Christmastime and Crafting!

Ah, I am a Christmas fan. It's my favorite holiday.  I love Christmas, the ability to decorate your house totally differently for a month and to have it smell like fresh greens.  I love sending cards, reaching out to people and being excited for my own mailbox to see the cards that will come.  I love crafting, making dog cookies as gifts and shopping, shopping, shopping.  I love Christmas! It means being grateful for who you are and who you have in life,  celebrating life and love, and everything that makes us friends and family.  Parties are fun, too!

Attempt #2 at a family photo, this time with Christmas sweaters.

Lenny's first snow - he loves it!

Crafting at Erica's, we made wrapping paper with potato stamps!

Erica being crafty making a cute magnet.

Christine felting wool!

Kristin about to paint her stamps!

Lenny and Bill, not helping me with the Christmas lights!

And tree!  Finished to its glory!

April is Alright by me!

Thus far, April has been the best month for me in 2010.  I hate to jinx anything, its only being April 7th, but so far for this month, I'm super excited to be nominated for the board chair of the student division for Women In Film Chicago.  Its such an honor and I am so excited to be on the board - I would be encouraging students from all colleges with film programs to be involved, to network, and make their film experience better for them as individuals.  And 1 million more things!

Secondly, it was my 32nd birthday.  Wow - 32.  I can't believe its already happened!  I had Friday off (for Good Friday - April 2 - and I had a wonderful day with Mackie going to JAM for breakfast, off to get our nails done, and of course a tad of Shopping!
Then we went to Resi's Bierstube.  Pictures to follow!

Third - its finally Spring time and we mulched the hell out of our yard.  It looks so awesome!

Lastly, tomorrow we are flying to visit the Mighty Carmona Family!  I can't believe it until I'm there!

I Want!

554 N ARTESIAN Ave, CHICAGO, IL 60622 | MLS# 07383804

I have always wanted this house. It's so cute and tiny and great.

A Tour of my Neighborhoods....Weekend

 Sometimes it happens that I get REALLY REALLY REALLY sick of my neighborhood.  Same people, same places, same food, etc.  It can get really old.  So Friday, Erica and I ventured up to Albany Park and went for a delicious Lebanese dinner at Semiramis.
Hello Delicious!  BYOB and amazingly delicious!  Then we headed to North Center and stopped into a couple of German bars - love them!  http://www.laschetsinn.com/  and http://www.yelp.com/biz/resis-bierstube-restaurant-and-tavern-chicago

.

So much fun!
On Saturday, I headed up to Lakeview to get my friend David his sunglasses that he fell in love with while he and Ema were in Chicago. I bought him 4 pairs.  

Saturday night, Bill and I had date night and we went to Honky Tonk BBQ in Pilsen, yet another neighborhood,  and dined on BBQ in a really cool, retro-funky space.  Copper tin ceilings and all!  And, Bill's good friend Kari is the manager there, and we haven't seen her since our wedding!  It was great catching up and pigging out.

Sunday was yet another neighborhood day.  We started our day by recycling our Christmas tree in Humboldt Park

Then we made our way to the Logan Square Farmers Market and bought local farmed honey, meat, some bread, etc. Blew through $50 before the blink of an eye!
I do, however, really wish I was in Las Vegas. Our bestie neighbors Jamesy and Rachel are there with Lex.  Look at all the fun they are having. 

Sigh. I'll just chill with the Best Dog in the WORLD instead. And have a Bloody Mary.

More things I'm obsessed with

Shoe Pants!  What the.....
http://cocoperez.com/2010-01-05-introducing-the-shoe-pants/?from=PH

FOOD:
http://skyfullofbacon.com/blog/?p=342

Angry People in Newspapers:
http://www.veryshortlist.com/vsl/daily.cfm/review/1443/Website/anger-management/

Ukrainian Candy - by what do you mean???
http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2010/01/04/just-opened-nuts-2-you-a-ukranian-candyland

PosieTint from Benefit:
http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B0015YFJ4W/ref=ord_cart_shr/175-0704828-8564365?ie=UTF8&bcBrand=core

Oh Bears, you have problems. Not that I care, because I don't.

And because I married a Greek:

http://www.greekinternetmarket.com/2560-01001.html

More Things I'm Obsessed With

Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE TIGHTS!  Check out this website, and Daily Candy has a deal right now, too!!!
http://www.welovecolors.com/Default.aspx

Enter DAILYCANDY at the checkout!  So many colors, so little time!

Things I am Currently Obsessed With!

The BEST in all products I have found to date:  Bubble and Bee.  My FAVORITE lip balm, deodorant and I'm about to sample their shower gel.  AND hands down the best customer service.
http://www.bubbleandbee.com/

Business cards and greeting cards - I ordered the mini:

www.moo.com

AHHHH! Neiman Marcus LAST CALL IN ILLINOIS!   The greatest store ever!  I can't believe it's here!  It's in Gurnee Mills though, still totally worth it!

http://www.nmlastcallstore.com/

I think I want to start stitching.  Maybe I'll be good at it. I'm not good at anything.  Seriously.

http://www.sublimestitching.com/

MOST IMPORTANT MOVIE OF 2009:

http://foodincmovie.com/

And this picture:

And Rachel's Blog:

Amazing:

http://foodworthy.wordpress.com/

Lots of Good Books!

Tis the season to READ!  Really, the only time I get to read is on the bus, or if I get off work early before making dinner.  Regardless, I love to read and I forget how great it always it.  Losing yourself in another world, etc etc.  Of course I have my favorites, but lately I have gone with some recommendations:
http://www.augusten.com

A memoir of the authors father.  Sad, twisted, yet amazing someone can remember their childhood with such detail!

http://maggiekast.com/

Wow and amazing.  Maggie is my friend Erica's mom, who I have known for 15 years.  In this remarkable memoir, Maggie talks about family, love, losing, and finding faith.  Really a beautiful book, and extremely touching, and the writing is incredible.

http://www.eatinganimals.com

So far so good!!!!  I'm through the first couple of chapters, and its really compelling......