doings | mom's night out movie!

Several weeks ago I received a email from the folks at Provident Films asking if I'd like to attend a prescreening of their new movie "Mom's Night Out".

Um, let me think about that for a second... YES!

My friend Josh Walsh just happens to be the associate producer for this movie.  (Friends in high places, y'all!)  It was an absolute blast finally getting to see a movie I'd heard so much about!  The fact that a bunch of friends starred as extras only added to the fun.

The Erwin brothers, who also made the incredible film "October Baby, are behind "Mom's Night Out" and they did not disappoint.  I can't remember the last time I've laughed so hard during a movie!  It was that funny.  And heartwarming.  And funny.

There was even a representative from the MNO team at the theater to hand out goodie bags (yes! yes! yes!) and to emcee the evening.  She had a great sense of humor as she talked a little "behind the scenes" with us.

I absolutely loved the MNO nail file, which we were informed was NOT a tongue depressor. Haha!

Click here to watch scenes from the movie! 

And make plans to take your mom to the theater this Mothers Day weekend!

doings | happy birthday dr suess!

We love a good excuse to throw a party.

And when you have a house full of Suess fans, and the dear man has his 110th birthday, its more than a good excuse.

My sister Elle has taken it upon herself to throw a yearly birthday party for the dear, Dr Suess.  She is 13 years old and her party planning skills are already shaping up fantastically!  Elle planned the whole thing, hand-illustrated the invites, planned out the menu and decor, and created her own games (draw a "who" in two minutes and a trivia quiz, thankfully no rhyming was involved).

We had appetizers and mingled for a few minutes before the meal.  These are caprese skewers (get it? they look like his famous hat!)  We also ate goldfish crackers.  Of course!

It Poor Miss Grace is cropped out of this photo and Cal is the lone male at the table, but at least the decorations are cute!

 The centerpiece of Truffula Trees.  They're made of pompoms and sitting in a bed of truffula seeds (ahem, skittles).  I died of the cuteness!

I wish I had a full shot of the buffet.  We feasted on "roast beast" sandwiches, "one fish two fish" blue jello, brussel sprout "who hash" and had "yurtle the turtle" sundaes for dessert.

 And its the little Cal-boy.  He absolutely adore it when we throw parties.  Food everywhere!  And he can snack for hours without anyone telling him to stop.  Oh and the sugar, he's also a fan of the sweet treats that we serve.

Bravo Elle on another snappy party!

quotable | no, never

Cal: "If I was a girl, I'd never grow a mustache."

He just turned five, and apparently has ten kinds of opinions on life.

doings | yerkes observatory

I love getting the opportunity to play tourist in my own town.  And despite my best intentions to tour Yerkes Observatory, it's just never happened.  I've grown up hearing stories and wondering about this famous refracting telescope that sits on a hill overlooking the lake and decided that Saturday looked like a great day to go.

My little sisters are fascinated with stars and astronauts and such.  I figured they'd be up for an adventure.  

They absolutely were!  

I'm just plain crazy about museums, architecture and other things that most people find boring.  The three of us were practically giddy when we left the house at 9am.  The rest of our family told us to "have fun!" and rolled their eyes.  Oh we will, thank you!

The tour didn't disappoint!  Our guides were funny older gentlemen who've spent waaaay too many years here at Yerkes.  We learned all about the beginning of the observatory (lots of money & Chicago politics involved).  

And there is it, the telescope!

I affectionately call these girlies my "space cadets", even though they're actually brilliant.  The building that houses the telescope is unheated, it was a toasty 17 degrees inside, but it was worth it to be on the floor as our guide raised and lowered it for us (and whistled a sic-fi theme, bonus!).  

We stood in the very same spot that Einstein once stood.

The architecture was surprisingly ornate.  Terracotta exterior and painted plaster inside.  The pillars had celestial designs and very funny characters hidden throughout.  It reminded me a bit of Rosslyn Chapel, one of the strangest places I've ever been.  

And then we bought postcards and astronaut ice cream in the gift shop.

Because I believe in supporting great museums.  And where else are you going to find astronaut ice cream?

photographed | darling miss grace

Making her "turtle face".