I love the John Hancock building. I love its location at the north end of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile (that’s the famous shopping area on Michigan Avenue). I love its structural expressionist style and the architects’ use of X-bracing on the exterior so that the building could be taller with wide open floor plans. I love the restaurants and shopping at the base. The Signature Room on the 95th floor is where my family has celebrated some of our most special occasions. And of course, I love the Observatory. Located on the 94th floor, the John Hancock Observatory (JHO) provides Chicago’s best lake view and on a clear day you can…
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Sporty, Luxurious, Electric, Family Time at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show!
I venture to say that a day spent around (and in) shiny, colorful, beautiful new cars is enough to put a smile on most people’s faces. I know that I had a great time last last week when I was invited by General Motors to attend the Chicago Auto Show as a part of Social Media Day (Kudos to the organizers of the Chicago Auto Show, by the way, for recognizing the power of social media!). I had some great experiences and learned some interesting things there, starting with what I heard during our breakfast. The room was full of us social media types as well as Chevy Volt owners,…
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Go Red Girls’ Night Out In Chicago, Take Two!
You’re going to be seeing a lot about Go Red For Women this month. Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s campaign to bring attention to heart disease in women. (Tomorrow, February 3, is “National Wear Red Day”!) I have been asked to share information with you (in exchange for a complimentary ticket) about the Go Red For Women Girls’ Night Out in Chicago on Wednesday, February 29. It will be a night of shopping, fashion, food, and mini spa treatments (not to mention cocktails by Spicebox Whiskey and Lulu B) at the Alhambra Palace restaurant from 7-10 p.m. Guests are asked to bring a gently used purse…
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Reframing The Mundane: Every Day I’m Shufflin”
Something that many people–probably fortunately–don’t know about me is that I’m a very musical person. I hum or sing to myself constantly. I sing in the car. I hum in the shower. I “la la la” as I maneuver my car into a parking space. I sing ridiculous songs to my dog. And I dance. I love to dance. Seriously. I’m not just talking about the Chicken Dance, either. Though I am the first person on the dance floor at any reception when I hear the first notes of the Chicken Dance or any of the following: ~ The Electric Slide ~ YMCA ~ The Cha Cha Slide ~ Hava…
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Presents For Everyone At Walgreens…Including Myself!
Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.walgreens.com/beauty. True story: Last night I ran out of sour cream just as I was making Ambrosia Fruit Salad. Luckily, I have a Walgreens only a few minutes from my house (I’m there ALL THE TIME. Seriously.) and they just happen to carry sour cream. Upon entering the store, I decided that there was no time like the present to purposefully check out what Walgreens currently has to offer in the way of beauty products (rather than just going in and making a beeline for…
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Social RevUp And Cadillac: How We Roll.
Back in September, I shared the exciting news that I was partnering with MJ Tam and Dwana De LaCerna to create Social RevUp, a company committed to connecting brands and bloggers through customized events as well as the Brands and Bloggers Summit, a conference that will be held on July 21, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago. We had a Social RevUp launch party in late October that was really fun, and a great way to step “into the scene” together. Then things got quiet for the month of November as we worked behind the scenes on the BBSummit and a few other things we have coming down…
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Suburban Scrawl Drives A Chevy Suburban
NOW we’re talking, people. Now we’re talking. After all of the Chevrolet vehicles I have test-driven and reviewed in the past year (ahem, the Traverse, the Cruze, the Tahoe, the Volt, and the Sonic), I discovered that the one I drove over Thanksgiving weekend, the 2011 Chevy SUBURBAN, is the one I like the best. That’s saying a lot, too, because I really liked every single one of the other vehicles. But this one? Love. I even love the name: there’s something pretty spectacular about it…Suburban. Get it? Suburban? Suburban Scrawl? No worries. It was pointed out to me, too. Anyway, the lovely folks at Chevy were kind enough to…
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Chicago’s National Hellenic Museum Officially Opens!
I’m not Greek (but what a funny reveal that would be, after having blogged for more than four years, don’t you think?), but I have been an avid fan of Greek Mythology (did you know THAT?) since I picked up D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths in fifth grade and–unrelated–when my family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee for a few years, I became very good friends with an eighth-grade classmate who was (and is) Greek. After I met him, my family attended his church’s annual Greek Festival. I adored this event. It was full of food, dancing, and music. My friend occasionally did some of the Greek dance performances, and I thought…
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The Brits Are Coming! Very.com Hits The U.S.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times: I have a foreign fetish, especially when it comes to two countries in particular. England is one of them. My fascination started with the royals back in the Charles and Di days but gradually spread to other areas as well, like Duran Duran and the others who were a part of the ’80s British Invasion. As an adult, I finally got to England for my first time in 2006 and would love to go back NOW. British fashion? Never thought much about it. HOWEVER, that was before I had heard of Very.com. Very.com, a British company now accessible to…
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2012 Chevy Sonic: The Review
I am no car expert by any means, but I know what I like and what I don’t like. As the type of person who is on the go constantly, important elements of a car–for me–include comfort and reliability first, above anything else. Spending lots of time in my car means that the interior features become pretty high on the priority list too. I was recently asked if I wanted to try out the 2012 Chevy Sonic, fresh off the assembly line. Um, yes please! The Sonic, Chevy’s new subcompact model, has replaced the Aveo…and replaced it WELL. It is an adorable, spunky little car and very fun to drive,…