Marketing Mommy and so much More

Here we have a blend of wit, style and general blabber that makes me smile.  Her site is called “Marketing Mommy – sometimes parenting’s a pitch.”  Okay how clever can you get?  She’s a genuine marketing mommy guru thing.  She scoops and dishes out on life, style and everything in between.  Her new feature called  Friday Shopping Report is super cute, fresh and worthy of the up front real estate she gives it.  I went back to 2006, the early days and have seen her blog grow before my eyes, and her kids too.   Don’t pass up a chance to check her out.  I want to buy the things she does!!  My hope is that the Fridays continue to be fun and the blog content continues to be sharp.  She should host an Oak Park bloggers summit.  I’d come!!

Inspire Me MEL!!!

Seriously, who wouldn’t want to eat this??

My lasagna sucks.  Well, it isn’t horrible,  I simply complete recipes with the same ingredients over and over.  But this foodie cooker chef girl can cook.  I haven’t tasted her wares but I am hoping to get an invite to eat at her place sometime soon.  I seriously doubt this woman has ever cooked tuna casserole (a favorite of ours) unless it is some Top Chef deconstructed thing.  Inspire Mel features beautiful dishes by and artist of a chef and mom.  Not only does she cook, but she has these rock solid friends who plant herbs around her home like little spice fairies in the spring and summer.  I am waiting to snag friends like this as well.  Her blog is well written, beautiful and artistic.  Reading it will make you want to start cooking.  I browsed lots of the recipes.  As I am having folks over in a couple of days, I may even try an appetizer recipe or two.   Some of the recipes are daunting, others simple.  I also really enjoy the story telling that goes along with her pages.  She’s not just rewriting a recipe from the Joy of Cooking.  She is weaving a story with sugar, spice and some meat thrown in…yum.  Oh yeah, and I am easily as intimidated by her photography as I am by her cooking.

Tags: chef, cooking, foodie, oak park, recipe

Just stumbled upon the 5 ring circus

Summertime has been a challenge to keep up with writing.  I can’t help, being torn from one spot to the other. Other local bloggers who are writing of summer slowness and fireworks include a family writing blog here in Oak Park, The Five Ring Circus.  Her words are familiar and fun.  She writes of spirituality, family and friendships.  I just read her entry about her dining experience with her husband to celebrate their wedding anniversary.  It is sweet to read about their experiences together these 21 years later.   Though I do find it hard to believe that someone this youthful looking has been married 21 years.  I enjoy reading her words of parenting teens, the future of parenting life is gradually being shown.  This is another Oak Park blogger you’ll want to visit.

Oak Park Fireworks, photo by 5 Ring Circus

Live Here Oak Park

I came across this blog a while ago when doing a different search on Oak Park.  I read a story of someone getting an iphone stolen on the green line which completely sucks.  Since then, I visit the blog occasionally to get information regarding goings on in Oak Park.  Different from the other blogs I have showcased, this one has actual forums and discussions.  Topics from Fannie May Candy to a new opera production company are just a couple of samplings.  This blog is not just someone posting different stories and experiences.  It truely is a community sharing information and ideas.  Even you can post to the blog, add a comment, participate in a forum or just cruise and map the different subjects.  This is interesting and informative.  Visit and share something.  It really is something I should read every day.

Tags: oak park

Virtual Farmgirl: Sea Turtle Surprise at Sunrise

Virtual Farmgirl: Sea Turtle Surprise at Sunrise.  Had to share this sweet sweet story from our Oak Park friend, VFG.  How amazing they got to experience this.  Gives hope.

Style Rookie?

I read about The Style Rookie a while back from a Chicago Tribune write-up.  I question the use of the word “rookie” in any way associated with her blog.  Elsmo Four said about her “she is no joke and is destined to be famous.  Seriously.”  Tavi’s feminist voice rages about fashion, things she likes, the things she doesn’t, justice and liberty for all.  She is humble in a sassy way. I don’t know her, but I imagine Juno, only with a closet full of style and funk and attitude.  (maybe more Haley Stark than Juno.)  The question becomes what compels a middle age (yes, I am), uncool, more-like-Kathy-Bates-than-anything-hip mother to read her blog?  The answer is simple, she can write.  I just read the post about going to her middle school dance titled  In which I reflect on a Middle School Situation, Publishing a Work I will Read in Shame in a Matter of Years.  My inner middle schooler relates.  I’ll read what she writes today because it is good.  That simple.

Tavi, photo from her blog, hopefully she doesn't mind...if so, let me know

Tags: blog, fashion, oak park

Green in Oak Park

The subtitle of Green in Oak Park is Living Green, Saving Green and Eating Your Greens.  Okay, über clever.  She should change her name to sustainability.  One thing I really like about her blog is the substance.  She is an encyclopedia of information on sustainability.  She lives it to the fullest which you can see reading her material.  I do feel guilty after reading the information she posted.  I basically do nothing to help anyone and probably run the air conditioner too long and eat too many pesticides.  I learned a ton much during my evening of reading.  I didn’t know there was an Oak Park community garden, and I am so peeved I didn’t buy some space.  How have I lived here all spring and not seen these people planting things.  Grrrrrrrr.

Oak Park Community Garden

 I didn’t know there were so many books written on sustainability, I didn’t know there was a huge influx of strawberries this year (my genius brain didn’t figure the cheap strawberries were there for a reason)  Please take a look at her blog.  She has a wealth of information that is well written and interesting.

Tags: blog, oak park, sustainable