My Kind of Town

Yesterday brought the loving husband and I toWrigley for a 1:20 game.  We went with some besties and had a totes fab time.  My gf Brianne & I work super close to one another, so we met at noon and took the Red Line over to Addison while the boys met us at the park.  We got there early and decided to partake in some icy cold beverages (a Land Shark for me, and a tall ice water for her) at the Captain Morgan club on Sheffield while waiting for the rest of our posse.  Our tix were from the annual Resurrection game in May that was called (see How Did That Happen? for a refresher on this) and in true Res game fashion, the Cubs suffered a humiliating loss.  That minor detail, however, did not put a damper on our fun:

All in all, we had an abfab afternoon.  Upon returning home I immediately took a face nap, only to awake at 9:30pm, fully clothed and with nothing done for the next day.  Awesome.  After loading the dish washer and making lunch for today, I got undressed and crawled back into bed, only to get one of the best night's sleep in, like, for-ev-er.  Score!  I should day drink more often!

Since it's another gorge day in the Chi, I'm meeting another gf after work and we're going to walk over to the Taste.  Summer's in my beloved town are the.best.ever and I plan to soak it all in!  After all, Chicago is one town that won't let you down.  It's my kind of town ;)

Closer to Free

Everybody wants respect

Just a little bit

And everybody needs a chance once in while...

It's the BoDeans, baby and on Friday, July 29th I will be jammin' it up with the husband and friends at Ravinia.  For those of you who do not live in the Chi (or for those unfortunate souls who do, but have never been), Ravinia is the "sound of summer" (I totes stole that from the website).  Ravinia is an outdoor music venue that books some mega acts, and some not-so-mega acts, where you can score lawn seats (they're a must), bring your own food & bevvies and have a gay ol' time.  Nothing says summer quite like Ravinia.  Mike and I haven't been in a few years, and last summer we were saying (you know, in that way which implies you absolutely want to go, but know it's likely not gonna happen) how we for sure needed to go back.  Well, last summer came and went, and we never made it to see a concert.  I vowed at the close of the Ravinia season last year that next year I would absolutely be there.  Well, my dear friends, it is officially "next year" and I am making good on my promise.

After emailing a few besties some potential dates, we uniformly decided that July 29th was likely the only date that was going to work (how sad is it that of all the possible weekends this summer, only one actually worked...overcommitted, anyone?)  After making this grand decision, I immediately went online to their website and purchased 2 lawn tix for me and the loving husband.  I so.can't.wait.

So, it true Suzie Q fashion, I immediately set out to purchasing picnic gear.  I wasted no time in finding adorbes stuff, which consists of, first and foremost, an ultra deluxe picnic basket.  The thing I love best about this little cutie is that the inside is insulated and closes off with a zipper.  Darling!  Best part of all?  I got 60% off retail and paid a mere $40 clams.  I also snapped up this gem at Target (which I'm normally not a lover of) for $14 clams, which includes 4, count 'em 4, stemware holders and a bottle holder whereas most others I priced were around $10 for only 2 stemware holders.  Shopping is a sport, my friends, and I always place 1st.  Last, but certainly not least, I perused Amazon & found this perfect little table and knew it would just right for, not only Ravinia, but also Birchwood (actually, all our abfab finds will double duty as perfect compliments to our up North retreat), 4th of July and, really, all summer weekends. 

So, here's to summer lovies!  I hope yours is shaping up to be as good as mine <3

All You Need Is Love....And Maybe A Stiff Drink

This past week has been interesting, to say the least.  It seems like so much has happened in 4 short days, fraught with emotion (both good and bad), that frankly, I'm exhausted.  Last weekend was amazeballs and was spent with the bestest friends a girl could ever hope for.  Friday we celebrated our dear pal Mikey's birthday, who flew in from NOLA to spend the weekend in style in the Chi.  I met Mikey & his fab sister (my Birchwood besties) Megan at Tavern on Rush for a late, liquid lunch.  We spent the afternoon sipping Prosecco and basking in the late afternoon sun.  We made our way back to Peg's (aka Megan's...confused yet?) to continue the fun, where my loving husband met us and then finished off the night at Moe's Cantina in River North.  Saturday I was up and at 'em early to help some friends move, then off to an evening fiesta at another friend's.  Despite the ridic weather on Sunday, we made our way to Geneva and had the.best.time.ever at Kristen and Justin's.  Everytime I sit and chat with Kristen, I am reminded of how wonderfully lucky I am to have such a genuine and smart friend....how lucky Mike and I are to have such an amazing network of friends.  Monday I laid out at our pool (loaded with the SPF, doncha worry), and then the whole fam went by my deeder's for a delish BBQ. What a spectac Mem Day Weekend, so many memories to cherish, and I returned to work on Tuesday happy as a clam.

And then real life reared its ugly head.  Being back to "the struggle" (as my gf's husband refers to the j.o.b. ) itself wouldn't have been a big deal, as I truly am one of those crazies who loves her job.  Combine the stressers of work with everyday bs, or not so everyday bs but still your life's problems, nonetheless and by Wednesday of this week I had myself a little mini meltdown.  You know, the times where you call your mama and scream like a complete spoiled a-hole about the unfairness of life, how you can't be Wonder Woman and do it all, how you just can't take one.more.thing.  And then, something really major happens to wake your ass up and make you realize just how lucky you are and how all these things, while difficult and hard, and yes oftentimes, totally unfair....are not breaking.

I came in to work the following day to hear that the 37 year old consultant, whose office was just down the hall, was rushed to the ER over the weekend.  The same Mem Day Weekend that had come to a close on Monday night, while I sleepily lazed about in my bed, over-tired and over-sun-exposed, thinking of all the love of my friends and family.  He had felt "off" and decided to shower before turning in.  After a while, his longtime girlfriend checked in on him, to find that he had collapsed and was unresponsive.  After an agonizing week, holding vigil next to his bed, his parents, 90 year old grandfather and longtime love decide to take him off life support.  37 years old.  Another colleague flew out of work the Friday before the weekend after receiving a call that his daughter, just returning home for the summer from her freshman year of college, was struck by a car that blew a stop sign, while riding her bicycle.  She has been in ICU since and is thankfully improving to where they were able to take her off her ventilator.  19 years old.

Perspective, anyone?

So, while this week in and of itself was difficult for a multitude of reasons, I can't help but feel blessed.  If you would have asked me if I felt this way on Wednesday, I would have said a big hell no.  Not so long ago, I received some difficult news and immediately called one of my closest gf's, where I proceeded to bawl on the phone.  I was angry, sad and afraid and I instinctively knew that she would make me feel better about things.  And she did.  She reminded me of who I am, my strength, my character, and most of all, she reminded me that I have friends like her who will be there for me through it all.  She made me feel loved and, as a result, helped me to see what really mattered.  I have so many friends, so many people in my life, that love and support me and most of all, who help me to count my blessings. 

I am fairly certain that in the coming days there will likely be times when I am sad, when I feel life is treating me unfairly, and when I am throwing a pity party for one...but I'll get over it.  For all of you out there, who have these same bonds of friendship, who have the loving family who would do anything for you and will always be there to listen and love.  For those of you who have stellar partners, like I do in my loving husband...just remember...in the end no matter what happens, as long as you have the love and support of those around you, all will be okay <3

Promises, Promises!

There are so many things about the Chi that I love; Wrigley Field, the Sig room, the skyline, every single neighborhood tucked in the North side (EP!), farmers markets on Saturday mornings, & the daily Trib outside my door each day as I step out to face my day.  Summers in Chicago are love in the first degree.  The promise of summer is in the air and as Spring sloooowly moves into summer, my mind goes to the sidewalk cafes where I will spend many afternoons for happy hour. 

I am a lucky gal in that my days are spent in an office that overlooks Michigan Ave., right at the river.  Today, as I peeked past the Wrigley Building and beyond the double decker tour buses, my biggest mental debate was whether I would walk over to Water Tower and spend my lunch shopping for prezzies I would gift to myself (duh!) or peruse the farmers market at Daley Plaza.  Tough decisions for a girl to make, I tell ya.  But since the day was so pretty, I opted for the farmers market.  Besides, where better to get organic, whole foods for my "real" eating and preserving (more to come on that subject, get excited!) than from local farmers?  I chose well.  I spent the lunch hour walking around and enjoying the city I love so dearly.  My city.

Over the course of the next several weekends, I will be doing all the things I love.  With Mem Day Weekend upon us (I mean, everyone  knows that's the official kickoff to summer) we'll have to work extra hard to do it up right. 

Believe me, I won't disappoint ;)