I am a unique snowflake

It's my birthday

2009-10-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday. I thought I would take this opportunity to get back into the swing of things. Many of you have chastised me for being a bad blogger. You're right. And, I don't have an excuse - interesting things happen to me every day. I should share more.

Because this has been a jam-packed 10 days, I thought I would catch everyone up on what has been happening.

Last Thursday
We got back from Hawaii. It was a wonderful trip, and an opportunity for Mike and I to really reconnect. Oh... you want pictures? Click here.

Last Saturday
Angela's sister Michele got married! Anyone who knows me, knows I love weddings. Mike and I were responsible for watching Zach during the ceremony. I said a little prayer while we were in the beautiful catholic church during the ceremony, "Dear God, Thank you for Cheerios." The wedding was stunning, as was Michele. The reception was at the Lincoln Presidential Museum. We ate and danced between the White House and a Log Cabin. It was truly charming (with the exception of the John Wilkes Booth was statue, which I swear was giving me the evil eye).

Tuesday
We're refinancing! We have successfully completed a year of payments on our house, and with rates low it's the perfect time to save a little money each month. We are keeping our fingers crossed that all of the hard work we have done over the past year has paid off when they do the appraisal.

Wednesday
We bought a car. Like I said, it's been quite a week. This is the first new car either Mike or I have ever owned. It's a 2010 Volkswagen GTI. 4-door, manual, white. We are nervous about driving it, parking it, eating in it, and looking at it. The best part... satellite radio, baby. That's 24 hours of show tunes a day for Ann. (Sorry, Mike!).

Thursday
My family doctor finally told me it was time to go see a specialist about my sinus problems. Yesterday, I met with Dr. Raviv and had a wonderful and reassuring experience. He knew exactly what I was going through and did not seem worried that we would be able to knock it. It's a combination of heavy hitting drugs right now to completely kill any infection, followed by "maintenance" drugs to suppress further infections. To find out what exactly my body has decided is trying to kill me, I am going to see an allergist. Good news, even if it's the cats, he says we can work around it.

Friday
That's today. And, today is my birthday.

The Cat Lady

2009-07-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

Mike and I are leaving for vacation on Friday afternoon. We are heading to the Georgia coast for a week. It's our first real vacation in over three years. We have taken lots of weekend trips, but we are ready to get away!

One of the last details I needed to iron out was cat care. I know saying that out loud makes me sound like a crazy cat lady. But, let's be honest, you all think I'm a crazy cat lady already. You (well, some of you) are just too nice to say it to my face.

Vacation pet care is big business around here. We found a service online that seemed reputable, and met with the catsitter (?) tonight. She provided references and a brochure about her care. She also sent over paper work for new customers. The form is three pages long and includes questions such as "Is there something that will bring your cat out of hiding (the sound of the can opener or treat jar, for example)."

Not only will she feed the cats, she also scoops the litter, brings in our mail, waters our plants and makes sure the house is ok. That's $15 (per visit) well spent!

In other news...

2009-07-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

I like for my blog postings to have a theme. Unfortunately, tonight's blog is full of one-off stories about my day. While I hope you all enjoy the This American Life style of tonight's post, I apologize in advance for the random nature. Our story tonight, in three parts.

Act one: Lady, are you serious?!

While rants about the gym (and more specifically, the gym locker room) are usually the property of my cousin-in-law-in-law, Angela, I felt this story needed to be shared.

For those of you who have never been to a Lifetime, let me help you visualize the locker room layout. Imagine a long rectangle. At the top-left corner is the entrance. Flanking the entire left wall is a row of sinks and a continuous mirror. The rest of the space is full of groups of lockers shaped like a U, with the open portion of the U facing the mirror.

We all know that the locker room is full of naked people. It's one of those things no sane person looks forward to. I look straight into my locker and try to move as quickly as possible while changing in and out of workout clothes. Tonight, when I finished my workout, I returned to the locker room to find a woman sitting on the bench in the middle of my "U" of lockers butt-naked, facing the mirror and plucking her leg hair. She was still there when I left.

Act two: a shot, a pill, a spray, and an addiction...

I am, once again, suffering from a sinus infection. We have finally found a family doctor, which makes it so easy to make an appointment. As this is my third infection this year, the doctor felt I was probably going to need to get some imaging of my face done in the next few years - joy! But, for the time being, he gave me an allergy shot, an antibiotic to kill the current infection, and a nasal spray to help prevent future infections (which is said I could take or not take depending on how I feel over the next month or two). Because my sinus infections usually manifest as a terrible headache, he also offered me pain medication. Seriously? He offered it twice. I thought about saying, "oh yes, can you make that oxycontin?" just to see if I could get away with it.

Act three: a tree!

I know I keep promising updated yard pictures to the entire family. Well, here it is. The petunias have taken over the hostas, but neighbors continue to comment on the remarkable transformation from last year to this year. Way to go us!

p.s. - Please forgive our brown grass. We are trying to kill the weeds and the yard is mostly weeds.

Lunch break

2009-07-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

Today I was rolling into my third day of headache. At first, I thought it was another sinus infection rearing its head. I did the neti thing and the Zyrtec and went to bed. None of that seemed to do much. After a bit of investigation (let's be honest, one can get addicted to WebMD), I have decided that I get tension headaches. My mother was prone to terrible migraines and, while I have thus far escaped these, I too suffer from headaches that are best treated by an early bedtime.

Today after sharing my hypothesis with Mike he said, "Sounds about right. Maybe you should try to relax." Brilliant deduction Holmes. Why hadn't I thought of that?

But, the more I thought about it the more I realized he was probably right. Even though my motto lately at work has been, "it's just paper," translating that into behavior is easier said then done. So at lunch today, I took Mike's advice. I found an equally stressed (and likable) coworker and told her we needed to go for a walk. We both brought our lunch, but couldn't bear to spend another day eating something reheated while hunched over our computers.

I have to say... it worked. I felt better all afternoon. I think this is going to be a new lunch tradition. If nothing else, I need to step away from things for 30 minutes or so in the middle of the day and regroup.

A baby, a fence and a tomato

2009-07-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a success. It was actually full of multiples successes.

Mike and I had a great date on Friday. We ate sushi and just talked. With the endless house projects, we don't spend much time sitting around. It was a great way to start the weekend.

On Saturday, we got up early and headed to Clarendon Hills to babysit Zach. Angela was in Rhode Island racing hard and David needed to finish up his investor report at work. We had so much fun with Zach. We went on a walk, took a trip to the grocery store, and played hard. Mike and I have always been good partners and it is fun to see how our parenting roles are naturally evolving, as well. While I spent time cuddling (Zach is working on his fifth (or one endless) cold and teething), reading and changing diapers; Mike was all over the place playing with blocks and trucks. My favorite part of the day was when Mike showed Zach his new juggling skills. The sweet little guy would just sit there staring wide eyed and with a full smile. Then, right at the end of each routine as the balls started to fall he would giggle. To top it all off, Mike kept saying, "I'm a clown." Mike and Zach also have this new routine where Mike points at Zach and says "You the man!" Zach then points back at Mike and smiles at himself. David scolded Mike for teaching Zach to point, but I am secretly (except that I am posting this all over the internet) going to encourage it.

On Friday, I made an ambitious to-do list for our weekend. The big project was to remove the chain link fence that runs along the side of our driveway. When we were looking at this house, I said to Mike, "if we buy this place, that is coming out on day one." Well... it may be day 280 (or something like that), but it still feels like quite an accomplishment. I think our neighbors were thrilled as well. All of the posts were sunk in serious concrete (over 18" deep) and covered in some horrible plant. We still need to finish taking out some stumps, but it's an amazing improvement.

And last, a little surprise. As many of you know, I miss farm tomatoes. I tried to grow them last year in pots, but it didn't turn out very well. This year, I picked a spot with good soil and plenty of sun. The plants are thriving. Both have outgrown their cages once and are close to doing so again. (Which is bad news bears since I bought the largest ones I could find.) The plants are covered in buds, so it should be a delicious fall of BLTs!!! And, today the first little tomatoes appeared.

Our Tree

2009-07-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

*Family and friends have reminded me that my blog is a great way for us to stay connected in a personal way that is difficult for all of us in our busy lives. As such, I have recommitted myself to letting you know what's new and interesting in our lives. I cannot promise that I will post every day, but I will be better about staying connected. So... here we go!

Today we bought a tree.

Mike and I found very early in our relationship that we are both Magnolia lovers. My grandparents had two southern magnolia trees in their beautiful yard. I remember the lovely white blooms and the rich, waxy leaves. Alas, these trees cannot survive in the cold Chicago winters. I had two magnolias growing up, full of bright pink blossoms. It was the perfect climbing tree (which, I managed to fall out of a few times). As soon as we bough our house last year, we knew we wanted to plant a magnolia in the front yard.

But, did you know about all of the different types of Magnolias? Turns out our local garden center did. They didn't make the choice easy. There were hard decisions to make. More like a tree or a bush? White flowers or pink flowers?

We settled on an Elizabeth Magnolia. This coming spring it should fill our lawn with beautiful yellow-white flowers. It's going in the ground next Saturday. I'll make sure to update with new front-yard photos

Welcome to Our House!

2008-11-04T17:20:00.000-08:00

Root canal and a movie

2008-11-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

About ten weeks ago I needed to get a crown. It wasn't a terrible experience, but it wasn't fun. Our dentist wasn't my favorite, but he seemed fine. But then, about two weeks ago, my tooth started to ache... to throb... searing stabs of pain. Accompanied only by a move, too much work, and a sinus infection (oh, goodie!).

It was at that point, that I decided it was time to find a new dentist. As I do whenever I need to find reliable information, I turned to the internet. After spending an hour or so reading reviews of dentists and checking out their websites, I settled on making an appointment with Dr. Shepstone in Glenview.

People! This is the dentist. You have a cavity? Cleaning? Oral surgery? I've got your guy.

I set up an appointment to have an exam and meet the dentists, as I wanted to test the waters after my last experience. I was immediately impressed with his professionalism and thoroughness. I was even reassured by the families in the waiting room. Call me crazy, but a waiting room with one of those block roller coasters, makes me feel like I belong.

Today, I went in for my root canal (because, yes, I needed one... not just a crown), and I wasn't disappointed. The appointment started with my dentist explaining that I would be wearing movie goggles during the entire appointment and he would place a guard in my mouth to hold my jaw open so it wouldn't get tired. What? I'd never heard of such fancy gadgets. They got started by numbing me up something fierce. At three points, he stopped to ask about my comfort level. At the half-way mark, we took a 10 minute break to let my jaw relax. And, they gave me pain medication before I left so that when the local anaesthetic wore off, I wouldn't be in any pain.

While I am sure I have a few painful hours and nights ahead, it was a fairly painless experience. That, and Score is still a pretty good movie!

p.s. - if you need a new dentists... GO HERE! http://www.glenviewfamilydentist.com/

p.s.s. - I'm working on the house pictures right now!

Interesting night...

2008-10-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

Question:
What do you get when you live near a forest preserve and you put out trash in a can without a lid?

Answer:
An opossum adventure.

At approximately 3:30 this morning, a band of opossum toppled the trash can and started on a trash bag. At approximately 3:45 this morning, the cats were alerted to the situation and started going crazy. At approximately 3:47 this morning, the opossum called his friends and the motion light started going on and off on and off on and off - shining directly in our window. At approximately 3:50 this morning, one opossum found the fried chicken and all hell broke loose.

Have you ever heard opossums fight? It sounds like they are ripping each other apart. And then the cats were REALLY going crazy.

We went back to sleep at about 4:30. Mike picked up quite a mess this morning. We are purchasing the world's best garbage can on our way home tonight.

Home ownership is fun!

Yeah, yeah...

2008-10-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

I promise we will get everyone an update in the next day or two. I also promise that we have before and after photos coming soon!

Stay tuned...

House update

2008-10-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

If you are the blog fiend I am, you have probably been wondering how things are going at the house. While we are definitely making progress, the house is now in a greater state of disarray than before. Here's some of the highlights:

We pulled up all of the carpet. In case you don't remember one bedroom was royal blue, one teal, and one a lovely shade of rose. Under the carpet lived beautiful hard wood floors. Even better, two of the three rooms do not need any refinishing. What will one day be the guest room has some water stains in the wood. Nothing a good area rug can't fix (cover). On the down side, the beautiful wood in the hall and stairs still needs to be finished; but it is sanded and ready to go.

We took out the horrible shower door... and a few of the wall tiles at the same time. Oopps. Another exciting project for our hero Robert!

After the carpet, we started tackling the wallpaper. Room one - pealed off in complete strips without any problem. Both bathrooms were your typical wallpaper adventure. This meant the use of a scraper and steamer, but still the paper came down in a completely reasonable way. Then we moved into the kitchen. The next day we were STILL working on it. Last night, I tackled the entry, while Mike traveled for work. Tonight, Mike started on the basement and I joined after Common Threads. Can I just say, if you are EVER considering a textured wall paper... don't. stop. STOP!!! You should not live with it and you are dooming your future home owners.

However, most exciting, we are making progress. Things are getting done, despite a few small surprises. And, we haven't hit any stumbling blocks we cannot overcome.

Next week it's time to start putting the space back together. After seeing our trash pile, we thought you would all enjoy seeing our "new stuff" pile. What you have here is two toilets, three sinks, 3 ceiling fans, 6 light fixtures, hardware for everything, new face plates for everything, four new faucets; plus the 50 feet of crown, four closet doors, 2 counter tops and 5 regular doors not shown. It's going to be a good time!

We are homeowners

2008-09-26T16:09:00.001-07:00

This was quite a roller coaster of a day. We woke up excited to close on our house late this morning. Mike headed off to work for a few hours, while I was going to get some extra sleep and head to the bank to get a check for our closing costs.

As of last night, our attorney still had not received our final closing costs from the title company, so first thing this morning, I called to follow up. We were closing at 11, and as of 9 a.m. we still didn't have anything.

At 10:05 I received a call and was quoted closing costs more than 5 times what we were expecting. This poses a really cash problem when you are supposed to sign on the dotted line in less than an hour. After the seconds of stunned silence, I asked "WHAT?! WHY?"

Apparently, the title company had decided (this morning) we needed to pay indemnity insurance (two or three times your property taxes - for those of you who don't know, like I didn't until today) even though we already set up an escrow account for our property taxes. All seemed fishy, and I called the lender, who called the title company and told them they couldn't do that and to take it off. At this point I went from crying because we didn't have enough cash to close today, to feeling nervous.

About this time, Mike rolled into the driveway and we headed out to the Title Company office for closing. After circling in around for a while (Google Maps failed us today), we finally found the office, headed up and checked in. "You're not closing here today. You must have the wrong office." We promptly held up our meeting notice provided by the attorney, only to find out we had been scheduled at their other office. Oh, of course, how silly of us to have come to the wrong one.

We arrived, only to find out lender pointing out more and more mistakes to the HUD-1 (form with what we have to pay), then the attorney showed up and pointed out more and more mistakes. All told, they printed four copies of this document before they got it right. The seller's attorney was quite a site as well. This fly-by-night man of law (I assume that's what he would want to be called) was wearing a fancy black t-shirt and had a number of hand written documents for our attorney (who got a kick out of the whole thing - until he started to get annoyed) to review.

Two hours later... we were down to less than a third of the closing costs we expected to pay. We left with more money that we ever expected (Can you say New Sofa? Seriously, someone ask my husband.) and brand new keys.

But wait, there's more! We started work on the house this afternoon. We collected trash and pulled up carpet in two of the bedroom. We snapped a few pictures... please enjoy!

Life is beautiful

2008-09-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

After anxiously waiting, the newest member of our extended family arrived last night.

It was a long, difficult haul for Mom. I won't steal her thunder, but feel free to read about her superwoman experience here.

We are very lucky to be the closest family, and spent the afternoon (not so) patiently in the waiting room. We did enjoy some good people watching. Our favorite was Brody Lane's grandfather watching Nascar on You Tube, while eating Doritos and drink Mountain Dew. (I realize this is about 25 stereotypes rolled into one, but I promise it's an accurate picture.)

All of the waiting and phone calls was worth it when we got to meet little Zachary Marshall. He is a healthy little man full of snuggly noises and the beautiful scent of a baby.

Small accomplishments

2008-09-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that I am an anal retentive list maker. I like neat rows and small boxes next to each item. I find great joy in swiping my pen across a line or slicing a check through one of my boxes.

The last few weeks have been full of big tasks. Tasks that leave you exhausted at the end of the day, but with no great sense of accomplishment. It's the way you feel when packing up a house. 10 boxes may seem like a lot of work, but it's only a bookcase or three kitchen cabinets.

Today, I had a press-ok at our printer around noon. Lucky for me, the printer is right by my house, and so I decided to take the afternoon off and come home. I am still doing some work and answer emails; but it has been a completely satisfying afternoon. Check. Check. Check. I have spent the afternoon enjoying the joy that comes with cleaning a toilet and swapping out laundry.

Some of you might be surprised to know this feeling is generally unrelated to the forum in which something is completed. For instance, I can spend three hours on a challenging business problem and feel just as good as when I finish a batch of cookies.

A true peak into my psyche... my level of satisfaction is directly related to the number of people who are affected by my work. This is the only reason dusting is not quiet as great as making a birthday cake. This also may have some baring on my obsession with planning rockin' events.

In any event, today I am feeling good (and my house is feeling clean), so stop by and I'll make you a cake...

What are the little things that make you happy?

Knife skills

2008-09-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I signed up to volunteer for an after school program called Common Threads. For those who have never heard of it (which is nearly everyone I know), it's a program that teaches inner city children how to cook within the context of cultural education (food from a different country each week) and nutrition.

The program was founded by Art Smith - Oprah's former private chef. Many of you may know about it from Top Chef Chicago.

Food and cooking for others is a really important part of my life. I also love kids and have been looking for a way to get more involved now that we seem to be settling in to life in Chicago(land area).

Due to its Bravo publicity, I had to go through an interview, get fingerprinted and wait my turn for a new round of classes to begin. (Good news... I passed!)

With classes starting in a couple of weeks, it was time for our training session. The majority of the session was spent going over curriculum, expectations and rules. However, the most interesting portion was knife skills. I LOVE to chop and know how to do it correctly, so that part of the lesson was review. However, when we got to the "how to handle knives around inner city kids" portion, I started paying attention.

Before I go any further, these are 8- and 9-year-old children. They signed up for the program because they want to. The biggest concern is that they don't chop off their own fingers.

However, there were some things I, being from a small farm town, wouldn't have necessarily considered. For instance, these kids get nervous when they see other kids with knives. So it's a class rule to announce that you have a knife if you are behind someone (I imagine it to be similar to riding on the bike path; except you yell "knife back here," rather than "passing left.") The second thing is that, under no circumstances, are the kids ever to take the knife away from the cutting board or hold it up in the air.

I am assured that nothing has ever happened. And I don't, in any way, feel threatened. My husband, however, is convinced I am going to get "knifed" and put pepper spray in my purse.

The Perfect Tank

2008-08-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

While, I am sure you are all anxious for my finding, let's start this blog by talking about the cami.

The camisole is, I believe, the female equivalent of a man's white undershirt. (At this point I should warn the men in my life, you may not enjoy the detailed review of the cami.) More importantly, when you are a large chested lady (like myself), it's a necessity for deep-v necklines or lighter sweaters.

But the cami is not designed for those who are curvy. It has a tiny straps, which barely cover my grandma-like bra straps. "But they have a built in bra?" my small-chested friends comment to themselves. Silly ladies, that shelf bra doesn't hold up anything substantial. In fact, the shelf bra is more trouble than it's worth. It only pulls the camisole down, showing off everything one is trying to cover up.

And so, I have been on the hunt for a tank made of the smooth cami-like fabric, but with the coverage of a good ole' fashioned tank top.

Today, I found it! After an entire summer of searching, I found a collection of exactly what I wanted at Target... of course. It's the best $7.99 I've spent in a long time.

Leaving town

2008-08-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am packing for my final NY trip of the year. I enjoy the tradeshows, and I am very lucky to work with a group of people I enjoy spending nine, 12-hour days with; but we are all feeling a little overwhelmed with this trip.

Not only is there a lot going on IN the office (for those of you who don't know we are launching Dunder Mifflin Infinity and I'm on the party planning committee), but there's a lot coming up all over the place.

My manager, and tradeshow compatriot, is getting married the weekend after the show. Yeah, she's got balls (slash crazy). This not only means she is leaving me a little early this show (which, in case she reads this and feels guilty, SHE SHOULD), but she is also leaving me in charge for the two weeks following the show during her honeymoon.

Our darling second cousin (though, I still think Aunt Annie sounds the best) is due the first week of the month. This, of course, means I will be preparing ample meals upon my return, so I can barter for baby time. (note: please no baby until August 22. Then, go for it!)

We close on our house in late September and still have finalized paint colors. What do you think... Nantucket Fog or Blue Arrow for the guest room?

And, I want to take a nap.

Photo montage

2008-08-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have a moment when you realize how awesome your childhood was? Or how scary your parents really looked in the 80s? Or, how much money people wasted on developing film?

I had such an evening. In preparation for our big move, I suggested that we organize the basement and get rid of as much as possible. The hubs wanted to start by scanning in all of our family photos. As anyone who has gone through a parent's things can tell you, parents take a lot of photographs. We have boxes and boxes. Tonight we decided to tackle one box. That small box took us over an hour to flip through (at a really fast pace).

Overwhelmingly, the verdict was things that seemed important, are not. For instance, for three years in a row we went to Disney Land at Christmas. Each year, someone (possibly the small child who begged for the camera) decided it was imperative to take a photo (usually blurry) of every single float in the holiday parade. That's approximately eight rolls of blurry floats so precious that they have survived five moves and two decades.

Another example of something we experienced was the notion that you should send those relatives you do not frequently see entire rolls. Here's a picture of your cousin picking up an Easter egg in 1991. Here's another. Another.

We have decided to tackle a different box each night until we are threw then all. Eventually, we will have them all scanned in and available on DVD. Something for all family and friends to look forward to.

Busy

2008-07-31T17:24:00.000-07:00

I want to put an apology out into the void to whomever I owe one to. I realize I have been difficult (if not impossible) to contact lately, but life seems a little chaotic.

Take this week, for instance:

Saturday - We (hubby, bro-in-law and I) moved Mike's cousin from the South Side to the top floor of a four-story walk up. While the entire family is thrilled to trade in hardcore gang bangers for the more gentrified gang bangers of her new neighborhood, we were not thrilled about the lack-of-elevator situation.

Sunday - While moving said cousin, our window regulator broke. Apparently a common problem in VW's, this meant we had to park our car on the city streets with the driver's side window down (a.k.a., stuck in the door). This also meant that Sunday was dedicated to, once again, thanking Baby Jesus for my brother-in-law who (with the help of my amazing husband) spent the better part of the day disassembling the car door and fixing the problem.

Monday - Bright and early, I am off to the airport. Exit on to 294 is closed. Alternate route is at a stand still because of crossing gate failure. Run into airport. Plane is delayed 145 minutes (for no good reason!). No movie... ON A FLIGHT TO SAN FRANCISCO! Spend the evening schmoozing.

Tuesday - Bright and early, back to (different) airport. Fly home and actually land a little early, which is very good because I need to rush to the dentist. They quickly numbed my face and insert my permanent crown. I went home, made dinner, and then had to drug myself because of residual tooth pain. But, of course, I cannot sleep because I managed to get jet lag in one day.

Wednesday - Off we go to the house inspection first thing in the morning. The good news is that there were not any problems we didn't expect and we liked (and trusted) the inspector. (Call for referral.) Then I was off to work - driving because it was so late. Someone want to explain how there is still rush hour traffic at noon on Wednesday?! I worked really late to make up for going in early and ended the day with another restless night.

Thursday - This is today. It's my Friday, because I took tomorrow off. That's a good thing because it was a rough day. It involved slamming my knee (which is now under frozen peas) into the corner of a tradeshow crate and then stabbing myself with a staple (finger now in band-aid). The hubby is running late, which is ok because it means I get to talk to all of you for a few minutes, and I got him to pick up dinner on his way home. (thanks!)

So, call me if you need me, but don't be mad if I forget to answer. And, have a great weekend!

It's a steal!

2008-07-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Our offer was accepted! That means - baring any unforeseen inspection finds - we will be moving into our new home this fall.

The picture above is the front of our new abode. Remember, I like a good project - so there is much to be done. (Starting with that hideous awning.)

Sparing everyone the pain that follows the announcement of housing costs in the greater Chicago area, I will say that we got a bargain. It has been on the market for over a year, but we are getting it for $119,000 less than the original asking price. (That's more than my mom's house sold for people!)

And, I call that a steal!

Now I have to get back to amassing paperwork for the bank.

House Hunting

2008-07-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

My hubby and I have officially started looking for our first home. Like many of our friends we have found that buying a home in the Chicagoland area to be nearly impossible. Fairly, we are looking in some of the more affluent suburbs. But when coming up with 20% equals the same amount my mom's house sold for (even for a modest starter home) you can see how this can be hard to swallow.

With some money saved and a market that begs for first time homeowners, we decided that when our lease is up this October we would take the plunge. While this is an exciting first step for us, it is scary.

Two weeks ago we started by looking at four houses. One struck our fancy. While nearly every surface was painted with a faux finish (my guess is either high school art teacher or Trading Spaces superfan), it's nothing a little elbow grease can't fix. Today we had appointments to look at 16 houses, 14 made the cut, 4 made the shortlist (including the one from last week), and hopefully one will be our new home.

This lovely number has undergone something of a transformation over the last 18 months - beautiful yard, two car garage, three bedrooms, two bathrooms (master suite!!!), finished basement. And, while it still needs it's fair share of help, we're excited!

While the mortgage crisis means there are some great deals. It also means that buying this home is tricky. Some bank loaned the current owners more money than they can handle, and they have since defaulted. (While I am sad for this large family to lose their adorable home. I would like to buy that home for my someday family.) Not only does this mean getting bank approval for a short sale, it also means that - even in this market - we are already trying to outbid another offer.

My dad is coming up on Tuesday to give the structure a once over. Once blessed, I promise to fill everyone in with more details, but for now, keep your fingers crossed and you may get to visit us in our very own home later this year.

Fro Yo or Fro No?

2008-06-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

I used to love The Hills. Then Heidi got botox and Audrina got back together with Justin Bobby, and I just couldn't do it anymore. Unfortunately, I am ashamed to say that the show did have a lasting impact. When I was in New York back in January, we stumbled upon a Pinkberry. I just had to stop... I mean, Hello?! Lauren loves it!

I love Pinkberry. I love it so much that I ended up getting it every night we were in New York in January, and then every night we were in New York in May.

Before you think, Wow, Ann is a fat ass!, you should know a couple of things about Pinkberry. It is crazy good for you. It's just yogurt and some flavorings (I think honey, lime and vanilla - but I'm still messing around with my homemade version). A small original has 70 calories. You can tack on toppings such as cookie dough and fruity pebbles, but I stick with strawberries. In case I have built this up, I should say that it's an acquired taste. It doesn't taste like ice cream. It tastes like plain (and slightly sweetened) yogurt. So, if you have a hankerin' for Ben & Jerry's, go get some; this won't cut it.

But with my visits to New York few and far between, I am on a mission to find something pinkberry-like in Chicago. I am not the only one. It seems all of my Windy City friends who have tried it on vacation, are also obsessed. So, here it is Chicago. After much online research and many tasty trips, I invite you to go get your fix!

Yogen Fruz

When I excitedly approached at Woodfield Mall last weekend and asked, "Is this Pinkberry-esque?" The pimply teenager behind the counter answered, "Now that's not a nice question. It's much better." I knew I was warm. So far, this is the closest to Pinkberry I have found. The same cups, toppings, taste, calories, etc. The only downside - there are two locations near Chicago and they are both malls (Woodfield Mall and Orland Park Shopping Center). But if you have to go to the Lego Store and Build-A-Bear (yes, I did both in one day), find a directory and get you some yogen fruz!

Starfruit

I haven't been to this location, but my coworker pointed it out to me. The online reviews make it sound basically the same as all of the others. But the website apprears to have been made by some one dropping acid or a 13-year-old girl.

Berry Chill

Berry Chill is the Chicago working (wo)man's answer to delicious Pinkberry in Chicago. There is currently one location at State and Ontario - which is perfect for tourists that don't want to cover there fingers in Garrett's cheese powder (please don't shun me, Chicago) on their way to American Girl Place. But... they are opening two additional locations. One is in smack in the middle of the Loop - at 132 N. LaSalle. The other is going to be in the Ogilvie Transportation Center. Oh, commuter bliss!

A warning about Berry Chill. While it has the fat properties of air - 20 calories and 0 grams of fat for an original - it is straight yogurt. So, if you don't like the ice cream knock-offs, you really won't like this one. Also, the cups really bother me. They are shallow, and my strawberries kept ending up on the table.

Red Mango

Red Mango is my local Pinkberry. Do we see a naming theme? Anyone want to open a fro yo shop... Fushia Kiwi? Coral Papaya? This one has two very exciting locations. One in Evanston - Yay for Annie!!! - and one in Naperville. For my dear Pinkberry-loving friend of the North burbs... come see me... I'll take you out for some Fro, Yo!

And, for goodness sake, could someone get my hubby excited! I so badly want to make daily trips to the new Red Mango that just opened in Evanston; but, alas, he is not a fan!

Pancakes

2008-06-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite people from my former job was in town this weekend. Yesterday, we met up in the city for my favorite meal... brunch.

Because she was the visitor, I told her to pick the place. The Bongo Room on Milwaukee it was. I have since found out that many of my cohorts know about this delectable establishment. What didn't I know about it? Brunch is my favorite meal. And, this was among the best I have ever had.

First thing to know. It's busy and you should be prepared to wait. But... only after about 10 a.m. I got there (very) early since I was already in the city dropping my weekend guests off at the train station. Hanging out at the local 'bucks, I realized this Buck Town comes alive post ten o'clock on Sunday mornings.

Second thing to know. There were four of us at the table. We all got different things and everything was amazing.

Third thing to know. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Let me say it again, just in case you missed it the first time. Stuff your face with Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Our table (of four) shared an order and then seriously fought the urge to order a second round. Get these. You will love them.

I am on a mission that we must all share our brunch knowledge with each other!

What's your favorite brunch hot spot? And, what should I order? (Note: I won't be going with you soon, because if you are on my frequent bruncher list, we are going to the Bongo Room!)

Other People

2008-06-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. I know that you all come to this site wanting to know what’s new in my life, but I feel your patience with stories about Ann may have reached a critical point. Jokingly someone compared me to Marie Antoinette over a decade ago; and while I love cake (pound, to be exact), perhaps it is time for a little humility.

Today, I am going to share some of my favorite things about other people. Without them, my life would not be nearly interesting enough to share with you. (While many might argue that it’s not that interesting now, you’re the one reading this. Touche!)

My husband. In the nearly three years we have been married he has never once started a meal any other way than by saying, “Thank you for dinner, Ann. It looks great!” Followed by a quick kiss.

My Dad. He built a tower in the woods like a crazy person. (I am secretly jealous of how cool it is.) Must be why he always had me keep my hair short!

My Vet. She thinks my cat stories are hilarious. I know, what else is she going to do while she sticks a thermometer up my cats A*%? But, really, I think she cares!

My boss. We can spend nine, 10-hour days together in a row and not kill each other. We even like each other. Also, she has a gum ball machine in her office.

My Girls. Unlike many of my peers, my hometown group of gals has remained tight knit. Though we are scattered about – Chicago, German Valley, IL, Quad Cities, Jainesville, WI and Springfield, MO – we still find time to get together once a year. Pickle roll-ups abound!

My husband’s cousin’s wife. (Sorry, that’s the best I can do.) She proudly announced that if Julia Child didn’t start cooking until she was 30, than by George there’s hope for all of us. Cook on!

My brother-in-law.See “Need to call Robert” at this blog. Also, he’s the only person I that always laughs so hard whatever he is drinking comes out of his nose.

My first grade student teacher. She taught me to read, and someday she will help me teach my children to read. Amazing how life can come full circle.

My high school sweetheart’s mom. She taught me how to love being in the kitchen – how to feel your way through a recipe. And, she put up with all of the meals that were pretty bad in the beginning.

My BF. No one. And, I mean NO ONE can pull of spandex like Lindsay Spandex!

My mom. Where to begin? On car trips, she would make a list of musical songs we could sing together to pass the time. She picked me up from school for lunch every Friday. She is my example for living life and loving all.

Who is your favorite person and why?

(Please note: If you want to seem unique, feel free to come up with an alias for your story about me... seriously though, write about someone else.)

Themes

2008-06-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

I love a good theme. I love them. When I come up with a "seed" of an idea, I can't stop until I have a whole bloody acre of maize. I know it's a corny analogy (get it, get it), but I simply cannot stop once the kernel is sowed.

Take my wedding for example. I was determined NOT to make it a themed wedding. I mean, no one wants a mermaid bridesmaid gown and sea shell cake (scribble, scribble), but once the save the dates were out, it was on. For those of you who I was not fortunate enough to befriend until after my wedding (or for those of you who have terrible memories because otherwise you would remember my amazing save the date), it was a small paper crane with the save the date info printed on the wings. My husband used to make them for me (well... for everyone) when we were dating. But then I had ideas... what else can we (he) fold?! It was a hard struggle not to immediately go straight for lanterns and chopsticks and tea and..... and.... Instead, I settled on hand-folded paper boxes to house our favors (above) and holders for our menu cards. (And, endless praise to my husband who folded all of them... and still married me.)

Right now, I am co-hosting a shower for my favorite second-cousin-in-law and her "bean." It's an alphabet theme. Because what says welcome to the world more than a 40" long accordion invitation with the mom's name on it and a phrase or word starting with each letter in said name describing the parents-to-be?! I'll tell you what! A cube cake in the shape of a baby block - alphabet prizes for the alphabet related games - gifts for different letters in the alphabet. It's going to be great! (Kuddos to the co-host and mom for putting up with me.)

For those of you who love me, you know that Christmas is the worst. Each year, I pick a color theme. Then, I scour the Hobby Lobby ads until the week when all of the ornaments are on sale. I descend upon this delightful super store (but not on Sunday - which I respect, but secretly hate), and get every white and silver ball in sight (so last year). In an order to curtail, this year, for the first time ever, I am repeating a colorway. Please forgive me, as I know you will all be heart broken to know that your gifts will once again don the reds and golds from 2005. (WHAT?! Yes, I already know my Christmas colors. Doesn't everyone?)

It's a sickness people! (Please send all creative and fantastic themes attn: Ann.)

Have you ever thrown an all-out themed event? Have you ever been to one that was just too over the top?

Bike-to-Work Week

2008-06-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

This was Bike-to-Work Week in Chicago. In 2006, my employer, Paper Source, won the Bike to Work Week Commuter Challenge in the category of business/non-profit 100-499 employees. Everyone was encouraged to help us earn back the title - with a goal of 50% employee participation. (Even the CEO rode her bike 22 miles into the city!)

Before I gloat about how I did ride the one mile stint to and from the train station (which counts) one day last week, let me talk a bit about my problem with Bike-to-Work Week.

I am a fan of non-driving commuting. I love encouraging people to move around (I hesitate to use the term exercise because I don't think a one-mile ride counts. Horrible person?) But! I do both of those things EVERY DAY. My husband drops me off in the morning at the Metra station. I take the commuter train into the city and then walk the .75 mile to the office. I do the same for the reverse commute, except I walk home from the station. Now, I'm no hero, but shouldn't that count?! It didn't. In fact, we had to go out and spend money to get a new bike lock and innertubes for the bike.

However... with my grumbling out of the way, I am excited to say that I did it! (Even though I really didn't want to.) My super-bike-lovin-so-excited-he-got-up-early-to-take-pictures husband was thrilled. He has been trying to get me on a bike with him since our dating days. I know he hoped it would be the start of my new great love for two hour rides along the lake with him. While I did remember the joy of ridding with the breeze blowing through your hair (well... around your helmet. You should wear a helmet!), it soon lost it's glory as the North Shore's endless collection of SUVs came whizzing past. Perhaps I can get a fancy bell and some streamers... I can usually be convinced with the right accessories.

What are your huffy memories and peg dreams?

Racy Car!

2008-06-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

I drove a racy car. Ok. So. Maybe it was like your dad bungeed his lawn mower motor to the back of your sled, but it was pretty fun.

When my father came up for a visit last weekend, we wanted to show him a good time. In addition to the traditional activities of a lovely weekend in Chicago - including the Art Institute, a ride down the Chicago river, brunch at the Signature Room, and a stroll through Millennium park - we drove up north to Buffalo Grove to have a little excitement on the track.

The go-charts at Chicago Indoor Racing are pretty intense. The carts have a top speed of 35 miles per hour. Additionally, you have to go through safety training (a short video designed to scare the crap out of you) and put on a fire suit and helmet.

Although I looked pretty rad in my fire suit, I was not the best on the track. I was not the best by far. But! Most importantly, I was not the worst (by one person). My husband and brother-in-law (who have been a number of times, for the record) both score in the 95th percentile of all people who have ever raced there... ever!

So to recap. It's best to let the slow racers drive home. Ann looks amazing in all head wear (side note: I am in search of a fabulous floppy hat, if anyone finds one). And, everyone should go! (Invite us... we're available!).

Share your latest weekend adventure!

No imitation

2008-06-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know me... I'm not a big fan of short cuts in the kitchen. I like the idea of efficiency, but most of the time (let's be honest, all of the time) there's no comparison to the real deal.

It is a tradition in my family that you simply do not skimp on birthdays. Today's the hubby's big day. So, in honor of his entry into his (early) late twenties, I thought you might all enjoy some cake!

Bonus. Here's the recipe for Annie's Chocolate Ganache Frosting. Enjoy!

Chocolate Ganache Frosting

1 stick of softened, unsalted butter
1 pound confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
1/4 - 1/2 cup half and half
1/2 bag of semisweet or dark chocolate chips

Fill a small pan half full of water and bring to a simmer.
Place a glass or stainless bowl over the top and reduce heat.
Pour chocolate chips into the bowl.
Stir until complete melted. (but, while the chips are melting...)
In a mixer, combine the butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla and half of the half and half until completely incorporated.
While the mixer is on low, slowly add in the melted chocolate.
Add the remainder of the half and half until you get to the right consistency.
Frost!

Shootin' Spuds

2008-05-27T20:09:00.001-07:00

Once again, for those of you who haven't heard this a million times, I am from the corn. And in the corn, we find ridiculous ways to spend our time. Throughout high school and college many of my peers made potato guns. Not for the faint of heart, this canon-like apparatus can chuck a tuber from one goal post to the other.

And, so my husband, brother-in-law and I were delighted when my father-in-law called and asked us to build one to share with the inner-city kids that were staying with the family as part of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program this Memorial Day weekend.

For those of you who are inexperienced, here's the basic recipe: PVC pipe + gas grill igniter + hair spray. I prefer Aqua Net myself, but feel free to use the aerosol of your choice.

By the end of the evening we even had Grandma shootin' spuds. Most exciting, for the first time, someone offered to try to catch the potatoes. Those inner-city baseball players have some guts. (As well as potato-shaped bruises on their forearms.)

I image their welcome home conversation will go something like this:
Mother of inner-city youth: Did you have something to keep you from getting too bored in Central Illinois?
Inner-city youth: Yeah. They shot potatoes at our heads.

What's your favorite home-town tradition?

A blast from the.... current?!

2008-05-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

After a serious hiatus, I'm back. I was kindly scolded by many of my favorite people for not keeping up my blog. So here we go....

My husband and I were recently invited to an 80's party to celebrate the birthday of a college friend. Though we had originally planned our exciting Friday tradition of watching a movie and eating too much pizza, we made a last minute decision to go for it!

Much to my husband's disappointment, this meant we needed to find 80's gear... and fast. It was 2 p.m. and the Madonna would be blaring from a jambox by 10. But, where to start? I was in the loop and, as one might imagine, there are not many vintage shops in the central business district of Chicago. To top it off, I had other things in mind... like enjoying my afternoon with a friend I see very little of and finding a pair of jeans that don't show my crack. (Can I get an "amen?")

Because good jeans always take priority, I resigned myself to some blue eyeshadow, and we headed off to the Magnificent Mile.

It's important at this point to say that both my friend and I found great jeans!

I learned a valuable lesson walking from one trendy store to the next... people are not learning valuable lessons. Hello, America! Wearing baby chew toys as earrings was never good. Leggings make the tiniest of us chunky. An off the shoulder sweater? Ok... maybe... but only because Flash Dance was kickin'!

And so my hubby and I donned the most fabulous collection of "new" clothes. We partied on to Duran Duran, Michael Jackson and Depeche Mode in true (2008) style.

But my point. The 80's are back. And still bad!

What do you think of the new/old trends? What's your favorite 80's memory? Come on... dish!

2007-09-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

We are headed home as an old friend passed away unexpectedly this week. She was a character who new how to live life to the fullest. She will be missed by all.

Falling....

2007-09-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

Each year, the arrival of fall marks my favorite time of year. I love the way the evenings cool, the air smells of crunchy leaves and pumpkins and mums line entrances.

The fall sweater. I don't know about anyone else, but I love sweaters. I love a good sweater and a pair of jeans. Every year, I treat myself to a "birthday sweater" to star the season off right.

Birthdays. Well, I can't very well put it out there and then not talk about it. Yes, that's right. My big day is the twenty-third of October. This year I will be... older. Though I rarely work this out, I love the possibility of sitting around a bonfire to celebrate a new year.

Croquenos. Croqua-whats? My paternal grandparents were fixtures in Metropolis, Illinois. Not only is this the official home of Superman. It is also home to Fort Massac. Every year, the town puts on a festival - The Encampment - with a reenactment. My grandmother, as president of the historical society, spent one weekend each fall dressed in a bonnet (or maybe that was me) making these DELICIOUS old english donuts in a giant cauldron over a real fire.

Apple festival. On my mother's side, my grandfather was often called "Mr. Apple Festival." For over 25 years he ran this local festival - complete with parade, beauty pageant, and drum and bugle corp contest. I spend my childhood receiving free caramel apples and siting in the judges stand. To this day, they still present the winning trophy in his name.

Holidays. The holidays are just around the corner. So it's a long, swooping corner... but never the less, you can almost smell the pumpkin pie and see the twinkling lights. This is the time of year when I get serious about the Christmas Shopping (I have been casually doing it for the last eight months, if you were wondering).

Burning leaves. Now this is a real travesty of living in a metropolitan area. I understand that it's not great for the environment to burn leaves. But, don't you remember, as a child.... I would spend hours racking and raking and then the pile would be big enough to leap into. Once your hair was speckled with brown, it was time to light the pile. The air would smell of ash for weeks.

I've fallen for Fall (and I hear it's coming for a visit starting tomorrow).

* Yes, that is me in the most awesome Rainbow Brite costume EVER!

Why do you love fall so much?
Don't love fall... then what's your favorite season and why?

In the dark

2007-08-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

I have been in the dark many times in my life.

I spent an entire semester in college touting La Croix. Only to find out you don't pronounce it "lay crocks." Or, like the time I tried to book an international flight, only to find out the client was in Dublin, OHIO.

But for five days in the past week, I was living in the dark... literally... as in, without power... no lights... the dark.

After a serious blog absence, I thought I would treat you all to a recap of this adventure:

Night One.
This is interesting. Let me just grab those camping lanterns we purchased last weekend and some candles. There. We are a Joni Mitchell album away from a romantic evening. We can read and play with the cats and snuggle and go to bed early. Not so bad.

Next Morning.
Really? Still off? I need to take a quick shower to save the hubby some hot water. No hair dryer or curling iron this morning, and I guess I'll do my makeup on the stairs to get the sun from the skylight. I'm sure it will be back on when I get home tonight.

Night Two.
Oh... oh... oh... nope! I'm really getting sick of the flickering lights followed by the transformer blowing down the street. Just give up for the night and go home. I hope the rain stops soon. I love a good summer thunderstorm, but I can't shut the windows because the AC won't run. Everything near a window is officially wet!

Night Three.
We officially are in a stage of "brown out." That means they MacGyver'ed a generator to the power lines. It gives us just enough power to run dim lights. It's a lot like living in an old Western movie. Luckily, today we went into the office and downloaded some stories onto a laptop. I have a hot date with my husband tonight... we are going to huddle around a screen in the summer heat until the computer dies.

Day Four.
What is that smell?! Oh dear lord, is that coming from the... crap! (Note to readers: a dear friend recently married a cattle farmer. To thank us for our wedding-day help, she thoughtfully gave us 15 pounds of now warm, oozing, rancid cow.) Get the contractor bags, it's time to clean out the fridge.

Day Five.
We just called the home phone and the answering machine picked up. Oh, I am so excited, I just can't decide how to celebrate first tonight... Laundry, dishwasher, vacuum? groceries?

I know the weather is great and the storms have passed... but share your weather woes !

Elliott Print

2007-08-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

stationery (stā'shə-něr'ē)
noun
paper cut to an appropriate size for writing letters; usually with matching envelopes

My small, custom stationery company, Elliott Print, is currently undergoing a face-lift. My first order of business is to put together a new catalog of stationery that makes people say, "I need that."

I am using this blog to test market some of the new designs. Please click on the above banner to launch a pdf of the catalog. (Sorry if it takes a few moments to load.) Once you have perused to your hearts content, please post your comments!

Why do you buy stationery?
What do you wish is included, but isn't?
What can you not live without?

Post a response and you will get 25% off you first (next) stationery order. Provide a link to my blog and/or the catalog and you will get 50% off your order.

If you do decide to promote on your site, please pop me a quick e-mail at
ann.elliott@elliottprint.com so that I know who to reward!

Thank you all in advance for your support!

ENJOY!

living life

2007-08-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

(No picture today, there's no time to find one.)

There are so many thing I want to share with all of you... my paper sale adventures, my tomatoes, my endless search for creativity, my take on the Harry Potter craze...

But, alas, it is not meant to be. "Why?" you ask. That, my dear friends, is the topic of today's conversation (and I do think of it as a conversation, not a rant).

What happened to life?

Is this is? Am I living it?

I vaguely remember something about balance and family and hobbies. I have fond memories of dinner before 8:30. There were board games and frisbee and books somewhere.

Not now. It's over. I am not sure if this is a product of my upbringing or my life stage or my location or all of the above. But, I do know that I don't have any time for ME. I also know that I'm not the only one.

In the Chicago loop, people are rewarded for giving themselves up. You are promoted faster if you work late and your bonus is more if you put in 60 hour weeks (60 hours, by the way, is pretty average).

But, I want to know why! Why do I feel guilty if I get on the 5 p.m. train if I was in the office by 7:40 and I ate lunch at my desk? Why does my firm say, "it is fine to telecommute a day or two a week," if when I decide to work hours 46-52 from my dining room people roll their eyes.

One of the things I miss most about my home town is that people seems to slow down every once in a while. Or, maybe it is that you have to cram less life in.

Let's observe. This morning, I had to leave early to go by the ATM, so that I could get to the train station early, so that I could refill my parking card, so that I could take the 40 minute train ride into the loop, so that I could wait in line at Starbucks for 6.45 minutes, so I could walk to my building where I go through security to take the elevator up 25 floors, to go through security again, to change out of my shoes into my other shoes, and take my laptop out of the secure cabinet, and.... sit. I am tired just thinking about it. (And, did I mention it is a 30-40 minute round trip to Target?!)

By comparison, it took me 2 minutes to drive to high school. 2 minutes!

But, I digress...

How do we change our circumstance? I am honestly asking you. Is there a magical place where your commute is 10 minutes and your evenings begin at 5? (No, really begin.)

Boys!

2007-07-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Listen up, boy! I am fixin' to go on a tear.

Last night my lovely, delightful, smart, gorgeous, funny best friend came up for dinner. And, as she told her latest tale of boy-dumbness, I found myself hating boys.

Now, for the record, I don't mean the sweet, endearing helpful kind - like my husband, and brother-in-law and my friends (some of them) .

What I mean, is the kind of guy that thinks is it totally cool to not have a salary at 26. The kind of guy who thinks it is really funny to be demeaning towards women. The kind of guy that considers beer more important than being sober while giving his vows.

There are some things I can forgive. For instance, always throwing your clothes 8 inches from the laundry basket... that I can forgive. But, telling someone who is a SIZE 2 that he "likes bigger girls," is a shit thing to do. Allowing your parents to make fun of your girlfriend, not ok. Saying you can't come to Christmas because you are on call and having dinner with another girl, deplorable.

But... what is a girl to do?! We are raised to be attracted to exciting men. And men who put the clothes all the way in the basket... well... they aren't that exciting.

But, exciting only gets you so far. All highs, come with lows. And lows equal ass holes! The guy that tries to take you home from the bar when you are three drinks in... he's not "the one!"
Marriage is a blessing, but it is hard work. It is not romance and candles every day. It is the steady, thoughtful consistency of life. So you need to pick someone that you want to be your friend for a very long time.

So, I beg you mothers... raise your sons well (we'll get to daughters another day - I need more time). Teach them to be kind and self-sufficient. Teach them to be considerate and aware. And, most importantly, teach them to put their damn boxers in the hamper.

(You are worth it!)

What do you hate most about boys?
What do you looovvee most about boys?
DISH, ladies!

Read it!

2007-07-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know... I am a reader. I love a good book. My current job requires me to take a train for 30 minutes into and out of the city each day. This hour is officially dedicated to reading. Over the past seven months, I have read a lot of books.

I also do not believe in the library. Not because I don't love libraries - I do. But because, I am really hard on books. I like to break in the spine every few pages. I am also notorious for not returning books on time.

Because of all of the reading and the lack of library visits (and the fact that my husband is also a reader), we have a lot of books. So if I peak your interest and you are lucky enough to live near me, swing by and borrow a few.

Because I fear this looks a lot like a best sellers list, I will keep my descriptions brief (you can read better ones on Amazon by clicking on the titles). Here are my current favorites (and a few I've always loved).

The Time Traveler's Wife
Audre Niffenegger
This is my new favorite book. It is a stunning story. I won't spoil any of it - but it is wonderfully written, touching and required a box of tissues (in a good way).

The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls
This book is a memoir, but you would never know it. (In case you are a non-fiction-aphobe, like me.) In fact, I didn't until I finished it and noticed the cover said "a memoir."

The Reader

Bernhard Schlink
This is a book you will dwell on. I read it in high school and it is still at the top of my list. It makes you think long and hard about what is right and wrong.

Twilight

Stephanie Meyers

Ok... so I know this is a vampire book. Which immediately makes me hate myself for reading it. But this is a great book. I couldn't put it down. I read all 500 pages in 4 days. READ IT (with garlic).

Nineteen Minutes
Jodi Picoult
This is a very difficult book to read, as it is about a school shooting. This book is particularly troubling becuase by the end a part of you completely understands why he did it.

The Pilot's Wife
Anita Shreve
This book immediately has two strikes against it - one of the original Oprah's books and an unsuccessful prime time mini-movie. Give it a chance, and I am sure it will not let you down.

Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen

I read this on the advice of a co-worker. It didn't disappoint. A lot of what I read is about the extremes of life. This book, on the other hand, felt good. The book's main character, a man of 90'ish, reminded me of my grandfather and his great adventures.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Kim Edwards

What if...? This is a book that will keep you questioning one of life's great questions - what would I do if my child is not perfect. It is a very honest look at the choice one father makes and the life-long consequences.

What's your favorite book?
And, what should I read next?

it could be worse...

2007-07-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been down in the dumps.

In general, my life is pretty good. I have a wonderful husband. We have good jobs. We have a nice home. We have two adorable cats. We surround ourselves with interesting, funny, kind people (when possible).

But, some days, I have one of those days. The days were nothing seems right. When my lawn is brown and the cat just puked. Did he forget to take out the trash? Did I just lock myself out of the house? And, there goes the train....

These are the days when I say "shit" a lot under my breath.

You have enough of these days in a row and things start to look a little grim. And then, let's be honest folks, I have a miniature breakdown. Now as all great women know, this is a personal experience.

My best friend in college used to hyperventilate before finals week.

My mother went after depression with a can of frosting and a nasty letter (you didn't want to be on the receiving end of one of those letters).

I, well.... I am a crier.. a sobber... some might just call it blubbering...

I am not a quiet sniffler. I like people to notice me. "Hey! Over here! I AM HAVING AN EMOTION RIGHT NOW!!!"

And then just as quickly as it came on, it is over. And, as my husband ever so patiently reminds me, "it could be worse. You have made it through worse. You will make it through worse. So buck up, little buddy." (If you are wondering, he does in fact call me "little buddy.")

So as I sit here today contemplating my life, and all of the things I want and the things I wish I hadn't lost, I am reminded that things are not so bad. There is a cat on my lap purring softly. I will receive a kiss and a thank you for the pizza I will "make" for dinner. We have a weekend full of friends ahead of us. And, did I mention, my tomatoes are growing.

C'est le vie.

Share your melt-down style.
Too happy to melt-down? Tell us why.
(And, don't be shy, everyone should post more!!!)

Oh baby, baby!

2007-07-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to one of my favorite bloggers... see here... I am once again pondering the question of babies.

Oh fine... you've got me... I never stop thinking about babies - the adorable leg rolls, the sweet powder smell, the weight of a sleeping darling in your arms, the smiles and the giggles and....

Oh, right... reality - the diapers, the complete consumption, the sleeping (lack, that is), the weight, the mess, the fevers...

Here's the honest truth. I think I will be a pretty good mother. Not because I love children (which I do), or because I take great join in caring for others (which I do), or because I come from very good parenting stock (which I do). I think I will be a good parent for a completely unromantic reason. I love a good challenge. I at my best when tested. I love working really hard at important things and coming up with creative solutions. And, lord knows, if parenting is not the greatest life challenge that tests one's strength and demands creativity, I don't know what is.

And so, though I am still years from a baby, I think a lot about what it means to be a mom. I listen to my friends who are just starting to have little ones of their own. What are the trials. What are the tribulations. What works. What doesn't. I question my husband endlessly... What do you think about private schools? Breast feeding? Bike helmets? TV? Chores? Chores with allowance? Boyfriends? Drugs? College savings? Discipline? Nutrition? Booster seats for teenagers? (Anyone else think that law has gotten out of hand? I mean, it's a damn miracle we didn't all just fly out of the window while driving to Wal-Mart!!!)

Are you exhausted? I am. And, I am scared! What if I fuck up? Because ladies and gents, if there is one thing I believe with all of my heart, it is that children learn. They learn and learn and learn. Screwed up choices create screwed up children. You find a child who hits - I would put money on a parent who hits.

But, the problem is, we all know it is not always that obvious. One of the mothers I admire most talks a lot about accidental parenting. It basically boils down to this... Mom and Dad, when you feed your child the french fries and ranch they want every night, you are not only teaching your child how to get fat (very quickly), but also that they are in charge. I want us to wake up and pay attention to our children.

If you are not ready to parent - DON'T! Take down your "child at play" sign and go play on the swings with your kids. Turn off the tv and read your child a book or check their homework. Say no to the Nemo fruit roll-ups (unless they are also for your husband) and tell your kids to eat their peas.

So when will I be ready to parent? Not now. I like my life. I like being selfish. And, I think that is just fine. I also hope that in 4 or 5 or 6 (but then I am hitting 30... eek) years, it just happens. That I can make my husband a meal of baby shrimp and carrots like Becky did for Jesse.

Share your baby stories... Or, motherly wisdom... Or, parenting pet peeves...

Lost blogger, found alive!

2007-07-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

For my loyal readers - I apologize. It has been too long. This month has been packed full of weddings and travel and work, on my! But, at last, as the holiday is upon us, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Though I have many stories and opinions to hare, I can't help but wonder what all of you want me to talk about.

"What happened to Monday Meals?" I hear someone yelling from the wings.

"Didn't you used to be witty?" under the breath of another.

Alas, all I can do tonight is promise you what is to come. In the next seven days, I am committed to posting four times. Unless I receive a recommendation from the crowd (Crowd: please send recommendations), I will write on the following topics:

"A Woman's Endless Struggle" or "A shoe for every occasion"
"Oh Say Can You See... fireworks, Tania Treats, and the (above ground) pool party"
"A Wedding Remember (or forget)." Stories from this summer's matrimonial adventures and my personal opinion on all things frilly.
"Baby Crazy" or "My inner struggle against all-thing-snuggly and my-fabulously-selfish life"

Cast your votes today and stay tuned!

Vrroooooommm

2007-06-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

I spent this past weekend in Indianapolis at the Indiana Motor Speedway. This was my first trip to a big-time race track, and I expected what many of you might also think of... tube tops, bleached hair, cigarettes?

I was totally wrong! This is not NASCAR, my friends. This is F1. This is where every European (and Brazilian) flocks during each summer. This is where the fans sip from personal-size wine bottles while snacking on their prosciutto-wrapped asparagus (yes, both of these groups were sitting around us). This is where I can wear my new super cool hat, root for my hottie Hamilton, and sit in awe of these cars. (But, I still hate people that talk about cars all of the time. Feel free to hate me right now.)

Let me share a few of the reasons I love this sport.

1) My hubbie loves that I love it. There is something really wonderful about a sport that only comes to the US once each year. That means I get to enjoy F1 cuddled with my husband and two cats on the sofa.

2) Did you see my sweet new hat?

3) Nice-car. These cars are made to fly. The go so fast that the FIA (I don't know what that stands for, but it is like the principals office for F1) has made rules to slow down the cars. The cars are made to shatter upon impact, while protecting the driver. Last week this guy (see picture) slammed into a wall at 200 mph, and walked away with a sprained ankle. These cars are pretty awesome.

4) The Europeans love it.... that means it is posh, right?!

5) Lewis Hamilton is actually good! At the end of last year, I decided to root for the incoming rookie. Hamilton is a 22 year old English driver who has managed to set new records every week. He has been on the podium in every race and has won the last two. He is cute and well spoken and the boy can race. Here is a picture as he came in to the pits after winning this weekend.

I guess what I am trying to say, is that as long as I can be a pretentious race car fan... then I say vrroooooooom!

There's no place like home...

2007-06-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, Dorothy wasn't too far off. There is something about home that cannot be tainted. I spent the majority of my youth thinking about all of the places I would want to live. None was ever Central Illinois. But lately, a lot of people have been reminiscing about home. It seems it is catching.

For those of you who know little about Central Illinois (which is in fact 100 miles SOUTH of 1-80, Chicago!), it is farm country. Space and corn are plentiful. People enjoy life a little more and are a bit kinder. Men drive diesel trucks and everyone's uncle works for State Farm or Caterpillar.

Ok, so maybe I made it sound like a modern-day Little House on the Prairie, but we do have malls and good universities and these new-fangled things called "TV’s."

Here is the short, off-the-top-of-my-head list of the things I miss most:

I miss bonfires. The lazy conversations that happen around burnt marshmallows. The way everyone slowly gets closer and closer together as we scoot towards the dwindling fire.

I miss my brother-in-law. His strange house in the all-black neighborhood, where all of the little kids thought he and my husband were gay buddies who rode their bikes all the time. I miss his wit and sense of humor. I miss the way simply being together makes he and my husband relax.

I miss tomatoes. (Yes, I know, get off your high horse, Ann!) I tell you the tomatoes in Central Illinois are so good and big and red and.... well, all I can say is, the bacon and lettuce never saw it coming.

I miss comfort. I miss a cup of tea at a good friends house, where there is not a thing to do but catch up for hours. I will of course see them again in three days - rather than three months.

I miss driving to the store. I know this sounds like a novel idea when you live somewhere like Chicago. But it my home town you can get to the grocery store and home in 30 minutes. And, I don't just mean that it takes 30 minutes to get there. "I'll be back in 10" really does mean 10.

I miss the U of I. Champaign-Urbana is a really fun place. It is a community full of students, and grad students and PhD students. With this diverse group of (sometimes) highly-intellectual people, comes a great community of arts and food and nightlife!

I miss silly local festivals. In Chicago, there is always something to do… The Jazz Fest, Taste of Chicago, Old Town Festival. All of these are exciting opportunities to experience culture in the Windy City. But, what I love is a good corn dog and a demolition derby. There is nothing quite like my hometown’s Railsplitter Festival (as in, Abraham Lincoln used to split rails) and the town’s corresponding watermelon car (Lincoln christened the town with a watermelon, in case you were wondering).

I miss thunderstorms. You can actually see the clouds roll in across the fields. In the late spring and summer, the air gets heavy and smells like rain. Even as adults, we all count in our heads - one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand... - to measure the distance between lightning and thunder. And in the morning, the school yard is full of boys chasing girls with worms that were washed out of the rich earth and on to the pavement.

I guess what I am saying, is that I miss home, and all of the things and place and people that make it where my heart is.

What is your favorite thing about home?

Cat bath

2007-06-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

I want to start this post, by giving myself a pat on the back. I started my blog six weeks and 14 posts ago, and this is my first mention of my cats. For those of you who are avid readers, but do not know me personally, I have two cats, Tulip (or Touhy) and Randolph, who I am crazy about.

But being from my family, even a sane trend must come to an end. And so... today I would like to share last night's adventure.... the cat baths!

(At this point, I also feel the need to assure you that I am not a 350-pound, middle-aged, nearly-bald, pork-rind-loving, wears-one-pair-of-glasses-on-her-head-and-another-on-her-face, smells-like-a-cat person.)

About once every 6 months, my husband and I get this crazy idea that we need to give the cats a bath. By now, we have a system which involves a shut bathroom door, a large plastic cup, some horrible smelling shampoo, and a lot of prayer. There is only one guarantee. By the end of the night I will be soaked, my husband will be scratched, and no one will be happy.

We moved into a lovely townhouse in February that seemed to have everything. Everything except.... a bathroom door. This, of course, being one of the keys to a successful cat bath.

I will spare you the scratching and meowing and franticness of it all, and leave you with these two very pathetic cats. (Who are now soft and fluffy and clean.)

Share a story about the pets you love...

6.5 Monday Meals (on Tuesday) - Picnic Picks

2007-06-05T16:04:00.000-07:00

I know that it is Tuesday, but I would feel bad skipping two weeks in a row. I was traveling yesterday, and I apologize for my late arrival.

Summer is officially here. (Unless you live in Chicago where it is 50 today.) In the spirit of cook-out love, I am going to share TWO picnic-perfect recipes with you this week to make up for last week's hiatus. Alas, I am only up for one pro-tip. (I know, some pro I am!)

6.5 Pro Tip
Broil it!

I think that broiling is highly underrated. Want to toast a perfect hamburger bun? Cook some brats to a crispy (yet juicy) perfection? Want to make a delicious, cheesy crust on your baked pasta? DONE! I am not sure why so many people don't use their broiler, but I highly recommend it.

Step 1: pick the right setting. Most broilers have two or three settings - high, medium and low. (Don't you wish Starbucks was that easy?!) Think of your broiler like a grill, the closer you are to the flame, the faster things will cook. Don't use the "high" setting for foods that burn easily - like that bun.

Step 2: watch out. Keep an eye on whatever you are cooking - you don't want your lasagna to be black.

Step 3: show some crack. Cracking the oven door does two things: 1) it keeps the flame going to maintain the oven temperature and 2) it makes it a lot easier for you to follow step number two.

6.5 Recipe(s)
German Potato Salad

8 red potatoes, quartered
5-6 sliced of bacon
1 tbs. dijon mustard
3 tbs. apple cider vinegar
3 green onions, sliced
salt and pepper

Clean and quarter potatoes
Add to cold water and bring to a boil
When fork tender, drain and set aside
Slice bacon into small pieces, cook in a large skillet
In a small bowl whisk mustard and vinegar
When bacon is crispy, add cooked potatoes and toss in bacon
Add vinegar mixture and green onions to pan
Toss and serve warm

Tunie's Slaw (my southern grandmother's famous slaw)

1 package cole slaw mix
2 tbs. sunflower seeds
4-6 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tbs. dijon mustard
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Thinly slice green onions - whites and greens
Combine in a large bowl with slaw mix and sunflower seeds
In a separate bowl mix together mustard, sugar, and vinegar
Slowly add olive oil to emulsify
Add salt and pepper to dressing to taste
Slowly add vinaigrette to slaw mixture - may not need all
Allow to sit for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Airports Suck

2007-05-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my post-dated entry. I started this when I was traveling to Denver for business last week. I have been saving it to finish up, but decided my wrap up was just right. I hope you enjoy and share your airport woes.

As I sit waiting for my (late) flight to board, the baby in the next aisle starts screaming, causing a chain reaction of wailing toddler, to baby, to baby.... my head hurts. I am thrilled when I realize I get to spend the next three hours with the hundred or so people around me crammed into a can that is magically staying afloat thousands of feet above land.

This flight - the one that I am currently waiting for - is a last minute trip to Denver. "Who goes to Denver on a Tuesday?" you may ask. Well, everyone. I got the last ticket on an overpriced flight. I am in seat 16E. That is smack in the middle - in the middle seat - on a flight 10 minutes shy of getting the movie. I promise, there is an upside. Oh no wait, they didn't even sell me that lovely boxed meal.

I have officially made my trip from the airport to the hotel to the conference room and back to the airport where I am now waiting.

I am waiting for my flight, which is now officially 3 hours behind schedule. I understand that snow can fall in May. It's a perfectly normal thing. I am in no real hurry to get on this three hour flight (plus I lose an hour) because it's only 7:30.

Though I might be overly exaggerating the pleasantries, I can share with you the exact reason I am in such a foul mood. I want a McChicken Sandwich. This is the conversation I just had with the McDonald's guy that put me there:

Me: Do you have the dollar menu McChicken sandwich?
McD guy: No. We don't have a dollar menu.
Me: That's fine, but can I get the McChicken. The one with lettuce and too much mayo that is usually on the dollar menu.
McD guy: You mean the spicy chicken sandwich?
Me: No. Can I just order a chicken sandwich with lettuce and mayo.

Three minutes later I am sitting by my gate, and I gleefully pull my sandwich out of the bag. WTF!

Now if it weren't for the noticeable, greasy fingerprints all over the sandwich box, I might have just sucked it up. But as it was, I threw the box in the trashed and proceeded back to the McDonald's counter.

Me: It wasn't what I wanted. Can I just get a 6-piece chicken McNuggets?
McD guy: We don't have the 6-piece here, only 10.
Me: That would be super!

Share your airport horror stories...

Can't we all just be nice

2007-05-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. The Golden Rule is an adage we all know. One that was taught to us by our mothers, and to them by their mothers, and so on. Yet, in today's busy world, we often lose site of this simple idea.

Granted, my perception is a bit skewed. Like millions of others, I am a "professional." Professionals (for the most part) are a group of individuals who are self-motivated, highly driven, narcissists who are paid way too much money to almost tell someone else something of possible value. (Just not enough value that we might get sued.) Seems a little harsh? Let's look at the obvious players - we have your lawyers, consultants, and we mustn’t forget the accountants. We are a group of people who work long hours and are over taxed. And so, it is not surprising that each day I find myself looking at my surroundings and thinking, "Can’t we all just be nice?"

I will also admit that women are a self-destructive bunch. We feed off of each other, laugh at the meanest of stories, and often gang up on those who are innocent. I find that I like myself a great deal more when I avoid this trap (see "That Girl" entry).

A few weeks ago, it was raining as I was walking into work. A woman came running down the side walk, clearly late for something very important. Her umbrella collided with that of other woman, as she ran passed. Still moving forward, she turned and offered a quick apology to the person she had bumped. And in return, she received a lovely morning greeting, "Why don't you watch where you are f*^&ing going!"

Is there something more rewarding about yelling expletives rather than saying, "that's ok"? Is there something endearing about a person who makes fun of their friends? Is there something more exciting about making fun of someone's muffin top, than talking about their lovely weekend or their great new shoes? And, even if making fun of some one seems like a good time (which, let's face it, it can be), what do we gain from being so negative?

I read a sign today that said, "If a guy is nice to you, but mean to the waiter, he's not a nice guy."

I think this is true for all people. We need to stop excusing the darkest things we do in life because we look at the sum of our actions, rather than the parts.

Here is my charge. Think of those things that make you most upset - when someone honks at you, when the lady at the grocery store is mean to the check out boy, when someone whispers about a coworker in the cube next to you - and don't do those things.

Do unto others.... well, you know how it goes.

5.21 Monday Meals - Tomato Soup

2007-05-20T19:24:00.001-07:00

This week's Monday Meals' recipe is for Tomato Soup. The fist time I had really good tomato soup was 6 years ago in New York, and I have been working on finding its duplicate ever sense. Tomato soup (with the complimentary grilled cheese) holds a special place for each of us, and I hope this recipe becomes on of your favorites.

Try this recipe with a grilled cheese made with extra sharp cheddar and a little dijon, some southwest cornbread, or slices of baguette toasted with a little goat cheese - and show Campbell's how it's really done!

5.21 Pro Tip
Chop it on Sunday.
If you are a foody obsessed with the Food Network, you know who Robin Miller is. If she annoys you to no end, you can automatically be my friend. However, if there is one thing Robyn can teach us all it is to prep in advance. I am BUSY. Every weekend I make a list of the week's meals and head to the store. When I know I am going to have a particularly busy week, I prep all of my fresh ingredients in advance. I may take and hour to trim the chicken, dice three onions, and rinse half-a-dozen other assorted veggies, but I am much more likely to make a healthy, homemade meal when I get home from work during the week, when most of the work is already done.

5.21 Recipe
Tomato Soup

1 sweet onion
4-5 gloves of garlic
Large can of whole tomatoes
1/4 tsp. red pepper flake
1 can low sodium chicken stock
1 cup milk (2% or whole)
Bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste

Roast in 400 degree oven until caramelized (about 10 minutes)
Add a small amount of oil to the bottom of a soup pot
Finely dice the onion and cook until caramelized
Add tomatoes and garlic
Season with salt and pepper
Add stock, water, and bay leaf
Simmer for approximately 20 minutes of until liquid is half gone
Remove bay leaf
Puree in food processor or with immersion blender
Carefully add milk, stirring constantly to keep from curdling
Serve with your favorite side(s)

Into the door...

2007-05-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Today, I walked to the bathroom in my office. On autopilot, I put out my hand to push the door handle down, allowing me entrance. Alas, my hand was 1-inch to the right; I simply grazed the handle and walked face-first into the big heavy door.

I have trouble with doors. I collide with them frequently. Not because I am not the sharpest tool in the box (note to husband - keep mouth shut), but because no one can make a door that works. Or a handle that is intuitive. Or a label that is helpful.

Adam Carolla - famed host and comedian - feels my pain. A few years ago, he pointed out that "Push" and "Pull" are very similar words. If you simply glance their way, you will find yourself failing to get the door open. His advice, which I completely subscribe to, is that all doors should labeled "Shove" and "Yank". (For future reference, when your boss is struggling to push a door open, don't say, "It's a yank.")

There are the doors with sensors. At the grocery store the other night, I found myself (once again) with my face smashed into the glass. Listen sensor! If you are only going to open the door a third of the way and then stop, why bother at all?!

In my very fancy, Loop building we have a central bay of elevators that is separated from the office by a set of floor-to-ceiling glass doors on either side. To get from the elevator to your desk you swipe our little card, wait for the beep, and enter within 5 seconds. Things can be a little trickier on the way out. The doors have a motion sensor on the ceiling that "knows" when someone is coming and unlocks the doors. However, at least once a day, you hear a muffled curse as the sensor fails and someone walks directly into the door. After my first run-in (pun intended), I spent the next week approaching slowly and waiting for the small green light above the doors to allow me through. As if with a sick sense of humor, the first day I forgot to check - SMACK!

I also find bathroom stall doors challenging. (For the males in the audience - Yes, we have doors AND stalls.) Particularly in airports. Would it kill you to make a door that swings out? I am a small gal, and even I have trouble maneuvering around the door, smashing myself into the toilet, sucking in, shutting the door, and repeating the process on the way out. Try this with a roller bag or a baby.... forget it!

Do not get me started on screen doors. I know that I am not the only one that has ended up on top of the door face-down on the patio. I had a dog once that ran into a screen at full-speed. From that day on, he would bark at the door and approach with caution only when forced.

I beg you door makers, work it out. Make me a door that knows when I am there, opens both ways, and, above all, stops flattening my nose.

Share a story about a recent (good or bad) experience you had with a door.

_______________ ,

2007-05-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend,

Thank you for reading my blog.

~~Love,~~
Sincerely,
Best,

Ann

A dozen times each day, I get to the end of an email and think, "What now?!"

I am a communicator - I love to talk, write, read (I am working on the listening) - and so I struggle to find the right expression to send my readers off with the proper sentiment.

What do you say to a friend that you adore, but aren't ready for "Love,"? What do you say to a business associate that is also a friend? And, if you can't come up with something clever, should you just leave your name off too?!

For example, you can't write:
Dear John,
Thanks for letting me borrow that screwdriver.
XOXO,
Ann
(or can you?)

When does it become inappropriate for a 25-year-old to say things like "Toodles" or "Kisses" or "Later Alligator"? (Answer: never)

And, don't get me started about business emails. I almost always default to the safest bet:
Thanks,
Ann
(Thanks for what?!)

Somehow, saying hello seems easier, but still not ideal. "Dear," really is tried and true. "Hi!" seems to be in fashion, but it's definitely not the new black.

In a world of short and concise, what happened to taking some time to say hello and goodbye?

So, until next time...

First Ever - Monday Meals

2007-05-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

By popular demand, I am going to start a weekly post called Monday Meals. As many of you know, I love to cook. I try to cook a homemade dinner every night of the week. Not because I have a desire to one-up Martha, but because I honestly find it relaxing.

For those of you that start to have heart palpitations when the meal is more complicated than frozen veggies, I assure you, I wasn't always this way.

To help ease you in, each Monday I am going to share an Ann pro-tip and a recipe. Help me out by trying the recipe and sharing your thoughts. Or, if the thought of cooking is just too daunting, share your comments if I have made the meal for you. Or, feel free to request recipes for future Monday Meals.

Enjoy!

5.14 Protip
Buy a big knife!
For those of you who don't own a big, scary knife. I PROMISE it will make cooking safer and easier. The less effort it takes to cut a tomato (or produce of your choice), the less likely you are to have a knife slip and end up in your finger!

5.14 Recipe
Pasta Primavera
1 Medium Sweet Onion
1 Sweet Bell Pepper
1 Cup Sliced Mushrooms
2 Clove of Garlic
3 Tbs. Flat-leaf Parsley
2 Chicken Breasts
1 Cup Fresh Parmesan (finely grated)
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup (small) Heavy Cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) Butter
4 Tablespoons Flour
1 lb. (1 box) of Pasta

Preheat broiler (or oven to 450).
Lightly toss Chicken in olive oil and season liberally with Salt & Pepper.
Broil/bake chicken for about 15 minutes, turning once.
Cook pasta in salted water.
Slice the Onion, Pepper, and Mushrooms and saute in olive oil or butter.
Finely chop of press garlic and add to vegetables. Salt & Pepper to taste.
In a separate sauce pan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour.
Allow to cook until pale brown (this is a rue).
Slowly whisk in the Milk & Cream, incorporating all of the rue.
Allow the mixture to come to a simmer and thicken.
Whisk in the cheese until completely melted.
Season with Salt, Pepper, and Parsley.
Slice Chicken and toss with vegetables and pasta.

Click to view and print the recipe card.

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

As anyone who has lost someone knows, it is not always the day you expect to be sad that hits the hardest. The anniversary of my Mother's death comes and goes, but for whatever reason, this day is a bit harder.

Today, I would like to celebrate all things Kathie and share the little things I love best about my mom.

She could dance. She didn't do it often, but every once in a while, you would catch her grooving around the house to a song playing in her head. I never asked what the song was, for fear that she would say "Elvis" or "The Beach Boys."

She loved pink. Our house was always decorated in "shades of taupe." To be honest, I think she wanted every throw pillow to be fuchsia, but didn't have the nerve. One weekend during college, I came home from a visit to find the kitchen had been painted pepto-pink.

She could bake. Lord, could this women make a pie. She helped put herself through college by winning 4H competitions. When asked what they wanted as a birthday
gift, her friends would always answer, "Coconut Cream"
or "Pecan" or "Blackberry Pie."

She loved T.J. Maxx. We are not talking liked or occasionally made a trip. She would often say things like, "Oh, that lamps is new. I wonder when it came in?" I spent HOURS
hating this place as a child.
(Now, I can't get a enough!)

She teased her hair. She teased it every day. I think she came out of the womb with a plastic comb in one hand and hair spray in the other. ONLY because she grew up in the near-South in the 60s will we forgive her for this.

She was a beautiful friend. My mother firmly believed that family had nothing to do with blood and everything to do with love.

She was my mother. And an amazing one at that.

So today, I say "Happy Day, Mom. I hope each and every day that I will someday be half the person you were. That I will open my life and my heart to those around me. That I will embrace life, even in the face of death. And that above all else, I will be the mother that you showed me how to be. I love you."

Share your favorite memory of Kathie or Mother's Day.

Here we go...

2007-05-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I attended a lunch for "Women Employed," a philanthropy dedicated to equal working rights for low-income women. The key note speaker was John Edwards. As I read my bulletin over lunch, preparing for the Senator’s arrival, I found myself thinking, "Here we go."

I LOVE election year. I love a good issue or debate. I love trying to one-up someone with my political wit. This year, however, I am excited for change. It is not that I think President Bush is a bad person. I think he is a bad president. In fact, I think he is an incompetent president. I think he has become so narrowly focused on the war that he has left the rest of the country and its issues behind.

Now, I know this is the point when many of you scurry away, but I promise, my Bush rant is complete.

I knew (and still know) very little about Sen. John Edwards. I knew that I will agree with him on some things. I knew that I feel compassion about his wife's illness (and I worry it will overshadow the real issues of his campaign). And, I knew that he's not too hard on the eyes. What I didn't know, was that I would leave my "working" lunch with a nagging feeling that just would not go away. So, here we go...

Poverty is an issue that is near and dear to the Senator's heart (a.k.a. platform). He spent the majority of his speech outlining ways that we can reduce poverty in America. These were practical, well-reasoned changes - create "stepping-stone" jobs, raise the minimum wage, stop the segregation of poverty by creating mass, low income housing. No American should wake up in the morning and choose to feed their child or pay for gas to go to work. (And, let's be honest, how much longer can any of us afford to pay for fuel? But, that is a topic for another day).

Now, I know it is not a shocker to anyone that I agree with these issues, as I am blue, blue, blue. I am from a small town were people live from pay check to pay check. My mother was the recipient of years of public aid - without which she would not have lived as long or died as well.

But, I also believe in responsibility. What is the old adage? "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." A Rush Hannity favorite. (They're the same person, right?) The problem is, you have to learn responsibility - from parents, from teachers, from society, from higher education. And, all of these things are failing because all of them require someone to be responsible in the first place.

So you decide - did we fry the chicken or scramble the egg?!

In conclusion, (my 4th grade English teacher would be proud) I don't know who I will vote for. I like a lot of people. I like what a lot of people have to say. Including myself. And, with that, I hope you enjoyed this little soap box moment.

What do you think is the greatest "political" issue today?

Who do you like and why?

What issue do you care most about?

THAT woman

2007-05-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, I remember thinking "I wish I were a boy, it's a lot easier." Years later, I find myself thinking the same thing. Do you know why..... because of other non-boys.

What is it with THAT woman?!

You know who she is.
She cuts you off in the parking lot and then gives you a dirty look.
She gets jealous that you are your husband are happy.
She makes up things about people at work.
She is not nice to be around.
She is not nice.
And, one of her is everywhere.

In High School this was always the girl with too much black eyeliner that always had something bad to say about everyone. In college, it was the person who was notorious for stealing boyfriends. Now, as an "adult" she could be your boss or your coworker. (She could be both.)

When I run into one of her. I first try to be nice. Then, once I feel wounded, I get upset. Usually, this progresses to anger and a moderate level of her-bashing. At which point, I feel like I am just as bad and start to question if it is just me. I top it all off with a short whinefest and a bowl of ice cream. (My husband says there is a squeasel in my brain!)

It is a bad day when you get stuck in stage three: bashing. Past down through generations, this is what we women are best at.

In honor of this post, I am proclaiming that I will be a nicer more welcoming person for at least one week. I will learn from others. And, if that too fails, I will share all of my juicy stories about her next week!

To make sure I still get my fix, share your woes about THAT women or advice for dealing with her.

A garden of love

2007-05-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

Pictures as promised of my little paradise...

Paperland

2007-05-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

Falling through the rabbit hole into wonderland means one thing to me.... a paper store.

Fancy cards tied in a satin ribbon and packed in a delightful little box are the things (my) dreams are made of.

So today... let's talk paper! (and my paper picks)

First...
I first remember falling in love with colorful sheets of cotton stationery at a gift shop in Carbondale, Illinois - Kaleidoscope. As part of our all day shopping adventures, my mother used to drag me here to look at the unique gifts and hand-made jewelry. However, on one trip I found a little shelf in the back of the store. Each shelf contained a different color of decorative paper and matching envelopes. If you are ever visiting SIU, I recommend a visit.

Best...
You can find the country's favorite stationery right here in Chicago. Crane & Co. is the oldest paper company in the United States. Paul Revere engraved banknotes for the Colony of Massachusetts on Crane paper to help finance the American Revolution. Today, U.S. currency is still printed on this fabulous stock. Though it can be a bit pricey, they now make a fabulous line of "Imprintables" that promise to give you flawless invitations regardless of your printer's quality. Visit the Crane & Co. store at Watertower Place on Chicago's Magnificent Mile.

Funnest...
"Create something every day" is the motto of my next company. I love (LOVE) this store. Don't believe me? Go in and ask to pull up my account. "Which one?" they will ask. I have three. You should find a Paper Source near you and spend too much money there.

Really-wanna-make-something...
Though, you cannot walk into this paper store (unless you live in southern CA) you should check it out. If you are in the market for wedding invitations, announcements, or some really awesome paper, Envelopments is the company for you. And, if looking at these two-dimensional pictures makes you think "I have to have those cloud nine portable pockets!" talk at me.... I know people.

Needa-crapload-of-envelopes-for-pennies....
This may not be the fanciest paper, but it is cheap. Envelope Mall (which sells a lot more than envelopes) keeps prices low by selling only bulk stationery. Again, they don't have a store front to wonder through, but they are located in Chicago which means GROUND = NEXT DAY AIR!

I-don't-really-need-it-but-I-want-it...
Finally, if you want a little shop full of fancy cards tied in a satin ribbon and packed in a delightful little boxes, spend the afternoon in this little Old Town jewel. Pulp & Ink certainly doesn't have a lot of things I "need," but there might be a few things I end up with.

So I beg you... close your email (not this page) and write a note to someone you love (on your fanciest, deckle-edge cards with matching vellum envelopes).

Then, share a story about your favorite invitation, card, or box of notes....

Green Thumb (in a cute pair of gloves)

2007-05-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

Once when I was younger, I said to a family friend, "I don't want a yard. If I have a yard, I want someone who comes and takes care of it for me."

Things have changed.

Now in what I am told is called the "nesting period" of my life - I want a house with a yard and a garden. I want to grown tomatoes and roses and take pride in stepping stones.

I come from a long line of gardeners. My grandmother was president of her gardening club. There were always fresh flowers in her home from her yard (or across the street).

In February, we moved into a townhouse with a small yard. And, I decided to test my green thumb.

First thing's first.... a trip to Target.

Hum.... what do I need. Ahh yes, I pair of gardening gloves. Cute ones. And, a matching kneeling pad. The little shovel is cute. Of course, the bag to match the gloves. I decided on a pair of yellow and white polka-dot gloves, and yellow and white flower bag, and a yellow kneeling bad.

The hat proved to be too important a decision for my first trip and will require some additional shopping.

What?! You can't be expected to garden without the proper equipment.

Next... What to grow?

I am from Central Illinois or "literally the corn," as I often say. In my hometown you can get the best, fresh, ripe tomatoes. In fact, you can get them in all of the neighboring communities and cities. I now live in Chicago - a mere 150 miles (or 2.5 hours) away. I cannot find a good tomato ANYWHERE! And, I don't understand.... you can fly them in from El Salvador, but you cannot drive 2 hours?

But, I digress.... First on the list: TOMATOES, then flower, then pots of flowers.

Third... somewhere to sit to enjoy the flowers.

Ladies and gentlemen, patio furniture is expensive. I mean "a new leather sofa" expensive. And, so I am proud to announce that I made my own. I had an old wooden table in storage. My brother-in-law drilled a hole in the middle of the top for me. Next, I stripped the old paint and applied outdoor paint. A trip to IKEA to buy some cheap chairs and an umbrella, and the set was complete.

Fourth... trip to garden center.

Note: do not go to the Home Depot at the Glen garden center on the first nice Sunday afternoon of spring. (Note to my note: I would avoid Home Depot at the Glen at all times, if possible.)

Note: do not wear nice or white clothing to the garden center. Bags of dirt are, well, dirty. (Note to my note: Thank you Clorox!)

Note: if you think you need 20 edging stones, you need 50. (Note to my note: If you are coming over in the near future, I apologize for my stupid looking edging stones.)

Finally... plant garden.

The tomatoes and potted flowers are in. The flats of multi-colored petunias and pansies and inpatients are waiting patiently for attention. Tomorrow night?

I promise a pictures once the yard is complete. And, if I fail, at least I have earned a good manicure!

The Chocolate City

2007-04-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

The "Loop" is the heart of Chicago and the second largest business district in United States. Named for the original, circular streetcar route, it is home to the first skyscraper, the Sears Tower, great shopping, majestic theatres, and, most importantly, professional service firms and centers of commerce galore. Walk out of Ogilvy Transportation on any weekday morning, and you will be herded like khaki-wearing cattle across the Chicago River and into some feat of engineering.

However, things are not all about steel and bottom lines. On days when things are "just so" and there is a pleasant breeze off of the lake, the most delightful transformation happens. Though beautiful and inviting, it is not the sun reflecting off of the sky scrappers; or the children giggling in the Millennium Park fountains; or the bucket drummer playing his Friday anthem on the bridge next to the opera house. Rather, it is the scent that fills the air.

Each day, when I leave work, I ride the elevator down 25 stories to the atrium. I hustle to the door, step outside, and take a big, deep breath of fresh air. One day, not too long ago, I inhaled deeply and thought, "What is that? What am I smelling? It's.... it's.... chocolate chip cookies!"

After a bit of research, I discovered that a chocolate company (yes, like Charlie... but no scary green men) has it's factory on the north-west corner of the Loop. Bloomer Chocolate even drew the attention of the EPA, when a west-loop resident was concerned about the levels of cocoa powder being released into the air (clearly, this individual did not get enough love as a child).

Each day since, when I walked out of the building, I have been disappointed to smell the city - some combination of lake, industry, rain and bus exhaust.

Today was a particularly hard day at work. I couldn't wait to get the weekend started. My mind was singularly focused as I pushed the revolving door around.... "HOME. Just get home." And, then it hit me again. Chocolate chip cookies. Warm ones, fresh out of the oven. It felt like a huge, comforting hug from Grandma. And, I smiled.

If you are ever in Chicago when the breeze is just right, I wish you a scrumptious afternoon full of the delights of life.

And... the picture said...

2007-04-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

I lice chez pesu and gapj oos
win it isz worm i lice too play awsid
i lice to swim

- or -

I like cheese pizza and grape juice.
When it is warm, I like to play outside.
I like to swim.

Thanks for playing!

I can't spell

2007-04-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

I can't spell.

And, just incase you need a little more evidence, I will not run spell check once I have finished this entry.

It all started with a little program called "Write to Read." When I was in kindergarden, my district decided to try a new program that taught pheneticly. It makes perfect sense... spell by sounding things out. Perhaps not. Here is a sample of my fine work.

Click on the picture and sound it out. Extra points to the first person who gets it right.

I'm not the only one in the family with this problem. My grandmother - the smartest women I've ever known - almost finished her PhD. She took all of the classes, finished all of her requirements, except one. She was such a poor writer that she didn't want to finish her disertation. My cousin is a worse speller than I am. Perhaps it is genetic.

The real kicker is that for a living I am a communicator. Now, as an adult, my best friend is F7.

Welcome to my world

2007-04-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

I am a unique snowflake. Or, at least that is what my husband tells me when I am demanding attention.

Welcome to my world. (Or, blogdom as I like to call it)

In my world, you will be able to get Godiva honey almond truffles everywhere. (Did I mention they are fat free?)
In my world, Southwest will always Ding! me for $49 tickets to Maui. (Cleveland, of course, will always be full-price, refundable only)
In my world, I always have fresh flowers. (Don't think I mean carnations)
In my world, my OCD will switch from rearranging bottles to the treadmill.
In my world, I get to cook for my friends and family every day. (and use Paula Dean amounts of butter)
In my world, having lots of cat will not make you crazy. (Two does not make you crazy!)
In my world, everything can be turned into a song. (Try it - "Don't miss that exit ramp, yeah!)
In my world, mommies who can't drive will not drive the biggest SUVs on the market, while putting on their lipstick, while changing the radio, while their kids jump around in the back seat, while they are saying to their friend on the cell phone, "You just can't have enough air bags."
In my world, bread will always be served with butter. (Does anyone like olive oil?)
In my world, I will not feel a need to remove the dust cover from books with "shopaholic" or "baby" in the title and a main character who is single, white, female lawyer/journalist/banker.
In my world, "The Office" will have a new episode every week. (Can I get an Amen?!)
In my world, good parenting will have nothing to do with portable DVD players and flower-shaped cheese.
In my world, great shoes will not go unnoticed. (Feel free to notice the above fabulousness)
In my world, weddings happen everyday.
In my world, PlayStation 2 (or substitute the video game console of your choice) will magically shut itself off after 1 hour each night.

In my world, I am a unique snowflake!

What does your world look like....?