Well, I am a California gal for sure. We spent the day walking around the frigid city of Chicago, 24 degrees about the average temp. I must say these people that live here must be hardened by years of the freezing winds lashing at their faces. I had to laugh at all of the babies bundled up, blinking and wrinkling their brows at the unbelievable temps. I am not sure how people live here, I am sure you get used to it or learn how to protect yourself from the cold, but I am not there yet.

I have learned a few things:
1. Hats are our friends.
2. If a hat doesn't cover your ears, it is useless.
3. If your scarf is not wrapped around your neck or face, it is useless.
4. Anyone wearing a scarf on the outside of their collar has never experienced the cold.
5. Gloves, like hats, are our friends.

Labels: bundle up, cold, dressing warm, freezing, weather

We have been eating wonderfully well on this trip...yum! We hit Brazazz again and it was amazing as I had remembered. Then we tried out a Spanish Tapas restaurant called Emelio's, it was also quite good, and our friendly waiter dropped off two sherries for us at the end of meal. We also ate a a Mediterranean restaurant called Amira. They great mezza platter with very good, garlicky hummus. Last night we ordered take out from the Fox and Obel cafe and picked up a few more desserts. It was wonderful!

Labels: Chicago, Food, restaurants

Fox and Obel is a charming little gourmet grocer here in Chicago. I fell in love with their bakery the instant I peered into the case. In case you don't know, I love desserts (as do most women). It is my one big vice. I'm not a smoker, or heavy drinker. I don't buy riduculously expensive clothes or purses. I don't drive a sporty car. But I do love me some dessert.

So I carefully selected 4 desserts on my first trip and 2 on my second. I brought them back to the room and sampled each little heavenly treat. They were wonderfully decadent and I am quite glad I decided to indulge. But I didn't leave you out...

Check out the photos!

Labels: desserts, Food, Fox and Obel

One of the really cool things about staying in these high rise hotels in Chicago is the view out the window at night. We leave the curtains open all night and I fall asleep looking at an amazing view of the city. It is the best night-light.

Labels: Chicago, lights, night, view

Well, the one thing I wanted to do last year that I didn't get to do was go to Navy Pier. Once I realized how close it was, I bundled up to visit in person a place I have seen on TV for years. So in 30 degree weather, I walked about 2.5 miles to check out Navy Pier. The view from the pier back to the city was the best part. I walked down to the end, then walked back through the mall that runs the length of the pier. There was a stained glass window display that was very cool to see, 150 different windows. I hope to be going back.

Check out the photos!

Labels: Chicago, Navy Pier

Well, I guess you are never too young to fall in the tub. I had a little mishap today. I guess I was reaching too far out of the tub and lost my footing on the slippery surface. I was able to catch myself before I did any real damage, granted my hands were on the floor. My back is a little sore but I'll live. I am just to klutzy for my own good.

Labels: ouch, slip, tub

Okay, I am not a parent, but I thought this was just wrong.

While eating breakfast, I saw a cute little family with a couple of kids including a 4 year old boy. As the boy was eating breakfast, his mother set down a glass of apple juice in front of him and said, "You better drink your beer." She referred to the drink as "beer" throughout the meal.

I wonder if she calls lollipops cigarettes too.

Labels: kids, Parents

One of the best things my family does is the day after Thanksgiving we make turkey tacos for dinner with the leftovers. They are really tasty and I look forward to them all year, but it will have to wait this year. (No worries, I have some meat in the freezer stashed for the occasion.) Give it a try!

Labels: tacos, Turkey

Well, my favorite holiday is here. I love this day and all of the awesome food that goes with it. I also love the tradition of it. My mom and I make the turkey the same way and her mom before that...slow roasting overnight, yum! For these traditions, and the love and the good food, I am grateful. Enjoy!

Labels: Thanksgiving

"Men don't understand about potatoes. Potatoes, bread and cheese...only women understand."

Labels: bread, cheese, Potatoes, quotes

So I took Scarlett to get accupunture today. Very interesting. The needles didn't bother her as much as the lady was doing something to her back that she couldn't see. When we got in the car she fell asleep instantly.

Labels: Acupuncture, Scarlett

My Uncle Steve blew through town today and since he belongs to the "Annual Passholder" Club, we went to Disneyland for a couple hours. It was a lot of fun. They have it all decorated for Christmas and the castle looks amazing this year.

Labels: Disneyland, UncleSteve

I had to do a mad rush of shopping yesterday. I know that some people think shopping is the most fun a girl could have, but I must disagree. I hate shopping when you have to buy something specific. I never seem to be able to find it. It's always when you don't need anything that you find the best stuff for a good price. So yesterday I was in the dreaded situation of needing to buy. So I went through and grabbed every possible outfit in my size and took them all to the dressing room at once. I had to make a couple of return trips but it worked out that I got a few good outfits. Then I went to pay and the clerk rang up each piece, proudly announcing the price (lower than it was marked). And when she got to the end she said, "And because you spent over $100 we have a special '$20 off' coupon for you"...Score! Now that was a shopping experience I enjoyed!

Labels: Good Deals, Shopping

Don't you find it odd how unpredictable the weather can be? I find it strange that we have been having 85-90 degree heat for the past week. And what about those weather forecasters, sometimes I think they would do better to look out the window than report on what the computer says.

"Since when can a weatherman predict the weather, let alone the future?!"

Labels: weather

Since Manda posted her Christmas movies, I thought I would post my Thanksgiving movies...I may be the only person on earth that has "Thanksgiving movies", but hey after you gorge yourself, you don't feel like doing much else...

Home for the Holidays (an honest-to-goodness movie about Thanksgiving, yay!)

American Movie (a quirky documentary that has a hilarious Thanksgiving scene)

And my new ritual (although it is not a movie) is to watch all 10 Thanksgiving episodes of Friends back to back.

Labels: entertainment, movies, Thanksgiving

"It doesn't have that rich egg flavor, like egg nog is supposed to have. This just tastes like sweet milk. It's pansy-nog."

Labels: eggnog, milk, quotes

Well, today is my father's birthday. So here's to my Dad, wishing you an awesome day and year and all the rest. Hugs and love to the best dad a gal could ask for!

Labels: birthday, Dad

"Who are you talking about?"

"Angela"

"Angela Dill?"

"No, Angela Adams, since she got married."

"That's a bummer because you can't have Adams Pickles, it's just not as cool. I guess you could have Adams Apples."

Labels: Ang, Apples, Pickles

Okay, so not really a queen, but hey I edited me some Cascading Style Sheets today and am feeling pretty darn happy about that. They are still baffling with all of those hash symbols, but I think they are slowing being demystified in my mind. Cool!

Labels: CSS, new things

Why is it that every culture has a "fried dough" dessert? Sopapillas, pizza fritte, beignets, doughnuts...it's all the same! But man are they good!

Labels: desserts, fried dough

So I bought a heating pad for my aching back. I soon realized that I would be losing rights to it. Scarlett loves it. I put it on the floor and she immediately curled up on it pressing the side of her face into the warmth and fell asleep. Crazy little fur ball.

Labels: Heating Pad, Scarlett

I have been editing a set of photos for 8 hours straight and I am starting to see double. I think it is time to give the mouse a rest and look at the inside of my eyelids.

Incidently, it seems as though my eye-twitching problem (the reason I gave up caffiene) is getting better. It has been several days since I have twitched. Yay!

Labels: Caffeine, Eyes, Photoshop

You have to imagine the whole thing being told by a cute little Aussie gal with a heavy accent...

"So I was so nervous about hanging out with these two California girls and couldn't decide what to wear because they were just staring at me when I met them earlier. So I had a couple of drinks at dinner to relax. I was trying SO hard to impress them. So we were watching the watershow at the Bellagio and I threw up in a bin!"

Labels: Aussie, Nervous

I have to say that shipping stuff overnight is a bit stressful. I have the toughest time letting go of that package and trusting that it will get to its destination on time. Not to mention if I am down there trying to hand off the package while the clock is ticking down to final drop-off. Ick.

Labels: FedEx, Shipping, stress

Why must they be so complicated and why must I worry about them months before they are due? Since we started the business these questions have been asked more frequently. So much hinges on how we run our business, how we spend our money, how we handle the money we earn, etc.

I think one of the reasons it is so stressful is that the logic behind taxes evades regular people. This is why we have to entrust these questions to that all-knowing person...our accountant. Even then, I am crossing my fingers and hoping he gets every thing right.

It is nerve wracking business.

Labels: accountant, stress, taxes

Today is the best Monday I have had in a while. Worked all weekend and got so much done that we are getting a bit of a break today. Woohoo!

Labels: Monday, Work

Totally bogus. I am taking back the humidifier, no help at all.

Labels: humidifier, returns

Okay, I admit it...I love the show. It was on for 19 episodes back in '95. I related to the authentic nature of the story and realistic portrayals. Even now I am struck by the stunning visuals and unique style. I think it is the best teen drama that has ever been on the air. So recently, I saw that the episodes were available on NetFlix to rent and my brilliant husband suggested that it might be available for purchase on Amazon. And it was! So I ordered it and now I am getting to enjoy it all over again...yay!

Labels: MSCL, MySoCalledLife, TV