good friends make the most beautiful brides!

my sister-friend said she didn't want her wedding pictures on the internet, but neither do most celebrities, and these are too fabulous not to share!

me and my other half made an 8 hour trek to the dirty south to partake in the wedding event to cap off the summer, and it was worth every minute in that car!

their wedding was truly a comedy of errors, and if you think little things went wrong at your wedding think about my friend when she found out that her veil didn't match, or her karaoke dj cancelled the day of, or that a flag caught on fire moments before the bride walked down the aisle, or that the ushers never showed, or that people did show up to the sit down dinner that didn't rsvp or i could keep going, but i'll spare you the cringe, because the main goal was accomplished. what's that they say? the worse the wedding, the better the marriage?

when she called me in a tail spin wednesday before, i told her this, "Calm down. You have but ONE main goal this weekend. That is to become husband and wife. If your flowers are wrong, if people cancel, if you don't get one gift, as long as you've become husband and wife, your wedding will be a success." please someone remind me this in a few months=)

now, i've been to a lot of weddings and i can confidently say these things:

1. This reception food was the best reception food i've ever put in my mouth. (i think britney was on to something when she had fried chicken at her wedding...)

2. I didn't want just a few bites of their red velvet with cream cheese icing wedding cake, i wanted an entire tier.

3. I have NEVER seen an entire reception get to the dance floor faster with less than 2 drinks in them!

4. We are NEXT!

at last

last night i had the distinct privilege of attending the Etta James and The Roots concert as a very important person. as cool as it would have been to see Etta James with The Roots, it was a trick - her band is called The Roots Band. In other cruel jokes, no one told this grandma that that grandma wouldn't be gracing the stage until after 10:30, which is the middle of the night for me on a school night!

i was able to hold my eyes open for a little bit of the show, mostly because i could hardly believe what i was seeing and hearing. and if you're not quite sure who i'm talking about think At Laaaaaaaaast... My love has come along. My lonely days are over, and life is like a song. (clearly i should be on one of those new singing bee shows!)

so i go in expecting to see:
instead... she was a teeny little woman with enormous (seriously, maybe a size 12 or 13) feet and platinum blonde hair! Mrs. James has a voice like you honestly can't believe and no record, cd or ipod could do justice like hearing it in person. at her age, she's still got it. While her gyrations made me nervous that she'd break her hip and the way she ran her hands down her body made me squirm a little bit with embarrassment and be thankful that all my gram grabs for is her walker, she is a true legend.

i've got the brains, you've got the looks, let's make lots of money!

y'all sick of the yucky love stuff yet?? how about a change of pace=)

the other morning i was listening to the morning radio show, and they were talking about brad and angelina being in the city and angelina being escorted by 5 body guards. the lincoln park attacker is on the loose, so you might as well be safe rather than sorry walking around LP or going into the hancock building.

it got me to thinking... i NEVER see celebrities here! they seemed to pop up everywhere in austin, but for the past year, the only celeb i've seen was beau from big brother 6 at kinko's. which if you understand how much i love big brother, you understand how much of a celebrity that is to me!
until monday afternoon, and it's all beauty and the geek all the time! i was walking to the bus on monday and i saw this guy and i thought he looks really familiar... hmmm. i couldn't place him until i got directly in front of him - oh it's Joe "Has Never Been on a Date" from beauty and the geek! so, i gave him a knowing smile. i hope it made him feel recognized and famous, because it gave me my fix for a good old celebrity spotting.

then on saturday i was waiting for the bus again, and who walks up... Ladies and Gentleman, Shawn "Assistant Boy Scout Master."

i was taking that bus downtown to the same borders that angelina would be toting one of her many kids to. no chance of me actually running into her or brad unless they decide to get into reality tv, so let's face it - i'll continue to run into Beauty and the Geek contestants for as long as i'm living and their matching beauties and geeks!

a 2 hour tour

In order to see the sights of this great city, many will resort to boarding one of this massive boats with 400 of their closest friends armed with cameras and extra deodorant to make up for the tourist who forgot. they'll be wowed by the historical knowledge of the guide and worry that the lunch wait at harry carrey's will cut into their shopping time on michigan avenue.

then again, some board a private yacht and get their own chartered tour of the city. i'm not naming any names, but someone thought their saturday would be pretty typical. wake up around 7:30, turn on sandra lee and watch through the new latina cooking show, do some dishes that had been hanging out, perhaps grab a starbucks and then stow away to the roof - weather permitting - for some good old fashioned sunning and reading.

ok, i'll name names... it was me, and it was a fantastic way to spend a saturday morning. i'll even admit that i've wanted to take one of those architectural tours around the river, but this was great. we had a chicago native as our captain, and he filled us in on the quirky facts of our tour.

The Merchandise Mart

Home Street Home

i tried to get as many pictures as i could, because i knew this might be the first and last time i had the opportunity to take in these sights from this angle. plus, after almost a year - i've never been this close to the sears tower. the weather was perfect, even though it looks foggy and ick - it was neither cold or hot... it was perfect and over cast.


and who knew there were even taxis in the water? not me!

it was certainly a chicago memory i will never forget, and at this moment we are dreaming up plans to make it work! i mean who doesn't need a 1.2 million dollar yacht at their disposal for their saturday pleasure?

monday blues and compromising

my vacation is over, and while i stayed in the city and did things that the city folks do, it was still not easy to get back in to the groove this morning. the monday blues set in, and the coffee just wasn't strong enough, but alas - i'm here.

my other half was in town all week, and although the apartment seemed very full and at times cluttered, it was full of all the best stuff. i've enjoyed living alone, but it certainly doesn't take any time for me to get used to having company and dreading his departure.

it was a week of learning what it really means to compromise for love...not changing, but finding a neutral ground for give and take.

for example... it's very fun to me to go swank hotel bar openings where i can be wined and dined. Check that - key lime pie martinis and no dining because of the greedy travel agents, but all the same a wonderful time amid the swank decor and my fabulous ladies.



It's not as fun to him, but look who put on a happy face...


To him it's way more fun to hear his favorite indie band play with the grant park orchestra. it all kind of sounded the same to me, but there's a chance my hearing was muffled by the rain. yes, i sat outside in the rain for this.

not ideal for me, but i certainly wouldn't do it for anyone else. that thing dave matthews says about it not mattering where you are, but who you're with... he was right. at the time it was miserable, but it is a funny memory that we'll never forget.

as for a middle ground...the beach proved the perfect place for me to soak in the sun and him to soak up a good book.

now will you tell me why there is no compromise for mondays??

no, YOU eat more chicken!

it's not even 8am and it has already been one of those mornings!

first off, i waited for the bus for 20 minutes. i leave my house about 7 minutes before the bus should arrive, so i'll have plenty of buffer room to wait. even though i forgot my coffee creamer, i decided against a quick run to 7-11 for the morning coffee, because i didn't want to chance the buffer room and miss the bus. finally, 5 minutes before my next bus would arrive at it's stop 2 miles away i had to make a command decision and hop in a cab.

we make it just in time for me to grab the next bus, and in a rush i rummage through my purse and pay (probably over pay) the cab driver and run onto the next bus! as i sit my bags down i look down at my packed lunch. where's the chicken?

last night i made a fabulous dinner - chardonnay and garlic grilled chicken with sauteed red onions and parmesean, fresh lemon and pepper grilled tomatoes, long grain wild rice and sour dough bread with garlic butter and parmesean shavings. who could resist repacking that to enjoy for lunch??

there i sat though - no chicken. one could only hope that my samaritan acts of late will pay off and some starving homeless man, or cab driver will find my chicken and love it like i love it.

if that wasn't enough, as i was heating up my coffee it over flowed into the microwave and caused quite a mess.

so, i took matters into my own hands, and my grande no fat toffee nut latte is on it's way! God Bless Starbucks!

the great flood

it's been raining in chicago the past two afternoons. check that - monsooning in chicago! and yes, i do take pity on my texas friends who have been having the wettest june to date, but i doubt that any of them walk and/or take public transportation home. you know me and being wet with my clothes on... arriving home yesterday wasn't pretty, but thankfully my favorite SYTYCD choreographer, wade, created just the ditty to pull me out of my soaked misery!

the day before it just wouldn't stop, and one of my kind hearted friends offered to come pick me up, because she assured me there was just no way i'd ever get home. perhaps a little exaggerated, and when she told me the closest she could get to me was 5 blocks away because the streets were flooding i just knew she was exaggerating.

until i turned the corner and this is what i saw...

i know the picture is small, it's from my phone, but can you see the person in turquoise up on the ledge right by the stop light? take a moment to picture yours truly shimmying across the exact ledge on the opposite side. i prayed the entire time that i wouldn't drop my cell phone in the water or better yet, myself! it is one thing to not like being wet with your clothes on - it's a whole different story when it's dirty murky water! ick!

weekday outing

i was in target the other night and there were these little girls shopping with one of the mom's on a "school night." remember how good it felt to be young and able to have sleep-overs during the week. it always made me feel like i was getting away with something naughty, and not sexually, but something forbidden. like taking a monday off work. by friday my brain has usually already checked out of responsibilities and started focusing on my weekend plans. but when monday rolls around - i should be at my desk. and i'm not sure if it gets much better than having a company outing to the cubs game during work hours to drink free beer, soak in some sun and take in some baseball.




oh wait it does... we're doing it again next month!

boy meets store

see, i knew i should have spread out all those posts from last week. as silly as some of them were, i still would have felt better knowing i had at least more than ONE new post to keep you interested!

i had a notably good weekend with pictures to follow, but i'm reminded of one story that i figured worthy of sharing.

Me and my other half set out to stroll the city saturday morning, and I mused as we walked out of the building. "You know, there is not one thing I don't enjoy doing with you. (get your mind out of the gutter!) i enjoy watching tv, sharing a meal, going for a walk, or doing nothing at all."

awwww, how sweet, you say - i'm not done. i didn't realize that as soon as the words left my mouth, i'd be eating them an hour later.

first - i brought him with me to get my eyebrows waxed. even though the shop is dripping in pink and wreaks of everything this is girl - i took him, and he survived beautifully. i tried to get him to pay extra close attention so in the future i could save $20 and he could wax them for me. just thinking about that reminds me of the total dreamboat of a man that worked at the salon in austin - seriously, would it get any better if your boyfriend could cut and color your hair as needed? not to mention the product discount=)

so we head into a shoe store. the shoes were over priced, but it was a visual candy store. i wanted to take it all in and look at all 6,000 pairs. so he whispers to me, "so i did a count - there are 3 men in this entire store and one of them is 6 years old." funny... back to the sandals. a few minutes later, "is it weird that i'm in this store and i'm a guy??" no... let's just go. "no, no - we don't have to leave if you're not ready!!" we exit.

next store. it's one of those fantastic stores that is a shoppers dream. they have everything from housewares to clothes to journals to everything. you get it. so we're not in there 2 seconds before my other half is slouching and looks like i'm forcing him to watch paint dry, so i swiftly turn and we instantly make our exit.

on the street...
"we didn't have to leave!!!"
"yes, we did! you were clearly bored!!!"
"no i wasn't, i didn't say a word - i just didn't get that store."

he didn't get it. what's to get? all you have to do is look at every last thing in the store. i mean is that too much to ask???=) well, and stand beside me when i don't want to buy a thing, but i want to look at everything, and someone to show me what i've missed and discuss just how cute or how awful that is.

a slurpee was all i needed to wash the foot out of my mouth, and at least i now have leverage for never having watch boy movies or troll best buy. not to mention how i truly appreciate and enjoy everything else.

cadillac escalade

i just got a call on my cell from a chicago number. i rarely get chicago numbers that i don't know, because people hardly ever mis-dial an austin number. i had to check the message, because what if it was my doctor telling me i had an abnormal whatever and was dying? seriously, scariest feeling next to getting trailed by a cop.

upon listening to the message i was informed that i won a cadillac escalade!! it must be my lucky day, because apparently i entered a sweepstakes and won the grand prize? a year ago i would have been ecstatic to get an upgrade on my squealing, no air conditioner in the dreadful texas heat, montero sport, but this time i promptly deleted the message. ain't no way sister is about to trade in riding the bus every day for buying gas in the most expensive place for gas...especially for a Cadillac Escalade!

"because i knew hanging out with y'all would be more fun."

a direct quote from our guest. and it was true. this past weekend was a wonderful blast from the past. as cayce put it, it was an "adult" weekend. there was duffy's, the weiner circle, the most beautiful red head on the bus, stretch off with my doorman, the cubs, old style, and brainstorming a cure for aids, but one thing noticeably missing and perhaps not missed at all - drama! visitors are always welcomed, but you're even more welcomed if you can keep me laughing from friday afternoon until monday morning. there are many stories that will be told over and over again among "my people," but i'm thinking i should leave those to us and leave you with our pictures.

hoping the night won't turn out like one of our infamous beach trips!

"i've been thinking... and you are my people."


"They're good together, huh?" "Well, I like Cayce and I like him, so - yeah!"


"This is my favorite picture of the whole night!"
"Those are not my friends - walk in front of me so no one thinks they're with me."


nothing feels quite as good as bringing old friends and new friends together at the K-Fed Bar!


the devil in the white city...


"look for the most normal person to take our picture"
"Oh, thanks for saying i'm normal!"


"can we maybe go back and get more of those hot dogs?"


"you are going to get hit by a car and everyone will see your who ha!"


and lastly... it wouldn't be a trip if my camera didn't get stolen for this pose!

the best part of waking up... folgers in your cup

i just got out of the shower (5:51pm), because at 7:35am exactly 10 minutes after i arrived at work i dumped 16 oz of hazelnut coffee into my lap. my hands were full, so i caught the coffee with my jeans, and my undies for that matter. the smell of coffee is fantastic first thing in the morning, but there is a reason they don't make coffee scented perfume. thankfully, i had plenty of time for a friend to come to my rescue with yoga pants. enough venting from me... on to bigger and better things.

my birthday was fabulous, and i never feel more loved or important than on april 4th. i truly am luckier than most people alive on that day. thank you to all of you that did your part to wish me a very happy birthday, and it was just that. for those of you who couldn't make the duel celebration here in chicago, this is what you missed!

The Guests of Honor - both came into this world on April 4th...3 years apart!

Kacey and Megan helped me eat my chicken tenders and celebrate!

Audry, Justin, Dan, and the birthday boy and girl!



The best psychology students in the second city!


My favorite engaged couple!!!


26 years and still the most fabulous Texas girls for miles!


and finally... the best gift of all...i got to celebrate my birthday weekend with my other half.

as the old song goes... and many more...

Come on in, y'all!

i'd like to invite you to take a look around at my new apartment off clark street in chicago. cayce and i took a trip to pick up a few things, but they are by no means finishing touches, because i just read in better homes and garden tonight that a room is never finished. I present to you my work in progress thus far...

my desk area...just checking out my favorite website...

my old tv table... that apparently houses old pictures. heading to walgreens to print more recent photos is on top of my to do list!

a view of the entire space... it ain't big, and i PROMISE that tv chord won't be exposed forever... i underestimated the length of the room.

my kitchen...no drawers, no counter space. it's what you do in studios.

but i sure have a nice sized closet, bitches!!!

my newest thing in decorating is stacking books and putting a big piece on top. my aunt and uncle gave me this darling sign for christmas.

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. -John Howard Payne