As I am typing this post out—pecking one letter at a time because I’m using my iPad—I’m some 30,000 feet in the air (give or take), on my way home from the BlogHer conference in New York City. I have so many stories to share with you and will do so over the next few days as I regain my bearings (and, let’s be honest, detox), but since it’s been six days since my last post I wanted to use some of my flight time to check in and say hello. It was a very emotional weekend for me. I was with some of my very best friends, which is…
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#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…
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Grandma’s Desert Rose
Last week, we got busy with the demolition of our old bathtub in preparation for the plumber, who was coming to install the new bathtub. Have you ever demoed a cast iron bathtub? It’s not for sissies. But that’s a story for another day. I promise. Anyway, with all of the pounding and wall-shaking that resulted from our first attempt at the demo (you read that correctly: FIRST attempt), I thought it might behoove us to remove the dishes from the kitchen cabinets, which are on the other side of the wall from the bathtub. The cabinets containing our everyday dishes (an homage to our time in Knoxville, Tennessee, just…
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Best Friends Forever!
As of late I don’t really write too much about what I’m watching on television, but today I’m making an exception because I’m trying to do my little itty bitty part to help save a fantastic show that really wasn’t given a chance: NBC’s “Best Friends Forever”. The show, which was canceled after just four episodes and VERY little promotion by NBC (because they were probably too busy promoting another show that has a one-word title–also the first name of its star–which I will not name but tried to watch once and couldn’t even stick with it for more than half an episode because I couldn’t take it anymore), is…
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Finally, The Popularity of the Reality TV Genre Is Explained.
I’m turning on a dime today, switching gears and providing the reason why reality television is so popular. You’re welcome. But first, go back in time with me, will you? The road is long and winding. Billy Joel’s “My Life” came on the radio yesterday. Every time I hear that song I think of the early 80s Tom Hanks/Peter Scolari sitcom “Bosom Buddies”, because a version of “My Life” was used as the theme song: I adored that show. The premise is arguably ridiculous: two guys who dress in drag (and take on the names Buffy and Hildegard) in order to live in a women’s-only building, and everyone other than…
- Blessings, Childhood Memories, Family Fun, Favorite Things, Food, I've Got Mad Skillz, My Kid Has Mad Skillz, My Mom Has Mad Skillz, Review
Birthday Traditions: Make A Cake And Eat It, Too.
A couple of weeks ago we celebrated J’s 17th birthday. SEVENTEEN. As in, “My younger–and last born–son is seventeen.” It would be really hard for me to believe if there weren’t a trail of rainbow-colored crumbs all over our family photo albums*. You see, around here birthdays mean one thing: beautifully decorated rainbow cakes (the insides are tinted in various colors). It’s a tradition my mom started, and what I love about it is the thought that goes into it, resulting in the birthday honoree feeling extra special. I remember how creative my mom was with birthday cakes when we were kids. Over the years, she made me a Holly…
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Jumping On The Bandwagon: My 2011 Wrap Up
I figured that the best way for me to end the year would be to follow the lead of so many others and post a wrap-up of the year here at Suburban Scrawl. The year started off with a bang in January, when I got the life-changing news that my Chicago family travel guide would indeed be published. (Ahem, get it on Amazon by clicking here!) (And tell your friends!) (Thanks!) January was also the month in which I had a gut-busting twitter conversation with my friend Momofali that was too good to NOT make into a cartoon. The results were hilarious. In February I reflected upon J’s seemingly natural…
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Hanukkah Gift Idea (If You’re Shopping For Me)
Every single time I walk by Atlas Galleries on Michigan Avenue, this painting stares at me, begging me to buy it and bring it home. It is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world. The name of it is “The Windy City” and the artist who created it is J. Scott Nicol. If you have an extra $1,299 taking up space in your wallet, please consider giving this masterpiece an excellent new home…with me. Want to make this a long-term commitment? Please subscribe to my feed by clicking here.
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Magdalene in September
Remember how I showed you my three favorite sculptures in the city of Chicago? I went back to take a new picture of Magdalene yesterday so you could see her full skirt, freshly grown for autumn. Soon? She will bloom.
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My Trainer, Bob.
So… The Biggest Loser. I am a Biggest Loser fan. Since day one, actually. My mention of the show probably won’t sit well with everyone: it usually doesn’t. I’ve participated in many debates over the years–in real life and on Facebook–about whether the show and the people behind it are “right” or “wrong”. It seems to me that there are just a few types of people, where viewing the show is concerned: 1. I have seen it and think it’s amazing and inspiring. 2. I have seen it and think it’s not only ridiculous but sends the wrong message. 3. I haven’t seen it. I am, of course, part of…