Activities – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Mom Talk August 12, 2015

Finger Painting with a Toddler (In the Bathtub!)

After Isla woke up from her nap yesterday afternoon, we played in the yard for ten minutes before heading back inside, both red in the face and sweaty from the record breaking Houston temperatures (humidity factor made it feel like 110 degrees). I decided we needed to do something fun indoors, so I grabbed some paper, tape, Greek yogurt (which Isla loves) and food coloring and we painted in the bath tub.

At first, Isla was hesitant to “get into” the paint, but after I did some splatters myself, she went crazy with it. Of course, we were playing in the bathtub, so I was very excited about her enthusiasm, which was peppered with little moments of silence as she stopped to eat her ‘paint.’

Personal November 3, 2014

Week in Review

A wonderfully busy week, filled with lots of preparation for family photos on Sunday. I literally bought ten cream shirts from Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, J. Crew, J. Crew Factory, and Anthropologie to wear in the pictures, then decided (very last minute) on a pink sweater that I already owned! How fickle. And of course, lots and lots of returns to make this week.

We took our photos with Paige of Awake Photography – you can see a sneak peek of the pictures on her Instagram here. I cannot wait to share the photos with you, along with other Christmasy ones, next week.

Other highlights of our week included:

Calming Isla down by telling her “No more fussing!” while shaking your finger – she thinks it’s the funniest thing ever (see video here)
Swimming with Isla at Life Time Fitness – she is a big, big splasher
Painting (i.e. mushed berries) in her BABYBJORN highchair
Getting a blow out at The Dry Bar (I am obsessed)
Meeting Sasha’s cousin’s wonderful fiancé for the first time (and getting to walk the 3-mi loop while getting to know each other!)
Isla’s first halloween – we didn’t make it trick or treating (this girl takes bed time seriously), but got some cute strawberry pics
Having a trick-or-treater tell me they love my succulents (really??)
Helping my friend Amanda (her engagement photos here) get ready to be the world’s most convincing Elsa (see photos below)
Eating out twice at Ruggles Green (sorry Houston ex-pats!) – once with Brooke, one of my most favorite people on the planet
Taking Isla to Biscuit Home for the first time – although she slept the entire time
Trying a new food truck (Simply Greek) that is a mile from our house
Having Sasha’s classmate’s family over for dinner yesterday evening – such cute kiddos

What were the highlights of your week?

Finger painting was a fun, but very messy, activity

City Guide October 28, 2014

Chicago City Guide

I have only been to Chicago a handful of times, yet I love it so much. Given my lack of experience with traveling around the Windy City, I’m handing over the city guide ownership to my good friend, Mara, who writes one of my favorite blogs – Hook, Thread & Tinker. Mara lives in Chicago with her husband, James, and their newborn son, Simon, who is two days younger than Isla (and the cutest boy ever!). Her style is très similar to mine, so naturally I think she’s super cool (ha). She has written a detailed city guide, which I’m sharing with you today! First, I’ll give you my abbreviated, yet sound, list of Chicago must-do’s.

My Chicago Recommendations

Eat brunch at 2 Sparrows (where I tasted my first St-Germain cocktail)
Get coffee at La Colombe (I’m not an iced coffee person, but I am here)
Eat lunch at Tavern on Rush (sit outside and people watch)
Drink Bloody Mary’s at Mike Ditka’s Restaurant (nice and spicy)
Devour dinner at Purple Pig (I literally dream about their shaved Brussels sprouts!)
Get drinks at Pops for Champagne (I believe Heaven will have a champagne bar too)
Take a ‘selfie’ using The Bean in Millenium Park (major tourist attraction, but I love it)
Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier (okay, also very touristy)
Shop on The Magnificent Mile (there is no H&M near us in Houston!)
Laugh until you cry at Second City (book well ahead of time)

For the full Chicago City Guide on Hook, Thread & Tinker, click here. It’s literally the best city guide ever made – it includes separate posts for breakfast and brunch, lunch and dinner, pizza, snacks and dessert, daytime activities, drinks and nightlife – as well as a detailed 48 hour itinerary. Happy reading (and hopefully, planning!).

Click here to see a complete list of my travel guides.