Tuesday's Traveler - Chicago

I love the windy city! I've only been once, unfortunately, to the downtown areas. I've been to the ghetto suburbs once as well. (clarification: the area I was in was ghetto. not all Chicago subs are)

But my favorite part was, by far, being downtown.

This was not a solo trip, which I'm very thankful for. Had R not been with me, I wouldn't have gotten to do as much. Plus, R was the one who "trained" me, which is what this trip kind of was as well. We worked together the first day, then split the next two days at the conference. One day I worked the afternoon and he worked the morning and the next I worked the morning and he the afternoon and breakdown of the booth. We also ventured to Navy Pier together. So. Much. Fun!

In my afternoon off, I stumbled into the Chicago Cultural Center. Until my research for this post, I didn't realize it was 5 floors. I only made it to two. The CCC houses the worlds largest Tiffany glass Dome:

 I didn't know what I was looking at then. But you can see parts of the Tiffany Dome in the picture.

But what really caught my attention, and had me lingering on the second floor for so long, was the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Rotunda, Hall, and Annex.

The detail. The architecture. The listing of the different battles in the south over the doors. It was just a really cool section of the CCC.

I had such a great time exploring. The CCC was a block behind the hotel we stayed at, so I didn't have to wander far to find something for my camera. (These are all taken with my little Olympus point & click...I can't imagine the fun I'd have with my DSLR!)

I hope to go back to Chicago someday. And I hope Mr S can come with me. I think he'd enjoy it, as long as it's not a cold day!

Friday's Letters

Dear hotel chains,
  Could you do something about the doors? I mean, if you're not careful, they close on you while you're still trying to get in. And the heavy door slam that rattles the whole floor has got to go! I'm sure there is something you can do to fix that?

Dear hotel patrons,
   Until the hotels fix their doors, do you think you could refrain from letting yours slam and shake the whole side of the upstairs. I don't need my door to rattle every time you enter or exit your room.

Dear weather,
   Thank you for being so wonderful yesterday up here in Lompoc. What are the odds you could follow me home? I'm sure Temecula Valley would LOVE the 75 degree weather over the heat we've been having lately.

Dear ants,
   I understand you made a re-appearance while I was gone this week. That is unacceptable. You have not been invited and you must leave. Apparently more drastic measures are to be taken with you little buggers (because spraying the ENTIRE apartment wasn't enough).

Dear self,
   STOP USING THE CREDIT CARD!!! You're trying to pay it off. If you don't have the money, don't buy it!

Dear Mr S,
   I miss you! But I'm coming home today! I will be very happy to back by your side...when you get home from work tonight.

Nail Files - Week 33

This week I stumbled into an Ulta for the first time. Wowza!!! Nail polish heaven!! And I spent the $50 to prove it!

The only polish in the picture I DIDN'T buy at Ulta is the dark gray OPI and the dual Revlon polish. The dark gray OPI was a Target find last week, and was the intended color for this week. And then I stumbled across the dual Revlon in a Walgreens Wednesday.

Revlon's Moon Candy in Supernova

 

They also had a black with more clear glitter. But I already have two different brands of the clear glitter, so I didn't see the point. I just need to check my stash at home for black polish to try it on. And if there is no black polish, anyone got a good brand they can recommend?

Also, I would like to thank everyone that talks about the Seche Vita Quick Dry Topcoat. I also found that at Ulta and snatched up a bottle. LOVE IT!!!  THANK YOU!!

Oh, and for those who aren't normal followers, I've linked up with Tara and Vicki again this week for Nail Files (their logo is a little too big for my current format, but click one of their names and head over to link up with the rest of us!).

Happy Friday!

So What Wednesday

It's Wednesday. I'm so very glad it's Wednesday. Once again, I'm on the road. This time I'm still in California, but I'm not in my own bed at night so does it really matter? No, not really. But in two sleeps I'll be able to head back home. And that makes me happy!

In the mean time, I'm linking up with Shannon again for




So what if:

* I've come to rely on my chiropractor way too much. And I've only been going every other week for a month. Dude works wonders on my whacked out back (which, by the way, is much worse than just regular old back pain according to the X-Rays)

* I think I'll be seeing someone tomorrow I'm really not looking forward to seeing. I hope not, but I have a feeling I will. I hope I can avoid any after work invitations.

* I thought I'd have more to talk about than just this. Must be a boring week.

Sorry, folks, but that is all for this week!

Sunday Social - Week 10

I've joined up with Neely again for

Here are this week's questions (all about food!!):

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

On the assumption that since it's the only thing I'll ever eat again, it must lose all it's calories/fat/carbs/any other bad stuff - Chocolate cake

What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food?

Ice cream - preferably chocolate or vanilla with chocolate swirled in

What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten?

bacon and lime sherbert - it was actually pretty good

What meal reminds you of your childhood?

Hot dogs, macaroni & cheese, and green beans. That combination was my favorite meal as kid. When mom would do meal planning, this was on the menu at least once a week.

Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

I don't know that I have a favorite recipe that I make. I'm not much of a cook and all my baking is done via boxed cakes/cookies or straight from the recipe. But any type of baking brings memories of baking with my mom as a kid, especially at Christmas. We would make at least 5 types of cookies, plus fudge, chex mix, and a couple pies. 

Now it's your turn. Join up with Neely and the rest of us Sunday Socialites. You just might meet a new blog friend!

Friday's Letters

Dear people of the world (or more specifically, Target),
  Whatever happened to shopping manners? You know, if you walk between a person and the shelf they are facing, you say "excuse me". If you're pushing a buggy, look both ways before bolting out of that aisle into main flow traffic (yes, I said buggy...it's a Southern thing). And for the love of all things Target...reign in those hoodlums you call children.

Dear teenagers walking through the parking lot,
   It's called a sidewalk. Use it. It runs the full length of the lot and all the little building in between. They even have crosswalks for you!

Dear Ben & Jerry's,
   Thank you!

Dear Sex & Gender text book,
   Why do you have no pictures?? The one class I've been looking forward to for months now, and I'm given such a boring book. Even the book for my last class, History & Systems of Psychology, had pictures...and that class was BORING! I'm very disappointed.

Dear clothes,
   Any chance you'll wash yourselves tonight while I sleep? Hello? Bueller?

Dear Farmer's Market,
  Thank you for being as wonderful as I thought you would be last week. I'm hoping to repeat the experience tomorrow. White peaches here I come!!

Dear wonderful Mr S,
   Thank you for being who you are and what you are. I love you so much! Thank you for indulging my need to step into new territory for us - the farmers market. And thank you for getting just as hooked as I did.

This post brought to you by:



Come share those letters you've always wanted to write but really couldn't!

Nail Files - Week 32

Here we go again - my weekly adventure in DIY Manicures! I got bored and adventurous last night, and decided to do a reverse french. I've seen different tutorials that used the hole reinforcement rings you can buy at your local store that sells office supplies. So I thought I'd give it try:

It's a little sloppy, but I'm pretty impressed for my first try! The colors I used were Julep's Katie (from my July box) and China Glaze's Smoke and Ashes (from their Hunger Games colors that came out a few months ago).

For this lovely "show & tell" I've linked up with Tara and Vicki. Come see what everyone is doing and join in the fun!

Happy Friday!