The Good and Bad of 2016

Oh 2016, even though you've been a bit of a bitch to the Hollywood world the last few months, I can't say that it's been my worst year. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that you've been one of my better years and that says a lot with some of the stuff you've put us through. Between job layoffs, the loss of not one, but both of our dogs, and multiple illnesses this year I can say that we had as many downs, as we did ups. While I can sit and dwell on the things I wish would have gone better this year, focusing on the positive is the whole point of NYE, n'est pas? So...2016 as I bid you adieu, I'd like to thank you for some of the great things you brought us...

Travel, travel, travel: Not counting work trips we were really lucky to trek to different places across the US that Liam had never been before and to parts of Europe that we had never explored. We made 8 trips in 2016 (London, Rome, Tuscany, NYC x3, Colorado and San Francisco) and every place except for NY were new places for us to mark on Liam's map.

On each of these trips we were so lucky to experience parts of it with friends or family which leads me to one of my favorite things that happened to us this year....

Reunited with friends and loved ones: This year we were really lucky to see many friends or family that we don't get to see often due to distance. With our travels, we were able to enjoy meals, play dates and even a few days in the hills of Tuscany with some of our favorite people. A few of my favorites were traveling with one of our favorite couples who happen to love international travel as much as we do, introducing Liam to a few of his second cousins, and of course a special surprise trip that one of Matt's best friends from Hawaii made for his birthday. This year has definitely been one for reunions and I hope we can keep up that momentum in 2017.

We bought a house (ok fine a townhouse): On a whim when Matt realized that the market was working in our favor we listed our 2 bed/2 bath condo in one of the most desired neighborhoods in the city. I was emotional about it all because I loved living on Southport, but trying to live in that neighborhood with our price range and what we were looking for would have required a lot out of us. Truthfully, I'd rather live in a box with an opportunity to travel more than have a big home. Big home = more cleaning. No thanks. However, we did need an upgrade so we bought a 4 story townhouse that gave us everything we never knew we needed. Like a 2-car attached garage (which in Chicago attached garages even with a big house is rare), a play/bonus room, a 3rd room that we converted into a mudroom and most importantly, a community. We bought a home that was ideal for us, but our community made it the perfect place.

New friendships: Speaking of community, we made some great new friends this year. Yes a few in our neighborhood, but a others through work, networking and of course Liam. Kids are a perfect matchmaker for friends and as Liam builds relationships with others in his class we get to meet some great people along the way. 

As I finish up this post it hit me that 2016 has been a year of contentment. A year of not dwelling on the bad that hit us this year, but instead seeing it as an opportunity. And a year of not wishing what could have been, but more a year of accepting what it is. It's been a great year of learning and while I can't predict what will happen in 2017, I hope that it's just as positive as this year has been.

Cheers to have happy, healthy and beautiful New Year!

food (food) | 12 best things i ate in 2012

One of my favorite things about wrapping up a year is taking a look back at all the wonderful things that happened.  So leading up to January 1st, I'm going to share with you some of my favorite things from 2012. 

First, let's start with food.  After all I was pregnant for more than half of this year so I did do a fair share of eating.  Here are the 12 best things I ate (from around the world) in 2012!

1) Egg White Breakfast | Uncle Bill's Pancake House

This place is one of my favorite staples whenever I'm in Manhattan Beach, CA.  The breakfast is always good and portions are always huge, but icing on the cake?  Sitting along the beach strand and people watching - doesn't get any better than that does it?

2) Cookie Butter | Trader Joe's

Ok let's be honest if you didn't have a bite of Cookie Butter in 2012 you are seriously missing out.  Put it on bread, smear it on a brownie or eat it by the spoonful.  Whatever you do, just eat it!  

3) Grilled Bacon, Cheese & Tomato Sandwich | Cheese Dream
I know what you're thinking, "It's just a grilled cheese."  Yes it is, but it was a damn good one.  I tried this at the Dose Market, but if you're ever in Ann Arbor, MI definitely check out what they've got cooking that day.

4) Macarons | Laduree

Do these even need any rationale?  Laduree is the mecca of macarons and each one I ate was absolutely delicious. 

5) Belgium Waffle | Cafe - Brasserie Craenenburg

This was the highlight of our day trip to Bruges.  Aside from seeing the cute, quaint and medieval style town, this waffle truly was worth the trip.

6) Roasted Lamb | Season's Restaurant

I cannot say any bad things about this meal or restaurant.  Season's was the meal for our first night in Amsterdam.  I have been dreaming about this roasted lamb since I had it back in March.  It's ingredients were so fresh and simple - it was the perfect dish for a cold Winter day.

7) Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream | Kilwins

Throughout my third trimester I had an infatuation with mint chocolate chip ice cream.  I had eaten so much that I declared myself a connoisseur and no matter how hard I tried to find the best place to get mint chocolate chip ice cream, the only place that triumphed them all was Kilwins.

8) Crab Cakes | Acadia

I absolutely loved how the food at Acadia was a little avant garde, but not foreign.  I'm an adventurous eater so that wouldn't have stopped me, but Acadia is the perfect place to test the water with new American style food.  The service was impeccable and the food was memorable.  They definitely earned that Michelin star.

9) Sweet Corn Creme Brulee | Sable Kitchen & Bar

I'm obsessed with eating at restaurants where the head chefs or owners were once on Top Chef.  The expectations were high when I ate at Sable and Chef Heather sure delivered delicious dishes.  My favorite of the entire night was this side dish that was the perfect combination of savory and sweet.

10) Short Ribs | Ruxbin

 I recently wrote a post about this not too long ago so I won't say much besides the fact that this dish was truly one of the highlight meals of my year.

 

11) Meatball Sandwich | Panozzo's Italian Market

I'm a regular over at Panozzo's so if you ask me what I recommend, I'll say "anything - everything is good."  However, if I had to chose one thing to try, it's their meatball sandwich.  I don't know why it took almost 2 years to finally try it after going there so often, but I finally did and it's life changing.

12) Chocolate Cream Pie | Hoosier Mama Pie Company

I ate my fair share of pies this year and nothing has come close to the pies at Hoosier Mama's.  In fact, these days their pies are my dessert of choice.  This year instead of a birthday cake, I asked for their chocolate cream pie and it was worth every calorie.

|What are some of the best things you ate in 2012?|