Elena @ 'a casarella's Profile

The best party I never attended! Seriously, Amy is a creative genius! Love it :)

Two years ago I remember being able to look at (and click on) thumbnails of all the pics. Last year (and now this year) I can't find them... What am I missing?

Another vote for the JJ Cole Bundle Me. (I was also in Chicago when I used mine with the Graco Snugride...)

When I first received my Kitchenaid for my wedding 14 years ago, I also had the leaking oil problem. I immediately called the company and was told this is a really common problem and not a cause for alarm. If your mixer was stored in the box and the box wasn't upright oil can leak out. They said just wash it off and continue as usual. Not enough leaks out to harm the machine. (It's working great after 14 years so I guess they were right.)

I should also not that my mom used the same KA mixer (a LOT) since the mid-seventies. It was pretty beaten up but worked like a charm. She just got a new one compliments of her new husband but the old one is still ticking.

I want to echo what ekg said about the el. Make sure that wherever you live you're within walking distance from an el stop. I now live in San Diego but I've lived in Rogers Park, Edgewater, Wrigleyville/Lakeview, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Park and Logan Square. Of those, my faves were Wrigleyville, Roscoe Village and Lincoln Park. However, in Roscoe Village we were (a freezing cold) nine blocks from the el and it sucked!

I have a GE profile with ice & water in the door. I looove it!

Lucy, my youngest's name is Lucia, Lucy for short. We hear the dog comment ALL the time. Oh well...

We are fortunate enough to have a large playroom. we are also fortunate to have an older daughter who loves to play "donate it or sell it" (her name for purging her toys). Our younger daughter is another story. She wants to keep everything. Sometimes I purge when she's not home. Truthfully, though, my kids really do play with most of their toys. Right now they're in the playroom creating a huge village out of Polly Pockets, Barbies, Little Ponies, etc. They do this *a lot* and I feel like the toys are worth it as a result. I keep them in big colorful plastic bins (sold in the summer time for holding drinks at BBQ's, etc). That keeps things organized. There is a great book on this topic by children's author David Shannon called Too Many Toys. I bet all parents will be able to relate to it--especially when he chronicles the origins of the toys (from family, birthday parties, fast food restaurants, etc, etc...)

We are lucky enough to have a five bedroom house (and only two children). We need a guest room since we live in San Diego and have lots of visitors. We also need an office for my husband so he can work from home. In our last house--also five bedrooms--the office and guest room took up the two extra bedrooms. As a result, most of the kids' toys were in the family room, which drove me NUTS. (They also have toys in their bedrooms but, well, they have a lot of toys...) In this house we combined the guest room and office and made the biggest (non-master) bedroom a playroom. Best thing I ever did!!