Yes, that's me...slacker supreme. I realize I am lucky if I get one entry out per week, things here are just so crazy. We're steadily gearing up for next weekend's costume party, in honor of one of our most favorite holidays, Halloween. The 2nd bedroom is pretty much finished (with the exception of a dresser for Mike's clothes, which still needs to be purchased). Comcast is coming tonight to install an HD/DVR box in the room & once that's done, all we need is the mount and finito!
As I mentioned, we're super busy; it seems as though we're constantly up to something. Last week I hosted my monthly book club meeting, so in between organizing the 2nd bedroom and shopping for Halloween costumes, last weekend I was busy cleaning and shopping for Tuesday's book club. On Friday of this past weekend, we hosted a small celebration at our house for my cousin's birthday. Saturday was spent running errands and then later in the evening, celebrating another birthday for a friend in the city. Sunday I was busy nursing the world's WORST hangover ever, but still somehow managed to make it to the grocery store and make homemade stuffed peppers for dinner (delish!) I even dropped off dinner to one of my longtime friends, whose life is a little stressful right now. Having gone through some of my own biznazz this year, I know how much it means when friends reach out to show their support and show that they care. I also know what it feels like when "friends" don't...and I vow never to be that kind of "friend". Everyone is super busy, the loving husband and I are no exception, yet I am never, ever too busy for people in my life who are important. So, while I didn't get a whole lot of "stuff" done yesterday, I did make a difference to someone who means a lot to me. Winner winner, chicken (actually, stuffed pepper) dinner.
So, while I would love to say that once the Halloween party is over I will have more free time to blog it up, chances of that are slim. Work is super busy since the end of the year is coming to a close and open enrollment for the 2012 benefit year is beginning. Since I am the benefit gal, the next few months (until February) are the busiest of the year. Throw in the holidays (super jazzed), with parties and planning galore, you've got yourself a socially overcommitted lady ;)
Stay tuned this week for decor pix of the house, in anticipation of Saturday! Have a great week loves!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Busy As A Bee...
Whew, I cannot believe how quickly last week flew by! I'm finally starting to feel back to my old self and I think my cold is officially ovah (please, God, let it be so). This is my last weekend of the month that I am not slammed back to back with obligatory functions, so one would think I would spend this one last blissfully free weekend relaxing and doing nothing but enjoying myself...
Yeah right, I wish.
Instead, I have packed this weekend with chores and to-do's and everything else in between to get Casa Batch party worthy in preparation of our Halloween soiree. I woke up crack ass this morning (on a Saturday, mind you) to get my arse to the gym. Immediately following, the loving husband and I headed down to the North side to peruse vintage clothing stores in hopes of finding the perfect duds for our costumes. While we didn't walk away with any amazing finds, we did have a fantastic afternoon. We must have walked a minimum of 2 miles through the Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Andersonville & Boys Town neighborhoods. We walked down Roscoe, down the beautiful tree lined streets, the colors of fall and the smell of leaves surrounding us as we talked about our dreams of buying a brownstone of our own. We snagged Nottoli on the way home for our fav Italian subs and then got down to business!
Not that kind of business you dirty birds, the business of reorganizing my house, specifically my 2nd bedroom! We finally set up the daybed, complete with the new slipcover and throw pillows I snagged from one of my all-time fav stores, TJ Maxx. After rearranging and reorganizing the linens, positioning and repositioning the fab chair we picked up from Pier 1 last Wednesday, we finally got the room into some semblance of order. We ended this most amaze day with a trip to Target in search of a set of walkie talkie's for our godson's birthday, and also ended up with a new LED, LCD flat screen for the room. Now all we need is a dresser for Mike's clothes (that, at this very moment, remain on the floor of the 2nd bedroom), and the room is officially d.o.n.e. Whoop whoop.
So while there's still a bit a lot of cleaning to do in the dining room, and crafts that need to be made (yes, I have been known to make my own holiday decorations, a la Martha Stewart), and one godchild's birthday to attend (at JumpZone, nonetheless...kill me now), I must be done by tomorrow night since Tuesday I'll be hosting my monthly book club. Next weekend consists of dinner & drinks Friday night for my cousins bday, Saturday afternoon an Oktoberfest party at a friend's house, followed by another friend's birthday party in Wicker Park, so clearly I'll have little time to clean & prep for our Halloween party on the 29th.
I need a nap just thinking about it all. I suppose, however, if my biggest worry is being too socially obligated due to functions where I will my spend time among great family & friends, then I'll take it ;)
Yeah right, I wish.
Instead, I have packed this weekend with chores and to-do's and everything else in between to get Casa Batch party worthy in preparation of our Halloween soiree. I woke up crack ass this morning (on a Saturday, mind you) to get my arse to the gym. Immediately following, the loving husband and I headed down to the North side to peruse vintage clothing stores in hopes of finding the perfect duds for our costumes. While we didn't walk away with any amazing finds, we did have a fantastic afternoon. We must have walked a minimum of 2 miles through the Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Andersonville & Boys Town neighborhoods. We walked down Roscoe, down the beautiful tree lined streets, the colors of fall and the smell of leaves surrounding us as we talked about our dreams of buying a brownstone of our own. We snagged Nottoli on the way home for our fav Italian subs and then got down to business!
Not that kind of business you dirty birds, the business of reorganizing my house, specifically my 2nd bedroom! We finally set up the daybed, complete with the new slipcover and throw pillows I snagged from one of my all-time fav stores, TJ Maxx. After rearranging and reorganizing the linens, positioning and repositioning the fab chair we picked up from Pier 1 last Wednesday, we finally got the room into some semblance of order. We ended this most amaze day with a trip to Target in search of a set of walkie talkie's for our godson's birthday, and also ended up with a new LED, LCD flat screen for the room. Now all we need is a dresser for Mike's clothes (that, at this very moment, remain on the floor of the 2nd bedroom), and the room is officially d.o.n.e. Whoop whoop.
So while there's still a
I need a nap just thinking about it all. I suppose, however, if my biggest worry is being too socially obligated due to functions where I will my spend time among great family & friends, then I'll take it ;)
Friday, October 7, 2011
Whew, What A Week!
After staying home from the j.o.b. on both Monday & Tuesday due to being sicky sick sick, then suffering through the remainder of the work week, I've finally made it to Friday! And not a moment too soon.
This weekend will consist of LOTS of R&R people, make no mistake about it. Tonight, I will be whipping up a delish turkey lasagna for my family, followed by homemade, triple chocolate madelbrot's. We'll be rounding out the night at the in-laws, relaxing around the fire pit in their spacious backyard (with a nice glass of wine, obvi). Tomorrow is a spa day; mani/pedi and facial for sure and I may even throw in a massage for good measure. Maybe I'll even hit up the gym in the morning if I'm feeling up to it (working out with a cold is the WORST and while I managed to push through last night's workout, it was not fun).
Sunday I should probably clean my house. The cleaning lady is supposed to be coming next week, and I clearly have to clean before she comes. You know how I roll.
Hope your weekend is shaping up to be as stellar as mine. Happy Friday cuties!
This weekend will consist of LOTS of R&R people, make no mistake about it. Tonight, I will be whipping up a delish turkey lasagna for my family, followed by homemade, triple chocolate madelbrot's. We'll be rounding out the night at the in-laws, relaxing around the fire pit in their spacious backyard (with a nice glass of wine, obvi). Tomorrow is a spa day; mani/pedi and facial for sure and I may even throw in a massage for good measure. Maybe I'll even hit up the gym in the morning if I'm feeling up to it (working out with a cold is the WORST and while I managed to push through last night's workout, it was not fun).
Sunday I should probably clean my house. The cleaning lady is supposed to be coming next week, and I clearly have to clean before she comes. You know how I roll.
Hope your weekend is shaping up to be as stellar as mine. Happy Friday cuties!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Time of Reflection
As many of you know, I grew up in a small community on the northwest side of Chicago. I attended a small parochial school (Lutheran) where all my friends were just like me; WASPS. After graduating grade school, I moved to a small suburb, minutes from where I grew up, to live in a neighborhood and attend a high school that was predominantly Italian American (with a peppering of Polish), and where everyone was Catholic. I proceeded to further my education by attending Dominican University (private, Catholic college), where I lived for 4 years while completing my studies. While not everyone at DU was Catholic, those who weren't were Lutheran like me. So, when I started dating the loving husband and learned that much of his family celebrates the Jewish faith, I became extremely interested in learning what I could. Over the years, I have learned a lot and have found many wonderful things to appreciate about the faith...one especially meaningful time called Rosh Hashanah.
Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the lunar calendar year, and is therefore called the “head” (Rosh) or beginning of the Year (Hashanah). Rosh Hashanah literally means “Head of the Year” in Hebrew and is the most celebrated holiday in the Jewish faith. I remember one Thanksgiving, a few years back, Mike's Aunt Anita telling me how she used to prepare for Rosh Hashanah for days leading up to it and have all the family to celebrate with tables upon tables of food...much in the same way Christians prepare for Christmas (which is centered around Jesus' birth) and celebrate in big ways, the High Holy days of Rosh Hoshanah (followed by Yom Kippur) falls in the month of Tishrei, which is believed to be the month in which God created the world. Hence, another way to think about Rosh Hashanah is as the birthday of the world.
One lesson I especially find beautiful in this celebration is that on this day Jews take the time to examine their lives and repent for any wrongs they have committed during the previous year. They're encouraged to make amends with anyone they have wronged and to make plans for improving during the coming year. In this way, Rosh Hashanah is all about making peace in the community and striving to be a better person. The thought behind this is that you want to have a year filled with great blessings and happiness by taking the opportunity, through thought and action, to draw all of the energy that will reveal itself later. Everything done on the days of Rosh Hashanah (this Thursday and Friday) is meant to assist in planting the right and best seeds for the blessings wanted and needed in the coming year.
Whether Lutheran, Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist or even Atheist, we can all benefit from living an examined life; by righting any wrongs done and by striving to be better people. I know this past year has been an especially testing one, and I have learned more in this year then I think I have in my lifetime. I want to take these lessons learned, my thoughts on what I've done and can do in the year to come, and use that positive energy in ways that will manifest as blessings and happiness in the year ahead.
Shanah Tova.
Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the lunar calendar year, and is therefore called the “head” (Rosh) or beginning of the Year (Hashanah). Rosh Hashanah literally means “Head of the Year” in Hebrew and is the most celebrated holiday in the Jewish faith. I remember one Thanksgiving, a few years back, Mike's Aunt Anita telling me how she used to prepare for Rosh Hashanah for days leading up to it and have all the family to celebrate with tables upon tables of food...much in the same way Christians prepare for Christmas (which is centered around Jesus' birth) and celebrate in big ways, the High Holy days of Rosh Hoshanah (followed by Yom Kippur) falls in the month of Tishrei, which is believed to be the month in which God created the world. Hence, another way to think about Rosh Hashanah is as the birthday of the world.
One lesson I especially find beautiful in this celebration is that on this day Jews take the time to examine their lives and repent for any wrongs they have committed during the previous year. They're encouraged to make amends with anyone they have wronged and to make plans for improving during the coming year. In this way, Rosh Hashanah is all about making peace in the community and striving to be a better person. The thought behind this is that you want to have a year filled with great blessings and happiness by taking the opportunity, through thought and action, to draw all of the energy that will reveal itself later. Everything done on the days of Rosh Hashanah (this Thursday and Friday) is meant to assist in planting the right and best seeds for the blessings wanted and needed in the coming year.
Whether Lutheran, Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist or even Atheist, we can all benefit from living an examined life; by righting any wrongs done and by striving to be better people. I know this past year has been an especially testing one, and I have learned more in this year then I think I have in my lifetime. I want to take these lessons learned, my thoughts on what I've done and can do in the year to come, and use that positive energy in ways that will manifest as blessings and happiness in the year ahead.
Shanah Tova.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friendship Divorce
I was talking to one of my bestest friends about this very thing not too long ago when I came across a newsletter from the website GOOP that I subscribe to. My girl Gwyneth posed the question that I have been posing to myself more and more recently, and that is:
“What do you do when you realize that although you may have years of history, and found real value in each other in times past, that you kind of don't like a friend anymore?"
Have any of you ever felt this way? How did you handle it? I am forever the eternal optimist, trying to always find the best in people and always trying to be compassionate and understanding. Sometimes, however, it just doesn't matter and all you really want to do is file for friendship divorce.
I thought the contributors had some really insightful comments and thoughts on the subject, and I especially liked the piece written by Cynthia Bourgeault who says that while oftentimes friendships are situational, true friends do still exist "amongst all the situational flux". She goes on to say that these “ 'friends forever,' ” however they play out in your particular life situation, always seem to share three characteristics: (1) They have a capacity to grow with you (and you with them) through life’s changing circumstances; 2) They are low-maintenance, rarely-to-never imposing themselves or laying expectations on you; and 3) contact with them, when it comes, is never a duty, but always a gift “heart to heart.” Such friends—always a rare and special breed — have an uncanny knack for being able to stay in tune with you emotionally over huge gaps of time and space. Maybe you don’t hear from them for three years — or thirty — but then the phone rings and there they are again, and it’s like picking up as if you never left off."
I loved this because it reinforced my belief that while, yes, many of the friendships I have are situational, my true frienships are anything but friends of convenience. Actually, when I think about the friends I have that really are "forever friends", I realize that we have more differences in our lives than we have commonalities.
Which brings me to my final thought...is it okay to have these types of feelings? Sure is, and guess what? Not only is it normal, it's also healthy to feel this way and actually do something about it. You're not a "bad person" if you feel like a "friend" does more harm than good in when it comes to your life and well being and changing that dynamic will make you better for it in the long run.
“What do you do when you realize that although you may have years of history, and found real value in each other in times past, that you kind of don't like a friend anymore?"
Have any of you ever felt this way? How did you handle it? I am forever the eternal optimist, trying to always find the best in people and always trying to be compassionate and understanding. Sometimes, however, it just doesn't matter and all you really want to do is file for friendship divorce.
I thought the contributors had some really insightful comments and thoughts on the subject, and I especially liked the piece written by Cynthia Bourgeault who says that while oftentimes friendships are situational, true friends do still exist "amongst all the situational flux". She goes on to say that these “ 'friends forever,' ” however they play out in your particular life situation, always seem to share three characteristics: (1) They have a capacity to grow with you (and you with them) through life’s changing circumstances; 2) They are low-maintenance, rarely-to-never imposing themselves or laying expectations on you; and 3) contact with them, when it comes, is never a duty, but always a gift “heart to heart.” Such friends—always a rare and special breed — have an uncanny knack for being able to stay in tune with you emotionally over huge gaps of time and space. Maybe you don’t hear from them for three years — or thirty — but then the phone rings and there they are again, and it’s like picking up as if you never left off."
I loved this because it reinforced my belief that while, yes, many of the friendships I have are situational, my true frienships are anything but friends of convenience. Actually, when I think about the friends I have that really are "forever friends", I realize that we have more differences in our lives than we have commonalities.
Which brings me to my final thought...is it okay to have these types of feelings? Sure is, and guess what? Not only is it normal, it's also healthy to feel this way and actually do something about it. You're not a "bad person" if you feel like a "friend" does more harm than good in when it comes to your life and well being and changing that dynamic will make you better for it in the long run.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Done & Done!
Despite the fact I had a late meeting & didn't get home last night until after 7:30, I still managed to pull it together & be at the gym by 5:30 this morning. By 7am, I was already en route to the office for another long day. But, guess what? My night is free to do whatever I please, like heading to Pier 1 to buy that chair I've had my eye on. Who knows, maybe I'll even cave & get the dresser ;)
Here's to hoping I don't nap under my desk, Costanza style! Rock on, party people!
Here's to hoping I don't nap under my desk, Costanza style! Rock on, party people!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Morning, Schmorning
As far back as I can remember, I have always loathed morning time. It seems, no matter how many hours of glorious sleep I get each night, it's never enough. I can remember back when my parents were married and we lived in our 2-flat in Edgebrook, my dad (King Morning Person Extraordinaire) would come barging into me and my deeder's room at crack ass and rouse us from sleep. When this method was sure to fail (with me anyway), he would snatch the covers off my sleeping body to startle me into wakefulness. I am convinced, because of this barbaric treatment, I now must be coaxed into wakefulness each and every day. Additionally, once I am up and at 'em, no one (including the loving husband) is allowed to talk to me for AT LEAST 30 minutes after I get out of bed.
Lately, however, I have been finding it difficult to schedule in my gym time each day. Not only must I make this a priority so I'm not reminiscent of the good year blimp, I also look forward to relieving stress from my workday by sweating it out on the elliptical. The health club where we're members is conveniently located across the street from our house, in addition to the free membership I am offered with my employment in the building where I work. It can not get more convenient than that, I tell you. While the membership I am offered through work is free for me, I also would have to work out on lunch, which...no thanks. When I work out, I like to really go full steam for an hour or more. This would require a post-workout shower prior to returning to the j.o.b. and while long lunches are nice, they're not an everyday kinda thing, you know what I mean? So, this has left me with my only other option of working out at the Club after I get home from work. The problem I find here, however, is that by the time I finish up, get home and take a quick rinse, it's pushing 8pm and dinner hasn't even been considered. And if I should have an errand or two to run after I get home, push that to 9pm.
So this leaves me no choice but to consider a morning workout before the day begins. Even typing this is giving me a sense of dread. Have I mentioned, I hate mornings? Oh okay, just wanted to be clear. Not only would switching to a pre-dawn workout free up my evenings, the Club also has classes that are much better starting at 5:40 am (gasp!) that would not be available to me in the evenings. I need to do this. I must do this.
How the hell will I do this?
So, for those of you with full time careers, how do you manage your workout routine? If you do an early morning session, how on earth do you do it? I for serial need all the help I can get!
Lately, however, I have been finding it difficult to schedule in my gym time each day. Not only must I make this a priority so I'm not reminiscent of the good year blimp, I also look forward to relieving stress from my workday by sweating it out on the elliptical. The health club where we're members is conveniently located across the street from our house, in addition to the free membership I am offered with my employment in the building where I work. It can not get more convenient than that, I tell you. While the membership I am offered through work is free for me, I also would have to work out on lunch, which...no thanks. When I work out, I like to really go full steam for an hour or more. This would require a post-workout shower prior to returning to the j.o.b. and while long lunches are nice, they're not an everyday kinda thing, you know what I mean? So, this has left me with my only other option of working out at the Club after I get home from work. The problem I find here, however, is that by the time I finish up, get home and take a quick rinse, it's pushing 8pm and dinner hasn't even been considered. And if I should have an errand or two to run after I get home, push that to 9pm.
So this leaves me no choice but to consider a morning workout before the day begins. Even typing this is giving me a sense of dread. Have I mentioned, I hate mornings? Oh okay, just wanted to be clear. Not only would switching to a pre-dawn workout free up my evenings, the Club also has classes that are much better starting at 5:40 am (gasp!) that would not be available to me in the evenings. I need to do this. I must do this.
How the hell will I do this?
So, for those of you with full time careers, how do you manage your workout routine? If you do an early morning session, how on earth do you do it? I for serial need all the help I can get!
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