RAVE: Aldo Accessories

For weeks I've been saying "I need a new purse," because honestly, I do (did). Of course, with a wedding in my very near future my budget is small - which is an added challenge.

Leave it to my very shopping savvy co-worker to find a fabulous deal through some online browsing. She came across a nice looking hobo at Aldo Accessories that I had to check out.

Note: buying purses online is challenging, it's kind of one of those things you need to touch and see. Glad I did it that way, because in person, the material was darker than in the picture online, which I liked.

Upon walking into Aldo Accessories in Water Tower Place (downtown Chicago), I was greeted by a very friendly associate. She helped me find my bag, gave me honest opinions, showed me different options, and pulled the brand new, still in it's package purse from the back room. On top of that, I was looking for a wallet too. She immediately showed me their sale items, being conscious of my budget, but I fell in love with an inexpensive number not found in their sale section. She pulled that from the back as well and I was on my way.

The experience was quick and not only painless, but enjoyable. I was so glad I walked into the store on that day and had the most helpful sales person ever. Not only that, I'm trilled with my purchase and get compliments on my bag, and tons of compliments on my cute wallet too!

If you're looking for high quality, but not uber expensive accessories, I highly recommend Aldo Accessories.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Latte

Let me start by saying I love Starbucks. I really do. Even as someone who is no longer a caffeine addict - oh I didn't mention that I'm caffeine free these days? No, I'm not pregnant. I did it for health reasons and let me tell you it's fabulous. But that's a topic for another day.

Anyhow, this time of the year everyone is raving about Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks. Sure, I've had them. In fact, I've given them a shot a few times over the last couple of years, but they're just "meh" in my book.

I love a good, hot (decaf) coffee drink, but there's just something yucky and artificial - almost metallic - about the taste of the Pumpkin Spice syrup at Starbucks.

Needless to say, I'm sticking with my soy AmeriMisto.

Then, the other day I got a coupon in the mail for a free (yes, FREE) small latte from Dunkin' Donuts. I'm typically not a Dunkin' girl. No real reason why, I just find myself in closer proximity to Starbucks most often, but when I hear free, I can't say no.

So, I took a trip there on Wednesday - which was a crisp fall day - and gave their Pumpkin Latte a shot. I figured, even if it tasted just so-so like S-bucks, then I'm not out anything.

And what'd I taste at first sip, you ask? PURE HEAVEN.

Let me take a step back for a second and say that I love fall. I love the weather, I love the changing leaves, I love the fashion and I simply adore all the pumpkin flavored items you can buy. There's nothing better than a pumpkin donut and fresh apple cider from my hometown cider mill.

I'm no stranger to this flavor, to say the least. So when I sipped that latte I about came unglued with joy. It blasted my tongue with pumpkin flavor, and didn't leave that strange after-taste that you can sometimes get.

Dunkin' got this one right for SURE. I'm not one for spending much on fru-fru coffee drinks, but there's a good chance I'll be headed back before the season is over - and I highly recommend you do the same, at least once.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Shoreline Water Taxi

Okay, so it's been a while and I have a laundry list of backlogged reviews to post, but I want to start with one that's top of mind.

The Chicago Water Taxi.

For those who may not know, I got a new job back in May. And it's absolutely fabulous. However, until this week we didn't actually have an office here in Chicago, so I was working from home.

I know many people out there think that's probably totally amazing to be able to work from home, but let me tell you it gets challenging when you don't have an "office space" of sorts. I was either sitting on the couch or at the kitchen table. I didn't have a dedicated space to be focused. Not good.

Needless to say I was excited when we opened our office in River North this week. Being a suburb commuter, that's a bit of a hike from Union Station, but I have to say the Shoreline Water Taxi has already become my friend. It's only one block from Union and it drops me off a couple block from the office. Super quick, no traffic to deal with, and no smelly cabs with jerky drivers to make me car sick. And, at $2 a ride it's a steal.

So, if you're a Chicago commuter, I highly recommend the water taxi if you can swing it. Only downfall is that it stops running on Sept 30...looks like I'll be a bus taker for the winter...fun!

Cheers!

-A

Mutli-rave post

It's bee a while, and there are so many things I've experienced and I'm loving taking advantage of on a regular basis.

So, instead of focusing on just one rave, I'm going to talk about a few things that I'm loving at the moment.

"These are a few of my favorite things"

And now that that song is stuck in your head, let's plunge ahead. These are in no particular order other than how much atop my mind they are at the moment.

Yoga Toes - I've had these for a couple months now and though they're some of the strangest looking things, they're amazing.

At first, I could only wear them for about 10 minutes before my feet were begging me to take them off. But over time, I've come to crave them, especially after a run or a long day at work. They claim to be the cure for bunions but I just love how they make my feet feel. These came recommended to me by my cousin who wears them religiously, she even walks around the house in them, but I still find this a bit painful...they're definitely not made for walking, but lounging while reading or watching TV or even to wear to bed, they're fabulous!

Total Freedom - if you're looking for a good book that will give you a completely different outlook on life and self-improvement without being all self-helpy, this book is it. I'm not going to lie, it's not a quick read. But it's worth every minute spent with your nose stuck in it. It's one of those books that, once you get into it, you find yourself having a hard time pulling yourself away. A book like this is too good not to share with others. A must read.

Nutella - my new peanut butter substitute when I'm just not feeling the crunchy, peanutty spread. If you haven't tried it before, I highly recommend it. I'm a big fan of Nutella on my morning banana or on an apple in the afternoon. Punches up your favorite treats a bit. YUM!

Delta Airlines Wi-Fi - what would I do without in-flight wi-fi? Well, probably sleep or read or listen to music and just unwind. But, on those days where I need to get a client report out the door or I'm waiting for a response to keep a project moving, or even when I just want to write a blog post, it's critical. Sure, there's a bit of a charge, which you can buy by flight, 24-hour period or have a monthly fee for unlimited access for all you frequent fliers out there, but it's totally worth it!

MacBook Air - Apple got it right with this one, beyond right! I was issued an Air for my new position (oh yeah, did I mention I got a new job and I'm loving EVERY SECOND OF IT?) and I gotta tell you, it's amazing. As someone who has found herself traveling more than normal, I don't dread slinging my messenger bag over my shoulder for that long trek across the airport anymore, I can hardly tell I've even got a computer in there. And with the abundance of wi-fi connections, well, everywhere these days, there's no lack of internet connectivity. I'm going to love having this powerful little (and I do mean little) beast.

That's all for now.

Cheers!

-A

RAVES: Uncle Bub's Secret Special

So, this is my second rave review on Uncle Bub's in Westmont, but this time it's a bit different.

Yes, we continue to have stellar experiences every time we decide to pig out (pun intended) at this local barbeque establishment. But it wasn't too long ago that we discovered a hidden gem in their already mouthwatering lineup of meats.

Smoked bologna sandwich.

Now, I know what you're probably thinking, or at least, it's what I was thinking when I first heard about this menu item that in fact, doesn't have a permanent place on the menu. "A bologna sandwich? Really? I haven't had one of those since I 10 years old, and I wasn't much impressed then."

Let me explain the deliciousness of this sandwich for a second...

This isn't your grandmas cold cut bologna sandwich, mind you. They smoke the balogna right there in their kitchen, slice it thin, and pile the juicy meat onto a soft bun with their signature barbeque sauce and your choice of cheese.

You can't tell me your mouth isn't watering just thinking about it.

Had we not been tipped off to this special menu item by a relative of the owner we may never have known just how good bologna can be!

I said it before and I'll say it again, one of the best parts of our trips to Uncle Bub's is the service. Everyone is not only knowledgeable about everything on the menu, but you're treated like family from the moment you walk in. Sure makes it easy on those days when you just can't decide what you want for dinner to say, "hey, let's go to Uncle Bub's."

If you're anywhere near the Chicagoland area and haven't tried it out yet, what are you waiting for? Get there. There's no other barbeque experience like it.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Popeyes Chicken, Calumet City

My husband loves Popeyes Chicken. Until we started dating, I'd never ventured to one.

I had a friend in high school who worked at the local KFC and told me stories about their food handling processes that made my skin crawl. So I spent most of my life avoiding fast food fried chicken.

But a few months back, I gave the place a shot, and really wasn't all that impressed. The service was beyond slow and the food was just okay. They did have really good cole slaw and mashed potatoes and gravy though, I give them that.

I've eaten there a couple times since then and continued to be less than impressed, especially with the slow service. I thought maybe it was because it was "Louisiana style" or something that they were just slower, but after visiting one of the stores outside of Chicago, I know this isn't true.

On the way to visiting my family for funeral services, we decided to stop and get a bite to eat. When we saw a sign for Popeyes his eyes lit up, so we stopped. We went inside to take a break from driving through traffic and the first thing I noticed was the incredible speed of the people behind the counter.

The man who took our order was yelling back into the kitchen as he took pieces of chicken, so they knew what to replace (normally, we see them yelling what they need AS they need it). Needless to say, I was impressed.

We asked the man if he was the manager there and he said, "why yes I am," and we complimented him on the efficiency of the store. He mentioned that they were short staffed even, but it didn't show. We got our food quicker than ever at a Popeyes. The food was fresh and just as we'd ordered it - another issue we've had in the past, not getting spicy when we order it.

After we ordered we sat down to eat and people watched. The manager was very patient with customers who would come in on their cell phones and talk while ordering, or taking forever to make a decision while holding up the line, and even customers asking tons of questions that are answered right on the menu. He certainly was more patient that I would have been :).

So I gotta say, if you're ever headed out of Chicago on 94 and have a craving for Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, be sure to take the Calumet City exit and visit the store on Sibley Road. You're bound to be satisfied with food and the service.

Cheers!

Ashley

RANT: Cinemark at Seven Bridges

Normally I'm not one to just throw a complaint up on a blog for the world to see without giving a company the chance to make things right first, but my experience last night was so appalling that it must be shared.

So it's been a rough week, between the 18 inches of snow that was dumped on us in 36 hours, nearly getting sick (I barely got away with that) and dealing with the emotional strains of some family emergencies, I was in desperate need of a mid-week comedy to cheer me up.

Typically my husband and I rent movies in, either on Netflix or Redbox, but occasionally when there's a flick that looks promising we'll head out for a date night at the movie theater.

Since moving to Chicago, we've chosen Cinemark @ Seven Bridges in Woodridge, IL as our local spot. Sure, there are closer theaters but this one has a number of showings, stadium seating, clean bathrooms (yes, this is a plus) and IMAX, if you so choose. And up until last night, the customer service was satisfactory.

We went to see No Strings Attached with Ashton and Natalie. This is funny, if you're interested. Not in the typical romantic comedy kind of way either, like legit funny. We were quoting our favorite lines on the way home. It really helped take my mind off everything.

Anyway, we got in and settled as the previews were showing. As a treat, I decided to sneak out and get us some popcorn, and this is where the fun started.

*please note the implied sarcastic tone there*

Given that it was a slow evening and most people were hunkered down in their homes, ticket sales were taking place at the end of the consession counter. I've encountered this before, no big deal. BUT, when you have two people behind the counter, one just watching you wait for service while the other is selling tickets, that doesn't bode so well for someone who just wants to get her $7 bag of popcorn and get back before the movie starts.

Not only that, when the man was done selling tickets to these folks, they were not expected to get in line behind me at concessions, rather, they were helped immediately. So I waited, impatiently, while he microwaved their hot dogs for them (which, as I see it, he could have spent the time waiting for them to heat up by scooping popcorn for awaiting customers...just a thought on time management there). All the while the other woman behind the counter just stood there picking her nose. Okay, not literally, but she might as well have been, at least then she'd be doing something.

When I mentioned to him that I had been waiting in line, I was virtually ignored. So I ordered my popcorn and rushed back into the movie. Had I not had to wait nearly 10 minutes to get popcorn when there was no one else in line, I wouldn't have missed the beginning. Gee, thanks.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people in the customer service industry drag their feet and take their jobs so lightly. It's these people who hold the potential to give a company a bad name. In the end, isn't all about serving the customer? Unfortunate as it may be, I highly doubt we'll be going back there any time soon. AMC at Yorktown is looking like a better option...Clearly, the customers time and money isn't valued at Cinemark.

Ashley