Featured in this month’s SELF magazine is Chicagoan and Bright Pink founder Lindsay Avner. You all know how much I love Bright Pink and if anyone has seen a need, hatched a plan and changed the world for the better, it’s Lindsay. She is the absolute best and I am so happy that SELF magazine agrees!
Click here to read the full article.
Also featured is Jennifer Hudson- Chicago women making waves, I love it!
During an ice breaker at a meeting today, one of the things we were asked to share something “dorky” about ourselves. As far as ice breakers go, this was a pretty good one and involved Skittles.
I love Christmas. This is no secret. But unless you have lived with me, you probably don’t know how early I start planning for it. It’s never too early to start looking for the perfect Christmas card…or maybe it is. In any case, Ryan received an email at 2am last night with 4 links to cards that are in the running for the Ryan/Nina/Luna Bell Christmas card of 2011. Last year’s Chicago themed cards are going to be a tough act to follow, especially with the address labels that featured characters of my, Ryan’s and Luna Bell’s heads so I think it is totally reasonable to have spent some time on Etsy last night starting the search early.
Or not.
Like I said, we had to share something dorky. If looking for Christmas cards in August doesn’t qualify, I don’t know what does. And now my peers know this.
The end.
I am not even kidding.
If you recall, we’ve been having some behavioral issues with Luna Bell. When she was at the vet for a checkup this week, I asked the vet about it. She asked a lot of questions (Is it only when outside people come into your home? Has anything changed in her life in the last few months?) and after I explained that yes, dinner parties are problematic, yes, Ryan has been gone for work a lot and we saw her little paws sweating, the vet had a diagnosis:
Luna Bell has an anxiety disorder.
What the wha?!
Thought 1: My poor LB! Thought 2: Am I seriously having a conversation about pet anxiety?!?
Apparently, changes in LB’s environment throw her for a loop, she can’t deal and so she “lashes out irrationally”, i.e. latching herself onto people via her teeth.
Don’t worry- there is a spray or a diffuser that we can plug in the wall that will emit pheromones that will calm her down. Kitty Xanax, if you will.
In all fairness, she gets it honestly. Ryan and I aren’t exactly “easy going” people- there’s a fair amount of anxiety going on at all times. Oh my god, I gave my cat anxiety, I create an anxious environment. How am I ever going to have children???
Shit- we live on Lake Shore Drive. What if traffic gives Luna Bell anxiety??? Should I be closing the blinds around 5 o’clock?
Maybe I’ll just get a few of those diffusers, position them around the apartment, calm us all down a bit. Because I swear, for as much as I cannot believe I’m having a conversation about pet anxiety, I really cannot have one about pet therapy.
Case of the Mondays: The “I-wish-I-was-drinking-this-instead-of-my-morning-cup-of-coffee” Edition
When I got to Dose yesterday at 10am, I was handed a Chandon/Hum/OJ cocktail with mint. Mimosa’esque but better.
This morning, I had coffee.
What a letdown.
In other news, I saw a lady go batshit crazy on the corner of Michigan and Chicago this am- yelling and chasing after people. While this was probably a display of unfortunate mental illness, it was real and not sugar coated and it woke me up better than the aforementioned caffeine.
Monday.
I am so happy that Dose Market was on my radar because it was AMAZING. All of my great loves (food, fashion and design) under one lofted roof. This once a month market introduced me to new stores, restaurants and bakeries that I’ve never been to before, from neighborhoods all over town. Art appreciation overload- so much wearable, edible, drinkable art.
Favorites:
Mayana Chocolate– Chocolate, dehydrated fruit turned into cake, chocolate, mousses, more chocolate- Chef Daniel Herskovic was kind enough to let me sample his creations and each was just TDF. I went home with a chocolate bar he created exclusively for Dose- something about salted caramel. Sold.
Lillie’s Q: The sample was a pulled pork sammie. The sample. Out of the four choices of Q sauce, I chose Carolina Gold. Must. Get. To. Bucktown.
Brew Camp: “Camp Director” Whit Nelson told me that if you put hops, yeast, barley and water together, there’s no way it can’t become beer. Those are odds I’m willing to work with. Once Ryan and I decide which Brew Camp flavor we want to make (my vote’s for Cranberry Mead), we will be placing an order for a beer kit to be delivered to the house so we can make beer at home. Around 52 beers for a little over $60 for everything needed to brew at home. Project!
I promise there was clothing and jewellery and the like but somehow, I came home with food exclusive pics. Sorry I’m not sorry.
I got to Dose right at 10am and by the time I left at 11:30, it was starting to get packed. No wonder- spending a Sunday at the River East Art Center totally hit the spot.
Next Dose: September 25th.
Dose Market: a year-round, once a month market celebrating the best in Chicago fashion, gourmet food and design. Highlights include a spread from Hot Chocolate, Bodkin’s Fall line, and a “Bubby Fizz” cocktail (sparkling wine, botanical liquer, OJ and mint). Sunday, 10am-4pm at The River East Art Center
FlyWheel: I checked out this new spin studio in the Gold Coast tonight and LOVED it. State of the art bikes, great music and an instructor with arms that rival Madonna’s. It’s a sexy workout, if you will- kind of like being in a club. But sober. I totally get why FlyWheel is so huge in the Big Apple. 710 N. State Street
Rock N Roll Half Marathon: If you’re near Grant Park, you’ll notice a few thousand runners hitting the pavement at 6:30am on Sunday in the pursuit of 13.1 miles. Stop and cheer- it makes the miles go faster.
Pinkberry: Word on the street is that the Salted Caramel is amazing so I think this is finally the weekend that I get my frozen yogurt on. 635 N. State Street
After a successful (and fast, might I add) Elvis is Alive 5k, it was time to sit on the grass, drink a 312, listen to an Elvis tribute band and mutter repeatedly “How gorgeous is it out tonight?” because it really, really was.
High five to Fleet Feet Sports for putting on another great race- these people know how it’s done and the Elvis is Alive 5k is one for the books.
