decisions, decisions.

In an effort to feel better about myself and this often complicated world we live in, I've made the decision to make more conscious decisions about what I eat.  I wouldn't be being honest if I didn't admit that a decent amount of it is due to the fact that I've felt like a big ole blob of grossness for the last few months, but now that I've been on this path for a few weeks it's about more than that.

Andy and I have been talking about joining a CSA for the last few months but with his crazy travel schedule we never sat down and really looked into it.  Last week I discovered Meadow Haven Farm, a family run farm out of Sheffield, IL.  After perusing their CSA options (only meat and eggs, we can great vegetables from the farmers market) I took a run down to Green City Market to buy some of their product and find out more information.

On the recommendation of the very nice man I spoke with, I purchased two pork chops and happily kept them in the freezer until Andy's return.  I knew they'd be good -- thick, juicy, bone-in, ain't nothing wrong with that! -- and last night we finally got to fire up the grill.

I wanted to keep the seasoning and preparation really clean and simple (a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley on each side) so that the natural flavor of the chop could stand out.  This was a glorified taste test, really, because we wanted to make sure that if we're dropping a lot of money every month it would be worth it.  And worth it is an understatement, friends.

This was one of the better meals we've cooked at home, no joke.  The chop was tender and delicious -- I'm talking real restaurant quality here.  I followed this recipe for grilled romaine as a side dish and it was a perfect accent.  I mean, look at how beautiful this plate is!

We're going back to the farmers market tomorrow to buy a piece of their red meat to try, but I'm fairly certain we'll happily be giving Meadow Haven Farm our business.

year one.

Saturday was my husband and my first wedding anniversary.  I know it's cliche, but I just cannot believe it's been a year already.  Although (here comes another cliche), sometimes I feel like it has to be more than a year.  How can I only have been married to this man for 365 days?  This man that is my perfect match, my truly better half, the Han to my Leia, the love of my life.  Our lives are so one now, as they really have been since our first kiss, that it's hard to believe that we've only just started this journey together.  Isn't that exciting though?  To know that this feeling is only the beginning and we have so many adventures (and I'm sure some bumpy paths) ahead of us.

Our first year of marriage wasn't hard.  We lived together, we knew each other, we were one long before he put a ring on it -- nothing really changed.  It was a wonderful year.  We bought a home, our first baby boy came into our lives, and besides some endless weeks of travel, it was bliss.

I'm feeling a little melancholy about it being over though.  You never get that first year of marriage back -- we're far from newlyweds, officially, and I can no long just say, "We got married in July."  But if all the rest of my years are as wonderful as our year one I'll count myself as one of the lucky ones.

I love you, husband of mine.  Thank you for being my one and only love.

life lately.

It's the oldest excuse in women's lib, but work has taken over my life.  In an effort to quickly recap the last two-ish weeks, here's a glimpse of my life lately.

Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup parade :: Free cake at a client meeting

Brothers and uncles :: Boys with their sports

I mean, hello face :: Industrial outdoor lights courtesy of my handy husband

 There is nothing cuter than this father and son duo :: Sprocket helping fold laundry

Fourth of July cherries :: Fourth of July attire

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chicago summer: day 1.

Here's hoping you have more sunshine than we do.  I'm off to my in-laws this weekend for some much needed relaxation time and Sprocket's first experience in the pool (!!!!!).  Have a great weekend!

[Sorry for the glare and my reflection in the photo, I just needed to capture those sad summer drops.]

take me away, tuesday.

Maybe it's because today is a particularly foggy and wet day, or maybe because summer may actually be here for real and I'm getting cabin fever, but this Tuesday I find myself extra anxious to get out of town.

When I think about packing my bags and taking a vacation/weekend/life hiatus (which is a pretty regular thought), my destination is always Yountville, CA.  Why Yountville?  I have only spent five days there: one in the summer of 2011 while Andy and I were driving up the coast of California, and four last July when we spent our honeymoon there.  It's the most beautiful, peaceful, ethereal place I've ever been.  Is that an exaggeration?  No.  Not only does it have THREE Thomas Kellar restaurants, but you can bike to vineyards all day, walk the cozy, flower lined streets, and soak in the California sun.  Also, we ate $.50 oysters before the best meal of my life at Ad Hoc -- can't really beat that.

We've already committed to going back for our five year wedding anniversary, which is a mere 49 months away.  I've also been looking at real estate there, so yeah, I'd like to go back, please.

 Quick detour from our bike ride to pick some grapes (don't worry, he's just pretending)

 We biked six miles and went to ten vineyards in one day on these rented bad boys.

Yountville, I love you.

monday morning question.

This morning while I was paying for my ice coffee at Dunkin' Donuts, the nice gentleman asked me a question.  "Would you like a free donut?" he said.  Why yes, yes I would.

Hope everyone's Monday is off to as good of a start as mine!  And here's to a week just as exciting.

over the weekend.

After having one of those long and eye opening conversations with my significant other, I've committed myself to being productive this weekend.  There have been more than a handful of times where I find myself on the couch all weekend wallowing in Andy's absence instead of doing what I need to do (laundry, dishes, cleaning, scrubbing -- the general joys of house wifery), but this weekend will be different.

And here's why.  Our second bedroom currently looks like this, minus the furniture...

WHY.  I don't know!  I wish I knew why we have a bright Jolly Rancher green bedroom, but this is what the previous owners left us with, so here we are.  This weekend I'll be putting myself to good use by painting the room, or at least starting it.

Here's the tricky thing about this room, which I will share with the two (maybe three?) readers of this blog.  One day, hopefully not too far away, this room will be a nursery.  Right now it's a guest room, but we're not planning on it staying that way for long enough to really make it officially one.  We're not going to buy a queen size bed to put in there, for example.  We're thinking a daybed?  Something that can remain and be functional even after we've added to our brood.  So anyway, I bought home a sample of Behr paint in Natural Grey.  I'm worried it might be a liiiiiiittle too dark, but I think it'll do the trick.  I love the simple lightness of a grey and it's a great canvas to add whatever pops of color we want to.  

So I hope you like grey little future baby Abramson, cause that's what your mama is doing this weekend.