Archive for July 2010

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20 July 2010

Etiquette in the cell phone age

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Random, travel

I really try not to be a d*ck when I use my cell phone in public. That includes talking at a loud decibel, using my phone all the time (aka phone addiction that I’m trying to alleviate) or leaving the ringer on when I’m in a movie or public place.

But, I’ve found that not everyone acts like that. In fact, while I was on vacation, I had two instances where I wanted to rip the phone out of someone’s hand and break it because they were so rude with it in public.

Vacation Case #1:

Sitting in a spa, relaxing and enjoying quiet and despite several signs that say “NO CELL PHONES,” a woman is yapping away on her phone, standing buck naked in the locker room. I saunter in there, in a blissfully post-massage haze, only to be pulled back into a crushing reality by this b*tch talking. Yeah, that killed the mood.

Vacation Case #2:

While I was in the hot air balloon, 2,000 feet above the ground, I hear the faint sound of Achy Breaky Heart (no joke), which turns out to be the cell phone ringer of the taper-legged jean woman next to me. No joke. She got on her phone and talked for 20 minutes, then made a call and talked for another 20 minutes. Seriously?? I even asked her to put it away and she wouldn’t. That is just rude. Did you pay that much money to talk on your phone in a f*cking balloon? No. Fact.

Non-Vacation Case:

Sitting on the bus after a long day at work, when two men begin talking on their walkie talkie cell phones (to separate people), turning the volume up so everyone on the bus can hear the conversation

Not long after that last incident, I realized that the old etiquette when it comes to phones is totally gone. Now, there is no etiquette unless individual people, stores or companies tell people about it.

For example, I frequently see signs about no cell phones, camera phones or even tweeting. And without those signs, people just assume they can use their phones, regardless if it’s rude to others.

Seeing those signs always struck me as odd, but after my trip and that bus ride home, I get it. And it makes me realize my own cell phone bad habits and I change right away.

What about you? Does bad cell phone etiquette irritate you?

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19 July 2010

My love of breakfast for dinner

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Food, Random

Kitchen adventures is on hiatus this week because right now I’m indulging in one of my favorite things: breakfast for dinner.

That’s right, it’s my favorite, solid late dinner option. And yes, this post is a tad random.

Some nights, I come home, kick off my gym shoes, change into my PJs and curl up on the couch with a bowl (or two) of cereal.

Breakfast for dinner is great because it’s a) low maintenance b) in season all year and c) easy to clean up.

And after a long day, those are qualities I really like in a meal.

I think I love breakfast for dinner because I don’t always make or enjoy a formal breakfast. During the week, it’s a granola bar eaten at my desk and on the weekends, it’s usually a container of yogurt. On the very rare occasion, I will make eggs or splurge and buy the Trader Joe’s chocolate croissants because OMG they are amazing.

I also don’t go out to brunch regularly because that requires me to leave the house early and/or shower and look presentable. That’s a big ask on a Sunday morning.

So if breakfast isn’t my biggest meal of the morning (I know, bad), I definitely indulge in it more for dinner. Eggs, toast, PB&J English Muffin and the ultimate: cereal.

Oh cereal, I love you. I used to be obsessed with sugar cereal, Golden Grahams was my crack, but now that I’m an adult, I’ve gravitated back to Cheerios.

In fact, I just finished up a bowl now and might go back for another.

But the key with breakfast for dinner is that you can only have it once a week, if you do it more than two days, especially in a row, it gets old. And I can’t let that happen!

What about you? Do you like to have breakfast for dinner sometimes? What do you like to make?

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18 July 2010

Weekend recap: Friend dates, movies, music and food

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Food, Friends, Movies, music

Happy Sunday everyone! It’s still hot and humid here. I hate it. Moving on.

I had a busy weekend but the best kind, filled with friend dates, aka “freights.” Friend dates are the best because you get to go out, do date-like things, such as dinner or drinks, but it’s with your friends. No pressure, just fun. I love them.

I also paid off my Napa trip so I was ready for a glass of wine and friend dates so I can get back out there and be social.

Here’s a summary of my fun friend dates:

Friday – movie/dinner:

After a long week, I was ready for a movie/dinner date with my friend Robin. We went to see Inception (see full review here) on Friday at a pimped out theater downtown. Seriously, this theater had a bar, VIP seating, where you can bring food and liquor into the theater, extended concession stand with tart yogurt and sandwiches. And the best part? You can reserve your seats before you arrive so you can arrive just before showtime and know you have seats.

And the food you can get there is very good too. We got a prosciutto panini, martini with champagne (which made me buzzed after one drink) and BACON POPCORN. Yes, you heard me right. Check it out.

Hmm, bacon

The mix of bacon, popcorn and butter was delish. I’m a fan.

After the movie, we super sized our friend date by going to Chinatown for dinner. Robin took me to an authentic Chinatown restaurant that makes awesome bubble tea and dishes. Our waiter gave me weird looks when I ordered salted fish and pork in a hot bowl but it was tasty, even if it doesn’t look appetizing. I hope he gave me that look because I didn’t just order fried rice. Maybe.

I know, it looks gross, but mixed up, it’s very good

All in all, I saw a great movie, caught up with a good friend and tried new things. Win, win, win.

Saturday – Brunch/shopping and sushi:

That’s right, despite the downtown Transformers craziness, TC and I hit up Xoco for brunch and indulged in our mutual love of Rick Bayless’ churros and even sampled the new Mexican soft serve. Yeah, I was so hungry, I didn’t take pictures, even of the suckling pig torta. But here is a past picture of the Churros, which I could eat an entire plate of. I have no idea why they’re so good, but I want them all.the.time.

Then, with my shopping list in tact, we hit the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I behaved, but TC learned how bad my enabling ways can be. My bad.

After burning calories shopping, Mega and I met up for a sushi dinner in Bucktown where I had the best soft shell crab roll ever. I also meant to only have one drink and somehow had a total of five by the end of the night. Oops. Does that happen to anyone else?

Sunday – Sweating it out at Pitchfork:

Yes, I hate the current heat wave here, but that didn’t stop me from going to the Pitchfork Music Festival with Nic. I got to girl talk, craft shop, listen to some great music and drink 24 ounces of water, promptly sweating it all out. I was disappointed that my only ice cream option was dairy-free, but the pulled pork tacos were tasty.

How was everyone else’s weekend? Do you go on friend dates?

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15 July 2010

Bitten by the travel bug

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: travel

Yep it did and it bit me HARD too.

I have always loved to travel and now that I’m doing it alone, I CANNOT wait to plan my next adventure. I want to print out a copy of the US map and tape it on my wall (along with my latest list of cities I want to visit) so I can ponder where I want to jet off to next. Suddenly, travel and seeing things I’ve always wanted to seems so…possible.

I love solo travel! And I want to take advantage of every vacation day I have.

Sure, they don’t always have to be big trips, but the anticipation of doing something fun and adventurous or just going to get some R&R outside of the city where cars always honk and sirens always blare, sounds perfect.

And fortunately, I just got my next round of vacation time and I have FIVE days that I have to still use before September 30.

Which means…it’s time to plan another trip!

Sadly, I can’t do something as elaborate as Napa (tear), but I’m looking to do 1-2 small trips with that time and I have no idea where I want to go.

Rome/Europe, Vancouver and Mexico are still on my list, but I can’t jump to a trip like that just yet. And my dream of driving up the west coast from LA to Seattle is a little too ambitious this year.

So now I’m back to studying my list and the drawing board about where I want to go. And that’s where I need your help!

Here are the cities I’m debating between now:

  • Austin
  • Denver
  • Seattle
  • Charleston
  • Raleigh
  • Portland
  • Washington DC

All of these cities are new to me, except for DC. I’ve been there before but am thinking about getting my “history on” again this summer. Basically, I’m torn about what to pick so I hope you all can help me :)

What do you think? What place should I visit that’s on or NOT on this list. I’m open to suggestions!

What places are on your must-see travel list? Does anyone have fun weekend plans?

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13 July 2010

Girl code: Dating your friend’s ex

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Relationships

Girl code is complicated but one thing is not: you don’t date your friend’s ex.

Maybe that’s a southeastern Wisconsin thing, or I just hang out with people who tend to do that, everyone I knew followed the rule that you never date a friend’s ex.

Not that I’ve WANTED to date many of them, but much like my “one that got away,” there were a few I thought may have been better suited for me :) But alas, it did not happen.

Recently, a friend and I were talking about this and she says this part of the code is antiquated.

Personally, I don’t know about that.

I’m still on the “nay” side of this, but my “pro” friend brought up a few valid points:

  • Is this a bad teen flick? Those rules are not the same nowadays
  • That relationship ended, it’s done
  • What if he could be “the one” and you guys were supposed to meet by him being with a friend
  • How close are you to this friend? Dating an ex of an acquaintance is different from dating a closer friend’s ex

Hmm valid, but there are two things that my crazy brain counters with:

  • How would I feel if a friend dated, closer or not, dating someone I did? Wouldn’t it be weird to see them together?
  • Can you move past that your friend was intimate with this guy you’re now dating?

Again, my brain is crazy but those are the first things that jump to mind when I think about this.

A friend back in Wisconsin dated and eventually married her friend’s ex, who really was her soulmate, but many times she mentioned (when drunk) that there was always a bit of resentment in her mind that her hubby slept with her friend years ago. Ew, that sounds like this resentment could only get worse.

Maybe this way of thinking is just old-school but as I get older and meeting new people and groups of friends, I feel like I can move beyond this or not let it hold me back.

And maybe it depends on the person. Some women may be more lax on this than others, but it’s still a sticky subject.

What about you? Would you date your friend’s ex?

Edit @ 10:35 p.m.: Lots of people are mentioning that it depends on the situation if they would date the ex. What situations would make this an exception to the code rule? When would you possibly go forward and do it?

Movie review: Oh yeah, forgot to say that my review of the Kids Are All Right is still up too. Seriously, Mark Ruffalo is hot and shirtless in it.

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