twentysomething.

Happy Valentine's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:18:00 +0000

I'm not big into the sappiness that is Valentine's Day. I've never been supersad when I didn't have a Valentine - although, I'll admit, it's a lot easier to dismiss Valentine's Day when you do. The boy and I may not celebrate today with crazy expensive dinners or jewelry or plane rides or whathaveyou, but we'll celebrate by being together. And, honestly, that's the simplest, and sweetest, way I'd want to spend the International Day of Love [andmoneymakingbyeverysortofcompanypeddlingpinkandredandflowersandchocolatesandlingerieandcuddlebears].

Google celebrates V-Day with a very cute, and simple, and innocent animation on their home search page [which I rarely visit anymore thanks to the automatic search in the address bar in Chrome!]

Go check it out, and I hope you smile. And, today, celebrate EVERYONE love, not just that special someone you may, or may not have. Including yourself.

I've Been Reading...

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:48:00 +0000

I realize most of you readers might read my posts in Google Reader. That's okay, I read most of my blogroll in Reader too. It's so nice, concise, centrally located...

Anyway, this isn't a post to praise Reader. It's to discuss a different kind of reader, me! As you might know, I've been reading books on a kindle for a little more than six months now. It's changed my life.

Okay, perhaps it hasn't been that dramatic of an influence in my day-to-day operations. But, I do love it. Perhaps it's just that I have a fancy new technological toy on which to read, but I read much more now than I did before. I expound upon that in my new page, up in the header area. It's so cleverly entitled, "I've Been Reading." I know, super creative and mystical.

If you're a reader like me and are curious to know what sorts of intelligent [and not-so-intelligent, i.e. LC's masterfully crafted L.A. Candy series. I am anxiously awaiting her next series. No joke, I am. I love them. We all have our weaknesses...] then check it out!

I'd love suggestions! Let me know if you have any, or if you'd like to discuss which books you hate/love/can't believe I'd even think about reading. Let's interact.

[I bet you thought this post would be about Twilight. Sorry to disappoint...]

My New Favorite Show

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

I know I never posted that Project Pinterest post on Tuesday, but it's coming, don't worry. AND I'll even be ready on Tuesday with a new one. I know, promises, promises and no action. You'll just have to trust me.

Anyway, my new favorite show is Downton Abbey, among a slew of others. But Downton is by far the most captivating, and the most beautiful. It's beautiful in the location, the costuming, the soundtrack, and just the storyline. It's my favorite literary time period (and costuming period) come to life. Sometimes I wish I was still dressing in costume every day so I could update my Edwardian wardrobe.

If you love Downton Abbey as much as I do, visit this post. And, you can watch the first season on netflix, totally free (with a netflix account, of course. And if you don't have an account, this is a perfect reason to use that free two-week trial. Trust me, you'll finish in two weeks. Or two days.)

Project Pinterest

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:50:00 +0000

This is the year of the achievable goals rather than doomed-to-fail New Years' Resolutions. My photo a day blog is going pretty well (it's been more than 21 days and, what do they say, it takes 21 days to make something a habit?) In my last post I wrote about Pinterest, and lamented the fact that I could sit and pin all day but rarely actually take creative action away from the computer. So, here's my next goal: Project Pinterest.

Every week, I will [attempt] to actually complete something that I've pinned. That could be a recipe, a DIY project, or [if it's a really great one], an outfit based on a style inspiration board. Much like my no-pressure photo project, this will also be a no-pressure, low expectations Pinterest project. I'll be honest, I'm pretty excited about it.

AND as we all know, things are always done better in groups. If you find yourself experiencing creativity block because you're surrounded by so much creativity on Pinterest and are trying to find the motivation to do some of those projects yourself, then here it is! On Tuesdays we'll post our Project Pinterest of the week, and I'll link to yours if you complete something as well. We can encourage each other to actually get off the computer and be semi-productive, and see what we've accomplished.

Let me know if you want in!

Pinter-what?

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:04:00 +0000

If you haven't heard of Pinterest by now, and you ~~are a girl~~ like social media, online shopping, and the idea of being creative but sometimes have a hard time actually being creative, here's a site for you.

I've been on the site since the summertime-ish, and slowly but surely the phrase "I saw this on Pinterest" has been creeping into my vocabulary. Now that my sisters and a growing number of my friends are also on the site daily, that phrase is morphing into "Did you see that pin on Pinterest?" It's become an ~~addiction~~ hobby that I truly do enjoy.

I try to limit myself to being on during my lunchbreaks, for a variety of reasons:
1. I never actually do any of the DIY projects I pin.
2. I spend too much time fantasizing about a wedding I'm not even engaged for at the moment, with favors, decorations, dresses, and locations that all cost thousands of $$$ more than I could ever spend.
3. I spend too much time looking at food right before lunch. The solution: while I am eating.

One could argue that Pinterest only encourages a consumeristic society; that looking at all these lovely things that I can't have now, probably won't ever have, and probably don't even want, just encourages lusting [of the materialistic flavor. Or, judging by all the half-naked men pins, perhaps of all flavors]. There is definitely a possibility that overindulgent pinning could lead to such an attitude, and probably affects me in this way more than I realize. Do you feel it leads to want more than you would if you weren't on the site?

Alternatively, as a self-proclaimed shopaholic and addicted online shopper, as well as a materialistic 20-something of the I-need-it-now generation, I think Pinterest can also serve to curb spontaneous and impulse buying. Here's why:

January was my "no-excess-spending" month; or my $0 budget month. Every so often I see my bank account statement [which I, much like that main character in Shopaholic, I usually try to avoid], freak out, and make a no-spending budget with renewed zeal. Pinterest has helped in that if I really want an item, I pin it, and then leave it alone. I get that instant gratification, but I don't shell out the money until I decide I really actually do need it or can treat myself to something.

Coming soon: making it useful - "Project Pinterest."

If we're not friends on Pinterest yet, then click the 'Follow me" button at the top of the sidebar! If you're not a member of that online community and need an invite, let me know and I'll invite you.

Photo-a-day, Round Two

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:49:00 +0000

And now, one of my "resolutions".

Some of you may remember when I tried a Project 365 in 2010, taking a photo every day for a year. Some of you might remember last year, when I tried to do a community Project 52, taking one photo every week for a year. Some of you might remember how those didn't make it very far.

Well, this year, I have a project that I plan to complete. I think my problem for the other two was that I set super-high standards for myself. I never wanted it to be a point-and-shoot photo; it could only be a photo from my DSLR. It had to be expertly edited, and, simply put, perfect. I was just setting myself up for failure.

This year, I will take a photo every day, and try to post them just as often - but they'll mostly likely always be from my iPhone. The handy-dandy iPhone 4S has a fantastic point-and-shoot inside, and I've taken 500 photos in less than three months. I want to share those with you. I decided to do a separate blog, which you can see here. That frees me up here to still do the occasional musing about whatever comes to me.

I still love photography, and I still love to take pictures with my DSLR. My goals still include becoming a better photographer, and maybe one day shooting weddings/babies/portraits. Right now, though, my DSLR is in need of some repair [as in won't turn on], so my iPhone will have to do. In a way, I think of this as a warm up. One day I will accomplish a Project 365, or at least a Project 52, with some amazing non-iPhone shots. But for now, I am happy with this goal.

I'm excited, a year from now, to look back at the changes this year will have brought. This is one simple, no-pressure, and far-from-perfect way for me to do that.

Simply a Day at a Time: http://simplydayatatime.blogspot.com/

Resolutions, and Some Thoughts on Them

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Here we are, 11 days into the new year, and I have only just arrived at what I'll consider, for lack of a better word, my "resolutions." Having set - and failed at completing - any number of your traditional goals for the past few years, I had originally intended not to set a resolution. After all, aren't most of us just setting ourselves up for failure? How many times have I pledged to "work out every day", or - okay, that's actually usually my resolution. Clearly, because it's always been my resolution, I never got very far in resolving it.

That's the problem I have with resolutions - I've never really succeeded at them. Perhaps I've always put too much pressure on myself when I didn't do it for a few days. Part of me hates failure [okay, all of me], and often I'd rather give up entirely than admit that I failed to achieve something perfectly. I realize, in writing this, that to ultimately fail entirely is much, much worse than encountering a few bumps along the way. But that's how I've always been - choosing not to pursue something rather than face the fact that I am, in fact, not perfect, and that there are people better than me, and that I will not succeed at every single thing I attempt.

This is not intended to be a depressing post, I promise. Through all of this introspection I have concluded that I'd rather not live the rest of my life this way. I'm 25, healthy, reasonably attractive, reasonably talented at a few things, intelligent, with a good job, great family & friends, and a fantastic boyfriend. There's no reason for me to sit and think, "Oh, why can't I be like so-and-so, who succeeded at this-thing-or-the-other for no other reason than she decided she wanted to, and so she did. I don't have enough ______ to do that." Actually, I have all the time in the world, and rather than spend the time worrying over why I didn't do something, or how to go about doing it just the right way, I might as well just go ahead and do it!

And now, you wonder what my goals are. That, my friends, is for another post. Just to keep you interested.

PS. I know it's not 2009, and that it's 2012. I just like this picture best out of all my NYE pictures.

Lately

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:58:00 +0000

...it rained, leaves fell to the ground, and my rainboots sprang a leak.

...Christmas started going up in the stores (Macy's), except for Nordstrom. (Which I totally respect.)

...we got a giant hold in our street, for an unknown reason.

...I attempted to balance my increasing level of videogame dorkiness with weekly updates of how Mariah Carey got her body back.

...I went to a great show, take the pictures (to come later), and eat at a surprisingly well-decorated restaurant (probably because of the snowflakes on the inside).

...I ate a buffalo chicken flatbread at said restaurant. (Yes, I ate the whole thing.)

...I ate a delicious, delicious bagel sandwich at CBA due to a very fortuitous competitor's coupon. (Shh).

...I used a Groupon for the Brew & View, to see two moderately funny movies with free popcorn and (not free) beer for $5!

...I purchased Harry Potter Lego Years 1-4 for DSOldie and decided it was the best purchase I ever made.

...until I bought peanut butter m&ms and ate half the bag while watching Season 1 of Friends.

And, that, friends, it's what's happened to me lately.

When I Discovered Indiana's Not-so-bad

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:43:00 +0000

A few weekends ago I headed with a certain boy to Lafayette, Indiana to visit his family and also to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Tippecano. Which, for those of you unfamiliar with this particular battle, or just need to be reminded (as I did), here's a summary. I was going to lay it out for you, but then I remembered I'm trying to keep my blog posts short. So you'll have to read it yourself.

I have always, always, always loved these windmills. Justin's father says they are a blight on the countryside. If you're from the country, maybe that's true. But I think I love how industrial, yet also how sexy (if you can call a windmill sexy) they are.

I have two things to say about this:

1. Look at how gigantic this bottle is. Seriously, look.

2. That Chocovine stuff is delicious. You might think it's gross (chocolate and red wine) but it's actually quite tasty. It tastest more like a coffee liquor (think Bailey's or Kahlua) than anyting else.

You know, requisite. In the back there is the cabin Justin's great grandparents built way back in the day, and is still used for family vacations. Running water from a pump, no bathroom (think outhouse), etc. Spiders everywhere. Totally my kind of living....

But this is the view if you sit on the bench in front of the house. Not so bad, yea?

Very cute and country. If I had a house in the wilderness I'd like to have a swing like this.

Does this help you to remember that battle? Or at least the slogan? This phrase is the only thing I associate with Tippecanoe. It is so memorable - really quite the campaign slogan, even in 1812.

See, Indiana's not so bad.

Perhaps Justin's future career.

That's the Tippecanoe memorial graveyard, where all the reenactors camped out. Teensy bit creepy if you ask me.

He really hates when I take pictures. That's why I do it.

Some reenactors. That's all I have to say about that.

So, my trip to Indiana was fun because it involved family, fall, fun, history, and most importantly, chocolate wine.

What, you don't think that's the most important part?

This might be:

Halloween Town

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Yes, Halloween was almost two holidays ago. But, it isn't Thanksgiving just yet so, here's what I did for Halloween this year. Different than usual, which is (most of the time, unless we are having an epic party) nothing. Halloween's just not my thing. Except for the following, notsuperscarymorefalltimethanHalloween activities.

Carving le pumpkins. Comfortably.

Did you know you can get class credit for carving a pumpkin? Apparently, you can, if you're taking horticulture. What kind of classes are they offering these children in 2011?

The finished products. The pirate pumpkin was my suggestion, executed very well.

MMMM Delicious pumpkin seeds. With LOTS of butter and salt. Have pumpkins and curious how to do it?

Carve pumpkin and separate seeds from pulp.

Rinse them (optional - I do because I think the other stuff is gross).

Soak in a bowl with olive oil and salt.

Place on a baking tray and bake at 350 for half an hour, or so.

Yep, that's easy. Totally made u

A very handy mask to have just lying around in the closet.

So we can have batmanmariogangster. Hey, if I had a costume like this, I'd still go trick-or-treating at 18.

This, my friends, is how to decorate for Halloween.

At least, if you're not my direct neighbor.

Like it's 2001...

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:49:00 +0000

...and I don't have a cell phone.

credit

This week I left my cell phone at a location 1.5 hours away by car, 2.5 hours away by train. Needless to say, once I left it and came back into the city, I left it. Although I do love my new phone, I don't need to travel that far to rescue it. Of course, I knew I could live without out. (It also helped that I knew I could get it back two days later).

So, for this week, I spent (and am still spending) 48+ hours without a cell phone. Really, it hasn't been the disastrous experience I always thought it would be. Recently, I've been feeling like I am drowning in a sea of electronics from which I can't escape, and in reality I don't want to escape. So while this was an unplanned cell phone hiatus, it wasn't necessarily unwelcome.

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When I do have my phone I spent a large, large portion of the day using it. On my commute, it helps the time go faster, whether I'm playing my games, texting, checking the bus times, the weather, my email, Facebook, etc. At work, I check the same things. When I walk to lunch, I can't be without my phone lest I get bored. So I unlock my phone to check for updates. Over and over and over and over.

Does anything ever change? Usually not. And if it does, isn't that why we have notifications? So I can go along my regular life trusting that I'll be notified if something needs my attention. (Hmmm... I just made the connection to a bigger problem in my life, but I'll devote a different post to that). I have anxiety that I'll miss something when I have my phone, because since I have it, there's no reason I should miss it.

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I was free from that the past 48 hours. Sure, I had a computer at work all day/as soon as I got home, from which I can send/receive messages. But when I left work yesterday and was running late to meet a friend, partly because I wasn't exactly sure where I was going, I thought "how did people get along before a phone?" Without the maps function, google to make sure I knew where the place was, bus tracker to see how long I'd be in the cold, texting to inform someone I'd be late, etc.

But you know what? I survived. And I enjoyed my commute, for once. I watched people, actually read my kindle (which I haven't done since I got my 4S...too many games!), engaged in conversations with more than one person, and didn't worry about work until I got there. Sure, this experience wasn't the end of the world and I'll be glad to check on the progress of the dragons I'm breeding as well as my virtual cats Mitten and Tomcat...(TMI? too bad), but I definitely learned something from it.

Sometimes I just need a seemingly-tragic experience (being without a phone for a few days) to be reminded that it's not the end of the world and I will survive and that I don't have to be drowning in electronics. Ultimately, it's my choice how much time I spend on my phone. I'm thinking of setting some electronics-time rules for myself, to take this lesson and extend it beyond the 48 hours I had to survive because I had no other choice. Any suggestions?

And I leave you with this because I found it in my searches for images and I think it's hilarious:

credit

The Scenic Route, Part II

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:15:00 +0000

From the last few days, in no particular order.

I walk near this every day (if I take the el), but I only walk by it if I go shopping.

Which I did last week, a day-before-my-birthday treat to myself. I wanted so badly to buy the above, but I did not. It fit weird. And really, it was only worth $20 in my dreams.

I bought a grown-up blazer instead.

I see this if I take the Metra to work from the suburbs. It never gets old, I tell you. Especially with cool fog like that.

This is the view if I actually sit and eat my lunch in the lunch room. Please excuse the non-scenic napkin.

The lobby of my building now has two giant fish tanks.

Inexplicably. But they're cool.

And that, my friends, is the scenic route, Part II.

I told you...

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:36:00 +0000

...I'd blog more.

Day two of firstKindlepaige.

I like this one better.

I still love working downtown every day and seeing these "tourist" sites.

This is what it looks like when you're about to be attacked by two machetes.

This is what it looks like when you're being attacked by two machetes. All for taking a picture.

This is what an authentic Native American poncho looks like.

These are what pink roses look like.

(Didn't know, did you?)

Happy Birthday (yesterday)!

This is what Ashley looks like when she makes dinner.

This is what her (delicious) dinner looked like.

This is what my commute sometimes looks like.

Wow, I really got on a roll there.

Tomorrow: what my twenty-fifth birthday looks like.

Goodbye, Fall

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:47:00 +0000

This weekend we might be seeing some warm temperatures (by warm I mean 59), but these next few days are rather, well, miserable.

I know that in about a month I will think 40s and rainy is like heaven. But today, I do not.

This morning while waiting for the bus I was very glad to have my ~~iPhone headphones~~ circle scarf from American Apparel. It is the only thing I have from there (though I would have their tshirts if I had more money/thought about how their tshirts are so great when it's time to buy them).

I posted earlier about my gloves.

Even though I ordered this online from Urban and paid for shipping (the gloves themselves were $18!), they broke. I do love them - they just don't function anymore.

Because I like to have my fingertips readily accessible even with gloves on , and I don't want to buy these (because that's just silly), here's some ideas:

Forever 21

ASOS

(notice my neutral theme?)

How cute are these? ASOS

Not cheap, but precious. ASOS

For when I really want to keep my fingers warm but look classy. Target

I'll keep you updated.

Point & Shoot Glory

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:19:00 +0000

**Full disclosure - this post is about to be a very first-worldy, some-might-say-shallow post. Don't say I didn't warn you.**

So, this weekend, I got the iPhone 4S.

I'm pretty excited about it. For so many reasons. Mostly because it is so much better than my other phone. The battery lasts for more than an hour; I can actually take pictures that focus; I can take more than one picture without the storage being too full; I can download games that have better graphics than a regular computer game and actually play them; I still have at least 15 GB of memory left (that's more than my computer has); I can talk to it and it does things for me.

Yes, I'm thrilled.

What you'll see most of is the pictures, obviously. Maybe now I'll blog more.

We'll see.

Bus #1 in the morning. Bus ride #2 has too many people on it to inconspicuously snap a picture.

Representing the museum world at work.

Representing the museum world in a cemetery.

I think I need a new pair of gloves.

Driving in traffic at 2 a.m. You can tell from this and the one below that I am utterly terrible at different faces for photos. It's obvious I am the one usually taking the pictures.

The best I got is the fish face. This is also a testament to the fact that he spends more time primping than I do. He doesn't read this so he'll never know that now you know.

Chicago Ideas Week! I promise, I wasn't driving for this photo.

What was on my Kindle when I opened to read this morning. Can't wait!!*

*Just kidding. I changed this ASAP so I didn't have to look at it anymore.

Here's to the frivolously exciting technological things that make me so excited. :)

[one of] the best feelings in the world

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:02:00 +0000

Other than being a little depressed because I don't have any new mail from my friends = friends don't love me*, this is one of the best feelings in the entire world.

What can I say? I love the small things in life.

Another awesome feeling? They're telling me to try Google Reader - well, my friends, at this time of the day, my Google Reader is also completely unread and empty.

How's that for accomplishment?

Happy Friday!

*I know my friends love me - I just read my emails too fast to let them hang around my inbox too long.

The Scenic Route

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:12:00 +0000

I've always been enamored with the city.

I first fell in love as an 18-year-old flying into Chicago for the first time (I would say, at the time, that it was also my first foray beyond the Mississippi River. This was before I learned about Midwestern geography.) to visit colleges.

Whilst in college, I so look forward to the moment when the skyline first became visible from the Metra tracks those many weekends I went downtown to do my homework, shop...or just "be" in the city.

I relished my days off during the week my first year out of college, traveling downtown via the 147 in a mere 15 minutes, to do the same things (minus the homework. Okay, mostly just to shop). During that same year, despite terrible commute times and horrendous stopandgo traffic, the sight of the city skyline (especially at night, or in the fog) never failed to make that commute thismuch easier.

My first few ~~weeks~~ months of working in the loop, I adored getting off the bus everysingleday by the river, gazing out at this view from my window, and having immediate access to Millennium Park.

I still have those moments, but as my commute got longer, work days got busier, my social calendar larger - the view became normal. That's a shame - I won't be working/living in this glorious metropolis forever.

So I took that "newness" back one morning as I rode the Brown Line all the way around the loop, only to find out it became an Orange Line to Midway. Instead of thinking "now I have to walk 30 more minutes?!?!" I thought, "oh, hey, there's ____ that I haven't seen in a while!" And thus it became my scenic walk through the city.

On that first trip, my father ran through this plaza screaming "This is where they filmed that scene in Blues Brothers! You know, that scene!"

Me: "I've never seen Blues Brothers."

Father: "What? You've never seen Blues Brothers? It's a classic!"

[To be repeated every year for the next six years until I actually watched this movie.]

I know this picture is blurry, but I think it's awesome. One of those things that people see everysingleday, but don't notice and/or don't care about. But it's an old-school CTA logo plus a mural with a bus/train (oh how I love the bus!) As much as I dislike the commute, I really do enjoy riding CTA/public transportation every day. It allows me to be in community with other people, to be a part of something bigger, grander, that every one else is a part of, without necessarily talking to anyone. [I feel the same way about commercials! Weird, yes. I am aware.]

This is the view from the end of my block. How awesome is that? I usually eat through lunch, but I think I'll start taking a walk every day, just to get a glimpse of this glittering (okay, okay, fine. too cheesy) skyline every day while I'm lucky enough to have a job that pays me enough to live and work down here.

And of course this is Aqua, the building right next to mine (even if mine wasn't already super ugly, this is just the icing on the cake. But I suppose it's acceptable since this is what I get to look at, rather than being in the pretty building but having to look at all the ugly buildings.)

And here's a monument at the fire station in between Aqua and my building. I've never spent a lot of time looking at this monument, but I think the piece on the left, with the hat, boots, and coat, is remarkably well done and evokes a certain bittersweet everydayness that impacts me more than just a statue of a person that I didn't know - much like the unmarked graves at Arlington. (To which I've never been, but I can imagine that they would impact me in this way.)

And that, folks, is the end of the tour. For now. Stay tuned for more scenic walks through my hangouts as a) I take more time outside and b) I get a new phone with a better camera!

(First world problems, I know.) So today, make sure you get out and notice something you're always too busy to notice! And share it with me.

Transition

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:05:00 +0000

This past weekend we made the [rather sudden] transition from summer to fall. Friday and Saturday, despite being the first and second days of September, were seasonably August temperatures approaching 90. So, we did some last-fling summery things: mani/pedis and gelato!

This lovely gelato shop is in Lincoln Square. It's right on the square which on Saturday was teeming with children, parents, strollers, and our very own "clown." His level of sanity was questioned, but I maintain he was just trying to make some extra cash whilst patiently trying to entertain some rather eager children. Verdict on gelato? Delicious. [What else would you think I can say?]

Having spent more time in the suburbs recently, I am finding I definitely enjoy the more relaxed pace those city outskirts can bring. Who would have thought I would ever say that? If you think you're surprised, think how surprised I am. Either way, on Sunday I did some work at Starbucks in the middle of the downtown - smack dab in the center of traffic for the Last Fling - the end of summer festival with rides, food vendors, and Disney stars. [No, I didn't go visit said Disney stars. Those days are over. Unless it was Hannah Montana.] Suburban Starbucks are so busy, but different busy than city 'bucks. Moms, strollers, teenagers, old men, babysitters, runners - all who seem to know each other and are just enjoying their more relaxed pace of life.

I'll admit, I spend a lot more time people watching than working. But that's what weekends are for.

Then Monday turned and it was a balmy 70 degrees. Isn't it funny how after a day of almost 90 that feels frigid, but come May that feels like 90 in its own right? We tried to explore Lincoln Square a little bit more, and succeeded. We succeeded a lot more than was expected, as apparently most restaurants are closed on Labor Day. Who would have thought? So, finally, restaurant #5 was open and, whether because we were famished or because it was legitimately good, we found a place to eat.

Followed by gelato, again, with a dear friend visiting.

It's finally time for fall weather. I'm so excited.

New shoes: on labor day sale.

And finally, rounding out the summer despite the newly-turned weather, a visit to Wrigley. My first of the year (and probably my last, though I'll be at U.S. Cellular on Sunday).

It really is pretty in the sunset.

Happy fall!

A Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:13:00 +0000

Morning

Original intention: Get belt fixed in car. Run. Clean house.

Actual occurance: All accomplished.

Afternoon

Original intention: Company picnic.

Actual occurance: Waiting for AAA to pick me up as a result of above-mentioned car belt broken.

Yep. Not ideal. But we made the most out of it.

Ice cream at Donut Doctor.

Lottery ticket for $2. Double diamond.

I won $2! Just enough to buy another ticket. And lose.

Aaand riding in the tow truck. Did you know if the car falls off the tow truck they make the driver pay for it? Yep.

To the Grafton for lunch/a snack after wandering around our new neighborhood. Dining al fresco in Chicago is one of the best things of the summer.

Finally, a '50s dinner party last night. Pictures to come later.

Quick & Easy

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:55:00 +0000

I'm here to tell you a little bit about my morning.

First, we'll start with last night, to give you a little context. I picked up a few items off craigslist as a part of the ongoing effort to furnish my new, luxuriously mine, room. (Side note: craigslist is an incredible startup. I could easily have spend thousands of dollars over the last few years furnishing my first, now second, apartment out of college. With craigslist, we have a reasonably attractive apartment, for probably 90% of the price. End side note.)

I also went to Target and spend some more moneythatIdon'thave - but this time I also refrained from buying many things that I want but I know will have time to collect later. I'll get you pictures of all these things soon and very soon.

So I got home around 9:30, unpacked my room to set up all the new things I got and also to prepare for the visitor I'm to have this weekend. I also packed for my weekend trip out to the suburbs. (Okay, that took about 5 minutes, but it was time consuming). I had a million other things to complete on my list but, there it was 11:45, and if I get into bed after midnight, friends, the world pretty much ends.

The moral of this story is: I was going to paint my nails last night, but I didn't get around to it.

One thing you might know about me is that I am a stubborn and determined individual. I really wanted to paint my nails before this weekend (am I doing anything special, you ask? Nope, of course not!) - and so it was going to happen. I got ready (more leisurely than I should have, what with my vanity and all) and forgot to bring nail polish to paint my nails after work today. I walked to the bus, checked the bus tracker, saw 1 minute, and then promptly watched the bus fly by. Next one? 17 minutes.

One awesome thing about living in the city is that there are stores everywhere for us to purchase things so conveniently. Who wants to spend 17 minutes waiting for the bus when you can head on down to CVS and while away your time? Not me, for one. I decided to purchase those Sally Hansen nail strip things - where you don't have to paint your nails, you just slap on this nail paint-esque thing.

It was $10. I'm all about convenience - but $10 is a lot of money for nail polish.

I perused the rest of the nail polish aisle (I did have 15 minutes by this point), and found a miracle product:

Yes, friends. This is actually a fast dry nail polish. I know because I tested it out this morning. I sat down on the bench outside my office, painted two coats, waited 120 seconds, then walked into the office. Zero smudges.

For someone who hurries through life, this is important. The only time my nail polish is not smudged is when I spend at least 30 minutes under the UV light at the nail salon. And that happens so rarely. (I wouldn't even spend $10 for fake nail polish, people).

This was $1.99 for a black (entitled, Ebony Loves Chris. I chuckled a little) and a clear top coat. Both fast dry.

Who could beat that.

Happy Friday!

It All Ends Here

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Okay, it doesn't all end. But a chapter is ending. Tomorrow at 8 a.m. the movers come to take all of our stuff to our new apartment. Rather than worrying about whether or not it will all get done (as I am prone to do, especially considering I woke up this morning stressed about it) I instead am opting to take a little trip down memory lane. Let's take a look at what's happened in the past two years:

(I really wish this could be a video montage. I think it'd be altogether too fitting).

First photo of all four, together. Wow we are a lot older now. These are wee college babes.

In this apartment,

we studied...

had parties...

Halloween '09

NYE '09

Summer '10

My birthday '10

Paige's birthday '11

wore funny things...

a 90's party

a Santa Hustle 5K (we did not run - look at that weather! we went to breakfast instead)

work

Glee

Christmas

Harry Potter

made food (lots of food)...

in this kitchen

making a cake. vigorously

morning omelette

Easter brunch

Earth day

just because

Memorial Day

summer

celebrated birthdays...

Trisha & Heather's birthdays '10

Kate's birthday '10

Ashley's birthday '10

Enrique's birthday '10 (well, his one)

accomplished great things...

Half marathon '10

Paige's graduation '11

survived snowMG '11

discovered our chalkboard door

got up to watch the Royal wedding

got involved in the neighborhood...

Dominick's store opening '10

Little Mexican Cafe '10

Redeemer '10

Andersonville, '10

Kitchen Sink

kept, and made, friends...

Christmas '09

Spring '11

Easter '11

Spring '11

Spring '10

Fall '09

Spring '10

All in all, it's been a pretty good two years. It's nice to take a break from all the stress of moving and be nostalgic for a moment. I don't know if I'll be properly sentimental until all the packing is done, but this is the place I have lived the longest since I graduated high school, in June '05. Two years is a long time (well, at least it is when you're 24).

To Winthrop. You've treated us well.

When You're Gone So Long the Landscape Has Changed

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:43:00 +0000

It's been so long that I've posted that I had no idea how radically different the posting mechanism for Blogger has changed.

I also didn't find out today about a) Amy Winehouse's death, and in the same vein but maybe a little more important to know b) Norway.

That means that either I've been successful in staying away from the internet, I've been too busy to post, or I'm just lazy. I'd like to vote for option #1, but I think it's probably a combination of all three.

I have been especially busy because...we are moving! Yep - we are moving on Thursday. That's t-minus four days, three nights. Well, at this point, more like three days, three nights. So right now our apartment is full of boxes. It makes me feel a little bit like this:

Via.

I think we're pretty far along in our packing - the big thing left is the K-I-T-C-H-E-N. But, with four of us, it should go very smoothly. *Let's hope.* So that on Thursday we can end up like this:

Via.

I plan on being more diligent in my postings after we move. I have grand plans for redecorations, projects, new neighborhood explorations, etc. That, and my father chastised me for not updating. When your parents complain, then you know it's a problem.

In the meantime, here's some shots from my trip to Cape Cod this summer.

My parents are so cute.

And we are really pale.

I love this one. It just cracks me up.

Nantucket Nectars on Nantucket! Oh, the irony. (This is my sister, Susan, by the way. Not me).

Nantucket. I want this.

Sailing lesson in our backyard.

The very stripedy fam.

The whole shebang.

I miss the cape. This is Nantucket.

Never too Early

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:23:00 +0000

There are times when I get a little anxious, sometimes for no apparent reason.

I have found something that does me wonders.

(Well, besides coloring in a coloring book, which I can't do at work).

Clearly, I need this Christmas albums in a few months. (Or now.)

I do like this version, because it's light and airy, and Southern, but really, we all know who does it best.

Hufflepuff: An Enlightened View

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:37:00 +0000

From grouchy rabbit.

Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (ashley elizabeth) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:51:00 +0000

Last weekend was a glorious three-day weekend. It was glorious in more than one way.

1. It was a three-day weekend.
2. It was, actually, finally, WARM.
3. I went out in the nature.
4. McDonald's now has Rolo's McFlurries. Do not doubt the deliciousness of this limited opportunity. In fact, you should drop everything you are doing and go get one right now. Who knows when they'll take them away!

Anyway, back to the weekend.

Yes, that's right, the nature. Starved Rock was the plan, but we were tired, and it was too hot. So we opted for the next best thing: Naperville. Knoch Knolls Park, to be exact.

We packed a picnic. PBJ, couscous salad, and grapes, nature's candy.

This is what most of the park looks like. Prairie, with some trees. Just enough nature for me, thank you.

No makeup, and sweat. Just like a good memorial day should be.

Also, we bought this:

Well, not for me. But they are pretty nifty pieces of technology. I don't think I'd want one for myself, because I love the feel of books, and the library. They are, however, useful for people who a) don't have libraries and b) don't care about holding books. [That was not a judgmental statement, though it may have come across like that.]

And, finally, the best thing about three day weekends:

this week was a four day week. Yes.