The Long and Winding Road

Alas, again I'm on the road. You know it's bad when with each location update I post on Facebook, I get comments of "Again?" and "Are you ever home?". This week I'm in Chicago for work. I've never been to Chicago. Tonight is night #2 of 5. So far I love it and I'm just super impressed with how the trip has run so far. Minus the scary driving. I wish I didn't have a car here, but since I'm doing client visits all over Chicago-land, I must drive my trusty rented red Jetta.

So here I am tonight- in my apple green Juicy Couture pants, my Tory Burch sandals that are not nearly casual enough for the pants, and a pale blue tshirt that says "Dick Brewers Surf Boards- Hawaii" that I distinctly remember purchasing at Marshall's in 7th grade. It is my favorite, softest tshirt. My point is, I'm quite the site...sitting here in the lobby of the Millenium Knickerbocker (boo no wifi in the rooms), drinking my split of Chandon on an old couch. Side note- I'm a champagne snob. Not for it's pretentious or elitist reputation, but because it's good, doesn't give me a headache, and averages around 60 calories a glass.

Traveling alone is interesting and I'm really finding myself interested to see how I do in this scenario. Having been in a relationship and living with someone for 11 years now (not the same someones, but I was never single for long), I haven't done this before. Been in a big city all alone. Left to travel alone, sightsee alone, shop alone, eat alone...I am intrigued with the choices I'm making. Like last night for dinner, I ate at a Thai restaurant. I NEVER eat Thai food. I can't say I've been to a Thai restaurant since high school. But I did last night because I could. Another example- Today I took a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright house here in Oak Park. That would never have happened on a girls trip...and the hubby says he would have been interested to go if he was here, but I wonder how true that would be if we were cramming everything into a weekend. I find myself going outside the realm of "normal" for me, which is exciting. This is an interesting experiment.

I also find myself craving companionship, even though I'm having at least 3 client meetings a day. My hotel is next to Bloomingdale's on Michigan Avenue and I stopped in to the Benefit Brow Bar to get a much neglected touchup. I really liked the girl and she and I gabbed for an hour and played with makeup and she made me up. Fun! She suggested I come back tomorrow to play with another look and I'm actually considering it. I wonder though, is it because I am a makeup dunce and someone showing me how to update my look excites me? Or do I want to go hang with my new makeup buddy again for another hour so I don't have to spend it alone?

Tonight I did the Hancock Observatory, tomorrow night is the Museum of Contemporary Art (free on Tuesdays!), and Wednesday night is a bike tour around the city that ends with the fireworks at Navy Pier. I'll try to update again on how the Lonely Girl trip is going.

Signing off from the bar...

On the Road Again!

I feel like life hasn't stopped for 6 weeks. Pretty much because it hasn't.

I returned from my Euro trip 2 weeks ago. It seems so long ago now...which is sad. That's how quickly life can pass you by.

Had a terrific time though with my college roomie. Logged alot of girl time between 10 days and 3 countries.

Our favorite place we went- out of Switzerland, Munich, Prague, and Berlin, was Munich. We had the BEST TIME THERE. In the absolute worst weather too. I highly recommend the Mike's Bike Tour there. It's a tour where you stop at all the historical sites, with intermittent stops in these huge beer gardens there. One held up to 10,000 people. All sitting in this garden, 4 times the size of Central Park, drinking liters of beer. Not just pints, liters. We also did a bar crawl, the Insomniac Bar Crawl, that was pretty great too. Everyone there was very friendly, and just the whole vibe was very...jolly. That's the best word I can think of. Like a good time, good people, good nature, and good beer. Even the oompa bands with the band players in lederhosen...everything about Munich made us smile.

Prague was gorgeous. The architecture was just absolutely ridiculous, and the history was very very interesting. 20 years ago, they were still stuck in the Communist world. But I think that other previous travelers had built it up too much. One friend told me "Prague is life changing." I wouldn't go that far. It was the one place we actually did the hostel thing...but it was named Top 10 in the world by various publications, so you probably couldn't count it as a hostel. It was not located in the most convenient location, but it was super cool. It's called the Czech Inn. I encourage anyone to stay there in Prague if they want to stay in a really really cool hostel and feel like they may be too old for the typical hostel crowd. Cool bar inside too...

Berlin was a fave stop too. We were very glad we went to Sachsenhausen, the concentration camp outside of Berlin, the first day we were there. We were pretty melancholy afterwards. Interestingly, on the way to the concentration camp is when we found out Michael Jackson died. We couldn't read the newspapers, but could see something major happened to him, so I had to call my husband back home in the States for an update. So crazy. That night, every bar we went to in Berlin played MJ. Another highlight of Berlin was a crazy night out...we were trying to find this wine bar that you apparently taste a bunch of wines, and then pay what you think you should owe. We didn't find it, but we did find this little wine cellar of maybe 6 tables with a sweet older German couple who spoke very very little English running it. We somehow managed to order 2 glasses of really good wine and the best beef stew I've had in my life. But the touching thing was when we left- we were leaving the restaurant and the wife came running after us. She grabbed my friends arm and managed to stammer out "Good...Luck...to you...and...OBAMA!". Now I'm by no means a Democrat, but it was so sweet for some reason. I loved her :) . And then we made our way to Dr. Pong, a ping pong bar- not beer pong, ping pong- and then on to an absynthe bar called Druide. That's a whole other post for another time.

Same for Switzerland. I can't start now into the canyoning adventure, ie 4 hours of terror and death defying heights, but I promise I will get to it very soon. PROMISE!

Cheers!

Way Down Upon the Suwanee River...

My last weekend before my big Euro trip and we're going camping...in tents. I just thought I'd specify in tents because so many people camp in cabins or really nice campers and consider it camping.

We're heading to the Ichnetucknee River. When I was doing research for the trip, I found out that one of the top 40 things to do in Florida is take a house boat down the Ichnetucknee.

Our houseboat = a bunch of rafts tied together + beer...

So me, the typical person who likes to "over prepare", I bought anything that looked like it could be a camping accessory. Because I'm definitely going to use the egg carrier again, versus keeping the eggs in their carton. Sarcastic.

I'll update post trip! Especially after Bob's River Extravaganza which is some guy's house on the side of Dixie Highway in north central Florida. Per another blog:

We finally made it and our first stop was a place called: Bob’s River Extravaganza.
Bob’s was right on the Suwannee River. It was the coolest place I’ve ever seen! Bob is about 70 years old and in his backyard is where the extravaganza is. There are two water slides, rope swings, zip lines, tree houses and docks to lay out on. I was in awe that this 70 year old man built all of this. There were a ton of people there and everyone was going nuts...

There is very little information on the web about Bob's, so I hope to come back with a full report and pictures!

Ciao for now!

Diet Schmiet

Today is Sunday Funday and I'm about to prepare my lunch tomorrow for me and 3 of my team members.

I think I failed to mention that we bought the Biggest Loser 30 Day Jumpstart Challenge diet book. It's pretty awesome, frankly. The diet consists of lots of protein and fiber...eating 6 mini meals per day.

4 of us got in on it and it's been pretty fun. We are about to start week 4 and I'm proud to say we are all still avidly participating. It involves exercise too of course...

For example- Tomorrow's Food:

Breakfast:
Kashi GoLean Cereal (1 cup- we keep a measuring cup at work!)
1 hardboiled egg
1 peach
Green Tea, Water, or Coffee

Snack:
Celery Sticks and Hummus

Lunch:
Tuna Melts (sans mayo) on whole grain bread

Snack:
Apple and Peanut Butter

I don't recall the dinner, but I usually just eat what the hubby cooks. Tomorrow's dinner is grilled salmon, salad, fruit, and some green vegetable I'm sure. That's what we've eaten forever and we didn't really change that piece.

So far in the 3 completed weeks, I'm down 4.5-5 pounds. Not bad! We think we are even going to continue beyond because we like it so much...I'll post my final 30 day results upon completion...inches lost included!

Workout note for today- 4 miles- 12 min/mile avg- running intervals ranging from 3.8-7.0 on the treadmill

Hooked on HGTV...

I don't know what it is about HGTV that is so addicting. I love the fact that the things they "make" are so cheap and darn cute or what. I don't know if it's that I live in this funky little bungalow and everytime someone comes in they coo and say they have always wanted to live in a bungalow- am I striving to have one of those homes like on the local home tours?

Well my newest obsession is an untouched room...our master bedroom. It's really like (like 25 x 12) which my dad, an architect, says is a big no-no. Apparently rooms are supposed to be 1 x 1.4 when looking at space. More square. Well we are switching that up, opening up the 2 side closets and creating a walk-in with some of the length.

So of course I'm looking fast forwards past the week of demolition to the decorating stage. I think I want 3 walls painted, with one wall wallpapered- the wall with the headboard. Sounds awful, I know. But I found this website- www.flavorpaper.com. They have the COOLEST paper in the world. I think when I have kids, I will do my baby's room in it too. I couldn't even tell you my favorite, but I know it's going to be a fun battle with the hubby to get him to agree to me putting it up!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things...

I'm a creature of habit and here are a few of my favorite things!

Cole Haan Nike Air Heels

I'm not a "heels" girl. I live in flats, and I'm such a baby when I'm out all night and on my toes. These shoes have Nike Air technology and walking in them feels like walking on pillows!

Tom Ford FT0040 Margaux sunglasses

I love these. They are a super flattering shape, I get alot of compliments, and I see lot of famous people in USWeekly wearing them. Mine are more brown then gold...

lululemon Boogie Crops!

I'm such a lululemon freak. I have 3pairs of these crops for Pilates or running sometimes. They are so comfortable and they make your butt loo amazing!

JCrew Bathing Suits
It' pretty much all I wear and living by the beach, I have more than a few. I have DD boobies, so I'm big on support and these just work. I also got a few of the bottoms monogrammed on the hip and I get a ton of compliments on them.

Sue London Flats

I live in these shoes. They come in all sorts of cute colors and I have them in chocolate, bronze, black, silver, shimmery purple...I won't bore you with the rest :) . They fold up tiny to travel with you and they are the SOFTEST leather.

Nicole Miller Dresses

I've had such good luck with Nicole Miller dresses lately. Especially with wedding after wedding these days. I have one similar to this one in more of a slate color (this style is called 'stretch metal') and it great for your curves- hides all trouble spots!

Kicking Butt and Taking Names!

Spent last weekend (Mother's Day Weekend) at Walt Disney World in Orlando. We don't live very far from there, less than a hour, so it's not that big of a trip for us. We stayed at the Contemporary Resort (I love the room and proximity to the Magic Kingdom) and spent Saturday at Animal Kingdom (10pm-11pm we hopped over to Magic Kingdom-rode 4 rides) and then we spent Sunday at Magic Kingdom again with our fam.

Primary reason was for the trip was the Danskin SheRox Triathlon I competed in. I love these races and highly recommend them to anyone, no matter your athletic ability, shape, size, or age. They are women-only events and they raise money for Susan G. Komen's Breast Cancer charity. I met women of all ages, from California, Wisconsin, South Carolina...And all ages! I met one women competing- 75 years old! I couldn't believe it. So when people say "Wow I can't believe you do those races!", I encourage them to bring out the inner-triathlete in them. Over 2000 women were registered. All these kids were there with signs saying "My Mom Rox!". I always get emotional, like "that's so sweet" emotional when I see that stuff. Jut like when I cry during "Extreme Home Makeover".

There is another event in Miami in a few weeks with the same race series, but I think the hubby needs a break from dragging my bike all over creation, waking up at 5:30am on a weekend, etc. The website is http://www.danskinwomenstri.com/.

Side note- I heart RueLala. Got my Lilly Pulitzer green seer sucker skirt in the mail today. Sure enough, the retail price wa $148 and I to it for $48!

Side note x 2- Getting psyched for my girl trip with my college roommate to Europe next month! June 19th marks my arrival in Switzerland! Sooo excited!!!

auf Wiedersehen!