Category Archive

Confession:  I get my hair cut, like, twice a year.  It makes me nervous and generally, I like my hair long so I just figure as long as gravity keeps doing its job, I don’t need to be hyper-vigilant about getting haircuts.  Another thing–the lady who cut my hair in Muskegon charged me $18.  Going rate in Chicago hovers around $70.  But I was at the point last week where I wanted to pull my hair out of my head so it was time to make an appointment.

My boss and another co-worker rave about Kate and “the best haircut they’ve ever had” so I gave Mops Beauty Shop a shot.  I was offered water or cream soda upon arrival, cupcakes were on a pedestal, Rilo Kiley on the stereo and there was lots of magenta so I was pretty much sold American on this salon.  After about an hour using hair product I’m obsessed with and an “omg, I need to change my life starting with my hair” moment, I had an amazing cut.  And bangs.  Edgy, Zooey Deschanel bangs.  I was freaking out on the bus ride home (yes, I rode the bus TWICE this weekend, thus adding to my new mental image that I am edgy and fearless) but once I bought my new edgy hair some new, edgy lipgloss, I was super happy that I ventured out to Logan Square.  Kate comes with my very high recommendations.

As part of my commitment to sweat once a day, I’ve been trying to take a lot of classes this week to get me rolling. Yoga Booty Ballet was my Tuesday class of choice.   Indigo Studio is the only place in Chicago where you can take Yoga Booty Ballet.  I didn’t realize what a big deal this was until I took a class taught by Indigo Studio owner JJ (Jaclyn Jones) and love, love, loved it.  JJ started taking yoga booty ballet in LA and was kind enough to bring it to the Windy City when she opened her studio (which is in this amazing loft space right off of the Brown Line Chicago/Franklin stop).

I had no idea what to expect from yoga booty ballet; I was anticipating a cardio hip hop class.  It turned out to be the perfect mix of meditation, dance, ballet and yoga.  I haven’t taken a dance class since my high school cheerleading camp days so I was pretty rusty but JJ’s energy was so infectious and once I let go of the misconception that my moves should be making me look like Beyonce, I had a blast.  And got an amazing workout.  I loved that the class ended like a yoga class–with savasana.  All in all, I would highly recommend that you check out Yoga Booty Ballet, if only because it’s so much fun to say.  No, for real–I had a blast and if I can burn calories for an hour in a way that is fun, strengthening, fun, calming, fun and goes by quickly, well then I think we have a winner.

High Five of the Day: The Chicago Plowing people.  We got a lot of snow last night but the streets and sidewalks are really clear and as I sit here at Starbucks, I see more and more plows go by.  Way to not let the snow get in our way.

I am a big believer that what you send out into the universe will come back to you.  Eventually.  Or shortly.  I’ve seen both.

Today, I gave up my seat on the train to an elderly couple and a few hours later, the cashier at Trader Joe’s told me to go pick out a bouquet, any bouquet, of flowers that I wanted.  Boom.  Law of Attraction.

Some take longer.  A good friend of mine had, to say the least, a very challenging 2009.  Pretty much everything that could go wrong, did.  But she kept on keeping on and putting good stuff out there.  And while it took long enough (to those of us who were going “C’mon, give the kid a break!”), she is ending 2009 on a really amazing note, with some great things rolling her way.

Here’s the drill:  Basically, the law of attraction says our thoughts are like magnets.  As magnet attracts metal, we also attract our sub-atomic possibilities with thoughts.  The universal law of attraction simply states that we can be whatever we want to be, have whatever we want to have and get to wherever we want to go. This determines what develops out of our lives and of us. It’s all about focus. We become what we focus on becoming. We grow to be what we intend to be. And it encompasses everything.  Our work, our relationships and even our everyday hassles and errands.  We just gotta focus and that thing, whatever it is, is possible.

A year ago, I would have told you that this was a bunch of crap, as I was someone who was not living the life I’d imagined and was pretty bent out of shape about it.  I spent a lot of time strongly disliking where I was at and worrying constantly about where my life would end up.  And that got me a whole lot of the same stuff.  I’m not sure what caused the shift.  My life isn’t all of a sudden put together now. I don’t know exactly what I want, I haven’t “made it” by any means…but I’m dwelling in possibility.  Even if that means just putting one foot in front of the other better than I did yesterday, then I am slowly but surely elevating my life.  I like the idea that every day, I have the opportunity to grow my life and in turn, the lives of those around me.  So I’m going to keep throwing that out to the universe.  Because it feels better than the alternative.

High Five of the Day: My chum Corey is a writer who moonlights as a marketing manager/keeper of Floyd the LA-Z-BOY.  His blog makes my day pretty often and I’m willing to place bets will at least make you crack a smile.  Check it out.

This is the last holiday post, I promise.

I have been looking for the CTA Holiday Train since I saw it’s schedule while riding the EL home from work in late November.  It’s a train that is decorated with lights and bows and more lights and there’s even a flatbed where Santa and his sleigh ride.  It changes tracks during the month of December so it’s always on a different train line.  The day it was on the Red Line, I waited and watched 3 trains go by, hoping to see it.  No luck.  I figured that the Holiday CTA Train would pass me by this season.  But then, Lady Luck shined down on me last Tuesday.  I was hurrying home from work because i was hosting a cocktail party.  I was at the Fullerton Train Stop when I glanced over at the Purple Line waiting on the other side.  There it was.  It was no longer just a regular CTA train; it was a CTA train that Christmas had thrown up on (see above picture).  I flew out of my seat, grabbed my camera and started explaining to everyone around me how amazing it was, how I had been waiting all month to see this glorious display of Christmas spirit (definitely not my coolest moment in life)…and then doors shut.  I had been so excited to soak in the festiveness that I didn’t even think to get on board.  Damn.  Next year, I suppose.  I was still really, embarrassingly, overly excited.

Then, a mere 19 hours later, I saw Vince Vaughn.   Again, not my coolest moment.  I tried so hard to play it cool but it was freaking Vince Vaughn!  Honestly, for the first 3 months of our relationship, all Ryan and I did was quote Wedding Crashers and we just watched Four Christmases last weekend.  Vince (yes, since he wished me a Merry Christmas, I can call him Vince) came into my place of employment with his fiancee and he was tall and had not shaved in days and was much more attractive than I thought he was.  I definitely gawked but omg.  It was Vince Vaughn.

I’m off to try to become a version of myself that doesn’t jump up and down and giggle when I see things that excite me.

After a 5 hour drive from Chicago to Muskegon and lots of icy roads later, Luna Bell (super cat), Ryan and I were home for the holidays.  Brooklyn Bagels with my BFF (a 7 year old tradition), visits with old friends, reading the Polar Express and the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, crab cakes and crab soup (a brand new, now-permanent tradition), champagne and pomegranate…I can truly say this was a holiday of the best kind.  I am so unspeakably blessed and while I try so hard to be grateful 365 days a year, I must admit that I am singing out my gratitude abunduntly during this season.  Jesus, my family, my dear friends, my co-workers, my kitty, my home, my job, God-winks, my health…I am grateful and humbled beyond belief.

Merry, merry Christmas to you all.  I send you my most sincere wishes for a prosperous, happy, and giggle-filled New Year!

High Five of the Day: Zuzu: [after a bell on the tree rings] Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.

It’s been a while since I posted about one of my favorite Chicago past times: eating.  This weekend was a score for a foodie like me and I would highly recommend both places.

Friday Night: Fresh Sushi and Noodles on W. Wellington, right under the El.  I walk by this place every day on my way home from the train and have always wanted to try it.  It was sleeting and gross when I was leaving the gym and after a long day of cookie baking, the idea of cleaning up to go out to eat sounded terrible so I stopped by Fresh to grab some sushi for a little stay-in night party.  Fresh is super cute inside (kinda trendy even, which is rare for a random, teeny sushi place) and had a really unique selection of rolls.  The standards were all there (solid spicy tuna) but also some really inventive ones, like the Frutie Tootie roll–crab and whatnot inside and SLICED STRAWBERRIES on the top of the maki covered in a blueberry sauce.  It may sound kinda wrong with the fruit but trust me, it was INCREDIBLE.  I can’t wait to go back and actually eat there–on top of there being fruit sushi, it’s BYOB.  I mean really–everybody wins.

Saturday Night: La Madia.  Ryan’s buddy Josh works there and again, we’ve always been meaning to try it.  We were shopping downtown on Saturday and finally got the chance.  It was the perfect choice–we were tired from shopping and not willing to fight the crowds on Michigan Avenue anymore, for shopping OR food, so being a few blocks off the Mag Mile was perfect, as was the “Not-So-Old Fashioned” that Ryan had.  Josh made the perfect drink–Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey Honey, tangerine and brandy soaked cherries.  I don’t even like whiskey and I thought it was awesome.  The Pizza Fondue was amazing too–this huge puff of bread that you stab and it deflates so you can dip it in a cream infused marinara that tastes like a perfectly light vodka sauce.  I think it was meant for a crowd but Ryan and I housed it between the 2 of us.  We’re good like that.

All in all, it has been such a treat to have time.  Time to bake if I feel like it, time to try out new restaurants, time to spend with people I care about.  Tonight, I’m taking the time to make a little Christmas risotto.  Stay tuned…

High Five of the Day: The guy who proposed while he and his girlfriend were getting their picture taken with Santa at the 900 N. Michigan building.  I heard clapping so I ran to see and sure enough, this guy was down on one knee with a ring.  One of Santa’s helpers told me how it went down: Santa asked the girl what she wanted for Christmas and when he asked the guy, he said “For so and so (insert name here) to marry me” and that’s when I saw the kneeling and the ring.   With all those people around and Santa and cameras…that was pretty gutsy.  And super sweet.  What a great story!

(Please excuse the incredibly generic post title–I couldn’t get beyond humming  “Oh, Christmas Tree” when writing this.)

I had all of these romantic notions of Ryan and I driving to the country (aka the Suburbs), finding a tree farm, chopping down a Christmas tree, strapping it to the top of the car, bringing it back to the city and decorating it while drinking hot cocoa.  Instead, we walked down the block to a bar, looked around the makeshift tree lot, shoved “the chosen one” in the back of my Volkswagen Bug and decorated it while drinking Mild Winter.  Oh and I accidentally bought icicle lights so we had to finagle them around to look normal.   But in the end, we have a beautiful, fragrant tree and Luna Bell has not knocked it over.  Yet.  I was so happy to be in my cozy apartment last night, looking at a sparkling tree, snuggled up with 2 people (well, a person and a cat) that I love.

Without going all Hallmark on you, that’s what the holidays mean to me–whatever religion, whatever traditions, whatever gifts, the holidays are about being with people you love.  I feel so blessed to be spending time with people I love in the next month.  My mom was here for Thanksgiving, Ry and I decorated the tree last night, my Dad and Kari (and Kalia and Ken!) are coming this weekend, Up North w/ the Neinas & Lambert crew for the Young wedding, my BFF at Brooklyn Bagel, the Christmas Eve klan…I don’t care what I do in the next month, I am just so, so happy for the wonderful people I’ll be doing it with.

Yes, that is a North Pole village behind my tree.  Yes, I have been collecting it since I was 12 because, apparently, I have been 60 years old since I was born.

High Five of the Day: The Christkind at the Christkindlmart in Daley Plaza.   Until I googled this, I thought she was the Christmas Queen and I wanted that job (I love hugging and posing for pictures!) but I just found out she was chosen for this when she was 18 years old in her hometown in Germany.  So high five to her–she was so nice and friendly and gold.  Everyone should check out the Chriskindlmart and have some spiced wine while ornament shopping.

I love the holiday season.  I love Chicago.  I love all things Disney.  Therefore, the Magnificent Mile Lights Parade was pretty much joy on steroids for me.  Last Saturday was the official start to the holidays for Chicago.  Mickey rolled down Michigan Avenue with a mini Water Tower behind him, with the lights on the trees turning on as he passed.  Ryan and I had prime spots right across the street from the Hancock Building and with the hot apple cider the church behind us handed out, I was so excitable–I think Ryan even got a kick out of the cookie cutter holiday experience.  At least he kept the eye rolls to himself.  In any case, the Magnificent Mile looks truly magnificent, we had great drinks at Tavern on Rush, made friends with a 3 year old on the train up to Southport, and had an amazing dinner at Tango Sur (even though I don’t enjoy Argentinian steak, Ryan was in 7th heaven/a meat coma for hours and the atmosphere was way worth the 2 hour wait).  Oh and did I mention that it was unseasonably warm? 50 degrees at the end of November?  I love this city as it is but being able to walk around not shivering so close to the holidays was such a treat.

High Five of the Day: Sarah’s Pastries and Candies.  I found this gem last Saturday when I was looking for a carrot cake cupcake for Ryan’s birthday.  Tucked in between the designer boutiques on Oak Street, this delightful bakery had rows and rows of cakes, cupcakes, handmade candy, pies, cheesecake–I got a sugar high just from walking in the door.  Oh and the carrot cake was reviewed as being perfect by my carrot cake expert. 🙂

We have officially entered my favorite time of the year.  As far as I am concerned, Halloween kicks off the holidays.  This means it is totally acceptable to listen to “The Christmas Song” radio on Pandora, start hunting down perfect gifts for loved ones, compile a detailed, daily itinerary for the month of December, order a gingerbread crinkle house for your pet and choose holiday themed recipes.  I mean, just for example.

I am totally tired of my cookbooks so I went to Barnes and Noble last night, sat down with a pile of cookbooks, holiday magazines (and “Fancy Nancy’s Splendiferous Christmas“), a pumpkin latte and got to work finding some cooking inspiration.  “Timeless elegance with contemporary ease” is how the Food Network describes Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa)’s recipes.  On my best days, I sort of fancy myself to be timelessly elegant with contemporary ease so it was decided– The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook was going to be my new go-to cookbook.

The Lobster Pot Pie is going to be my first endeavor.  As the weather gets colder, comfort food is a must-have and making a traditional dish with a decadent twist sounds like the perfect holiday recipe.  When I was young, my mom would let me stay home from school on the day of the first snow.  I would watch “Little Women”, start playing Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas cd and bake my little heart out (when I was super young, the baking was done Easy-Bake Oven style–lucky Mom).  To this day, the first snow is the epitome of fresh, pure perfection and I think the lobster pot pie is the perfect thing to make to celebrate.

Speaking of celebrating, I am making it a point to do it more.  I am coming out of a season where I haven’t felt I’ve done anything worth celebrating or deserve to celebrate.  Well, that’s just crap.  Celebration seems to be relegated to birthdays and holidays and big news but the first snow, friends making time to get together, an impactful yoga class, a mistake that teaches you something–I think it all deserves to be celebrated.  I want to be more present and grateful and aware.

High Five of the Day goes to The Herlein Family.  I can’t think of a family who exemplifies courage, grace, love of family and steadfast faith more than they have the last year and it is an honor to be witnessing their journey.

Walking over to Liz and Shay’s for our weekly Friday morning coffee/Oprah/gab session, I got caught up in a windy, whirly tunnel of leaves.  I didn’t get my camera out in time to catch it but this was the scene–bright yellow leaves, street lamps still on, a Halloween scene if I’ve ever seen one.  It’s oddly warm here today, which adds to the Halloweeny’ness.  This time of year has always been one of my favorites.  My birthday is close to Halloween so my Mom would throw me these awesome Halloween themed parties, I would dress as something the other kids had no idea about (what 5th grader is Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With The Wind for Halloween, really?) and my Dad would take me Trick or Treating, helping me strategize which houses to hit up for the most candy (he felt it had to do with speed).  And even though my parents would try to ruin my life by making me wear my snow suit under my costume because back then it would usually snow by Halloween, there was always a magic about Halloween that I loved.

Trolley this Saturday for Halloween.  I feel it will be different from the trolley for my 11th birthday.  No booze or friends dressed as the Kiss army on that trolley.

High Five of the Day: There is this house near the corner of Racine and Diversey that is decked out for Halloween.  Big metal cutouts of witch silhouettes with lights behind them in the front yard, spider webs, cauldrons, and at night, they turn on blue lights in their living room. Anyone who is willing to have all that crap those decorations in their yard and sit in a blue space for a month all for the sake of Halloween festiveness deserves a high five.