Hey everyone, if you haven’t seen it yet, I am going to be the Stand-in host of You & Me This Morning, weekdays 6-9a.m. on WCIU-TV, The U, WCIU.com and MeTV.

It’s a Chicago station so all of our news, weather and stories will be locally focused: It’s news you can use, accurate weather and stories about people, places and services found right here in Chicago.

My friend Jeanne Sparrow is going to take some time off and I am honored to be able to step in for her.

Here is a link to all of the stories about it!

• Lewis Lazare
• Chicago Tribune
• Rober Feder
• Chicago Radio and Media

Check out more stuff in the near future and make sure to watch me on “WCIU, The  U.”

To find out what time to watch and more great stuff about the show  click here!

Thanks for all the wonderful notes and messages!

Melissa

This is so sweet! Listener Randi Gielczyk’s grandma just turned 94 years old (uh, I mean young). Her name is RAYDA DEUBEL. She was once our winner of the world’s LARGEST floral bouquet. They are the nicest family in the world. CONGRATS on the birthday!! So sweet. Here she is with some family (including her great grandchildren). May the New Year be great for all of you. Family and long life, that’s what it’s all about.

Wow, what in incredibly cool trip! Just took the kids to Puerta Vallarta Mexico! We swam with the Dolphins, went whale watching (and I don’t mean ME in a bathing suit), kissed a sea lion, para-sailed, and just had a blast. Getting 6 people to Mexico and then back again in one piece is a big FEAT in my book. Phew! We stayed at the Marival resort and suites (it was really nice) and really had a relaxing time. One thing that had me CRACKING up was that on the way home in the Puerta Vallarta airport I bought 5 magazines and got a “gift with purchase”. I was shocked when they handed me a NAIL CLIPPERS with a sharp, metal, pointy nail file!! The lady at the counter must have thought I was nuts when I couldn’t control my laughter. I just went through 12 hours of security, a pat down, past 6 radar detectors, drank radon liquid to see if I was safea and then they hand me THIS to take on the plane! LOL!! I was dying. Anyway, another successful family trip- another adventure in the family book- and more great times. Hope you had an awesome holiday too and I can’t wait to hear about it.

Well, I don’t know about you- but I usually love the first day of snow and then dread it as the winter goes on. Having time at home with the kids though- today was pure joy. I got to actually enjoy a whole day out in the beautiful white snow thinking about how lucky I was to be with them. The snow was falling in amazing giant flakes and it was actually pretty warm. We rigged up an old sled I found in the back of the garage and put a handle on it and off we went. I’m not sure if it was the pleasure of enjoying time with the girls or just that it was really unseasonably warm but we lasted a good couple of hours out there. Even as a kid, I don’t ever remember lasting that long (except the year my brother and I made a really cool igloo and tried to live in it). After that it was HOT chocolate and a tube of BenGay on the aching bones.

I’ll never forget the look on my kids faces- pure joy. I wish I took a picture of my own. You would have seen pure joy there too.

Hard to believe how quickly time flies! Ryan just had her 6th Birthday party. We held it at Sunshine Crafts and it was really cool because the kids painted plaster pieces using glow in the dark paint. Lots of fun. Ryan is pumped because she has 2 loose teeth that should come out any day now (eeeek I hate when they wiggle!!). By the way, what is the going rate for a tooth these days? I asked her and I was cracking up when she said “well the pacifier fairy gave me 6 bucks”. lol. I will definitely let you know when the tooth fairy makes her entry at our house. EXPECT it to be big…. momma is good friends with the tooth fairy and I love a big entrance!!

Other than that- just getting ready for Thanksgiving. What are you up to for the holiday? My mother in law, Bunny, is coming in from Philly and we are all really excited. Should be a ton of fun. I’m actually going online after this to find a fun game to play at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I love playing games before we start dinner. The one we have ALWAYS done every year is have each person write down 3 things they are thankful for but it can’t be friends or family. Then one person reads each one out loud and we try to guess who wrote it. It’s always pretty fun and inevitably someone writes something worth making fun of the rest of the dinner! If you have any other cool stuff to do definitely pass it along and I can post it!

As long as we are talking about Thanksgiving, I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am for YOU. Your support, emails, shout outs, visits to my house, etc. are all appreciated (lol). I am thankful for your never ending display of affection and continued support. I can’t tell you how great I think you are and how it always makes me feel when I get your incredibly supportive notes.  I wish you and your family an incredibly wonderful holiday filled with laughter and good wishes. There are so many great things to be thankful for. All my best and I’ll post holiday pictures as soon as we can!!

Well, we finally did it! I want to introduce to you the brand new addition to the family- His name is PHILLY! My husband is from Philadelphia  so the name came to the kids quickly. He is a Brussels Griffon mix and he just stole our hearts. We surprised Ryan, our 6 year old, with the puppy on her birthday. She has been asking, begging, asking, begging for a dog for the last year or so. She happens to be one of those very gentle, kind hearted, 6 year olds who understand how to be with animals. To be honest,  I was really just going to surprise her with a kitty (Casey our current cat is 17!). But when my husband and I saw this puppy – it was ALL OVER!  In fact, Scott just called and asked how his “son” was. The good news is- I think Casey is liking him too. All’s good. Just another step in the circle of life.

Napa was beyond AWESOME. I did get you the bottle of wine you asked for. We just have to get together and drink it. Although, to be honest, I’m going to need a liver transplant after all that wine! WOW!! When you leave that place you are just dying for a beer. LOL! The funny thing was how many Chicagoans we bumped into. The whole town must have needed a drink at the same time. lol.

Other then that- just enjoying the time to sleep late. I’m just taking one of those rare opportunities in life to breathe it all in. It’s been a gift and I refuse to leave that package unopened.

So Scott and I are off again! This time to beautiful Napa Valley to soak up the smell of amazing grapes and fresh wine. I will try to forget that we are leaving behind 4 kids with Nana Paula to fend for themselves. LOL!!

Should be a great trip – we are going with 2 other couples and Scott and I are just going to do our best to keep up. Ill be taking tons of pictures and hope to post them when we get back. Let me know if you want me to bring back anything for you- I have room in my bag! On another note- we may have a NEW ADDITION TO THE HOUSE NEXT WEEK. Shhh…..Ill be telling you about that soon.

Well, its officially here!

The new website. Whew, that took a lot of work (well, actually for web designer Steve Raquel of Illinois Online Ventures!! We went to college together- shhh…don’t tell anyone but he was once Chief Illiniwek at the University of Illinois. Boy, he was good!! He can really kick high.

I also want to thank Tony Lossano and Producer Jimmy for all of their help. I called them at all hours trying to figure out how to do this by myself. They finally suggested I “get help”. Isn’t that funny? I have heard that phrase so many times from them on different topics. Lol. We are still building the site, and hope eventually to have pod casts and lots of interactive new things. It would be nice with Producer Jimmy’s marketing background if he would make t-shirts and toothbrush holders for us to sell online here, but we will see (hint hint).

If you have any memories, photos, or just stories to share I hope you will write and check back often. Send me your stuff! Send me the links you love- I would be happy to put them on the site! Producer Jimmy will also be blogging soon so I’m really hoping he will put up all of his TREMENDOUS gift ideas for the holidays. He is THE best gift giver I have ever known. The guy does nothing but shop. Unreal ideas.

I’m now busy searching through years and years of stuff, boxes, tapes, videos, etc. Anything I can find to share with you that might be fun and interesting. It’s a long process, but one I’m really excited about.

I will keep you up to date on everything going on with our lives and work. Just make sure you keep checking back! Spread the word we are officially open for business and just know how GREAT I think you are for listening all these years and always being so supportive. I love you my friend. Here’s to staying in touch and more great times!!!

All my best,

Melissa

Well, I just got back from an awesome weekend in New York! A total blast and feeling rested. Scott and I got some quality time away and got some important work done too. I read a GREAT book on the plane and I can’t put it down. It’s that new one from Mitch Albom (the author of “Tuesday’s with Morrie”). The book is called “To Have a Little Faith”. So far, I’m loving it! I can’t wait to get to the end. Although, don’t you hate it when you are reading something you love and there is that excitement about getting to the end- and also the sadness that it will be over? Yep, I have that with this book. I’ll let you know how it is when I’m finished.

Scott and I saw some friends in New York, we ate at some great places (you know it’s a successful trip when your pants don’t fit when you get back), we saw Avenue Q (an unbelievably funny show that was also here in Chicago), and we walked a TON.

Baked by Melissa!

We stayed in Soho and I gotta tell you we found something I am now obsessing over and can’t stop. A tiny (and I mean TINY) little shop in the street called “BAKED BY MELISSA.”

The best cupcakes!

At first we were drawn to it obviously because of the name. But after we found out what it was- and had a bite of one of the tasty treats- I could not stop thinking about it. So what is it? THE TINIEST, MOISTEST, MOST DELICIOUS LITTLE CUPCAKES YOU HAVE EVER HAD!!!  They come in 9 flavors and they are so unbelievably good. I have never seen anything so cute before in my life. Each cupcake is about the size of a QUARTER! The line was around the corner. Some of the flavors were tye die, s’mores, peanut butter n’ jelly, red velvet, OMG!! Anyway, I thought I would pass the website on to you in case you want to order some! (I do think you have to order at least 100 online, so maybe if you are REALLY REALLY hungry! LOL! Or if you are having a big party). Check it out at http://bakedbymelissa.com.

Okay I’m going to hang out with Ryan now! Plus a ton of stuff to do. The new website is close to being finished, so it should be fun. I love getting your emails, notes, letters, etc. and I love hearing from you. Keep em comin’!! We’ve got LOTS to do, you and me.

Your Friend,
Melissa