Wknd Movie Rental Recos

and

I really loved these two movies. Hope you also enjoy :)

Happy Chinese New Year!

Not gonna lie, January was here-n-gone and it just didn't start the year off as I'd hoped. So as of today, I'm starting over. Please feel free to join :)

Take two! 
(Or more like "Take 32" if you're me)

According to the Chinese zodiac, 
2014 is the year of the Horse; 
and I'm all in!*

*This has nothing to do with my overt obsession with the Palio, but it certainly doesn't hurt the situation. And I digress, per usual...

Characteristics of the Horse that I admire: 

A straightforward and positive attitude towards life. 

Free spirited, wild, willful, and independent. 

Animated, active and energetic.

Loves being in a crowd.

They say those born during a Horse year are known for their communication skills and are exceedingly witty.

The Horse year is about freedom, returning to nature, enjoying life and life’s adventures.

I say, sign me up! 

When do we start?

Oh yeah, today :)

HAPPY (NEW) NEW YEAR, FRIENDS

Sunrise over Lighthouse Beach

Evanston, IL | 6:35am

Note to self: 

Add this to the next BEAUTIFUL THINGS edition

That's So Cheddar

If you are a fellow cheese lover, please be sure 

to check out one of my besties newest blog,

THAT'S SO CHEDDAR

LOVE :)

Happy Birthday, Grammy!

Today you would have been 96

I think of you more often than not,

and miss you dearly with each passing day.

Things That Are "Things"

Somewhere along the line, things become things.
Like the snuggie or the selfie. Like tweeting or twerking.

You catch wind of these breezy bits and tilt your head like a confused puppy to be all like, “Wait, whaaa -- is that really a thing?” And even your bestie, who lives life under a rock, bites his lower lip and unabashedly says, “Yeah, that’s definitely a thing.”

Some things are agenda setters and live short, in-your-face, shelf lives; while other things may go undiscussed and fly under the radar for years.  Some things are only things for some people. Things I’ll never subscribe to. Like marathon training or diets that don't allow for the mass consumption of Portillo's cheese fries (to think of two off the top of my head).

And with that, I welcome you to my first monthly edition of
{insert drum roll here}
THINGS THAT ARE THINGS

***

THINGS THAT ARE IN-YOUR-FACE THINGS

The rise of women rockin’ Elmer Fudd hats this Winter

Earth Science: The Comeback Kid

Thanks, Polar Vortex!

Some bully recently calling me a "tweetard" because I’m not all that active on Twitter.  Apparently this is a thing. Apparently even badgers can now twit. For reals.

Red Wine Rosacea

Suppose I shouldn't categorize this one under "in your face" (per se) as it is literally in your face. Tomato, tomahtoe. Whatever, it's a thing.

THINGS THAT ARE THINGS BEING TALKED ABOUT AT A WHISPER

Somewhere along the line, I got old.  Like, as in “the music’s too loud in here” and “let’s meet for dinner at 6pm” kinda old.

Somewhere along the line, conversations about paying to keep your child’s cord blood and freezing your eggs are apparently appropriate topics to talk about at a bar kinda old.  

This is 32…

THINGS I HAVE TO GOOGLE SO TO DECODE MY FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM NEWS FEEDS

#FOMO (Fear of missing out)
#YOLO (You only live once)
#POTUS (The Prez)

- WDYMBT? (What did you mean by that?)

- HIWTH (Hate it when that happens)

- "It's like GPS if you’re DTF" (aka: Tinder)

- MTFBWY (May the force be with you)

What do I have to say to all the above?

Meh!  While you do hashtags, I eat hashbrowns :)

BEAUTIFUL THINGS

My continued obsession with baby otters...

Now that's a beautiful thing!

THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE OTHER THINGS
(aka: THINGS I WANT TO JUSTIFY OWNING)

Ummmm, YESSS!

More, please.

Thank You :)

WAIT, WHAAA – THAT’S A THING???

Oy vey, this winter has reached a record low :(

THINGS THAT AREN’T THINGS…YET

3D car washes

(This.will.happen!)

Paddle Through

Makin' the most of the Winter weather with a paddle party :)

Brilliant

Hot Cereal Man

My buddy Bill is at it again!

And this year, even the Red Eye is talking about it :)

Have you gotten your copy of the 2014 

Hot Cereal Man Calendar yet?

DO IT TO IT, PEEPS!

 

2014 Fenn Valley Chili Awesomeness

My most favorite weekend of the Winter 
has come and gone once more. Sigh.

I not-so-secretly wish everyday 
could be chili cook-off!

This year we entered chili into two categories: 

and

This guy, Bob, entered into the Exotic category with a Moose chili. He told me at length about his hunting trip when he shot the moose up North this past Fall. 

  

The appetizers and desserts were a plenty,

 and I'm still in awe of some of the recipes. 

This "Venison & Coffee" chili concoction 
took home a 1st place prize. 

The judges take their job seriously as this is kinda a big deal. And by "kinda", I mean a SUPER SERIOUSLY BIG FUCKING DEAL! The Fenn Valley Chili Cook-Off is no joke, people!

Teams make shirts:  

 and The Trace rocks out for hours

Your tastebuds experience nirvana,

 and the wine is made on sight. 

WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE?!?!

 LOVE

   

Counting down the days 'til next MLK wknd :)

CONGRATS, TINA!

For the second year in a row, we just so happen to sit directly next to the Chili Cook-Off Queen :)

Karen Todd handed over the crown and high-five-ing strangers was entirely acceptable for a full five minutes.

I can only imagine how Tina felt 

given the fact that I.was.in.heaven!

YAHOOOOOO FOR YOU :)