Desk Phone Dock

I couldn't help but think today, there has to be a dock out there that lets you use your cell phone like an actual land line. Viola. Of course it exists. I just had to find it.

I need this: http://www.deskphonedock.com/

Ottoman

It's time to trade up on a new coffee table. The one we have right now is a slight step up from IKEA. It took me forever to pick a new sofa, so let the great search begin. I want an ottoman style, but haven't decided on leather vs fabric. Crate & Barrel designs struck out, but Pottery Barn has a few that are getting close.

FLW Gift

Tyson's aunt Shelia (from the Pyle side) made us a quilted wallhanging using a pattern from a book of Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass window replicas as a wedding gift and sent it last week - wow!

This particular replica is inspired by his reception hall in Oak Park, IL. I adore it and can't wait to hang it, maybe above our couch since it compliments it so well.

Bake Off

I was busy in the kitchen for Valentine's Day. I made 4 dozen sugar cookies for Tyson to take to work (Martha Stewart's Ideal Sugar Cookie Recipe, of course) To my surprise, they turned out just fine. I baked them for 7 minutes instead of the recommended 10 so they were nice and fluffy. I must be getting better at baking - I did not burn a single one. I did make a giant mess, so that hasn't changed.



We stayed in on Monday and I made swiss fondue (Gruyère + Jarlsberg) in my new fondue pot. My Mom gave it to me last year at a bridal shower, so I've been wanting to use it for a long time. You fill the outside pot with hot water and then set another tempered glass pot inside with the cheese so it is heated evenly. The fondue stayed creamy and smooth the entire time.






Now it's time to get busy in the gym after all this food... :/

Frost Creeps In

Ice crystals covered the inside of our windows this morning as the temperature dipped as low as -4 deg in Lincoln Park (2/10). I took these pictures about noon from our north facing windows, so it was probably a balmly 16 degrees by then.

^ Geometry of an ice crystal.

Happy Heart Day

I spend more time with WBEZ/NPR than any other media; listening to it for 8 hours a day while working from home will do that I guess. We're even members (gah!) 

ANYWAYS.

They released a set of cheeky Valentine's Day cards.... These two are my favorites. You can find the rest here: http://www.npr.org/valentine/ 

Ski Trip - Devil's Head

Two summers ago we went hiking/camping near Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin (See: the post) This January we went back for a day of skiing at nearby Devil's Head in south central Wisconsin, about a 3 hour drive from Chicago. It has about 30 runs with a vertical rise of 500 feet and the longest run is 1.5 miles. It's no Colorado, but for an up-and-back trip it is worth it. We left about 6a on Saturday morning and returned before 7p - exhausted.

Tyler, Melanie and Tyson on the catwalk.

Heading up on the Quad Lift

We *always* stop for cheese on the way home. Mousehouse Cheese Haus!