iPhone + Weekend Love

Wednesday!...I love Wednesdays.
I love that this one day of the week brings me almost as much joy as a Friday. I think it's the whole "middle of the week...you are going to make it" aspect. Only two more days and BAM...WEEKEND!

As you all know I'm a bit of a blog hog and follow quite a few fellow bloggers. (as you can see to the right)  One of my favorite bloggers is Natalie Holbrook. Just like Natalie; I have fallen in love with my iPhone and I'm not afraid to say it. I'm not sure if you guys know this but, there is a secret war going on and I've taken sides. Android vs. iPhone. GO TEAM iPhone. (I used to be a blackberry....but man was i lost) My point is that I snap pictures non-stop like they are going out of style...hello instagram.
....I digress....
This past weekend was by far the best weekend I have had since I moved here. (I'm still in the exploring phase) So great in fact; that I'm just now recovering from it (i'm so not 21 anymore. dang!)
I thought I would share some fun pix from good old Melvin's point of view. (aka: my iPhone...yes I named it. As far as I'm concerned....he's the only man that truly understands me and my awkwardness.) Yes, I'm aware that you might not care...but hey....while you're here...

if you are in the area...Old Town is a must

what i love about this city...in my time of taking cover from the rain...you look up and see the beauty

When life hands you lemons...make lemonade. (Right about the moment I realized I'm not 21.
Tasting Room 

Oprah are you in there?...dang red eyes

My new fav stop in snack provider. Goddess & Grocer

if it's good enough for Oprah...it's good enough for me
Kilwins Chocolates

confession: I call this the husband park...stories to come

Well that's all for now....Happy Hump Day! 

xo,

T

Awkward & Awesomely Tangled Thursday

what does your walk home look like?

Just got the new Pic Jointer App. kind of obsessed

Awkward

- when i'm about to walk out the door from work and my phone rings... i run back over to my desk to pick up...it's my mom. calling to tell me that on the tv show the doctors (Her Yoda); she learned that hemorrhoid cream helps foot blisters (which i told her i had from all the city exploring i've been doing). now this might not seem awkward...yet!...but...of course as she's telling me this; she can't remember the name of the cream. "what is the name for hemorrhoid cream? i just can't remember." of course i try to whisper "Preparation H" into the phone. of course she can't hear me. i say it a bit louder; trying to be discreet...when i realize my co-worker is literally staring at me in complete horror.

-dinner plans with a friend. i'm on the phone letting her know i have arrived. as i'm talking to her... i happen to turn around and see there is a table of hot guys sitting on the patio behind me. naturally, in my tangled fashion... I straighten my posture, suck in the pre-wined gut and attempt a  "sexy" waiting for my friend pose...when ...."squish" i look down and there is my foot (with my fav sandal) standing in what looks like...the poop of an elephant. I didn't know the circus was in town. did you?

-running up the stairs to catch the train that is fast approaching, making it just in time by a huge jump as the doors are closing. i grab the bar to balance myself. balanced. The train starts to move, i look to my right and next to me I see a man who looks like he could be Shemar Moore's twin staring at me. 

(now remember when i said earlier that i was "running?" well after i run...i wheeze. yep. i'm one of those people.) of course wheezing isn't attractive...so i abruptly take a "seductive" deep breathe to try disguising the fact that i'm out of shape. The train takes a rough turn... apparently, i underestimated my "seductive breathe holding" abilities because the moment the train started to jerk I started choking on my own breathe. Not just any choke...but the kind of choke that brings tears to your eyes and people around you start to get concerned and ask if you are okay. Mr. Shemar  looks at me and says, "Ma'am are you alright?" (really...did he just ma'am me? Ma'ams aren't sexy...or getting dates with Shemar Moore's twin)  I try to say yes when another cough catches in my throat; resulting in a huge urkel like snort! I hear at least a couple of laughs...

by this time people are full on staring. 

hello awkward

my version of a successful shopping trip

Awesome

- Hitting up CVS today and the cashier letting me use a 35% off coupon and a 3 buck cvs cash voucher; even though the "rules" say you can't. Thanks man. 

- realizing after a month of living in my new crib...that there's a zip car pick up in my building's parking lot. AND IT'S A MINI COOPER. Hello Italian Job reenactment!!!
Who's in?...(Only Mark Wahlberg look-a-likes need apply.) 

- realizing that my best friend will be here exactly 2 weeks from today! Get excited...our adventures will result in some good blogging. Tooty Tooty Tooty

- just knowing that Schmidt's Party bus is on it's way to Chicago right now. 

(sadly i'm not going...but still!)

- opening the mail today and getting my first fall clothing catalog. What is it about fall clothes that makes me so happy. The sweaters, the boots, the light jackets, the warm tones...oh my.

- officially hitting 1000 views on here AND 100 followers all in the same week. (I'm trying not to automatically think it's my mom trying to figure out how to use gmail and accidentally creating 100 email addresses.) Thanks to whoever you are...hopefully my life stories bring laughter to your life...
and if you feel awkward...

know that it's awesome

xo,
T

Girls Who Eat 1.2

Well i did it again...

I ate!

Whew!... that was a close one. i know some of you were waiting with  bated breath to see if i would ever eat again after Mr. Sensitive's warming and sugar coated comments.
Well I did. And boy was it amazing.
Since i had such an overwhelming response to my last  Girls Who Eat post; i have decided to make it a habit.

Introducing the GIRLS WHO EAT SERIES!!!!

Hooray.

Clearly i'm not the only one out there eating. who knew?

So here it is.
My Chicago food recommendation of the week:

25 Degrees

Can we please just take a moment and talk about that moment you have when you take a bite of food that is really good and you literally have an out of body experience because it's so good? If you haven't had the pleasure of this yet...please please come to Chicago and try a burger from 25 Degrees. I promise you won't leave without experiencing that moment.

Disclaimer: 

If you start to have a When Harry Met Sally moment. Please don't blame me. I warned you. 

My friend and I were out exploring my new neighborhood when we stumbled across what looked like some kind of West Coast Chopper garage from the outside. 25 Degrees is the cutest place. Be careful or you might just miss it. I had the pleasure of going here on a day when it wasn't 200 degrees; so we sat outside. However, if you get a chance... take a little peek inside this place. I'm pretty sure if Jesse James & his West Coast Chopper buddies lived here they might be regulars.  

Their slogan  is "Bordello Meets Burger Bar" and boy do they have that in the bag. 

As you know; I like my wine so when the waitress told us they sell wine by the jug...

I about jumped for joy. 

And this was the small one

Now the cool thing about this place is that they really take "adult beverages" seriously. They have left no adult bevy stone unturned. From Spiked Sodas (Grape three olives grape vodka grape liqueur / sprite)  to Spiked Shakes (Salty Caramel maker's mark / butterscotch vanilla ice cream / hawaiian red sea salt) ; you can pretty much get whatever concoction your heart desires. 

Now for the "Slap Your Mama it's so Good" portion of this...

We ordered the Tempura Green & Yellow Beans, Potato & 3 Cheese Fritters

(If you get there around happy hour they have a list of $5 apps. Let's all be honest...Who doesn't like a deal.)

and the star of this show....

The #1 Burger.

caramelized onion vella toma / aderkasse reserve bacon / arugula / thousand island 

(Best $12 bucks ever spent)

Now come on.

Now you know a place knows their burgers; when the there are only 4 on the menu. Why do you need a bunch of bogus choices if 4 is getting the job done. 

Well done 25 Degrees. You've just gained a new fan. 

Happy Eating my fellows.

Friday's Letters

Vino & Chucks...Can the weekend start any better? NOPE.

Dear middle of the week holiday, I really don't appreciate you making me feel so out of sorts. I'm pretty sure I've had about 3 panic attacks thinking it was Sunday when it's really only Thursday. So not cool. Dear Ladies of Knit Stop, Do you realize that Vogue Knitting LIVE is here in Chicago this year? Am I wrong to already be planning your lives for you and assuming each and everyone of you are coming? EXCITEMENT! Dear Car, Please sell already. Do you know how difficult it is to buy new shoes when I have to worry about you and your insurance? Mama needs a new pair of shoes. SELL SELL SELL.  Don't be sad. Mama still loves you. Dear Mr. Fedex, I will not be slave to you and your insane good looks. Please stop all the shy half smiles and the sly waves. I'M ON TO YOU! 

Dear Miley Cyrus,  Please teach me your seductive ways. Clearly I'm doing something wrong if "Hannah Montana" is getting married while I'm still single and the highlight of my week is blogging about Huck the dog getting fresh with me in the elevator.  

Dear Nora Ephron,  First let me start by saying "thank you!" Thank you for pretty much teaching me all there is to know about love... and what to expect from a man. Now some may say it's all unrealistic and a fairly tale...but I believe that because of you; I refuse to settle for Mr. So-So when I know that I can have Mr. Sam Baldwin, Mr. Harry Burns, Mr. Michael, Mr. Joe Fox and we must not forget Mr. Paul Child. Ms. Ephron, you raised a generation of love sick ladies and we wouldn't have it any other way.  You will be missed. mwah!

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!!!

Happy Friday.

Love,

T