Wow – it’s Thanksgiving already! It seems like only yesterday I was bitching that it was too hot and here I am, on the brink of winter, bitching that it’s too cold. Dang, a lot has happened since I published the 2nd Annual Holiday Gift Guide – I had the site redesigned (and moved to [...]

I love my dad. I think most people know this about me approximately ten minutes after meeting me. Either the tattoo on my leg gives it away or I use one of his made up words in conversation and in explaining it, have to also explain that my dad is the funniest person in the [...]

Last year I think I did pretty OK on the Mother’s Day Gift Guide all by myself. I tried to choose things that moms- young or old, tattooed knuckles or no, would like. But I’m about 75% busier this year than I was last year so I asked for some help – from you. You [...]

To my Second Annual Mother’s Day Gift Guide! I’m starting early this year because it’s the only way I’ll get it done. If you make/sell something that any mom in her right mind (hm…are any moms in their right minds? I certainly am not, thanks to being a mom) would love to receive for Mother’s [...]

I have done a lot of difficult things in my day – stayed vegan for 5 years despite working in a delicious Italian bakery, gained and lost 70 lbs in an 18-month period, sat through Dracula 2000 without stabbing my own eyes out – but I don’t think I had as tough of a time [...]

Sk8 and Bake and Destroy Originally uploaded by Bake & Destroy As you may already be aware, I am one of Chicago’s leading apron critics (not to mention models.) I make or break apron designers faster than you can say ric rac. This is why I’m sure you’ll all be extremely excited to hear I’m [...]

The Grinch (probably the furry green storybook villian I relate to the most) may have stolen Christmas, but Teno Slater almost stole the Second Annual Bake and Destroy Holiday Gift Guide. For you see, my friends, my child is a jerk. We recently relocated to a lovely new condo just a mile northwest of our [...]

I don’t do this sort of post very often, but this is a super-special circumstance. Before I was a Baker and Destroyer, I was a pregnant lady working at a coffee shop. I didn’t want to work there, but I didn’t know what else to do. Along came Lila, at the time just barely a [...]

I will admit that last year’s Renegade Craft Fair Chicago kind of bummed me out. I mean, I ended up with a great little purse from Custom Made UK and a pretty funny felt bacon ornament for my sister but I have a very distinct memory of turning to my husband, who was being very [...]

I’m really concerned with Mother’s Day this year, not because I’ve had a bad one yet. In fact, Tony is almost a professional present-buyer, he always does a really good job. But I’ve noticed since I’ve been back in school and forced to read all the terrible magazines and newspapers I will very likely one [...]