Warm Welcome

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There have been some new readers commenting on the blog as of late. I just wanted to wish you all a warm welcome and say hello! Thanks for stopping by. Thank you for leaving comments. Thanks for just being you. I hope you'll visit again and find something entertaining about my daily rants and musings. Happy to have you!

And to everyone still reading and commenting, thanks for sticking around. I have not been very good at keeping up and commenting on your blogs as of late. My apologies. And I'm still reading - even if I'm not talking back. Maybe it's better that way, anyway. Ha. Cheers!

Rewind: The Weekend

This past weekend, I attended brunch and a Stella & Dot trunk show at the lovely Johanna's place. Funny how you meet people through blogging and then realize they live only about 4 1/2 blocks from you. So I walked. Sweet. I ended up buying three bracelets that will be fun to layer and show off in the summer with some casual dresses. They have some great stuff right now. Check it out here.

While I could have bought plenty more, I had to watch my budget. Why, you ask? Well, my poor little Finley has Giardia. It's an intestinal parasite. He likely picked it up from the mine field of dog poo that people don't pick up (Damn you irresponsible pet owners. I had every right to rant about you!) or at daycare. Who knows. It's pretty common in the city, unfortunately. Lots of puking and liquid poo (as I call it). Poor baby. $266 at the vet Saturday. $300 yesterday. And yeah, we just spent $600 a few weeks ago when he got neutered. You can see where my money's been going lately. But he's worth every penny! Or hundo, in this case.

The hubs and I also had a dinner date at Piccolo Sogno. WHY HAVE I NEVER GONE THERE BEFORE?!?! It was delicious. I could have ordered almost anything on the menu, but being the smart one I am, I made reservations on a Friday during Lent. And also Restaurant Week.

We chose the RW menu. I started with a pear, goat cheese and arugula salad, had the most excellent cheese ravioli and finished with vanilla panna cotta with caramel and berries. The hubs had truffled celery root flan with parmesan cream to start, pasta with wild boar ragu (sinner!) and a hazelnut chocolate lava cake. Highly recommend!

We also spent some time with my family this weekend too. I hadn't been home since Christmas. Where did the time go?

And here we are. Already Tuesday. Cheers!

Feeling Funky

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I'm feeling funky. And not in a good way. Or a stinky way. Just in a funk. It's that time when February SAD depression sinks in. I'm a firm believer that I have it. And while our winter hasn't been horrible, it's sun I need. Outdoors. Fresh air. This sitting at a desk all day isn't cutting it. It's staying lighter out later, but I've been stuck at work. Everything and everyone irritates me. The slightest thing can set me off. Bah humbug for a Friday, eh?

Here's to hoping that a dinner date with the hubs at Piccolo Sogno tonight will help. Brunch and a Stella & Dot party tomorrow with some lovely ladies. Then it's home to visit the fam on Sunday.

Cheers to you all! Have a wonderful weekend.

Banana-Fanna-Fo-Fanna

I think I have spring fever. I shouldn't be spending money on things I don't need to wear yet. I know this. But I hate pants! I love skirts and dresses. Sometimes you just have to jump on an opportunity when it presents itself or you might lose out completely, right?!

I haven't really purchased anything from Banana in awhile. They got expensive and I got bored. Then suddenly, a few things caught my eye for work. Sometimes, you just need some new basics.

I loved this polka dot dress the minute I saw it. I didn't love the $130 price! So I waited. Then it wasn't available (and/or not in my size). But one day, poof! There it was. For 30% off. I jumped on it. Glad I did too! The material is great +  it's flattering and comfortable.

I was happy to see the a-line skirt make a comeback too. (Thanks for the tip, Melissa!) Pencils don't love this hippy body. It's such a PITA for me to buy them and then have to go get them taken in the waist because I have to get them larger to fit my monster hips. While I know this is basic and boring, it's a black skirt that will go a long way.

Then there was this dress. Blech! While I love the colors, it's freaking 100% polyester! Even at 30% off, it wasn't worth its price tag when the quality was something I could get at Target or Kohl's for a fraction of the cost. Plus, it was pretty sheer too. It's getting returned.

I'm getting so tired of my winter clothes. It's the time of year when suddenly the winter blahs set in - even if our winter hasn't been awful. Come on, sunshine!

American Idiot

We saw American Idiot this past weekend at the Oriental Theater. I had no idea that when Green Day wrote the album they wanted it to tell a complete story. And it does. While I enjoyed the show, I just really wish there would have been a bit more dialogue. The story was interesting, the music was loud and the cast was great. A jam-packed hour and forty minute show with no intermission. Many songs are recognizable even if you aren't the biggest Green Day fan. Has anyone else seen it or have plans to do so, wherever?

Image from Broadway in Chicago.

Rescue Me!

Can someone please adopt one of these sweet babies? They are currently at Found (the rescue sister of Finley's daycare, Stay.) These adorable pups were dumped by their owner in a bin at the ACC but are now safe at Found. They are nursing the pups and will put them up for adoption when they are ready. You can find more info about them here.

Found is in need for extra food for these cuties since there are eight of them. They eat a lot. We dropped off a bag of kibble and some canned food for them when we picked Finley up from daycare last night. It was our Valentine's treat to these adorable babies.

Speaking of Finley, his stitches are out. His cone is off. And he is one happy boy. Apparently, he also enjoys SNL. Particularly skits about "The Artist", as evidenced by him staring at the television on Monday night.

Finally, ever wonder what playing in a dog park looks like from a dog's point of view? Watch this amazing video. It's awesome! Pure bliss.

Eternal Love

Love's eternal if you're a vampire, right?
 

Happy, happy Valentine's Day to you all!

XOXO!

 I know I'm obsessed. I just can't help it!

P.S. You can send these as e-cards. Click here.

Why I'm Not Cool (And I'm Old)

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• Favorite Performances: I laughed out loud reading posts from last night's Grammy's saying Katy Perry and Chris Brown were their favorite performances. Whaat?! People need to get their taste in music checked.
  
• Chris Brown: I don't get the Chris Brown lovefest. Also, I don't get the hatefest either. Girlfriend abuse aside (Ladies, have some freaking confidence. Press charges! Break up with him!), what's the big deal about him? As a friend posted, violence is wrong any way you look at it.
• Nicki Minaj: Superbass may be catchy for a workout mix, but WTF? Seriously, WTF?
• Rhianna: This is another lovefest I don't understand. We Found Love makes an appearance on my workout mix, but that's just because it's fast enough for running.
• Deadmau5: Whatever that was is why I don't go to clubs. Well, that and roofies and stupid girls dressed like hookers. I don't do drugs either. So yeah, there's that.
• Fergie's dress: Blech. Love me some lace. Love me some tangerine. But yuck.

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Why I AM Cool (Albeit, Still Old)

• Adele: This is why I've loved her for years. So happy to see her get the recognition she deserves. No gimmicks. No strange stage production. Just pure talent from a true artist who can write AND sing. And seriously, how beautiful is she?
• The Civil Wars: Oh, if only there had been more time for them.
• Dave Grohl: Best speech ever, no? Who cares about computers and studios. Blue hair. Funky costumes. "Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that's the most important thing for people to do."
• The Chipotle commercial: A short film to The Scientist sung by Willie Nelson? Awesome.
• The Hunger Games preview: I squealed.
• Adam Levine & Blake Shelton: Yeah, they're hot.

Cabin Fever

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I'm feeling a little envious today. Maybe it's winter cabin fever? Two of my co-workers have girl time away planned this weekend. One is going to Galena (they do this every year!) and another is headed up to Wisconsin for a ski weekend. Another former co-worker does an "All Female Vail" trip every winter. And yet another co-worker is going up to Wisconsin in a few weeks with some friends (as well as their friends' kids) to rent a cabin, hang out, cook, drink tasty beverages, etc.

And the only thing I want to know is, WHY DON'T MY FRIENDS EVER PLAN ANYTHING LIKE THAT? 

An annual trip. A girls spa weekend. Wine tasting in Michigan (okay, we did do that in the summer, but it's winter now!). I feel a sense of longing when I hear about fun weekends like this. I read a blog recently about a girl who gets together with her college sorority sisters the same weekend each year. Whomever's year it is to plan picks the place (it can be anywhere) and they all fly there to have a fun time together. So yeah, I'm jealous.

What about you? Do you do an annual trip like this every year? And do you have room for me?

TVD Thursday

It's been awhile since I did a Thursday Vampire Diaries post. It's long overdue. Especially since our favorite vamps and their mortal love interest are gracing the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Hubba. Hubba.

Check out more TVD goodness on EW's website here. As in behind the scenes photos from the shoot. Holy hotness.

Think This Will Win a Grammy?

I kid, but this is fan-freaking-tastic. Comedian Holly Laurent of Second City put together her own version of Lana Del Rey's, "Video Games". It's called "Hunger Games" and is written from the perspective of Katniss. The video is amazing. And the lyrics are hysterical. Check it out.



More info from Rolling Stone here.

In an Instant

 
Have you ever experienced an overwhelming feeling of calm and contentment just from sitting down in front of the computer, sipping your tangerine orange tea and seeing a peaceful image? That's what happened to me when I stumbled upon the photo above. It's such an odd, but great feeling. In an instant, every stress and every worry floats out of you. Even if only for a moment.

Image from Butter and Brass via Mo Pie, Please.

Jumping Jack Flash

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 That's how quickly the weekend goes by - in a flash. Oh Monday, here you are again.

Finley is doing well. His stitches are healing nicely. Thursday will be here before we know it and hopefully our visit back to the vet results in the removal of those stitches and the end of his cone-wearing days. We took Fin on so many walks through the neighborhood this weekend. The weather is unseasonably warm and he loves to ham it up by the park (he loves kids!) and wait for people to walk out of the bar near our place.

I found a chair for the landing office this weekend. It's similar in style to the red one from Crate & Barrel, but I got it at Pier 1 - in black. Chair on sale + gift card from Christmas = Me spending less than $100! The tags are still on it though. I do have 30 days to change my mind.

Speaking of the office, the file cabinet got returned. The drawer was taller than the slot it needed to fit into so it was defective. The hubs wasn't a happy camper since he spent an hour working on it. (Whoops!) I did decide that we didn't need it though. I'm just going to keep the file box I already have stashed in a closet and save some space.

On Saturday, I met a friend at Safari Cup Coffee on Southport. It's super cute inside and the staff was friendly. It may have been one of the smoother, tastier lattes I've had in a while. A great neighborhood find!

I had to go to a laundromat this weekend (Eeek!) to wash the dog hair off of our comforter. Our washer/dryer does not fit a king-sized blanket. I know plenty of people don't have in-unit/in-building laundry, but I always have, so my apologies for not being able to relate to the laundromat set. It gave me the eebie-jeebies. Watching the crazy (and drunk) homeless man play air guitar right outside of the door while drinking his large can of Icehouse was entertaining though. When I left, he asked if he could borrow my blanket. Ha! I also saw him outside of my grocery store yesterday "talking" to "someone" on a pay phone while he twirled around looking at everyone coming into and out of the store. City living at its finest.

And obviously the weekend wasn't complete without the big game. Happy the Pats lost. Not impressed with Madonna (and how awful is that new song that should be sung by someone at least 20 years younger?). And my favorite commercials were this one and this one. (Shocking for me, right?) What were yours?

Cheers to a great week!

Super Bears. Superbowl.

via Google

Just kidding. I know our beloved Bears aren't in the Superbowl this year. Sigh...

So who are you cheering for? I'm anti-Patriots/anti-Tom Brady (and their fans for that matter), so you know where I stand.

I will admit (and it's probably the only time I will EVER say this) that I'm slightly jealous of my friends and family in Indy right now. I keep seeing posts on FB about the fun they're having at the NFL Experience and the other football activities happening in their city right now.

Whether you're going to a Superbowl party or cooking up your own pot of chili to watch the big game on your couch, have a blast! Maybe you have no idea who's even in the Superbowl. No matter. It's the weekend. Hooray!

Drop Everything

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Yep. That pretty much sums it up. And it's only 10am. At least I have The Vampire Diaries to look forward to tonight. And cuddling with my hubs and pup. (The pup is doing well, btw.) Is it Friday yet? Come on, weekend!