I've moved to lagrantcreative.com

After 10 years of good intentions, I'm finally launching my graphic design portfolio website. For years, I've been trying to find the best online platform to showcase my work. I settled on squarespace.com in October and it's been a lot of fun to customize.

Stop by lagrantcreative.com and have a look! While I'm currently working through a busy season with one of my favorite clients, I am always happy to discuss new projects. I appreciate referrals and encourage you to share my site with your friends. 

In order to maximize use and increase content on my portfolio site, I've moved my blog there. It's a beautiful template, but the blog is a work in progress. Please re-direct your bookmarks to www.lagrantcreative.com/notes.

Thanks so much!

Monelle on the move

Monelle in Taiwan just months after
we got her. 

As of this Wednesday, our gorgeous girl, Monelle has become a Wicker Park resident. Her new owner is additionally gorgeous and they connected very well. Funny timing, David was just starting to pronounce her name, look for her around the house and nicely pet her for upwards of 5 minutes without her running for safety.

It's a new season for us and we're praying that Monelle is so much happier in her new hip home that she leaves her challenging behaviors behind. Leona is showing signs of much content. I think she's convinced that she 'won'.

A happy, rainy, dreary, sticky Halloween

If I could sum up Halloween in one word, I'd say - sticky. Or at least the post trick-or-treating part.

This year was our first trick-or-treating experience as a family and it almost didn't happen. The weather was rainy all day and plans were being changed continually. 

Due to lack of coffee supplies, I finally got us all out the door and into the van at 4pm. Destination, New Starbucks drive-thru. I suited the kids up in costume just in case we drove past an awesome house and I felt comfortable enough to run them up to the front door. 

Coffee mission complete and our fist candy of the night in hand from the barista, I took a right down Glenlake. I was hoping the Lickety Split custard shop might have an indoor party for rained out trick-or-treaters. Nope. Instead I saw a few bundles of parents with umbrellas shuffling their kids door to door. We parked and fell in step with two middle school girls, fearlessly ringing every door. Got LOTS of candy!

Even though it was dreary and damp, Glenlake was ready for their trick or treaters. Some sat on their front porches with buckets in hand and even one mom manned a tented station next to the sidewalk with her baby. I asked an older couple how many kids they normally get each year and they said '500'. I think they'll get 502 from now on because David and Judah will definitely be among the regulars.

We stopped by the Driscolls where David was ready to call it a night and play with all their Halloween decorations. Then headed home to have post trick-or-treating pizza with David's buddy Jana and family. They reported excellent trick-or-treat options on our street. 

Trick-or-treating turned out to be an activity that rain could not ruin. David went from timidly repeating the appropriate words after me to singing 'Thank You!' as he rushed on to the next house. I kind of wish there we're other times to mingle in this way with our neighbors. It was so fun.

November desktop from Ann Meer

It's just lovely. Visit Ann Meer's blog to view more of her work.