‘apartment’ Category

21 February 2011

Another apartment pet peeve

By: Jessica B.

I’ve developed another pet peeve about my apartment building. Yes, another one to add to the list, along with laundry room antics, fires and thin walls.

This one has to do with the buzzer to my apartment.

For safety, there is a buzzer intercom at my building entry that goes to each tenant’s apartment. And of course, you should not buzz in people you do not know.

Apparently, the few regularly drunk coeds in my building and their friends forget about this.

For the last month, I’ve received regular calls to my apartment from the intercom between 3-5 a.m. on weekends from those drunk friends wanting to be let in. I answered the first time, panicked that a friend was in trouble and coming to my place for help.

What greeted me was a slurring guy asking to be let in because his friend passed out and wasn’t responding to the buzzer in his apartment. For about a minute, I thought this guy was kidding. He woke me up at 4 a.m. to be let in? I told him no and then hung up, immediately then fearing he would somehow guess my apartment number once let in and come over to kill me. So a random golf club joined me in bed that night. Although, I didn’t really sleep much after that from adrenaline and nerves.

The first time it happened, I let it slip, but now, it’s a regular occurrence and it’s making me crazy. I’m already a light sleeper/borderline insomniac, so to wake me up from the little restless sleep I get, I get ANGRY.

I’ve even stopped answering the phone, but still barely sleep after that. So, I’ve started disconnecting the buzzer phone at night and telling close friends that if they need to come over due to an emergency, to call my cell phone. That is my gauge if something is really wrong.

What about you? Has this happened in your apartment building?

Movie review: Yes, finally, I updated the review blog. This time, I’m reviewing No Strings Attached with Ashton and Natalie Portman

06 December 2010

Weekend recap: First snow and a holiday tradition

By: Jessica B.

It may not officially be winter, but there is snow on the ground in Chicago (and it’s freaking cold.)

Yes, after a lovely fall, I woke up Saturday morning to the sound of a snowblower…which means SNOW!

Okay it was only about 1-2 inches (that’s what she said), but it was a gorgeous sight from my apartment and the street.

I was up at an unfair hour Saturday morning for an appointment but my walk in the snow felt really good. There was no one out (which was a little creepy) and the snow was crunching beneath my feet. It felt like a winter wonderland! In two months, I will be complaining about snow but for now, I love it. Even the snowflakes that stuck to my glasses, making the world spotty.

And after some snow frolicking, it was time for my annual first weekend in December tradition of putting up my tree!!

The tree lots have been up in Chicago for a while but my fake one just arrived in Chicago, with it’s faux realness on full display. And after the arduous task of putting it together and hooking up all the lights, my Charlie Brown-inspired tree was lookin’ good. One of my favorite things is coming home and having the tree lights on without any lamps. So soothing.

I’m also obsessed with my ornaments, so putting them up and arranging them properly was a task. But I’m happy with the result!

I think I’ll go to Macy’s next weekend and pick up a few new shiny ornaments for the tree because I love adding to my collection…and I have a Macy’s gift card. Win!

How was everyone else’s weekend? Did you put your tree or holiday decorations up?

21 November 2010

Weekend recap: Practicing being a shut-in

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: apartment, Random

Happy Sunday everyone! I’m finally getting back on track with blogging so my apologies if I’ve been delayed on commenting, there is a lot to still catch up on!

Being the crazy planner that I am, I seem to always have something to do. Running errands, cleaning, catching up on blogs, newspapers, magazines, etc. There is ALWAYS something that I could be doing. I could run myself into the ground with little things to do. It’s my weakness and I don’t give myself enough time to relax.

Running around every weekend usually lasts for a few weeks and then something comes up and I force myself to be a shut-in.

I may fight it, but I love it.

And because last week was pretty crazy with Mexico, a long day of travel, getting caught up at work and of course, this f*cking cold that will NOT GO AWAY, this weekend I forced myself to be a shut-in

Okay that’s a lie, I was a semi shut-in because I did have a few things around my apartment to get done, but still, I was as shut-in.

When I go into this mode, I usually do the following things:

  • Spend the majority of the day on the couch
  • Clean out the DVR
  • Read for several hours
  • Enjoy peace and quiet
  • Have shoe fashion shows
  • Exfoliate
  • Back up my hard drive (not a metaphor)
  • Practice putting my hair in odd styles

Yes, that is my idea of a great weekend. Sure, I think about errands to run and things I could be doing to be productive, but seriously, sometimes you need to give yourself a break. Trust me, those things will always be there waiting to be done.

And as result of my lazy behavior this weekend, I’m pretty relaxed, and am now about to enter into deep mental prep for a short week. Serenity now.

What about you? Do you have shut-in weekends? And if so, what are they like?

10 November 2010

Random non-weekend, pre-trip thoughts

By: Jessica B.

I love to travel but I get so wound up before I leave that I work myself into a total tizzy, much like I’m doing right now. URGH I hate when I do that!

Anyhow, to help clear my cluttered mind of random stuff I’m thinking about, I put together a lovely bulleted list of things on my mind, some more random than others.

  • How long will it take once I arrive in Mexico to be on the beach with drink in hand? My guess? One hour (at the most)
  • Is it possible to wear leggings as pants all the time and not look silly? I’m willing to try
  • I’m totally obsessed with Boo the dog on Facebook. Seriously, I would steal that dog. I want one just like him (kidding?) The video of his “typical day” makes me scream with cuteness
  • This week’s episode of Glee was so amazing. I’m letting myself download three (or four) songs…or maybe just all of them :)
  • Daylight savings time is bringing me down. I love getting another hour of sleep, but dark at 5 p.m.? Really?
  • Arielle asked me this weekend if everyone in the Midwest is obsessed with football. After seeing the crowds at the bar Sunday, I think she’s right
  • Why is picking paint colors so difficult? I’m so indecisive with what colors to select for my living room/bedroom. I’m thinking off white and light gray but I cannot commit. Blerg
  • I’m pretty much also stalking photos from the Breaking Dawn set in Brazil. I’ve got Twilight fever yet again!
  • I need to get back in for a mani/pedi stat. I did my own last night and it was…well embarrassing
  • I’m dying to try Temptu’s Under Eye Concealer. I have serious under eye circles

Also, THANK YOU everyone for the feedback on the dresses to wear to the wedding. Holy cow, I was truly blown away by the response it got!

The dresses I packed tonight are the Banana Republic purple/black dress, floral dress and pink NY & Co. one. The final pick will be a gametime decision, but I feel good about all of them thanks to you guys! I even laid out jewelry, purses and shoes. I will be glammed up in any of those dresses!

What’s on your mind lately?

30 September 2010

Random Thursday thoughts

By: Jessica B.

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday because this week has been a long one. I’ll blame the start of the new month…yeah that’s it.

Either way, woo for Friday!

As I’m easing back into a blogging groove again, I realized there are a few loose ends I wanted to revisit based on some recent blog posts.

Roomba

First up, Roomba. I tweeted last week that I haven’t run my beloved Roomba in almost a week. I think she fears that I’m mad at her or don’t love her any more. That could not be further from the truth. Mama J has just been busy! But I’m sure there is plenty of hair for her to pick up this weekend :)

In fact, I wanted to share a quick video I made a few weeks ago of my babies Roomba and Bubbles. I grabbed a photo of them together in my apartment and now I have physical proof of their interaction while Roomba cleans my apartment.

Yeah apparently they do NOT get a long. Roomba is one tough b*tch.

Glasses

So my contacts situation has not improved and lately, I’ve been wearing my glasses more. Sure, I’m still nervous about wearing them in public, but due to horrible eye itching and discomfort, I’ve had to get over that more and more. And, to my surprise, people come up and compliment me on them. Again, they may just be acting nice but it is helping the anxiety ease up :)

And to further help me get over my dislike of wearing my glasses in public, here is a slightly bad photo of me in them.

Cash Cab

Okay this isn’t in a previous post but I am obsessed with this show. I watch it at the gym sometimes and I cannot get enough. When I was in New York during BlogHer, I hoped every single cab I got in was Cash Cab. Tonight, Cash Cab did a bit on 30 Rock and it made me laugh and feel jealous that Tracy was “on” that show. I don’t want to brag but I think I would be awesome on it, especially if there are mostly movie/pop culture questions. Is anyone else obsessed with this show?

Anything random on your mind? Or do you have big plans for this weekend?

Movie Review: Sneak peek at Hillary Swank’s new movie Conviction. Is it that arresting? (bad pun)