• Amazing People,  Best Thing Ever,  Blessings,  Favorite Things,  Friends,  My Friends Have Mad Skillz,  Something That Could Change Your Life,  Spreading the Bloggie Love,  Too Funny To Ignore

    #BlogHer11: Third Time’s A Charm!

    August 11, 2011

    BlogHer ’11 was my third, and there was something magical about it for me (shut up). Okay, the first two times I attended BlogHer were pretty darn good too, but I had the most fun this year, perhaps partly because I didn’t overdo like I did last year. I don’t even know where to start with my recap so I just decided to spew randomness sprinkled with pictures. That’s organized enough, isn’t it? Favorite moments: (so many, and in no particular order!) 1. Lots of quality time with my favorite “really, really, really wish we were neighbors” Jersey girl, Liz. I luv huh. 2. Giggling with my roommates, especially each…

    Read More
  • Chicken in the Car,  Fun in Chicago,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    Chicago In A Day? There’s A Post For That.

    August 2, 2011

    People constantly ask me for recommendations for Chicago activities. I’m full of ideas, of course, having written a book about it, but let’s say that you are getting around to buying my book (you are, right?) and just need a couple of quick suggestions for a fun day trip in the city. I can help you there. In fact, I wrote a post about it, but it’s not here. It’s here (click that cute button!): So please go give me some love over there, would you? And speaking of Chicago (and really, when do I NOT?), my next post will be a recap of the breakfast D and I enjoyed…

    Read More
  • Amazing People,  Fun in Chicago,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    #BBSummit11: Great Conference, Great #BlogHer11 Warmup!

    July 18, 2011

    Over the weekend I attended the inaugural Midwest Moms Media Brands and Bloggers Summit, right here in Chicago. It was fantastic. Fantastic. BBSummit is a one-day conference meant to, as you can probably guess from its title, bring brands and bloggers together to talk about how we can all play in the same sandbox. It did that. The sold-out conference took place in one huge ballroom at the Doubletree Magnificent Mile, which was really nice. With 150 bloggers from all over the Midwest (and I think a couple flew in from other areas, too) seated at huge, round tables, we all experienced the same agenda all day. The sessions were:…

    Read More
  • Amazing People,  Best Thing Ever,  Blessings,  Chicken in the Car,  Favorite Things,  Food,  Friends,  Fun in Chicago,  I've Got Mad Skillz,  My Friends Have Mad Skillz,  Proud Moments,  Shameless Promotion,  Something That Could Change Your Life,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    My Official Book Launch: An Epic Celebration of All Things Chicago

    May 26, 2011

    I don’t even know where to start when it comes to summarizing my book launch event that occurred in the city on Tuesday night. I would love to tell you about everything, but I don’t want this post to be a novel and so I have to skip the fine points on: ~ all of the ideas I tossed around in my head starting about two months ago as this event was conceptualized ~ the great conversations (and epiphanies) I had with the ladies of my “Event Advisory Board” (I made up that name but it’s perfect), made up of friends who have experience with the ins and outs of…

    Read More
  • Something That Could Change Your Life,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    Blogger Love For Brandie

    May 17, 2011

    Sometimes, when we least expect it, life can throw a curveball. Most of them are things that can be dealt with quickly and easily. Some can completely blindside us, leaving us in shock for a while. When those happen, being supported by our loved ones, even though they may not be able to fix the problem, can help our spirit heal. The Chicago-based bloggers are a tight bunch, and we are rallying for one of our own today. Brandie from A Journey of 1000 Stitches Begins With Just One, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31 (she turned 32 yesterday). The speed with which something wrong…

    Read More
  • Amazing People,  Fun in Chicago,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    So, @thepioneerwoman Came To My Local Book Store Last Night…

    May 3, 2011

    I totally forgot that she was going to be signing books in my quaint little downtown book shop, due to the fact that I’m preparing for, ahem, my own book’s release next week. After I was reminded about her appearance by a dear, gifted friend, and considering the fact that I was mere minutes from being on my way to another store in my quaint little downtown, I made the snap decision to go, buy a couple of Ree’s books, and get them signed. Let me just say that going to a Pioneer Woman signing is a GREAT idea, but a better idea would be to plan to attend ahead…

    Read More
  • Friends,  Fun in Chicago,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    BlogHer ’11: The Year Of Fewer Parties and No Blisters

    March 7, 2011

    A couple of days ago, the arrival of the first invitation for an event happening the week of BlogHer ’11 (San Diego!) in AUGUST, five months from now, started excited heart palpitations (and in some cases, anxiety) among many bloggers. My good friend and BlogHer ’11 roomie Momo Fali wrote an excellent post today about her thoughts regarding events at this–or any–conference, and it made me want to share my thoughts and experiences, too. But first, go read Momo’s post, not only because it’s fabulous, but also because she explains how conference sponsorship for brands happens to work. I’ll still be here when you get back. Done? Great. Here’s what…

    Read More
  • Fun in Chicago,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    It May Not Be Spelled “Q-pon”, But That’s How I Say It.

    February 27, 2011

    I’ve jumped on the bandwagon, participating in a meme that’s making its way around the blogs, and it’s all about accents! Though I don’t think I have any accent at all, relative to the sweet sounds of the voice belonging to my favorite Jersey-girl and sis-tuh from ano-thuh mo-thuh Snooks Liz, or the citified inflections coming from my New Yawker friend Patty, or the adorable vocality of one of my oldest friends, Dawn, who hails from the northern tip of West Virginia, I decided to go ahead and record this just for giggles. And you just might do that (giggle), a lot. You’re welcome. I was joking when I said…

    Read More
  • Confessions,  Do I Really Want My Readers To Know This?,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    Double Dog Dare…Done.

    February 9, 2011

    I am very comfortable behind a camera. Though I still (Yes, STILL. Sigh.) use an old point and shoot camera whose left side is held together by hot pink duct tape, I take lots and lots of pictures. When I tell people that I went away for three days and took five hundred pictures, they are shocked, but that’s how it is: I’ve always tried to capture just about everything when I have my camera with me. Though I do hand the camera over to someone else so I can appear with my family in front of it (wouldn’t want the kids to think their mom was never around!), I’m…

    Read More
  • Friends,  I've Got Mad Skillz,  Spreading the Bloggie Love,  Too Funny To Ignore,  We Are An Awesome Couple,  Working On My Fitness

    Saturday Night Special: Embracing The Pain

    January 23, 2011

    Momo Fali is one of my bloggie besties. She is always a pleasure to talk to, whether it’s on the phone, on Facebook, on Twitter, or of course, in person. (And whether we’re speaking English OR French.) I adore her. My Momo and me The other night, we were on Twitter, having a discussion about her first day of boot camp and her reentry into a health and fitness plan. The conversation was just too good to leave there in the black hole of Twitter archives, so I preserved it in possibly one of the funniest things I’ve ever created. (Thanks for the comedy gold, Momo! And I made you…

    Read More