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That shortcake biscuit was supposed to be heart-shaped…. I don’t watch the show “Parks & Recreation,” starring “SNL” alum Amy Poehler. It’s not because I don’t think that I would like the show. It’s simply because my television dance card is full with “30 Rock,” “Top Chef,” and of course, the obligatory “Downton Abbey.” But [...] The first of my Twelve Parties for 2012, a casual family dinner party, went off without a hitch this weekend. That is, unless you consider one of your guests locking herself in the bathroom to be a hitch. When entertaining with kids, the name of the game is flexibility. Don’t expect to finish a sentence, let [...] My inspiration The first of my Twelve Parties for 2012 is scheduled for this Sunday, January 15. The January party is a casual family dinner party. The family that I have invited for dinner is, like us, very into food. When they had us over for dinner a few months ago, they made us a [...] My dad with younger versions of my kids My dad passed away five months ago today. In the past five months, I have experienced loss and grief in a way that I never had before. It has been an eye-opening experience. If you know me in real life or if you see me from day to [...] When people ask me what my blog is about, I usually reply that West of the Loop is a food and parenting blog with a thoughtful bent. (The “thoughtful” part is really just a way to say that I write long posts.) Food and parenting are great topics to blog about because they are so [...] Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There’s no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com. This weekend we are hosting a small gathering of friends to celebrate Hanukkah, which starts on the night of December 20. The traditional food [...] Today’s post is part of the From Left to Write online book club. The idea of this book club is not to write a book review, per se, but rather to write a post in which the blogger connects the book to an experience from her own life. September’s book is the new biography Cleopatra: [...] My beloved father in happier times As some of you know, my beloved father passed away last month. He had courageously battled an extremely aggressive malignant brain tumor for 18 months before finally succumbing. Since my father’s death, heartfelt notes and tributes have poured in from all corners. Here is a link to my father’s [...] Today’s post is part of the From Left to Write online book club. The idea of this book club is not to write a book review, per se, but rather to write a post in which the blogger connects that month’s book to an experience from his or her own life. One of the book club books for May is Good [...] Dinner at Carnivale: breaking out of my suburban rut One of my three New Year’s resolutions was to have a monthly date night with my husband. When you have small children and busy schedules and limited funds, it is so easy to find yourself sitting in front of a DVD — or more likely in [...] My new book club had its third meeting last week. I am very excited to be part of a book club again after several years off. I had been part of a wonderful book group during the years of my life that I went from “young bride” to “first-time mom.” That group was full of interesting, smart women and we read just [...] A column about what happens after the wedding is paid for. This article was first published earlier today as Paying For It: Currency in Marriage on Technorati. You may notice that it has a slightly different tone than a typical West of the Loop post. The Wall Street Journal weekend edition launched a new column last Sunday, [...] I love being home with these kids. Really. When I started this blog, almost a year ago, my intent was to write about the subject that weighed most heavily on my mind at that time — the same subject that weighs heavily on me to this day: my decision to step away from my legal [...] The key to a man's heart maybe lean, juicy flank steak. Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and everyone was talking, in real life and on the Internet, about their plans: whether it was reservations at a fancy restaurant or a romantic meal at home, or even just another chaotic family dinner. (Some of you may remember my guest post [...] The view from dinner during my girls' weekend My husband travels quite a bit for work. He is usually gone at least one, and sometimes two, nights a week. Any mom with a husband who travels frequently will tell you that everything bad – from sick kids to a flooded basement — seems to happen [...] |
  
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