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25 November 2009

A silly and serious thankful list

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Apple, Chicago, Fashion, Friends, Random, Wisconsin, family, music, shopping, television, work

Well tomorrow is the big day, Thanksgiving, and I am already fasting as I type this.

My parents are divorced so every year I have two Thanksgivings in one day. Moms in the morning and dads in the evening. And the first year we worked out this arrangement, I thought my stomach was going to explode from all the food. My dad found me passed out with a plate of turkey next to me and woke me up to go to bed.

The image of me passed out on a couch, drooling with turkey next to me is hilarious. I wish I had a photo of it.

Anyhow, tonight I’m on my way back to Wisconsin to be with my family, shop my heart out and try to get into the Christmas spirit.

But before that, it’s time to share a silly and serious list of what I’m thankful for this year.

Serious:

  • Family (we’re not perfect, but they’re mine!)
  • Friends (even those I’ve been estranged from lately)
  • A good job
  • Good health
  • No credit card debt
  • A good life in a great city

Silly (this is more fun):

  • Jacob’s abs (cougar time!)
  • Glee
  • HD-TV
  • A full head of hair (I would be more thankful if I didn’t have so much gray)
  • iPods
  • Text messaging
  • John Krasinski’s hotness
  • Push up bras
  • Cotton leggings
  • Nordstroms
  • A good sense of humor
  • Twitter (which will help me get through four days at home)
  • Mac and cheese (or just cheese)
  • Honey crisp apples
  • Cupcakes

And of course, thankful for all of you :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

So what are you thankful for this year? It can be silly and serious!

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12 July 2009

Weekend recap: True Blood and No Doubt

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Fashion, Food, music, television
Happy Sunday! First, I cannot believe BlogHer is two weeks away, um where did summer go? I’m so excited about it and spending time with some of my awesome bloggy friends.
Well let’s get started with the weekend recap!
Red Wine and Vampires
Because I don’t have HBO (stupid cable companies), I don’t get to watch and enjoy the “cool” shows, like True Blood, so Friday I met up with Sarah and Liz to indulge in this guilty pleasure with pizza and red wine (or beer for me). To be fair, I was pretty beat after a long day at work, so my mood may have been off but the show was…meh okay. Sookie kind of got on my nerves.
I may be tarred and feathered for these comments, but from what I’ve seen of the show, I give it a C. Maybe it has to just grow on me more.
NO DOUBT!!!!
I don’t talk a lot about music here because well, I’m not very “cool” when it comes to music. I like my iPod classic rock mixes and mostly mainstream hits. I don’t know a lot of indie/alt rock bands and I would be awful to have on your musical trivia team. Honest.
But like everyone else, I have 2-3 bands that I go ape-sh*t crazy for, and one of them is No Doubt.
No, not Gwen Stefani via Hollaback Girl, I’m talking about No Doubt, her group before she came a solo star.
I have fond high school memories of Tragic Kingdom, dancing along to “Just a Girl” and screaming (privately) “F*CK YES I AM” along with those lyrics. Yes, there is a little punk/ska girl buried behind my preppy/clean cut exterior. I still daydream about dying my hair pink or wearing a crapload of heavy make up for no reason than to show I’m pissed off and rebelling against “the man.”
So when I heard No Doubt was going on tour this summer, for the first time in almost seven years, I nearly lost my mind with excitement. But my indecisive nature kept me from doing anything because the venue was in the suburbs…and I have no car. FAIL. But after some very good blog karma, I got a ride thanks to Rachel and her friends and a ticket off of Craigslist for a very good price. I even got to see Molly there too! Hey, hey Chicago bloggers represent.
As you can see, everyone was excited to be there (I’ll be wearing that next time)
And with the help of a 22 oz. beer (which I could legally buy, as opposed to last time I saw No Doubt), I was a screaming, dancing, hip-shaking, arms waiving, jumping up and down fool. For real. You would have been SHOCKED by my actions, given that I’m a pretty reserved, laid back person. My hips were shakin’ like Shakira on a good day.
I love you Gwen!!
Oh and the girl I bought the ticket from, yeah we got upgraded VIP seats from a drawing we entered at the venue on a whim. I completely had a holy-shit-I-think-I-might-pass-out moment. And I got to see Gwen really close, and scream my love for her. GREAT NIGHT.
Fall into the Gap
Oh and my final piece of good news for this weekend, I found out I was selected to be a Gap brand enthusiast from Brand About Town. My super awesome “Born to Blog” shirt that the other ladies have been posting pictures of isn’t here yet :( but my inner event planner is out in full force getting logistics set up for the party. I’ll keep everyone posted on the details!
How was everyone else’s weekend? Anything fun or exciting happen? Or what performer/band would you LOVE to go see if you had the chance?
I am SO excited that 500 Days of Summer comes out next weekend. I have already texted TC to discuss getting tickets.
Note: Thank you everyone for your sweet comments about my second date with JohnBoy. Really you guys are so sweet and I’ll definitely keep you posted about date #3!! We’ve been texting while he is on vacation so we’re staying in touch :)

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20 April 2009

Musical trip down memory lane

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Random, music
Music has played a big part in my life and it triggers a lot of memories for me.
Fleetwood Mac reminds me of my college graduation, the Beatles always reminds me of summer and Soulja Boy song reminds me of my brother’s wedding. Yeah, the last one is a little random. My dad even remembers the song he heard after learning his mom died. And now, 20 plus years later, he still turns off the radio when it comes on.
But the music I have the most memories with (and don’t laugh) is Sarah McLachlan.
When I was in high school, Sarah McLachlan was like my personal goddess. Oh Sarah, you spoke to me. Her album, “Surfacing” was on a permanent loop in my house. I listened to it night and day.
At this time, Lilith Fair was in full swing and “moody girl rock” was peaking in popularity.
Her songs, Building a Mystery and Adia, were always accompanied by my passionate, yet tone-deaf voice voice.
I bring this up because the wedding I recently went to had a heavy Sarah McLachlan playlist during dinner and my female tablemates and I spoke about our Sarah memories, swooning over teenage angst and how her soulful lyrics got us through a tough adolescence.
I think I even sang along to one of her songs on a date. And yes, he did ask me out again after hearing that.
There’s something about the power of music and the emotions it brings up. You feel like the songs sing directly to you and know exactly how you feel. Um, yeah I think I once said that about a 98 Degrees song too. Fail.
Even now, I have playlists for certain moods, including:
  • Gym
  • Post work relaxation
  • College/Frat party
  • Germany memories (lots of techno and Tom Jones music)
  • Let’s go take on the world!
  • Drunk (lots of Journey and Britney Spears)
So my question tonight is: what music or artist brings up the most memories for you, even from those difficult teenage years? Or what is your go-to song or artist when you need a pick-me-up?

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19 January 2009

Key Learnings and hot man bus fail

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

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11 January 2009

Key Learnings and thank god for weekends

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Fashion, Random, Relationships, music
Last week was absolutely crazy and because it was my first week back from vacation, let’s just say getting back in the groove was tougher than I imagined.
But it’s Sunday now and we have about seven inches of snow on the ground so while I’m watching the Golden Globes, let’s recap with some key learnings.
Key Learnings:
  • Beer makes any bad day better. And two beers make any bad day not exist anymore
  • Hearing your neighbor have loud sex can be a distraction while reading
  • People who don’t shovel their sidewalk should be kicked in the nuts
  • Walking through a snowstorm can be soothing and exhausting when you finally stop
  • There is no ladylike way to stop yourself from falling in the snow
  • Snowblowing and setting off a car alarm outside my bedroom window at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings makes you a d-bag
  • Putting away holiday decorations is not as much fun as putting them up
  • Wearing a T-shirt that says “I love hot moms” in your dating profile automatically eliminates you. Also guys who say they like “easy women” will also get you eliminated
  • Sometimes, Saturday night dance parties in your apartment are necessary
  • Gelato in a snowstorm is always a good idea
  • Replaying old mix CDs is a great way to relive awkward and poignant times as a teenager
  • Men who leer at women at the gym with their mouths open are creepy
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Also, if you’re a member of the 20sb community, go vote for me for the Last Chance Award. Voting closes on January 19, you can vote every 24 hours. Help me bring home some bacon for this blog! Click here to vote!
More f*cking snow
I love snow, hi, I’ve lived in the Midwest my entire life. But after being pounded with snow in Wisconsin over Christmas, I was ready for a dry remainder of winter. WRONG. Friday night we got more snow, around six to seven inches. And while it was light and pretty and actually kind of fun to walk in, here are some pictures of what it’s left behind. Oh yeah and the rumor is we’re getting more snow Monday night. Woo!
Thursday post clarification:
Finally, I did forget to include in Thursday’s post what I said to my stepbrother about his girlfriend. After reflecting on my more inappropriate comments, I told him that if she made him happy, then I was happy for him. And to clarify, the things I said in Thursday’s post, I didn’t say those things to him, it was a list of comments I’ve said to other friends, etc. over the years. 
How was everyone else’s weekend?

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