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Sparkle Party!
Well my long-lost blogger friends, this Saturday is NYE. In typical Jenny fashion, I will be working a double. That’s just fantastic, isn’t it? There are actually two things that make that not the end of the world. One: I am off work Monday, so I still will technically have two full days to do nothing/recover, (whatever you want to call it). And two: I should be first-cut Saturday night, which means (theoretically) I can get outta there early and make my way downtown to a SpArKLe ParTy!! Oh, and please excuse my immature font choice, I simply couldn’t help myself.
A good chunk of my evening tonight has been spent planning my sparkle outfit.
Do I go with a black sparkle blazer?
Or an all-over gold sequin top?
One thing I know for sure: I’ll have glitter nails. But of course, that’s not an easy decision, either:
Ah… decisions, decisions 🙂
Where will YOU be this new year’s eve?? Going out or staying in? Whatever it may be, I wish you an evening of good fun, good friends, and good champagne!
Oh, and comments/suggestions/opinions are welcome on any of the aforementioned dilemmas 😉
Halloween @ Prime Publishing
The editorial team had some fun at work today! Take a look at all of our adorable costumes. I think it’s safe to say that we were in a candy coma for pretty much the entire day. I love my job 🙂
me: Morton salt girl
Sarah S. – “Marge from the Midwest”
Rachel – Holy cow
Christine – a punk rocker
Julia – Justin Beiber
Caitlin – Martha Stewart in Martha Stewart’s Halloween costume this year – Motha Stewart (Martha as a Moth) 
Maggie – a leopard
Sarah K. – Angela from The Office
Kari – Black Swan
Kirsten – Robin Sparkles (80s girl)
Blair – a witch
Simone – a Black-eyed Pea
Kelly – devil in the blue dress
next up…. Thanksgiving!
happy halloween!
Happy Halloween, everyone! Over the weekend, I dressed up as Miss Scarlet from Clue and got a jump start on the holiday festivities. It really feels like Halloween should be over already (I’m not gonna lie, I kind of wish it was), but it’s not and I’ll be back at it tomorrow morning in my Morton Salt Girl costume….should be fun times.
I hope you all have a fabulous, festive, and safe holiday!
High on Fun with Harajuku Mini
It’s been so long since I’ve blogged, that I almost forgot my login info! Good thing I remembered though, because I’ve got some good stuff to share…
Get ready to take a sneak peek at what is being called the most-anticipated Target collaboration since Missoni. Seriously. Gwen Stefani’s latest fashion project hits Target shelves on November 13 and people are already buzzing about it. The collection is being described as “high on fun, with ballerina-style tutus, polka dots and fuzzy hoodies complete with animal ears.” The clothes incorporate a bit of Japanese influence with of course, a bit of rock ‘n’ roll. In true Stefani fashion, there will be plenty of zippers, skinny jeans, and plaid, all of which lend itself to a punk-style aesthetic that is not often found in kids clothes, especially at these prices. Pieces will range from $3.99 to $29.99.
Now if only I had a kid to play dress up with…. Mazzy, Sanibel and Ava, y’all better get ready!
Proud To Be a Mac Girl
You’re either a Mac person or a PC person. Today, I am proud to say I’m a Mac person; I have never once owned a PC. The daughter of a graphic designer and a freelance photographer, I grew up on Apple computers.
I will, however, admit, that during my middle school days, I did ask my mom for a PC. That was, of course, long before the days of iMacs, iTunes, iPods, iPhones and iPads. Although the company created its first computer in 1976, Apple had not always been the popular company that it is today. There was definitely a period where PCs ruled the world. In middle school, I quickly grew tired of my homework not being compatible on the computers at school. I was sick of no one ever being able to fix our computer problems at home; “I don’t do Macs,” they told us. Plus, all of the cool computer games were available only for PCs. Super. Lame. I will be the first to admit, I was sick of being a “Mac person.” Luckily, my mom refused to give in and stuck to her guts. We continued to have faith in the Apple brand.
And then came their comeback with the iMac in 1998. According to Newstimes, “the radical overhaul of the Macintosh was intended to regain market share for Apple. The “blue bubble” was a commercial success, catching the eye of consumers,” and the rest is history. Steve Jobs reinvented not only the company, but the world in which we all live in. Below are some statements from Time.com that were released today about the passing of Steve Jobs:
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo: “Once in a rare while, somebody comes along who doesn’t just raise the bar, they create an entirely new standard of measurement.”
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg: “Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come. Steve’s passionate belief in the power of technology to transform the way we live brought us more than smartphones and iPads: It brought knowledge and power that is reshaping the face of civilization.”
President Obama: “Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.”
He changed all of our worlds, and he will be greatly missed. May his legacy live on in the products he invented, including the MacBook I am using right now and the iPhone that’s charging on my nightstand.
Steve Jobs, may you rest in peace.
The 10 Commandments of Steve Jobs
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends! Last night, I joined in the festivities and ate my very first Rosh Hashanah dinner. And. I. loved. it.
Granted, I’m pretty sure it was not the most religious dinner that was taking place among the Jewish community last night, but it was a celebration nonetheless, and a very good reason for Mark & Brett to have a dinner party. There was homemade cider, sinfully good cheese, crayons on the table for doodling, and plenty of wine.
All of the food was beyond yummy and the hosts were amazing. Thank you, Mark & Brett, for a fabulous Rosh Hashana. Here’s to a new year and great friends!
(Below: some of Mark’s pictures from Facebook…)
Did I mention we shellac’d my nails too and put them under UV lights?? That was pretty awesome. Only on Southport 🙂
Winter wish list
I stopped by Nordstrom today with my mom. She had to pay her bill, and I really wasn’t looking for anything in particular to buy. But of course, it’s next to impossible to walk through that store and not find something I want; today I found three.
I know fall just got here, but here are some things that are already on my winter wish list:
Happy Fall!
The leaves have already started to turn colors here in Chicago, and there is a crispness to the air that can only mean one thing: Autumn is here.
Although it’s been sneaking up on us over the past few weeks, September 23 marked the first official day of Fall, and I am loving it!
It's HERE!!
What exactly is a “special” occasion, anyway?
What makes something a “special” occasion? A birthday, wedding, anniversary, new job… sure, these are all some pretty typical answers. But how about just an impromptu Tuesday night bbq with good friends and family?
Allow me to back up a bit. A few months ago, my mom and I attended a huge wine sale/tasting with endless amounts of free wine. After a few hours, we ended up leaving with a hand-picked case of wine and champagne that we had especially enjoyed during the tasting.
Over the last few months, we’ve drank all the wine with the exception of one bottle. A 2006 Syrah from South Africa. A guy at the wine tasting recommended that we let it mature ten years before we open it. Wait ten years in this house to open a bottle of wine? Yeah, right. But we both decided that we would at least save it for yep, you guessed it, a “special occasion.”
Return to (somewhat) present day. It’s Tuesday night and I find myself surrounded with my family and two pretty spectacular friends. We’re drinking wine, sharing stories, and laughing ’til our bellies hurt. Before we know it, we’re out of wine. Well, almost….. there’s still that one bottle. My mom and I both look at each other and say screw it, THIS is a special occasion…this is what it’s all about.
Impromptu nights with great company make for the best memories, and the most special of occasions. You better believe we opened that bottle of wine and it tasted delicious…I think. I don’t actually really remember. All I really know is that it was a great night with great company.
Here’s to good wine, good friends, and “special” occasions!
Mix Morning Mindbender
Yesterday, I left out a very crucial part of my daily ritual that helps keep me going….
Yup, Eric & Kathy on 101.9 the Mix. It’s only the single best morning radio show ever. They keep me company every single morning on my way to work. And every single morning, they do this thing called the “Mix Morning Mindbender.” They ask a question, we give the answer. This morning, the question was:
A new study finds that those who get out of bed by this time, on average, do better in the workplace and have a lower chance of being depressed, stressed, or overweight.
And the answer is……
6:58 am!
Starting tomorrow, I am going to (attempt) to try this out. Usually, I don’t roll out of bed until 7:15ish. Shower. Throw together an outfit. And I’m out the door by 8:05. I eat breakfast and do my makeup (very carefully) in the car (only when I’m at a red light) on my way to work.
Because I will be waking up 15 minutes earlier tomorrow morning, I best be getting to bed. Check back on Friday to see how well I fared, and if I am feeling any less stressed! Predictions, anyone??
Jenny B.
Welcome to my blog! Have a look around and enjoy reading about my life adventures in Chicago. You'll find personal posts, pictures of my favorite things, and some words I like to live by. Read, enjoy, leave comments, and e-mail if you'd like!
Jenny B. 
