• Uncategorized

    Ugh.

    You know how you go to your parents’ house for Thanksgiving and you are happy to be able to use their WiFi like you’ve always done in the past but when you arrive you discover that while everyone else can get online with their laptops, YOU can’t get online–with your laptop OR your iPad–and you have work to do and a blog post to write but you end up having to do it on your phone, and then your phone freezes up because it’s a big jerk and then you have to borrow your husband’s laptop to get a crappy post published?? Yeah. UGH.

  • Review

    Get Some Pampering On Black Friday From Macy’s and Chevrolet!

    Many of you have big, big plans for Black Friday, trying to find some great holiday season deals. You might even be heading out to visit stores that open at midnight on Friday! If you’re anywhere near a Macy’s in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Boston, make sure you stop there first, and look for the hospitality stations which are co-sponsored by Macy’s and Chevrolet! “Chevrolet wants to acknowledge those who devote their time and energy to making the holiday season memorable for families and friends,” said Phil Caruso, national promotions manager for Chevrolet. “We’re excited to spend the holidays with an American icon like Macy’s.” 2013 Chevrolet Malibu…

  • Random Thoughts,  Travels

    Being There.

    I’m going to continue on the same travel thread that I started on Sunday. Well, sort of. Jim and I attended a fine arts fair a couple of months ago, when the weather was still comfortable enough for walking around outside and admiring artwork. Although the majority of the pottery, jewelry, and paintings was lovely, I was definitely attracted to the tents which housed the work of photographers. The sizes of the pieces ranged from 8″ X 10″ to oversized masterpieces that would look perfect over a couch, or even in a museum. The photograph subjects that were my favorite? No surprise: they were beautiful locations all around the world.…

  • Amazing People,  Jim Has Mad Skillz,  Review

    A Thanksgiving Love Letter

    I hope you enjoy this month’s thankful-themed contribution to Hallmark’s “Life Is A Special Occasion” campaign! Let me know in the comments who YOU’RE thankful for! As I have extensively documented here on Suburban Scrawl, I live a very full, blessed life. Though I know I make most of the choices that pertain to me and thus can claim lots of credit for the various things that happen in my life, I am well aware of the help I receive from others along the way: we don’t go through life alone. This month, Hallmark asked me to express my thanks to someone special, someone who has had an impact on…

  • Travels

    Wanderlust

    I’ve been thinking a lot about our 2010 family trip to Germany. This is partially due to the fact that I had a couple of our favorite pictures from that trip framed for our remodeled bathroom, and partially due to the fact that, well, fantasizing about another Germany trip is a part of my regular routine. I would love to go back there NOW. If I could, I would make my way around the entire country, mostly by train. Maybe I’d fly from Chicago to Hamburg first and see what’s going on up there in the north, because I’ve never been to that part of Germany. From Hamburg I’d probably…

  • Roxie

    Down Dog

    I’m using the NaBloPoMo “Get Out Of Jail Free” card–basically taking the easy way out and posting a picture–for today because I was at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair from early this morning until this afternoon, and then when I came home we went to see a movie, and now dinner is almost ready (Tonight’s meal plan? “Nacho Night! Nacho Night! Get excited: it’s Nacho Night!”), and then after dinner we’re playing Killer Bunnies (all of us, including D, who is home for Thanksgiving break). So you can see why I’m just asking you to enjoy this picture of Roxie in Down Dog.

  • Childhood Memories,  Food

    Hostess With The Mostess

    Today was a sad day in the snack cake world. The Hostess company (probably best known for Twinkies, Ho Hos, and Ding Dongs but also the home of other well-known brands) shut down after a union strike prevented the company from baking their various food products. The company had threatened to close down if the employees didn’t return to work by yesterday afternoon and ended up having to make good on its promise: it couldn’t financially handle another day of being in limbo. Of course, the worst news is the laying off of 18,500 workers. The second worst news is that, unless another company buys the Hostess brands and resumes…

  • Review

    Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Bow Ties Can Now Be Your Bow Ties.

    Remember back in September, how I told you that J’s workplace (The Tie Bar) has partnered with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his fiancee Justin Mikita, who founded an organization called Tie The Knot? I told you that Jesse was designing some bow ties and they would be sold through The Tie Bar, with all proceeds being donated to Tie The Knot in support of marriage equality. Heck, just read the post, which includes Jesse and Justin’s adorable promo video. ANYWAY, the launch party was in Los Angeles last night and it looks like it was quite the event. The founders of The Tie Bar (i.e. J’s bosses) were there, and…