Link Love

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West Loop Street Art

{street art in the West Loop}

Bon Appetit Magazine got it absolutely right- listen to your elders when it comes to hosting Thanksgiving. The old lady who said her kitchen has vibes made me laugh!

I am super into podcasts- here are 7 local podcasts you should be listening to right now. I have already downloaded Curious City and can’t wait to find out what Chicago would be like had the Great Fire never happened…

Hosting dinner parties is one of my favorite things in the world. This compilation of tips and anecdotes is really fun and timely for the upcoming holiday season.

You guys. Hamilton. I am not kidding when I say I could barely sleep last night because I was so excited after having listened to both 1st and 2nd acts over the course of my evening. A musical that tells the story of the creation of our country as set to hip hop. It is amazing.

Paris: Always a City of Light

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September 2015 Paris

I took this photo on September 13th from the window of the apartment I was staying in with friends in the 7th arrondissement. Shortly after, we took a bottle of champagne to the Eiffel Tower and popped it open right as the lights display began. We were surrounded by people doing the same and when the lights kicked on, the reaction was cheering, clapping, people hugging, kissing, celebrating. It wasn’t a special night per se. The Eiffel Tower glitters with light every night from 9pm to 1am but there is an undercurrent of joy, of celebration, of togetherness that pulses through Paris and it feels natural to let that undercurrent carry you. So… Champagne. Hugging. Toasting. Together.

Obviously, 2 months after this photo was taken was a very different scene in Paris and it goes without saying that the terror attack that unfolded on Friday was horrific and evil and many, many thoughts and prayers have been with the victims and their families ever since.

I leave this here with the sentiment that there is no darkness that can stifle the light of a community, of a culture that carries it with them so strongly as the people of Paris do. Paris is and will always be the City of Light.

Little Miss Sunshine | Dancing to the Finish Line

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lms

Remember that scene in Little Miss Sunshine when the pageant officials are trying to prevent Olive from finishing her (slightly questionable) dance routine? And when faced with the choice of potentially shaming their daughter in order to keep the outdated, conforming peace that was the Little Miss Sunshine pageant, the entire family jumps onstage and joins her in dance to the timeless classic “Super Freak“?

It’s such a good scene. I caught it last night and couldn’t stop smiling. Because I think we have all had that- you’re in the middle of what could be considered a train-wreck but you’re being your authentic self so instead of making a fuss, your people dance you to the finish line.

And then you push the van to get it to start and run to jump in. Together. Because vans break down and Grandpas teach weird dances and you travel that road together.

So. Many. Analogies in this movie. So good.

A Call From Santa. Seriously.

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Santa calling

I subscribe to the belief that we are all adults here and, as such, we can do what we want. Feel strongly about Thanksgiving having its own month? You and Nordstrom can hold out on holiday cheer until November 27th. I, on the other hand, will not because of the aforementioned I do what I want.

Before October and the week straight I listened to “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at work, there was August and the “A Call From Santa!” app. The Christmas Countdown app was the first thing I downloaded when I got an iTouch in 2010 and it’s been a trusty sidekick ever since (45 days until Christmas in case you were wondering) so one night laying in bed playing around on the app store, I was shocked to find there was a entire world of Christmas apps that I didn’t know about.

Enter “A Call From Santa!“.

You guys.

Either call Santa or have Santa call you. Whenever you want.

I just got his voicemail and from there I could select from several options, including learning what he is doing right now (eating dinner with Mrs Claus, FYI). Requesting a call is also an option which is pretty cool because you can put in the child’s (err, person’s) name, age, etc whom the call is going to. I plan on doing this to my husband or our 2 year old friend Finn soon. Depends who plays their cards right.

So I played around with this app over the summer and out of the blue, I got a text message FROM THE BIG GUY:

apple watch and santa

I don’t know if you can see what is in the background but I was at Binny’s Beverage Depot. I was equal parts super excited about the text and embarrassed that Santa caught me buying booze.

Anyways.

I bring this to your attention so 1) there is no confusion about how I feel about Christmas and its alleged “season” and 2) if you have a little person (or big, no judgment clearly) that would get a kick out of a call from Santa that you can drum up at a moment’s notice, you know about this little app of Christmas joy.

I am totally calling back to put my husband on the naughty list.

{I think this is when legally as a blogger I am supposed to clarify that all opinions are my own and “A Call from Santa!” didn’t pay me to write this but let’s get real: this was the best $1.99 I have ever spent.)

 

 

Weekend Notes

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Avec

Friends, food, food, friends. That was the cadence of my weekend and you will be hearing no complaints over here. Because bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates at Avec.

CH Distillery

And a nightcap at CH Distillery.

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And a chocolate cream pie that changed my opinion about chocolate cream pie at Bavette’s. Usually, it’s just my husband and I so after the glory that is Bavette’s seafood tower, steak, chicken, and corn (why is that corn so good, someone tell me), we can’t even look at dessert but that’s the benefit of having friends in town who are dessert people- insistence on dessert.

Related: dessert people are the best people.

Also related: can everyone we love and adore spending time with please move to Chicago? Thanks.

Not pictured: fried pickles for lunch at the Butcher’s Tap, drinks and apps at Gilt and the egg sandwich I needed from the Eastman Egg Company truck that was basically parked outside of my front door on Sunday. Like I said- friends, food, food, friends.

Which brings us to tonight:

veggie soup

Vegetable soup as far as the eye can see. #balance

Aside from the really wonderful meals, this weekend left me so full of everything I love about life- time spent with our people. Old stories, new stories, laughing, listening, future, past. That connection feeds me and can’t imagine a life without a table between us sharing all of that…and dessert.

Another Lap Around the Sun

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IMG_0551

It was my birthday on Tuesday and last night while I was laying in bed, I got to thinking about the previous year. I heard once that some years are questions and others are answers and while 30 was definitely a year of questions, the answers that did exist were alarmingly…strong. The terms ‘hell yes’ and ‘fuck no’ come to mind; I find that the older I get, the more clearly things fall in either of those buckets. Not “oh that could work” or “maybe” or “I’m not sure”…it was a year of visceral reactions, hell yes/fuck no and I either moved forward full force or in the opposite direction.

So that’s something.

I think this is where I’m supposed to list the things I learned this year but more than anything what 30 gave me was assurance about my priorities.  I know for sure that I am more in love with my husband than ever. That my close relationship with my family is both my roots and my wings. That this unlikely and incredible tribe of women in my life who are flung all over the country are the most essential personal board of directors that I could ask for. I know for sure that nothing in my life works unless I am healthy, comfortable and active. And that my time and resources must be prioritized in accordance with these things I know for sure.

And I also know that I am grateful for every year the good Lord wants to give me and am gladly welcoming being 31.

Weekend Notes

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Halloween Leaves

If you grew up in the Midwest, Halloween was the one day a year when you were convinced your parents were trying to ruin your life. Terrible weather was a guarantee and in trying to make sure you didn’t get, I don’t know, pneumonia, your costume got stuffed under a snowsuit/raincoat over your costume making it impossible for anyone to know that you were a gypsy/witch/Scarlett O’Hara (for example). As it was pouring down rain on my walk to workout on Saturday morning, I thought about this and how twenty-some years later, Halloween still means layers protecting you from the gross elements but I was decidedly less mad because it’s a fun memory and I was listening to a good Halloween playlist.

LB Halloween 2015

Our cat Luna Bell was a hero in a half shell for Halloween. No American Short Hairs were harmed in the making of this photo- LB was a purry little kitty while putting it on and after shimmying out of it, she promptly rolled inches from where Ryan was sitting for some more attention.

2015 Pumpkin

My mom always made holidays such a happy time for me when I was a kid and when carving this pumpkin on Saturday, I was instantly transported back to standing on one of her kitchen chairs because I was too short to scoop out the insides. However, not actually being a kid anymore meant I got to admire this year’s handiwork while sipping a Blood & Sand cocktail which seemed fitting for the holiday. As did my “Go Green, Go Halloween” themed pumpkin- Spartan pride knows no bye week.

Nov 1 2015

 

And just like that, it was November 1st and 70 degrees- a complete 360 from Saturday. Again, if you live in the Midwest you know what a miracle yesterday was and were outside the entire day like we were soaking it up. Being able to eat outside anytime after Labor Day is the biggest treat in Chicago which meant we were basically obligated to get bloodies and burgers at Crosby’s Kitchen to marvel at our Fall luck.

Happy Monday, friends. There are sunny days and warm temps ahead this week which means the “it’s not snowing yet” luck continues so lets keep the enjoying every second train going, shall we?

The Best Things I’ve Read Lately

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family photos

“I’ve learned firsthand that excellence in one area of my life promotes excellence in all other areas of my life.” Why Exercise Is a Higher Priority Than My Career reaffirms what my Dad has been telling me for years and something I have found to be true: strong body, strong mind.

People with passion have the courage to be themselves with abandon. We all care what people think about us. People with passion are just less willing to be ruled by the tyranny of public opinion.” Lady Gaga and the Life of Passion examines what we mean when we talk about passion. (*Sidenote: Lady Gaga went to a pilates studio in my office building over the summer to prepare for her role in American Horror Story and I have to admit that all 3 times I was in the elevator with her and her (HUGE) bodyguard, I totally geeked out when they got off.- I love Lady Gaga.)

The Most Beautiful Bars in Chicago– Maude’s and RM Champagne are two of my favorite spots to grab a cocktail; I would have added Gilt and RL.

I couldn’t agree more: bravery is merely a choice.

(the above photo is of this treasure trove of an envelope that I found last weekend. It contained around 50 photos that spanned over 50 years. I had never seen any of them and it felt like reading a diary, like knowing another layer of the people spanning my family tree. I can’t stop looking at them.)

I Am A Writer

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Identity is a weird thing. 

Over the years, I have often said I am the things that I do. I am a yogi, I am a runner, I am a PR/marketing professional, I am a cat mom (kidding on the last one, I have never actually said that out loud). And that’s fine- people do that all the time. I enjoy those things and do them regularly. But identity is a weird thing; the things we do can find their way into who we perceive ourselves to be and that isn’t always the case.

I have practiced yoga. My practice is not who I am at my core, I am who I am even if I am not on my mat regularly. I work in PR and marketing. I work very hard to be very good at it but if I didn’t do that, I would still be me. 

I was on a call last week when someone brought up my blog and asked if I might be interested in writing about something. I could feel my body language change. I sat up even straighter, my brain was flooded with ideas, my energy and excitement level piqued. When I got off the phone, it hit me- I am a writer. Writing for this blog and other projects feed me in a way few things do. I am a storyteller, I am word lover, I am a writer.

And you know what I haven’t been doing? Writing.

The only thing I can come up with is that I have been working so hard to be good at my new(ish) job that I have jumped ship on other things that make up my identity. In May I declared “I am going to be the best [insert job title here] ever ever ever” and have been spinning my wheels trying to be that ever since. I have been successful, I enjoy my job…and that is not who I am. It’s where I spend a lot of my time, it’s a big part of my life, it contributes to my big picture fulfillment and desire to achieve…and it’s not everything. The moment my blog was mentioned on that call and I thought about writing, I was immediately calmer, more confident, more comfortable, more rooted. 

Which was a welcome reaction considering I have been dipping my toe in the “Who am I, what am I doing?” pond for the last few weeks.

I am a writer, I am a storyteller, I am a maker. 

I am a writer. 

So expect more around these parts from here on. I believe the more we do the things that make us who we are, the better we are at everything else we do and will be doing more of that…starting now.

2 Things

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You Are Beautiful

I decided yesterday morning that I was going to start each day this week with 2 positive thoughts with the idea that it might make the bumps (annoyances, bs, insert undesirable thing here) that invariably happen throughout the day throw me less. To hold me accountable to this little experiment, I am texting these 2 things to my best friend every morning.

Today’s 2 things: I like my outfit and I spotted this sign two seconds after grumbling a not-so-positive thought under my breath. Yesterday’s involved a good cup of coffee with people I think are really bright.

The You Are Beautiful movement is really cool- check it out.

In the meantime, I will be referring to those 2 things to keep my head above water should the need arise. Will report back if this works.