Category: Uncategorized

…dangers to the budget, not your health.

I shopped for my mom twice this week. Twice this week I bought myself a version of what I bought her. Exhibit A: cross-body grey purse with gold hardware for me. Hers is different of course, but no pics until Christmas morning. Can’t share Exhibit B because she doesn’t know about it yet either…but I also purchased exhibit B for myself. This is not a good start to my holiday budget, but I’m still smiling!

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1) Peppermint mocha coffee, made at home because I’m on a Christmas budget!
2) Flannel lined boots, if you don’t own them, you really should invest.
3) Walking downstairs to see the tree all lit up!
3.5) Holiday cheer, tis the season after all.

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Alternate post title? Dos equis + mojito + lemon drop + corpse reviver = my first amazing headache ever. After a long couple of weeks at work (tis the time of the year), my best friend in the world texted me to get dinner with some friends. After a bit of pressure, I caved and said sure, I’m in. Zapatista’s in Lincoln Park was the plan!

This place is great for a group of girls (@jstelz86 @BOLTRON5k @anniet23 @kpitt99) that like to linger, its big enough that you won’t feel bad sitting at a table for a three hour dinner because the place wasn’t packed with folks waiting for tables. Our waitress was great, I’ve had her multiple times and they take care of you but you’ll never feel rushed. A Dos Equis Amber for me, the girls had mojitos and margaritas. After tasting one of their mojitos, I HAD to have one. Yup – first mojito in my life. I’m a huge fan and can’t believe I’ve missed out for so long. After dinner (steak burrito for me, suiza style) the manager offered us a round of shots on our way out. These girls don’t decline free tequila apparently. I stuck to a fruity lemon drop to keep it fun and because I am not a tequila fan.

Warm and toasty after two drinks and a shot we headed out to The Barrelhouse Flat, a new pseudo-prohibition era styled bar. Great atmosphere with piano players tapping away some lively jazz, the bar is super unpretentious and warm. As someone that doesn’t believe in waiting in live for a bar on principal alone, I can honestly say I’m happy we waited for twenty minutes because the place wasn’t packed. We ordered off of the extensive and creative cocktail list. I had the gin-based Corpse Reviver which came highly recommended from the door guy (I would call him a bouncer, but he was too kind for that title). Jess had something thick and frothy because it had egg whites in it, but tasted similar to a french martini. So good! Mine was strong with the gin and orange bitters but I loved it.

(of course my photo in a dark bar from my mobile does the menu no justice, but trust me, this place is a must based on this drink menu)

After waiting at a table downstairs for about twenty minutes we were escorted upstairs into a dark, large area with a warm fireplace, velvet couches and an awesome looking bar. Our waiter, Kenny, was great; he chatted us up about the cocktails and which were his favorite and his new pooch. He was also kind enough to send us the specialty popcorn of the night – bacon. Bacon popcorn is a must, strong drinks in a beautiful bar is a gift and a chilly November with a wonderful group of ladies is always a necessity. Today, that Dos Equis, mojito, lemon drop and Corpse Reviver left me with my first headache ever and it wasn’t even a super late night. Totally worth it!

This summer I visited Colorado for a long weekend with Leo and I wrote that pretty mountains > skyscrapers. This is still the truth, but I’m not planning a trip back in the winter as I’d originally hoped. Fingers crossed for the spring! Instead of going to Colorado to see more pretty mountains and breath nice air, I’ll be dropping in for a weekend in Kansas City and then staying the city for the holidays.

I’m taking a full (and much needed) week off of work and will be relaxing with my family. Looking forward to it, but I’m also wishing I could get out of the city for the week! Going to need to figure something out to get me some fresh air. Maybe walking down Michigan Ave. with the Christmas Lights? It is one of my favorite times of the year to be in Chicago!

Take a look at these pictures to assist with day dreaming 😉

First carmel apple of the season? Check.

Large glass of wine in one of my new comically large (20 oz.) wine glasses? Check.

Catching up on fall magazines and football? Check.

Smiling all the way until Monday. Oh, and I’m plotting two dinner parties. One informal pasta and wine night with two lovely ladies that I travelled to Spain with my senior year of college. Another with the people with which I started my career, and whom have turned into some of the best friends I could ask for. This includes @itsgrant and @jeanaanderson, among others. Fall is my favorite season for relaxing and cherishing time with family and friends and seasonal foods. What do you love about fall?

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A quick shot of what it looks like when an end of August wildfire burns part of my parents neighborhood. Absolutely no injuries and the fire was contained, thankfully. It is scary to breathe the smoke, see the charred landscape and watch the ground smolder two days later! Unfortunately an old cabin, likely from the twenties or thirties burned to the ground. The fire is under investigation and the neighborhood ladies, my mom included, have all sorts of theories, but at the end of the day everyone is thankful that there wasn’t more damage.

Do you know the fines for fishing without a fishing license by the DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources)? Freaking severe! But, with this handy sheet of paper I can fish and hunt for three days in Georgia. Don’t worry, I don’t hunt 🙂 and I almost never actually catch fish. But the license is for the act of trying to catch fish, not actually catching them. The licenses can be purchased quickly and easily off the state’s DNR site for about $20 for non-residents. My dad said his was wayyy less for a two year, like $16! It is silly not to buy one. Seriously, if you don’t buy one, you will get checked by a park ranger and fined, no fun! Those dudes are serious and smiling a lot won’t get you anywhere with them. And that was your friendly lesson in the legalities of fishing from yours truly.

I’ll be sure to post a picture anything I catch because it’ll be a miracle. Also, keep your fingers crossed we don’t get a little thunderstorm while we’re out there because I’ll freak! Loving being outside, driving through the forest and relaxing on a lake.

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Here’s where I’m writing from – my weekend perch out on the porch. I swear the sky is bluer here and the sun is brighter.

Today we kayaked, read lazily in the afternoon, then floated in the pool for a couple hours. The plan is to get enough sun to last me through December in Chicago.

Check out that kayak carrying contraption! Impressive.

We were only hauling one kayak, but you should see the advanced know-work that keeps this thing secured. Impressive again.

Putting kayaks in and out of a lake from a slip is wayyyy less scary than a motorboat.

Can you guess which one I picked? Hint: it matches my new smart cover for my big honking mobile device.

Lake Allatoona is low but the red Georgia clay is so pretty all around the lake. Off to go eat my favorite meal, steaks cooked on a Weber Grill by my dad! Until tomorrow, y’all, take care.

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> Oh wait, it’s almost fall? Clearly my shopping habits aren’t up to speed yet for the colder months ahead! Oh well, the deals were great and a girl can’t have too many bathing suits and a maxi dress is great for fall layering, right?

And that shiny thing? Yep, I purchased one. And no, I don’t need it – in case your were wondering. The title of this post clearly doesn’t indicate ‘needs,’ does it? Sheeeesh, I’m on vacation! Quick recap on day one down here in Georgia:
Enjoyed my mechanically-inclined-father’s reading collection of good magazines while enjoying fresh fruit and his amazing museli
Went on an accidental shopping spree that I’ve been planning all summer and dragged my parents along
Supported local businesses in downtown Cartersville, Georgia (part of the shopping spree!)
Looked through photo albums with my grandma and learned about my family history

A few tidbits on my family:
Great-grandfather went by Skeeze in place of his real name, Angus.
His brother’s name? Merlin. Apparently both good Scottish names and I freaking adore them!
Angus, aka Skeeze, changed his middle name from LuEllen to Victor…can’t imagine why?

We’re longtime Chicago folks. My family has a bible that survived the Chicago Fire with my ancestors names and birthdays all written in the inside cover! I have the cutest picture of my great grandmother, Nanny (real name Mary like all Irish Catholics; married Skeeze), sunning on North Ave. beach in the late 1920s with her best friend Hazel. Both of them lived late into their nineties! Tough Chicago babes, for sure.

Last little tidbit of my family is that my grandfather, Phil, worked in the building next to where I work now! He was a nineteen-fifties and -sixties ad man for Leo Burnett. And he dabbled in PR. Pretty cool that I’m following in his footsteps fifty years later. Hope y’all are having a great weekend! I’ll be at the pool all day, fingers crossed I don’t burn my armpits like last year!

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