Forks Over Knives

The post holiday bloat started to hit the other night as I sat on the couch with my boyfriend.  All the yummy roasts, cookies, bread, dips, and other holiday delights started taking up residence in my body.  It's as thought I could feel the richness ooze through my veins.  Do I regret a moment of it?  Not in the least.  However, with the indulgences comes the consequential need to reevaluate your diet.


The day before Christmas Eve, a bunch of us had gone to Houlihans to catch up for a few hours.  While there, one of our friends mentioned that she had recently decided to go vegan after watching Forks Over Knives, a movie highlighting the absolute correlation between the food we eat and our health.


Now, having read the book, Skinny Bitch, I was already well acquainted with the nuances of the Vegan diet and one approach to trying to convert people.  Actually, after reading that book I bought their cookbook and went Vegan for six weeks.  I instantly felt healthier, more energized, and lost weight.  However, the lack of meat gave me headaches, so I readjusted slightly and went back to eating meat and cheese.


However, after having gorged myself on said meat and cheese over the holidays, watching Forks Over Knives was an excellent reminder about the effects of being conscious eaters.  What you eat truly matters.  It has extreme effects on health, on energy, on cancer, and just on your overall quality of life.  And, having been reminded, I found that my newfound plant appreciation has helped me instantly regain control over the holiday bloat.  Thank you, Forks Over Knives.


So, if you have not seen the movie, I highly recommend it.  It has wonderful research, incredible doctors and stories, and excellent insight on the importance of health.  I might even go so far as to say maybe health classes should start showing it.  


Happy New Year and healthy eating to all!

Holiday Movie Classics

Every year around the holidays, I love watching a slew of different Christmas movies to really get me into the spirit of things.  It's an old tradition back to when I was a kid, and one that also usually involved making chocolate chip cookies (happily, I'll admit to eating more cookie dough than actual cookies, but, alas, that was just part of the experience).


Some of the movies I love watching are old favorites from our family's tradition, and some are newfound favorites I've come to love over the years.  If you're looking for a few good movies to watch either on your own or with your family, here are the list of my favorites:


Old Traditions:
White Christmas
A Charlie Brown's Christmas
Garfield's Christmas
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story
The Santa Clause
All the Claymation Movies


New Favorites:
Elf
The Holiday
Love Actually
A Muppet's Christmas Carol (no, this is not a new movie, but I was only recently introduced to it!)


Other Good Ones, but not necessarily favorites:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (both cartoon and Jim Carrey versions)
Miracle on 34th Street
It's a Wonderful Life
Four Christmases
Polar Express


So, happy watching, and maybe even family time...and may your chocolate chip cookies actually make it into the oven!

A Class Above the Rest

I attended an event last night at the Drake, Chicago.  It's a world-famous hotel located at the corner of North Michigan Ave and Lake Shore Drive, or 1000 N Michigan Ave.  (That's the corner with Chanel & Louis Vuitton, as well as the corner next to 900 N with Michael Kors, Gucci, etc)  So, we can safely say this is the "It places" of Michigan Avenue.


For those who may not understand the prestige following the Drake, it can look a little underwhelming from the outsides, at least by today's sky-scraper, modern everything standards.  It's a modest 10 floors (guest floors) or so, the outside is of the 1920s style, but the inside demands reverence.  It's stunning.  It's like the Chicago version of the Waldorf in New York.  It's gorgeous.  In fact, on of its banquet rooms is famous: the Gold Coast Room.  Yes, the "Gold Coast Room".  The ceiling and pillars are painted in gold flakes, and it's on the gold coast.  Gorgeous!  Breathtaking.  Hi, I want to be married there.


The night ended at the Coq d'Or, a dining room on the ground floor.  It's dark wooded, heavily paneled, smoke room lounge chairs, and it just gives you the feeling of being in a 1920s speakeasy.  The menu is unique but pricey, however, it affords the price as the company and atmosphere are great.  As are the french fries.  Wow.  They're also known for their bookbinder soup.  I haven't had it yet, but it's supposed to be yummy.


In all, this is a place you need to add to your list of Chicago attractions, even if it's just for a quick walk-through.  The Christmas decorations were impeccably done.  I'm just sorry I forgot to take pictures.  Next time, maybe even soon, I'll be sure to right that.  'Til then, it's just a fond memory.

Lulu.com Holiday Deal

For all you wonderful readers, Lulu.com is having a Free Ground Shipping event from now until December 6th!  Just enter:  "SLEIGHRIDES" and you'll get free ground shipping on your order!  How awesome!  Now all those books you wanted for Christmas can come right to your door.  How convenient.  :-)  Or you can even pick up my book, Living with B: A College Girl's Struggle with Bulimia and Everyday Life, because, hey, I know it's been your "books to read" list for quite some time now.


So go for it.  Treat yourself, and enjoy some free shipping!

A Clothing Craving

I've determined that women have the same relationship with clothes shopping that they do with sweets:  A love / hate.  We love to do it, but hate when we either can't find what we're looking for or things just don't fit right.


Here's what I mean.  Tonight I went to return an item I had purchased on-line on Black Friday.  (and this is yet another reason why I don't like clothes shopping online.  Things always fit differently than you pictured.)  So, I was taking my clothes back to simply exchange them for new ones.  New whats exactly?  Sweaters.  I need more sweaters for the winter.  So, I was on a hunt for sweaters.


Tried on sweaters.  Nope.  Tried on more sweaters.  Nope.  Tried on even more sweaters.  Still nope.


Stupid sweaters.


So, I simply returned my item, pocketed some moolah and went to a different store hoping to try my luck.  This is the "love" part of the shopping.  We love to do it.  The "hate" part?  Still didn't find any sweaters.  They either fit funny, weren't flattering, or just looked plain God-awful once on.  You all know what I'm talking about.  It's the item that makes you make that atrocious face in the mirror and take the clothes off faster than you put them on.  That's the "God awful" one.  And yup, there were a few of those tonight.


In all, I ended up with a few extra $$ in my pocket, a defeated sense of accomplishment and style (because, let's face it, when nothing fits you feel defeated), and the question of when I might be able to go back and find something that fits.  And the circle begins.  Love it, hate it, love it, hate it.  But we keep going back.  


....now if only there were some chocolate cake...

Debate Anyone?

Up for a good little debate with some people?  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE and see if it doesn't make you want to debate the points in it with a few people.  Food for thought?  I think so.  Choose whichever side you like, but I'm certain it will get your wheels turning.

Brazzaz!

Tonight I was treated to a wonderfully amazing dinner at Brazzaz, a Brazilian Steakhouse.  I'd been to one before, about five years prior.  As an intern for a Chicago company, one luncheon all the interns attended was at a Fogo de Chao, another Brazilian steakhouse in Chicago.


Here is what I learned between visits 1 and 2, even though they were five years apart.  


1)  The salad bar is yummy, but remember you're paying for the meat, not the salad.  Don't Fill Up There!


2)  Ask yourself the following when eating something, "Is this good enough to take away stomach space for the other options?"  If the answer is "NO," STOP EATING and wait to enjoy something worthy of your remaining stomach space.  If the answer is "YES!", then SAVOR, SAVOR, SAVOR!


3)  Expect to take a good two hours to eat.  The slower you eat, the more you enjoy, the more patient you force yourself to become, and therefore the less likely you are to "scarf down" food.  No one likes meat-induced stomach pain.


4)  Picaña is AMAZING, at least at Brazzaz.  It was hands down my favorite, followed closely by the filet mignon.  It was like peppered, crispy, heaven, that melted like butter in your mouth.  I think I had fourths tonight.


Brazzaz is absolutely a better option.  Sorry Fogo, but I vote Brazzaz.  So on your next romantic getaway, dinner with your best friends, or simply a treat unto itself, a little "well done" reservations go a long way.

Label and Ingredient Education

it saddens me to know that people have become so good about reading labels on things like their food, understanding hormones and chemical additives in things like their milk or vegetables, but still have so little an idea on what impact their skin care products have on their bodies.


Think you know about your products?  Think you know about Cetaphil?  Read This and then take a look at your own product labels.  What you put on your skin is ingested into your blood stream in under 30 seconds.  Maybe it's time to rethink some of those bathroom faves.  Don't just be concerned with your edible health, be concerned with all of it.

Holiday Treats!

Admittedly, lie most other people, I'm a sucker for holiday treats.  However, they may not be the same treats you had in mind.  Don't get me wrong, I love a Reese's peanut butter cup or bag of M&Ms, but I'm more talking more about seasonal love, the things you only get during the fall holiday time.  


LIKE....PUMPKINS!!!!!  I LOVE PUMPKIN EVERYTHING!  Pumpkin bread, homemade pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes!  Yum Yum!  Even putting a little pumpkin pie filling (from the can) in greek yogurt with cinnamon!  Wow.  Haven't tried it?  Highly recommend it!  Plus, then you get to cook the pumpkin seeds and carve fun faces into the hollow shell.  Thanks so much to boyfriend's uncannay knack for taking photos on his iPad, these are some of the holiday photo fun.  Recognize this guy?  Jack Skeleton from Nightmare Before Christmas.  (Sad to admit, had never seen it before.  I'm a huge scardy cat.  That absolutely played a huge part in that decision.  And, also admittedly, Tom Burton is a little terrifying.  It's a wonderful produced movie, but absolutely horrifying.  As a little kid, I would have had nightmares!)....
...wait...as a big kid I still do.....hmmm.....oh well!

Need a good pumpkin seed recipe?  Parmesan Cheese, garlic salt, olive oil, and really good oven.  Watch out, they get crispy quickly, but they are absolutely worth the work!

And, of course, last but not least, mulled apple cider!  We paired ours with bacon cheesy mac (yes, I said cheesy mac!).  Trader Joe's Mac & Cheese with Rice pasta is phenomenal, whether you're gluten free or just looking for a yummy alternative.  And the combined flavors, plus the cinnamon apple cider:  an explosion of amazing flavors!  You feel a bit like Remy in Ratatouille when everything blacks out and all you see are colorful swirly things and hear music in the background.  Yes, it was that good.

Now....what's next.... :-)

Here Comes the (Lake Geneva) Bride

That's right, Lake Geneva bride.  This weekend I had the privilege of being invited to a good friend's wedding.  My boyfriend happened to be in the bridal party, which helped because we knew most of the people there, but even just the scenery was gorgeous.


The bride and groom chose Lake Geneva for their wedding.  It's their favorite place, as they make frequent trips during the year and also happened to get engaged at this lake...ergo making it extra special.  Having never been myself (at least not since I was 7 or 8 and therefore it not counting), I had no idea what to expect, and WOW....I was amazed.


Our accommodations, although not cheap, were great for the area.  We stayed at some Lodge on WI-50.  The rooms were huge and the bathrooms some of the nicest I've ever seen for a hotel of that price.  The even better part was that the reception, at Geneva National Golf Course, was just literally a half mile down the road, so the hotel was able to provide shuttle service between.  


With an outdoor wedding, the golf course was prime real estate.  Uncertain of the weather, we were all slightly weary for most of the morning, hoping it would be only mildly cold and not windy, and boy did we luck out.  It was perfect - a little on the chilly side, but perfect.  The view was phenomenal, and easily one of the best I've seen.  If we could just duplicate that for every wedding that would be great.


So, in all, great weekend, and I've discovered a great and cute little vacation spot only just outside the city!

Feast

...as in, the restaurant!  Yes, have a feast at Feast, the classy, nouveau riche restaurant on Damen, just north of Milwaulkee in Chicago's Wicker Park.  It's cute outdoor cafe is perfect for the summers and late spring / early fall weather, and the indoor decor is extremely inviting. 


And the food?  AMAZING!!  It was girls night last weekend, and a few friends and I met up for wine, good friends, and some really great food.  The drink menu is well rounded, from standard good wine to girly ___tinis and mixed fares, and all are average priced for the city.  The food is phenomenal, and we tried lots of things.  We're girls.  We dabble in each others' entrees.  


For starters, we had their guacamole and standard bread rolls (the bread rolls were free and had a delicious red pepper/butter spread with them!)  The guac came with homemade chips and they were, hands down, some of the best tortilla chips I've ever hand.  In the same vein, though, I love fresh, deep fried dough, so this was heaven on a plate.  We were initially a little worried by the size of the guacamole bowl, but the dip was dense and the bowl much deeper than it appeared.  It was plenty of food for a starter for 3 people.


Main courses included a black bean burger and sweet potato fries for one girl and a breaded chicken dish for the other.  Trust me, they don't skimp on the portions.  There were lots of leftovers and loads of sharing.  My dinner was a compilation of a side salad and appetizer.  The apple, pecan, and manchego cheese salad was awesome.  The textures and flavors were light and just fruity/ nutty enough to work together, and it was the perfect lead-in to my main dish:  chorizo stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates.  W-O-W!  


I fell in love with bacon-wrapped dates at a friend's dinner party a few months back.  I'd never had a date, on its own, before, let alone one wrapped in bacon.  Well, because bacon makes everything better and the bacon is countered by the sweetness of the date, it was a combination made in Ratatouille heaven.  Remy would have loved it!  And so did I, so when I saw this restaurant had them AND that they were stuffed, it was a no brainer.  I received four, plump, overstuffed, wonderful dates on the plate and savored every one of them.  They were magnificent, a "must" for all people who also love bacon.  


In short, a great find and wonderful twist on regular gastro fun.  

Book Recognition!

Yay!  Living with B: A College Girl's Struggle with Bulimia and Everyday Life has been recommended on another blog.  Click Here to See It!  It's about midway down on the right hand side!  Thanks so much to my wonderful readers!  May you remember your worth the best of everything!

Your Future Home

Well known to most of us, the world is changing.  Expectations are changing, paradigms are shifting, and reality is throwing many of those "norms" for a loop.  One such "norm" is the standard house.  Maybe you love your house, maybe it's more than you happen to be able to afford anymore, or maybe you're longing to move out of your current home situation into a place of your very own.  Regardless of your standing, there is projected truth to what your future home will look like.  And I'm not talking 2056.  I'm talking as early as 2015.


Yes, that's right.  In a mere three years that lovely place you call home will shift.  Okay, so it's a bit of a lie; your current house is not going anywhere.  However, should you look to new construction, expect to see some varying standards.  Certain things will increase while others slowly vanish.  Who needs a "mud room" anymore?  Let's just make the laundry room bigger!  And living rooms?  Do you really use yours?  (honestly, do you?)  People are looking to "great rooms", where multiple areas are connected to things like the kitchen.  And, ladies, expect more walk in closets (yay!), and the probably still standard 2-car garage.


Overall, however, expect home sizes to be shrinking and to enjoy more things like ceiling fans.  People are starting to look at going green and saving money.  Small houses and less square footage allow for such savings.  Why pay to heat a room you don't use?  And in the same vein, why pay for an obnoxious AC bill when turning on the fans might do just the trick?  See, these things are catching wind in the architecture and real estate worlds.  Those things that are a concern might just be the catalyst for those changes we are so likely to see.


So, I ask, what does your future "dream home" look like?

A Touch of Southern Breakfast

There's nothing quite like brunch out with family.  This morning we made our way to a new venue.  Well, it's only "new" by time slot I guess.  The Southern is one of our favorite places for dinner when we're in the mood for good 'ole Southern cooking.  What we hadn't yet tried was their Sunday brunch menu. 


And we were absolutely missing out on something spectacular.  Open at 11, Sunday brunch is everything you would imagine, and all with a delicious and aromatic Southern twist.  The menu is anything from "normal", at least, "normal" according to midwestern "bacon and eggs" standard.  Oh, they have them, but general, "bacon, eggs, and a side of biscuits" is all a "pick a side" compilation dish.  Most menu options are more intricate, more flavorful, and way more Southern.  One of our party goers had Shrimp and Cheese grits which was superbly yummy and with just a kick of heat and red pepper topping.  My boyfriend had the "messy" breakfast, or french fries, egg, cheese, bacon, and gravy all in one big bowl.  I chose the "all sides" option of scrambled eggs and fruit and the last person in our party also did an "all sides" meal of bacon, eggs, cheese grits and homemade biscuits.  Wow.  


But even more than that, their donuts are incredible, dipped in sugar and surrounded by a coffee glaze dipping sauce.  The banana's foster french toast is humongous and thick, and the bloody mary's put other drinks to shame.  Everything was perfect, and everything screamed "Southern, homecooked goodness."  Now, who's up for next Sunday?

THEE

Tonight's dinner delight?  Asian fare.  We tried this new Asian restaurant behind my boyfriend's place in the city.  It's on North Avenue just a block or so east of Milwaukee in Wicker Park.  Previously a different restaurant, this new restaurant just opened, boasting 15% off.  Discounted food?  DONE!


What a great choice!  I love Asian food because it's healthy, spiced really well, fresh, and has some of my favorite flavors.  I knew, however, that I wanted something a little out of the ordinary.  I usually just go for Tom Yum soup, Thai Basil fried rice, and Pad Thai.  This time, however, I twisted my norms just a little.  I ordered Seaweed Salad (which was, hands down, one of my favorite seaweed salads EVER!!!) and Eel and Shrimp fried rice.  To my pleasure, the fried rice was topped with roe, but the eel was a little "squishier" than I would have liked.  I was hoping it would be crispier, but it was at least still yummy.  


My boyfriend ordered Crab Rangoons and Scallops in fried rice.  YUM!  I hate cream cheese, but I loved the fried dough part of the rangoons, and he said that they were beyond perfection:  hot and steamy on the outside and cold cream cheese on the inside.  The rice dish was great and just spicy enough without being super hot.  Again 100% perfection.


The decor and feel of the place is also wonderful.  It's light and calming, the sage and black decor adds to the experience and it's very spacious inside, from ceiling to floor at least.  I really hope it does well because I would absolutely return.  It's also BYOB so you can bring whatever tickles your fancy, but that also helps keep the cost of the food to a reasonable amount.  I absolutely and completely recommend it.  I'd love to see them stay in business!

Chicago Nights Out

This past weekend, we decided to be adventurous.  Okay, not exactly, but we did finally decide to get out of the house for the majority of the weekend.  


Friday night's pleasure?  Dinner and a movie with family, except we refused to make it "ordinary".  We hit up a new restaurant/bar just one block south of Wabash and Roosevelt.  It's called The Scout and the general manager lives next door to us so we had been trying to go for weeks.  It just opened and there is a lot about which to brag.  The general idea?  Think Champps but more designer.  Covering the walls are huge flat screen TVs and the atmosphere is noisy and upbeat, but the food is anything but what you're expecting.  Classic American fare has been given a makeover. Now, you're not just buying a grilled cheese sandwich, you're buying a foot-long grilled cheese with a side of tomato basil soup for your dipping pleasure.  And, oh, was that bacon and jalepeños you wanted in there?  No problem!  I'm sorry, you wanted sweet potato fries instead?  You got it!  What about black bean burgers or flat bread pizzas?  So wonderful!  An absolute MUST for Chicagoans.


After dinner, what movie did we see?  The Lion King, of course!  It's only out for a few weeks and since it's, hands down, one of the best Disney movies, we absolutely made sure to see it.  And in 3-D at that!  Does it get any better than seeing a big Mufasa and giant elephants cross the screen?  Oh, it does.  The opening scene makes the entire movie, and we almost thought we'd miss it!  We literally ran to the theater to make it in time.  Forget previews, we wanted to see the "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!" part, we the sun rises and Simba's about to be held up to the parting clouds.  HELLLLOOOOOOO!!!!!! Best part EVER!  And, yes, we made it literally as the sun was coming up.  We sat down.  Sun rose.  It was perfect.  And what we even cooler, now that we're adults, we actually understood all the adult jokes and subtle hints / cultural references.


And for those of you were are sitting there going, "Please, like I would go see that movie as an adult" (in which case, I'm close to certain you are the minority.  It's amazing), the entire theater, save a few kids, was all adults.  Yup.  Old school Disney movies are like our drug.  Who wouldn't want to be reminded of all the things they loved as a child, or laugh at all the jokes they missed, and see the parts again that sparked the creation of one of the coolest Super Nintendo games they played as a kid.  I certainly enjoyed it!  


So yes, two "must do"s for this weekend, especially because, after this weekend, one of them will no longer be available. 

K1043

Chicago has revised its radio stations.  It's killed Q101 and has changed 104.3 multiple times, the latest was Jack FM before it became K1043, which is what it is now.  I always listened to it here and there, but it was never a super favorite of my pre-sets.


Well, things have changed.  Eddie and Jobo (anyone remember them from the old B96?) host the morning show and they can be fun.  They have the senseless phone call where they call up some random business and spout of random stupidities until the person hangs up.  It's things like "If a smoke detector detects heat, wouldn't putting popcorn on the ceiling do the same thing?"


However, the best part?  The music!  I'm suddenly obsessed with the music selection they have.  They've played "kyrie" by Mister Mister, "The Motown Song" by Rod Stewart, which, by the way, I'm OBSESSED WITH!  I roll the windows down and crank that puppy like an obnoxious high school kid!  Love it!  And, listening to it in the morning seriously puts me in the best of moods.


So, although Chicago has notoriously messed up multiple "staple" radio stations and has others that just play the same thing over and over, this station has been a wonderful breath of fresh air.  I just wonder what song I'll be jamming to tomorrow.  

A Quick Catch-Up

My goodness.  I have been MIA for quite sometime now.  So sorry and that's totally unfair to all of you.  I won't make excuses, but I have been busy and there is lots on which to catch you up!  Let's get started.


1)  MUST SEE Apparently there is new fashion in town, and Starbucks is heading the way.  Unfortunately, I think it may be for the worse.  I guess they're trying to make coffee stains fashionable.  Now, I may not be a fashionista, although I do love me some BCBG, J Crew, and Arden B, but even I know this is a step in the very wrong direction.  It's almost as bad as their introduction of the "treinta" sized coffee cup.


2) True Blood.  O.M.G.  This show is amazing and I'm admittedly hooked.  Granted, if it weren't for the fact that I have them on DVD and can breeze through all the seasons I probably would have given up.  It took until episode 7 to become addicted, and if I had to deal with commercials and waiting a week between episodes, they would have lost me.  However, I happily admit I am a Sookie and Bill addict, obsessed with Eric, and completely terrified by the concept or idea of watching them alone at night.  Still, on to season three!


3)  Band of Brothers.  Yes, I am WAY behind on the band wagon on this one.  Just started watching the DVDs and they really are everything the hype suggested.  They are not only moving and emotional, but they are historically wonderful and completely educational.  What a great thing for a history class.  It certainly would have peaked my interest.


4)  FALL IS HERE!!!! Love love LOOOOOVE this season.  It makes me want to snuggle up with someone by the fire, play in the leaves and drink Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  Yum.  Plus squash is in season again and I am just one overly happy camper...except, absolutely and without the camping equipment.


*Phew*  We made it.  A quick upkeep, a little housecleaning, and I sincerely hope that everyone is outside enjoying this amazingly beautiful weather we are having.  We may have had one rainy and overly hot spring and summer, but mother nature is definitely taking a break and providing us with a wonderful fall. I couldn't ask for a better September.

Cubbies!!!

About a week ago, I managed to make my way over to a major league baseball game – yes, that means in person! – and it is something I have not done for quite some time.  To be honest, the last one I remember attending was four years ago.  What does that tell you?


I'm not a "sider", aka Northsider or Southsider, although my dad would kill me for saying that as he is a die hard Sox fan.  This time, however, it was a Cubs game that won over my Tuesday night.  


Considering the crazy Chicago weather, as of late, I was happy to find the weather for the first Tuesday of September was encouraging for a baseball game: cool and no clouds.  It was great, albeit a little chilly near the end when we decided to head home after the 7th inning, but still, good weather.  I did find it amusing, though, that while so much of life around us has changed so quickly in the last decade, life of the baseball game has not.  Everyone was still buying their beer and hotdogs, massive fountain drinks and bags of peanuts.  Most people intently watched the game and even brought blankets and "pillows" to sit on instead of the uncomfortable bleacher seats or stadium chairs.  If you're not a super big baseball fan it's still a fairly long night, and the Cub's scoreboard is still changed by hand.  Aaaah, the olden days.


And, despite the fact that I'm a bit of a health nut, I found myself salivating at the idea of a deep dish pizza or chicken fingers or full bag of peanuts.  The reality of their insanely high costs kept me from overindulging, but it was so funny to watch myself revert so quickly to my childhood comforts.  It was as though the smell of food in the air and the atmosphere of people lounging to watch something made me want to eat.  ... I think that's an American thing.  I had to remind myself that I was only there for two hours, and that for a mere two hours I would be okay without food or gorging myself.  In Europe, at soccer games, you don't buy mountains of food.  You can bring your own if you want or you just wait out the few hours that the teams play and then head to a pub afterwards for drinks and grub.  But, alas, that's not American culture, and it was nostalgic almost, watching myself get re-sucked up into everything I remembered about baseball games as a kid.  I may have changed in the course of ten years, but stadiums and their offerings have remained quite on par.

T-Shirts Your Way

So many things today are made-to-order.  Even recently on Yahoo!news (are you seeing a pattern?  This is where I get my news) there was an article about how traditional family-style, casual-dining restaurants are struggling.  The reason?  My generation is boycotting.  We want things the way we want them.  That is why fast-food places like Five Guys Burgers, Chipotle, Panera Bread, etc are doing so well.  They offer up quick food made-to-order.  We would rather go there than Applebees, Friday's, or Ruby Tuesdays.  We go for the more "boutiquey" restaurants.

So, then it would make sense that I saw a new form of "deli" yesterday while walking around Wicker Park, Chicago.  It's called the T-Shirt Deli, and it's just like what it sounds: customizable t-shirts, made-to-order, just like ordering a deli sandwich.  It's very cool, but you walk in and have to do a double-take because your body instinctively knows you're in a deli, but your brain is confused because instead of meats and cheeses you see t-shirts and decals.  

And, all of it is made-to-order.  Pick your t-shirt style, color, and size, decide if you want letters, a decal, or your own decide, order up, and voilá:  your own personal t-shirt!  So, for your next walk-a-thon, party, promotional event, or just personal desire to have a noticeable t-shirt, make your way Chicago-side. Then maybe head over to the Chipotle a few feet further south for a customized lunch.

When Movies Echo Your Life

I love movies.  You probably have already realized that, but I do.  I've also been known to interject movie lines seamlessly into conversation, but that only works well when the person on the receiving end has seen the movie and picks up on the joke or reference.


Now that school is back in session and we just went through the explosion of Office Max and Target / Kohl's commercials, I couldn't help but think of the movie, "You've Got Mail".  Remember that movie?  It was the dot-com version of Sleepless in Seattle.  Between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, I was in love.  Plus, I'm a hopeless romantic, so of course I was bound to like it.


However, the reason it popped into my head was because with all the back to school advertisements, I couldn't help but think of the line Tom Hanks writes to Meg:  "Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."  Aaaaah, fall romance.  Personally, real roses are fine with me, but I just love that that line still pops into my head, like clockwork.  Additionally, I love it when someone understand the reference I have just made when I use it in conversation.  That's the even more enjoyable part.


So, cheers to movie quotes and changing seasons.  They should always go hand in hand.

Girl Meets Computer

I love my Mac.  I love my Mac.  I don't truly know how I would survive without it.  It's wonderful.  However, it also recently started running more slowly.  That is not cool.  I freaked out a little because I couldn't get it back to it's original pace.  I tried putting things on an external hard drive hoping that if I opened up some space on my actual hard drive it would speed up.  


It didn't.


Then I turned to my boyfriend.  Some girls are tech-y.  I am admittedly not.  I actually freak out when boxes and warnings show up on my screen, even if they're nothing.  I also freak out if I get taken to a new screen I've never been to before or didn't expect to be taken to, so the idea of trying to fix the problem on my own was completely out of the question.  Hence, I leaned on someone more knowledgeable.  


He asked questions about when I had last updated and when we determined I still had an older operating system, he suggested updating the operating system.  Do you know what that is?  I did not.  That was the wrong answer.  Because he rolled his eyes at my answer, we had to go into "computer class" and he sat me down to learn about computers and systems and everything.  I learned about Hertz and Gigahertz, memory and RAM, screen size and flash memory versus a dual core.  It was crazy and overwhelming.  Some people's minds just don't work that way, and although we already had a class to introduce me to computers, I'm certain there will be many more to come in the future.


And, as an aside....dear Steve Jobs...please don't be gone long!

A Taco Affair

I'm really not one for tacos.  Actually, and more honestly, I'm really never one for Mexican food.  Or Chinese food, for that matter.  They don't sit with me well.  However, last night, apparently I really wanted some tacos.  It came out of nowhere, but the taco craving was there.


Luckily, Chicago has some amazing and quaint mexican restaurants.  We headed over to a restaurant called Big Star, on Damen Ave.  It has a great outdoor seating area, both for "dine in" and "take out".  Be weary, thought, like many place in the city, the take out is Cash Only!  The food, however, amazing!  Even the chips and guac are killer...also killer for your wallet, running $8, but the tacos average $3 for one.  Note:  they are small, so you'll probably need at least 2.  


We ordered Pescado and Panza tacos:  battered tilapia and pork belly.  WOW.  Plus they gave you lime for the fish and green and red chili'd salsa.  And yes, the green chili salsa is spicy, and the pork belly taco is messy!  Worth it???  ABSOLUTELY!!!


So next time you want tacos, make your way over to Big Star.  Grab a margarita or a beer and sit outside if you can, otherwise make sure you have some green and grab some take-out.  You won't be disappointed.

New Hair Stylist shows Feather

Hair Fads are changing, but then again, when aren't they!  The new thing? Feathers.

And the fun thing is you can straighten them, curl them, wash them, blow dry them, and even take them out and reuse them later!  They're made from rooster feathers and a dyed and colored to offer a variety of styles.  Loving them!  And they can be stripped or solid colored.

There's a salon in Westmont, IL offering them right now.  The salon is Marco Tanbour Salon @ 218 N Cass ave.  Carla, the stylist, is doing wonderful things with them!  

Also, as an aside, she's also offering $20 blowdry/style specials and $30 mani/pedi specials.  What an amazing time to treat yourself to a pamper pack!

** A thanks to hairgallery4u.com and featherhairextensionsinfo.com for the photos

Go Greek

Sorting through my boyfriend's mail the other day while he fixed a few things around the apartment, I found the July issue of GQ magazine.  Now, I like myself a good magazine every now and again, and it looked pleasing and and interesting insight into the life of men's mags, so I found myself a comfy place on the couch and started reading.


Okay, truth be told, I didn't read.  I looked.  I tried to get my boyfriend to take the one quiz in the entire magazine (a serious cut from the number of magazines in women's magazines) and he thought I was ridiculous.  So, succumbing to my new fate of not being the quiz giver, I continued to flip through pages.  


At the end of the magazine were photos, the new fashion pages that are found in every good magazine.  I started looking through them and by page three I stopped and noticed the white houses.  I thought, "I know those!! I was just there!"  And surely, when I hurried back to the intro spread it noted that all the photos were taken in Santorini, a famous island in Greece.  AWESOME!  I suddenly felt very worldly and that made me giddy, which made my boyfriend roll his eyes when I pointed happily to the magazine photo and said "Hey!  I was there! Look!"  


Still, if you've been to Greece, you'd appreciate it.  Suddenly Greece is just popping up everywhere!  It's kind of like when you really want a Louis Vuitton purse and you suddenly start seeing them everywhere you look.  It's like that, but slightly more worldly.

Lolla Wows Chicago

This past weekend, crazed fans and newbies alike ventured over to one of the best and most renowned music festival to grace Chicago:  Lollapalooza.

Started twenty years ago by Perry Farrell in 1981, both world headliners and upcoming bands have honored its stages.  This year, some of those big-names included Eminem, Foo Fighters, Deadmau5, Muse, Coldplay, and My Morning Jacket.  Other, smaller, and more local bands also had a chance to play with the greats on the 8 stages that spanned the grounds.


And, for those of you like me who could not make the show or afford or just, in general, buy tickets for the days you wanted, you could always watch it on their very own YouTube channel.  We might not have had that same, energized, wow'd crowd because you're live experience, but we did have some of the best seats in the house.  Kudos to YouTube videographers, you did a phenomenal job.  The best?  Foo Fighters.  


Now, granted, agree or disagree, you have to remember I was not there and only able to watch one of 2 stations broadcast by YouTube.  I had also wanted to see Deadmau5, but I'm absolutely okay with having seen Foo Fighters.  


The other and even better part?  I did not get soaking wet!  It poured through their entire performance.  However, and huge props to the band, they were not only amazing but utterly professional and truly put on a show for their fans.  The lead singer was amazing and I was entertained for the entire 2 hours.  He also jabbed at Deadmau5, not sure if anyone else caught the innuendo, but I found it amusing.  Still, what a show.  If you have not seen them live, I would absolutely recommend it.  They've been around for 16 years; clearly, they know how to please a crowd.


Overall, happy 20th anniversary Lolla!  Maybe some day I'll make it to a live performance...or at least a nearby balcony.  

Five Guys, Five Amazing Reasons to Love Burgers

It's official.  I've lost my "Five Guys Burgers" V-Card.  Although long past overdue, I finally made my way to Naperville, IL, home of one of the most notorious burger joints in the Chicagoland area.  Up until now, I did not know why.


Now, I do.  Woah.  This place is amazing and immensely business savvy too.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of going, do not expect bells and whistles.  It is simple, 50s-style in-and-out diner cafe food and feel.  Basically, it capitalized on McDonalds.  It has almost everything but the yellow coloring.  It's Red & White, empty plain tables, burger, dogs, and fries.  That's it.  


However, unlike it's competitors, it boasts a pretty amazing deal.  First of all, no preservatives or antibiotics are used in their meat. It's sad that we've come to a point in society where that has to be mentioned, but they're the "healthy" fast food burger, if you can say that.  


Then, the fries are in 100% peanut oil, so no trans fat here!  Also, they give you access to as many free peanuts as you want while you wait.  Applause, applause.  Not only is that simple, easy, fill-up fast food, but they've basically put a "Know Yourself" atmosphere front and center.  Allergic to peanuts, Don't Go There.  Duh!  That does not mean other people shouldn't enjoy such simple gestures, so know yourself and stay away if you know that's not a place for you to be.


Otherwise, there's no storage.  All the fries & oil is sitting around you, table side.  Awesome.  No storage so less overhead cost.  Brilliant business financial planning.  


THEN, you have to actually eat your way through your fries to get to your burger.  Genius!  They overload you with so many fries that you can't be anything but happy and no longer starving by the time you get to the main course, and the main courses are not gargantuan sized either.  They're normal people sized, so you're not eating your face's weight in meat.  Thank you, Five Guys!


Overall, if you haven't been there, you should go.  I'm not a fast-food person, and it was a heavy weight in my stomach afterwards because I'm just not used to that food, but it was a wonderful experience and I loved every single minute. Now, I just need more of those fries.....

Challenging the Human Spacial Concept

Always a fan of architecture, concepts which challenge people's current ideals of what is right, necessary, good, and true, Yahoo!news has provided again.


The article, World's Skinniest House, is an art installation in Warsaw Poland.  As a technicality, it is only an installation and not a house because it does not meet certain Polish building code.  Otherwise, it technically is livable, ranging from four feet across to a mere twenty-eight inches.  It houses a bathroom, bedroom, what looks like one window, and will apparently be the workspace for Etgar Keret, an Israli writer.  I cannot eve tell if it houses a kitchen, but that is because of the phone and lack of housing specifics in the article.  Still, it's courageous.  Or crazy.  It all depends on your perception.


The article did comment, however, that it is a bit of an eye sore on the surrounding area and would even seem to hinder creativity, as the space is so small.  Regardless, it rivals the 9.6-foot wide house in NY, which I had initially been surprised by.  I'd like to say it's a nice change from the expansive demands of society up to this point.  Everyone wanted bigger thinking it was better, but we can only expand so far as we will run out of space before we run out of greed.  Maybe these smaller houses are more a testament to humans realizing sometimes more isn't better, it's just more.  Now it's just time to find a happy middle ground.

When the "Bichu" is the Dealbreaker

Sorry Congress Pizzeria, the lovely and delicious pizzeria and cocktail lounge on North Milwaulkee Ave in Chicago, but there are certain lines we just can't cross.


Last night was a friend's going away party.  They are spending five months volunteering in South Asia - kudos to them - and had a lovely, low-key, pizza, soda and beer soirée last night as one last "hoorah" with their friends.  And it was wonderful, it really was.  The people were all great, we stayed for nearly three hours, the pizza was incredible and I was set to leave with wonderful reviews and a glowing smile.


That was, at least, until someone called my name to turn around and look at something they'd found on the ground.  A Cockroach.  Also known as a Bichu in Spanish, and I just happen to like the way that rolls off the tongue better (by the way, bichu is actually just general for an annoying pest or bug, not a cockroach specifically).  Dear Congress Pizzeria, I no longer love you.  In fact, I was almost sick at the thought of having eaten in a place that shares rent with such horrid little bichus.  


I would like to say it's been great, but this relationship is officially over.


To our friends, however, have a wonderful time abroad!  

Network Marketing Gaining Attention

To all you nay-sayers, disbelievers, or pointers of fingers at what you still call the "Pyramid Scheme", it's time to wake up.  Network Marketing is becoming an ever increasing, popular, and admirable option as a business model and money-making tool.  


Don't believe me?  Read the Wall Street Journal?  Recently, the Wall Street Journal posted this article, calling Network Marketing the "ULTIMATE Social Business Model".  Rather impressive.  It also listed the 7 most successful, publicly traded companies currently running under this model, and I do believe many of them also have an extensive global market or world-wide reach, part of which I'm sure adds to their placement in the top 7.  


Still don't believe me?  Do you know who Warren Buffet is?  The long and the short of it is that he's basically the most ingenious investor in the market right now and people look to him for investment, financial, and business advice since he is a true expert in the area.  He's also the owner of Berkshire Hatahway, a parent, financial company to a number of smaller companies including GEICO, Borsheim, and Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska.  He is also the proud owner of a Network Marketing company.  Yes, that's right, Pampered Chef, that wonderful cooking company selling the latest and greatest in cookware.  Clearly he sees value in what the company not only has to offer but in the way it offers it to their clients and what they offer as a career options to their employees.


If you are part of a network marketing company reading this, then you are already well aware of what it has done for you or what it could do, and also where it proposes challenges.  Do not ever let anyone tell you that it's easy, because it's not, and if someone suggests otherwise, be weary.  When you are involved in network marketing you must remember one thing: you own your own business.  I'll say it again:  you own your own business.  There is no one to report to, no one to make sure you're staying focused and on track, and therefore no one else to split the profits with, more or less.  But that also means you have to be willing to actually put in the legwork.  You have to go out and build your clientele.  You have to be willing to work when others won't and you have to be an encouraging leader for those you bring into your business and help them prosper just like you would hope new storefronts would prosper.  That is the difference and that is ultimately what sets a lot of people apart in this business.  There is a certain form of discipline and attitude required to succeed and some people have it and others don't.  And that's just fine.  Just like some people will be lawyers and doctors and others will be welders and craftsmen.  Some people will be entrepreneurs and network marketers.  Just saying, though, it's no longer an industry to look down upon.  It is making its mark in today's society.

Truth Behind the Ale

Yes, that's right.  Here is the "skinny" on Ginger Ale.  


I recently found myself under the weather:  aka massively achy body, fever, and total loss of appetite.  The best thing to do in those scenarios is run yourself a diet of ginger ale (to help the upset stomach), tea and soup (hot liquids do wonders for achy bodies), and a little sweet and salty food + protein (to keep your blood sugars in place).  


Ergo, I grabbed for my favorite Ginger Ale of all times: Canada Dry. This stuff is amazing and has happily gotten me through lots of other colds in the past.  I love the flavor and feel it's less "syrup"-y and fake tasting than a number of other GAs.  (That's Ginger Ale for short).  Plus, being a bit of a health nut, you can imagine my ecstatic pride when the commercials for Canada Dry boasted the use of "Real Ginger" in the recipe.  I did a little happy dance, patted myself on the back for a product-picking job well done, and grabbed a few more bottles yesterday with added confidence.


Then I looked at the back of said bottles.  I wanted to know just where on the ingredient list "Ginger" fell, because maybe it was second!  How cool would that have been?  Yeah, okay, ready?  Here is the ingredient list:


carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), natural flavors, caramel color.  


?????????  Did I miss something?  I actually re-read the label about four times to ensure I hadn't, in fact, missed anything.  Where was the ginger?  


Then, on a tiny label in the corner it said, "a part of the natural flavors includes Real Ginger".  Ah.  I see.  That is supposed to make me feel better.  I am supposed to be assuaged by the fact that a small portion of the 10% or less of the natural flavors in this is ginger.  Clearly it's not a large enough part or it would be on the ingredient list itself.  I see. Wonderful.  Yes, yes, good job GA.  


*Sigh*.  Unfortunately, my sense of pride in my favorite GA is deflated.  I still love it and will drink it loyally when I'm sick, but it's disheartening that companies can get away with advertising like that when, clearly, it's a misleading ploy.  Sadly, Canada Dry is still my favorite, but I guess I'll have to relinquish my health nut here and just say it's simply because of taste.  

Cleo's: Bar & Food

Recently, I met some friends at Cleo's, a petite bar and food joint with a rocker / alley bar feel.  The outdoor café, however, is gorgeous.  Plus, they have daily specials, which, on Saturdays, includes $1 mini burgers and mini pork sliders, $2.50 retro cans, and $4 bloody marys and mimosas.  Yum!

The service is also wonderful and friendly.  We didn't feel pressured to buy tons of food or drinks, although we did, nor did we feel we were on a time clock.  The indoor flat screen TVs are great, but the feel of the overall bar varies.  Inside it's a little grungy-er and the outside is more beer garden-y.  It's worth checking out, and definitely worth taking a few hours to experience it if you go for the specials.

Natural "Cures"

Fun fact of today:  

Did you know Cashews can actually help reverse depression?

Cool!  Pass the nuts please!

Boutique Beans

Stopped by a new coffee shop in Wicker Park today, on behest of a friend who raved about it so much we just had to check it out for ourselves.  The name:  Buzz: Killer Espresso.  The verdict: Delicious.


Buzz is located on Damen just north of North Ave in Chicago's Wicker Park.  Careful though, as it is nestled into the trees and you can easily pass it if you're not looking for it on the west side of the street.  They place has a cute little outdoor seating area, three bar seats inside and a cute back room.  The decor is simple, elegant, and clean, which means it's a very inviting place and one where you realize that there are no frills needed to enhance the coffee you're about to enjoy.  The coffee speaks for itself.


And it does.  Forget Starbucks, this is boutique coffee, coffee that is meant to be enjoyed, experienced, and unique.  It is not cookie cutter coffee needing to be perfected from one store to the next across the entirety of the nation.  This is local coffee brewed specifically for the day and your personal enjoyment.  And the quality is amazing.  Plus, even better, the prices include tax, so everything is rounded to the $1.00 or $.50 mark which makes it easy for carrying change.


But be forewarned, they do only take cash.  Be sure you have some handy.  Two 12 oz lattes (one with soy) cost $7.50.  Worth every penny??  Absolutely!  They were refreshing and exquisite.  


5 Stars.  Hands down.  And extra bonus points for their cute bee-themed coffee cup logo!

Other Blog Enjoyment

Recently had a blog recommended to me via a friend.  It's called "To My Husband" and it's little blurbs about minor notes from a woman to a man she does not know yet.  It's nothing serious, not like the list of pre-recs she requires of her future man....per sé...but it is a funny adage of general woman to men mentalities and responses.  LOVE IT!  Check it out.  It'll put a smile and maybe even a laugh into your day.

Jobs Are Changing

Remember when you were little and your parents used to tell you, "Get good grades and study hard!  If you get into a good college you'll get a good job"?  Remember that?


Me too.  Except, you know what they told us?  Lies.  Yup, your parents lied to you, but not on purpose.  They thought they were telling you the truth because taht's what they knew.  That's what they grew up on.  


Today, however, we are facing a much different beast.  Say hello to the "No more 40 Hour Work Week" monster.  According to the article, 40-hour (or the 9-5) work week headed towards a fate similar to dinosaur:  extinction.  People are finding it harder and harder to find a "normal" job, and it's extremely common.  


The new jobs:  
1)  You either work a standard of 8-6 or longer
2) You work less than 40 hours for multiple jobs with very off-hours.


The difference?  Profiles and degrees.  High profile jobs or people often working jobs that require advanced or multiple degrees are seeing an increase in their work week whilst those with lower demand jobs with lesser degree requirements are seeing their schedules become more wonky (I like that word).  


The problem?  Often turning down a job that means either losing the position completely to someone willing to take the new hours or meet the new demands or seeing a severe cut in pay as a result.  It's a "dog eat dog" world out there folks.  Time to add a new classes to the college and high school curriculums:  "How to survive in today's world" and "Your boss really doesn't care about your self-esteem or recreational time requirements".


Or, the other option, is to join one of the many network marketing companies out there.  Network marketing is basically "word of mouth" marketing, a way of growing your business based on referrals and word of mouth.  It's a no-base-pay environment, and you have to work for what you earn, but when you own your own company you often are willing to give a little more because you get a lot more in return.  


Either way, things are changing.  The question is, what's next?

Local Produce Goodness

I awoke this morning to a strong urge to visit a farmer's market.  There's something magical about a sunny, warm (not hot!) summer day that puts an air of freshness in your step.  And my feet wanted to find food, but not any food, fresh food.


Luckily, Chicago has an amazing website listing all the farmers markets by days of the week. Sunday, from 8am-2pm, one is located in Wicker Park off Damen.  It's a cute little farmer's market, hosting everything from cheese and meats to fresh veggies and fruit, and even a sprinkling of bakery venders and a stand for making crepes!  Unfortunately, I awoke late enough in the morning, (is 11:45 still considered morning? or are we breaching the afternoon mark?) but headed over instantly.  Luckily I wasn't too late that all the good carrot bunches were taken, as I wanted to make the carrot soufflé again.  It was so good and I had extra ingredients left over I decided it was worth my while to revisit such a wonderful dish (the recipe to follow shortly).


However, a note to all farmers market patrons.  It's always best to visit these places as early in the day as possible.  With an earlier visit, you are privy to the best picks of the day.  By noon, all the blueberries were gone and the selection of the season's last strawberries were almost disappeared as well.  The carrot pickings were still okay, but there was a lot to be missed by attending so late.  


Also, farmer's market does not always equal organic.  It does equate itself with complete freshness, but don't be swindled into thinking that all farmers market goers are all all organic.  Unless the market specifies that its venders to adhere to that standard, or the venders themselves specifically make a point to say they are organic, you are not necessarily paying for organic food.  You are paying for freshness and in support of the belief that family run and small owned farms deserve as much of our patronage (if not more) as corporate or large-owned farms.  


Still, I love farmers markets.  They make you feel alive and in touch with the natural goodness around you.  There's also something about paying a little more for peak freshness and great quality that makes you truly appreciate the food you are eating.  So thank you, dear farmers, for your continued service and love of food.  I will look forward to buying more from you next week.

To Have or Not To Have ... Babies That Is

I've always been a bit of a rebel, a "black sheep" if you will, going against a lot of the "norms" I've felt pushed upon me growing up.  And there were a lot of "norms", people always telling you what they thought you should be doing.  It ranged everywhere from, "don't you want to be a lawyer like your mother?", "you're not supposed to take the architecture class because colleges prefer seeing 4 years of science instead of 3 years and 1 architecture class", "why would you want to move away from family?", and then my favorite as of late, "so when are you two going to settle down?"


Settle down...I love that one.  It's a bit of a backhanded compliment, really, apparently we are a good enough couple that we look like we belong together, we're "at that age" where we're supposed to want to be married and looking at a family down the line, and well, that's just want people do, right?  But at the same time, it's also a slight scolding for not being where people think you should be.


But maybe that's not the case any more, or at least, the "not any more" trend is growing.  Whether you like the concept or not, people are starting to reject the idea of settling down...at least when it comes to the "having kids" part.  I read the Yahoo!news article on the No Baby Boom, and was intrigued.  Having also taken part in the movie DINKs, a story about a couple who chose not to have children but live in a child-based suburb, the story pulled on a couple different strings of mine.  Apparently, there is a growing global trend of people making the conscious decision to forgo having children.  Ever.  They are childless couples, and according to the surveys done, it is not just a US trend.  More and more people, especially because of the influx of people moving to cities, are choosing to not have children.  Some of their arguments include the desire to have more income, more freedom, more choice, and more enjoyment of one another.  And you don't have to take my word for it, the article does an excellent job of highlighting the various survey findings.  And it's not always just about the money.  


It's refreshing to know I'm not the "black sheep" anymore, at least to the extent it seemed originally.  It's wonderful what people are starting to accept these days as a form of normalcy without looking down on it as much.  And, hey, I'm absolutely okay with making a really great aunt.  

Around Town

Yesterday I took part in the Hinsdale Farmer's Market, which takes place every Monday during the summer from 7am-1pm just north of the Hinsdale train tracks.  I held an Arbonne table and split the tent with a friend of mine, Rachel Cantore, who owns her own business.  


It was a lot of fun!  Despite the early morning rain and cold weather, the day turned out to be sunny and mid 70s, which encouraged passers-by to stop and meander through the varying venders.  And the two of us had a really great response!  


For those of you who don't know Arbonne, it's a 31-year old skincare and wellness company that focuses on taking care of the entire person from baby to baby-boomer.  They're only sold via consultants like me (sdcaprini@yahoo.com), and they're the best alternative to what you're already using.  They have no mineral oil, no gluten, are certified vegan, no parabens or artificial chemicals or flavors, and the company not only lets you Shop and Save, but also Shop Save and Earn.  If you have more questions, let me know!

My friend, Rachel Cantore, is the owner of Rachel's Fusion, a personal company of hers which promotes healthy living through the combination of food and fitness.  She's a personal trainer, health coach, cooking teacher, and runs everything from her home in Burr Ridge, although she regularly also visits clients at their homes or gyms of choice as well.  Currently, she's focused on teaching cooking classes to men or kids and teens, showing them great alternatives to their current favs, Mac & Cheese or Burgers anyone?  And she also shows you how to do it on your own...and men, maybe even impress the ladies??


So, next time you need a caterer, want to learn how to cook with a healthy twist, or just want help getting back in shape, call her, then call me, and we'll talk how to keep all of the healthy choices your making stick with your skincare and vitamin choices!