Kate's Monthly Take - March 2020

I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way but March 2020 will be one I never forget…the entire year for that matter but this month is the month that life as we knew it came to a halt. As a family we had so many hopes, dreams and events to look forward to this year that I fear will not come to pass (at least this year). I’m trying not to dwell on this and the uncertainty many of us feel as we have much to be grateful for and should ideally take this time to reset.

We will have new dreams now and things will get better but they will be different and it’s going to take some time and will not be without effort. In an effort to retain some normalcy and continuity in my life or maybe it’s just control… I’m attempting to still write and share my thoughts. So if this feels insensitive that is not my intention and understand that we all deal with challenges in different ways and my solace is often found within routine…so continuing on with my Monthly Take post is what I’m going to do.

Enjoy my Monthly Take!

Kate's Monthly Take - March 2020

Mood

  • We’re going through a lot right now but finding things to be grateful for is important here are three of mine…my family, our working dishwasher and the collective creativity we are witnessing throughout the world.

Currently Coveting

  • A peloton and a dog certainly come to mind but if this was pre quarantine life I would most certainly be lusting after this skirt and this one too!

Currently Coveting Kids Edition

  • As Easter is approaching I can’t help but covet some darling outfits despite the fact, that it will most likely not be warm and they may only be worn in our backyard. I love this blue and white striped Isabel Garreton dress maybe paired with a little boy wearing a tan blazer and shorts. I know my youngest would love this Meri Meri Bunny Straw bag too!

Favorite Product

  • Aside from perhaps Zoom and Google Hangouts that are making quarantine a bit more manageable I wanted to share these Cat & Jack toddler sandals that were our favorites last year. I picked them up last year in the store because they often sell out quickly but they are perfect for our youngest who has a high instep and has a hard time fitting in Natives.

Design Pick

  • I’m loving these new colorful Kitchen Aid commercial grade ranges. Someday in my pretend future home I’d love a navy one to go with a white kitchen with a navy blue island.

What I'm Reading

  • I wish I could say that I’m reading anything for fun right now but I’m not. I did however, enjoy reading American Dirt earlier this month. The story is captivating - I was hooked from the beginning and I’m sure you will be too!

What I’m Listening To

  • My favorite song right now is Robyn’s version of Dancing On My Own. The kids like it too and it helps us all get some energy out especially in our weekly remote dance parties with friends.

What We're Reading the Kids

What I’m Watching

Instagram Handle

  • I’m sure I’ve shared my love for Katie Couric before but right now I appreciate her daily COVID-19 update posts that are a great source of info in one spot. For useful preschool activities and homeschool tips dayswithgrey and theworkspaceforchildren have been valuable resources.

Guilty Pleasure

  • Hiding from my kids in the kitchen or the bathroom or in a closet when I need a minute. If it’s in the kitchen I’m most certainly also digging into some Nutella.

I Need A Vacation

  • I hope we can all travel again very soon, there is so much of the world I’d still like to explore. But spending time with family again or traveling to my favorite spot would be at the very top of my wish list.

Shit My Kids Will Eat

  • Kid Tested & Approved - We’ve been cooking a lot these days trying to use all of our fresh and non perishable foods before making additional trips to the store. Some of our favorite recipes have been soups because one are kids will eat them and two they are great for lunch the next day. Our two new recent favorites are as follows: Ina Garten’s Tuscan White Bean Soup and The Modern Proper’s Chicken Tikka Masala Soup.

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Kate's Monthly Take - March 2019

The last six weeks have been full of one ear infection, fever, cold, cough, rash and stomach bug after the other. I didn’t mean to take a blog hiatus but I pretty much live at the doctors office. I’m hopeful with the warmer weather we’re having in Chicago this week that our days as an infirmary are coming to an end. Hoping that your winter season hasn’t been quite as rough and that you’re experiencing a warm up too!

Enjoy my Monthly Take!

Kate's Monthly Take - March 2019

Mood

  • There aren’t enough hours in the day…or days in the week! But taking even just one hour for myself each week to go to a SoulCycle class is helping me feel less overwhelmed.

Currently Coveting

  • A sleek black hooded raincoat! A little more practical than my standard wish list item but sadly, the City Anorak I’ve been eyeing for months runs a little bit big and they are all sold out of my size.

Favorite Product

  • My oldest daughter and I are loving Lunch Lines! This book of tear off mealtime jokes is definitely helping to spice up her often mundane, school lunch. I might not have time to write her a note every day but I do have time to tear off a lunchtime riddle pop it into her lunch.

Design Pick

  • I love matching or coordinating my kids whenever possible. A fact of life I’m sure they will begin to loathe. A friend recently gave my oldest a new striped hooded towel with a pom pom on the hood. I love stripes and pom poms so naturally, I had to get coordinating ones for the younger kids. We have the pink and blue versions and I kept all of their monograms the same thread color. They are adorable!

What I'm Reading

What I’m Listening To

  • We’re heading to Nasvhille next week and I’ve been listening to Kacey Musgraves to get me in the Country mood. High Horse is a favorite at our house!

What We're Reading the Kids

  • We’re reading a couple wonderful new books to our youngest two: At the Firehouse, which is a new Tinyville Town book (one of my son’s favorite series) and Hello Lighthouse which is the sweetest story with the most beautiful illustrations.

  • Our oldest is to the age where we are experimenting with chapter books at bedtime and we just started, Pippi Longstocking! I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of reliving my favorite books with the kids…if only, I could stop falling alseep in their beds.

Instagram Handle

  • My husband has been a long time fan of Comments By Celebs on Instagram. I’m a bit newer to following their feed but if you need a good laugh..follow them! They repost Celeb posts and highlight amusing comments by other celebs. They even have a separate Bravo account!

Guilty Pleasure

  • This is totally random but I’m newly obsessed with sourcing vintage Fisher Price Alphabet magnets on Etsy. I wanted to find some alphabet magnets for the kids to practice spelling and I couldn’t find any that I loved on Amazon. Everything was too big for our magnet board and the vintage ones fit just right so I went down a rabbit hole on Etsy. It’s my new late night habit and I almost have a full set!

I Need A Vacation

  • While I am traveling quite a bit the next month both for work and for personal, I’m most excited about visiting my favorite spot in Florida. My parents brought us to Seaside, Florida for the first time when I was in 6th grade and we’ve almost been back every year. Seaside and the rest of 30A has certainly grown over the last couple of decades but its still one of my favorite family destinations and the architecture isn’t bad either!

Shit My Kids Will Eat

  • Kid Tested & Approved - We recently made Low Carb Chicken Divan and it was like reliving my childhood. Chicken Divan was one of the only regular dinnertime staples that I can recall from growing up. The recipe says Low Carb but we made rice to accompany our so I’m pretty sure that negates the “Low Carb” claim. The meal is rich but definitely satisfying and succeeds in getting the kids to eat both a vegetable and a protein which is sometimes a struggle in our house.