Hey guys!
Sorry it's been awhile since I have posted,but I recently became a contributing blogger for ChicagoNow! So I have been busy trying to build up my posts there. I didn't forget this blog,I just took a hiatus for now,so I should be back soon,just thought I'd check-in and say hi! See you soon! :-)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Border's to close stores throughout city and suburbs
You must have heard by now that Border's,which houses books,music,and cafes, have filed bankruptcy and will be closing all of their stores in Chicago and surrounding areas.
This is sad,really. Yes it was a big box that was sprouting everywhere and when the recession hit,so did visiting and buying from these kind of places.
Ipads and other digital devices have also replaced buying real books in person.
But is it really the same experience? I would much rather purchase an actual book or magazine from the store where I can turn its actual pages,cozy up on my couch,drinking my green tea. Or would prefer going to a cafe,picking up a few magazines and a java and spend hours flipping through the latest styles. It was my therapy.My favorite was the one on Michigan Ave. I took Grad school classes at Loyola's Water Tower Campus across the street and before and after school would go there to study.
My interest in reading goes back as far as I learned how to read at the age of 5-my mom would take me and my brother to the library and we would check out books from there all the time. I would take huge stacks of books and would read them all in one sitting,I'm not kidding you. My first acknowledgement of my love for reading was reading 100 books in first grade and getting a trophy for it.
Barnes and Noble's have closed some of their stores but I believe they are still around. There are local bookstores around here that I may have to venture out-it's even better if you can support local businesses.
Internet has paved the way we interact with each other now,and also includes the way we spend our free time whether it's reading from an e-book or shopping online. I really hope you can have a balance from both worlds so that these type of activities in person don't go away.
This is sad,really. Yes it was a big box that was sprouting everywhere and when the recession hit,so did visiting and buying from these kind of places.
Ipads and other digital devices have also replaced buying real books in person.
But is it really the same experience? I would much rather purchase an actual book or magazine from the store where I can turn its actual pages,cozy up on my couch,drinking my green tea. Or would prefer going to a cafe,picking up a few magazines and a java and spend hours flipping through the latest styles. It was my therapy.My favorite was the one on Michigan Ave. I took Grad school classes at Loyola's Water Tower Campus across the street and before and after school would go there to study.
My interest in reading goes back as far as I learned how to read at the age of 5-my mom would take me and my brother to the library and we would check out books from there all the time. I would take huge stacks of books and would read them all in one sitting,I'm not kidding you. My first acknowledgement of my love for reading was reading 100 books in first grade and getting a trophy for it.
Barnes and Noble's have closed some of their stores but I believe they are still around. There are local bookstores around here that I may have to venture out-it's even better if you can support local businesses.
Internet has paved the way we interact with each other now,and also includes the way we spend our free time whether it's reading from an e-book or shopping online. I really hope you can have a balance from both worlds so that these type of activities in person don't go away.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Hearts A Bluhm
I took this picture of this heart and others that are spotted all over Michigan Ave. It's part of a campaign to raise heart-health awareness from Northwestern Hospital's Bluhm Cardiovascular Center called Hearts A Bluhm.
Various businesses and organizations came out to support this awareness through their contributions. To see other hearts(they are really cute!),if you have time,go check them out in person or check them out and the campaign at www.heartsabluhm.org
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Internet,Social Media,etc-are we too open about all of this?
As I sat at the break room table at work last week,people around me were saying how people reveal way too much on facebook. I have heard this all too many times before. The statuses that people put on their facebook and twitter raises eyebrows for those that are not into divulging very much. Many people view these social network sites as evil but those same people have profiles themselves.
Recently the Egyptian protests have caused their government to shut down the Internet,blocking users to use facebook and twitter to get the word out on what is going on,although some news still gets leaked out of there. Are we taking advantage of our right to freedom of speech? What would happen if the Government shut down the Internet in the US?
Or are we too liberal when it comes to social media? Why do people reveal as much as they do on the Internet these days? Or has freedom of speech reigned always in America and this is just another way to express this right? Another theory could be that it is a form of journaling,which is known for it's therapeutic effects. Or it can be as simple as a way to keep in touch with people as we get older and become more busy with jobs,marriages,kids,etc.
There are times where I refrain from revealing too much on my blog,which kind of defeats the purpose of having a blog,but it really comes down to what you are comfortable with. Some days I feel like revealing more than other days.
And I think that is what makes all of us unique in a way,just as in real life,some are more extroverts,while others are more private. And this country allows us to choose which route we want to take when it comes to this topic.
Recently the Egyptian protests have caused their government to shut down the Internet,blocking users to use facebook and twitter to get the word out on what is going on,although some news still gets leaked out of there. Are we taking advantage of our right to freedom of speech? What would happen if the Government shut down the Internet in the US?
Or are we too liberal when it comes to social media? Why do people reveal as much as they do on the Internet these days? Or has freedom of speech reigned always in America and this is just another way to express this right? Another theory could be that it is a form of journaling,which is known for it's therapeutic effects. Or it can be as simple as a way to keep in touch with people as we get older and become more busy with jobs,marriages,kids,etc.
There are times where I refrain from revealing too much on my blog,which kind of defeats the purpose of having a blog,but it really comes down to what you are comfortable with. Some days I feel like revealing more than other days.
And I think that is what makes all of us unique in a way,just as in real life,some are more extroverts,while others are more private. And this country allows us to choose which route we want to take when it comes to this topic.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
City vs Suburbs-the ever so debatable question.
So 2011 is here and this will be my fifth year living in the city of Chicago. It has its cons(they JUST raised taxes,parking meters,crime,and the highest gas prices in the US) but it's pros outweigh them-wonderful parks, restaurants, museums,a variety of shops to choose from,a convenient public transportation system,and a very diverse ethnic scene.
Now comes the critical part-where to live once kids come into picture? This is something that even though I am not pregnant(don't be spreading rumors now lol),I am looking down the road when I do have kids,what will our family lifestyle be like? City dwellers? Or Suburbanites? I recently had this conversation with a fellow colleague over lunch today who is working in the city as well as living downtown with her husband and one year old.
I grew up in a typical suburban town where the most exciting thing to do is hit up the community mall,TGIF's(or any of those big box restaurants,Olive Garden,etc,you get the pic)or a sports bar dive. Everyone for the most part had at least 2-4 cars in their driveway,garage,and a backyard. I had a pretty good childhood though,complete with backyard,swingset and sandbox. As I got older however,it didn't seem to appeal to me the suburban lifestyle so I went to Grad school in Chicago and loved it ever since. I did have to move back temporarily but hated it. Luck and persistence had enabled me to move back to the city where I wanted to be.
Now of course,the ever so ending advice pours in as I contemplate my next move. I live in the city but work right outside the city in the suburbs where most of my coworkers live. Numerous times have they advised me that the schools in the suburbs are better,and you get a backyard,a garage,etc. Oh and the kids! The kids will have a backyard,you cannot raise a kid in the city without a backyard! My colleague views it otherwise: she takes her child to the public library often and takes advantage of the wide variety of parks we have,especially along the lake. The Chicago Public School system,however,is one up for debate,as different parts of the city apparently are "better run" than others. As Mayor Daley steps down and others try to take over to be the next mayor of Chicago,this will be a focus on their agenda.
Part of me wonders if staying in the city is such a great idea,and there are times where I do have this inkling that I want to be in the suburbs,because my childhood was great and would want that for my future children too. But then I also think of the numerous things I can do with kids in the city too that I was unable to as a child with all the attractions it offers. And being able to walk to let's say, to the dry cleaners,theatres,and shops is such a big bonus(and good for you healthwise).
Either way,I have to just ignore the noise that everyone tries to give me(including my parents who definitely want me back close to them in the burbs) and figure it all on our own with my husband. One thing we don't want is live in the middle of nowhere just to afford a McMansion and an Escalade which so many people we know are doing,but I see no point in that.
If you live in the city and are starting a family I would love to hear your advice on how you are doing it! So far I am hearing good things from the ones that do.
Now comes the critical part-where to live once kids come into picture? This is something that even though I am not pregnant(don't be spreading rumors now lol),I am looking down the road when I do have kids,what will our family lifestyle be like? City dwellers? Or Suburbanites? I recently had this conversation with a fellow colleague over lunch today who is working in the city as well as living downtown with her husband and one year old.
I grew up in a typical suburban town where the most exciting thing to do is hit up the community mall,TGIF's(or any of those big box restaurants,Olive Garden,etc,you get the pic)or a sports bar dive. Everyone for the most part had at least 2-4 cars in their driveway,garage,and a backyard. I had a pretty good childhood though,complete with backyard,swingset and sandbox. As I got older however,it didn't seem to appeal to me the suburban lifestyle so I went to Grad school in Chicago and loved it ever since. I did have to move back temporarily but hated it. Luck and persistence had enabled me to move back to the city where I wanted to be.
Now of course,the ever so ending advice pours in as I contemplate my next move. I live in the city but work right outside the city in the suburbs where most of my coworkers live. Numerous times have they advised me that the schools in the suburbs are better,and you get a backyard,a garage,etc. Oh and the kids! The kids will have a backyard,you cannot raise a kid in the city without a backyard! My colleague views it otherwise: she takes her child to the public library often and takes advantage of the wide variety of parks we have,especially along the lake. The Chicago Public School system,however,is one up for debate,as different parts of the city apparently are "better run" than others. As Mayor Daley steps down and others try to take over to be the next mayor of Chicago,this will be a focus on their agenda.
Part of me wonders if staying in the city is such a great idea,and there are times where I do have this inkling that I want to be in the suburbs,because my childhood was great and would want that for my future children too. But then I also think of the numerous things I can do with kids in the city too that I was unable to as a child with all the attractions it offers. And being able to walk to let's say, to the dry cleaners,theatres,and shops is such a big bonus(and good for you healthwise).
Either way,I have to just ignore the noise that everyone tries to give me(including my parents who definitely want me back close to them in the burbs) and figure it all on our own with my husband. One thing we don't want is live in the middle of nowhere just to afford a McMansion and an Escalade which so many people we know are doing,but I see no point in that.
If you live in the city and are starting a family I would love to hear your advice on how you are doing it! So far I am hearing good things from the ones that do.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Free entry to Art Institute of Chicago January 3rd to February 4th
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Don't get in a rut when in a relationship-keep the spark alive.
Another guilty pleasure of mine is watching reality TV series Giuliana and Bill,that shows on Style Network on Monday nights. Bill Rancic if you recall,was the first Apprentice on Trump's reality show. Giuliana if you don't know, is a TV host for E! I especially love this show because not only does it take place in the Windy City,but also because it is honest-to-goodness reality show without all the crazy drama. Some may think this is boring but it is a nice change from all the tacky reality shows that have been popping up everywhere. Giuliana and Bill have put "relationships and marriage can be fun" back on the map.
Watch this clip as they talk about how getting in a rut is easy when in a marriage or serious relationship. Good advice from a couple whose idea of marriage should include keeping the spark through creative ways. All too much we hear that once someone gets in a serious relationship or marriage,we tend to just get into this routine and not try anymore. I believe this is definitely the secret to any relationship.
Watch this clip as they talk about how getting in a rut is easy when in a marriage or serious relationship. Good advice from a couple whose idea of marriage should include keeping the spark through creative ways. All too much we hear that once someone gets in a serious relationship or marriage,we tend to just get into this routine and not try anymore. I believe this is definitely the secret to any relationship.
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