A nice little Sunday snack
2008-04-20 13:17:00
It's finally warming up in the city, so that means it's time for me to start watching my diet more and getting my lazy butt outside to walk on non-gym days. Today was the inaugural walk along the lake from Belmont to just south of Fullerton, and while my legs are sore, I still made decent time there and back.But I did want to share my new favorite light weekend snack/meal. Usually dinner is my most complete meal so lunch and breakfast are traditionally quick, easy-to-make and go foods that I can eat on the bus (bad I know) or eat quickly between meetings at work. Anyhow, lately on the weekends I've really been enjoying what I call the "potpourri plate," which consists of: a wedge of Laughing Cow Light cheese (still creamy and with a nice taste, not what you might think of a "light" cheese
Read more: little
, Sunday
Six quirky things about me
2008-04-21 13:57:00
So today I'm not a diva tagged me as part of the six truths meme (I don't know what that is) so for everyone's reading enjoyment, be prepared to learn interesting or useless things
about me. Remember, I'm quirky, not freaky.The rules:link to the person that tagged youpost the rules on your blogshare six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourselftag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogslet each random person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogSix things about me:I am still slightly OCD/perfectionist. This isn't as bad as it used to be, but my most reoccurring quirk is that when I have about 10-15 M&M's left, I organize them in bunches by groups of color and then eat them with my least fave color first with my favorite c
Customer service frustration
2008-04-23 19:34:00
Tonight I went to Old Navy to exchange a pair of tank tops that I originally purchased on Saturday. Normally I'm good at guessing my size, but this year, Old Navy has really dialed-down the quality of the tank tops, going from thick, sturdy cotton to some flimsy cotton/modal blend. I'm not a cotton/modal blend-hater, but Anne and I were both shocked at the decrease in quality. I know that you "get what you pay for," so for $7.50 each on sale, I'm not expecting cashmere, but seriously. I loved those tank tops and stocked up every year. Now I have to make sure my old ones last as long as possible because they're total crap now, same with the "perfect tee," which is now more of a "perfect piece of crap."Moving on - when I went in tonight to do an even exchange from XL to L, I could tell rig
Read more: Customer
Do I objectify guys? Absolutely, now take your shirt off
2008-04-22 14:18:00
I don't know why I remember this, but a few years ago I was watching MTV News (actually maybe MTV News Brief - let's be clear) and Usher, when he was super famous, was talking about how women would objectify him at his concerts. Apparently when you're young and have a nice body and parade around on stage with little to no clothing on, women objectify you. How did they figure us out? Anyhow, he commented to MTV that it's wrong for women objectify men because "they're people too," which made me almost spit out my soda in laughter. Yes, because women are not objectified ever...not in men's magazines like Maxim or online or even walking down the street! I'm sure when the centerfold was being photographed for Playboy, she was thinking, "boy I really hope the guys don't just look at my body and
Read more: Absolutely
Rant: Sibling Rivalry
2008-04-25 21:35:34
For better or worse, I was given a brother and two stepbrothers, but today I'll concentrate on my brother. We're three years apart, which I think is perfect because we have things in common, watch the same shows and generally get along (which only happened after I moved out for college).But despite this age difference, my brother is still my biggest rival. We don't have to fight for our parents attention anymore, but somehow I still view everything between us as a competition. While I have a good job and was recently promoted, am financially independent and stable and lead the "city life," Andy still holds the biggest cards: he's getting married, his wedding and honeymoon are free and he's the baby. Somehow when you stack those achievements next to each other, he's still the winner. Today
Read more: Sibling
, Rivalry
Weather forecasts for city women
2008-04-24 19:55:51
Thank goodness! It's finally feeling like spring in Chicago! (Minus this afternoon rain) Woo hoo! Whenever there is a large weather change - winter/spring or summer/fall - there can be a "delay" in dressing appropriately for the new weather temperature. This can cause several days of discomfort as you realize shortly after boarding the bus that you're too over- or under-dressed. Yesterday, on an amazing day, I noticed a woman on the bus wearing a North Face puffer coat on the way to work. Now that is overdressing. It's beautiful outside, wear something lighter!I love wearing skirts in summer, l-o-v-e it. But even with the recent 70-degree temps, I'm still hesitant to pull them out. Mostly because I'm not 100 percent convinced the weather will stay this way. This is the Midwest. So after be
Fun things in my neighborhood
2008-04-27 21:01:46
So my printer is still not...well printing because I did not know that I needed a USB cord to make this work and of course it was not included in the box. So tomorrow I will be heading to the Apple Store to get one and rectify this situation since Best Buy thinks $30 for a cord is "reasonable." But dad did replace the string on the light in my closet, so I no longer have to use a flashlight when digging for clothes. So that is a plus.And even though I did a 4.5 mile walk this morning, I decided to walk back from Best Buy (but with a Bobtail smoothie to make it manageable) and found the below billboard. Actually Ryan and I saw it last night and found it hilarious, but my Baby Buddha needed to get home and in the fridge so I couldn't take a picture of it then. I find it amusing, mostly beca
Read more: things
A food-filled Saturday
2008-04-26 22:47:38
I love when parents come to visit. Free groceries, travel by car downtown and free lunch and/or dinner.And now I'm sitting in my apartment, blogging with "comfy" pants on because I'm more than over my caloric limit for the day but it all tasted so good!Before our manual labor/furniture-moving afternoon, dad, stepmom and I visited my favorite place in the city, Nordstrom. Okay it's not my favorite architectural or tourist place in the city but it is my "happy place." The cafe has my favorite salad, the chicken, strawberry salad with mixed greens, feta cheese and candied walnuts. NUM. I order it every single time I eat there and it was lovely. Unfortunately, the tourists flocked there earlier than us and my red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting was not available. Damn you!While sh
Read more: Saturday
Harry & David? More like Satan and Mothra
2008-04-28 20:15:58
I have a bee in my bonnet tonight about Harry
& David
, purveyor of fruit and candy baskets. Two years ago I ordered something from them for my boss and every since I've been on its catalog/mailing list.I tried everything to duck them, moving, ignoring it and nothing stopped them from finding me. It's like a bad version of the IRS! Finally, I had enough and called about two months ago to ask them to remove me from their mailing list. My Harry & David customer service rep said I would be removed immediately and catalogs would cease within three weeks. So imagine my surprise, six weeks later, when I come home tonight (after an unfun bus ride in which my umbrella opened by accident) to find a Harry & David catalog in my mailbox.In a moment of customer service rage, I called Harry &
Read more: Satan
How the smallest things can make your day
2008-04-29 19:36:53
Presents and treats aren't just for holidays and birthdays anymore. Oh no. As a single, young professional woman, I believe in treating myself to something nice at least a few times a week, if not every day.Now this doesn't mean I'm out buying new purses, make-up or clothes all the time, but I've really found that as I get older, it's the little things
that can still make your day. For example, my dad gave me a roll of stamps (the new forever ones) and I was super excited...over stamps. My idea of daily treats include: buying lunch, taking a cab, buying nummy ice cream or cupcakes as a treat, etc. Not exciting or something that will break the bank, but it's still fun things that I wouldn't normally do on a regular basis.I'm teased at the office about my policy about "gift wrapping" things
The next sign of summer in Chicago
2008-05-01 20:43:45
Along with the tourists and "summer" homeless people, the next sign of spring downtown is summed up by three words: Save the Children.Yes, the Save the Children reps are out in force in the Loop! They prefer to grab unsuspecting tourists and city-folk by Macy's and even on Michigan Avenue by the Wrigley Building. I tend to avoid them by refusing to make eye contact and pretending not to hear them over my iPod, which is turned up a bit louder when they approach. Usually, these methods are successful, but sometimes they catch me off-guard and I'm forced to have some fun with them.Below is a slightly dramatic reenactment of a past run-in I had with Save the Children:Save the Children: Excuse me miss do you have a minute?Me: Actually I'm running late.Save the Children: Are you interested in
Read more: Chicago
New features on Everyday Adventures
2008-04-30 19:48:43
So I'm still slightly blog-illiterate, but I've added some cool new stuff to here that I wanted to share with everyone. Well I think it's cool - so play along ;)RSSI have added an RSS feed to the blog (which you can find on the right-hand column). To "feed me," enter the following URL into your feedburner: you don't use Newsgator, still click on the RSS link to the right and you can select what Feeds program you use. Note: early Everyday Adventures
readers will need to update their RSS link as the old one doesn't feed anymore."On Notice"So Stephanie had a genius idea last night, which is to add my own Colbert-esque "On Notice" board to this blog to capture the things that really put a bee in my bonnet. More to come so watch out!Google Me ThisAlong with doing the People Puzzler with a Pep
Read more: features
Who's the best big sister? I am!
2008-05-02 20:27:48
Not to toot my own horn, but I have compiled a list below of why I am an awesome big sister
:I'm tolerant Our secrets that go in the "vault" stay thereI'm patientI tell my brother the truth instead of telling him what he wants to hearThis morning, my brother had a big job interview and I could immediately tell that he was really nervous. So, like any good sister, I offered to help him practice his interview skills and take a look at his cover letter, which he had to submit before the interview. Oh boy am I glad I did. My first few cover letters when I was job hunting were awful. I had no idea what to say, how to make it "pop" or really what I was doing. I pretty much just wanted to call the prospective employer and say, "look, I'm awesome, hire me." But sadly that doesn't work, so instead
My official blog disclaimer
2008-05-04 01:46:59
I've been blogging now for nearly five months and recently, I've been thinking about taking this down, primarily because it appears as though my good-intentioned blog has greatly upset some people in my personal life.For those readers who do know me personally, they know that this blog is not a full character representation. On here, I do come across as bitchy and biting and sometimes mean, but in reality, that is not the person I am at all. I like to think of myself as a good person, who is pretty multi-dimensional. Only one or two of these dimensions is shown on here. While I am bitchy and sarcastic, I'm also funny and sensitive (yes that's hard to believe sometimes.) I love my family and my friends and even if I poke fun at or pick on them here, that does not reflect how I feel about al
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My first blogger girls night out/in
2008-05-04 18:18:09
Last night was my first official Chicago blog girls night out/in with the lovely Jenn, Katie and Angela. Sadly, Jamie couldn't join us - next time! We met up at Katie's insanely gorgeous apartment (with killer location), where we lounged in her living room (me firmly planted on the most comfortable couch ever) talking about family, friends, Chicago "freak sightings" and blogs (of course). The original plan was to watch several hours of Sex and the City, which was packaged in the most gorgeous pink suede case, but our own lives were entertaining enough. Frenemies, fashion and "boyfriends" - it's our own version of the show!It was a ton of fun getting to know other 20-something bloggers in the city and picking their brains about blogging. I heard the most horrifying El stories, one of whic
Things I recommend: Quitting your job (if you hate it)
2008-05-06 20:28:22
For the record, I have not quit my job. Things are actually going pretty well there right now so no complaints here. I'm actually writing this post to give a friend of mine a boost. She's unhappy in her job right now so I want to give her a preview of the euphoric joy she'll be feeling soon enough when she's outta there.I've only been "fired" from a job once, and even then they told me the news, it was more of them "letting me go" because it was clear both parties were not happy. When they first said, "today is your last day," I thought I was going to faint. I am a planner, I always have a Plan B. They broke up with me before I could meet someone better and end it with them. So I had a good cry, was escorted out by security and drove home (still crying) to an empty house and a full liquor
Read more: Quitting
Stop talking sh*t about girls who wear glasses
2008-05-05 21:01:51
"Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses." Whoever said that deserves a slap across the face.Now I can't say for sure this statement is true, even though during the many years I wore glasses on a daily basis, I did have a few guys tell me that to my face. I now wear glasses only at night and on Sundays, thanks to contacts, but that doesn't mean I didn't sympathize with poor Pam from the Office last week. I have "back up glasses" that I'm embarrassed to wear outside of my apartment too. And I'm blind enough without my glasses or contacts that I would have to put my nose to the paper to actually see my hand writing. And forget about operating any kind of machinery. No matter how self-conscious I was about my glasses, having someone remind me how unsightly I was in them kills the s
I swear there is a printer elf that steals from me
2008-05-07 20:10:37
I work in a large office at a large office building downtown. I'm fortunate that I have a printer, bathroom, kitchen, copier and fax machine all within close proximity to my desk, just in case I need to get to one of them in a short amount of time. This is moreso needed for the printer and fax machine, but you know what I mean.Even though this printer is close to me, I still have to share it with with all the men and women sitting in my cube-area. And recently, I've noticed that if I send something to this printer and don't go to get it right away, that it's magically gone. How is that possible? I even asked one of the women that sits near me if she accidentally grabbed my printouts when she picked up her paperwork. She claims she didn't and I guess I believe her, but where did my two-page
Read more: steals
Karma punched me in the face - multiple times
2008-05-09 16:27:39
So as some of you know, last night my parents came in to town for an overnight and the three of us, plus my friends Anne and Liz, were going to my favorite bi-annual shopping event. The Nordstrom's Customer Appreciation Night. I had been looking forward to this for weeks and even selected a "special," super-cute outfit for the event. I had my gift cards, my list of what I wanted to buy, and I was ready for fun, toasting the evening with the girls and a glass of wine.And then things started to go downhill from there. What started with "hey we're getting kind of tipsy and munching on some great food," turned into me getting punched
in the face by karma and suddenly becoming sloppy drunk and apparently with food poisoning. The latter I didn't figure out until later on, like this morning when
My first trip to the local strip club
2008-05-11 00:53:00
You heard me, Saturday night I lost my strip club virginity. I was back in Wisconsin for a bachelorette party and we visited the Airport Lounge's male revue - rockin' the airport from 9:30 p.m. to midnight every Saturday. Unfortunately, because of my cringe-inducing Thursday-night events, I was not drinking (but did have two sips of a shot before my stomach started kicking me around again) so I h
I am a tech-savvy goddess
2008-05-13 11:39:00
Not really, but I sure like that title. Many of you might not find this particularly interesting, but I am giving myself a massive pat-on-the-back. In last night's post, I mentioned I was trying to figure out my Apple Airport Express wireless device and at 8:30 p.m. last night...I did!! And I figured it out all by myself...and some help from the Apple Support page, but I did not run to my dad or s
Tidbit Monday: A Potpourri post - make up, more stripping and rock bands
2008-05-12 11:27:00
My mind is kind of scattered today as I continue working to establish a wireless network with my Apple Airport Express at home. It's supposed to be easy to connect, but it's apparently not easy enough for me because I can't get it to work. Grr!Anyhow, enjoy today's random sampling.Make-up Brushes - Help!Apparently my eyebrows are like a rain forest, as I have managed to break my fourth Sephora mak
Read more: Monday
, Potpourri
Office finale: The good, bad and JAM
2008-05-16 21:15:00
Blogs were a-flutter with feedback on the Office finale last night. Personally, I was too excited to blog about it right away because I had to watch it a few times to really get the full effect.So below are my thoughts. Many of the blogs I read today agreed on these points so hopefully it's not too repetitious.Note: Spoilers are below. If you haven't seen the finale, check out Hulu or NBC and the
Cable bill-hating
2008-05-15 16:25:00
I love television. No, really love it. DVR has changed my life (and increased the amount of TV I watch) but because I love television so much, it's always the one thing I splurge the most on and pay the most for (minus my purse addiction). Some people love cooking or sports, I love television and anything television-related. I dream about installing a surround-sound system. That I will outsource f
Read more: Cable
Shaking my money-maker and feeding the economy
2008-05-18 11:40:00
This weekend my friend Sarah and her boyfriend Thom were in town for a visit, and where Sarah and Thom are, good times follow. Usually it's drunken, 4 a.m. trouble with at least someone crying by the end of the night, or being threatened to be arrested. Good times!Before our inevitable late night, the Team Hamster girls (Sarah, Liz and me) met at Yolk on Roosevelt for brunch, which was awesome. Of
Read more: Shaking
, maker
, economy
Beauty hurts - duh
2008-05-19 16:13:00
I admit it, I'm a sissy when it comes to beauty. I'm slightly vain and I can't handle the pain that beauty sometimes entails. And no I didn't mean for that to rhyme.I bring this up because Friday I went to Spa Nordstrom's to get an eyebrow touch up before the wedding this weekend and my Eyebrow Girl (which is what I'll refer to her as) told me I was a sissy when it comes to waxing. And sadly, she
Read more: Beauty
The Netflix Conspiracy
2008-05-20 15:24:00
I love Netflix. Now that I get movies mailed to me, I don't want to go into a traditional Blockbuster or Hollywood Video again. Why? Because that means I have to leave the house, put some effort into how I look on the non-going out weekend nights and live with the possibility that the movie store might not have my movie. I don't like those 50/50 odds. I'm not saying Netflix doesn't have some fault
Read more: Conspiracy
Movies! Action! Chicago!
2008-05-22 18:37:00
This is another reason why I love Chicago
in the summer - movie magic! Being a movie buff myself, I can't help but stare as they film movies and TV shows around the city, peeking at the make-up trailers and getting giddy when you see the cameras being set up. It's awesome.So on this movie-themed post, we'll start with Tyler, my cube-neighbor Laura's boyfriend, who is an up-and-coming actor I can n
Read more: Action
Cupcakey goodness and take my stuff - please!
2008-05-21 16:03:00
Before we get into the good stuff
, below is a picture of an amazing cupcake that I snagged at work today. I think it was for someone's....promotion? Anyhow, it was from the Southport Grocery and O-M-G it was good. Girls huddled around trying to get one and I fortunately grabbed the last one - and I did it without pushing anyone to get at it. I did the honorable thing and offered to share it with t
Meet me as a bridesmaid
2008-05-26 12:35:00
As just about everyone knows, I was home in Wisconsin this weekend for my brothers wedding, in which I would make my bridesmaid debut and which is why I haven't posted anything since Thursday - it was a full weekend wedding bonanza!Anyhow, it's Monday now, the wedding is over, my hair still has glitter in it (as does my clothes), I'm exhausted and I have decided not to log my food from the weeke
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