It’s the best day of the year!

bastille, riviera theater, chicago

So what you’re telling me is you like big announcement posts? Judging by the explosion of hits my ‘we’re moving to Florida‘ announcement got yesterday I’d say you do. I don’t blame you. Announcements are exciting, dramatic and joyful. How let down are you going to be then to be met with a plain old Tuesday blog […]

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Big Announcement

greater swiss mountain dog, moving announcement, florida, simply social blog

Ladies and Gentleman, can I please have your attention? I need you to stop what you are doing and listen… OK so this news isn’t horrifying and it doesn’t have anything to do with cannonballs, but it is kind of a big deal. If you know me in real life or just by reading this […]

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Mint Chocolate Trifle

st. patrick's day mint chocolate trifle, dessert, brownie and oreo trifle

So my oven broke last week just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. I know what you’re thinking perfect timing. But after over analyzing my failed ombre cake this weekend I decided not to let it get to me. I decided to follow the advice of two of the wisest guys I know and just let […]

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A dog was here: Week 2

a dog was here photography series, pet photography, frog toy, beaver toy, swiss mountain dog, evidence of a dog

Thanks for coming back for week two of a dog was here, a photography series. I’d like to thank everyone for their submissions over the past week. And by everyone I mean my dad who alone has submitted enough entries to create a hybrid series I’m calling: Murfdog was here. In this series, Murf documents his life […]

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Everything is Awesome

My apologies for the delay in posting and for getting this tune in your head for the rest of eternity. I traveled home this weekend to see my family and pick up my pooch. I was supposed to pick him up the weekend before but the roads were bad so we pushed it off a […]

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How to dress for a polar vortex

cold weather essentials, winter outerwear for chicago, winter outfits, northface parka, ugg boots, smartwool socks, brisk run gloves, northface hat

I was going to start off this post by talking about our trip to Untitled on Friday for the kick-off to restaurant week, but then that silly Polar Vortex showed up again, ruining everyone’s dreams for an early spring and overall dexterity. So I’ll get to the food in a bit, as I understand it is key to […]

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Workout Wednesday: It’s just like riding a bike

spin bike workout, heart rate training, 15 minute spin exercise bike cardio, quick spin bike workout

Remember all that time you spent cruising around on your bike as a child, poppin’ wheelies and going hands-free like Jack and Rose on Titanic? Well this bike workout is nothing like that. But wasn’t it fun to remember when you actually rode bikes for leisure AND ate ice delis and not that you are […]

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Golden Globes and Craft

social print studio instagram prints, greater swiss mountain dog photobomb, simply social blog

From the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California, this is live with Sarah Murphy. Just kidding. We’re not live. And I’m not in Los Angeles. And that photo is actually from one of my best friend’s weddings. Doesn’t she make a beautiful bride though? Speaking of beautiful, it feels like California today here in Chicago […]

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on holiday lulls

thumbprint christmas sugar cookies, holiday sugar cookies with sprinkles, red and green christmas cookies

I must admit I’m feeling a bit melancholy now that Christmas is over. Perhaps it was the mid-week occurrence or the late Thanksgiving this year, but it just doesn’t seem like it should be over yet. I am very grateful for some time off work to celebrate with friends and family, but I can’t help […]

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Thanksgiving reflections

simple holiday place setting, rosemary napkin, ribbon-tied napkin, holiday china, thanksgiving place setting

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Ok so I’m a little delayed on my post-turkey post. But let’s get serious, if you’re anything like me you are just now starting to feel like a normal human again after a serious bout with tryptophan. Just me? Ok, then. I love Thanksgiving. I would tell you it’s my […]

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