Thursday, December 22, 2011

Merry Merry

...Merry Christmas from our family to yours...
May you remember the real reason behind the season.
Happy Happy Birthday JC!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Barnabys

The famous sign out front
It's sad, it's really sad.  But Barnaby's in Schaumburg is closing it's doors.  Barnaby's is a fine family establishment, and has been in business for 32 years.  I have been a customer for 28.  Barnaby's holds fond memories and great food.  They specialize in pizza.  Opposite of Chicago style, and by far the thinnest pizza I have tasted.  As you enter the restaurant, your eyes have to adjust to the dark, dungeon like atmosphere.  There isn't a window in the place.  You choose your seat and decide what to order.  Once the decision is made, at least in my case, mom would go order the food, and my dad would go order the drinks.  Two separate lines that would always confuse a first timer to the restaurant. After ordering you sit and wait for your number to be called to pick up the food.  I am always a fan of restaurants in which I don't have to tip anyone because I do all the work!  
When I say dungeon like, the lights fit the description.




While waiting for the main entree of pizza, you eat appetizers, watch TV, write letters to Andrea on the back of menus, poke at your siblings, mosey over to the juke box, and do your best as your salivary glands pump out saliva due to the smell of this thin crust pizza.



The memories that this place holds are not only about food.  They are about family.  We used to go with my grand parents on Sundays.  While the rest of us ate pizza, my grandpa would happily order spaghetti and garlic bread.  He loved it and was so happy, and it involved him going up to the salad bar, and allowing me to help him fill his plate.  I am reminded of my brother playing games with me on the back of the menu, hang man, tic tac toe, and connect the dots.  I am reminded of my parents arguing about what to get on the pizza, even though they get the same exact thing each and every time.  There is an area with a window where you can watch the guys make pizza.  Most of my time as a child was spent there, struggling on my tippy toes to see thru the window as they put on a show tossing the dough up in the air and running it thru that machine that makes it flat.  It left me mesmerized.  
And finally right before leaving as you prepare for the sun to stab your eyes again, there is a juke box by the door.  On the side ( and not everyone knows this ) is a small hole, where people's change used to come out.  Those putting in their money were not always aware of this hole.  And like clock work, on my way out, I would always stick my finger in the hole to see if there were any coins.  If there was a quarter, I hit it big.  You better believe I stuck my finger in that juke box one last time.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Good Friends, Good Party, Good Times

 Friday, December 16th was Adam's work party.  Located at Scoozi's downtown we already knew what we were in for... excellent food, good music, photo booths, and lots of fun.  The KCura party did not disappoint. Adam and I both dined on parmesean encrusted filet mignon, some sort of broccoli asparagus hybrid, and roasted potatoes.  This was followed by many sweets at the dessert table.  Not to mention cocktails.  Lots of cocktails.   Enough cocktails to have to take 2 Tylenol before bed.


The very next day we met Amanda, Dave, and Andrea at the Grand Lux on Michigan and Ontario for brunch.  I was the only one to partake in the lunch part of brunch. Shocker.  While everyone else had pancakes and waffles and eggs. I had salmon. What can I say?
The ladies and I did a necklace exchange and all ended up with a different necklace.  It's fun to see what we came up with as far as trying to please either person to get the necklace.  While Amanda and Andrea go for fun, sparkly pieces of jewelry.  I am much more plain and hippy in my style.  They still like me though.  I think.
Coats off
Coats on
 After we split up with the girls and with Dave we walked around Chicago, taking in some of the sights.  I finally saw that huge Marilyn that everyone has pictures with!  Score.
 Other scenes from Chicago:

 I always love looking at all the floors in Marshall Fields, eh hem... Macy's.  It just amazes me at how big the place actually is, and I like to think about when my mom and dad were little and how much of a production it would be to get dressed up and look at the window displays and shop there.
 Our final stop was at Hala Kahiki with Adam's friends from his old job in Orlando. Chris and Mark were in town visiting.  Mark and his fiance will be getting married here in 2012, so we will be seeing much more of them.  Needless to say Hala Kahiki is a Hawaiin bar and totally themed.  And to make it even better, it's a block away from Gene and Judes, so a hot dog was in order after our drinks.

 They even had a decked out area outside.
All in all we had a wonderful weekend, filled with good friends, and good times.*


*My mom dog sat our little angels, and still isn't aware of how slick our little Charlie can be.  He ended up snatching 1/2 a stick of butter off the kitchen table, inhaling the entire thing.  We came home to some of the aftermath.  Not good times.

Monday, December 05, 2011

Happy Birthday Adam!


Today is the hubs birthday.  His 30th birthday mind you.  Adam doesn't find this to be a very BIG birthday.  He has been no help when asking him what he wants or what he wants to do.  Seriously, I have had my 30th planned for quite some time and it's still 1.2 years away.  
(Key West, in case you are interested! Everyone's invited!) 

But I'd just like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the greatest guy.  He is a gem, really.  I love him, like, a LOT and I hope his next 30 years are better than the first!

Friday, November 25, 2011

.turkey day.

Adam and I were separated on Thanksgiving this year.  
Spending time with the newest lil' ones in our lives. 
And of course, the old ones.
Happy Day.  Be thankful for each one!!!
Erica & Emilie

Whatta doll?

Adam & Kaiis

Black Friday

I have never really understood the phenomenon of Black Friday.
I looked thru the ads, stacked high on my kitchen table, and besides the dog beds at Menard's for $3.97, I didn't really want or need anything else.  I imagine as a parent, buying for a little one, this could be beneficial, but for me now, not worth it.  
Instead, I happily slept in my warm bed till 8am.  Woke up, had a small bowl of Lucky Charms, and glanced at the ads again.
I made a few purchases online.
Anthro and Bath and Body.
Glanced at the ads again, OK fine, I ran to Menards.   Dog beds... sold out.  
Damn, but oh well.
Walked aimlessly around Target.  Nothing really good there worth purchasing.
And then come home, check my email, and what do I see?
My one and only purchase from Anthro, CANCELLED.
My life will go on, I know, but come on....


Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Brett

In my own little corner of cyper space I would like to pay a bit of tribute to our wedding dj Brett.  Two weeks ago while preparing for a wedding, he collapsed.  Not long after he was pronounced dead.  He was 29 years old.  Although, I only knew him professionally, my heart hurts for him and for his family.  The day I interviewed him for our wedding, he was one of a couple meetings I had.  When Adam asked me for my opinions on all the different dj's, I remember telling him, "I like Brett, and I like him cause I would want to be his friend."  Case closed, we picked him.  


In these past two weeks I have been keeping up with his posts on his Facebook.  It has become a sound board to the many friends and family he has left behind.  It touches my heart to read all the comments they have left.  He was a great guy, with a great gift, who left this world too early.  May he rest in peace.  And as most of his friends would say, “May you keep rocking!”

Times Flying

Well we are in that transition.
As I was shopping for my 1/2 price Halloween candy today, I was overhearing Alvin and the Chipmunks singing "Christmas Christmas time is here!!!"  I can not believe it is the beginning of November already.  When adults used to say the words, "the time just flies by...." I would think to myself, what are they talking about? Seemed like Friday would never come.  And now the Fridays, and the weeks, and the months are most definitely flying by.
I have been on my mother in laws case to draw names already for our family Christmas grab bag.  It's not that I want Christmas to be here already, I just want to get the shopping part over with, for my sanity.  Have you found people in stores becoming extra, incredibly rude?  I can't even stand it anymore.  I foresee me getting my one phone call to Adam in the near future, asking for a bail out of jail, probably due to the fact that my wise ass remarks to complete strangers for being such jerks are going to turn into a "situation."  I just can't help myself anymore.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Stomping it Out

 October 16th was the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk sponsored by the American Cancer Society.  My friend Katie has been walking in honor of her mom, Sherry, for the last 5 years now.  This year I decided to not only donate, but to walk with the group.  Due to the weather they shortened the walk from 5 miles to 3 which I was bummed about.  In past years, you get to walk along the shore line of Lake Michigan, we didn't get to that this year.  Luckily, the rain ended up stopping about half hour into our walk and the sun showed its face a bit.  All in all it was a good time, and I hope to do it again next year!
Mother and Daughter

After the walk we all met at Tweet for brunch.  It was amazing.  The restaurant was packed and we had to wait a while to get in, but don't fear, Mimosas and Bloody Marys were on hand.  My drink of choice... a Peach Bellini.
Brunch was excellent... out of all the people pictured above, not one of us had something we didn't like.  
And so there you have it... we definitely stomped it out.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Happy Birthday CW!

Happy Birthday Charlie Wilson!
It's been 2 years since our paths have crossed, even though we find you walking on tables like a cat, eating all the food on the table, barking like a crazy dog when you know we are leaving, and peeing on something whether we have been gone 8 hours or 5 minutes.  We love you Florida dog!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

yoga blues

Today I took a yoga class and I was seriously almost in tears.  I just can't do it.  I can't bend, my spine is crooked no matter what I do, and I can't get the whole exhale when you do this, inhale when you do that concept.  I find myself constantly holding my breath, and constantly stopping and looking at the instructor on both feet, hands on my hips, and a look on my face that says, "you're kidding, right!?"  
Just as I thought about wrapping up my mat, and calling it quits for today, the instructor said, "it's great that no one has walked out yet!"  My cue to stay at it, and cheat when I could.  
I constantly compare myself to Ms. Bendy who always seems to choose the spot next to me in every class I take.  Now I know, I shouldn't be comparing myself to anyone else and to move at my own pace, but I just can't help it.
Oh well... water aerobics here I come!

We have LIGHT

 Look at the pretty lights under the cabinets, installed by my very own husband?  It sure brightens the place up and adds a bit of pizzazz!!! 

Dress for Less

You better believe I was at the grand opening of ROSS this weekend!
They are slowly creeping their way up north and I could not be happier.  They are just the same as TJ Maxx and Marshalls, with a bit smaller price tag!
Some of them in Florida were a bit, how shall I put it, shady, but so far so good with this brand new store.
Now, we can all dress for less!

Dahlias Schmalias

I have been talking a lot of jibberish about dahlias recently.  
I just wanted mine to grow nice and big.
This year my dahlia plant only produced 4 blooms.

Check out Dr. Sale's dahlias.  
Can you see why I am a bit jealous?





Friday, October 07, 2011

Kaiis James Debut

Kaiis James was born on October 7th, and our family grew again.  
We can't wait to see this little guy at Christmas.
Although, Uncle Adam gets to make the first visit at Thanksgiving!
Isn't he just ADORABLE?
Kaiis and Mom

Congrats to Brenden and Lynzee!!

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Emilie Luz Debut

I have a brand new cousin!!!  Emilie Luz was born on October 6th! 
She is a lil' peanut, and I could not be happier for Mike and Marta.
She looks so warm and cuddly and I can't wait to meet her!

Congrats to the happy family!
(due to me being completely computer illiterate, this is as big as I can make this picture!)

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Luke is 2!

Happy Birthday to the Happiest Dog I know...
Lucas Nathanial, you are the best!  
Have a very happy 2nd birthday!

Saturday, October 01, 2011

Happy Birthday Marshal!

Today, my great nephew celebrates his very 1st birthday!  But we celebrated last week!
Here is our gift to him, Lucas had to get in on it too!

 Isn't he just the cutest... Jeremiah Marshal!?
 Here he is with mom and dad!
Even though he looks like he is about to cry he didn't!!!!  
I swear.  I think. 
Happy Birthday Mister Big!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Farewell All My Children

It's been nearly a week since All My Children went off the air, and I have been wanting to post about it.
I am sad.
41 years is a long time.  I have been around for about 18 of it.
My 12 o'clock hour is now filled with a show called The Chew.
Really, how can that be any better than the daily lives of those in Pine Valley?  
The last few weeks of AMC have been pretty eventful.  There were many cameos from past stars, Eva La Rue, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Josh Dumel (be still my heart), Carol Burnett, the returns of Babe, Jamie, Adam, Brooke, Dixie... shall I go on....  I just loved every minute no matter how twisted, and how much it didn't make sense.  If you are a fan of soaps, you learn to be "open minded" about certain things.  For example, even if you bury the person, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are dead.  Hmm.  

Adam/Stuart played by David Canary
 While living in Florida I was able to go to Super Soap Weekend.  I had a great time, and was so glad I got the chance.  It was the best day ever, and I got to see many of the cast, as well as the people from other ABC shows.  My very special moment however was below with Michael E. Knight.  I waited and waited and he came right up to me, thanked me for watching and kissed me on the cheek.  That's right.  Now Tad the Clad may not be that handsome nowadays, but my mom said he was once a heart throb.  Either way, he was extremely sweet and thankful to his fans. He offered to take this picture with my camera, as I was all by myself, and in my excitement I forgot to take the zoom off.  A moment I will never ever forget.
Tad Martin played by Michael E. Knight
Erica Kane played by Susan Lucci
My Daytime Hero

So this is my farewell to All My Children.
You have brightened my days and I will miss you.

The Great and the Least,
The Rich and the Poor,
The Weak and the Strong,
In Sickness and in Health,
In Joy and Sorrow,
In Tragedy and Triumph,
You are ALL MY CHILDREN.
-Agnes Nixon

Keegan's Birth Story

So 2 years ago, I was preaching to the choir.... "I am never going to do this again."  "One kid is it for me."  "T...