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

A not so formal announcement

Here it is:

I got married.

That's right. It wasn't that long ago that you heard about the engagement. We operate fast.

Truth of the matter is, there were a handful of reasons why we went ahead and "ran off" to do this on our own - like wedding planning is insane when you're trying to hold down a full time job and seriously, have you seen the prices of invitations these days? But what's most important here is that we did it for us. The way we wanted to. Without killing our families and each other in the process (not literally, of course).

So we did what we wanted. It was about us. It is about us, and our marriage. The rest of our lives together. That's what a wedding is about, after all, the ensuing marriage (something I get a sense that a lot of people forget as they engross themselves in planning the big day).

But know this, it wasn't about intentionally leaving people out, even though I've been getting a lot of flack about that lately.

We called our families to give them the news and then we posted it on Facebook for the world to see. Sure, maybe there was a better way to go about it, but with everyone engrossed in social media these days in one form or another, it was the most efficient way - with both of us living in states where we didn't grow up and the majority of our friends and family don't reside - to spread the news.

Seriously, if there weren't enough hours in the day to plan a wedding then there certainly wasn't enough time to call everyone and their third cousin to spread the word that we eloped - especially when we're still planning for a formal celebration of some kind this summer. You know, like a post-wedding reception, only a few months later. Who ever said you have to have a formal celebration on the day you get married?

This might sound harsh, but I do have to say that it's a bit disheartening when first reactions from friends aren't "congrats, that's so awesome" they're "why did I have to find out on Facebook?"

Well, truth is, because it's not about you.

Even my grandmother was thrilled for us. And if you'd expect anyone in a family unit to be a stickler about tradition, it'd be grandma, right? Nope. Pure excitement. :)

I consider myself to be a pretty generous person, putting the needs of the people who are closest to me in my life before my own, more often than not. I bend over backwards to please. But this time, we did what was needed for our own happiness - me and my husband. And guess what, it worked. We're married, and we're happy, and we love each other and we didn't spend 9 months and $30 grand planning an elaborate wedding that neither of us wanted in the first place.

But we do want to celebrate with our friends and family, because it matters to us, so we will, at some point. Until then, join me in celebrating our lovely marriage every day, will you?

Cheers!

-A

Gossip web

It appears that recently I've been caught in this web of he said, she said with a number of people in my life.

This scenario seems to happen every couple years, where I, for one reason or another, am seen as the trustworthy friend that everyone comes to in order to talk about their other friends behind their backs (which, rightfully so, I AM that trustworthy friend!). It gets even more confusing when those friends are connected to one another and they're all talking about each other. It's hard for the listener to keep up.

I guess I've never fully understood gossip. I mean, sure, we all need to vent every now and again when something or someone gets under our skin. This is just being human. And I'm a huge believer in what is said between two people is not considered gossip, but rather, it's a closed door meeting of the minds to help resolve frustration for one or both parties involved. There is nothing wrong with this, so long as the conversation doesn't go any farther than that.

But, what I've found, is that it usually does.

Lately, with all the confiding that people have been doing (in me), I have to wonder how much gossiping they're doing with others (about me). You hear the old saying that those who talk about others to you are likely to talk about you behind your back - or however that goes - and I can't help but think through that statement as I'm being asked about my opinions about the people I consider my friends.

Thing is, we put a lot of trust in our friends. So if you've earned a friendship with someone (because as I see it, true friendship takes time to be earned), doing anything that doesn't fully support them - especially in front of others - would be a breech of said trust and would quickly lead to a loss of faith in the relationship, right? Talking bad about someone's character behind there back will do just that.

(Note: this does not include those times where your friends are about to do something so stupid they could ruin their lives and/or the lives of those around them. In situations such as these, the only good-friend move is to set them straight. People need their friends for honest feedback, too.)

So, for anyone who questions it, here's the scoop: if you're truly my friend, you can count on the vault being sealed. Anything I say to someone else about a situation that involves you is something I've already said to you - assuming it's even appropriate to discuss with others in the first place.

This goes for friends and family. There's no purpose in me gossiping about you behind your back, so you can count on me. I hope you can say the same.

Cheers!

-A

Blog Snob

The more involved I get with social media, the more I realize how much of a blog snob I am.

As I see it, when it comes to social media content, it should be easy for the end user to consume. What I mean by that is, it's should be easy to read and understand.

Blogs that get too technical and have too much jargon, even when the topic is rather technical, rarely make it to my Google Reader. If wordy, in depth articles is what I was out to read, I'd do a search for an academic or journal article, not a blog.

With blogs, I expect, concise, easy to read information on whatever topic is being covered. And honestly, I want to hear the opinion of the blogger - that's why I'm there! What they have to say on the subject is just as important as the facts. I'm there for their voice. It's about conversation, and when the content is outside the conversational tone, then it almost becomes daunting.

Those of us who spend any length of time in the social media space tend to have a laundry list of blogs that we read each day. Some we scroll through just to get the gist of what the writer is discussing, others we're sure to read word for word every day. My reader has 75+ blogs in it, can you imagine if each one of those posts was technical in nature?

Visuals help too. Break up those words with a few photos or relevant videos, will ya?

Thanks!

Maybe that makes me a snob, or someone who prefers to get her information at a 6th grade reading level, but as I see it, information in social media should remain conversational - quick and easy to consume. After all, there's so much of it and so little time to sift through the technical jargon.

Just a thought from a dedicated blog writer and reader.

Cheers!

-A

Rant: Bad Mood

It's been quite a while since I've had one of those days where I'm just in a shit mood.

I guess I'm blessed with my irritation being limited to fleeting moments. It does help that my fiance has an incredible sense of humor that he uses to get me to laugh and snap out of it.

Of course, it's not even noon yet and I'm stuck at the office with this incredible bad mood that I just can't shake. What's worse is that I really don't have any good reason for it.

But it got me to thinking about crappy moods and that people, in general, allow their happiness to be affected by the behavior of others way too much.

There are so many times in life where, when you encounter someone who is in a wretched mood, their reasoning is because of something someone else did or said. Here are a few good examples:

• People you encountered were rude - customer service, those you run into during a commute, colleagues at work, the list goes on.
• Someone you trusted betrayed that trust - whether a friend spilled the beans on something you confided or a family member called you out and/or didn't support you in public, their actions directly affected your mood.
• You received non-constructive criticism.
• Or even something as simple as someone not behaving the way you had expected.

I've come to learn that expectations can lead to bad moods, because it's not uncommon that when you have high or very specific expectations of others that they're often not precisely met. This isn't at the fault of the person for whom you have these expectations though, especially if you haven't been open about what you expect. So either set expectations up front (when it's appropriate, anyhow) or learn to be a bit flexible.

Flexibility in any type of relationship, whether it's a family member, significant other, close friend or casual acquaintance, understanding that everyone is unique and goes about things in different ways can come to benefit you in the long run - if nothing else than keeping frustration at bay.

No one likes to be wrong or to not have things go their way, but if you can be a little less rigid in your daily dealings, it won't feel so much like "being wrong" or being disappointed - it'll just feel different (thanks to my yoga instructor for discussing rigidity during class last night...turn out that was pretty timely).

It all comes down to having some control over your own happiness. Have a bit of confidence in yourself and the actions you take. If you truly believe in yourself and the life you're leading, you can learn to incorporate flexibility into you outlook.

And if nothing else, you can look at the naysayers knowing that it's not you, it's them.

Anyway, this is just a bit of advice from the front lines of a bad mood. Writing has helped a little...if only I could blog all day long :)

Cheers!

-A

Social Media Burnout

As someone who works in social media 5 days a week and who spends a great deal of her free time doing things like blogging and participating in conversations on Twitter and Facebook for my clients, I'll be the first to tell you that, if you're not careful with social media, burnout will slap you upside the head.

For the last few months, I've been feeling this sense of complete disgust with all things social media - specifically Facebook - and my participation has dwindled. I blamed it on the job, noting that working in social media 10 hours a day has made it nearly impossible to enjoy participating on a personal level. In fact, I think I've even said a handful of times that I do everything I can to avoid Facebook when I'm not at work. Note: to some it's probably quite clear that I've taken the energy I used to put into these outlets and aimed it at my blogging, hence the wicked increase in posts here. Which, as I see it, isn't a bad thing either!

Recently, something seems to have changed. In the past few weeks, I've slowly started jumping into the conversation again. My posts on Twitter aren't just self-serving anymore, (read: promoting a recent blog post), I'm back to reaching out to others, seeking out information, actually reading the updates that come across Tweetdeck. Same with Facebook - I'm back in action when it comes to taking part in the conversations and posting information that isn't just rubbish about myself for the sake of posting.

All this got me to thinking about the purpose of social media. When I joined Facebook back in college, it was a tool for college kids to keep in touch with friends, link up with old friends and stalk potential new friends. ;) I kid.

But since the evolution of platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the purpose of daily participation has morphed a bit. As I see it, you get out of social media what you put into it. If you're an information seeker, you can only spend so much time as a voyeur before you have to sack up and share some of your resources with others. Utilizing Facebook and Twitter to share links to articles and blog posts that you find interesting, sharing photography and videos that helped you learn, that you think would be helpful to others.

There's an element of Karma in social media. If you're just there for yourself, you're likely not going to see it's full potential. But if you're willing to put in a bit of energy, you might be surprised what you get out of it.

So for all you bloggers out there who crave comments, be sure you're out there reading and providing genuine feedback to others on their blogs. Facebookers and Tweeters, if you haven't already, start joining the conversation to talk about more than yourself. You might be surprised at what happens.

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Yoga Among Friends

For anyone who has been paying attention, it's no secret that I'm a big advocate of yoga. Not only is it great exercise and injury prevention, it's also good for the soul. Yoga helps me relax, it helps me stay sane.

You question that, just ask my fiance...he'll be the first to tell you that I'm much happier after a yoga class (and probably easier to live with in general when I'm practicing regularly).

After moving to Chicago, I was doing what I could to save my pennies, so I spent $10 on a couple yoga DVDs from Amazon in hopes of continuing my practice at home. Turns out, I'm not so good at 1) getting the motivation to take an hour out of my evening at home to pop in a yoga dvd, or 2) get my head into the practice with all the distractions that happen when you're at home.

I'm just the kind of girl who needs a peaceful space to get away from the cell phone and the ever-growing pile of laundry to really focus.

So, I decided to venture out and explore the world of yoga in the West Chicago suburbs. I had the intention of trying out a number of different studios before settling on one, since there seems to be an abundance within driving distance. But, after visiting just one, I think I might be hooked.

A couple weeks ago I headed to Yoga Among Friends in Downers Grove for my first yoga class in Chicagoland. I went to a level 1 vinyasa flow class because I wasn't entirely sure what level 1 meant in their terms, and since it'd been a few months since my last class, I wanted to ease into it.

Well, let me tell you, though it was a rather basic class, it was exactly what I needed. The class was a bit bare, mostly because it was during the holidays and everyone was too busy making and eating cookies to venture out, but with only a handful of people in the class, the instructor was able to provide plenty of 1 on 1 attention. It also was one of those classes that you could make into your own level of difficulty.

It was a 90 minute class that started with some inspiring thoughts to get your meditation juices flowing. We worked our way up from the floor and back down again. It was slow and basic, but still very challenging. I made a lot of mental realizations through this practice, let go of some things I'd been holding on to for far too long, and really got into the groove.

This is a class I've been thinking about ever since that first visit, and it makes me want to continue going back for more.

Beyond that, everyone there was very welcoming and friendly. Fellow classmates introduced themselves and instructors went out of their way to chat with me. I made it a point to mention that I have intentions of working toward my 200-hour certification and they all took an interest in that. HUGE bonus, as I've yet to find a studio that has been interested in that statement.

I'm excited to check out some of the other class options, as they have a wide variety for every yogi need and skill level. There's even a gentle asana/meditation class - that's a must visit in the coming weeks.

This is definitely a yoga studio that I would recommend to any of my friends. The name, Yoga Among Friends, speaks for itself. If you're in the Chicagoland area, be sure to check it out. You won't regret it.

Cheers!

-A

Thank you

Thank you.

Two words in the English language that aren't used nearly enough. I'll admit, I've been known to forget the "please" every now and again, but I do pride myself on showing gratitude where it's deserved...even for the smallest things.

These words are regularly spoken in my house - for things as silly as taking out the garbage or even saying the right words in a time of need. There's no lack of thanks at home. Maybe that means I'm spoiled and that I tend to expect these words more than others, but I truly believe that people neglect to say thanks more often than they should.

I've been known, at times, to thank in such abundance that it can boarder on annoying, but honestly, better to be too thankful than not enough, right?

The point is this, I believe that manners should dictate a thanks for those who go out of their way to do something nice for you, something that doesn't benefit them, to better your life. Friends often do this for one another, because they are your friends and that's what friends do. But, that doesn't mean you should be any less thankful than if a stranger went out of their way for the same task, right?

From what I've learned through my psych minor, it's human nature that once you're more comfortable in a relationship, whether romantic or platonic friendships, things like manners tend to relax too. But doesn't that just send the message to these people that your time isn't as important to them as say, as strangers?

Think about it - simple example: a stranger holds a door for you, you stop the conversation you are in and say a quick thank you. Nice. Polite. But, when it's you and a friend walking, she opens the door for you, do you stop the conversation you're in to say thanks, or did you just assume because you're friends, and you're together, that it's not needed?

Is this making sense?

I'm a huge advocate for thank yous. As most of us 20-something professionals know, a thank you can go a long way in making you proud of the assingment you handed into your boss and makes you want to work just as hard on the next project because you know they appreciate you. Sometimes, a thank you is all it takes.

But what about with your friends, did you ever think about that? Probably not. You do what comes natural. You help them out from time to time, you just expect the same. But that's the problem, the expectation part. Taking just a few seconds to say or type a thank you will let your friend know that you appreciate them.

Simple words of gratitude. It's really not too much to ask for.

So, to all those who have helped me in even the smallest of ways, my friends, my family, my fiance, my co-workers, and everyone else in my life who has lended a hand, or an idea, or whatever you did to make something in my life more positive, thank you.

Thank you. It really does mean a lot.

Cheers!

-A

Tests from the Universe

I'm a big believer in the idea that events in this life unfold for a reason. Not in the, "it's meant to happen because that's your destiny" sense, but more that the Universe has this way of guiding you in ways of bettering your life, if you're open to it.

Often times, as I've found, this means learning a lesson before getting to the good stuff. In recent years, I've noticed that the world has shown me the value of such things as attention to detail and thoroughness - though at the time I had no idea I'd become a skydiver where these attributes would be critical to saving my life. It's also slapped me upside the head recently and let me know that, difficult as it may be, speaking up for my own wants and needs is critical to my happiness - after all, no one else is going to do it for me.

So that takes me to what I believe is my latest lesson; patience.

I'm on to you Universe, you're testing my patience right now...and let me be the first to tell you that you're not going to make me fail at this one. Difficult as it may be, I'm giving every ounce of energy I have left to practicing patience. You're not going to drive me mad with this one.

Sometimes when you see good things start to unfold you just want to skip to the end to reap the rewards. Turns out, this isn't the way things work. And sometimes, no matter how hard the waiting part is, there's nothing more you can do to fill the space between effort and result - aside from waiting.

As the song goes, waiting is the hardest part. And no matter what the result is, making the best of it can be the most important...it's just a matter of not knowing, living in limbo that tends to drive people crazy (well, me at least). So, I'm taking this as a test from the Universe once again, that ultimately will show me the benefits of being patient, and remaining positive at the same time.

But it's far from easy. The questions that run through the mind are enough to drive anyone a little nutty, but it's important to remember, not to doubt yourself, because in the end you don't want to have to pick up more pieces of your shattered self than is necessary.

So tell me dear readers, what are some of your tips and tricks for patience?

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: PeiWei Asian Diner

This one has been a long time coming. For anyone who knows me, it's no secret that I like to eat. It's truly amazing that I'm not twice my size; thanks mom and dad for great metabolism.

Two sentences and I'm already off topic...

Back in 2005, when I took a trip down to visit a friend in Tucson, AZ, Pei Wei Asian Diner was the first stop after the airport. I'd never heard of it before, but I do like asian food so it sounded like a good idea.

Being a quick-casual restaurant, we were eating within 10 minutes of ordering.

I really like how the system is set up there. You walk in, look at the menu that's on the wall - they also have a couple available in smaller print on the counters where you place your order - a cashier takes your order, gives you your glass and you get your drinks and find a seat. Then, within 9 minutes your food is at your table. It's pretty great, actually.

Quick casual. A very smart concept.

What I enjoy most about Pei Wei though, is their food. When I lived in Dallas, my apartment was only a couple miles from the nearest Pei Wei. I experimented with their food, as it was fairly inexpensive, which is a plus for a single 20-something just beginning her career.

Early on in my experimenting I tried their pad thai and fell in love. It was the perfect amount of sweet and spicy. Just the right amount of sauce, not too thick. It was almost refreshing, silly as that sounds. Between the pad thai and the fact that they had Diet Dr. Pepper available in their fountain (c'mon, everyone knows fountain soda is the best), I was hooked.

It wasn't long before I decided that it was time for a weekend job to supplement my entry-level PR salary, so what a better place than Pei Wei, where I was a patron at least 3 times a week anyway.

This is when I realized how great this company really is. All the cooking takes place in the woks outside the kitchen where the public can watch. Everything is incredibly sanitary.

Having previously been a server in a restaurant in college, I can honestly say I didn't want to eat there knowing what went on in the kitchens. Not the case with Pei Wei. I continued to eat there as often as I once did...in fact, I probably at there more as an employee.

They treat there employees with understanding and respect. Even though I was 20-something working as a cashier, I did have a career that was important to me during the week. My manager respected the type of employee I was, and that I had a lot going on outside of the store.

We were recognized as important, no matter which role you filled. I could go on, but this isn't what's important.

What IS important, is how great this restaurant is for it's customers. When you food is delivered to your table, your every wish can be catered to...everything from extra sauces to napkins to a drink refill. Sure, these are things you could do yourself, but all you have to do is ask :).

I'm beyond thrilled that Pei Wei is opening a store out here in the Chicago burbs this week. I've been looking forward to this since we moved here in October, and something I've been talking about for years. I truly miss this place and will be making an appearance out there this week.

So, here's the scoop:

Price: $$ (very reasonable, less than $10/person and often there's enough left over for tomorrow)

Menu Selection: **** (vietnamese, thai, chinese...there are plenty of options for all asian tastes)

Taste: ***** (my favorite asian food anywhere!)

Service: ***** (so nice and welcoming, and prompt with the order)

Atmosphere: **** (laid back, friendly, quick)

Patience ≠ strength

I want to share something that slapped me upside the head recently.

Now, it's no secret that patience is not one of my strengths. When there's something I want, I want it now. And if it's something that needs to be done, I expect it to be done right. This used to mean that I would do just about everything I wanted done myself so that I knew it was done right. But, considering my career, I've had to loosen up on that and learn to trust a bit more.

Waiting in lines also has become less of a chore, but I can thank my iPhone for keeping my ADD brain busy and allowing me to multitask. Cuz as we all know, if I'm not doing more than one thing at a time, I'm not in my comfort zone :).

But even with these improvements, I'm still not a very patient person. I could never be a teacher. I thank my stars frequently that my brother decided to pursue a career in IT, making him the go-to with all computer and techie questions that my family can think up. I just don't have the patience to teach people who don't have the first clue about technology - it's easier to do that crap myself.

The funny thing is, even though I'm acutely aware of my lack of patience and need to work on this area of my life, I still expect that other people will be patient with me. Great example: I'm a question asker, an information seeker, if you will. I don't like to make decisions or give a concrete answer to anything unless I'm certain about what's being asked of me. So I have a tendency to ask questions to fill in the blanks...sometimes lots of follow up questions. This tends to irk some people who aren't from this same camp. And when frustration happens, I tend to lash out, just expecting patience to overcome them.

This, my friends, makes me a jerk.

I mean really, who can possibly expect perfection from others when I myself can fully admit to being FAR from perfect in every aspect of life. On top of that, I'll be the first to tell you that perfection is more times than not, completely annoying. Who wants to be surrounded by perfect people? I mean, they're just a constant reminder of how imperfect you are anyway, right? So expecting perfection is just asking for annoyance. C'mon Ashley, wise up already!

Wow, this post doesn't seem to be going in any real direction...my apologies if you're having trouble following.

I guess my point is this - I'm impatient, especially with people who aren't patient with me. Which is totally wrong on my part. But I'm aware of it, and I'm working on it. So, thanks to those who are patient with me while I work on my understanding of the fact that you're not all that patient either.

Um...even I'm having trouble following this logic now. But I hope it makes some sense, if you've been patient enough to have read this far.

Cheers!

-A

New Opportunities Ahead

Two Thousand Eleven has just begun and I'm already excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Since moving to Chicago there have been lots of chances to grow as a person, not only in my personal life, but in my career and in skydiving as well.

There are still so many question marks about where things are headed, but I have to say that I'm excited about the possibilities.

So far I've done a good job about not stressing over it - normally question marks make me uneasy, but I'm just going to take things as they come this year. After all, things seem to have this way of working themselves out the way they are supposed to in the end.

Needless to say, I've already spent quite a bit of time getting my ducks in a row as much as I can. I've come to realize that there's never an ideal time to make any change, but if you don't dive in head first and do it, you'll never grow. So, I'm doing what I can to get comfortable in case the time comes where change is knocking at my door.

And if you've been following along, you know this tends to happen quite frequently in my life. Even though I'm getting married and settled into my career, I just don't foresee myself "settling down" anytime soon. Thank god for a fiance who has a much (if not more) energy than I do :).

So that's really all I have, I guess I was just wanting to write more than anything this morning. Looks like I've got another busy day ahead.

What opportunities do you see in your near future?

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Uncle Bub's

In keeping with one of my 2011 resolutions (see Write more), I'm doing just that. So that means that on occasion you'll get two posts in one day.

Deal with it.

I wanted to start this year out on a high note with the review portion of this blog, by talking about an incredible BBQ restaurant just up the road from my place in Chicago.

It's touted as Chicagoland's Best Award Winning BBQ and let me tell you what, it lives up to that.

Now, if you've been reading long, you're probably thinking, "but Ashley, aren't you a vegetarian?'

True, I used to be a full veg, but things change and I've come to find that meat can be your friend in small doses. Plus, it's yummy!

Anyhow, so in trying out new, local restaurants, my fiance and I stumbled into Uncle Bub's in Westmont one afternoon.

We decided, since this was our first time, that we'd pop that cherry by splitting the sampler platter, which has three ounces of each of their meats (though, I really think there was more than 3 oz of each....they really loaded it up). You also get corn bread and two sides - this was more than enough for us. In fact, we ended up taking some home!

I was a huge fan of the brisket, while my partner in crime was loving the ribs. He also loved the friend mac & cheese while my favorite sides were by far the mashed potatoes and gravy and cole slaw.

One of the cool things about this place is that they have a wall of sauces you can pick from and take back to your table. We indulged in a few hot sauces and a couple different BBQ sauces aside from what was on the table. On top of that, they have homemade pickles and pickled veggies as well.

I think what I liked most about this place though was the service. Everyone was so nice! They were slow as we showed our faces at 3:30 in the afternoon, but that gave us time to check everything out and mingle with the staff. It had a very Midwestern flare for a BBQ joint.

This would be a great place for one of those Food Network shows like Man vs. Food or Diners, Drive ins and Dives. I guess the latter had to finally contact Uncle Bub's and request that their patrons stop sending email requests to the show because their inbox fills up. Well, hello Guy, maybe that's your clue to come to Westmont, eh?

I would highly recommend this place to anyone in the Chicago area or traveling out to the burbs. It's worth the drive!

Price: $$ (big portions at a reasonable price)

Menu Selection: *** (not sure what is standard for BBQ places)

Taste: **** (yummy!)

Service: ***** (so nice and welcoming, and prompt with the order)

Atmosphere: **** (laid back, friendly)

Cheers!

-A

Resolving

In keeping with New Year's blogging tradition (well, my tradition anyhow) I've decided to share my resolutions for 2011.

These are a bit different that in previous years. If you've been following along, 2010 was a year of significant learning for me, so I'm going to do everything I can to apply what I've learned to making my life better.

Here's what I've got:

*Be honest. With myself and with those around me. Make it known what I want, then work out a compromise if it doesn't match others that are involved. Being unhappy about an outcome can only be blamed on me if I haven't spoken up, and it does nothing by harm me and those around me.

*Write more. Journal. Blog. Start a book (that might be a lofty goal...), but whatever it takes, make an effort to sit down and write!

*Make yoga & meditation a priority. I've already started down this path, now I just need to stick with it again. :)

*Photography: be better about capturing memories on photo. I sucked at it this year and really only have pictures from my vacation last January. That's totally unacceptable.

*Relax. I have a tendency to be wound a little tight sometimes. I need to just chill the hell out and only control what I can. Myself. I think I need to learn to be a bit more selfish, and enjoy it.

*Wear more jewelry. When I met my fiance he pointed out my lack of jewelry. Aside from my engagement ring, this is pretty true. So, I've decided to start experimenting more.

What are some of your resolutions for 2011?

Cheers!

-A

Year in Review 2010

Well, it's been quite a year, and sticking with blogger tradition I'm going to do a year in review. I'm a follower, not a leader ;). Only kidding of course.

But first, I have the last Reverb10 prompt to think about: December 31 – Core Story What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world?

As I've said through most of my posts this past month, the theme of 2010 was definitely learning. I'm grateful for every experience I've had this year that's taught me a thing or two about who I am, who I want to become, and who I want to surround myself with in the process.

Now, let's get on with the 2010 Year in Review...shall we? I tried to include a picture or video from each month. As you can see, I need to start taking more pictures again...

January

This was a month of adjusting and anticipating for me. I'd recently moved in with the first boyfriend I've ever lived with (which turned out pretty well, given that we are now engaged), and I spent the last days of the month traveling to warmer climates for, you guessed it, skydiving (video). This was also the month that I experienced my first cutaway, saving my own life. Pretty fun!

February

I started the month still on our 10 day Florida vacation, skydiving in Z-hills (video). Then it was time to get back to the grind. Finishing out the winter by reminiscing over all the fun things we did on our vacation and editing video.

March

The first half of the month I went up to Michigan to spend time with family I hadn't seen since the holidays and to celebrate my grandfather's 80th birthday. This was when I really realized how much I miss my grandparents by living so far from home. I made it a point to start reconnecting with them on a regular basis. So far, I've done a pretty good job of this each time I head home.

This month I also got the last addition to my skydiving tattoo...for now ;)

April

The skydiving season really starts to pick up as the weather gets warmer. But my boyfriend and I head down to South Carolina for a visit with his aunt and some skydiving action in a new city. We had a great time and came home with an open invitation to go back. Hoping to take advantage of that again this year. This was also the month where I really started to ramp up on the Jump for Diabetes promoting. I did a lot of outreach in my spare time for the event and, having just cut the final check to the ADA yesterday, I can honestly say it was well worth the work!

May

I got a couple offers for sponsors for the Jump for Diabetes. Not only that, I was asked to write a legit review on my blog and I got my first advertiser. This was a good month for Skydive Chick. For my birthday, we headed out to New York to skydive at a place called The Ranch. It was a fun weekend away.

June

This was a huge month for me in terms of skydiving. I started flying a wingsuit, which I haven't done much of in the past 6 months, but I was all about it in June and July! Then I was able to demo a much smaller canopy on a trip down to one of our favorite Ohio dropzones. It showed me that I wanted a 120 square foot parachute...bad. Unfortunately, this was also the month that I lost my grandmother. Though, as we joked at the funeral, this was her way of finally getting my cousins, aunt and uncle from California together with the rest of the family. It'd been too long...I miss them all!

July

This was a HUGE month for learning for me. Between the death of my grandmother and the loss of a couple friends (who, really, turned out to be not such great people after all) I really took a step back to evaluate what's important in life. For the first time I saw myself and the life I was leading. I saw that I was really living up to the spoiled little sister of the family, and that I was doing only what I pleased, whenever I wanted. I made a promise to myself to make my family and (true) friends more of a priority in my life, and skydiving, a little less. It was the first time I said to myself, "there's more to life than skydiving," and truly believed it. I also realized that I'd been slacking on my photography and yoga. At least I was able to re-commit to the latter.

August

Jump for Diabetes was here at last! We raised nearly $10,000 for an incredible cause (it all went to the American Diabetes Association, earmarked specifically for diabetes research). On top of that, people had an amazing time. Even with the rain we experienced, we were able to celebrate, enjoy good times and give away over $10,000 in donated skydiving gear in our raffles. Thanks to all who participated! (video)

September

Labor Day weekend we headed down to the Work Stinks! Boogie in Southern Ohio to celebrate our one year anniversary by jumping out of airplanes. Cool! Not only that, we got engaged on that first skydive. On top of that, we had our engagement photo shoot with Norman Kent. Be sure to check out the video here.

October

Another skydiving boogie, this time in Los Angeles at Skydive Elsinore. I was able to keep a promise to my California family that'd we come out for a visit. Weather was weird, so not nearly enough skydiving happened (video) but it was great to spend a week with my cousins and my aunt and uncle, and make some great new connections in the skydiving world. I need to make this a tradition. Then, we came back for 4 days before the big move to Chicago. The rest of the month was spent getting adjusted.

November

Lots more learning this month. Recommitted to my good friend yoga. Started working out regularly, played lots of racquetball. Skydiving came to a screeching halt when the weather turned sour. We've yet to find a local dropzone that will toss you out of an airplane even in the winter...still looking.

December

This month went by too fast. Between the holidays and the transition from my office in Cleveland to becoming a Chicago staff member I had my hands full. Not to mention planning for all the great things that will happen in 2011, like a wedding and more travel. So much on the horizon.

Here's to hoping that 2011 just keeps getting better.

Cheers!

Ashley