Conversations from the water cooler: April

The Most Absurd Things recently overheard around the workplace this month:

"Sheila Lamb [our new client, the Matt Lamb-Dali Museum] has 62 of her own personal paintings hanging in the Vatican Museum." – My boss

"Viagra: from the laundry room to the beach!" – Maura, my colleague's very own tagline for Viagra, loosely based on a recent television commercial. It's pretty self-explanatory even if you haven't seen it.

"That's a lot of nappy nappiness on that piece of nap." – John, my colleague referring to a fuzzy velcro dot fastener on a new product packaging we created.

"If you can't eat it or fuck it, then men won't be interested." – Our new client, Matt Lamb, the artist.

"What does the 'K&K' in our partner K&K Foods stand for? Is it A) Konfucious & Karma; B) Karate & Kung Fu; C) Katherine & Kelly; D) Khaos & Konfusion? Answer: Moses Lee, OSI's partner and CEO of K&K Foods Taiwan named the company after his two daughters. After the birth of their third daughter "Kimberley", Moses considered changing the company name to KKK, but realized that might not be a good idea..." – PowerPoint presentation I'm putting together for a global managers conference we're running. Hey, I don't write the stuff.

"I met a man today who didn't speak for 17 years." – My boss, referring to a keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Earth Day Conference hosted by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. I guess he finally broke his silence.

Sheila Lamb's private artwork collection, gifted to my boss.

A Night in Monaco photoboothlive pix

I am doing everything in my power not to explode aloud with laughter at work, but I just saw these ridiculous pictures online from the CS Magazine/Mercedes-Benz "A Night in Monaco" event. P.S. What the heck is that shark thing??

Take me out to the ball game

The Fella and I at tonight's Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals baseball game.

I had a major revelation the other day that changed my whole, little world.

I've finally figured out that you don't actually need to buy tickets to go to Cubs baseball games – the key is to find ways to get 'em for free!

Thinking back in retrospect, I've attended five Cubs games in my three years in Chi-town – not too shabby for a non-baseball enthusiast. I only paid for ONE of those games. (That was because I had just moved here and didn't know any better!) Today a patient gave The Fella last-minute tickets to tonight's game against the Washington Nationals. It was a very cold, very windy night (cold enough to break out my Uniqlo heat-activating thermal shirt, a cashmere sweater, scarf, hat, gloves, wool coat and boots) – and not to mention – as my friend H incredulously pointed out: "AND you're missing Glee!". I can't believe I agreed to the game tonight.

Nevertheless, armed with a cup of Hot Chocolate (actually more like Warm Chocolate) purchased from a stadium vendor as he coasted through the aisles, I Facebook'd from my mobile while listening to the sounds of the game. If you ask me, that's really the best part of this sport (the sounds, not the Facebooking). That, and the Ball Park hot dogs with a little bit of onion and relish. But the *best* part of the night was spending time with The Fella, which is something we've had very little of together this month due to our differing schedules.

"Relaxed Feet" at tonight's game – but obviously a very cold night as I'm sporting my red Hunter Wellies and corresponding pink fleece socks.

Apparently the world of marketing and printing is a good avenue to scoring free Cubs tix: baseball outings in Chicago are like what golfing does for business relationships everywhere else. Last year, a print vendor trying to renew the relationship with my company gave me free tickets to the Cubs vs. NY Mets game. Sometimes it's good to be Production Manager! It was a beautiful late summer day, with more than decent Upper Deck seats right next to the cameraman. If you saw me on TV, yes, I'm that girl ducking from the foul balls!

Cubs vs. NY Mets, August 2009 – what else, but the famous "Relaxed Feet" shot??

Not too long after that, in the fall of 2009, I was asked to wine and dine our new "big fish" client. Sure, why not! The VP bought me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don't care if I never get back! Oh wait. Five hours later, three foul balls, two Ball Park hot dogs, one Connie's Pizza, and the client was smitten.

Cubs vs. Phillies game. Me with the OSI Group in their
sweet Lower Level season ticket seats.

Me, on the Wrigley Rooftop at the Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – it's official, I have an Access Pass!

In 2008, I was invited by my neighbor to attend an event on one of the coveted Wrigley Rooftops, where I enjoyed unobstructed, 360 degree views of the field and stadium, private bleacher seating, unlimited food and drinks. Rooftop tickets usually go for $100 or more. (Too bad I'm not so much a fan of that neighbor these days – it's ok for me to say this because the feeling is mutual, I'm sure.)

I may not be a baseball fanatic, but Cubs games at Wrigley Field sure are a fun experience – it's like a big party with baseball in the background!

Now I have my sights set on another print vendor who has hinted at late spring tix...

Food Revolution: week 5 update

I'm only into Week 5 of my Food Revolution and I fell off the breakfast wagon. With a thud. I couldn't resist having leftover More cupcakes all last weekend long for breakfast that I bought for our 3 year anniversary, tsk tsk.

(Left to Right, clockwise) Coconut, Signature "More", Red Velvet, Chocolate Champagne

Because of this, I tried especially to stick to my breakfast vows during the work week, and I like to think that this helped to make up for what I lacked in willpower over the weekend. Here follows a weekly progress update of my "Food Revolution":

(1) Reduce the number of canned meals I eat for lunch. 5-0 Jamie!

• Monday: Orzo with garlic, touch of creme fraiche and lemon juice, with baked tilapia and broccoli.
• Tuesday: Repeat leftovers of Monday's lunch, but with a different spiced tilapia.
  
• Wednesday: Green Garden Soup (a blend of asparagus, sweet pea, green onion, garlic, onion, chicken, oyster mushroom, broth, creme fraiche and lemon), and a side of boiled potatoes.
• Thursday: Linguine with meat sauce and string green beans.
  
• Friday: Linguine with meat sauce and baked spiced tilapia with Green Garden Soup on the side.
  

(2) Eat breakfast. Or at least just eat something in the morning.

• Monday: 1 mini banana muffin my intern brought in from Whole Foods – if it's from WF, it must be good for me!
  
• Tuesday: Spicy Cheddar Bagel with house-made cream cheese from American Bagel while on my press check in the 'burbs. Commuting = thumbs down. Free food = thumbs up!
  
• Wednesday: 2 mini banana muffins.
• Thursday: Frosted Mini Wheats, dry. I ran out of milk.
  
• Friday: Mini bagel with whipped cream cheese.
  

Note to self: Next challenge will be to eat a healthier breakfast once I conquer the "eat-something-in-the-morning" concept first.

Extreme home relaxation

I was really excited to do absolutely nothing on this Friday night. Hello, weekend!

After a long week of working late, scurrying home to take care of the dog, heading back out to one event or another, and being surrounded by people, I welcomed the idea of extreme relaxation. The Fella was going to be home late from a national conference, and I was content to just be by myself (and the dog, of course).

And so I spent three solid hours of hyper multi-tasking and obsessive flipping between the TV and Hulu.com, somehow managing to watch a repeat of this week's Glee Madonna episode, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, two Modern Familys, The Office, read a chapter of Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose, play with the dog, organize my incredibly extensive iPhoto library, answer four work emails, three personal emails, and blog.

The truth was, all this productivity was quite relaxing in a non-traditional sense. It feels good to finally be able to do whatever I wanted for myself, or nothing at all.

Look at what I came across when organizing my iPhoto library tonight! This is the very first picture we have of Baby FurFur, taken on the day we brought her home from the shelter. It was discreetly snapped with The Fella's phone instead of my camera because I was afraid to scare her with a loud, foreign object any more than she already was.

(Carnation) milk. it's good for you.

Today I am meeting with one of the Carnation (brand) family about private wealth management for Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (yes, there are those people who are actually called that). Me. Wealth management? This should be *interesting*.

What the heck do I know about generational wealth management? I guess I'll learn.

One thing I do know, I sure love Carnation condensed milk! In fact, I have a can of it in the office right now.

Stuart Lucas's book about wealth management on my desk at work – I sure hope I take away some insider tips from this project!

A Night in Monaco

It's not every night that I get to sip cocktails while watching a runway fashion show.

With two girlfriends in tow, sporting swanky frocks and jewels, I attended A Night in Monaco, a letterpressed invite-only event hosted tonight by CS Magazine to celebrate the grand opening of the Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz dealership. It was transformed into a veritable club atmosphere with spotlights and imported cars lining North Avenue waiting impatiently for valet. This was exactly the kind of night I had hoped for: passed hors 'doeuvres, caviar, champagne, even a novelty photo booth chock full of feathery, inflatable, and sparkly props to get crazy in!

A spring fashion show topped off the event with a hint of a classic car theme and 1920s Frenchie vibe: driving gloves, wild convertible hair. Capes. (My newest obsession!)

Dress code was "Jacket & Jewels", but most women were in high-fashion, high-octane scraps of material. I haven't seen more Beautiful People overflowing in one room since Miami.

Um, yes, please!

(Left) Ivory two-piece swimsuit with silk wrap jacket by Agga B.; (Right) Markus Lupfer black and white stripe dress with gold shoulder embellishment

Black cropped leather jacket, chiffon nude top by Yigal Azrouel

We boogied a little to live tunes at the after party which raged on long after we left. Fortunately, I didn't have to add to the overworked valet guy – just a mere hop, skip, and jump away across the street, schwag bag in arm, and I left the French Riviera for home sweet home.

Blogosphere of boredom

I've been tasked (yet again) to contribute to my company's blog on our website. KILL ME. I absolutely despise this. In fact, I cringe whenever we have our weekly Genius League meetings and the word "blog" is inevitably uttered by my boss because I know I'm about to be assigned yet another tragic subject matter. (Not to mention that my last three submissions were rejected on account of changes to the scope after the fact, so I'm that much more P.O.'d by this time-sucker of an extracurricular activity.)

Sometimes I still chuckle at the irony in whatever-on-earth motivated me to start up my own personal blog. Blogging for someone else is not the same as blogging for yourself, where the sky is the limit and blog topics are not under constant surveillance. I'm free as a bird to blog about what interests me and to present my P.O.V. to the world.

This is not the case when it comes to blogging for my work. I've been assigned the category of – wait for it – PRINTING! (It's quite dry, if you ask me, and I'm the Production Manager.) Not only do I have to find interesting ways to blog about the differences in printing methods and technique, I have to do it within the tone of our corporate voice. You know what that means. CONSERVATIVE. Is this a double-hitter for boredom, or what?

Have I been set up to fail by my very own boss?

Happiness in a box

You know that giddy feeling of anticipation you get when an unexpected package comes in the mail for you? Well, that's the feeling I got today when a Zappos delivery arrived for me at the office!

I couldn't recall ordering any shoes recently (but darn, I sure wish I had!), so you can imagine my surprise and delight when I opened the package to find Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose, a new book by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh. Not just one advance copy, but TWO!

I had completely forgotten that I entered a giveaway to receive an advance reading copy, if I promised to post an honest review of the book on my blog, and also tweet, on the book's launch date of June 7th. You know, you mindlessly enter these things, but you never ever win because, really, what are the odds, and so you just forget about it. (Like the time I didn't win Bon Appetit's giveaway of a Zojirushi Heat Induction Rice Cooker, or the other time I didn't get the Humane Society's Swag Bag – hey, Twitter makes it real easy to get a constant feed of running promotions). Well this time actually paid off!

I'm excited to start reading Tony's book. Call it what you will – self help, inspiration, whatever – if what's inside will give me the keys to the kingdom, then I'm game! Thank you, Tony, for delivering happiness in a box to me today!

The glass castle

This might be the last picture ever taken of Book Club in its current state (plus 1 out-of-towner). L is moving back to North Carolina, A will have a newborn baby next month, and hopefully, M doesn't leave me for L.A.!

This month's Book Club @ M's in a nutshell:

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls drew a philosophical discussion about child-rearing and parental selfishness which eventually veered off onto a tangent about old crushes and how we met our better halves. Like with all Book Clubs, M's menu was fabulous. In her words: "2 kinds of pasta, rosemary rolls, salad with balsamic, chocolate muffins, cookies. Diet, schmiet."

Um, yes, please!

Fish condo by Teddy Luong

How ridiculous slash awesome is this fish condo by Teddy Luong? I think my betta Uzumaki 2.0 would rather like city living (or shall I say city swimming?).

I WANT!

Awesome Food: Mado

Thank you, Groupon! Because someone had the smarts to invent this awesome idea of featuring cool things to do at an unbeatable price – delivered each day to my inbox – I've had a few opportunities to dine at top Chicago restaurants for a fraction of the normal price, which makes the experience all the more delightful!

Using my Groupon, this weekend The Fella and I checked out Mado, a farm-to-table concept restaurant in Wicker Park that has joined the slow-food movement supporting communal dining and local ingredients from Midwest farms. I've been *dying* to go here ever since I read positive reviews and buzz in foodie magazines like Bon Appetit, who named Mado as one of 2009's Top Ten Best New Restaurants in America.

Perfectly Roasted Carrots with Ras El Hanout Goat Cheese, Pistachios, and
Cumin Honey. I am not normally a fan of goat cheese, but this was mild and
so incredibly creamy that it practically melts in your mouth.

Fried "Scrapple" (pork scraps and polenta) with Swiss Chard and Shaved Turnip

The Fella's entree: Wood-Grilled Hanger Steak with Gorgonzola Polenta

Food Revolution: week 4 update

A message from my friend, V, today: "Because of your blog, I started eating breakfast in the mornings too. It really has changed my eating habits all day!"

I started my Food Revolution as a personal challenge to change my eating habits for the long-term. It is just an added bonus that I have made even an ounce of impact or awareness on someone else. Keep it up, V!

Here follows a weekly progress update of my "Food Revolution":

(1) Reduce the number of canned meals I eat for lunch. 3.5-0 Jamie. I caved on Wednesday and partially on Friday. On Wednesday I gave into temptation and had a 1/2 can of German Potatoes. I know, canned potatoes? Sounds gross, but one day I was curious (and hungry while grocery shopping, BIG mistake) that I tossed in a can of these canned German Potatoes to try – and it was astonishingly delicious! Vinegar, bacon bits, and potatoes that pretty much taste fresh...mmm! Hey, don't judge. This was supplemented by a small portion of leftovers from a healthy, homemade meal.

On Friday I grabbed one of The Fella's frozen dinners to go. Frozen meals were never my weakness the way canned goods are (for whatever inexplicable reason), but it was on this Friday I had a revelation. It's because the cheap-o Banquet brand that I always purchase on sale for The Fella is nowhere near as good as the more pricey Marie Callander. This revelation could be my downfall. While frozen meals are not technically part of my Food Revolution rules against canned foods, I am going to guess Jamie Oliver wouldn't look kindly on me.

(2) Eat breakfast. Or at least just eat something in the morning.

• Monday: Frosted Mini Wheats with 1% Milk.
  
• Tuesday: Frosted Mini Wheats with 1% Milk.
• Wednesday: Can't recall what I ate, but I am sure I had something.
• Thursday: Coffee at my press check. It's all they had. But in my defense, I only used a teaspoon of sugar (because they ran out) as opposed to my normal 3 tablespoons.
  
• Friday: Frosted Mini Wheats with 1% Milk.

I really must branch out from the Frosted Mini Wheats next week...

Won't you (NOT) be my neighbor?

I sold my soul to acquire this vintage table from my Hitler-loving war vet neighbor.

Ever since the old war vet who lives a few houses down yelled nonsensical, unintelligible rantings masked by a thick accent at me from across the street when I was at the dog park, I've always steered clear of him, his fortified Turkish bath house complete with a gated dungeon, and his skulking tiger-striped bull mastiff as much as possible. At first I couldn't understand one garbled raving that came out of him, but the little that I could finally decipher – "You no good" "yellow" "grrr" – made me pretty sure he wasn't complimenting my looks or my dog.

Despite all that, I actually felt a little sorry for him. Sad, even. I can somewhat understand that he must have endured and suffered the horrors of the Korean War (I saw his hat and jacket emblazoned with it). To an extent. Not that it excuses his racist behavior, but it somewhat helps to explain his actions. To an extent. I even convinced myself that maybe he's actually just a senile old man who is prone to on and off moments, and that maybe I caught him during an off moment that one time. Maybe he just didn't realize what he was saying. After all, he *did* walk right past me yesterday when I was stoop-sitting with FurFur without looking at me or saying anything discriminatory.

Like I said, I felt a little sorry for this introverted, old war vet. Until today.

I was anxiously awaiting the Cubs game to wrap up (1 more inning) so that I could send The Fella to the vet's weekend garage sale and anonymously buy me the vintage end table and French wine box I saw while passing by earlier. (I didn't dare set foot in his dungeon. Is it wrong that the thrill of obtaining worldly treasures trumps my overarching values?) Twenty minutes later, The Fella runs back home with my purchases in hand, saying, "You were right. He *is* a Nazi."

And here follows a rundown of their conversation. In only twenty minutes time we learned THIS much:

Vet: "Do you live in this neighborhood?"
The Fella: "Yes, not far."
Vet: "Good, we need more of our people around here. This neighborhood used to be overrun with black people! I would chase them away with my guns. Why do they call them African-American? They're Africans, they're black. Not American!"
Vet: "Do you like Hitler?"
The Fella: "No."
Vet: "I like Hitler!"

It's a party in the USA!

It all began with a friend's email: "M wants to go clubbing. Not this weekend, as we're out of town, but the following weekend. She wants to drink and dance and feel young again!"

And so, this Saturday night, that's how we partied and danced like we were girls of 21 again! (Guys included.) It was only the third time in Chicago in the three years I've lived here that I've been out dancing. I mean, really dancing. Like at a club. Not going to a bar or lounge and then creating your own dance corner just because they happen to be playing music. I'm talking entire dance rooms, strobe lights, live DJ spinning pulsing beats, and hoards of people throwing their hands in the air.

The executive decision was made to go to LaSalle Power Co., which I had no idea it was an actual dance club. The only other time I was there, the entire venue was closed out for a Battle of the Bands event so it had a very different low-key vibe! (The other two times I went dancing in Chicago was for my 28th birthday last year at The Hunt Club in the Gold Coast, and another time at Debonair Social Club in Wicker Park). Suffice to say, the Miami girl in me was itchin' to put on her dancing shoes!

I'm pretty sure the song that was playing was "California Loving".

I didn't even care that the DJ played Miley's obnoxious and yet annoyingly catchy "Party in the USA", or that by the end of the night, he had run out of tunes and repeated at least four songs. In a weird way, it was *refreshing* to be entrenched in the club scene like I was 21 once again, only this time with some of my closest Chi-town friends and new friends, too.

Extreme cook-off, River North

NEWS ALERT: B-List celeb sightings in Chi-town tonight – Ty Pennington, and Jillian and Ed. Of The Bachelorette, two seasons ago, duh!

Tonight I checked out the "Extreme Cook-Off" event at the new Kenmore Live Studio just kitty corner from my work. Stop. Double take. I'm saying things like "kitty corner", I must be a Chicagoan now! It was truly a buzzworthy, blogworthy red carpet slash velvet rope type of event. The challenge between ABC's Extreme Home Makeover's Ty Pennington and Roger Herring of top Chicago restaurant, Socca, was enough to lure me through the studio doors tonight for the first time.

I didn't quite understand the concept until I experienced it up close and personal – in a huge brand and product line transformation, Kenmore opened its first "inspiration and innovation studio" in downtown Chicago. RIGHT ACROSS MY WORK. I'm just so *fascinated* by this concept from a branding perspective! It's a really clever interactive experience that integrates demonstrations from top Chicago chefs and lifestyle experts, live video, and social media capabilities. Added fun factor: mimes waltzing through the studio, promoters zipping around on Segways through the neighborhood, and awesome food sampling. Kudos to insanely brilliant marketing efforts!

Check out the live video here from the event! (You can catch M & H, The Fella & I @ 2m13s; 2m53s; 6m07s; and 7m08s.)

Ty looks pretty much the same in real life as he does on TV,
only maybe just a touch more "weathered".

Besides the passed hors d'eouvres and beverage service, I sampled Ty's parmesan-truffle oil-popcorn. I'm still not totally sure what else Ty and Rog were cookin' up – Ty had a strange ensemble of ingredients, including ready-to-use pancake batter in a spray can, bananas, shrimp, and pineapple, among other things...

Now I know where to find free dinner 4x a week. Happy hour at Kenmore Live Studio, anyone?

P.S. That's Jillian Harris (legs).
This was basically the most anyone could see of her and Ed all night.