Kate's Monthly Take

This past month has been crazy. We've all been sick, the house is a disaster and work is overwhelming. But no matter how crazy I feel my life has been I know someone else is having a harder time. I'm going to chose be grateful that we are all on the mend and give myself a break that this post is three days late. In fact, we should all give ourselves a break sometimes because we are just doing the best we can.

Enjoy my Monthly Take!

Kate's Monthly Take - February 2018

Mood

  • "It's Been a Long Week," Me in the middle of Tuesday (on repeat every dang week)

Currently Coveting

  • Each spring there is some item by Loeffler Randall that I NEED to have in my closet. I have a few pairs of shoes from past seasons that are so well worn the cost-per-use has to be down to a nickel at this point. This spring I am in LOVE with these striped Logan Sneakers. I mean they had me at the stripes...the tassels are like icing on the cake!

Favorite Product

  • It only took me having our third kid to splurge for this Baby Jogger Plush Hand Muff. It's made a world of difference this winter especially as our nanny or I fight the Chicago wind with our double stroller.

Design Pick

  • New Arrivals at Serena & Lily always have me swooning. Most of the time I end of wishing I lived in California or at least a milder climate where we could have windows and doors open 85% of the year. I would love to have an outdoor/indoor dining area where I could hang three of these fixtures at various heights. Or maybe I would chose to mix and match different pendants from their selection. The possibilities are endless.

What I'm Reading

  • My fascination with WWII and Holocaust literature started at a young age with Number the Stars and has grown with me as I have aged. This month I've been reading We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. The character development is amazing and once your past the first 50 pages I promise you will stop referencing the Kurc Family Tree.

What We're Reading the Kids

  • If your children love a good trend and are into narwhals and unicorns then they will love this book! Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima is perfect for young readers. It has adorable illustrations and weaves an important message seamlessly into the storyline. 

Instagram Handle

  • I love to follow @valleybrinkroad, I discovered Barrett a little over three years ago when I was pregnant with George. She has this amazing lifestyle business in LA. Cultivating her gift boxes would basically be my dream job. Her recipes always have me craving fresh ingredients and pining for a trip to the West Coast. We've tried a few and you can check out one of her soups in the "Shit My Kids Will Eat" section below.

Guilty Pleasure

  • These Brach's Cherry Jube Jelly Hearts come out once a year and I can't get enough of them. I have already downed three bags virtually by myself. The dentist is going to be in for a real treat. I vow not to pick them up on my next Target run! Well...maybe just one more bag before Valentine's Day. Also, I'm not sure I want to know what Jube Jelly is...it sounds kind of disturbing. 

I Need A Vacation

  • February is the perfect month to escape the Midwestern winter and get some Vitamin D. No such vacation is on the horizon this year, but if it was I would love to travel to Harbour Island in the Bahamas and stay at The Dunmore. 

Shit My Kids Will Eat

  • Kid Tested & Approved - We've never made Pasta e Fagioli before but this was soooo good and yes even my kids ate it! We used Chicken Stock and you can skip the fresh parsley if you don't have any on hand. I definitely topped mine off with a healthy portion of freshly shaved parmesan. The recipe quantity is perfect too - you won't be left with a huge pot of soup!