Archive for April 2009

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13 April 2009

The long journey to condo

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: apartment, Chicago
I am about to take another, scary, step toward being an adult and embark on the long journey toward being a home owner.
That’s right, this weekend dad and I had an honest talk about me buying a condo and after crunching some numbers, we’re going to get started on the process! Now I won’t be working with a realtor tomorrow or getting pre-approved for a mortgage next week, but I think it’ll be happening (hopefully) in the next six months.
And now I’m super nervous and excited. At nearly 30, I’m ready to have a place that’s my own. I abhor moving more than anything and I’m ready to have a space that I can decorate to my own taste and know that…well…I won’t have to move ANYTIME soon again.
But it’s scary. I’ve always been a little bit of a transient, moving around a lot, so the thought of settling down scares me a little bit. And there’s the pressure of making sure I can keep up on payments and adds to my worries about job stability, etc.
And as a one income household right now and for the forseeable future, it’s enough to make any girl feel overwhelmed.
So I’ll likely be relying on my dad a lot to help me research, etc., but it’s exciting to know that very soon, I could have something that’s really mine :)
The questions for tonight: if you own a condo, home, etc. what was your “dealbreaker” feature? For me, I have to have in-unit washer and dryer. Non-negotiable. And for renters, what do you look forward to when you get your own place?
Or, am I the only person who HATES moving?
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12 April 2009

Key Learnings, Easter and candy coma

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: family, Food, Wisconsin
Happy Easter everyone! I don’t know about you all but right now I am in a near Thanksgiving-like coma from all the food today. Seriously, I need to take out my contacts stat in case I just fall asleep.
So before that happens, let’s hit the key learnings.
Key Learnings:
  • I may lose my mind if it doesn’t get warm in the Midwest soon. I have such cute stuff to wear!
  • Getting an Easter basket as an adult is still a nice treat
  • Amy Adams is good in just about any movie she is in. Give her an Oscar, please!
  • Your dad is a keeper when he holds your purse in public while you take pictures
  • It’s okay to play tourist in your hometown
  • Cupcakes make an acceptable dinner
  • If struggling with a clip on a hanger, don’t force it to move because it will snap at any moment and cut your finger open (guilty!)
  • It’s okay to skip wearing a belt to Easter brunch so there is more room for the food indulgence
  • Don’t walk around your parent’s house half-dressed unless you know they’re not home or coming upstairs any time soon
  • In order to bond with your parents, you do things you normally wouldn’t do, like watch hours of the Master’s golf tournament or Fox News
  • At Easter brunch, don’t guzzle down a Bloody Mary on an empty stomach or you will be intoxicated before the meal (again)
On the Easter theme, I woke up this morning (after being rudely woken up at 6 a.m. initially) and found that the Easter bunny visited me!! YAY! I saw basket grass in our house and hoped it was for me, and it was!
Here is a picture of my Easter basket, full of Burt’s Bees and chocolate goodies. Now I have more Ghirardelli squares to smuggle into the movies and my favorite lip balm and Burt’s products. Thank you bunny!
After the basket reveal, we went to my stepmom’s sister’s house for brunch, where I binged on homemade cinnamon rolls (amazing!) and found out were were celebrating a family member’s birthday, complete with…a Twilight cake! And while indulging, a 12 year old and I talked about Twilight as if we were…kids.
Finally, I went crazy taking pictures this weekend around home. I loaded all of them on my Flickr page if you want to check them out. I went a little nuts taking photos at an indoor farmer’s market and around the city. Here are some of my favorites:

Cheese in Wisconsin-familiar shapes
Rose in full bloom (yes I did take this picture)
Art Museum
So how was everyone else’s Easter weekend? Did anyone else get an Easter basket or eat way too much candy? What is your favorite Easter candy?
Also, has anyone seen the Peeps contest? The Washington Post does it every year but I found pictures of the finalists on the Tribune site too. Some of them are so clever!
Reader note: Thank you everyone for the great comments on the movie quote post on Thursday. I was laughing the entire day at quotes you all left. And hello to all the new commenters too! I cannot believe I forgot Clueless or Legally Blonde or even Seinfeld. All of those have great quotes too. It was so much fun to read your comments, it made my day!
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09 April 2009

Movies I quote on a regular basis

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Movies, television

I am a total movie fanatic. I watch a lot of movies, go see movies on a regular basis and, well quote them just about every day.

You can incorporate any of the below tweets into your day: at the office, on the bus, driving, talking with friends, flirting with a guy. It’s a solid conversation starter!

Oh and it’s been a long week, which is why I’m keeping the topic light for everyone tonight.
So I thought I would share with everyone the movies I tend to quote regularly with friends, primarily my buddy Ryan and my brother. We’re a regular comedy routine.
Actually I watch a lot of these movies when I need a laugh, or just feel like watching something that doesn’t require a lot of thought.

“You know, a lot of people go to college for 7 years”
“I know, they’re called doctors”

“That is so fetch!”
“I can’t go out”
“Boo, you wh*re”

“Follow me or perish, sweatermonkeys!”

“When in Rome!”
“I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly”

“Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?”
And of course, there is one TV show, outside of the Office, to add to the mix.
“I just blue myself”
“There’s gotta be a better way to say that”
And of course, the latest addition to this quote list, “totes magoats” from I Love You Man.
What about everyone else? What movies or TV shows do you love to quote? Or even just love to watch for the one-liners. Let me know if I’m missing any!
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07 April 2009

Benefits of being single in a recession

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Random

Oh and the title of this post is meant to be slightly sarcastic.

This weekend I saw an article online titled, “The Upside to Being Single in a Recession” and I absolutely had to click on it because, well, I wanted to see how I was coming out ahead in our economic crisis.

And, with no disrespect, it has to be the most ridiculous article I’ve read in a while.
Want to know how singletons finally have the upperhand against couples? Here’s a few examples:
  • Not having to pay a “marriage penalty” tax (actually this is a valid point)
  • More flexibility to take a second job because we don’t have to carpool kids to practices
  • Don’t have to go Dutch on “date night.” We’re not married so the guys can pay
  • Can move back in with our parents if money is tight
  • Save on life insurance payments since we “don’t have a spouse or children to care for after an untimely demise.” So how should I use this saved money? Well the author says it can buy a lot of mani-pedis
And along with the reminder that money is the major reason most marriages dissolve, the author’s perils of wisdom include, “divorce is expensive.” Yes, I come from a divorced family, I know that.
Finally, the author also mentions Ruth Madoff (wife of investor and Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernie Madoff) as an example as to why it’s good to be single. Why you ask? Because if our spouse goes bankrupt, or steals billions of dollars from innocent investors, our money becomes vulnerable.
I will make sure not to date or marry a thief, although stealing is a sign of dedication.
Now, I’m not saying the principle of the article is wrong but I have a little trouble with her examples to support her “point.” Basically because I think she’s pulling some of them out of her a**.
Despite these fundamental flaws, I have to admit, the article’s pictures are awesome. There are images of women acting carefree by swinging their shopping bags happily in the air, basking in the fact that they have fewer responsibilities and can say “screw you!” to their coupled friends. Quite a Mary Tyler Moore-inspired idea.
So I might be taking this a little far, but I just had to write about it because I found it too hilarious.
Let me know what you think and if I’m at all off base. And I know a lot of us have cut back on expenses and/or have things that are “recession proof,” so I guess my question for tonight is, if you’ve cut back on things, what are you looking forward to “splurging on again” or what is your “recession proof” treat? Mine: cable television. I love it and won’t give it up, actually that and dyeing my hair.
Reader note: Thank you everyone for the awesome comments on yesterday’s bra shopping post. I also have a lot of trouble finding pants that fit. I need a short or petite length but not short enough where it’s too short or is long enough that needs to be hemmed. Oh and my “birthing hips” make it hard to find nicely fitting pants too.
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06 April 2009

Adventures in bra shopping

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Fashion, shopping
Because of my size-D chest, I enjoy bra shopping about as much as I enjoy my annual PAP or swimsuit shopping. It’s a tie.
And because I hate spending a lot of money on bras – same with sleepwear – I wear my current bras until they are stretched out or old and I’m forced to replace them.
That is the situation I’m currently in. I went bra shopping not because I wanted to, but because I had to. And, the style bra I am replacing was discontinued (that’s how long it’s been) so I was starting from scratch.
So Saturday afternoon, I grabbed my coupon, gave the boobs a pep talk and walked into Victoria’s Secret, aimed to come out with a new bra and maybe lower self-esteem.
A sales associate was nice enough to fit me (fortunately I am still the bra size I was before), ask me a few questions (while staring at my chest) and then disappeared, leaving me to my own devices. So like a lost puppy, I wandered around, groped some bras and grabbed five styles in my size, a nice mix between demi, padded, pull coverage and natural.
After a short fitting room wait, it was time for the main event, trying bras on. Praying my boobs would behave, I started trying them on and quickly found out a few things:
  • With a size-D chest, push up bras make your boobs lethal weapons
  • It’s important to do a little “jump” to make sure your boobs have enough support
  • Do not assume the strap has been adjusted before trying it on (nearly snapped one)
  • If the boobs spill over the bra, that style is not for you
I won’t lie, I was tempted to get a padded, push up one so I wouldn’t have to pay for drinks…ever again, but considering my chest was flapping around like a fish, I opted to go with the following bra:

And with a nice sale, I got two for $49, regular price, $45/each. So it was successful and I hope I’m set for a little bit.
Now I just need to work on looking that good in the bra while lounging around (with a pout of course). Yeah, I don’t know why I’m talking about my boobs so much. Really.
What is the one clothing item you hate shopping for? Bras, swimsuits, pants? I’m curious.
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