soon! New Peony With Weed Guard. Next Step: LOTS of Mulch Pretty Little Bell Flower Perennial Will Be Layered in Front of Salvia With the cool weather and lots of rain, that backyard is just going to get greener! Related links: More BACKYARD posts

Once again, like in past years, Spring Cleaning has snuck up on me.  I don't plan to clean out cabinets and drawers -- tossing old pantry items and broken toys. But, one weekend day, I'll find myself pulling out all my baking supplies and organizing them by task, trashing the expired stuff, and neatly putting them away.  It happened today. I woke up with the sudden need to browse the Container Store and Target for ideas and organizing solutions. After I made granola bars, I was shuffling around the bowls, moving the tea to the other cabinet and staring at the pantry -- trying to think of ways to reorganize for optimal use. I need to sort toys and winter/summer clothing next.  It must be somewhere deep in my DNA, to clear out and organize cabinets at this time of year. The Spring Break Chromosome. Is it just me?  The Cabinet is Just Screaming for Some Help Bowls and Travel Mugs - Now Easier to Find

Maybe this winter was really that bad. Or maybe I'm just going with the mass complaining that half the country is participating in. (We survived the Polar Vortex!) But these days I feel like it's been ages since I've been outside without layers and layers of clothing. Do people still do that? While packing for Florida, I just couldn't comprehend an outfit that didn't include a long-sleeve layer. I packed hoodies for the girls, for Pete's sake!  Of course the hoodies went completely unused -- and I was quickly reacquainted to the experience of sweating while being outside. But I can assure you I did not take it for granted. It was almost glorious to walk around in the sun and warmth -- until it became too hot. Especially after returning to 50 degree highs back here in Illinois. Are you sure it's May?

Since moving away from NYC, we've traveled back each year with the kids for the Parkinson's Unity Walk that David attends for work. It's usually the end of April. And the weather is usually a bit iffy. This year Grandma bought tickets to see Cinderella on Broadway with all her granddaughters. So, the trip was scheduled around an afternoon with my in-laws, nieces and sister-in-law. Otherwise, Friday and Sunday were all up to me. And I took some care this year on finding some BIG events for us to do and make this trip memorable. Because, at this point on, these girls are going to start remembering these trips. Highlights included: Statue of Liberty, morning in Central Park, Top of the Rock, SoHo for cupcakes with Sonja, evening at MOMA, breakfast at Alice's Tea Cup and FAO Schwartz. Plus, while the girls attended the show, I got some solo shopping time. Looking Out At NJ Broadway Boogie Woogie! Contemplating Jackson Pollack Breakfast at Alice...

The guys came this week to remove the huge juniper bushes that hugged up against my house and snaked behind my raised beds. WOW! They were so out of control and their needles were so prickly, they've been a literal thorn in my foot since we moved in. I'm sooo thrilled they are almost gone! Juniper Bush Is Gone! My plan is to plant huge hydrangea under the dining room windows -- something that blossoms and adds color to the backyard. I'm also considering adding another raised bed -- this one longer and thinner. But I'll have to check out the space. In the meantime, I have a lovely little greenhouse (a gift from Dave) to install. Does that mean it's Spring? Related links: More BACKYARD posts