Day 39 - I hope they serve wine in heaven

Have you ever noticed how alcohol is used in so many aspects of life?  Think about it.  If you have had a crummy day at work, chances are the thought of "man, today sucked.  I just want to go home and have a beer" has certainly crossed your mind.  Sometimes after a bad day, you want to go for a run or punch a punching bag.  But the other times, if you have had a bad day, you just want to go home and drink the pain away.  There are movies about it.  There are books about it.  There are songs about it. One of my favorite lines from a song: "Is it a whiskey night?  Or just a couple beers?" (Chris Cagle, What Kind of Gone?)

But having a nice cold one isn't only used to attempt to erase a bad day.  Alcohol can be used to celebrate!   If you have had an amazing day at work (i.e. finished a big project, a promotion, a day without fire drills), then chances are, you want to go home and have a night cap.  A celebratory drink.  Engagements - toast with champagne!  Weddings - another toast with champagne, followed by several mixed drinks, and of course shots.  Birthdays.  Holidays (like a shot of crown royal at the Giovannetti Christmas party).

There is one aspect of drinking though that doesn't care if you are celebrating or erasing - and that's the hangover!!  I laugh with my friends at work all the time that we are getting "old."  We know this because the length of time it takes to recover from a night out has started to increase.  In college, I would have a headache for a few hours, but after some Panera soup or a McDonald's breakfast, I was ready to go.  Then after school, it would maybe take two meals and an extra Gatorade to shake it.  But now?  Looking at alcohol makes me hung over.  Seriously, I could have some wine with dinner and be hung over for two days.  And I mean completely worthless!!  What has happened??  We are really starting to show our age, and it sucks.  On Monday, we'll usually check in with one another to see who is still feeling the effects of Saturday night and who has recovered.  We are definitely starting to feel the effects for longer and it sucks.\

But even with the guaranteed hangover, I do love me some wine.  A big Italian dinner and an even bigger glass of Merlot and you have one happy camper on your hands.  I'd take a glass of wine over a mixed drink any day.  Maybe that's because I had some rough mornings in college after a few too many vodka-Sprites.  Maybe it's because I have learned to limit my wine intake (some times) to avoid that hangover in the morning.  Whatever the case is, I sure hope when I get to those pearly gates, someone is meeting me on the other side with a nice big glass of wine, and a smile.  Fingers crossed.

Day 38 - You call that a handshake?

Nice, firm handshake!

I learned about the importance of a handshake when I was a Junior in high school.  We had a summer program that was training us to be Fresh Mentors.  During the program, there was a guest presenter who came in and told us that a handshake is just as important as the first impression you make.  I whole-heartedly agree.  For a while there, I was conducting various interviews for an open position on our team.  Of course, the first thing I would notice is whether or not the person bathed before the interview (yes, it was easy to tell when someone hadn't), and the next was the handshake.

Your handshake must be firm!  It must must must be firm!!  There is nothing worse than the dead-fish, limp wristed handshake.  During the same presentation that I mentioned above, the guest speaker spoke about "pressing webbies."  On paper, and even saying it outloud, this phrase has a sexual connotation to it.  I assure you, this tip is not sexual.  Pressing your webbies consists of pressing the skin between your thumb and your pointer against the skin between the thumb and pointer of your counterpart.  In doing this, you ensure a firm handshake with a pocket of air between your palms.  Now that is a solid handshake.

Ugly, weak, and lame handshake.

A nice, firm handshake gives off a vibe of confidence.  You seem comfortable and prepared when your handshake is solid.  And this is true for both men and women.  It doesn't matter what your sex, a strong handshake is very important.  Now, being that I am a petite female, I think I am already pre-judged as being meek and fragile.  That must be true because some of the handshakes that I receive from people are ridiculous!  The limp wrist, finger-tip handshake is not flattering.  It doesn't send a very good message, and frankly, you come off very weak. 

I found this great link that talks about the importance of the handshake, as well as some helpful tips to executing a flawless handshake as well.  Feel free to read this link and get some further insight on this.  And if you choose not to read it, that's fine too.  Just know, that a weak handshake is lame, and a strong handshake is cool.  You're welcome for today's lesson.

Day 37 - Fruit is not dessert!!

I am a sucker for dessert.  I love it.  But I am very, very particular about what I eat for dessert.  The most important rule that everyone must always recognize: Fruit is not dessert!  Yes, I said it.  Now I know there are going to be people out there that argue this point with me and to them I say, argue on my friends.  You can try to convince me otherwise, but I will not be persuaded.  The only thing that will pass as an acceptable dessert is one that contains chocolate.  I have this argument with my family constantly, but they have yet to win!

So given the fact that I am self-proclaimed choc-o-holic, you would think that it would be challenging for me to identify my favorite dessert.  Well, you would be wrong.  Hands down, my all-time favorite dessert is the molten chocolate lava cakes.  I don't think there is anything better than that.  The delicious warm cake, with the even warmer ganache on the inside, with the cold ice cream or homemade whipped cream!?  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  This can also be the worst dessert, if it is not done right.  I have had truly amazing lava cake before.  But I have also had the worst lava cake - if it is overcooked, and no lava whatsoever in the middle.  FAIL.  The picture to the left show the cake with berries served on the side.  If were having dinner together, I would let you have those berries because there is no way I would be eating them.  They definitely make the dish look nice, but not something that I would enjoy.

I am not a fruit pie person either.  There are people out there that live for apple pie (like my dad).  Or people who would die without a blueberry (like Mike).  Or people that make banana cream pies.  Or Key Lime pies.  Or cherry pies.  Me?  I am perfectly good without a slice of pie.  But the whipped cream or the ice cream that is often served with pie?  Now we're talking.  Or if you have a french silk or any other chocolate pie, I am so in.  But fruit pies?  No thank you!  No lemons, no pumpkins, no rhubarb, etc.  Why?  Because fruit is not a dessert!!

Then there are people who serve fruit in a bowl as a dessert.  Unless there is a chocolate fountain, and/or pound cake to go with it, you can have my serving of the fruit.  I don't like fruit filling in cakes.  I don't like fruit topping on ice cream.  I just have a serious aversion to it.  The funny thing is, I will eat fruit for breakfast.  I will eat fruit for a snack during the day.  I will even eat fruit with my dinner.  But the minute the fruit is identified as being that end-of-meal treat, I shut down.  I scavenge through the house looking for chocolaty goodness.  And if none can be found, then I will skip dessert altogether, which is not my favorite outcome.   So the next time we go out to dinner together, keep my addiction to chocolate in mind, and choose wisely from the menu :)  Because if you don't, then I will.

Day 36 - A little goes a long way

Thanking someone for a job well done is slowly becoming a thing of the past.  It bums me out because acknowledging someone for working hard should be common practice.  We have all heard the expression "a little goes a long way," and I am firm believer in this.  It's amazing what a little gesture or a little act of kindness can do.  It is so easy to acknowledge someone and their hard work; I am just surprised that it's not done more often. 

I am one of those people who will repeatedly tell someone how appreciated they are.  Why?  Because chances are I work with people who are no where near as competent, as resourceful, or as engaged as the person I am complimenting.  When I work with someone who is responsive and thorough, then I make a point to tell them.  I want them to continue helping me with the same level of enthusiasm and commitment as they had done in the past.   What better way to encourage someone to keep up the hard work, then to recognize the effort and simply say "Thank you!" 

Saying "Thank You" or "Great job" doesn't cost you one cent.  It takes very little effort, but it is much appreciated.  I worked incredibly hard on the beginning stages of a new project at work last week.  Come Sunday, I had a memo in my inbox thanking me for my continued effort.  It put the largest smile on my face.  It feels good when someone thanks you for working hard.  I know that hard work is part of the job, and that the expectation is that everyone puts in the same amount of effort; but let's face it, sometimes that hard work is not demonstrated by all.  A simple token of appreciation re-energized my spirit for the week, and I am ready to tackle the next phase of the project.

So the next time you see someone doing a stellar job, let them know.  Give them a pat on the back.  A thumbs up!  A way to go.  A thank you.  And just remember that a little really does go a long way.

Day 35 - Originality

I think it is safe to say that a lot of my style comes from emmulating others.  I am okay at picking out my own style, but that style is very much "plain Jane."  If I am ever going to go out on a limb, then it would be because I saw someone else do it (most likely Whitney) and now I want to "copy."  I buy a lot of the same things Whit buys, and sometimes vice versa.  One of us will show up to work in an adorable shirt, and the next day, the other person will have run out to the store to purchase the same one.  It doesn't bother either one of us one little bit - except for when we have those occassional run-ins when we are wearing the same thing, or a variation of the same thing on the same day.  We look like the Olsen twins.  It's not as cute when you are 26.

I'd like to go on record saying that I am so flattered when people want to "copy" me.  It means that people like what they heard, or what they saw, or what they felt, and they want to emulate that.  I think that is awesome that I can be someone that blazes a trail for people follow.  Especially when it comes to fashion!  I will be the first to tell you where I bought something, how much it cost, and why I love it.  I have no problem with sharing my fashion "secrets" with anyone who asks.  Why?  Probably because it doesn't happen all that often.  But when it does, it feels good!  Compliments are the best.

But as easy as it is to copy someone, it is that much more easy to be an individual.  It is important to stay true to yourself and to your own originality.  Don't copy someone exactly the same way as it was presented to you.  It is so very important that you take someone's ideas and use them as inpsiration to do you.  It's okay to have the same ideas as someone.  It is okay to like the same clothing.  It is okay to have the same sense of humor.  It is not okay to take someone's ideas and pass them off as your own.  That is uncreative and just plain annoying, especially when you don't do it as well as the original. 

So - when copying someone, stealing their fashion, or their ideas, just make sure you put your own spin on it.  No one likes a carbon copy.  Be an individual.  Be original.  Be you!

Day 34 - Can a high heel ever be too high?

I think we all know that I have a sick obsession with shoes.  I don't even want to take a picture of my closet right now because a) it is a little disorganized, and b) there are shoes everywhere.  It is impossible for me to even justify all of the shoes that are in my closet.  I know I have explained to you the importance of having at least five different pairs of black pumps - all of which serve a different purpose, for a different outfit, at a different venue, with a different audience, etc.  Among the variations of shoes, come a variety of heel-heights.  I have had a discussion with a co-worker (on multiple occasions) as to whether or not a heel is too high.  Is that even possible?  Can a high-heel ever be too high?

In my opinion, being someone who is 5-feet tall, there is no such thing as a heel that is too high.  I can still remember getting my first pair of "heels."  It was Easter, and they were white patented with a strap.  Granted I was 5 years old, but those shoes were, without a doubt, my favorite.  I remember walking around in the kitchen listening to the heels of the shoes hit the floor.  That noise was the epitome of being "an adult."  I looked forward to wearing those heels every year.  So yes, being short, wearing heels is great.  But I think even tall girls should rock a high-heel.  I think that all women feel better in a fierce pair of high heeled shoes, so there is no reason, no matter what your height, to leave the heels at home!  I say own your height, and rock those heels.

Ever since those patent leather white strappies, I have been a high-heel junky.  I wear heels on the weekends.  Heels to the grocery store.  I just think that a good pair of heels makes me feel good, so why not?  For those special occasions, I will bust out the really tall platform heels.  Occasionally, I will wear them to work as well; especially if they will spruce up an outfit.  Different brands of shoes will embellish the bottoms in different ways.  Jessica Simpson pumps have a silver bottom.  Christian Louboutin has a red bottom (love).  Pour La Victoire have a gold emblem.  If your heel is high enough, and your show bottoms are bold enough, then the answer is simple: your heel can never be too high!  So work it!!

Day 33 - Friends of Convenience

"Friends due to convenience" is almost a thing of the past.  I say almost because I still have some foreced friendships, but for the most part I choose who I want in my life now, and it's FABULOUS!  Remember when your parents would force you to hang out with the children of their work friends?  You didn't even go to the same school as these kids; you knew nothing about them, but because your parents were friends, you were friends.  Sometimes it worked out okay.  Sometimes you guys had a lot in common and hanging out with them was a treat.  And then sometimes, it wasn't so great.  You were stuck hanging out with your polar opposite, and your parents didn't care!!

I like being an adult because I now have the ability to choose my own friends.  I much prefer conversations that are easy, over those that are forced.  There are two nights/week that I get to let loose and do something fun  I suppose I could do it throughout the week as well, but I am so exhausted during the work week that I would rather go home and do nothing at all.  Sorry friends.  So yes, that gives me Friday night and Saturday to be with people I like, and often times that's family!  We are so lucky to have such an awesome family - on both sides.  Hanging out with my siblings or Mike's siblings or our parents is actually a welcomed event.  We grab dinner and drinks with our siblings (or at least the suburban and non-college siblings) all the time.  We have awesome people in our lives, and they just so happen to be our family members.  Pretty damn cool.

I also love having those friends whom you haven't talked to regularly in a few months, sometimes years, and you get together and just pick right back up where you left off.  Those are the types of people I love having in my life.  No need for a long-winded explanation as to why it had been so long since we'd seen each other.  We just embrace the moment and go.  These are the types of friends where the conversation is easy.  We have a lot in common so there is never a dull moment.  My friends are awesome at this.  With everyone's crazy schedules - work and social - it's hard to see each other as frequently as we would like to.  But, when we do, we don't waste time on the excuses, we relish the moment and catch-up.  We are sincere.  We genuinely care about each other, and that makes for an easy, and fun night.

After a long week of work, the last thing I want to do is feel like I have to fake-socialize with people.  The beauty of being a grown-ass adult is that we can avoid those situations.  We can surround ourselves with people whom we enjoy.  People who make us laugh.  People who help you to forget how terrible your week was.  We get to choose who we spend our free time with; no more forced interactions (okay, so maybe not all the time, but for the most part).  As much as growing up kinda sucks, you know, with the "responsibility" and the "bills" and all, this part of growing up is pretty nice.  Choices.  Friends.  Awesome.

Day 32 - Dressing for your body 101

I know I have touched on this topic in the past, but I thought it might be worth mentioning in a different way.  Have you noticed that the older you get, the wiser you get?  Well, maybe you don't notice, but trust me, it's happening.  Or, at least should be happening.  I definitely know people who, I swear to you, get more stupid the older they get.  And I guess that happens when you get to be ancient, but I feel like, the older you get the easier decision-making should become because you have past experiences to rely on.  Well, part of getting older and wiser, comes the responsibility to act older and wiser.  Example.

By the time you are in your mid-twenties (and that is being generous, people), you should know how to dress for your body.  Haven't you figured out by now that no one sees your tag, so who cares what number, letter, or combination of the two, are printed on your tag!?  Buy something that fits.  I was shopping with my sister-in-law a few weekends back, and without even saying a word, I knew we were both thinking the same thing.  There was a woman shopping in the shoe department who was wearing an outfit that had to have been three sizes too small.  And for what?  She didn't look good.  She didn't look put together.  She looked like a mess.  It is one thing to be a confident, and sophisticated woman.  But to walk around looking like a hot mess, is just unacceptable.  That woman needed a life less on knowing how to dress for the body she had.

Then there are the women who "dress to impress" (or at least think they are dressing impressively).  Unfortunately, though, those women are more than likely dressing to draw the attention of a man.  Hate to break it to you honey, but the older you get, the more you should start dressing for the women in your life, not the men that you hope to have in your life, and trust me, the attention you are most likely getting isn't from the type of man you want in your life anyways.  I usually feel bad for the women and girls who don't know (or do know, and don't care) about the type of image they are portraying. 

I know I have said this before, but the advice I ever got in college was during sorority recruitment, when we were reminded constantly that were dressing to impress the ladies, and not the young, impressionable men at the frat party (although once you were in the sorority the tune change a little...haha).  So keep that in mind when you get dressed in the morning.  Are the women in your office, or in your class, going to compliment your outfit?  Or is the pervert sitting next to you going to compliment you?  There is a time and place to get the pervert's attention (like when you are out with friends at a bar and it would mean free drinks for you, of course).  At that point, by all mean, shake what your mama gave you, and get those free bevies.  But whilst in the workplace, please, for the love of god, get a shirt that fits, and a sweater to go over it.  You'll thank me later (and if you don't, then your co-workers will).

Day 31 - Casual Friday

For those of you who observe Casual Friday every (i.e. my husband, my sister-in-law, college students, etc.) getting to wear jeans on Friday is an every day occurrence.  For people like me, who have to wear dress clothes every day to the office, a jeans day on Friday, and the occasional Thursday, is a small victory in my work week.  Then there are the people who don't even get a casual Friday!  Or, a casual Friday means no suit, but still a pair of slacks and a button down.  Goo.

Jeans Days mean everything to me.  I know I have written about jeans day on Facebook before and it sounds like everyone out there agrees.  The day just feels different when you come to work in jeans.  I start my morning off with a little less stress.  Finding the right work outfit everyday is daunting.  There are so many things that, women especially, must take into consideration.  First off, the temperature.  Even though it may gorgeous outside and the weather most certainly calls for an adorable sundress and strappy sandals, the office building thinks otherwise.  80 degrees outside definitely mean 50 degrees inside.  I understand the need for A/C, and I am very grateful for it, but I don't want to have to wear a winter parka May through September, and a tube top October through April.  I wish there was a way that they could maintain homeostasis all year round.

In my old job, the next thing I would have to take into consideration was whether or not I would be crawling on the floor.  Yes, this is in fact something that would cross my mind.  In my last job, I conducted a lot of training sessions.  With training sessions come projectors, and laptops, and power cords, etc.  All of those things must be plugged into an adapter, which of course was under the table.  I had to crawl around all the time to get those things hooked up.  I certainly couldn't show up to work in a skirt knowing I would be doing those things.  Something so silly to have to think about, but it definitely came up a lot.  Don't want to be caught in a compromising situation that's for sure.

Jeans are easy!  You can match pretty much any top you have with a pair of jeans - and chances are you have multiple pairs of jeans to choose from, so that helps too.  The hardest decision on jeans day is to whether to wear heels or not.  I wear heels on Fridays if I still have a presentation, or if I just want to feel put together.  I will wear flats if the day is going to consist of reports and conference calls.  I do not think Casual Friday is a reason for people to forget how to dress.  I think there are people out there that think casual Friday is an excuse to come to work disheveled and unkempt.  Then there are also those people who think casual Friday is just a stop on the way to the bar after work and dress for such occasions.  Find a happy median between those two, and head to the office.  Casual Fridays rule!

Day 30 - I miss spring break - Part 2

So yesterday I was all nostalgic about missing Spring Break.  But I forgot to mention one of the greatest parts of spring break circa 1996 - MTV Spring Break.  Please tell me you remember MTV Spring Break!?!?   So if I wasn't at the pool, or at the beach, or shopping with family, I was watching MTV Spring Break.  It was like my dirty little secret.  If my parents knew that I was watching this junk on TV they would have killed me.  Surprise!  I watched 20-somethings dance in bikinis for a week straight, and I loved every minute of it.  I had always dreamed of venturing to a Spring Break spot when I got "old enough."  Then I got "old enough" and I wouldn't DREAM of attending an MTV sponsored event anymore.  Hell no.

Do you remember when Jerry Springer would host those trashy talk shows (and I don't mean the one's we see on syndication, but those are just as trashy in their own right).  I am talking about the shows where the women would have to wear a whipped cream bikini and the guy would wear a leopard thong or something stupid like that.  There was always scantily clad women, buff guys, and grinding.  The more of that the better.  And then if Jerry wasn't impressing us with his hosting skills, there would be Say What Karaoke? or there would be random artists performing and drunk people dancing.  There were always mini-stages in the pool.  There was always tequila volleyball.  There was loud music and low talent.  That was the extent of the show.  And I couldn't stop watching.  That to me was the epitome of spring break.  I wanted to do that.  I needed to do that!!

Looking back, time spent watching MTV Spring Break isn't exactly my finest moment.  But I was 11 years old, itching to be cool, and that seemed like the thing to do.  Of course my little sisters and cousin would occassionally join in on watching this crap!  We wanted to badly to be a part of that Spring Break debauchery.  And the irony in it all is that during the day we would watch this junk, but at night, I would watch the Disney channel with my sisters.  We must have watched Disney's "Luck of the Irish" about a dozen times during our spring break week.  I lived a double-life.  I tried to be cool and trendy by watching MTV, and then I would revert back to my younger years and catch up on the made-for-tv flicks that ran over and over and over again on the Disney channel.  It was quite the anamoly.
So, no, I never lived out my Spring Break fantasy.  I was too much of a goody-goody to do anything like that; plus, I had dreams and aspirations of being successful and something told me that dancing like a hoochie on a floating stage with my butt cheeks hanging out, wasn't exactly going to advance my corporate career.  Boy was I wrong!?  (Just kidding).  I will continue to live vicariously through those that have the "ballsinis" to wear that itsy bitsy bathing suit, as I head to my day-job in my business suit.  Weird how much has changed in 15 years.   But I still miss spring break...

Day 29 - I miss spring break - Part 1

There are so many things about being a kid that I miss.  Playing outside all day every day.  Bike rides.  Rollerblading parties.  Recess.  Sleepovers.  TGIF.  Summer vacation!  I mean the list could go on and on.  But seeing as though this is now the end of March, and given the weather, I think it is safe to say that I miss spring break.  Spring break was the one thing that got you through January, February, and much of March.  Spring Break was the reason going back to school after winter vacation didn't suck so bad.  Now, being an adult, I don't have a spring break trip planned.  My next vacation day is the Friday before Memorial Day when I am hitting the beaches of Cancun for a much-needed couples vacation.

Spring break was awesome.  We had two hot spots that we would always go to.  For years we would go to my grandparent's condo in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  It was right on the beach, and across the street from a McDonald's, so frankly, it was a kid's paradise.  I can still remember when McDonald's came out with their first Monopoly game ever.  I would beg my dad to take me to McDonald's every day just so I could collect my Monopoly pieces.  He would never given in because it "cost money" to have lunch at McDonald's and for those of you who know Dave, we didn't do much that cost money growing up (or so it seemed).  Of course, here I was thinking that he wouldn't spend money on me as I sit on the beach, while some of my friends were at home reading books for Spring Break.  Amazing how skewed your vision can be as a child.  Anyways, the usual residents in this high-rise condo were mostly snowbirds, and generally senior citizens.  But for one week in the spring, all of the families of all of the residents would convene in the building.  The beach would be filled with families enjoying a week away from school and the office.  It was perfection. 

The other spring break destination of our choice was Scottsdale, AZ, where my other grandparents live.  We would go there and spend a week with aunts and uncles and cousins.  Our family of five would share a bedroom - which worked fine until we were just too big to all share one little space, at which time Davey moved out into the family room.  The community pool was always open (never heated though).  There was never a schedule or a plan.  The oranges would grow on the tree, and grandma would cut them for us every morning.  We would get Krispy Kreme donuts (when Krispy Kreme was still around).  We would have Chompies bagels (which was quite the treat at the time).  We just sort of hung out for a week, spending time with family.  The picture above is exactly how life was like for a week.  Nothing but family time.  Go Bulls by the way (that's the emblem on my hat.  Awesome).

Looking back, spring break was literally the best week ever.  It was a much needed break from the routine of school.  It was a moment in time when the family was together - near or far - and we enjoyed (whether it felt that way at the time or not) each other's company.  Maybe that's the part I miss about Spring Break the most?  Spending quality time with my sisters and my cousins before life got complicated.  Alli, Julie, and Lauren - we need to plan a Spring Break together next year, you got that?!  I miss it.  I need it.

Day 28 - RPM Italian

I know I am not a food critic, I am not even close to being one, but I do enjoy myself a good meal.  I am one of those people who eats food because it tastes good.  I think that going out to dinner is one of my favorite social activities.  A bottle of wine, and some delicious food, and I am set.  I don't understand the people who eat food for fuel and nothing else.  I don't understand...AND I am jealous.  Imagine how much healthier I would be if I could flip the switch in my head from "wanting food" to "needing food" and only eating what was necessary.  Healthier - definitely.  Boring - totally!!

This past weekend, Mike and I went to the new RPM Italian in River North.  In case you don't know or in case you were living under a rock for the last year or so, RPM Italian is the new Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises restaurant, opened by Bill & Giuliana Rancic, Doug Psaltis, and the Melman's (of LEYE).  It's a swanky Italian restaurant located on the corner of Dearborn and Illinois.  It is right across the street from a fire station, and it just so happened that the night we went was St. Patrick's Day; there was definitely a lot of opportunity for people watching, and by people watching I mean drunk girls in knee high socks and neon green tutus, and the firefighters were taking advantage of watching the insanity unfold.  I, on the other hand, was watching the firefighters watching the insanity.  +1 for RPM - location.

We had early reservations because we were heading over to the United Center to watch the Bulls Beat the 76ers (89-80).  We had arrived about 30 minutes prior to our reservation time, but they sat us anyways in a cute little corner booth.  The servers all wore white blazers and black bottoms.  Mike was surprised by the black-and-white theme.  When I asked him what he was expecting, he didn't really have an answer for me, but he was taken aback by it.  I didn't have any preconceived notions, so I thought the outfits were trendy and flattering.  They ambiance, including the music, was "cool."  It wasn't a stuffy Italian restaurant where the tables are too close together, and old school Italian music is playing in the background.  It was spacious and exciting.

As for the menu, it is most certainly designed for sharing, and for you to try a lot of what is on it.  We started the night with the Pinot Nero wine.  It was so good; we did work on that bottle pretty quickly.  There are breads, small bites, hot and cold appetizers, salads, pasta dishes, and main entrees.  We had the ricotta bread to start which was the best Ricotta either of us had had.  We asked the server what he thought and he said that the garlic bread was popular, but his personal favorite was the ricotta bread.  We went with that, and boy was he right!!  Giuliana's salad was good, and our pasta choices were great.  I had the Mama DePandi's Bucatini Pomodoro which was awesome; the pomodoro sauce on it was so tasty, and the garlic cloves were a nice add!!  Mike enjoyed the Short Rib Pappardelle as well.  We topped the meal off with their pistachio gelato which was, by far, the best gelato I have ever had.  Mike is a huge pistachio junkie, and he agrees that it was amazing.

Overall, our experience was a good one.  Our server was great, soft-spoken, but knowledgeable.  The prices were reasonable - which was a welcomed surprise.  And it being a LEYE restaurant, we were able to use gift cards!  WOO!!  Being that our reservation was earlier (4:30PM, but we sat at 4:00PM), our experience may have been different than maybe people who go at peak dinner hour.  I would definitely like to go back around 7:30 or so and see how our first experience compares.  If you are interested in trying this restaurant out, better make your reservations now.  It may take a few weeks for you to get in.  Let me know what you think if you do go!  Maybe I will see you there.

Day 27 - Summer, Summer, Summer Time!

I often encounter things in my life that make me go "hmmmm...really?"  I'm certain that after sharing my experiences, you will either agree, or have more of your own hilarity to add. 

Seeing as how this weather has been just awesome the last week or so, I am reminded about last summer, and some of the crazy things that I saw on TV.  If you remember, last summer there was a stint where it was incredibly hot in the midwest (and really across the whole country).  Every night there was a piece on the news on how to "Beat the Heat."  There was the usual, stay indoors and do arts and crafts, go to the pool, etc.  But then there was the out of the ordinary activities that the news would broadcast.  For example, they would show images of kids busting open fire hydrants and flooding the streets, followed immediately by a "this is not recommended."  So why, then, do the show it in a segment about beating the heat?  That makes no sense to me.

Also on the news, again during this heat wave, there was a segment on remembering to take your child with you when you got some where.  I wish I was kidding when I tell you this, but there are actually people who forget that their kids are in the car seat when they arrive some where and they just leave them in the boiling hot car.  This actually happens!!  So the news, being as proactive and helpful as they are, provided the general public with some great ways to remember your child in the back seat (besides of course remembering that you are a parent and your child is in the car with you).  One of their suggestions quite literally made me stop what I was doing and scream at the TV.  They suggested leaving your cell phone in the back seat of the car, so that you remember to grab your baby.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME??  They are implying, with this, that there are people out there that covet their cell phone more than their own child!  I am sorry but I find this incredibly unbelievable.  And the fact that they have to even provide this as suggestion on the nightly news almost makes me sick.  People are amazing!

And since we are focusing on summer and warm weather, one more thing that really grinds my gears is the cost of bathing suits.  An average men's swimming suit probably costs anywhere from $60-$75 (and in my opinion that is still a lot for a pair of shorts that you wear in the water).  But a woman's bikini, which is literally two little tiny pieces of fabric costs $60-$75 PER PIECE, making the bathing suit cost about $150.00!!!  Can you believe that??  How does that make any sense?  I can buy an entire sweat suit that would cover my whole body for that price.  But a teeny little piece of fabric that barely covers my lady parts is going to run me the same price?  It's crazy.  And the thing is - we pay it!!

So here's to another summer filled with hydrant flooding, cell phones in the back seat, and over-priced bikinis.

Day 26 - Things that were popular 10 years ago

So, seeing as though Mike and I have now been together for 10 years, I thought it might be fun to recall what was cool 10 years ago. 

http://mugrack.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/40-things-that-were-popular-at-the-beginning-of-the-decade-that-arent-popular-anymore-via-buzzfeed/

After reading through the items on this list, some of the most noteable ones:
6. Ja-Rule - we listened to his music a lot!!
10. TRL - I would come home and turn on MTV right away to catch this show
12. Frosted Tips (and Justin Timberlake)
13. O-Town!! - loved them and their corny music
38. Nick Lachey - I don't care what anyone says, I loved Nick and Jessica and their "Newlyweds" show
39. Walkmen - no bus ride was complete without one

I am sure there are many more things that were popular back then, but I found this site and I thought it was fun to bring them up!  Amazing how time flies, huh?  We had an amazing weekend, and I will share the details later this week.  For now, I am off to rest.  I am totally and completely exhausted.  Happy Sunday!

Day 25 - Happy Anniversary to us

Well, people, we made it!  Mike and I have officially been a couple for 10 YEARS.  I know I am not supposed to get too personal in these posts, but I wanted to take a quick trip down memory lane and talk about "the beginning."

Mike and I met in the library of Stevenson High School on a Tuesday or a Wednesday.  It was the afternoon, so maybe 6th or 7th period, and I was in the library for study hall.  I was sitting at a table in a "tweedish" Abercrombie sweater.  I can't remember what I was wearing, but Mike remembers that sweater.  He remembers how my blonde hair looked against that sweater.  I can honestly I don't remember what Mike was wearing that day - and wish with all my might that I could.  If I had to take a guess, it would be his polo carpenter Jeans (you know the baggy kind that had the loop where the "hammer" was supposed to go if you were in construction?  I should have known at that moment that it was Mike's calling to be a construction manager.  Boy did I miss the signs!).  He was probably wearing a polo Rugby shirt as well.  He loved Polo, and looked great in it. 

We chatted at the library table for some time, until - for some reason I have yet to justify - I signed my name on piece of a paper and told him to keep it; that'd it be worth something some day.  That was the beginning of our friendship.  I find it worth mentioning here that he didn't keep the paper, which is fine because it certainly wouldn't be worth anything today (but there's still time).  He got the most important signature of all - my name on a marriage license 8 years later.

That following Friday I was hanging out with some friends at some one's house, when I got a call from my BFF Mike Zmuda.  Zmuda and I had become friends the month prior at a high school dance.  We hit it off one night, and we've been best buds ever since.  On that Friday, Z was with some of my other friends, and they were heading back to his house; he invited me to come over.  He also mentioned that he was with Mike Andre.  At the time, I had no idea that Mike Zmuda and Mike Andre were friends - let alone BEST friends.  Turns out, Mike Z. and Mike A. had gone to grammar school together and have remained close through it all.  In fact, Mike Z. is our newest neighbor!!!!!  I digress.

I went over to Mike Z's house and hung out with Mike Andre, and whoever else was there, and had a great time.  We exhanged numbers, and chatted the next day.  We decided that we should hang out at Mike Z's again on Saturday night.  Come Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, Mike Andre had asked me to be his girlfriend.  The rest is pretty much history.  Sure we have had moments of ups and downs, highs and lows, but we have always come out on top.  We have learned how to communicate.  We have learned how to fight fires with humor.  We have learned how to be an unstoppable duo.  He makes me a better person, and I like to think that I do the same for him.  I think we are each other's soul mate.  So cheesy. 

So now, we are off to celebrate the last 10 years with a dinner at RPM Italian (Giuliana & Bill Rancic's new restaurant), the Bulls game (3rd row), a couples massage, and some much anticipated alone time.  I can't wait to tell you all about it.  Cheers!

Day 24 - Personal Assistants. Now Hiring!

I have come to the conclusion that I would love to have personal assistants all around me at all times.  I know this is not a very epic conclusion or one that holds much weight, but can you imagine what life would be like if you had someone that could do "things" for you all day long??  Here are some of the personal assistants I would like to have in my life.

Shampoo-person - How amazing would it be to wake up for work every morning and have a head/neck/scalp massage from a shampoo-girl?  I think that would be the best way to start the day.  But why stop there?  I mean I might as well wish that this shampoo-girl could blow dry my hair for me so that it has incredible volume, or curl the ends so that my hair doesn't look so darn lifeless.  You can actually go the salon and get a simple shampoo, conditioner, and style.  They charge like $30, but on those days that you are doing something fabulous, and want to look your best, it might just be worth it.  But Free is better, so if only they could live at my house and do that every day!  HAPPY GIRL.

Dental Hygienist - Wouldn't it be so nice to have a personal dental hygienist that can brush, floss, and polish your teeth for you every morning?  You would have the best looking smile without having to do any of the work.  I mean think about it, flossing your teeth feels amazing, but having to actually do it is such a pain in the rear.  It would be so great if someone who knew what they were doing just stepped in and took care of the dirty work for you!  I was having dinner with my family a few weeks back and my dad had said this same thing - he wishes that he could go to the dentist more than twice a year for a cleaning.  We love clean teeth.

Chauffeur - Although I love driving, and driving fast at that, I very much would enjoy having a persona chauffeur.  I would love to sit in the back seat, and close my eyes.  Or listen to some good music.  Or call my friends without having to worry about paying attention while driving home.  Plus, with a chauffeur, you don't have to worry about finding a parking spot when you go places.  Imagine how easy Christmas shopping would be if you didn't need to find a spot at the Nordstrom at Woodfield!!

Chef - I would love to have a personal chef that would take care of all of my meals for me.  I do love cooking!  It is becoming a stress relief, and I seek pleasure in creating meals that Mike "ooo's and ahhh's over."  But sometimes it would be nice to come home from work and not have to cook (and sometimes that is a reality when my mother-in-law or step-mom decide to share their delicious meals with us).  And the personal chef would be able to make whatever you wanted.  The cooking part isn't the part that I dislike.  It's the having to come up with a good idea and buying the groceries part that I hate. 

Personal Shopper/Stylist - Now I know this one isn't too far-fetched, given that there are personal shoppers at Neimans, but who can afford that??  It would be wonderful if there was someone out there that knew you as well as you knew yourself, and could pick out your clothes for you and your size and have them delivered to your front door.  And there could be days that I meet the personal shopper at the mall, and she helps me pick out clothes that look good one me.  I love shopping, so I wouldn't want to give that up completely, but to have someone there that could be your second set of eyes, would be awesome.

It'd be a nice dream to have all of these things - and it's amazing to me that there are people out there that have the privilege of living like this every day.  I am happy to say that I am self-sufficient, but it would be pretty sweet to not have to worry about a damn thing some day!

Day 23 - Home Improvements: What to do?

Mike and I have been living in our town house for two years.  We were lucky because, for the most part, the home was move-in ready.  Sure there were rooms that needed painting, and there were some other changes we wanted to make to the place, but nothing so significant that we couldn't do it at our own pace (and by own pace, I mean my pace, because we all know that it's the only pace that matters).  We replaced the carpet on the first floor with hardwood.  It makes the space flow so much nicer.  Then we painted to the downstairs and the upstairs just to give everything a fresh start. 

We always have a debate on what is going to give us the biggest bang for our buck!  Obviously we don't want to spend too much money on making unnecessary improvements to our first home.  We plan on staying for a while, but not forever, so we want to do enough - but not everything.  The latest debate has been in our powder room on the first floor.  There is a pedestal sink in there, which I don't like too much, as it serves very little function.  I wanted to remove the pedestal and replace it with a new cabinet and granite sink.  I was vetoed.  Mike was convinced that doing that much work to that little space just wasn't worth it.  He came up with a great compromise.

For me, it was all about function and form.  I wanted a place to hide extra toilet paper, and some hand towels.  He found this adorable cabinet that we were able to hang in the bathroom instead of replacing the entire sink.  We also found this fabulous mirror with an antique-looking frame to replace the standard mirror that came with the house originally.  Just those two little tweaks that we were able to do ourselves, changed the whole look of the bathroom.  I wanted to hire a plumber and replace everything, but Mike's rational thinking stepped in and we inevitably made the right choice.  The next time you are thinking about making an improvement to your home, be sure and weigh out all of the options, and that you choose the most econmical and least disruptive to your life.

Day 22 - Grocery Shopping

Part of being adult means having to deal with some of life's little inconveniences.  Like household chores.  Paying taxes.  And dealing with benefits at work.  How come there isn't a class offered in college about life "stuff"?  There are so many things that I know now (or think that I know now) that I wish I knew a few years ago when I had to start real-life.  Today's life lesson is going to be about grocery shopping. 

First off, make a list!  It does absolutely no good to show up to the grocery store and start throwing things into your cart that sound good.  Chances are you won't pick out anything that makes a complete meal, and you certainly won't grab any vegetables because when do those ever sound good??  By making a list, you can get in and out of the grocery store relatively quickly and you are more likely to stick to a reasonable budget.  I am not a coupon clipper (or an Extreme Couponer, if you will), so making the list is the closest thing I can get to saving money.  I try not to buy anything that isn't on the list unless I "have to have it" like a pack of gum or a trashy magazine.

Once you get good at making a list of things that you need, soon enough you will get to a point where you can organize the list based on the layout of the grocery store.  I have gotten good at that.  It makes the grocery shopping experience so much easier if you keep everything together based on location in the store - produce, meat counter, canned goods, dairy, etc.  I have greatly reduced my overall shopping time with this strategy.

Next, don't go to the grocery store while you are hungry.  Your hunger will override that list so fast!!  Everything starts to look good.  Everything starts to smell good.  Things that you would never DREAM of buying jump into your cart.  We have a brick of jalapeno-infused cheese that Mike "had to have" because it looked so good one day.  It is now over a month old, sitting in our fridge, and unopened.  We even got a cheese cutter and tray as a gift recently, and still, we've never tried that cheese.  Another unfortunate side-effect of hunger.

Divide and conquer!!  Mike and I have determined that the quickest and easiest way to get out of the grocery store in under 30 minutes is to divide and conquer.  We have found that if Mike hits the two meat counters (lunch meat, and fish) and I do literally everything else, we finish at the same time and can meet at the check out line.  At first, I was opposed to this idea because I had always dreamed of grocery shopping together being the epitome of marriage.  I was living in denial.  Grocery shopping together is horrendous.  He wants to read every label and figure out which item is "healthier" for you, etc.  Not me - I pick the one that tastes the best (which usually means its the least healthy) and I move on.  So by splitting up the work load, we have mastered the art of grocery shopping - and we don't want to kill each other afterwards.

We are by no means grocery store experts.  But, we have certainly lived and learned a little.  Hopefully these tips and tricks help you out the next time you are thinking about tackling the grocery store.  If all else fails, there is always Peapod.

Day 21 - Color blocking. Say what?

So, bright colors are making a come back.  For a while there, dark colors were the "in" thing, but now, having been to enough stores in the last few weeks, I am noticing that brighter colors are now the newest trend.  Which kind of sucks, because I don't really like a lot of bright colors.  I will wear them occassionally, but I will pair it with something muted.  I can't wear an entire outfit made out of bright colors, or I would like Rainbow Bright (and yes, you know it's true).


But pairing the bright colors with a muted color is only slightly trendy - you know, like a bright sweater with a pair of jeans or black pants.  The trend is is color blocking; taking bright shirts and bright pants and putting them together.  The idea is that solid colors can actually act as, dare I say it, neutrals.  So long as there is no pattern in the color, you can pair the colors together.  The picture to the left shows color blocking at it's finest.  I don't mind it so much with the skirts, because the bare legs help to neurtalize the outfit.  It's when there is a shirt and pants that things start to look a little messy .

Now, this new fad is good for the braves ones (i.e. the Whitney's of the world, and even my sisters would give the color blocking a try I'm sure) but not me - or so I thought.  The last thing I want on my lower half is a pair of bright pink, skinny jeans.  Accentuating the rear and the thighs does not sound appealing to me at all.  So, instead of pink, I went with blue.  A bright, bright, BRIGHT blue.  Although the color blocking trend is not something that I feel totally comfortable pulling off, I definitely think it is a cute, modern look.  I am going to stick to one bright color mixed with a neutral, but if you are feeling the color blocking, then by all means, rock on with your bad self.

Day 20 - Half-way Point!

So the whole point of taking on the 40-day Challenge was two-fold - (1) I wanted to add something to my life this year for Lent instead of giving something up, and (2) I wanted to see if I could challenge myself.  Well, both objectives have been met so far, and I am thrilled.  I have not missed a post yet, and it has truly been a challenge in and of itself.

Despite popular belief, it is rather difficult to come up with topics just out of the blue (hence the quotes and the recipes as fillers).  I have been jotting down a lot of notes on my iPhone throughout the day or on a good ol' fashioned Post-It Note just to keep track of the crazy things that come into my consciousness.  What I struggle with is coming up with ideas that people will find interesting; that people will want to read; that people can relate to.  There are millions of blogs out there in the blogospher, and millions of people who think they can blog just because it is free (I hate to break it to you people, but not everyone was born a writer, just saying...).  My struggle comes in trying to make myself stand out; how to show individuality while still bringing people together on a common subject?

Up to this point, I think that the 40-Day of Blogging has been very well-received.  What I love is when I hear my friends and family talking about something silly that I wrote earlier that day, or that week.  It sparks further conversation.  People laugh.  People add their own anecdotes.  That conversation makes me feel so good; knowing that my loved ones take a few minutes out of their day (every day) to read the nonsense that is my life.  Some of the blogs have been personal, some have been general, some of have been noteworthy, and others not-so-much.  And if you don't read every day, or even every other day, I want you to know how much it means to me when you do read.  It means so much to have you tell me how much you enjoy it, or if you want to provide me with topics, or ideas, etc..  You are enabling me to be the best that I can be, and for that I am incredibly grateful. 

We have officially hit the half-way point today.  The first 20 days were difficult, but in a great way.  It has foreced me to take a few minutes out of my day, every day, to focus on me.  I have done something that I truly enjoy for the last 20 days, and I am looking forward to doing it for 20 more.  I am also looking forward to taking a week off when this is all over, but that's beside the point.  I appreciate all the love that you guys have given me, and all of the "you can't stop blogging even when Lent is over" comments.  You guys are awesome, and I hope to keep entertaining you if nothing else.  Have a great day, and a wonderful week!

Day 19 - Gym-Night Recipe 2: Tilapia and Arborrio

My other favorite gym night recipe came from Mike's Grandma - only it came as sort of a joke.  When Mike and I first got married, his grandparents would always joke that I was not the best cook.  And that was the truth.  Mike's grandpa would always ask Mike, "What was the last think she made ya?"  And we'd laugh.  It was all in good fun.  Then one day, Mike's grandma brought me a few recipes that she had photocopied from a magazine.  She said she thought of me when she saw them because they were really easy!  Perfect. My kind of recipe.  So, I tried one from that photocopy, and it has become one of our favorites!!

Tilapia with Creamy Tomatoes and Arborio 

Ingredients (2 Servings)

2 Tilapia Filets

2 tbsp chopped basil

2 minced garlic cloves (I use already minced garlic from the jar)

1 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes, drained (the original recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh tomato, but the canned tomatoes work perfectly, and we actually like it better!)

3 Tbsp. Heavy Cream

1 container of Arborio* (Arborio is Italian-style rice.  It's the perfect compliment to the tilapia and creamy tomatoes.  There are specific instructions on how to prepare the Arborio on the container itself.  My recipe calls for a chopped onion, 1 cup of the Arborio, and 3 cups of Chicken Stock)

Method

Begin working on the Arborio about 10-15 minutes before working on the tilapia, that way they finish at the same time.  Again, follow the instructions on the Arborio container.

Saute the 2 tilapia filets in olive oil until golden brown, and just cooked through; remove the fish from the pan.

In the same pan, saute the basil, the garlic, and the can of drained, diced tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes); cook for 2 mins, then stir in 3 tbsp heavy cream.  

Serve the fish on a plate, and top with the tomato cream sauce.  We like to cover the Arborio with the cream sauce as well.

ENJOY!

This "hardest" part of this recipe is the patience you need to make the Arborio.  It takes about 30 minutes, but it's really worth it.  So creamy and good.  Let me know how it goes!

Day 18 - Gym-Night Recipe 1: Sweet and Sour Chicken

There are two different types of "work nights" at our house -the nights that we go to the gym, and the nights that we don't.  There are also those nights that we say we are going to go to the gym and then we never make it.  Rarely is it the other way around, let's be honest.  But on those gym nights, we like to go to the gym before coming home, having dinner, and settling in for the night.  The only problem with this strategy is that I am not a fan of eating late.  I usually feel like crap the next morning if I have a big dinner right before bed.  So, with this debacle, I have to find meals that I can make in 30-minutes or less (yes, very Rachel Ray of me), but also cook things that we like.  Often times there are recipes out there that sound amazing, but there are ingredients in there that I have never heard of.  The last thing I want to do at 7PM is figure out what the heck "tahnini" is (bad example, because I do know what it is, but still, you know what I mean).  So the trick is to find recipes that sound good, with ingredients I recognize, and truly only take 30 minutes - inlcuding prep and cook time!! 

I am sure there are those of you out there that agree, so I am going to share with you two of my favorite "Gym Night" recipes.  I did not make these up, but I have tweaked them based on experience.  You can see my commentary in "Italics" below.  I also don't have the nutrition facts for these recipes either.  If you don't want to make them because you don't know how many calories are in them, fine by me.  I don't count calories.  I eat food because it tastes good, and I like to make my family happy.  So here is the first recipe:

Sweet and Sour Chicken served with Brown Rice

Ingredients
2 thawed chicken breasts, cut into 1" cubes
1 egg white
2 Teaspoons Corn Starch
Oil for cooking
*****
1 Medium Green Pepper, diced into 1" chunks
1 Medium Onion, diced into 1" chunks
*****
1 10-oz can of Pineapple Chunks; drain the juice and set aside for later
1/2 cup of White Vinegar
1/2 cup of Ketchup
A dash of salt
3 Tablespoons of brown sugar
*****
Minute Rice (either brown or white, you choose) - follow the instructions on the box for the amount that you would like for this meal.  We generally do the basic serving for 2.

Method
In a bowl, combine the chicken cubes, the eggwhite, and the corn starch so that the chicken is completely covered. Let sit for 15 minutes at room temperate.  I like to do this step before going to the gym.  I place the bowl in the fridge while we are gone, that way the chicken is completely covered and ready to go when we get back. 

In a separate bowl, whisk together the reserved pineapple juice, white vinegar, ketchup, salt, and brown sugar.  This is another step I like to do before the gym.  I whisk it all together and then I let it sit in the fridge while we are gone as well.  Also, I have doubled the recipe for the Sweet and Sour Sauce.  I made the recipe a few times, but there was never enough sweet and sour sauce.  Mike likes to pour the sauce over his rice (me too), so I decided to make more.  It has worked out ever since.  The measurements above is the already doubled-recipe, so no need to double again, unless you are serving more people of course.

Cook the rice as instructed on the box.  Now is a good time to start this process.  We often tag team this step.  I will start the rice, and watch the water boil (very productive I know).  Mike will usually start the next step of cooking the chicken.

Next, heat a large frying pan with high heat (you can tell when the pan is good and hot if a bead of water sizzles on it).  Once hot, add the oil to coat the bottom of the pan.  Add the chicken to the hot oil, in single layer.  We have found that sometimes the chiken will stick together because of the egg and corn starch; that's okay.  You can break the pieces apart after they have started cooking a little.  Let the chicken cook for about 1-3 minutes until browned on the bottom.  Flip the chicken, and allow the other side to brown, again for another 1-3 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through.  Once done, remove the chicken from the pan, but leave as much of the oil in the pan as you can.  Mike always has the most trouble with this step.  He simply dumps the whole pan of chicken onto a plate, oil and all, even after I have reminded a dozen times not to.  It's okay if you want to do that too; you can simply add a dash more of oil in the next step.

Turn the heat down from high to medium, and add a little oil if needed.  Add the green pepper and onion chunks to the pan.  Let them saute for a few minutes.  We usually let them cook for about 2-3 minutes.  The idea here isn't to let the vegetables become soft.  The crunchier the veggies are, the better the recipe is.  Now, add the pineapple chunks and the sweet and sour sauce to the pan.  Turn the heat back up to high, and once the sauce is simmering, add the chicken back into the pan.  Let the chicken sit in the sauce for a few more moments, and serve over rice.
*******

The whole recipe takes about 30 minutes total.  I do 15 minutes before the gym, with the cutting of the chicken and the veggies, and making the sweet and sour sauce.  Then when we get home, its simply cook it all up and chow down!!  Good luck with this recipe, and let me know what you think.  Of course, make it your own, and have fun.

Day 17 - Corporate Birthday Bash!

Birthdays in Corporate America are hilarious!  The older you get, the more lame birthdays become, which really sucks because getting old is hard.  You would think that the older we got the more we would make birthdays "special" because, frankly, we want to look past the fact that we are one year older and party!!!; but no.  That's not how it works.  Celebrating your birthday in the work-place is a chore, and it totally takes the fun out of it!  Here's what I mean:

In school, birthdays were a BFD!  In elementary school you would bring cupcakes for the whole class.  In junior high your mom would drop off McDonald's for lunch.  In high school, your friends would bring you flowers and balloons (or Carly Big Cards) and you would cart them from class to class so that everyone knew the day was all about you!!!  Birthdays were awesome when you were between the ages of 1-18.  Then college came, and birthdays got EVEN BETTER (if that was possible).  Even though you may not have been old enough to legally "celebrate" we always did.  It was the perfect excuse to put on an even skankier outfit than you normally would, drink beer that was more than $9.00 a case, and dance to "Call on Me" with your friends.  And your birthday would usually last an entire weekend.  Now that's celebrating!!

Then the real world hits, and birthdays go down hill...and quick!  I can remember my first birthday in the office.  No balloons.  There were flowers though (thanks to my hubby and my parents).  There were no skany outfits (much to the dismay of my coworkers, I'm sure).  There were no dance parties.  No beer.  Nothing.  Corporate Birthdays are lame.  Our company used to give you a free lunch pass to eat at the cafeteria on your birthday, but they even stopped doing that.  Now, your birthday is just a regular day.  No one says, "Oh it's your birthday?  Then you don't have to come to this terrible meeting today.  Free Pass"  They don't say, "Yay!  It's your birthday.  Why don't you head home early?"  You still have the same old recurring meetings.  You still have the same responsibilities as every other day, it just feels crappier because you want to be celebrating, but instead you are working. 

And maybe I am the only one who feels like this.  Maybe I am the only one who loves when an entire day can be devoted to me!!  I get to pick where we go to lunch.  I pick what we have for dinner.  There are presents and surprises and everything.  I love birthdays - maybe too much.  But really, there are not that many things left in this world to celebrate, so why not make a point of celebrating birthdays??  Embrace the day.  Brag to the world that it's all about you.  Leave early.  Or even take the day off.  But make a point to celebrate you - even if it is at work.  Life is short!!  Enjoy the little things.

Day 16 - *Live*Laugh*Love*

Love is a very complex feeling.  It can affect you physically, emotionally, spiritually.  Love can make you feel complete.  Love can break your heart.  Love can make you say stupid things, or do stupid things.  Love can make you try things you never thought you'd try.  Love can define you.  Love can make you into the person you have always wanted to be; or it can turn you into your own worst enemy.  The crazy thing about love is that we all crave it, and we all need it, but it's up to us to determine how we want it to impact our lives. 

We have all seen the "perfect" couple, the one we secretly wish would have a major blow-out in front of all of their friends proving that they are human, and of course, providing us with vindication.  We have also seen the "world's worst" couple, two people who have nothing in common, can't agree on anything, and simply make those around them miserable.  Then there's those relationships that are "one-sided," where one person is simply in it because they can be, and the other is convinced that they are with "the one."  I blame both people in this situation, one for leading the other person on, and the other for not having the courage, or the where-with-all, to see how delusional the relationship really is. 

Then there are those couples that are neither perfect nor horrible; I like to think we fall into that category - as do most of our friends and family.  I like to think that we have a good balance of complete harmony, and complete chaos.  We make each other laugh more often than not, but we certainly do fight.  However, when those fights take place, we tend to fight fair (except I occassionally hit below the belt), and we always make-up.  One of us (usually me) admits fault, and the whole thing is over.  That part is incredibly important; being able to recognize when you were wrong, then admitting it.  The other person has to then give-in and forgive the other person.  Then the whole cycle starts all over again.

Part of being in a good, healthy relationship is being able to argue amicably, and then come to an agreement.  Let's face it, we are not always going to agree; life would be far too boring if we did.  You have to be able to compromise, and see things through the eyes of your partner.  That's part of loving someone else.  And sometimes, you just apologize for something, even when you know you are right, simply to move on.  You have to pick your battles, and you have to know when to simply relent the situation.  That's what love is all about.  Love is patient.  Love is kind.  And love doesn't give a shit who is right or wrong.  Duke it out, laugh your butt off, and live your life filled with Love.

Day 15 - Corporate Phrases

Having been in Corporate America for over 4 years now, I have come to find the humor in so many of the everyday "doings."  There are funny people - who have fallen victim to these blogs in the past.  There are funny clothes - again, victimized for my own personal entertainment.  There are funny projects.  And funny meetings.  And even funnier meetings about meetings.  But the thing that annoys me the most, but also provides me with the most humor are the phrases.  As stand alone phrases they mean nothing, and certainly don't get a rise out of me.  But when used in the corporate context, I find them hilarious, and annoying all at the same time. 

Let's start with the most annoying.  It drives me crazy when someone gives you direction to do something, followed by the phrase "and then let's circle back."  I don't know why that phrase bothers me so much, but the thought of "circling back" with someone just sounds like it is going to be a complete waste of time.  If we analyze the phrase (yes, analyzing is my favorite thing to do), and think about it literally, circling back brings us right back where we started.  So, my initial thought is, let's avoid the circle all together, and let's just discuss whatever is you want to discuss?  Why do you feel the need to call me back to simply a) review what it is that I am doing between now and the circle back, b) regurgitate the same thing, c) start over - which is generally what happens anyways?  I hate "circling back" with someone, and I dread the moments when I have to either hear it, or do it.  Dumb.

The next phrase that annoys me in Corporate America is when you are on a conference call with a group of people, and the presenter asks for questions.  So you, as an educated listener, and someone who has a question, takes a stab, only to have the presenter say "Let's go ahead and take this one offline."  Offline?  As in, I either stumped you?  You view my question as a one-off.  Or you are afraid that the answer is going to frighten the rest of your measly listeners.  Taking topics offline is basically the same as hiding the truth from the masses.  Sure, there are some instances where the question is completely off-base and the presenter wants to save your ass from embarrassment, but that is highly unlikely.  If you are a presenter and you ask for questions, please be prepared to answer them - no matter how "off" you think the question is.

Next up, the "Parking Lot."  Every meeting that I go to has a flip chart in the corner.  The flip-chart transforms itself in to the "parking lot," aka: the area where ideas that people have and no one else wants to work on go.  The area that holds all of the brilliant plans that are never executed.  The area that acts as a think-tank, but really is simply word vomit.  I hate Parking Lots.  I hate putting ideas on the parking lot list.  I hate it because I am afraid that it is the place where my ideas, my thoughts, my participation goes to die.  If your idea is ever "Parking lotted," consider it dead.

The last over used phrase is the classic "I have this opportunity..."  If someone comes up to you and has this amazing opportunity for you, chances are it's either their sloppy seconds, or the project is so horrible that they didn't want to do it themselves so they pawned it off on you.  When you are the low man on the totem pole (as I have been for 4 years), you get a lot of "opportunities" thrown your way.  I have learned to call some people out on these so-called opportunities, and others I have learned to accept.  I generally can handle those types of things fairly well on the outside, but on the inside I want to scream.  I am not dumb.  I know when someone is trying to take advantage of me.  But sometimes, you have no choice but to grin and bear it.

So my fellow corporate citizens (and those of you who are not corporate, but have most likely heard these phrases or variations of these phrases), I hope you find the humor in them as I have done.  Work is called work because it sucks.  If it didn't suck, it would be called fun.  So, you might as well try to make work as fun as possible by making fun of your superiors and their silly catch phrases.

Day 14 - Accent Nails...yes please!



Summer color: Essie, Waltz

I enjoy getting manicures.  I haven't gotten one in quite some time because it is one of those things that I like to do, but don't need to do, so when money is tight, that's the first thing to go.  But there was a point in time when I was going every two weeks.  It was a time for me to take 1 hour out of my crazy life for me, and do nothing but gossip with the manicurists and other patrons, and simply not think.  Every once in a while I will throw a pedicure in there too, but those are definitely a rarity these days.


Winter color: Essie, Smokin' Hot



Whenever I would get my nails done, I would stick to two colors: I wear a lighter color in the summer time, and a darker color in the winter time.  I have never been one to go outside of my norm.  I have never worn a bright pink color.  I have never done a bright blue on my toe nails.  I think maybe it's because I work in corporate America, and nails like that aren't always the most well-received.  I can honestly say I have never head anyone make a comment about some one else's nails, but I truly want to draw as little attention to myself as possible in that regard...

...until this past winter.  I was getting a manicure with my sister-in-law, Cait, and she had asked me if I had ever heard of the accent color?  I hadn't, so she explained it to me.  Essentially, you get 8 fingers the same color, and 2 fingers (one on each hand) different.  I find that it gives your manicure character.  You don't need to pick something obnoxious to be your accent color, but you certainly can!  I decided to give this whole "accent nail" a try.  I did a deep, deep red, as it was close to Christmas, with a "goldish" accent color.  It was not very obvious at all, but it was just enough to add a little something.  All was fine with the world, I enjoyed my new accents nails.



Nail color: Essie, Cocktail Bling and Essie, Set in Stones



And then my world changed and I have my friend Carly to thank for this.  I saw one of her pictures posted on one of the social media sites.  It was of her brand new manicure.  I absolutely fell in love with it, and it became my weakness.  My addiction.  My once "nice to have" manicure suddenly took a "I must have it" turn.  She paired a beautiful greyish-bluish color (Essie: Cocktail Bling) with a sparkly heaven (Essie: Set in Stones).  It was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen.  I have been getting that same manicure now for a few weeks and I love it.  In fact, the last time I went to the nail salon, all of the ladies were "oo-ing" and "ahh-ing" over my manicure.  They all actually got their own accent nails that day!  Look at me being a trend copier, and then a trend-setter all in one day. 

So here's to a new trend.  May you love it as much as me, copy as much as you like, and tell your friends.  We are so cool :)