Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Mid-Class Break

Remember back to your middle school days.  Or, if you feel that doesn't work for you, just think back to a class in high school or college, or that really boring boardroom meeting you went to this week, and remember it.  How bored were you?  Seriously.  BO-RING.  


Well, that's how it is for students sometimes, mine and or others.  Sometimes there are things you just have to "hash through" and you just have to deal.  Most of the time, though, that mentality only loses you student "focus points" down the road.  Most of the time, the stuff you're teaching can actually be somewhat entertaining or at least relatively enjoyable to most people.  Most of the time, it is fun and interesting because, at one time, the teacher actually really liked what he was teaching.  What I mean is that most of the time, a class should be "boring".  It might be difficult and challenging, copious and trying, but it shouldn't be, as a majority rule, boring.


Better said than done.  The hum-drum of life can become heavy and the monotony infiltrating other aspects of your life...and teachers are no different from other people.  However, all that said, it is still important to poses a level of intrigue in a class, a way to keep students excited and interested in the concepts.  It can't happen everyday, but as a majority rule, yes.  Personally, I'm actually really just a big middle-school kid trapped in an adult body:  if you sit me in one place doing one thing for too long, I'm going to become BORED out of my MIND.  So, here's what I figure.  When I'm teaching a subject, save the actual days of intense information shifting from myself to the student, I figure if I'm bored, the kids have to be beyond reproach, and since I become bored of one routine after more than 20 minutes, I'm certain the kids feel the same way.  Solution?  Change of tactics!  Draw on a board, partner work instead of solo work, stand up, throw a ball, do something in reverse order....rah rah rah!  Basically....MOVE, either mentally or physically but get the brain thinking in a new way and suddenly the information looks different and potentially even interesting.


In a very specific incident this past week, I found I had four different students ask me the same question:  What's on the test?  By number four, I looked at the student and then, without saying a word, sat myself in an empty desk in the room.  Once the kids caught on that I was decidedly playing student, they all suddenly wanted to try their hand at teaching.  Cool.  We had a little extra time, so, let's see how well they do.  It took 9 students before I could find one who could tell me what the complete specifics were of the test, but each one spoke Spanish, was able to explain some grammatical concept, and actually did an impressive job.  Plus, because I was playing "student", I acted like them:  talking in spanglish, asking the same question, and I actually found that I had students correcting me and telling me the Spanish words.  Fun!! Plus, suddenly they were all engaged and having fun, and using the things I was trying to teach them!!! YAY!!! 


Happy day.  Ding, round one.  Now onto tomorrow....

Monday, February 21, 2011

Juicy-O

Woah Woah…Juicy-O?  Sounds like a weird juice-place if you ask the random passer-by.  Or, it just sounds a little…well, weird.


On the contrary, this is not weird or strictly a juice-joint.  This, my friends, is the family restaurant in Willowbrook, Il where the Great Sandwich Factory used to be, oh, circa six years ago.  Now, it is a family brunch restaurant, open daily until about 2pm.  I have been here on numerous occasions and tried a wide variety of their menu offerings: from skillets and oatmeal to paninis and crepes, and even their greek yogurt, granola, and fruit bowl!  The best, however, are the free sugar donut bites you receive upon being seated, much like you receive a bread basket upon entering a nice dinner restaurant.  These are not large donuts, but they're warm, delicious and with just enough sugar to make your mouth dance and crave more.  In fact, should you crave more, 6 donuts are only $1.50, a quick add-on to any perfect breakfast!


When I went with my boyfriend this past weekend, we both ordered something different.  He chose the breakfast sliders, complete with sausage patties, overeasy eggs (eggs are made to your liking), and cheese.  Their potatoes were equally savory and the perfect compliment to one's morning "burger".  I ordered the egg white omelette with spinach and fresh mozzarella cheese...YUM YUM!  And there was actually a good amount of cheese in it!  I chose the pancake and fruit side, which also meant I walked away from breakfast with leftovers!!!


And, just in case the food alone isn't enough to make your mouth water, the restaurant has a wonderful twist.  Along every wall are picture frames filled with sayings and witty one-liners, which simply means that you and your brunch-mates will provide each other with entertainment as you read the restaurant's advice columns to one another.  


So, next time you find yourself near 63rd street and Route 83 in Willowbrook, IL, make a point of saving some room for food!  And, just be sure you arrive before 2pm or you'll be out of luck for the day, and without free donuts!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

D.I.N.K.s

This past Thursday, I found myself in Orland Park, Illinois to see the premier of a Robert Alaniz film: D.I.N.K.s.  For those of you who don't know what it stands for, it means Double Income, No Kids...and the movie is about just that: couples who are together but have no children and what that is like in a society of kids.


This is Robert's fifth film, and he is an independent filmmaker based in Frankfurt, IL.  I had the pleasure of being a part of his last film, The Vision, and also landed a role in this film as Stacy, the next door neighbor's wife.  It was really fun to work on, and I loved the script and just the overall concept of the film.  I think it is a new type of film, one that has not been featured very often, and therefore a cause for curiosity and demand.  
Plus, there were some really great people involved in the making of this film.  Yours truly, (uhem), and I loved being a part of it, but I also loved it because all of the other actors were great both at what they do and just being around on set.  The two leads:  Deborah Proud and David Tibble, featured above in the film's poster, are not only extremely fun people but also very professional.  When watching this movie, it is clear that the talent featured in the film is of a caliber yet matched.


The other cool thing though, is not just that he has a phenomenal cast (which it does), but that it has some other impressive names on it's side, including Doug Adams, the musicologist of the Lord of the Rings films.  And, let me tell you, the scoring throughout the movie was perfect, so kudos to you Doug.  It really tied the movie together beautifully.


The national premier is in Chicago, Friday, March 25, 2011, at the Portage Theater.   Check out the www.dinksthemovie.com website or the link above for more information.  The tickets gains you entrance into the movie as well as the pre-show raffle option and the post-show Q&A and meet and greet with the actors themselves!!  Hope to see you all there! 

D.I.N.K.s

This past Thursday, I found myself in Orland Park, Illinois to see the premier of a Robert Alaniz film: D.I.N.K.s.  For those of you who don't know what it stands for, it means Double Income, No Kids...and the movie is about just that: couples who are together but have no children and what that is like in a society of kids.


This is Robert's fifth film, and he is an independent filmmaker based in Frankfurt, IL.  I had the pleasure of being a part of his last film, The Vision, and also landed a role in this film as Stacy, the next door neighbor's wife.  It was really fun to work on, and I loved the script and just the overall concept of the film.  I think it is a new type of film, one that has not been featured very often, and therefore a cause for curiosity and demand.  
Plus, there were some really great people involved in the making of this film.  Yours truly, (uhem), and I loved being a part of it, but I also loved it because all of the other actors were great both at what they do and just being around on set.  The two leads:  Deborah Proud and David Tibble, featured above in the film's poster, are not only extremely fun people but also very professional.  When watching this movie, it is clear that the talent featured in the film is of a caliber yet matched.


The other cool thing though, is not just that he has a phenomenal cast (which it does), but that it has some other impressive names on it's side, including Doug Adams, the musicologist of the Lord of the Rings films.  And, let me tell you, the scoring throughout the movie was perfect, so kudos to you Doug.  It really tied the movie together beautifully.


The national premier is in Chicago, Friday, March 25, 2011, at the Portage Theater.   Check out the www.dinksthemovie.com website or the link above for more information.  The tickets gains you entrance into the movie as well as the pre-show raffle option and the post-show Q&A and meet and greet with the actors themselves!!  Hope to see you all there! 

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Business / Friends / Fun

So, last night I went to a friend's house to help someone out with a few things and upon my leaving went to find that their mother was hosting what I thought was a small Bunko get together.  Nope, about fifteen to twenty different women were socializing, laughing and Bunko-ing all at the same time.  Much to my surprise, I not only found out that I knew one of her friends, but five - either though work or church or just being around town.  It's amazing what a small world it is.


And, when it gets fun when it gets even smaller.  I own an Arbonne business, and my friend had put in an order for one of their spa-line crèmes.  Well, as we were talking about it another friend mentioned that she had used Arbonne for a very long time and could come with a list of recommendations if ever needed.  What crazy twists of fate life brings as you start to realize that you not only know different people but that they are amazingly all interconnected in some way.  I think my 6-degrees of separation happened all a once last night.  Fun!!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Valentine's Day: homemade

Happy Valentine's Day weekend everyone.  Yes, the infamous holiday is tomorrow, Monday, but most people, including myself, celebrated this weekend.


And, if you're like me, you did it on a budget.  So, here's what my boyfriend and I did to make the weekend super special, and resonably inexpensive.  Friday we went to the gym together – a great way to motivate and support one another, and to get the endorphines going for the weekend!  While I had a meeting on Saturday, Saturday night we exchanged gifts:  he took me to a chocolate shop down the street called Indulge.  (HIGHLY recommended.  A small selection, but wonderfully crafter, free WiFi if you'd like, and excellent soy mochas). Chocolate strawberries, dark chocolate peanut clusters, and chocolate covered Oreos filled my half-pound box and we left, drinks and chocolate in hand, hand in hand.


I gave him his card when we got home, and he made me one himself.  Cards are cards, and they get thrown away eventually, so if you find that perfect card, that says just the right then, then great.  Get it.  It will mean alot.  If you don't, however, don't fret about the $4.00 you're not spending. A handmade card with cute, homemade, sentimental touches means just as much.  The words are yours, the thoughts are intimately your own, and the price is perfect.


I also made him dinner.  He wanted some nice steaks so I bought Sirloin Tip Steaks from Whole Foods (on sale for $6.99/pound), and made a homemade "steak dinner" for two.  It included baked potatoes, and steaks topped with parmesean cheese, fresh garlic and oregano, and a thin layer of spicy cheese.  Baked for 20 minutes, the homemade dinner was intimate, quiet, perfectly priced and "the best steaks he'd had in years".  (pat pat, yay amateur chef!)


There was a lot of "us" time, laughs, and great conversation.  Valentine's Day doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be thoughtful if it's going to mean something.  You don't need to buy the sexiest and most expensive lingerie...you don't even need to buy anything.  Wear his favorite, or something you feel hot in.  Make him a dish you know he loves and doens't have often, surprise her with her favorite movie, chocolates, flowers, or even breakfast in bed.  The little gestures mean the most, added up and thought out over the course of the weekend.  Plus, that means bonus points for the late night, early morning, or mid-day rendezvous.  Definitely don't skimp there, a study in a women's magazine showed women who have an active sex life for 3 or more days a week are less stressed, look younger, have better brain power, are overall more healthy, and, of course, just feel great.  Men, I know the same would go for you.


So, if you haven't Valentine's Day'd yet, be sure to not let it pass unchecked tomorrow!  And maybe both you and your wallet will even be happy too.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Lost in Corn

You've all heard about corn dogs, corn hole, corn rows, and even just mazes, but what about corn mazes?  Yup, corn mazes.  These are the latest in what people are starting to call Agricultural Tourism, or people visiting agricultural areas for their vacations and escapes.

Featured on the news last night with the other "sudden millionaires", if you will (think Burt's Bees, 1-800-Flowers, and Kernal Seasons - people who made millions "off the cuff" almost), the CEO of The MAiZE, Brett Herbst, has created a booming company of making mazes in farmers' cornfields so that visitors can "GET LOST", as his slogan goes.  And, apparently, a lot of the visitors are actual from urban areas who are looking to escape life or see something totally new.  And, at only 39, Brett has definitely made something substantial to both sell and support his family on for years to come.



Want to visit one of these exciting behemoths?  Check out the link on the website which lays out locations of different MAiZEs in your state!  For you Chicagoans, there are some right here in our back yard (plus a few miles) in Kankakee, Maple Park, Crest Hill, and Malta.  No, they're not five minutes or even just fifty minutes away, but it was never easier to get away for the day and do something totally different.  I actually really want to visit one!!...when the weather warms up, that is...

It's a little bit like Crop Circles meets Signs meets the Pumpkin Patch...meets Harry Potter movie #4.  And hey, the corn has to be harvested anyways, so why not have some fun and make some extra cash doing it?  Happy trails!  ... or should I say, Happy Getting Lost.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

La Madia - Chicago's Gourmet Pizza

For my boyfriend's birthday, his family and I made our way over to La Madia, a cute little pizzeria on the corner of Clark and Grand.  It's small and right next to India House, which means lots of people don't see it.  In fact, when an uncle stopped at India House to ask directions (since they actually share the same address - 59 E Grand Ave), the person at India House had no idea where La Madia was nor what the uncle was talking about.  Fun right? 

Luckily, the restaurant was well worth the adventure.  It's cozy dark wood finish, fireplace at the front near the bar, and intimate dining booths and lighting make the restaurant feel like it is worth the prices on the menu, so beware, this is not a "money watching"-friendly restaurant.  You will drop some cash here, but for a special occasion, I feel it is totally worth it.

We started out with wines, as they are very known for their selections.  I had the Zinfindel (offered by the glass) and it was spicy and bold - just how I liked it.  When I followed it with the daily special ($5 for 4oz, $7 for 7), I found I enjoyed the blend they were featuring just as much, but for different reasons.  The second was smooth and equally easy to drink.  However, be forewarned:  These drinks pack a punch.  They are very potent in their alcoholic kick, and will put you further off the straight and narrow faster than you might normally be accustomed. 

We started with their garlic olives and mushroom buschetta (an absolute must!), their beet and gorgonzola salad, the arugula salad, and a cabbage based one.  The Arugala one was my favorite, but the beets were definitely cooked to perfection.  Then, for dinner we had the pepperoni pizza, lamb sausage pizza, eggplant pizza, mushroom pizza, and margarita pizza.  The lamb sausage is spicy and an absolute must with the pepperoni tying for a close second.  I preferred the mushroom one to the eggplant one, and the margarita was only okay.  Again, they aren't cheap, so going with recommendations is a good way to pick your pizzas, and I was pleasantly surprised to know how much I liked the lamb and pepperoni one, because I am normally a spinach, tomato and onion kind of pizza girl.  And, I tend to abhor sausage pizza, so that means double kudos to La Madia for finding one I would happily finish completely on my own.
So, next time you find yourself wanting pizza and a high end dinner experience, look no further.  Plus, with the bar being the only window seating available, there is also the lovely options of having your dinner at the bar tables as well, just in case you enjoy people watching more than you enjoy talking to your present company.  :-)  No, but in all seriousness, a huge 4 stars for this restaurant.  I would have only asked that I had a bigger stomach. 

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Salud Tequila Lounge

In honor of my boyfriend's birthday and a friend's girlfriend's recent "21" status, we headed to the bars last night in celebration and good food.  Our pick of the night?  Salud.
Salud is a restaurant in Chicago, off Milwaukee Avenue near North Ave in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.  The corner restaurant is a staple mexican cuisine restaurant with some yummy twists and also doubles as a tequila lounge.  On Thursdays they offer $1, $2, and $3 appetizers, a definite must if you have not yet tried it.  The portions are small and you feel like you're engaging in Spanish tapas activities, but it's a really great way to preview their menu.  Their regular menu sports some traditional favorites: guacamole, mini tacos, empanadas, quesadillas, and ceviche.  It, however, also takes some fun foods and puts a hispanic twist onto them, such as the Mexican brat, the Salud burger with jalepeño bacon (quite delicious actually) and calamari with rice that tasted like it had queso blanco and red pepper flavor.  Also, the sweet potato fries are AMAZING!  I had the portobello quesadillas without sour cream, and the four triangular strips were perfectly made.  It went well with the spicy salsa and chips that started off the evening.


For drinks, as mentioned, they are known for their tequila and they have pages of different tequila based drinks, shots, and bottles.  I had their cadillac margarita with salt, and it was superb.  It wasn't overly sweet like so many margaritas can be, and it was just smooth enough that the tequila didn't pack it's overwhelming punch.  As the waitress' recommendation, its praise is well deserved.  For simple shots, our favorite was the Cabo Wabo.  It ranked on the low end ($6.50/ 1 ounce shot) but it was smooth, easy to drink, and didn't leave you puckering in pain.  On the rocks with some lime, I would venture to guess it would make a great drink on its own.  


Also, just in case you need extra reasons to go, they have a balcony in the summer, allowing you fresh air and ambiance in case the darker interior is too much.  They do check ID upon entrance, so you do need to be 21, but if you haven't tried it or just want to go back, definitely make a point to find your way Wicker Park side soon.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Beyaz Before Baby

So, during today's grown-up snowday event, I found myself watching marathons of Top Chef.  LOVE that show.  I pretty much watch it oogling over how much I want to be Padma and taste their food!  Mmm, someday.


Whilst I was watching said wonderful tv show (in HD I might add) a commercial came on for a new form of birth control:  Beyaz.  This birth control is created by the makers of Bayer, which leads us consumers into thinking it must be a good product, since Bayer has such a reputation for being "heart healthy" and all.  Unfortunately, I do not know much about the birth control, itself, but I do know about the commercial they used to promote it.  Has anyone seen this?  It's a bunch of women in a shopping area picking up and looking at things they can do:  Trip to Paris, Buy a House, etc.  Suddenly, as I was watching this advert I looked at my friend and laughed, saying, "You do realize they are saying "look at all the things you can do if you don't have children!" ".  It was amazing.  They were literally saying that these are things you are capable of doing sans little ones....which leads me to believe, by their logic, they don't think you can do these things once children are in the picture.  Hmm.  Interesting.  I find it hysterical, I bet a lot of women find it helpful and true, but equal amounts of women will find it offensive in terms of content.


Good job Bayer.  Not sure if you helped or just offended a bunch of people, but you definitely made me laugh.  We'll see if your birth control can be effective without causing crazy side affects like so many others have done in the past.

From Paris to Italy

This morning, after helping dig myself and my family's cars out of the thundersnow's leftovers, I sat to watch some tv and stretch my back.  I turned on Passport to Europe, a show I love because I wish I could get paid to do what she does: travel Europe and talk about it!  


Today's episode was Paris culture, where she peruses Paris, learning about it's history, culture, food, etc.  I loved Paris when I was there, but it's definitely somewhere you want to go with a friend or, preferably, with a Paris native.  There's just so much you miss when you don't know where you're going.  However, one of her stops brought her to a park where a handful of men were playing a pick up game called Boules.  The cool part?  It's the same as Bocci, a game Italian's are known for playing, and one I played lots of time growing up.  Basically, you and your partner are playing against another team of two (the Italian way), and you throw the small ball and the teams have to try to get their colored balls closes to the small one.  


It's actually extremely fun, and great for passing the time cheaply and with friends, much like today's midwestern game of Bags, and I was ecstatic to see the game cross cultures in such fashion!  Go Paris!