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Fall Traditions – Apple Picking 2020

There’s a chill in the morning and the air is crisp. The leaves are changing and it’s starting to feel like fall in Chicago. We go apple picking as a family every year and while we’ve gone to the same orchard (read more here) for the past few years we decided to switch it up this fall. In times of Covid we wanted some where closer to home, just in case we arrived and it was too crowded or we felt uncomfortable.

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Best Heart Shaped Pizzas Near Chicago

True story – I never liked Valentine’s Day before kids. Even when I had a significant other it just felt like a lot of pressure for a made up holiday. Now that I have kids all that’s changed and I fully embrace it for them. We celebrate as a family and what better way then a heart shaped pizza! Here are my top three choices near or in Chicago!

  • Barnaby’s – 636 E. Touhy, Des Plaines, IL They may not have a website but this place is a Des Plaines landmark. Growing up this was basically the only restaurant my parents would take us out to. They’ve had heart shaped pizzas for Valentine’s as long as I can remember and I love their thin crust pizza. Barnaby’s is nothing fancy – you order at the front and wait for your number to be called – but it’s kid friendly, delicious and reminds me of my childhood.
  • Lou Malnati’s – If you don’t want to wait until Valentine’s Day or you can’t make it that day, Lou’s is serving up heart shaped pizzas now until Sunday, February 16. They also have a frozen option you can cook at home or ship to someone special. I can’t and won’t describe the pizza to you because I wouldn’t do it justice. If you’ve never had it, it’s time, heart shaped or not. You’ll thank me later.
  • Dino’s Pizza – 7004 W. Higgins, Chicago, IL Another gem without a website, Dino’s is a Northside neighborhood pizza place making thin crust pizza that is worth any drive. Dino’s is the first place we ordered from when we moved into our house six years ago.

These are some of my favorites, I’d love to find more! Drop a comment and let me know if I’ve missed any! Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Winter Toddler Birthdays

Happy March! If you have been following along on instagram you may have seen my oldest recently turned 4! I can’t believe how fast the time has flown by! We are not at the point where we are hosting birthday parties for her friends yet (sigh of relief!) but we do like to do something special as a family for the girls for their birthdays. When you have a child born in the winter you need to get a little creative when it comes to family activities! Here are a couple of things we have done in the past – at a variety of price points! While I’m linking to local spots near me I’m sure these will provide plenty ideas of similar places near you!

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