Happy 3rd birthday...to the blog!

Yes, “Stuff I Like” is officially 3 years old today--that’s about a year and a half older than Molly, if you were wondering. This afternoon, I took a trip down memory lane and checked out my early posts from 2009, the first year of the blog. So what did I write about before Molly? Well, it seems my interests haven’t changed much, I just don’t write about the “extras” as often. Here are a few thoughts on then vs now:

• I’m still knitting with the Knit Wits, but have taken a little break from sewing. I'll get back to it, I promise!
• I’m still a UC Bearcats fan, but the big change from 2009 is…they’re back in the tourney! Bracketology has them as a 10 seed this year. I don’t expect them to go too far, but with wins this season over Louisville and Georgetown, it appears they’ve got the talent to upset ranked teams! We’ll see how they do against Marquette on Wed. I’ll be watching! Hopefully NU can get off the bubble and get IN this year for the first time ever.
• I’m still reading, though I now make use of Goodreads to help organize my booklist and post reviews. I haven’t stuck to my original 50-word limit, but I do try to keep my reviews short and to the point. Don’t want to spoil any major plot twists for people who haven’t read what I’m reviewing!
• LOST is no more, but my LOST lunch group still exists. Now we’re watching and discussing Alcatraz, the new show starring Jorge Garcia (Hurley) from LOST. It’s not quite as good, but it’s still fun to lunch with my old pals and gossip about the show, pop culture, and of course, our favorite episodes of LOST…
• Jay Cutler didn’t exactly make the Bears awesome, but we haven’t been bad, and I’m still a fan (though my loyalties are still divided between the Bears and the Bengals). Fingers crossed for next year!
• Derrick Rose DID make the Bulls awesome! Currently, in this abbreviated NBA season, they are at the top of their division and have one of the best records in bball. Hopefully Rose can stay healthy and lead the team to the first post-Jordan championship!
• I’ve still got the same girlfriends. Some have kids now, and most are married, but it feels good to see that everyone I wrote about 3 years ago is still an important part of my life, even with the craziness that is being a working mom. PS, can you believe I had bangs?? After I grew them out, Jason confessed that he hated the look, so it is unlikely that I will cut them again. But, in looking at pictures, I have to disagree with Jason. It was a good look for me!
• I’m still loving the Chicago dining scene, even though I’m trying to cut back and save money. At some point I will need to redo this “top 5” list to incorporate Girl and the Goat, possibly others. 

Obviously, the focus of this blog has shifted to my little darling...and I don't think that that's a bad thing. The relatives are all spread out around the country and need to see how their girl is growing up. And every now and then, through non-Molly posts, they can see how their other girl is growing into her 30s :)

Fun with Joe Joe

This weekend, Joe, Uncle Keith, and Grandma Janet drove in for a visit. Molls had a blast, dancing to Radiohead at a neighborhood bar, playing blocks with Joe, and reading books with her great-grandma. Check her out:

Mommy wow, I'm a big kid now!

Doesn't Molly look older with her real deal pony tail and princess slippers? Yes, she's still got a ring of drool/juice/milk on her shirt around the neck, but other than that, I think she looks so grown up in these pictures!

Side view

Front view. Doing the itsy bitsy spider hand motions along with her video :)

Two little piggies (restaurant week, continued)

Because Jason and I are gluttons, we decided to hit up another restaurant for Chicago's restaurant week: Cafe Spiaggia. Now, we are not fans of Sarah's on this season of Top Chef, but we did like Chef/Owner Tony Mantuano on Top Chef Masters, and we've been hearing good things about Spiaggia for years. It's the only 4-start Italian restaurant in Chicago and also happens to be the Obama's favorite restaurant. I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, Cafe Spiaggia is the more casual part of the restaurant, but there was nothing casual about the food. Check it out:

Cicchetti:

Olive, Patatine, Popcorn 

Cerignola, Gaeta, Alfonso, Torremaggiore, orange zest, pickled fennel 

house made potato chips, Pecorino Romano, black pepper, Sicilian sea salt 

Nichols Farm popcorn, rosemary, lemon zest, ricotta salata, Controne pepper

Piattini:

Bocconcini 

mozzarella di bufala, apple mostarda, olive oil

Gnocchi 

wild boar ragu, Parmigiano Reggiano

Dolci:

Sorbetti 

passion fruit, lemon-lime, pomegranate

I've never had mozzarella so good -- sweet and creamy, drizzled in oil and topped with some kind of delicious cooked apple. And there was something special about the gnocchi. It was lighter somehow than any other gnocchi I've ever had.

I still don't like Sarah on Top Chef and am dying for Paul to win, but I have to admit, her restaurant serves pretty darn good food!

President's Day Date

Jason and I both had the day off work today, but Molly's daycare was still open for business. We felt a little guilty dropping her off this morning, but how often do we get a chance to do our own thing...during the day...together?! Plus, it's restaurant week in Chicago, so we thought we would take advantage of the opportunity and check out Top Chef contestant Beverly Kim's restaurant, Aria.

I know going to expensive restaurants was the #2 "no-no" on my list of belt tightening measures; however, because it's restaurant week, all of the trendy restaurants are offering special price fixe menus at a discount -- $22 for lunch and $33 for dinner. Not bad!

Here's what we enjoyed this afternoon at Aria:

starters

hay roasted baby beets 

truffle tremor goat cheese / hazelnut / prosciutto / apple 

mongolian lamb rib 

cumin / orange hoisin / fennel / edamame-mint purée 

entrees

beef short rib bibimbop 

sunnyside egg / kimchi / sea beans / gochujang 

kung pao chicken 

black bean chili / heirloom tomato / peanut   

sweets

truffle assortment 

dark chocolate sesame / milk chocolate with curry and peanut 

white chocolate coconut banana / dark chocolate with earl grey tea

About to dive into some truly amazing bibimbap!

So what did we think of Beverly's cuisine? Worth every penny! The mongolian lamb starter, in particular, was a total stand out. I would have licked that edamame-mint purée straight off the plate if there wasn't someone sitting next to us :)

Although the food was amazing, the restaurant was only so-so in terms of ambiance. It's located in the Fairmont Hotel and definitely had that hotel feel. Not to mention, they were playing "easy listening" music throughout lunch.

But that aside, the food was amazing and I totally get why Bev made it as far as she did this season on Top Chef!

Mealtime meltdowns

I'm trying not to get frustrated by Molly's picky eating habits at home, but it's hard not to. Especially because I know she eats well at daycare. There, she almost always clears her plate and has even been known to steal food from other kids who aren't as quick to finish.

But at home... Molly will hardly touch anything we cook. She likes cheese, fruit, black beans, mac and cheese (sometimes), chicken noodle soup, yogurt, cereal, and hot dogs. That's about it. Vegetables as long as they are made fresh and not reheated :) Today, she threw a tantrum in her high chair over pizza and peas. Yes, pizza and peas. She has been known to pig out on both of those items on different occasions. What gives? Jason and I were sitting there, eating the same meal, trying to be good examples like they say in all the parenting books and magazines.

I've heard that it can take up to 20 times to get a kid to like something. But who really has that kind of patience! 20 uneaten dinners? I'm not sure I feel right about that anyway since I'm dealing with a child who is only in about the 10th percentile in weight.

I also need things that are easy to prepare. We don't get home until close to 6 and, by that point, Molly is usually banging on the refrigerator door whining for cheese. I've tried to do casseroles ahead of time so we can all eat together as a family, but it usually turns into Jason and I eating the casserole and Molly pushing the food to the corner of her tray and saying "no." She has also (consistently) rejected polenta, pasta with red sauce, spaghetti-o's, veggie burgers, chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, scrambled eggs, lunch meat, BBQ, quesadillas, PB&J...need I go on?

The doctor said not to worry if she doesn't eat her dinner because toddlers usually only eat 2 good meals a day. The doctor also said not to worry about feeding her hot dogs if that's what she likes. But it's hard not to feel bad about feeding her processed or canned foods when other parents we know are feeding their toddlers quinoa and eggplant!

My latest idea is to bust out the slow cooker and see if that works. Molly does like soup. I won her over with Progresso low sodium chicken noodle, finally, after offering it about 5 different times. So hopefully if we make our own soup/stew, it will meet with her approval. And we'll be able to get everything in the slow cooker in the morning so that dinner will be ready and waiting when we walk in the door at 6. Keep 'yer fingers crossed!

Molly chooses a recipe from the slow cooker cook book. Looks like we'll be trying lamb shanks on Monday!

19 months, but who's counting?

I haven't been as good about posting (or taking) pictures lately. As much as Molly smiles in real life, it's hard to get her to smile for the camera! But we tried to get a few cute ones this weekend and I think we succeeded. You be the judge:

So pretty!

Art time with Dad. Let the creative juices flow!

Hi, I'm messy!

The austerity plan - week 1

So how did I do with all of the belt-tightening measures? Pretty good! I packed lunch 3 days this week; I avoided babysitters, shopping, take-out, and fancy dinners; and I did my shopping for the week on Sunday, only buying generic, sale, or coupon items. According to my Dominick's receipt, I saved $30.49! Given that my total bill was $86.54, I'd say that's doing pretty well.

I have to thank Kylie for emailing the tip that really made the difference. By signing up for Dominick's Just for U online, I was able to load virtual coupons onto my Dominick's Fresh Values card so they were automatically processed at check out. I planned my meals for the week based on the coupons I loaded and things that I knew were going to be on sale, so shopping was a breeze. I got milk for $1.17, cereal for $1.75, bananas for $0.35, a pack of chicken breasts for $3.11...you get the idea. Thanks Kylie!

Now, I did still go out twice this weekend -- to brunch with Courtney Sat morning and out for pizza with friends Sat night. But neither meal was pricey and we're just getting into this whole savings thing, so no big deal!  Hopefully I can continue to make improvements every week!

I even make time for young adult fiction :)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved the trilogy and can't wait for the Hunger Games movie. The third book was my least favorite, probably because it was the most violent and negative. BUT, that said, I really liked the way the author ended it. I was worried she'd leave us hanging on a few things, but she managed to wrap it up in a way that was satisfying and also believable.


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Yes, I still read...

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. Not necessarily because of the plot. That was fine, but nothing special, and I'm not sure I totally bought the love story between the two main characters. But the descriptions - the descriptions! - of the different exhibits and tents at The Night Circus were such a pleasure to read. I couldn't wait to find out what the next new thing was going to be. Read it if you have any interest at all in finding out about the coolest circus never to exist.


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Tightening the belt

So this month, we’ve been hit with new tires, new brakes, insurance premiums, a couple of flights, and a hotel deposit, in addition to the typical expenses of groceries, gas, gym, dinners, and bills. Taxes are also on the horizon, and thanks to my sister B, I know that we are going to owe a sizable chunk this year due to a withholding mix up with Jason’s last job. As my parents used to say when we were growing up, it’s time to tighten the belt!

How can we do this? Well, a few months ago when I made a list of ways I could live a greener life, I discovered that making changes for a month really did lead to more lasting changes in behavior. I’m still doing everything on the list on a fairly consistent basis, except for air drying my clothes and stopping the dishwasher before the dry cycle, though I’m feeling a little guilty as I type so pledge to do both this week.

I’m hoping if I come up with a list of ways to save some $$ for the rest of Feb and March, it will lead to overall improvements in our spending habits, and hopefully lower credit card bills for the rest of 2012. Aren’t I optimistic?! Here’s a list of 10 ideas:

1. Pack my lunch 4 days a week. Hopefully this will help save some calories as well as cash!
2. Take a break from going out to dinner/going out to expensive dinners. Yes, Jason and I love to try trendy restaurants like The Purple Pig and Chizakaya, but I think we would be just as happy having our next “date night” at the movies or grabbing burgers at a local bar. Same deal when we make plans with friends – I think everyone would probably be down with a cheaper option for entertainment.
3. Go generic. We’re pretty good about buying store brand products, but could probably be even better. As a marketer, it pains me a little to write this, but I bet Molly wouldn’t even notice if we switched to “toasty O’s.”
4. Plan meals. Shop on Sundays. While we’re on the topic of grocery stores, as much as I love our neighborhood markets (Olivia’s and W Crossings), we need to be a little bit more strategic about when we shop there vs going to the less expensive Trader Joe’s or Dominick’s chains. This weekend I picked out a handful of recipes and shopped on Sunday. It SUCKED to be at the grocery store on a Sunday, but now I have everything I need to make dinner the next few nights – including a vegetarian option for meatless Monday.
5. Place a temporary ban on ordering takeout. So if we plan our meals and shop on Sundays, there should be no need for us to order takeout, right? Yes Jason, that delicious pizza we ordered from Pequod’s for the Superbowl will have to be the last takeout we get for a while, because I know we can save at least $20 by switching to frozen.
6. Stop shopping. It’s time for a resolution that has nothing to do with food. Let’s move on to clothes. I have a closet full of cute stuff and no need for anything new. As fun as it is to spice up my wardrobe every few months, how ‘bout I give that up this year? Or just give myself a budget of $50 every season at Old Navy. I can scope out my favorite budget blogs WhatIWore2Day and His&Hers for inspiration. The Molls is going to need a thing or two this spring – can’t avoid that, she’s a growing girl – but I can probably restock her closet through savvy shopping. Nothing for Molls if it isn’t on sale! 
7. Save babysitters for special occasions. Where else do we spend money? It’s kind of hard to find places to cut corners, but looking through my spending history on Schwab, I see I’ve written a few checks to babysitters recently. When you add babysitting fees on top of the bill at an expensive restaurant, that certainly makes for a pricey night out. We need to stick to the $15 “Parent’s Night Out” offered through daycare for our nights out (two times a month) and stay home the other nights! Unless, of course, we’re talking about a special occasion (birthdays, etc).
8. Clip coupons! Yes, I still get a Sunday paper. It comes loaded with coupons and advertisements that I usually throw straight in the recycling bin. But I need to start pulling out the coupons for Target, Jewel, and Dominick’s to see if I can save a few bucks on my Sunday shopping!
9. Move cash from checking to savings. If I don’t have it, I can’t spend it, right?
10. Give homemade gifts. I’ve got a pack of construction paper somewhere. Jason, looks like this year I will be presenting you with another homemade Valentine’s Day Card.

Wish me luck! Saving starts tomorrow!

Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with steins of beer and live German music at the Glunz Bavarian Haus? Both Jason and his friend Al have birthdays in early Feb, so we got a big crowd together and made it festive. Pics below! It felt great to be out and about on a Sat night (one of the teachers from daycare watched Molls), but Jason and I both pay the price today. I think it will end up being a pretty low-key Superbowl at the O'Grady household.

B and Archie

The boys: Daryn, Mark, Patrick, Marc, Jason, Al, Jon, John, Mike, and Dan

Me and B

Me and Linds

And then because I couldn't leave you without a few pictures of Molly, here she is, looking cute as always:

Molls in her new Star Wars T-shirt

Mom and daughter