Hello Spooky Season!

It’s finally cooling off in Chicago, and the best season is upon us. I live for Fall weather in the Midwest, and finally ready to hit up a pumpkin patch or Fall fest now that it’s not a sweltering 90 degrees. 🥵

I know this is the time of year when parenting chaos is at an all-time high. You’re scrambling to dig Halloween decorations out of the basement while simultaneously ordering Christmas pajamas because they are on sale - oh and don’t forget there is another other holiday or 2 sprinkled in, so make sure you have every, single, one of those days filled with a fun and engaging activity! 🫠 But also practice self-care! Make sure to carve in “me time” to lift those weights, meditate, deep breathe, use an infrared sauna, hit your protein goals, and finally sign up for reformer pilates class.

While I don’t have any groundbreaking tips for managing these months of maheym, I am going to simply try to enjoy it. I am embarrassingly behind on curating my family photos into prints and albums. (Confession: I FINALLY printed my 6-year-old’s first-year baby book 5 years later) which felt amazing to check off my list - truly can’t believe I put it off that long - but as I was going through our first Halloween and first fall photos, I was reminded how magical this time of year can be with little ones amidst the chaos. In the spirit of FUN my Top 8 is some fun, seasonal toys and activities for kids of all ages that could come in handy on some of those out of school days.

Speaking of photos, I know family photo sessions are in full swing—and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: figure out YOUR outfit first and then plan your kids and significant other accordingly.

Last year, I made the mistake of lining up everyone’s outfit but mine and found myself panicking in a Nordstrom dressing room mere hours before the shoot (do not recommend). So this year, I’m learning my lesson and nailing my look first—probably with this blouse or this dress.

I’ve been so lucky to work with some amazing Chicago photographers who’ve captured our family through the years. Here’s a roundup of the ones we’ve used—and honestly, they’re some of the best in the city!