in honor of mother's day (albeit a little late! i know) i wanted to show you some old photos of my mom that i found digging around my grandma's house, which happens to be the same house my mom lived in when she was my age.


it's strange to think of her studying at the same kitchen table, laying out to read in the same backyard, making her morning tea on the same old stove.


it's strange to think of her before the weight of maternal responsibility dropped on her shoulders, to see her a little wild and free and with friends who were out of her life before even the idea of me came into the picture.


it's strange to see that she looks just like me! and that she once spent her time musing over music and sat on the floor and probably even sang just like me (these days, we love harmonizing to the radio on car trips).

makes me want to leave a great legacy of coolness for my unborn daughter, makes me want to dig through the old wardrobes next!

well, it was sort of horrible, but i have finished my life in the summer san telmo loft and traded it for the DEAD OF WINTER here in chicago... and i know you are thinking: is this girl crazy?
but i find that the time does always naturally come to close a chapter and continue on to a new one. i will miss my little loft family and my jogging route through san telmo, i'll miss my cooking lessons and even the sleepless madrugadas. i will mostly miss mauri.
at least my family is here to celebrate the new year with me! it truly takes seeing the people who know me best to realize how i've changed in my absence. and anyway, better get used to this windy city: i will be starting a new life here in chicago in march!

the little ladies can't sit still

my sisters l.k. and tallulah on my aunt's trampoline at our family reunion last week





playing with my little sisters reminds me how blissfully fearless children are... my little sisters were born deaf and now wear a device attached to their cochlear implants. however, to jump on the trampoline, they had to take the device off, so they couldn't hear. i was SO nervous that they would get hurt, but they taught me that it's way more fun to fall, get up, and look cute doing it!

ladies' night in

my big sister leanne came home for one night with her college roommates as a stop on their east-coast road trip. after some delicious wine on the porch, my little sis tracey challenged us all to some wii sports! and naturally a ridiculous photoshoot ensued...


"aliens are attacking"

"socialized medicine"

"rock star"

"cold"



and my pretty sisters (we're SO crazy about each other!!) (kind of)

this year i'm thankful for friends in every corner of the globe, and my family who's right here with me :)