Election Day

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Today’s the day, Chicagoans!  New mayor day!

Part of me is just happy that the polls are open so I don’t have to watch any more ridiculous campaign commercials.

But the other part of me is excited about moving past the Daley era, possibly moving into an era where Chicago doesn’t spend a gazillion times more than it brings in and thus, maybe, someday becoming a city not in debt.

A girl can dream, right?

A big perk of this election is that I can vote in my pajamas- our building is a polling location!

High-five for democracy!

Lazy or Resourceful?

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Today was entirely brought to you by the internet.

And I really mean entirely.

Between the freezing rain that pelted the windows all day and the lingering effects of one too many adult beverages last night, leaving the apartment sounded like a terrible idea.

And with the handy little tool we call the internet, I totally didn’t have to.

First up: order Chinese food.  A few clicks on GrubHub and 40 minutes later, the doorman was calling to tell me that my crabmeat rangoons were waiting downstairs.

What to watch while consuming the aforementioned greasy Chinese food?  Good thing Netflix had already delivered season 1, disc 3 of Glee on Friday.

Speaking of things I needed to do, I re-ordered my Warby Parker glasses.  Again, I did this while curled up on the couch with R and LB.

Our commitment to an effort free day crossed a line, however, when our craving for a Shamrock Shake led us to scour the internet for a McDonald’s delivery service.  That’s not resourceful, that’s just shamefully lazy.

Believe me, I am super looking forward being out in the real world tomorrow but for today, everything I needed was provided via my little netbook.

Rested up and ready for the week ahead!

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The sun is setting, casting high-rise shadows on Lake Michigan.

A TGIF golden hour.

Bright Pink Presents Fit Fest 2011

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I truly could NOT be more excited to be a part of Fit Fest 2011.  Seriously- after evaluating my excitement level, it has been decided that we are at an all time high!

A full day of fitness brought to you by Chicago’s best instructors, pampering (hello, massages!) and inspiration courtesy of women who have taken on their health and won.  Mark your calendars for April 17th, folks- Bright Pink’s Fit Fest is going to be one amazing day.

Be Brillant.  Be Bold. Be Bright Pink.


Rock, Bubble, Cupcakes

adminChampgane, date night, Japonais, made up words, More cupcakes, Uncategorized, Valentinversary, Veuve Clicquot%s Comments

A lot of big decisions in my life are made with a quick round of RPS (Rock, Paper, Scissors).  Sometimes, all you need are some fast acting hand gestures.  Saturday night, however, was all about a Rock, some Bubbles and More Cupcakes.

Continuing the Valentinversary (new word, just made it up), we had dinner at Japonais.  After an enjoyable Restaurant Week experience last year, we decided it was time to go back to try “The Rock”.  1 rock, heated to 500 degrees, served on top of rock salt alongside thin slices of raw New York Strip.  5-6 seconds on top of the rock later and you have…perfection.  To be clear, I do NOT eat beef.  Ever.  But this, this wasn’t beef.  It was culinary innovation and I’ll be darned if Ryan is going to bogart the fancy on our Valentinversary.

It. Was. Amazing.  The entire meal was fantastic.  The Rock, sushi, raw oysters, salmon, short ribs topped off with Manhattans (for him) and Floating Orchid Martinis (for me).

Rewind to pre-dinner festivities at our apartment.  A bottle of Veuve and a box of More Cupcakes.  I’ve been on a champagne kick and my love affair with More Cupcakes is well documented so the combo was just right up my alley.  Throw in a card from Ryan with the David on the front, a nod to our recent decision to go to Italy in September (!!!) and the evening was perfect before it even started.

Sometimes, you just need some special.  This weekend delivered, in abundance- a highly successful Valentinversary, indeed!

St. Valentine’s Day Weekend

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In addition to being Valentine’s Day weekend, it is also R and my anniversary.

Que the rolling of the eyes.

Super sappy, I know.  R swears that our little romance began on the date of our first official date, as opposed to the day we met (which was my vote strictly due to our first date coinciding with Valentine’s Day).

And so, we become that obnoxious couple who really celebrates Valentine’s Day weekend.

In spite of myself, I have really been looking forward to this weekend.  I’ve got a guy in my life who I love more every single day (go ahead- another eye roll is totally ok), a cat that brings us endless entertainment and an apartment we have made into a home we adore.  I’ll take a weekend of unabashed celebration, no problem.

Plus, I love setting a really nice table.

First up, dinner at home tonight.  Chianti Braised Short Ribs, cavatelli with vodka sauce and sun-dried tomato & roasted red pepper risotto.  For a girl that doesn’t eat short ribs (or long ribs for that matter) and who did not read the actual recipe and therefore, did not know that braised short ribs take 3+ hours, the meal was delicious and the perfect thing to warm up a particularly frigid day.

Happy Friday!