Fireflies in October

For October's dinner, it was Pat's pick, but alas Pat couldn't make it, so Stephanie stood up to the plate and picked Firefly at 3335 N. Halsted. The reservation was for seven of us, but then I got a call from Stephanie saying she couldn't make it, and she was really bummed. Then, came the mommy e-mails from Susan and Aimee saying that their baby daddys were not home from work yet, and they couldn't make it either. Then, there were 4.

Jodee Sue and Heather.

Me and Beth.

Jodee and I arrived first, albeit late. At first, they wouldn't seat us until our entire party was there, and Miss Jodee Sue was one hungry beyotch, and ready to leave, but we couldn't because we were waiting for Heather and Beth. (traffic was really bad due to a rainy fall day).
Luckily, they let us sit down before we all got there, or Jodee was going to hit someone. (not really, but for the sake of drama, just go with it).
We ordered wine and appetizers. The wine was WAY good. We had grilled cheese and baked brie for our appetizers. We should really get t-shirts that say: GOT CHEESE?
After gobbling up the cheese and the first bottle of wine (first? YES! we had two bottles!) our dinner came:

Here's where things start to get fuzzy, but I do remember: two bottles of wine, a tilipa dish that was de-lish, and then laughing so incredibly hard, I was in need of my inhaler. But, I only remember one story that made me laugh so hard. I swear, every time that Beth comes to dinner, there is always a great story. And the thing is, is that Beth is so low key about her stories, that it makes it even funnier.
So, a few years ago, Beth asked her African-American co-worker where she got her hair done. The co-worker told Beth, and Beth went to the African-American salon. The hairdresser did his thing (I think it was a man), and when the chair was turned around for the great unveiling of the new hairdo....Beth saw her hair, thought she looked like Carole Brady, and proceeded to tell the man that her hair looked like a mushroom with a stem, and could he please get rid of the stem. So, the stem came off, and Beth went home with just the mushroom part.
Funny enough story, right? Well, here is the part that made Heather pee her pants just a little bit:
Beth went back to the salon for a subsequent visit!

We even had dessert. We split a chocolate thingy and a plate of beignets. Holy cow, those beignets were so tasty.
As I mentioned, I was a little spacey after two bottles of wine, but I do believe that every appetizer, dinner, and dessert plate was just about licked clean (as well as our wine glasses). The food was really good, and I recommend a visit (just make sure your entire party is there so you can be seated right away).
Girls, if I left anything out, please add a comment!

He's my Tiny Dancer

My brother, Tiger, is a football kind of guy.  The weekends of fall and winter are spent in front of the TV watching college and pro football.  We grew up watching pro football on Sundays, and I love it too.  Tiger played football his whole life, even a bit in college.  So, when he had his first child, Cooper, he couldn't wait until Cooper could watch, and eventually play football.  I remember Tiger telling me his dream came true the first time Cooper actually sat with Tiger and watched a game on TV.  Cooper is now six and is playing flag football for his second year.  He may be small, but he is mighty!

Although I am a football kind of gal, I also was a dancer my entire life (although my body sure doesn't look like it these days).  I have written quite a bit about how So You Think You Can Dance is my favorite TV show. 

This fall is the first time that So You Think You Can Dance is on in the fall rather than only the summer.  They started the season by showing the best of the past five seasons.  Tiger likes the show too, and he and Cooper were watching that show.  Cooper then told his dad, "I want to quit football and take dance lessons."

 {I will pause here for dramatic effect............Cooper wanted to quit football to...... DANCE!}

 Tiger told him that he could do both, and Cooper was fine with that.

Fast forward to me going to Cooper's house and giving him a dance lesson as well as babysitting for the evening.  I explained to Cooper that we had to do 15 minutes of ballet because ballet is the foundation of all other forms of dance, and he was cool with that.  Cooper wanted to take class in his backyard, so there we were doing our plies and releves and learning all the positions (which he still remembers, I might add).  Then, we put on the cool music and start learning a 'routine'.  I told him to practice it so we could add on later.

Later in the evening, I was putting Cooper and Carter to bed, and Carter was screaming "I don't want to take a nap!!!!!!!!!!"  And I am all, well that is a good thing because you are NOT taking a nap 'lil man, you are going to BED.  Then I moseyed across the hall and Cooper says, "you know Aunt Natalie, your dance steps were kinda weak." 

Oh yes he did.

I think that my favorite show has poisoned that child.  He wants to be able to do hip-hop with the best of them after one lesson, and he still has to learn first position and rhythm steps.  You have to learn how to crawl before you can run.  Besides, I don't know how to do hip-hop anyway.  Do you think I can talk him into a tap class?

The Secret's Out

I must confess. I have been keeping a secret for awhile now. A couple of years ago, Ignacio and I were driving back from Starved Rock and came upon this little store called Kristine's Shower. We walked in and were greeted by the owner, Jenny. The store sells lotions, soaps, bath bombs, 'frosting', and the like. Jenny told us that our skin would 'freak out' once we used the products.

We bought some of her lotions and bath bombs and headed home. We tried them out, and our skin freaked out! I love, love, love the lotion (called sorbet). My favorite scent (so far) is 'girly girl'. Just recently I was in the park with the dog, and some lady asked me what I was wearing, that I smelled so good and fresh.
Jenny recently sent me some samples to try out. The sorbet she sent was 'girly girl', and this causes fights at home. Ignacio and I fight over the girly girl sorbet because it is mine and he uses it! I bought him one of the scents for men, but he insists on stealing mine. HMPH!

Jenny also has something called aloe whip. It seems like a combination of the sorbet which is straight lotion infused with aloe. It is a little lighter than the sorbet, therefore I love using the aloe whip in the summer. The aloe whip she sent me is called 'Get Fresh' which is a cucumber melon type of scent, and I love it too.   There are about 30 different scents, and I have yet to try them all, but it is good to have goals in life. 
I also have a bar of soap that I have yet to try, but I will let you know how I like it as soon as I open it.

I have shared our secret with my mom who has shared the secret with a friend in California, and they both love the stuff.  
Do yourself a favor and check out Jenny's website and try out some sorbet or whips, your skin will freak out.
http://inkristinesshower.bizhosting.com/index.html

Fall has fell (fallen?)

Camel is now ready for fall!

I have finished knitting her this lovely sweater.  Doesn't she look cute?

Well, too bad she thinks this gorgeous sweater is a toy.  If the sweater is on the floor, she attacks it.  If it is on the couch, the little stinker jumps up to grab it, then I chase her while it is in her mouth. 

Doesn't she realize all the love that went into those knit 1 and purl 2s?