friday 5

Friday 5

Friday 5: BRRR

What’s your favorite thing about cold weather?
NOTHING. I hate cold weather with the intensity of 1000 suns.

Brrrr!
I look happy but trust me, I’m hating every second of it.

Soups and hot beverages seem to be everyone’s favorite cold-weather culinary combatant, but what’s another food that seems to take the bite out of the cold?
Beef and noodles.

When the weather is just starting to turn cold but is not yet in full frigidity, what do you add to your bed until it’s time to break out the heavy artillery? (I said what, not whom!)
I turn the electric blanket up a few notches and I have the space heater on til the room is warmed up.

What household chore seems especially unkind in these colder months?
Anything that involves leaving the warmth of the apartment.

Among people you know, who seems most oblivious to cold weather?
My husband. Also, kids seem to not notice the cold.

Snow in Chicago
Ugh.

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Friday 5

Friday Five: Sleep Deprivation

When you’re having trouble staying awake, what are some things you do to make sure you don’t drift off to sleep?
I drink a Red Bull.

What’s most likely to cause you a prolonged period of not enough sleep?
A crazy bout of creativity or a big worry. A blast of “mania” in which my mind is racing with ideas and things to do but knowing I need to rest–it’s a vicious cycle.

When you’re going through a prolonged period of not enough sleep, what parts of your daily
routine are likely to change, and how?

I’ll try to get a nap in but if I can’t then I get stressed and my eyes get all grainy.

Who in your life seems regularly to have not enough sleep?
Out of everyone I know, it’d probably be me. I am a night owl, but I have to force myself not to sleep during the day or evening when I am desperate for a nap. OR I do actually get to sleep at a decent hour only to be awakened by the damn cat wailing for no reason.

In what ways does your personality change when you go through a prolonged period of not enough sleep?
I get either cranky and irritable, or extra loopy and silly.

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Friday 5

FRIDAY FIVE (6): Rock Star Treatment

What instructions do you have for your chauffeur this weekend?
“Take me to Target if needed. Also, if I feel inclined to go to the Acousti-kirtan, I’d like a ride to and from that event, please. Oh, and a trip to the nail salon would be very nice. I need a mani/pedi.”

What instructions do you have for your personal chef this weekend?
“No instructions yet. Perhaps a sushi run, though. We’ll see.”

What instructions do you have for your errand-boy (or errand-girl) this weekend?
“Go to Molly’s and pick up some cupcakes for me, please. Make sure you pick up one for yourself and some for the other weekend helpers. Make sure I workout BEFORE I indulge in any cupcakes.”

What instructions do you have for your maid this weekend?
“Make sure Aidan didn’t leave any wild LEGOs on the floor. Keep the kitchen and living room clean. Do my laundry. Keep the litter boxes clean and smelling decent.”

You don’t have a personal handyman, so I’m lending you mine. What three tasks would you like him to tackle this weekend?
“Change all the blown out lightbulbs. Fix the holes in the doors put there by Adam’s former roommate. Help us with our couch.”

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Friday Five

FRIDAY FIVE: What Goes In (5)

It feels weird to have been home on a Friday for most of the day. Weird in a good way.

What goes into your coffee or tea?
I rarely drink coffee, and when I do, it’s a white chocolate raspberry mocha from Starbucks. I am a more frequent tea drinker, and I like to add a bit of honey and a lot of sugar or Splenda.

What goes into a good omelette?
I haven’t eaten many omelettes, but I’m going to go with ham, cheddar cheese, and spinach. NO onions or mushrooms, please.

What goes into your ears on a good morning?
Good music to get me happy and ready to face the day. Some Ginger Doss, SJ Tucker, or Girl Talk. Foster the People also.

What goes into a healthy but yummy lunch?
Turkey sammie on wheat, celery sticks, fresh fruit. Some sort of corn chip or those “popped” potato chips. Yummy.

What goes into a productive evening?
More hours for once. But… a workout, completed freelance work, a nice shower or bath, and some time to read and play on the computer for fun.

Vacation highlights and pix coming soon! 🙂

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Break Time! (Pictures, Long)

I love the Friday nights of a three-day weekend because I still have the entire weekend ahead of me. Three days of freedom. Sweet. 🙂

Life’s been pretty good lately. Those work weeks from hell are now in the past (there are more coming up but not for several weeks–we’ll let Future Ronni deal with that). I’ve discovered new music, met new cool people, and eaten a LOT of sushi! The weather is still acting way too wishy-washy. I wish it would break already. But fortunately, it’s been nice on the weekends and crappy during the work week, which is how I prefer it.

I’ve still been working out. These days, I alternate between yoga, the bike, and The Firm stability ball workout. I also toss in some New York City ballet and Denise Austin power kickboxing from time to time. I’ve also been lifting weights a bit. I’m thinking of getting and starting the 10-Minute Trainer. I work so many hours it’s sometimes hard to get motivated to work out when I get home. But I can spare ten minutes, right?

I’ve had the past two Tuesdays off from work, and they’ve both been amazing. On May 17th, I got up and did a great workout on the bike. Then I met with my Plurk friends Jon and Rho for brunch! We ate at Horizon Cafe, my favorite diner in Chicago. This is what I had:

Waffles!

Jealous, aren’t ya? 🙂 After brunch, we came to our place and hung out, and of course, took pictures!

Hanging with J and Rho

It was so much fun hanging out with them. I didn’t want them to leave. We play all day every day on Plurk, but it was totally better when I got to talk to them in person.

After Adam and I dropped them off at their hotel, we headed out to Naperville to Anderson’s bookshop so I could meet Sarah Dessen again! I’d met her during the summer of 2009, but I was not going to pass up the chance to meet my favorite author again. I was #31 in line, and when I got to her, she looked at me and said “I totally know you. You always comment on my blog.” She gave me two hugs! Oh my God, y’all. As if my day wasn’t already awesome, right?

Sarah Dessen | Anderson's Bookshop Naperville Sarah Dessen | Anderson's Bookshop Naperville

Sarah Dessen | Anderson's Bookshop Naperville

Sarah is a great speaker. She’s very entertaining and down-to-earth and honest. I really enjoyed listening to her read from her newest book WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE and having her share life tidbits with us. She’s very relatable and I think that’s what I like best about her. And of course, her books continue to be incredible. She really is an inspiration.

So, it was back to work for four days, then an evening with Jen, eating sushi and hanging out. I took her to her first kirtan, which she enjoyed. There was a kid there who was about 8 years old. He was clapping, singing and dancing, ALL WHILE HULA HOOPING. What! Yeah, that was pretty awesome. It was a great kirtan. I’m VERY much looking forward to Rich Logan’s Acoustikirtan on June 11th!

Jen came over again Sunday and we watched Twilight with RiffTrax. We need to make a date to watch New Moon with RiffTrax as well. Good times.

Crookshanks turned ten last weekend! Can you believe he is ten? And look how handsome he is:

Happy Birthday, Crookshanks!

I took this past Tuesday off because I wanted needed a break, and also because my s00j was in town! She was performing with two other tremendously talented women named Bekah Kelso and Ginger Doss at the Life Force Arts Center. The three of them together is known as The Traveling Fates and you guys, they are amazing. Their harmony is so tight you can bounce a dime off of it. I enjoyed every single song they sang. I could tell they were having a great time and enjoying singing together and singing for us. I ended buying both of Ginger’s CDs and the one Bekah had available, and I’ve been listening to them non-stop. I even made a “Traveling Fates” playlist in my iTunes at work, and will need to do so on my iPod. If you go to the Traveling Fates site (linked above), you can download a free compilation of some really great songs. DO IT.

But first, look at my pictures. 🙂

s00j Ginger Doss Bekah
s00j Ginger Bekah

s00j, Me, Bekah
s00j, me, and Bekah. Watch out now!

Seriously, it was a great show, performed in a great space, and attended by great people. It was a very good night.

Dancing the Night Away

Oh, and I have to share the picture of the meal I had before the show.

Mixed Grill
Mixed Grill. I couldn’t decide on which kabob to get, so I got this one which was a sampler of sorts. Super yummy.

And just randomly… The lilacs are finally starting to bloom! YAY lilacs!

Lilacs!!!

Oh so today, I went to The Disney Store. The one in Block 37, on the corner of State and Washington, smells amazing when you walk inside. Today, I found out that they’re actually offering the scent, called IMAGINATION, for purchase. I got the home fragrance and the body lotion. So, not only can my apartment smell like Disney, but I CAN TOO.

You’re so jealous. Admit it. Hee hee. Just kidding. It does smell really good, though. Woodsy and fresh.

Randomly, my upstairs neighbor is blasting O.P.P. What.

That’s all for now. I will leave you with a quick Friday Five, then Imma be out.

FRIDAY FIVE: In The Mood (4)

What puts you in a creative mood?
Reading a really good book. Looking at pins on Pinterest. Good music. Movie scores.

What puts you in a silly mood?
I’m almost always in a silly mood. Also, playing with Aidan. And watching funny stuff on TV.

What puts you in a contemplative mood?
Vivid dreams. Feeling unsettled or unsatisfied or discontent.

What puts you in a competitive mood?
Not much these days.

If you’d call yourself a talkative person, what puts you in a quiet mood? If you’d call yourself a quiet person, what puts you in a talkative mood?
I’m probably in the middle. Bringing up a subject I am passionate about, like Aidan, books, writing, yoga will make me talk a lot and loudly, too. I get quiet when I am upset, puzzled, or tired.

And that’s all, folks. PEACE!

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