Pretzel Brats

I am sorry for my long absence, but the past week has been incredibly busy and I am afraid it will be the same for the next couple of weeks. That being said, I have realized that I do, in fact, need my blog to maintain sanity throughout chaos. About a week ago, we decided to make appetizers for dinner and we came across this recipe for pretzel brats. Once I got over my anxiety about making the dough from scratch, the process was fairly simple and the result was worth any hassle. We used our abundance of mustard for dipping and we will definitely be making these several times during Bears season! 

Payton's Post

Having a dog is like having a child…plain and simple. Like newborn babies, puppies sleep almost 18 hours a day. Payton likes to sleep all day and then wake up as soon as we want to go to sleep, or when she can smell food. She will sleep anywhere and in any position. I captured this one a few weeks ago. Everyone was napping except for me and it was just too precious. Until next time…unless I’m sleeping…P. 

The Art of Decorating

{Photo courtesy of besttravelphotos.me}

I have been a dancer all my life. Even though I no longer take classes on a weekly basis, I resonate with the art, am proficient when I do get a chance to perform, and I will always love movement. On a different note, I love seeing our beautiful Chicago Symphony Orchestra; I’m hopeless when it comes to playing an instrument or reading music, but I love lending my ears. Now, more than ever, I have a deeper appreciation for all genres of art. Filling my bare walls with what I deem art has made me more aware and more appreciative. Being from Chicago, I have always been exposed to the museums and the galleries our wonderful city offers, but now I am starting to broaden my horizons and find it difficult to even categorize art. It is just art. Our walls currently have drawings, photographs, sports mementoes, and a tattered periodic table of elements, all of which I consider art. Despite how many different items are hanging on our walls, there is abundant space for our collection to grow…possibly with a silhouette of a dancer or a historical copy of the Chicago Tribune (which we have but it has yet to be framed and hung). It’s an exciting, new appreciation and I can’t wait to see where it goes. I’d love to know, what do you consider art and what do you love about it?

One Throw Away from Fall Weather

Most of the time (read: 97% of the time), I am a homebody. I love the quiet; I crave the comfort and I have been this way since I was a little girl. It is because of my hermit ways that I created this blog; it’s been mildly successful at pulling me off my couch. However, I still love curling up and watching a show, reading a book, or just looking out at the lake. With fall approaching quickly, I am in need of a new blanket for the couch (the old blanket fell apart in the washing machine and has never looked the same). There is something so comforting about sitting on the couch, or a chair, and wrapping yourself in a giant blanket…and when you drag the bottom half on the floor on the way to the kitchen and back for another glass of wine. After much research I found this Ralph Lauren blanket. It is soft, neutral, and large enough that I could disappear under it. It will be my weekend project to secure one of my own...I'm thinking the camel color. September and October…I’m ready!!