Back when I was a senior in high school, I was on the yearbook staff. I can’t remember how many of us there were (I’m guessing twelve to fifteen) but we bonded quickly and worked together really well. Most of us worked in the yearbook workroom: we were the writers, designers, and section editors of the book. The ones who didn’t work in the yearbook workroom on a daily basis? Those were the photographers. They were out and about, taking the pictures for the yearbook and developing them in their darkroom. Yes, DARKROOM. As you may have guessed, this was well before digital was the norm: in fact our entire…
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The Cadillac ATS: Form AND Function
Back in February I was invited to attend the Chicago Auto Show as a guest of General Motors. While I was there, I happened to lay eyes upon what quickly became my dream car, the Cadillac ATS. The ATS that was on display at the auto show was red, which happens to be my favorite color. I mean, just look at it, would you? I have been thinking about this car ever since. Over the summer, this awesome video was released by Cadillac. They are using part of it in the current 30-second ATS commercial, but you really have to watch the whole thing to get the full effect: You…
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Happy 5th Anniversary, The Dailey Method Naperville!
If you’re been reading Suburban Scrawl over the past four months, you probably already know that I fell head-over-heels in love this summer with The Dailey Method workout. (My most recent update post is HERE.) I am not kidding you when I say that The Dailey Method (specifically the Naperville location) has changed my life. In four months. (Less, actually, because I felt the life change in the first thirty days!) Between the workouts that challenge me dailEy (
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Leafing Another Era Behind…Gladly.
I hope you enjoy this month’s contribution to Hallmark’s “Life Is A Special Occasion” campaign! (Perhaps you should grab a cup of hot cider, and possibly a sedative. This post is about puberty.) I have found that I mentally divvy up the lives of both of my boys into neat little “eras”. It’s easier for me to keep the details of their respective childhood experiences straight if I can associate what I’m trying to remember with the circumstances of a specific period of time. Lucky for my tired brain, they have always been vastly different people and each of them have a unique set of eras, with only two exceptions.…
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The Dailey Method: An Update For Hy! (And You.)
One of my friends (Hyacynth) asked me a couple of days ago if I have written a post recently about how my workouts at The Dailey Method are going. I have not, and thought that it was a great suggestion. Back in the summer (from mid-June to mid-July) I participated in a blogger review program of The Dailey Method. I wrote three posts about my experience: Post 1 is the one in which I wrote about what The Dailey Method IS along with how my first class went. Post 2 is about how I became hopelessly addicted to The Dailey Method, along with an interview I did with the owners…
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Chicago Cutlery DesignPro: On The Cutting Edge!
Last week I had the pleasure of attending an event at the Merchandise Mart location of The Chopping Block in honor of the Chicago Cutlery DesignPro line of knives. When I received the invitation from Mom Central I was excited for two main reasons: 1. I have attended a couple of events at The Chopping Block and they are fun and well put-together. 2. I have really old, cheap knives that are in terrible shape but learning about new knives is something I’ve always been too lazy to take on, so this event would be the kick I needed. When I arrived, I got excited for another reason: we would…
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Tie The Knot and The Tie Bar Sittin’ In A Tree…
This just in… “Modern Family’s” Jesse Tyler Ferguson (along with his fiance’ Justin Mikita) has just launched a foundation called Tie The Knot. They are partnering with The Tie Bar (which, ahem, also happens to be the workplace of my son J) and will launch a collection of ties designed by Jesse around Thanksgiving. The proceeds from the ties will be divided among several organizations that advocate for equal rights in the LGBT community, including, of course, Marriage Equality. I think this is the perfect partnership! Before I go on, check out this ADORABLE video: “Like” Tie The Knot and The Tie Bar on Facebook (and follow them on Twitter…
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Come On, Eat! (Or Not.)
I hope you enjoy this month’s contribution to Hallmark’s “Life Is A Special Occasion” campaign! (Go grab a snack. It’ll enhance your experience.) These days, dinner around this house goes pretty smoothly. Someone does the cooking, calls everyone to the table, and, well, we eat. Conversation goes on throughout the meal, and then when we’re all done–because nobody leaves the table until everyone else is finished eating–everyone helps to clear the table and then a couple of us (but not the one who cooked) do the dishes. It hasn’t always been that way, mind you. Mealtime around here used to be stressful when the boys were little. In addition to…
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Xanadu At Drury Lane: Magic!
Back in August of 1980 I was eleven years old and really excited to see a new movie starring Olivia Newton John, “Xanadu”. I had enjoyed her music for a long time but after seeing her in “Grease”, I was a Superfan. Perhaps my Superfan status is the reason why, when most of the general public thought that “Xanadu” was one of the worst movies ever*, I (and my sister, too) fell head over heels in love with it. I loved the plot, the Greek mythology elements, the music, the wardrobe (even the legwarmers), all of it. I mean, come ON. Look at this and tell me that you aren’t…
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Chatting With Katie Cazorla About Nail Files Season 2!
I had so much fun on Wednesday. I know, you’re all like, “You seem to have fun all the time, Melisa! Geez!” Or something like that. But for real, I had so much fun on Wednesday because I got the opportunity to interview Katie Cazorla, owner of The Painted Nail salon in Los Angeles and the star of “Nail Files”, a reality tv show on the TV Guide network. When I received an invitation to interview Katie during her media tour stop in Chicago this week (to promote the second season of “Nail Files”), I couldn’t believe what a great fit this was. They approached me because of my blog,…