embrace

via lanaloustyle

happy monday!

Pat's Pizza, the best thin crust pizza in Chicago, makes me happy!

via create.your.happy

sunday supper: soup in a bowl

All I did was boil some water and voila a delicious sunday supper in a bowl.

The only thing I didn't like about this meal was that the weather was cool enough for some hot soup. Uh oh . . . . is that the aroma of fall permeating the air?

Happy Sunday!

happy monday!

Someone liking these earrings makes me happy!

via createyourhappy

sunday supper: bread & cheese

This is one of our favorite meals during the summer time. Come to think of it this is one of our favorite meals any time of year the only thing that changes is the color of wine in our glasses. On this particular day Ebert and I were drinking an Espiral Vinho Verde - a light and refreshing libation for warm summer days and since it's a budget friendly wine we don't feel bad buying two bottles.

This is such a simple and satisfying meal. I love dipping a chunk of crusty sourdough bread into a dish of golden olive oil, the bread soaking up all the peppery flavor. Then laying a piece of soft cheese on top and when you take a bite the olive oil oozes out from the nooks of the bread spreading over the cheese and creating these amazing flavors and textures.

One of our favorite oils is My Brother's Olive Oil - it's great for salad dressings and dipping oils, but since it is like "liquid gold" we don't usually cook with it instead we'll use a less expensive olive oil for sauteing and such.

Sometimes the simplest of meals can be the most delicious!

Happy Sunday!

the beginning

Let's start at the very beginning because just like Julie Andrews sang the beginning is ". . . a very good place to start."

When Ebert and I made the big move to Chicago, I knew I wouldn't be getting a job right away. Our plan was to live in the suburbs for a few months while we traveled for the holidays, took a delayed honeymoon/one year anniversary trip to Costa Rica, and searched for a great apartment in the city. Well, a few months turned into 6 months but as with most things that don't go the way you plan it ended up being for the best.

Our first summer in Chicago was dubbed the "summer 'o fun" - I was too busy having lots 'o fun helping Ebert with his cycling team, hosting my sister for 6 weeks during her summer break and exploring my new city to look for a job. But once all the fun subsided and the weather turned cold I knew it was time for a steady paycheck. All the while I was (and still am) pursuing my acting career.

Thus began the arduous task of submitting my resume to jobs that would never completely satisfy me and only be a temporary, in the meantime, experience. Even though I was just looking for a "day job" I still wanted to excel at whatever I was doing - that's the perfectionist in me. I was quite diligent with my submissions to hundreds of job postings, but most of them were scams or the legit ones would never respond back.

However, on occasion, I made progress...

I had an interview for a personal assistant job only to be emailed the night before the scheduled interview saying they found someone else and if I wouldn't mind if the interview was canceled. Of course I did mind. I mean who does that? At least interview everyone before you hire somebody. But, I just gave a lame and polite response that I understood and the best of luck to them, blah, blah blah only to be contacted a week later with an email saying...

"You may remember me from last week... We were going to meet last Monday to discuss the personal assistant position that I posted on craigslist. The person that I hired isn't working out so I'm hoping to see if you're still available for an interview."

I found this quite humorous and my first thought was, "Really? The person you hired isn't working out. Surprise! Surprise!". Then, the humor turned in to annoyed anger and I thought, "Are you kidding me? You really expect me to want to work for you now?". But, I swallowed my pride and graciously accepted an initial phone interview, then we set up a face to face meeting and I was finally offered the job. And I accepted it - hey, I needed a job! And, mind you, they were nice, it seemed fun and challenging, paid well and was flexible. However, I should have listened to my instincts because only months later we amicably parted ways due to some happy life changes for them that meant they no longer needed me.

I've been stood up at a coffee shop for an interview.

I've had an interview for a job at a coffee shop, but wasn't hired. Although, this one I admit was my fault. Even with my extensive barista and coffee master experience I did not go in to the interview with the best attitude. None the less, I was still greatly disappointed when I wasn't hired...nobody likes to be rejected even when it's something you don't really want.

I was contacted about setting up an interview, then when I emailed to get a few more details about the job before scheduling the interview I never heard back from them.

I've been turned down by a temp agency because of my unconventional background.

I've had two really great interviews at creative businesses that I would have enjoyed working at and would have done an amazing job at. I was told by both companies that they would let me know either way but, of course, I was never told one way or the other. One company sent me an email saying...

"I just wanted to touch base and let you know A.) It was such a pleasure meeting you! and B.) I haven't forgotten about you, the interviews are just taking longer then expected!"

But, I was either A) Forgotten about or B) These are just the longest interviews ever. And the other company just never got back to me, however they did refer me to another company.

"- from - productions gave me your name, and suggested that you might be a good fit for a position I am looking to fill."

"- said you were great…"

"I am touching base to see if you found a job. We are getting very busy, and I need to add someone else to our team part-time. Given how highly recommended you came by -, I thought I would reach out to you."

Apparently, I made a good enough impression for them to refer me to somebody else but wasn't good enough for them to hire me themselves.

I've quit one job.

And eleven days ago I was fired...from a job I had only worked at for three weeks because I didn't "culturally fit in".

I know you aren't supposed to take these things personally, but really? I am taking this just a little, teensy bit personally.

But time is passing so I'm able to find the comedy in the pain, which is why I can even write about this. I'm picking myself back up so I can create my happy!

i heART chicago

Chicago you might be on my list right now, but I still heART you!

(all images via luciusart on etsy)

reality bites

It's been quiet on the blog these past few days and I'm truly sorry, but I've been feeling a lot like Winona Ryder's character in Reality Bites and right now my reality certainly does bite.


I thought "I'd like to make a difference in people's lives"...


and that "I was really going to be somebody by the time I was 23"...


instead I feel like I'm "in the bell jar"...


and that I've reached "the winter of our discontent".


Now, I'm thinking that "There's no point to any of this. It's all just a... a random lottery of meaningless tragedy and a series of near escapes."


But, in all honesty, deep down I know that all hope is not loss because I'm trying to "take pleasure in the details". I may not have a gas card, but I'd like to believe that I still have some ingenuity. Somewhere. Maybe.

(all images via hotflick)

midnight in paris

via collider

via filmbabble

via pinterest

I saw Midnight in Paris last night and what an absolute lovely and whimsical film it was. I'm longing to walk the streets of Paris now...with my lover, at midnight, maybe even in the rain because I do believe it's good for the soul (#27 on 'the list').

Thanks Woody! It's a film like this that makes me want to continue on this journey because "only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."

happy monday!

Sitting on the ground in the parking lot of Wrigley Field with my husband and a couple of friends, the warm summer air dancing on my skin, listening to Paul McCartney makes me happy!


Because...."all you need is love, love, love is all you need." It was very good for my heart. And it was magic I tell you, magic!