• Fun in Chicago,  Review

    Shakespeare And Stars

    Even though I absolutely adore movies, there is something about seeing a live performance that is so wonderful and memorable, I’d pick “live” almost any day of the week. And when you combine a live performance with an unexpected element, I’m there. I was recently invited to experience a First Folio Theatre performance of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” at the beautiful Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook and I couldn’t say no because the performance would be outside, under the stars. I’m not a huge Shakespeare fan: I admit it. In high school I always read the Cliffs Notes rather than the assigned works of The Bard, because I…

  • Favorite Things,  Fun in Chicago,  I've Got Mad Skillz,  My Friends Have Mad Skillz,  Proud Moments

    #BBSummit12 In A Nutshell

    After nearly a year of planning meetings, brainstorming sessions, countless emails, thousands of name badges (okay, 160 of ’em), and excessive sweating, the 2012 Brands and Bloggers Summit (#BBSummit12) came and went this past Saturday. After all the work that I put in alongside my Social RevUp partners MJ Tam and Dwana De LaCerna, I was looking forward to the beginning of the day just as much as I was looking forward to the end of the day (7:00 to be specific, which was the starting time of the after party). My brain is still swimming but I wanted to give you a recap of my favorite parts of #BBSummit12…

  • Fun in Chicago

    Chicago With A Different Purpose

    I drove to the city today. (You probably aren’t surprised; I do that all the time.) I had a lunch date on Michigan Avenue with a couple of blogger friends and a brand representative. Lunch was great: restaurant right in the middle of Chicago, fantastic conversation, talk of upcoming opportunities, great food, sunshine streaming through the windows. After lunch was over and we said our goodbyes, I decided to walk a few blocks up the street to my very favorite corner in the whole world: Michigan and Wacker (and the Chicago River). Vanessa wanted to walk too, so away we went, into the 99 degree heat. I felt all “summery”,…

  • Food,  Fun in Chicago

    Chicago Food Swap: Seriously Yummy.

    My sister and I had a great experience at the 2nd Chicago Food Swap back in March, and we signed up immediately for the 3rd one, which was today. Just like last time, my friends Emily and Vanessa did a fabulous job of organizing the event. New this time was the location: the folks at the Savory Spice Shop in Hinsdale were kind enough to host. I wanted to give a shout-out to Dave and the rest of his crew over there, because they have a great store (the smells! so good!) and we all really appreciated their allowing us to “clutter up” the shop for two hours! (Thanks, Savory…

  • Amazing People,  Best Thing Ever,  Fun in Chicago,  I've Got Mad Skillz,  My Friends Have Mad Skillz,  Pretty Pictures,  Proud Moments,  Shameless Promotion,  Something That Could Change Your Life,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    About Last Night

    I’m having a little trouble. I can’t really wrap my head around the whirlwind that was LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER CHICAGO last night. I can’t keep using the word “amazing” and expect that 1. People will continue to take me seriously 2. People will believe that yes, I’m a writer …but the fact is, everything about this experience (well, not everything: there were a few snags in the planning process but everything shook out in the end) WAS amazing. I tend to be long-winded (or whatever that is in terms of writing), and although I can think of thousands of things to report to you about last night, I think…