Archive for January 2009

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

21 January 2009

Tampon Girl

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Random
After being so emotional during yesterday’s inauguration and indulging my desire to chant, “yes we can,” I’m going to postpone talking about it and rather discuss something for the ladies: tampons.

People have always felt comfortable sharing and asking me for things. And lately this includes asking me for feminine products, specifically, tampons.

I don’t have a problem with people asking me for this (hi, I’m a girl, which means I have a cycle), but I find it adorable that when people need tampons, they think to ask me. Do I have a tampon-like body shape? That’s a rhetorical question. 

Maybe that is my new superhero name, Tampon Girl (don’t worry, Rage Girl still exists.) So, if you’re mensing and need something to help, I’m here to save the day! I just hope my cape and outfit isn’t red. That’s not really my color.

But once you’ve asked me for tampons and I call in my connections to secure one, I will even deliver the product in a Mission Impossible-like covert way. I can be very discreet and I don’t judge. You won’t see me running through the halls, happily tossing tampons around, asking if everyone wants one.

Oh and the people I borrow tampons from for my clients probably think I menstruate like four times a month. Wouldn’t that be awful? But they may think that it explains my crazy mood swings at times. Wait, I hear someone calling for help, Tampon Girl is off to save the day again!
I guess there isn’t really a reader question in this post, but feel free to share if people always ask you for certain things. While I don’t always have tampons in my purse, I do carry a lot of other random stuff that seem to help people out in a pinch.
Reader note: Also, I just wanted to apologize for dropping off the comment radar for a few days. I’ve been working on a big project for work and things are finally slowing down. So forgive my absence and thank you for all the comments too! They make my day, especially when things are totally crazy and I’m beyond stressed out.
Be Sociable, Share!
25 Comments

19 January 2009

My introduction to tongue action

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Relationships

Mind out of the gutter. The 20sb January blog carnival topic is first kisses and I would love to share with everyone the story about the first time a man’s lips collided with mine.

I was a late bloomer in high school and my senior year was like the pinnacle in my high school career. I wasn’t as awkward around people, started dressing in more flattering clothes, got contacts and embraced my big boobs. 
Despite these changes, I was also a huge debate geek and participated in competitions on weekends in spring. And my senior year debate season was the best year, partially because it introduced me to my first kiss, Ben.
Ben was a year younger than me and loved tweed jackets with elbow patches. He was my high school dream boy. He had glasses and Blagojevich-like hair and he thought I was “intriguing.” On our Valentine’s Day weekend debate, we shared nachos and hot dogs during a competition break and he casually asked if I had a boyfriend. When I said no, he quickly responded, “oh yeah me either, I don’t have a girlfriend.” This was followed by five minutes of awkward silence and bashful glances.
A week later, we went out on our first actual date (and my official first date with a guy) and saw a movie, chastely holding hands  at the theater. When he drove me home, he was a gentleman and walked me to the door, giggling with me and holding my hand. But because this was my first real date, I had no idea how it was supposed to end. Hug? Kiss? Was I that kind of girl? 
Like a lady, I said thank you for the movie and went in for a hug (because he wasn’t leading) and he swooped in like an eagle going for the fish and kissed me right on the lips. Shocked for a moment, the first thought in my head was…that’s it? That’s what a kiss with a guy is? Fast and quick and a total surprise? Confused, I leaned in for another one, which he again used as a chance to peck at me like a bird, but this time he lingered on me to jam his tongue in there. But before that could happen, I pulled away, thanking him again and going inside.
I watched him drive away and felt this rush of…nervous excitement. A good guy liked me and kissed me and thought I was interesting and special. And I ran as fast as I could to my room to scream in excitement in my pillow, kicking my legs like an Olympic swimmer.
So the first kiss wasn’t bad, but I always panic a little when guys swoop in for it. Ease in there, I’m not a fish that’s going to get away.
How was everyone else’s first kiss? Do you remember it as vividly? Was your first kiss any better or worse?
Be Sociable, Share!
29 Comments

19 January 2009

Key Learnings and hot man bus fail

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, CTA, Food, music, Relationships, television

Since I’m one of the few people I know without HBO, I couldn’t watch the Obama We are One concert today (sniff sniff) so I’m relaxing after a nice dinner with friends and preparing for work tomorrow (even though our office is closed.) Oh and I need to bring out my Obama buttons for Tuesday too!

So to help delay me from doing something productive, let’s bask in some key learnings together.
Key Learnings:
  • Friday fish fries are the perfect way to close a long week
  • Tequila served out of a plastic test tube will make you feel like throwing up
  • Beer tastes good but can give you a wicked headache the next day (not good)
  • When smuggling in candy to a movie theater, avoid food that makes too much noise when opening it so you don’t draw attention to yourself
  • There are some ugly fur coats on Michigan Avenue
  • Grocery shopping when hungry is a bad idea
  • Don’t sit next to the man rocking back and forth in his seat on the bus, you never know what he’ll do next
  • Even if a guy says, “This may not come out right but I mean it as a compliment,” whatever he says next will be mean
  • Telling a woman she’s wearing a “grandma sweater” is not a good conversation starter, same with telling her friend that she looks like a lesbian cartoon character
  • Beer + good 80s music = dance party in public. I love 80s music
  • On bitter cold days, CTA bus tracker (which calculates when bus routes will be at your stop) is a godsend
  • Friday Night Lights on NBC is one of the best shows on TV. Everyone should watch it and bask in the hotness of Coach Taylor. Meow

Hot man/bus fail
It has been a long time since I saw a guy who was so attractive that I literally couldn’t look away. Sure, there are celebs that I think are very attractive, but not in a sense that when you see them, you can’t help but stare at them (in a non-creepy way.) The last time I had that feeling was with a guy in Minnesota…which was….several years ago.
I found myself in a “non-creepy stare” situation on Saturday while I was on my way to see Slumdog Millionaire (great movie). I was sitting on the bus, listening to my iPod, when I looked over and saw a guy, maybe around my age, standing near the back exit. And I have to say, he was the most attractive man I’ve seen in a while. Like, I could not take my eyes off of him because seeing him sparked a little flutter in my chest. Now I wasn’t staring at him like a piece of raw meat, but I dare to say, he was semi-tall, dark and handsome.
And in true me fashion, I didn’t take a picture (don’t have a camera on my work BB) and while trying to tweet/stare at him, he suddenly jumped off the bus near Tiffany’s (is that a sign?) and disappeared in the crowd. I actually thought for a moment that I made him up.
So while it was disappointing and a half-fail that I didn’t get to wave or say something to him, I have to say that the reminder that a guy can cause the long-thought-dead flutter in my chest to reappear, is a start. And right now, I’ll take what I can get.
Photo Sunday:
En route to the movie, I saw the biggest icicle that I’ve ever seen and, of course, was compelled to take a picture of it. Enjoy!
How was everyone else’s weekend. See any good movies or did everyone hibernate because it’s “warmer” but not actually warm?
Be Sociable, Share!
29 Comments

15 January 2009

Stamp of parental/friend approval

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: family, Friends, Relationships
Were you more scared to introduce your boyfriend/girlfriend to your friends or parents?
I’m thinking about this because eventually, any man I date will be meeting both, but I don’t know which meeting concerns me the most. Actually, concerns is a bad word, makes me nervous is a better way to describe it.
My friends aren’t scary but they can be a little intimidating and because I’ve teased them so much about their relationships, I fear what it will be like when it comes back around.
My dad isn’t scary either but he’s very…reserved and when he gets that way around guys I like and it makes me very uncomfortable because I can see him scrutinizing them with his eyes. Plus, he’s only met one boyfriend before and he hated him immediately so I want to make sure I’m serious about a guy before I bring one in front of him.
(This could happen, fortunately our basement isn’t that big)
Maybe this opens it up to a bigger question, how important is your parents or friends approval of your boyfriend/girlfriend? 
One of my friends says she doesn’t want her boyfriend to ask for her father’s permission to propose, and teases that her fiance will meet her parents at the wedding. I joke about it too because I don’t like confrontation and I fear that the meeting could go badly, but deep down, my dad’s approval of any man I marry is important to me. And of course I want him to get along with my friends because they are a huge part of my life too.

I know this is a random topic for a Thursday, but I have three days of “matches” to review tonight and this weekend so it got me thinking. Fingers crossed Prince Charming is in there.

How does everyone else feel about this topic?
Reminder!
If you are a 20sb member, you can still vote for me for the Last Chance award! Help me continue to close out my twenties in style. You can vote for me here.
Reader note: I was pretty amazed at the Crocs comments from Tuesday’s post. Holy cow. There are some real lovers and haters of it. And I know some of you hate Uggs, but I strongly endorse them too. They kept my feet and legs warm in -25 degree wind chills today. Woo! And to answer sjane’s question, no I don’t wear Crocs while carrying Speedy. I think the fashion gods would strike me down!
Be Sociable, Share!
41 Comments

13 January 2009

What a Croc of a shoe

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Fashion

A friend sent me an article about 2009 Style Resolutions, which lists out fashion trends that the editors love and hate for the new year.

And to no shock, number seven is about hating Crocs. The little foam devils that promise comfort but are racked over the coals for being tacky.
So I’m going to take a leap and say that this blog, Everyday Adventures, endorses Crocs and won’t cave to the demands of fashionistas to have us hide them in shame or delegate them only to the garden. I don’t have a green thumb thank you.
Despite my nice taste in clothing and accessories, I don’t hate Crocs for a simple reason. They saved me during an awful sunburn on a trip to Florida.
While vacationing in Destin with my parents, this fair-skinned girl didn’t spend enough time in the shade and her SPF 30 sunblock failed her, resulting in a painful sunburn (on the first day of vacation too!) Chest, shoulders, legs and feet were burned, the feet burned badly enough that I couldn’t wear socks, shoes or sandals. 
To the rescue came my pink Crocs, which gave my swollen feet room to breathe and walk around for a few days until I could handle normal shoes. And honestly, it is nice to not have beach shoes weighed down by absorbed water and they’re comfy on the feet during long, hot summer days on pavement.
So while Crocs may not the cutest thing around, I say that Crocs are welcome in my home. Oh, and I have a Mary Jane pair in purple. That’s right, I have TWO pairs!
The article also says white tights are out, and I have to agree. I still see people wear them in Chicago, but they scream Pretty Woman circa 1990, if you know what I mean.
Now, let loose on your support or critique of Crocs, I can take it. Go ahead. Heck we even have a Crocs store in downtown Chicago!
Reader note: Thank you everyone for the awesome comments on my Golden Globe fashion awards. I will definitely do them again for the Oscars! And even SAG awards if you want. You tell me!
Be Sociable, Share!
43 Comments
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »