Birthday Wishes and Dreams

Today I celebrate a milestone that is the most common occurrence on earth. I am officially- as of 9:56 am central time- one year older. This is the last year of my twenties and I would like to experience the things that I have put off to be "responsible" and to "make a living". My goal this year is to go after the things I want and not let fear, circumstance, and setbacks get in my way.

Summer Dreamin'

The weather in Chicago right now is fantastic. Seventy-five degrees with a slight breeze is all anyone who lives in this two season town can ask for. This fabulous day has gotten me thinking about all of the amazing summer activities.

The Taste of Chicago
June 26- July 5

The 29th annual Taste of Chicago that spans all of Grant Park (the park where President Obama gave his victory speech on election night) in downtown Chicago near the lakefront is a must-see if you're a tourist and a maybe if you have lived in Chicago for more than five years. With over 50 restaurants offering more than 200 menu items, The Taste (as it's called) is the largest food festival in the United States. Admission is free if you would just like to walk the grounds and get squished by the crowd, but if you'd like to sample the food tickets run for $8 (plus a $2 surcharge) for a strip of twelve. Be warned: This is not an inexpensive outing. Most of the items cost anywhere from 3-6 tickets, so if you'd like to sample more than two restaurants be ready to shell out more dough. The best thing about the Taste (and what us local Chicagoans really take advantage of) are the free music acts offered during the two week festival.


Movies in the Park
Every Tuesday night beginning July 14 to August 25

Also staged in Grant Park, is the family, and couple friendly Movies in the Park. Staged in Grant Park not far off of Lake Shore Drive this is one of my favorite summer outings. Be sure to bring a chair or blanket and snacks - but no alcohol- this is expressly forbidden and your booze will be confiscated if you're caught. Please mind Movie in the Park etiquette: Don't sit you chair in front of people with blankets. And if you're a blanket owner do not sit with blank grass in front of you. Someone will simply plop their stuff in front of you and you'll be craning to see the entire night. Honestly, if you can't get there at least an hour before the film starts don't bother. Once it's close to film time the park is insanely crowded. The lineup this year:
July 14 at 8:58pm: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
July 21 at 8:52pm: Duck Soup (1933)
July 28 at 8:45pm: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1950)
August 4 at 8:37pm: Born Yesterday (1933)
August 11 at 8:27: Psycho (1960)
August 18 at 8:17pm:Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
August 25 at 8:05pm: Tootsie (1982)

Lollapalooza
August 7- 9

As I stated in my last post this is my current musical obsession. Just when you think that the Lollapalooza organizers could not top last year's lineup which included Radiohead and Kanye West, this year's lineup is AMAZING: Depeche Mode (assuming that David Gahan will be well enough to continue with their tour- I'm keeping hope alive),The Killers, Thievery Corporation, Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg, Andrew Bird, Lykke Li, Cold War Kids and Vampire Weekend- just to name a few. The early bird 3-day passes for $175 are all sold out. Advanced 3-day tickets are currently $190. The Lolla peeps are being pishers right now and are not releasing the daily schedule or offering single day tickets so if you want to be sure you'll have access to all of the bands I say go ahead and buy the 3-day pass. I'm leaning towards doing this myself.

Concert Mania

I have never been one for outdoor festivals: A bunch of sweaty, drunk people simply isn't my idea of a good time. But this year's Lollapalooza lineup has got me seriously reconsidering my opinion. Depeche Mode, The Killers, Thievery Corporation are a few among the many cool bands playing at the three day out door festival. The ticket prices are a little steep ,currently $190 for all three days, but may well be worth it.
Also on my list of amazing concerts are The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs and PJ Harvey and I am eagerly waiting for Tori Amos tickets to go sale. Yay music!

Getting Old-er

I will be 29 years-old this year. This still sounds strange coming out of my mouth. I am one year away from being 30. I never considered myself someone who had a problem with getting older until I actually started getting older. No one tells you how the last few years of your twenties fly by in a blur. Had I known I would have enjoyed them more. Right now I find myself thinking about where I thought I would be by this age. The space between vision and reality is an ocean. And this is what upsets me the most. I probably would have no problem with getting older if I had achieved all of the things I thought I would have by this point in my life. So, in a quest to save myself from shoulda coulda wouldas I am contemplating being drastic, being brave and being bold. And though this scares the shit out of me I know it's for my own good.

Keyed Up

I've been saving money (or at least attempting to) and of course, the moment you try to save money is when you see things that you want with a capital W. My latest obsession are the new Tiffany & Co. key pendants. Now, I'm not one of those trixies who walks around wearing Tiffany & Co. tag bracelets and necklaces. I find those things to be so pedestrian and boring. But these new pendants...so cute






I've found a few cheap alternatives in the interim. The first one below is from Fred Flare and retails for only $12.The second is from Target and retails for $47.

Lyrics of the day

I've got a ruby red desire
Like a virus like my last hope
I've got a ruby red desire
I've got to hear the red bird sing
I've got to rip this cord
And rinse this lazy blood
Clear a path and walk away

-Ruby Red
Heather Nova

Blank Pages

Anyone who writes will tell you that there is nothing scarier than sitting down at your computer to write those first words of an as- yet undetermined story. The blinking of the cursor on the blank page is taunting and terrorizing. So sticking with my plan to write more and stress about writing less I attended a writing class yesterday. It was the first time that I've sat in a room full of strangers and read work aloud that had been created just five minutes prior. Usually you have time to mold and shape and obsessed over your work (with ample time for the shred and re-write routine). During the hour and -a half class I vacillated between thinking "You're not such a bad writer" to "you suck". This happens often with writers but not as such a break neck pace. The class was fun, but I don't feel incredibly inspired or like a fire was lit under my butt to get anything done. I walked away with some great tips on time management and prompts to get the creative juices flowing. To quote Jack London: "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." So today I'm going to Target to find a club- I'm sure they sell them.

Why, oh, why

What is the deal with male actors getting plastic surgery, lately? Case in point, Rupert Everett: The once dashing, rugged-looking Brit who stole the show from Julia Roberts in My Best Friend's Wedding now looks like a melting wax sculpture. Take a look at the before and after photos from Star Magazine, taken during his recent appearance on the Martha Stewart Show. Blech!

America the greedy

I have to say I am continually amazed at the audacity of right-wing America. The "tea party" tax protests that took place this week were an example of the gap that exists between working class Americans and the wealthiest one percent. As I have read various stories online and seen the ridiculous signs made by "irate" taxpayers I have to wonder how this country continues to be steeped in ignorance. This country currently has the lowest taxes of ANY country in the Western world. Income taxes are the lowest they have been in the last thirty years. Yet somehow the world is coming to an end because the Obama administration has decided to roll back that huge tax cut given to the wealthy by the Bush administration. How dare he! I was appalled by the signs at the protests stating "Don't reward failure" or "Socialism- trickle up Poverty". Give me a break! Half of the idiots who were at these protests make less than $250,000 a year and will actually benefit from Obama's stimulus package. And since when in the land of the "American dream" has being a hard-working, middle class person equaled failure? The average American makes $35,000 a year! So according to the protesters you and me are indeed failures. And so are those awful people who are trying to save their homes and not go into forclosure. And the sick who can't afford healthcare! What moochers! America, we need to find a new way of thinking and fast. This blind capitalism is what has brought us to the place we're in. No one at these protests or in the Republican party have come up with any real ideas about how to fix the economy. I say, protesting only works if you have some ideas of your own on how to fix the mess we're in. What we need in this country is to start caring about everyone who lives in it.
The funny part in all of this, however, is despite the constant promotion of the protests by FoxNews (aka the devil) the turnout was tepid at best. This gives me hope: Maybe most Americans get it.

Sick Day

I've been home sick nursing what feels like a cross between sinusitis, a cold and the flu. Nothing like a tummy ache to make a girl lose the will to live! But as I sit in my bed in my jammies I am feeling restless and ready to create something. I have neglected my writing for sometime and am ready to get back into the swing of things. I am also feeling the need to spend money I don't have on shiny fancy new things! I figure the writing will be far more positive and productive than spending money. I have however, given in to the great sale Express is having right now. Check out the pieces I picked up last weekend.

Lyrics of the Day

Soho in the high tide of the day And for a while I'm swept away -
I just forget it. I use my walkman when I walk,
And I don't talk,
But later on the moment's gone and I don't get it.

- Low Tide of the Night
Everything But The Girl

Shoe Love

I'm not a fan of wearing designer logos on my body (really the only people who can get away with are women who wear Chanel because it's CHANEL!), but these flats from Juicy Couture are adorable. I have been searching for cute flats for spring and these are definitely lust-worthy. But at $150, they are a tad more (okay, more than a tad) than what I am willing to spend on flats to wear on the dirty streets of downtown Chicago. So being the ever resourceful girl that I am I am currently searching for them on eBay!

More Juicy Couture...

Lyrics of the Day

I can decide what I give, but it's not up to me what I get given

-It's Not Up To You
Bjork

Something New

This is a first for me. I am usually a pretty private person -I don't even like posting photos of my self on Facebook. Lately, however, friends and family keep telling me that with all of the precious nuggets of wisdom I like dole out I should "write something". So here I am and here is my new blog "Vivere" which in Italian means "to live" or "to be alive". Each week I will have new posts on lifestyle (recipes, travel, finances, etc.) as well as writing and of course, fashion. A shout out to freefoto.com for the awesome blog title photo. As well as "the lady" aka my Mother for helping me brainstorm on a title!