Mountains = Perfect

"The quieter you become, the more you can hear"
Ran Dass

We made it to the top, yeah!!!

Quick post from CO...had to share these pictures. It is so beautiful here!! Lots of rain the last couple of weeks so everything is green, lush & smells fantastic.



Today we hiked up to the Hallelujah Nature Trail. The name fits it perfectly. It was a great hike (feeling it already, ouch). Breathtaking views, perfect weather and a picnic on the rocks :)



It is so peaceful here, I don't want to leave anytime soon...although I could do without the altitude headache. My organs are practically floating from all the water I'm drinking and I'm popping ibuprofen like tic-tacs :)

Happy Wednesday to all!

Travel Must-Haves

There are a few things you should know about me. One, I'm borderline OCD when it comes to folding and organizing clothes. Two, I travel a fair amount. Finally, I love the challenge of packing. Challenge? Ugh, terrible. I'm rolling my eyes as we speak...

How lame is that? I love packing...it's weird. I fold everything in such a precise manner (I believe I honed this gift while folding baby onesies at BabyGap in high school) and I'm anal about where everything goes in my bag. Shoes never just chill in there. I mean, if you lived in Chicago and walked these streets, you'd understand. I have little shoe bags and I use the free people mini bags when I run out of my other shoe protectors.

I'm going to the Mountains in Colorado tomorrow for some MUCH needed R&R. So I found my carry-on and am about to take the packing plunge.

But first, let's talk travel! Ahhh, travel my long lost friend. I think there are a few things that are mandatory when traveling. Here's my list:

1. Pashmina: I can't remember the last time I flew without one. Even if it's 110 degrees, I'm wearing a pashmina to the airport. Hello? Planes are cold. Passengers are creepy. Pashminas keep you warm and can also be wrapped around your neck so much your neighbor is no longer visible!

2. Noise Canceling Headphones: Thank you techy men and women! I no longer have to have my iPod on full blast. I can actually HEAR my music and at the same time and blissfully unaware of a loud rummmmmbling of the engines.

3. Books/Kindle: I read like a maniac. So when I'm going on a strictly R&R vacation, I better have a lot of books with me. Case in point, 9 day cruise in January, read 7 books. The Kindle makes this so much easier and my bags are that much lighter. Thank you, Amazon.

4. iPod: Self-explanatory. Can't live without music.

5. Ballet Flats: Ok girls, I get it. You want to look good when you fly. That's fine. In fact, I really don't get the schleppy/just rolled out of bed look at the airport. Gross. Put on real clothes. And if you're going comfy, look presentable. No dolphin pajama pants, please! Ballet Flats are the perfect answer to cute shoes but with comfort. No need for heels. However, I'll wear gym shoes or boots if I need to pack them and they're just too bulky!

6. Snacks: Since when do you have to pay for snacks?? coughAmericancough. How lame. I usually bring a trail mix bar, gum, pretzels, and a Crystal Light packet for when I'm sick of plain water!

7. Smile: so cheesy, I know. But do you know how stressful it is to travel under pressure? To sit next to someone who is so grumpy that you want to scream? To have to stand in line behind the person screaming at the attendant who had no idea why all the flights are sold out? I am by NO MEANS the sweetest person alive. But the world is round and karma is a biotch. Don't be mean to the person who has control of your bags or could bump you to first class. Be pleasant, it's not their fault you didn't read the baggage limits!


So for me, this is going to be my go-to scarf for the trip:

Scarf from Anthropologie

My dog, Ozzie, doesn't want me to go, but he's a good assistant :)

Must get new camera! These blurry pics are driving me mad!!

What do you always take with you when you travel? Anything you feel is a must-have for the trip??


I just realized I posted this last night, 8/9 but it was posted under 8/4. Weird...

The Weekend is Over Already??

Ugh. Another weekend come and gone. Bummer. I had a nice little weekend...hope you enjoyed yours as well!

Friday I had a nice lunch with my mom (where I ate chocolate chip & banana french toast yummm!) and then golfed 9 holes with the usual crowd. The usual crowd consists of my brother, dad, and my dad's work friend. It's always fun and sometimes I'm okay, sometimes I'm terrible. Only complaint this round was the amount of mosquitoes!! Chicago is having one of the rainiest summers ever recorded so I get it, they're around, but ick. Nothing worse than quarter sized skeeter bites!

Saturday was a day of projects and errands. I used this to start another quick and painless DIY...post to follow when it's complete!




And luckily I was able to fit in some time for this:

Love pedicures...chose You're a Pisa Work and it's perfect!

I ended up organizing the bathroom and relaxing Saturday night. Then I slept 11 hours. Whoops! :)

Today was by far the best day because I got to babysit my niece, P! My mom and I went over while my cousin and her husband went to a baseball game. It was so fun. P is definitely a small peanut (she's 10 weeks and still tiny). She's starting to smile now and is always on the move. It took 30 attempts to get a picture of her because we kept laughing and saying she was like Ray Charles and always bobbing her head. She's quite adorable & I just love her to pieces!

Lastly, as I said in a previous post, I am notorious for my mobile uploads. I find random things and always snap pics on my cell phone. This one isn't the best, but I just thought it was T-A-C-K-Y. I'm not a huge fan of vanity license plates and this is just lame. Umm get over yourself, thanks!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Did you do anything exciting or fun?

Yes, I am a bookworm.

I truly love to read. I grew up reading with my mom but didn't really get into it on my own until...Harry Potter. Which, go ahead, if you're a HP hater, that's fine. But I have nothing but love for it and J.K. Rowling is my hero.

Anyhoo, I was about to go to Europe for 3 weeks when I was 16 and my mom and I went to Borders to find books to help pass the time. The saleswoman recommended HP because it was all the rage and I quickly bought the first two books. Little did I know I would be paying close to $40 for the hardcover Prisoner of Azkaban book in English while in small town Austria! But, I did and I was hooked. I pre-ordered the rest of the series as it came out and have seen every movie in the theater and own each. I have to thank J.K. for making my imagination come back to life and turn me into the reader I am today.



I read as much as I can. I love all kinds of books but I have to say that chick-lit is my favorite with murder mysteries a veryveryclose second. I'm a pretty fast reader so if I'm into the book, forget about it, it's going to be finished before I realize I read it. This can also be a problem because I read so much I forget what I read. Thank goodness for Goodreads!

So I wanted to talk about my favorite books I've read recently.

Must say this because it is my all time favorite and I re-read it about once a year...



To Kill a Mockingbird: Ohhh how original. A lawyer loves this book. Well I wasn't a lawyer when I fell in love with Atticus Finch! Gosh, what a perfect man! He's not only a great dad but he has the best moral compass and respect for others that I've ever seen (well...read) I plan on naming my first dog Atticus...no, seriously. I'm that big of a dork. and secretly want a second dog named Boo Radley...haha





(A catch-all, although Heart of the Matter was recent!) Emily Giffin Books: Girl, you do no wrong. I always fall immediately into her scenes and dialogue. I believe she actually listens to people what? shocking! and therefore her books have a very organic flow which helps to give them a huge feel of authenticity. I loved Something Borrowed and Baby Proof. Heart of the Matter struck a chord with me and I'm not sure, but it wasn't the feeling I normally had at the end of reading one of her books...

Something About You, Julie James. Just discovered Julie while browsing the amazon Kindle shop. Her books are nice and cheap but they are FAB! Again, great conversations, characters, and make you laugh out loud. She has 3 books out and I read all 3 immediately, I absolutely recommend them :) Plus she's from Chicago and 2 of her 3 books were set here. Love it.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson. I have to say I jumped on this bandwagon. But I wasn't sold on the first 180 pages or so. I mean, it took me 1/3 of the book to get into it. That's not my style. I don't like to quit reading books. Except I stopped reading Eat, Pray, Love because I loathed the narrator. I can't believe I just said that out loud because I'm sure people are obsessed with that book. Was it a mood? A funk? I don't know. I am giving it a second try though, so daggers down!!! After I got further into Lisbeth Salander's world, I was HOOKED. I'm currently reading The Girl Who Played With Fire.

The Help, Kathryn Stockett. This book gave me the chills. I was nervous the whole time. I was deeply moved. And so help me god, I wanted to know everyone's secrets!! This is a must read in my opinion and everyone I know agrees. It's been on the NYT's best sellers list now for weeks. It's also my friends' book for our Book Club this month...which by the way is so fun because we eat, drink, gossip, and talk about the book for ohh 20 minutes.

Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen. Another book I felt like I lived in. I could just see the Circus and smell the popcorn. Jacob was such a multifaceted character. I literally couldn't put this book down. Now Robert Pattinson & Reese Witherspoon are making the movie and I have fingers and toes crossed it's decent. I say decent because very FEW movies ever hold a candle to the books.

My Name is Memory, Ann Brashares. This author might be familiar to you all as the writer of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. I can't explain this book except to say I loved the concept and I wanted to know more. And of course it was left at a point where you just sit there and wonder....damn, when is the next book coming out? The idea is that every soul continues to live on after the person dies and some people can recognize their old friends' "souls" in new bodies. Hey, I think it can happen! I also think toys talk when you leave the room...thanks, Pixar.

So I have a big favor to ask...I'm going to Colorado next Tuesday (yippppeeeee!) and I need some books to read. Any new faves? Or old classics you can't get enough of? Please let me know, I absolutely love book recommendations! If you want some from me, just ask!!

Super Easy DIY Jewelry Organizer

I have this thing when I travel in different countries to make sure that I come home with whatever their currency is. I love all the different coins!! Different sizes, textures, and weights. But what do you with them when you come home? Throw them into a drawer and forget about them?

I always did. Until recently. I decided to finally do something with them. I also needed some type of organizational hook for all my long necklaces. So this is what I came up with....




What you'll need:
-Coins of your liking
-Nails
-Glue (hot glue, gorilla glue, whatever!)

And forgive me because I didn't take in the process pictures. It's so easy though, you'll get it!

First, clean the coin.
Second, put a dab of glue on the coin large enough to cover the entire nail head.
Finally, press the nail head into the glue and let it dry completely.







When you hang the nail, I like to use a regular nail to first puncture the wall a bit because you don't want to wail on the coin, once you get past the initial small hole in the wall you're good to go.

And believe me, they hold their weight! Plus it's a cute reminder of where you've been as you're grabbing accessories.

Do you have any easy DIY organizational projects? I'm still organizing all the stuff from the move and I swear it's multiplying overnight!

Housewife in Training??

So today a very weird thing happen. Around two o'clock as I sat on my laptop at the kitchen table I realized something. I was acting very much like a suburban housewife! Since I am neither married nor the owner of my house ahhh the joys of moving back in with your parents. Just call me failure to launch.
it seemed a bit odd to me. But then I thought, well since finishing the bar exam I haven't had anything to do. Literally not a thing. I moved and that was it. I'm currently unemployed and unpacking :)

Seriously...this is what I did today:

-woke up and went to grocery store to get refunded for the 58 redonk ears of corn.
-came home and made chocolate chip zucchini bread with the monster zucchini from the farmer's market. Future Blog post following. It was so so so tasty!
-took the left-over zucchini, cut it in thick slices and made a marinade. Mixed 'em together and put in a bag in the fridge for the afternoon. Who am I, Emeril?
-stared at my unruly eyebrows for twenty minutes wondering why they look so crazy
-contemplated working out. remained seated while the thought passed.
-got my hair cut & colored I no longer look homeless. Cheers all around!
-came home and cooked dinner.
-talked on the phone for 2 hours with a college friend while unpacking and tossing away a HUGE bag of clothes for goodwill (only honorable action of the day)

UMMM really? When did I become so domestic?? Zucchini bread & homemade marinades? I'm rolling my eyes at myself right now. But I have a confession to make...so far, I enjoy it, like a lot. I love looking up recipes...searching blogs for new recipe ideas and just doing the "housewife" thing. I think the reason I'm enjoying it so much is in the last 7 years I have never had time off to do nothing. I always had a job or something going on with school or externships. Which reminds me...finding a job is terrible! I'm just looking for something PT until my results and apparently no one wants to hire a law school graduate. I can't even get a job babysitting! Whatevs. Their loss.

It was a VERY rainy early morning here in Chicago. People are flooding everywhere :(
In my unpacking I rediscovered these fun boat shoes and wore them all day because they brought me out of the gloomy weather mood I was in.

Shoes by Coach, Cankles by yours truly hahaha

ANYWAY...on to more important topics like my hair :) I'm natural sandy/dirty blonde. I like highlights but I hate super dyed blonde on me b/c I feel like a fraud. So over the past 6-9 months my hair stylist has made me a bit too blonde for my liking. It wasn't all her fault, I never said anything. I brought in pictures of what I was envisioning (Whitney Port's color) and she did it pretty darn close. I'll have to post a picture tomorrow as it's currently in a hot mess of a bun on the top of my head thus ruining my blowout...

Big fan of the color up top...it's pretty blonde on the end. We'll see what I end up with...

Oh and as for posting pictures, my darn camera isn't working! What the eff! I guess a trip to Best Buy is in my future tomorrow and hopefully I still have that insurance coverage...probably not. Add it to the list of things I need!

Do you guys have anything in your closet that makes you instantly happier? I'm a big fan of rediscovering everything while I unpack and I hope to put it to good use! Too many things still have the tags on and that is a problem...

Great Summer Side

I'm always looking for summer sides that are not potato salads or macaroni salads. I'm not a huge mayo person and there seems to be no options sans mayo! So I stumbled upon a Bobby Flay recipe and tweaked it ever so slightly.

It's a grilled corn/tomato/sweet onion side salad. It was easy and got the thumbs up from every diner! The best part is I got charged for 58 ears of corn at the grocery store and will be returning tomorrow to get refunded. REALLY, 58 EARS? Who would buy that many? Kate Gosselin?!

What you'll need:

• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ears corn, grilled in the husk, kernels removed
• 1 sweet onion (such as Vidalia or Walla Walla), halved and thinly sliced
• 1 pint Sweet 100 tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, halved
• 4 ounces of goat cheese (more or less to your taste)
• Fresh basil sprigs, for garnish
• An ice cold beverage of your choice ;)
  

Throw the corn on the grill for about 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally. They'll start off looking like this...and end up looking like this:



While the corn is on the grill, chop the tomatoes in half, slice the sweet onion, and chop the basil.




In a blender, put the oil, rice vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, and basil and blend until smooth.

looks creepy, tastes delicious.

Grab the corn off the grill, de-husk it. Definitely recommend doing this with a dish towel because the corn is quite hot. Then hold the corn with a dish towel with you slice it off into a large bowl. This is kind of annoying, but well worth it.



Combine the Corn, Tomatoes, Onions in the bowl. Toss with the basil sauce. Top it off with goat cheese and basil garnish.

forgot the goat cheese before the pic, oops!

Dig in and ENJOY!!

DO you have any go-to summer sides? Please share. I cannot wait to make Carrie's White Cheddar & Shrimp Stuffed Jalapeños as soon as possible! They look SO good and I have a weak spot for anything jalapeño :) I kept the left-overs and hope it's just as good tomorrow, will let you know.