Day 231 put a ring on it

This ring is my absolute favorite piece of jewelry. I bought it more than ten years ago (yikes) at Fred Segal in California. I wear it all the time and have developed a nervous tick of twirling it around my finger. Cutest nervous tick ever?

Day 231 is satisfied.

I've had the strongest, most intense craving for tacos this past week. Cravings like I just ate a full meal and am so stuffed I can barely walk but I'm literally dreaming of eating a taco. Bizarre how my stomach/brain work sometime. Today I was finally able to do something about it. Turns out there's a pretty stellar Mexican joint just about 4 blocks away from me. So I rolled up there with the biggest smile on my face and ordered me some tacos. And then I experienced bliss. (Friends visiting in a few weeks - are you ready for some tacos?? We'll be going there at least once!)

Day 230 is ready for the game.

Football season is upon us, friends. Mere weeks away. I'm so pumped. I hung out at a bar with some friends to watch a pre-season game. Friends who are, by the way, major Steelers fans. In an impressive, almost terrifying way that makes me love football even more. Because there can be fans who can name all the quarterbacks the team has had for the past 20 years without blinking an eye. I love that so much. Here's to football season!

Day 230 drove through a rainbow!

There were sunshowers on my drive home from work today. It was beautiful! Now, it's very faint, but if you look between my windshield wipers you'll see a rainbow! I had to take a quick snapshot before the traffic light changed. This rainbow (or several rainbows, I'm no meteorologist) practically followed me home. If this mean good luck, I'll take it!

Day 229 is always on time

My luck with trains has been awesome so far in Chicago. Part of why I fell out of love with New York was because the commuting began to feel like a battle everyday. Catching a train became exhausting because the MTA is, well... you know. The MTA could learn a few things from the CTA. We should get the two in a room together to talk things out! Best idea ever, right??

Day 229 tries a new dessert

I met my mom for dinner after work today. We went to the Canal Street Grill in Yardley. When ordering from their "early dining" menu, you get a starter, entree and dessert. My mom and I both had the creme brulee. Despite being a total dessert fiend, this was the first time I've had creme brulee. It was really good! A little rich, but good. And the berries kind of formed a smiley face. It was an all around cheerful meal!

Day 228 isn't permanent

So it seems even in Chicago there are such things as neighborhood taggers. (My favorite in NY was 'neckface' down in Soho. So disturbing). This Lakeview tagger has hit a few building fronts along the main street that I live off of. Here she/he is again, imparting these wise words on us all. You may remember this from back in May when I was visiting Chicago. Same guy, same message. At least he's consistent.

Day 228 is cute as a button

Those of you who know me well know that I love buttons. I bought these a flea market. For $1, I filled a little bag with these precious little buttons. In the past I've sewn them onto sweaters and gloves. No plans for where to add them next - I'll just have to wait until inspiration hits!

Day 227 is simply beautiful

If I had to describe what I think "perfect weather" is like, I'd say today in Chicago. I mean, just so so perfect. Low 80ºs, cool breeze, sunshine but not too brutal, no rain and no clouds. What could be better? I tried to capture the perfection. This is a pic of the yard that's part of my building. It's so cute and summery, right? I can't wait until 4 months from now when I can give you the "winter" version of this view. But for now, I'll just enjoy being spoiled by this amazing summer weather.

Day 227 rules! Cheesesteaks, Bobby Clark, Will Smith, your town sucks!

I recently got a subscription to Philadelphia magazine. My first issue arrived today. How perfect - the best of Philly! After flipping through a few pages, I already see some fun shops and restaurants I'd like to try. Who's in? (Sidenote: Second 30 Rock reference this month.)

Day 226 s'il vous plaît

I go through driving music phases. For a while I stuck with some favorite CDs. Then I moved onto XM. Recently I've been listening to the radio. I usually just scan the stations until I find something I like. On my drive home tonight I stumbled upon this radio station, playing French music. I was pleasantly surprised to hear these tunes, since I'm unfamiliar with this radio station. Maybe it was just a fluke and when I tune in tomorrow it will be Christian rock.

Day 225 is all you have

I'm done with rationalizing late posts. You all forgive me, right? Anyway, I was in Brooklyn for a birthday get together. On our way to the bar, I saw this bumper sticker on a bus and had to capture it. "Now is all you have." Words to live by? Maybe. A good mantra for me for right now? I think so.

Day 226 has a cold one (or two)

The friend visiting continued today! (And this time the weather played nice.) A bunch of us went to the Goose Island Brewery where we enjoyed, what else, many a beer. We got a "sampler" bucket of 5 different beers and two of us split it. OY! That was a lot of beer.... but so so delicious. I'll definitely be back there for more.

A very happy Day 225

Saturday was rainy but perfect because one of my absolutely NY faves was in town for a visit! We spent a fantastic full day together and not even the rain could dampen the good mood. This is a view of downtown from the Westin hotel where he was staying. Chicago, you are so lovely, even in the rain.

Day 224 flew away

Mostly I'm posting this picture because I like how it came out. I learned that standing, looking like a crazy person, waiting for birds to fly out of a window on the street can sometimes pay off when you get a shot like this! The pigeons in Chicago don't seem to be as ballsy and crazy as the ones in New York. The ones that will just walk right up to your feet to get to some old hot dog bun that you happen to be standing by or something. These Chicago pigeons act naturally and fly away if you get too close or look at them the wrong way, etc... Did I really just write an entire post about the behavior of pigeons. Yes... yes I did.

Day 224 was mooned

There's a full moon tonight, which means all the crazies are out. That also means I'm staying in and having a Breaking Bad marathon. Happy weekend friends!

Day 223 calls this home

This is the view from the train right by my apartment. It's so gorgeous and wonderful, right? I simply love it. I thought today would be a good day to share my little piece of Chicago with you all. :)

Day 223 in the moonlight

We have moon flowers, aka weeds, in our garden. I think they look beautiful, especially at dusk. They die shortly after they bloom, so I will enjoy them while I can!

Day 222 is all better now

I was nursing a sore stomach and a bit of a headache for most of this afternoon. Not a good thing, especially since I had dinner plans that I was so looking forward too and wanted to be in tip-top shape for. I decided some Tao green tea would be just what I needed. Not only did it do the trick (felt better in less than an hour, ftw!) but it came with some wisdom as well. I enjoy finding little bits of advice in random places. Keeps life exciting, ya know?

Day 222 is yellow

No, you're not seeing things. This watermelon is indeed yellow! It's kind of bizarre eating non-red watermelon, but it's just as sweet and refreshing as the red variety. I felt an autumn-ish breeze this afternoon so the days of summer fruits are winding down. I'm already getting excited about apples and other autumn treats. In the meantime, I'll enjoy this weird-looking fruit.

Day 221 was so very sweet

I ventured out to the suburbs today to see some good friends and enjoy some delicious breakfast. Both were spectacular. I love having visitors! Which is perfect since the next two months involves a steady stream of friends hopping by this windy city for visits. Yay! Also, if you're wondering - yes, this waffle was incredibly delicious and no, I didn't eat it all. :)

Day 221 celebrates Shark Week

Okay, so Shark Week is technically over. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy these delicious shark-shaped fruit snacks! I believe it was the wise Tracey Jordan who once said, "Live every week like it's Shark Week."

Day 220 dropped the ball

Well, faithful readers, it's taken me until the 200s to consistently slip on posts. In honor of dropping the ball, here's my basketball hoop, which I haven't used in years. Appropriate comparison?

Day 220 caught in the rain

I snapped this on my way home from downtown today. Chicago streets thus far have been quite picturesque photo subjects. Today the city threw in some rain for good measure (FYI I didn't need more rain... my wet clothes from yesterday aren't even dry yet). Even with the rain, I still love this view.

Day 219 survived.

... but just barely. I'm not sure my feet will ever be the same post Lollapalooza. I'm also not sure that I got all the mud off of my body even after 2 showers and a hot bath. I can say that I had more fun than I thought I could trudging through mud and dancing in rainstorms with some very awesome friends. Will I do it again? Absolutely. I'll just need this entire year to recover.

Day 219 is crafty

My mom is a creative lady. With an art background, she's always thinking up fun little projects. This is another one. She's handweaving a basket using fabric and this rope-like material. I can't wait to see the finished product!

Day 218, no excuses

I got a late start to Day 218. Then I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday. Poor excuses for late posting - sorry faithful readers! As per usual, I was in a rush to get ready. Here I am, still shoeless as my ride was waiting for me outside. Looks like I need a lesson in time management.

Day 217 forgot

On Day 217 I was out of the house from 8:15 a.m until 2 a.m. and I forgot my camera. Oops. So, technically this photo is from Day 218. Comfort Food is a new food store in my neighborhood, focusing on using the best local ingredients. My mom and I grabbed lunch there and brought home this amazing pound cake. The label is slightly misleading as there are also blueberries in the cake. Delicious any way you look at it!

Play me some Day 218 music

This was my day yesterday (and well into this morning). My first day at Lollapalooza has thus far kind of changed my life. One big party and music-loving weekend with 90,000+ other people? Yes. Please. Thank you.

Day 217, say WHAT?!

I was tempted to post this without comment, but I have a comment. And that comment is... "Oh no he di'int!". I find Jesus crazies to be wildly entertaining, all shouty and basking in the glow of their madness. This "WOMEN" sign was a definite first though (click the pic to enlarge if you can't read the text. You won't be disappointed). One of these guys was also heard saying later "Do you want to know why lesbians are lesbians? Because they're not attractive enough for men." This is clearly one of the teachings of Jesus. Just turn to page...ugh...umm.... oh, wait.

Day 216 tried something new

I found myself sitting in Starbucks with nothing to do today for a good 20 minutes (long story, not a good one). I used it as a chance to try a new drink. I'm usually an iced coffee girl, but today I went the route of a chai tea latte. Do you guys know about these?? My first thought was that it tasted liked iced christmas in a cup. YUM. I've discovered the Starbucks secret to success and it's these things, because all I could think about after I finished it was what time I'd be waking up tomorrow to get another one. Addicted.

Day 216 has a bad hair day

I had some hair issues today. It was a headband kind of day. I'm really digging the color combination of these headbands (I didn't wear all of them at once). Something to keep in mind for future accessorizing!

Day 215 meets an (un)familiar face

So the reason for all this Canada vacationing and internet-less living this past week was a family reunion of my mom's side of the family. I got to meet a great many Aunts and great-Aunts/Uncles, second and third cousins that I didn't know I had. It was pretty fantastic. And the guy responsible for all of it is this cool dude right here. Rueben Jonas Cleversey. Total badass, right? Also before you say anything - yes, his cheeks are looking quite rosey in this pic. Maybe someone got a little wild with photoshop back in the 1800s?

Day 214 is old-fashioned

A lot of Scrabble, Phase 10, Scattegories and other fancy little board games were played up in Canada. Games I'm pretty sure I haven't played in years and years. It was actually a lot of fun. A lot of delirious laughter is to be had during the 4th hour of a single game of Scrabble. I know, I witnessed it.

Day 213, straight from the Ocean

On Monday we got a chance to check out Mahone Bay and Lununberg. Two very cute little towns, right on the water, with a good amount of shops and restaurants. Both were quaint and felt like walking into a special "Ocean" issue of Martha Stewart. Lots of little things like this picture found all over the place. Totally didn't feel like real life. But it was real life.... without internet. (Still not over it.)

Day 212 is disconnected.

It was around the end of Day 3 in Canada that I started to have serious internet withdrawals. Like... serious. I kept checking for wifi in places I just knew had no wifi whatsoever. We stayed at cabin right by the water that had this for a phone so the chances of having internet were completely laughable. Oh and... AND.... VHS. ??!?! What??! We put a movie in one night and it hadn't been rewound. So we had to rewind it. 10 minutes of my life was spent sitting, waiting for a Vhs to rewind. Can you even imagine??? Oh, Canada.

Day 211 has a new best friend!

Everyone, say Hello to Theo (short for Theodore. Also responds to Teddy.) I simply love him. I mean... just love. He does this wonderful thing where he'll fall asleep in your lap in about 8 seconds and nuzzle his little head in your elbow. I just melted. I've been going through my pictures tonight and have about 50+ of just this little pup. Yup, totally obsessed.

Day 210 is so very, very quiet...

We stayed at a wonderful (internet-less) cabin up in Nova Scotia with my Nana and aunt. It was right on the water and quite beautiful. Except I did discover that I have a really, really hard time falling asleep to dead silence. I need some kind of noises happening - trains, ambulances, taxi's honking, etc... - to help me sleep. So it was a rough 6 days of relearning how to not have those things around me at night. Oy!

Day 209 heads north

Day 1 of my journey to Canada involved flying then stopping for a few hours to catch my breath before bracing myself for a 14 hour car ride up to Canada. I couldn't help but take this view from the sky a few minutes before landing. A week later, I still love this bubbly little clouds over Boston. Pictures from a plane never disappoint.

Day 215 in the (215)

This is wallpaper! I grabbed a quick lunch at McCaffrey's with my mom today. I was kind of obsessed with their wallpaper. It changed colors depending on the light. I'm a fan of most things shiny. Not sure if I could live with this particular pattern, but I sure don't mind visiting it!

[Sidenote: Today's title is a shoutout to my area code :)]

Day 214, ribbit

I could make some sort of joke about kissing frogs and finding prince charming, but I'd rather eat this cookie.

Day 213 smells delicious

Product endorsement time. You're welcome, Yankee Candle. Feel free to send me some complimentary samples. Their candles smell wonderful and actually fill the room without being overpowering. Win win. Lemon Chiffon will trick you into thinking something delicious is baking. Consider yourself warned.

Day 212 is tickled pink

These two cool flamingos hang out in our backyard. My mom and I bought them at a yard sale, after deciding they were more cute than tacky. However, they are not cute enough to go in the front yard. Plus they match these pink impatiens. We should probably name them. Any suggestions?

Day 211 is supersized

My friends had a game-night tonight. What goes well with board games? Pizza! A 30 inch pizza to be exact. One slice was the size of my head. It was really good and only slightly obscene. It brought to mind Man vs Food. I'm sure some fool has attempted (and succeeded) in eating the entire thing. Needless to say, I've had my fill of pizza for a while.

Day 210 broke bad, again

On this rainy stormy night, I wanted nothing more than to sit at home and watch TV. Since Breaking Bad just started its fourth season, I thought I'd go back and watch from the beginning. Any fans? Because this show is amazing. Going back to the first season is fun, as I've forgotten a ton from the early episodes, yo.

Day 209 squashed

Here's a little peek at our latest pickings from our vegetable garden. Squash! Vegetables always taste better when they're homegrown. Now, how to prepare it...

Day 208 did it!

Yay, DIY! Here is the final result of my craft project. The frame was discovered behind a pile of random goodies at an antique shop. The cork board was found at Staples (not very exciting). I custom cut a backing for the frame for added stability. Then a few layers of paint onto the cork board, some stapling and nailing and securing to keep everything in place and wa la! This is now what's happening on the wall over my desk. There's more decorating work to be done, but I'm happy with this as a start!

ps. I'll be out of the country with no internet/phone/email/fb/twitter/WORLD access for 6 days. I'm having anxiety thinking about it. I hope you're all looking forward to 6 spectacularly Canadian posts upon my return. Woot!

Day 208 is nutty

Almonds are one of my favorite snacks. I was hungry before going to the gym after work. I wanted to wait to have dinner, so I didn't puke while working out. A handful of almonds were the perfect solution. I typically buy raw or roasted. I'm a nut purist.

(Sidenote: I just noticed Aislinn had a similiar post back on Day 133. Great minds think alike!)

An afternoon gathering for Day 207

I went a few different walking adventures today. Some for errands, others just for fun exploring on this gorgeous day (and maybe a bit of getting lost... oops.) Amidst all this walking, I came upon this scene. I have found where the Lakeview pigeons gather in the afternoon, in case anyone was wondering. Even pigeons gotta rest, y'all.

Day 207, check out these buns

Tonight I indulged in dessert from a delicious local bakery, Fritz's. Their specialty is sticky buns. They come in two varieties, raisin & nuts or cream cheese frosting. As you can see, I had the one with cream cheese frosting. Perfection. Thankfully, the bakery is located just far away enough to be inconvenient. Otherwise my self-control would be seriously tested.