A few weeks ago, if you would have asked me how I was doing, I would have instinctively responded with “I’m fine”, as seems to be the common and accepted response these days to that question. But in all truth and honesty, I was sad and depressed. I was feeling really down and sorry for myself that I was living back at home and had no future job prospects in the making. Plus, to top it all off, the Christmas season was upon me and I couldn’t have wished for anything to pass over more quickly in my life. I was broke, and it was warm, and I was leaving for Christmas anyways to spend it in Utah, yes still with my family but, away from my beloved holiday tradition. I was just crabby about the situation in general. I hated feeling self indulgent but sometimes when the negative feelings come, it’s hard to replace them with something positive. It’s easier to just let them snowball sometimes.
That is, until something positive actually does come along! Today, two weeks later I am a happier person. I got the job I had been hoping for; we got a massive dumping of snow catapulting me into full blown Christmas mode, and to top it all off, WE’RE STICKING AROUND FOR CHRISTMAS! I couldn’t be more ecstatic with how things have worked out, and it feels so good to be happy about life again. Granted I’m still broke, and there’s no more snow left on the ground, oh...and I’m still living at home, but I’m okay with all of that =) I have the personal satisfaction of knowing I am spreading my wings and challenging life on my own, and I have the anticipation of a fantastic holiday season ahead of me. I have my fantastic friends, my loving family, a warm home, lots of love, and many other blessed things in my life. When you break it all down, and take a look at it all, I really am a very lucky girl. I only wish I could have seen that two weeks ago.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
A Christmas Carol
If anyone is bored this holiday season and is looking for something to do, go see A Christmas Carol at the Milwaukee Rep/Pabst Theatre. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Now, I must admit that when the first mention of seeing the play in Milwaukee was brought up, I didn’t have the highest expectations. I’ve seen a number of plays/musicals in Milwaukee and they have failed to wow me in the past. I assumed this one wouldn’t be any different, but I welcomed the idea of a night out at the theatre anyways…even if it was in Milwaukee.
I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised.
Tara and I arrived just as the lights began to blink in the lobby indicating it was time for us to take our seats. We were escorted to the third row and sat amidst a sold out crowd, dressed to the nines in their business suits, tuxedos, and occasional evening gowns. I took a minute to take in the well dressed crowd, and the gorgeous scenery around me that the Pabst theatre so proudly boasts. Within a matter of moments the music began to play and I was transported back to the late 1800’s, enjoying the classic Christmas tale that Charles Dickens created so many years ago.
The costuming was gorgeous, the set was really quite stunning, and I found myself both laughing and crying throughout most of the production! To top it all off, Jonathan Smoots (whom I’ve seen many times at the American Players Theatre) took the role as the Ghost of Christmas Past and I was thrilled to see a familiar face up there on the stage in Milwaukee!
I left the show with a HUGE smile on my face and an affirmation that Milwaukee can produce some fabulous live theatre. They just need to be given a fair chance.
Now, I must admit that when the first mention of seeing the play in Milwaukee was brought up, I didn’t have the highest expectations. I’ve seen a number of plays/musicals in Milwaukee and they have failed to wow me in the past. I assumed this one wouldn’t be any different, but I welcomed the idea of a night out at the theatre anyways…even if it was in Milwaukee.
I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised.
Tara and I arrived just as the lights began to blink in the lobby indicating it was time for us to take our seats. We were escorted to the third row and sat amidst a sold out crowd, dressed to the nines in their business suits, tuxedos, and occasional evening gowns. I took a minute to take in the well dressed crowd, and the gorgeous scenery around me that the Pabst theatre so proudly boasts. Within a matter of moments the music began to play and I was transported back to the late 1800’s, enjoying the classic Christmas tale that Charles Dickens created so many years ago.
The costuming was gorgeous, the set was really quite stunning, and I found myself both laughing and crying throughout most of the production! To top it all off, Jonathan Smoots (whom I’ve seen many times at the American Players Theatre) took the role as the Ghost of Christmas Past and I was thrilled to see a familiar face up there on the stage in Milwaukee!
I left the show with a HUGE smile on my face and an affirmation that Milwaukee can produce some fabulous live theatre. They just need to be given a fair chance.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
A Spontaneous Ski Trip
I am not a winter type of girl. In fact, I’m quite the baby once the temperatures drop below 50 degrees, and I just can’t seem to ever quite get warm enough. I spend many winter nights plopped on top of heating vents, perched in front of fireplaces, or just simply incapacitated under a blanket on my couch. I truly feel that my body is just not genetically engineered to handle the cold. But alas, amidst my extreme discomfort around subzero temperatures (read: slightly cold), I have a love of snow and all things associated with it, so I’m often able to fight through the deep chill that runs through my body 5 months out of the year, and get out there and enjoy winter!
Last night, my dad and I took a spontaneous trip to Alpine Valley Ski Resort in East Troy, WI to hit a couple of the hills and enjoy the first great snowfall of the season. I suited up in my brother’s old snowboard gear (I haven’t purchased any new skiing equipment for myself in a number of years) and headed to the hills with my dad. We rented some equipment (for such a spontaneous trip it was too much work to haul all of our own personal equipment to the resort) and plopped ourselves on the chair lifts.
It was BITTER cold out there, and the blowing snow that engulfed the ski hill was almost intolerable. I made it down about 8 times and finally after an hour had to call it a night as I was completely frozen solid. It was so great to get out there though. The fresh air and the speed of a Black Diamond slope is something I wouldn’t be able to pass up no matter how cold or uncomfortable I was. Even it was just for an hour
Last night, my dad and I took a spontaneous trip to Alpine Valley Ski Resort in East Troy, WI to hit a couple of the hills and enjoy the first great snowfall of the season. I suited up in my brother’s old snowboard gear (I haven’t purchased any new skiing equipment for myself in a number of years) and headed to the hills with my dad. We rented some equipment (for such a spontaneous trip it was too much work to haul all of our own personal equipment to the resort) and plopped ourselves on the chair lifts.
It was BITTER cold out there, and the blowing snow that engulfed the ski hill was almost intolerable. I made it down about 8 times and finally after an hour had to call it a night as I was completely frozen solid. It was so great to get out there though. The fresh air and the speed of a Black Diamond slope is something I wouldn’t be able to pass up no matter how cold or uncomfortable I was. Even it was just for an hour
Monday, December 04, 2006
Christmas Party 2006
A whirlwind of a weekend is behind me and luckily the hangover that resided after Saturday night’s escapade has subsided and life has resumed on this cold Monday.
The store is put back to normal as the Christy’s Bridal/Anderson/Webley Chiropractic annual Christmas party has come and gone. Every dress is put back on it’s shelf, every ounce of spilled wine and beer is cleaned up, and the quiet little shop I have grown to love is just that today…quiet.
While I don’t think we’ll be hosting such a grand event at the little salon any time soon again, I do have to say that the night came together really nicely and that little shop can accommodate some five star decorations and make you feel as though you’re paying $100 for your plate of dinner at a cozy restaurant down town Chicago…even though you’re really partying in a bridal salon in Burlington, WI =)
But the event didn’t come without its stress. After closing the salon on Friday to prep for the weekend’s festivities, Melinda, my mom and I spent all day (and well into the evening) on Friday, cleaning up and moving out everything being held on the first floor of our tiny shop. Dresses were crammed into fitting rooms, decorations were put into closets, and 5 round tables covered in rich linens now filled the room that once held hundreds of dresses and racks. Decorating came next and by Saturday at 5:00 the room was full of Christmas cheer and the caterers had arrived…as well as the guests.
Louise’s out of Milwaukee did a fabulous job with the catering and I enjoyed my food immensely! After dinner we played a few Christmas party games, did a few too many shots, and I called it a night around 12:30. The party itself wrapped up around 3:30, with the last of the party animals stumbling their way home, and by Sunday the Christmas Party was over and what was left was a disastrous store and a day full of cleaning ahead of us.
I was pretty hung over on Sunday, and I wasn’t much help in the cleaning department, but I did what I could under the circumstances. As we swept, mopped, and dragged dresses back to the salon we laughed at how much work was put into a 6 hour event. Never again we said…never again.
But it was sure fun while it lasted.
View the pictures here
The store is put back to normal as the Christy’s Bridal/Anderson/Webley Chiropractic annual Christmas party has come and gone. Every dress is put back on it’s shelf, every ounce of spilled wine and beer is cleaned up, and the quiet little shop I have grown to love is just that today…quiet.
While I don’t think we’ll be hosting such a grand event at the little salon any time soon again, I do have to say that the night came together really nicely and that little shop can accommodate some five star decorations and make you feel as though you’re paying $100 for your plate of dinner at a cozy restaurant down town Chicago…even though you’re really partying in a bridal salon in Burlington, WI =)
But the event didn’t come without its stress. After closing the salon on Friday to prep for the weekend’s festivities, Melinda, my mom and I spent all day (and well into the evening) on Friday, cleaning up and moving out everything being held on the first floor of our tiny shop. Dresses were crammed into fitting rooms, decorations were put into closets, and 5 round tables covered in rich linens now filled the room that once held hundreds of dresses and racks. Decorating came next and by Saturday at 5:00 the room was full of Christmas cheer and the caterers had arrived…as well as the guests.
Louise’s out of Milwaukee did a fabulous job with the catering and I enjoyed my food immensely! After dinner we played a few Christmas party games, did a few too many shots, and I called it a night around 12:30. The party itself wrapped up around 3:30, with the last of the party animals stumbling their way home, and by Sunday the Christmas Party was over and what was left was a disastrous store and a day full of cleaning ahead of us.
I was pretty hung over on Sunday, and I wasn’t much help in the cleaning department, but I did what I could under the circumstances. As we swept, mopped, and dragged dresses back to the salon we laughed at how much work was put into a 6 hour event. Never again we said…never again.
But it was sure fun while it lasted.
View the pictures here
Friday, December 01, 2006
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
IT’S SNOWING!!!
A huge dumping, white covered, doesn’t show any signs of stopping kind of snowfall. It’s the kind of snow that silences the world around you with its thick blanket and dense fall. It’s the beautiful white powder that looms over streets and housetops before the salt trucks have a chance to muck it all up and turn it brown and unpleasant. It’s the same kind of morning that I used to wish for really hard every winter in Grade School because I knew that the next morning school would be cancelled…and today it has been. Best of all, it’s the type of weather that I needed to put me back into the Christmas mood I’ve been missing this season.
I LOVE snow. Hate winter, love snow. As much as I say I want to, I would never be able to leave this in search of warmer weather. Sure I complain about it come February and March, but I would never want to miss the opportunity to miss the first great snowfall of the season. Days like today are priceless to me. No ocean could ever replace a Wisconsin Blizzard.
A huge dumping, white covered, doesn’t show any signs of stopping kind of snowfall. It’s the kind of snow that silences the world around you with its thick blanket and dense fall. It’s the beautiful white powder that looms over streets and housetops before the salt trucks have a chance to muck it all up and turn it brown and unpleasant. It’s the same kind of morning that I used to wish for really hard every winter in Grade School because I knew that the next morning school would be cancelled…and today it has been. Best of all, it’s the type of weather that I needed to put me back into the Christmas mood I’ve been missing this season.
I LOVE snow. Hate winter, love snow. As much as I say I want to, I would never be able to leave this in search of warmer weather. Sure I complain about it come February and March, but I would never want to miss the opportunity to miss the first great snowfall of the season. Days like today are priceless to me. No ocean could ever replace a Wisconsin Blizzard.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
It Has Arrived
It's here! It's finally here!
That time of year when The Mix plays it's non-stop holiday music and when every store is bursting with twinkling lights and the smells of pine trees. It's the time of year when snow reminds you of innocence and days off of school and when the thought of Santa kept you awake at night. It's a time for decorated store windows and endless shopping lists. It's holiday cheer, warm egg nog, and falling in love around a fire place. Yet finally, who could forget the one thing that I look forward to most each and every year....
THE VICTORIA'S SECRET ANNUAL HOLIDAY CATALOGUE!
Each page is filled with gorgeous exotic lingerie, fabulous gift sets, and of course...adorable holiday attire (including a pink rhinestone Santa hat). Sure I can never afford the 6,000,000 bra that tends to show up, but it's fun to pretend none-the-less.
Now, I have vowed not to turn on The Mix to indulge in the holiday music until AFTER I get through Thanksgiving, and I'm certainly not ready to start putting up my Christmas Tree just yet. But there's something about the VS Holiday Catalogue that tells me...it's okay to start a little early this year. What girl couldn't use a sexy new nighty ;)
The credit card is patiently waiting in my wallet.
That time of year when The Mix plays it's non-stop holiday music and when every store is bursting with twinkling lights and the smells of pine trees. It's the time of year when snow reminds you of innocence and days off of school and when the thought of Santa kept you awake at night. It's a time for decorated store windows and endless shopping lists. It's holiday cheer, warm egg nog, and falling in love around a fire place. Yet finally, who could forget the one thing that I look forward to most each and every year....
THE VICTORIA'S SECRET ANNUAL HOLIDAY CATALOGUE!
Each page is filled with gorgeous exotic lingerie, fabulous gift sets, and of course...adorable holiday attire (including a pink rhinestone Santa hat). Sure I can never afford the 6,000,000 bra that tends to show up, but it's fun to pretend none-the-less.
Now, I have vowed not to turn on The Mix to indulge in the holiday music until AFTER I get through Thanksgiving, and I'm certainly not ready to start putting up my Christmas Tree just yet. But there's something about the VS Holiday Catalogue that tells me...it's okay to start a little early this year. What girl couldn't use a sexy new nighty ;)
The credit card is patiently waiting in my wallet.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Melrose Nights....Revisited
Does anyone remember Melrose Place? That swanky drama about a bunch of 20-somethings trying to live in Los Angeles while sleeping with each other in the process!!! Who WOULDN’T miss that!
The DVD box set of Season One came out on Tuesday and for the past three days I have been engulfed in the dramas of my past. I’m reminded of Wednesday evenings in High School when my two best friends would drive over to my house and we would lounge around in front of the TV eagerly awaiting our Melrose Place nights. We’d pull out my big stuffed dog, fight for who got to lay on the fluffiest part of him, and chat while watching our favorite characters make out, break up, and then date their best friend.
Our Wednesday night get togethers were sure missed once Melrose Place was cancelled.
Through my years I had all but forgotten about Melrose Place, except for the random mentions of it during Pop Culture shows on VH1 or MTV, but then suddenly in a random trip through Target, I catch a glimpse of what used to be and I couldn’t help myself from putting down the $60 and popping it into my DVD player.
It’s a bit more lame than I remember it being when I was 16 but it’s fun to go back none-the-less. Now if only they’d bring Rainbow Bright back. My blast from the past may be very well complete.
The DVD box set of Season One came out on Tuesday and for the past three days I have been engulfed in the dramas of my past. I’m reminded of Wednesday evenings in High School when my two best friends would drive over to my house and we would lounge around in front of the TV eagerly awaiting our Melrose Place nights. We’d pull out my big stuffed dog, fight for who got to lay on the fluffiest part of him, and chat while watching our favorite characters make out, break up, and then date their best friend.
Our Wednesday night get togethers were sure missed once Melrose Place was cancelled.
Through my years I had all but forgotten about Melrose Place, except for the random mentions of it during Pop Culture shows on VH1 or MTV, but then suddenly in a random trip through Target, I catch a glimpse of what used to be and I couldn’t help myself from putting down the $60 and popping it into my DVD player.
It’s a bit more lame than I remember it being when I was 16 but it’s fun to go back none-the-less. Now if only they’d bring Rainbow Bright back. My blast from the past may be very well complete.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Back to School?
I never envisioned this whole “finding myself” process to be so stressful. As I watch my peers around me grow up and move into their “grown up” professional and personal lives, I’ve found myself taking a look at my own life and wondering…”Where the H am I going with it?!” As my year of resume padding at Christy’s Bridal has come to a close, the stress of job hunting has come upon me...again and yet, as I continue to browse through my options in the fashion industry (or lack there of in this area) I can’t help but realize that I’m no longer as passionate about it all as I once was.
Sure I love great clothes and over priced designer labels, but what I’ve found I love even more than that is the consumer behavior behind all of it. WHAT makes us buy what we do, HOW do we get them to continue to do it?! In my time at Christy’s I’ve found myself focusing more and more on the advertising and marketing portions of my job description, and less and less with the fashion portion of my job. I LOVE writing (although I’m not very good at it), I LOVE brainstorming with groups of people to regurgitate out some new great marketing idea, and I LOVE implementing all of that into one fabulous special event to promote the hell out of something!! Suddenly the dresses and the merchandising have taken a backseat to everything else I once thought was my “calling”.
I know that you hear all the time how many people transfer jobs like 30 times before they find something they love, and some people have two, three, even FOUR bachelors degrees on their resume because they just can’t seem to find that exact fit. I realize that in an age of limitless options it’s only natural that we’d take full advantage of all of it, but I never envisioned myself needing to. I always thought I was made for the fashion industry.
But as I do my own growing up, and my own personal career exploration I’m finding that what once was true just isn’t so much anymore. Dear lord the story of my life! So I’m contemplating heading back to school and switching focus a little bit; maybe something along the Advertising or Journalism lines. I have many creative friends already in the industries so I’ll have plenty of help along the way if need be, and plenty of advice to go off of this time around.
We’ll see though. Tomorrow is another day, with a whole different set of emotions to go along with it. =)
Sure I love great clothes and over priced designer labels, but what I’ve found I love even more than that is the consumer behavior behind all of it. WHAT makes us buy what we do, HOW do we get them to continue to do it?! In my time at Christy’s I’ve found myself focusing more and more on the advertising and marketing portions of my job description, and less and less with the fashion portion of my job. I LOVE writing (although I’m not very good at it), I LOVE brainstorming with groups of people to regurgitate out some new great marketing idea, and I LOVE implementing all of that into one fabulous special event to promote the hell out of something!! Suddenly the dresses and the merchandising have taken a backseat to everything else I once thought was my “calling”.
I know that you hear all the time how many people transfer jobs like 30 times before they find something they love, and some people have two, three, even FOUR bachelors degrees on their resume because they just can’t seem to find that exact fit. I realize that in an age of limitless options it’s only natural that we’d take full advantage of all of it, but I never envisioned myself needing to. I always thought I was made for the fashion industry.
But as I do my own growing up, and my own personal career exploration I’m finding that what once was true just isn’t so much anymore. Dear lord the story of my life! So I’m contemplating heading back to school and switching focus a little bit; maybe something along the Advertising or Journalism lines. I have many creative friends already in the industries so I’ll have plenty of help along the way if need be, and plenty of advice to go off of this time around.
We’ll see though. Tomorrow is another day, with a whole different set of emotions to go along with it. =)
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Shout Out Number 4
I realize that I normally do my “shout outs” on Friday, but in wake of this weekend’s festivities, I won’t be around tomorrow to blog about anything, and this particular shout out is much too important to go un-noticed. In fact, it’s so important, that it merits its own entire entry.
So, for this week, I’d like to send a single, simple, one-and only shout out.
TO ERIN AND DAVE’S WEDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, for this week, I’d like to send a single, simple, one-and only shout out.
For a year and a half we have been planning, and emailing, and partying, and shopping, and chatting all things wedding…just waiting for this day to arrive. And now, in just two short days my best friend on the planet will be walking down the isle to say “I Do” to the man of her dreams. It sure makes you all ooey and gooey inside over love doesn’t it?
The wedding festivities kick off tomorrow with a girly day of lunch and manis/pedis then rehearsal, dinner and then Saturday we awake to October 28….the wedding.
I can’t wait. I’m just beaming from the inside out.
I’ll be back on Monday everyone (with tons of pictures I’m sure).
*cheers to love*
Friday, October 13, 2006
Shoutouts Number 3
With nothing else to post...here are my weekly shoutouts:
To Superstition! Without it, days like today (Friday the 13) would be meaningless and I wouldn't have an excuse to sit around all night and watch scary movies or secretly fear the ladder leaning up against my garage door at the moment.
To Erin! HAPPY BACHELORETTE PARTY WEEK!!! The DAYS are counting down until the big day. I absolutley can't wait!
To The Blushing Bride! Thanks for all the extra business ;)
To Winter! I HATE YOU. Ooohh I just cringed saying that. That sounded so evil. Okay I digress. I'm angry at your early arrival.
To Chicago! For always being such a happening, busy, welcoming metropolis. You make me miss you more and more every time I visit.
To Finding Old CD's! I've loved my drives to and from Milwaukee, jamming to the sounds of my past. =)
To Superstition! Without it, days like today (Friday the 13) would be meaningless and I wouldn't have an excuse to sit around all night and watch scary movies or secretly fear the ladder leaning up against my garage door at the moment.
To Erin! HAPPY BACHELORETTE PARTY WEEK!!! The DAYS are counting down until the big day. I absolutley can't wait!
To The Blushing Bride! Thanks for all the extra business ;)
To Winter! I HATE YOU. Ooohh I just cringed saying that. That sounded so evil. Okay I digress. I'm angry at your early arrival.
To Chicago! For always being such a happening, busy, welcoming metropolis. You make me miss you more and more every time I visit.
To Finding Old CD's! I've loved my drives to and from Milwaukee, jamming to the sounds of my past. =)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Bridal Stuff
I don’t think my mom and I ever envisioned the bridal industry to be so exhausting when the idea was first thrown around to open up a shop here in Burlington. As nieve entrepreneurs I really think we were expecting a relaxed, yet excitable, atmosphere where everyone is happy and absolutely positively in love. Who wouldn’t be while planning a wedding?!
We couldn’t have been more wrong.
For the past year we have delt with screaming brides, over controlling mothers, cancelled weddings, restraining orders, pagent moms, and most recently: bankruptcy. It has all contributed to fabulous stories, which my mom and I like to re-tell sometimes when we’re really bored (and secretly wishing for a bit of drama in our store), but it also makes weeks like this past one…a bit hard to handle.
My mom took a much needed vacation away from the store this week, which meant I was in charge. Things were going really well until the Blushing Bride suddenly declared bankruptcy and our store found itself in the midst of interviews, panicked brides, and concerned citizens. We dealt with what we could, and helped who we were able to, all the while trying not to ignore our own brides and appointments that were coming into the store all week. Between the daily 100 + phone calls and the influx of brides into our store (both ours and the Blushing Brides) I was crazy busy that’s for sure…and I quickly began to stress out.
By Friday morning I was in work overload. I had a list of people to contact waiting for me on my desk, a voice mail box full of brides awaiting help, and on top of it, 5 weddings to ensure got off timely and properly. Lets not also forget the number of vendors trying to get a hold of me to come visit their booth at Chicago Market week (we’ll get to that later in the post). The tip of the ice burg came when one of our brides called complaining that her dress re-wrinkled on her way to the church, and she wanted me to come there and re-steam it for her.
I lost it.
I called up my mom and cried to her about how I’m all by myself and there’s nobody to help me with all of this and that I’m just not cut out for this! (I work well under pressure to a point…then I crack). I’m expected to be here helping out these brides, and I’m expected to be there helping out another bride. Where am I supposed to be?! I got angry with her for a minute for leaving me there but I quickly calmed down and realized this wasn’t all that bad. I could definitely handle it all. And I did. Friday came and went, Saturday came and went, and then Sunday finally came and I was able to leave the salon for a few days and head to Chicago for the National Bridal Market which takes place twice a year at the Merchandise Mart downtown.
Melinda and I took the early train down Sunday morning and spent all day Sunday at various fashion shows checking out the new Spring 2007 collections. It was a blast and we saw a lot of really great stuff!! I found myself a bit star struck as we went to each of the shows and were able to talk to the designers of the lines. They’re just such amazingly talented people and I was meeting them face to face! I loved it. Compare it to meeting your favorite movie star or musician…only I have no interest in musicians or actors…I love designers.
Melinda and grabbed the 5:00 train home but it was back to Market on Monday when my mom came back. I introduced her to a few new lines that I was hoping to introduce into our store, and we made our purchases for the season. We’re really excited about the lines this year!
After market, my mom and I made our way to our hotel room that we got for the night to get ready for the Debi Awards, being held at the Field Museum. We were invited to attend the black-tie affair by Essense of Australia, one of our bridal designers, and we happily obliged an evening to get dressed up and eat and drink with a group of designers =) My mom and I had never attended a Debi awards ceremony, so we weren’t entirely sure what to wear. I kept it low key with an a-line ball gown skirt and a tank top with a capelet, while my mom wore her St. John black suit. We didn’t want to over-do it. I should have known however, that a black-tie event in the fashion industry is never low-key.
We arrived to the Field Museum, walked up the grand staircase, and entered to what I believe is my version of heaven. Elegantly decorated tables, candlight everywhere and the most beautifully dressed people I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I found myself stopping and staring as so many gorgeous women walked past me in their thousand dollar beaded gowns. I compared it to what the Oscars might feel like and I got a little jealous at the movie stars for a slight second.
My mom and I walked around with our glasses of wine and took in everything until an announcement was made that dinner was about to begin. We walked back down the grand staircase into the main lobby and found our table already occupied by the Essense design team.
The girls were amazing and the food was to die for as well. As desert was brought out, the fashion show began (hosted by John O’Hurly) and the excitement inside of me just couldn’t be contained. Watching a Vera Wang gown strut down the runway literally brought a tear to my eye and just knowing that the designer for Monique Lhullier was sitting a few tables down from me made me feel as star struck as a little girl meeting Mickey Mouse for the first time. I was sad to have to say goodbye but mom and I needed to get home. I loved every second of my time at the Debi awards, and I absolutely can’t WAIT to do it again next year.
Tuesday came, and life resumed as usual. I filled my mom in on everything that had been happening in the week and we prepared our store for our incoming new stock as well as our 50% off sale this coming weekend. I’m glad to have her back to help buffer some of the stress of the salon. But I must say, the more I do this…the more I absolutely love my job.
We couldn’t have been more wrong.
For the past year we have delt with screaming brides, over controlling mothers, cancelled weddings, restraining orders, pagent moms, and most recently: bankruptcy. It has all contributed to fabulous stories, which my mom and I like to re-tell sometimes when we’re really bored (and secretly wishing for a bit of drama in our store), but it also makes weeks like this past one…a bit hard to handle.
My mom took a much needed vacation away from the store this week, which meant I was in charge. Things were going really well until the Blushing Bride suddenly declared bankruptcy and our store found itself in the midst of interviews, panicked brides, and concerned citizens. We dealt with what we could, and helped who we were able to, all the while trying not to ignore our own brides and appointments that were coming into the store all week. Between the daily 100 + phone calls and the influx of brides into our store (both ours and the Blushing Brides) I was crazy busy that’s for sure…and I quickly began to stress out.
By Friday morning I was in work overload. I had a list of people to contact waiting for me on my desk, a voice mail box full of brides awaiting help, and on top of it, 5 weddings to ensure got off timely and properly. Lets not also forget the number of vendors trying to get a hold of me to come visit their booth at Chicago Market week (we’ll get to that later in the post). The tip of the ice burg came when one of our brides called complaining that her dress re-wrinkled on her way to the church, and she wanted me to come there and re-steam it for her.
I lost it.
I called up my mom and cried to her about how I’m all by myself and there’s nobody to help me with all of this and that I’m just not cut out for this! (I work well under pressure to a point…then I crack). I’m expected to be here helping out these brides, and I’m expected to be there helping out another bride. Where am I supposed to be?! I got angry with her for a minute for leaving me there but I quickly calmed down and realized this wasn’t all that bad. I could definitely handle it all. And I did. Friday came and went, Saturday came and went, and then Sunday finally came and I was able to leave the salon for a few days and head to Chicago for the National Bridal Market which takes place twice a year at the Merchandise Mart downtown.
Melinda and I took the early train down Sunday morning and spent all day Sunday at various fashion shows checking out the new Spring 2007 collections. It was a blast and we saw a lot of really great stuff!! I found myself a bit star struck as we went to each of the shows and were able to talk to the designers of the lines. They’re just such amazingly talented people and I was meeting them face to face! I loved it. Compare it to meeting your favorite movie star or musician…only I have no interest in musicians or actors…I love designers.
Melinda and grabbed the 5:00 train home but it was back to Market on Monday when my mom came back. I introduced her to a few new lines that I was hoping to introduce into our store, and we made our purchases for the season. We’re really excited about the lines this year!
After market, my mom and I made our way to our hotel room that we got for the night to get ready for the Debi Awards, being held at the Field Museum. We were invited to attend the black-tie affair by Essense of Australia, one of our bridal designers, and we happily obliged an evening to get dressed up and eat and drink with a group of designers =) My mom and I had never attended a Debi awards ceremony, so we weren’t entirely sure what to wear. I kept it low key with an a-line ball gown skirt and a tank top with a capelet, while my mom wore her St. John black suit. We didn’t want to over-do it. I should have known however, that a black-tie event in the fashion industry is never low-key.
We arrived to the Field Museum, walked up the grand staircase, and entered to what I believe is my version of heaven. Elegantly decorated tables, candlight everywhere and the most beautifully dressed people I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I found myself stopping and staring as so many gorgeous women walked past me in their thousand dollar beaded gowns. I compared it to what the Oscars might feel like and I got a little jealous at the movie stars for a slight second.
My mom and I walked around with our glasses of wine and took in everything until an announcement was made that dinner was about to begin. We walked back down the grand staircase into the main lobby and found our table already occupied by the Essense design team.
The girls were amazing and the food was to die for as well. As desert was brought out, the fashion show began (hosted by John O’Hurly) and the excitement inside of me just couldn’t be contained. Watching a Vera Wang gown strut down the runway literally brought a tear to my eye and just knowing that the designer for Monique Lhullier was sitting a few tables down from me made me feel as star struck as a little girl meeting Mickey Mouse for the first time. I was sad to have to say goodbye but mom and I needed to get home. I loved every second of my time at the Debi awards, and I absolutely can’t WAIT to do it again next year.
Tuesday came, and life resumed as usual. I filled my mom in on everything that had been happening in the week and we prepared our store for our incoming new stock as well as our 50% off sale this coming weekend. I’m glad to have her back to help buffer some of the stress of the salon. But I must say, the more I do this…the more I absolutely love my job.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
The up side of things
When I heard about the Blushing Bride fiasco I was stunned that a store owner could do something like that to her customers. In an industry revolving around brides and their special day, it hurt me to see so many at a loss…and in tears…as their wedding dates crept up on them. Hundreds of brides left without a dress, hundreds of dollars poorer…and no hope in sight. Luckily, they were wrong.
Since the story broke on Tuesday evening, I have been hearing nothing but horror stories turned miraculous as bride after bride is being offered a second chance to turn this whole situation around into a positive one. Salon owners have been donating dresses and taking on responsibilities of shipments so that these brides can receive their dresses. Previously competition, these stores are working together and putting profits aside to make sure these women get the day they have always envisioned having.
But it’s not only salon owners that are getting involved.
Previous brides are donating dresses left and right so they have something to wear on their special day and other companies are offering monetary donations to these brides to be used as a down payment on a new dress. Finally, tears of sorrow are turning to tears of joy as these brides receive the help they deserve.
I must admit, these past few weeks have really made me question the world…and humanity. With the abundance of school shootings and pedophilia in the news lately, I’ve found myself questioning literally: “What is happening to the world?!”. At night, I’ll just sit and stare at the TV, amazed that this is really the world I’m living in sometimes. What is happening to us? Do we have no regard for human suffering anymore? Are we that self involved that we only see our own personal motives?
After weeks of thinking we were doomed as a society, another unfortunate circumstance has managed to turn it all around and prove to me that through all the bad, the good will still flourish…and humans will still continue to do good things for others.
Thank you humanity.
Since the story broke on Tuesday evening, I have been hearing nothing but horror stories turned miraculous as bride after bride is being offered a second chance to turn this whole situation around into a positive one. Salon owners have been donating dresses and taking on responsibilities of shipments so that these brides can receive their dresses. Previously competition, these stores are working together and putting profits aside to make sure these women get the day they have always envisioned having.
But it’s not only salon owners that are getting involved.
Previous brides are donating dresses left and right so they have something to wear on their special day and other companies are offering monetary donations to these brides to be used as a down payment on a new dress. Finally, tears of sorrow are turning to tears of joy as these brides receive the help they deserve.
I must admit, these past few weeks have really made me question the world…and humanity. With the abundance of school shootings and pedophilia in the news lately, I’ve found myself questioning literally: “What is happening to the world?!”. At night, I’ll just sit and stare at the TV, amazed that this is really the world I’m living in sometimes. What is happening to us? Do we have no regard for human suffering anymore? Are we that self involved that we only see our own personal motives?
After weeks of thinking we were doomed as a society, another unfortunate circumstance has managed to turn it all around and prove to me that through all the bad, the good will still flourish…and humans will still continue to do good things for others.
Thank you humanity.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Life List
...because I feel it's important to take a look at your life and get focused on all that you hope to do with it.
(In no particular order)
With my life, I hope to:
Swim with the dolphins
Learn How to Play Guitar
Visit the rainforest
Eat more Vegetables
Drink more water
Learn How to Play the Bongos
Visit every continent…yes…even Antarctica
Become fluent in a foreign language
Watch a wale swim wildly in the ocean
Take an African Safari
Open my own business
Raise a family
Scuba Dive
Sky Dive!
Do more things that scare me
See the Grand Canyon
Take a cross country road trip
Live in New York City
Swim in the Mediterranean Sea
Bike through Ireland
Lick a frog
Study Buddhism under a Buddhist monk
Learn to cook
Volunteer more
Become a mentor
(In no particular order)
With my life, I hope to:
Swim with the dolphins
Learn How to Play Guitar
Visit the rainforest
Eat more Vegetables
Drink more water
Learn How to Play the Bongos
Visit every continent…yes…even Antarctica
Become fluent in a foreign language
Watch a wale swim wildly in the ocean
Take an African Safari
Open my own business
Raise a family
Scuba Dive
Sky Dive!
Do more things that scare me
See the Grand Canyon
Take a cross country road trip
Live in New York City
Swim in the Mediterranean Sea
Bike through Ireland
Lick a frog
Study Buddhism under a Buddhist monk
Learn to cook
Volunteer more
Become a mentor
Friday, September 15, 2006
Another Weekly Shoutout
I think I may just make this a regular post =)
* Katie K. HAPPY 30TH!!!
* Flashback Fridays on 94.5 WKTI. I love singing along to them on my drive to work in the morning.
* The flying V! Although it signifies the coming of colder weather, I can't help but stare in amazement as I watch the birds flying high overhead, in that all too familiar manner. And in my amazement, I can't help but wonder: WHAT the H makes them do it, WHERE do they go, and HOW do they decide what birds get to go and which ones have to wait for a different V.
* HAPPY HAIR TRIAL WEEK ERIN!
* Katie K. HAPPY 30TH!!!
* Flashback Fridays on 94.5 WKTI. I love singing along to them on my drive to work in the morning.
* The flying V! Although it signifies the coming of colder weather, I can't help but stare in amazement as I watch the birds flying high overhead, in that all too familiar manner. And in my amazement, I can't help but wonder: WHAT the H makes them do it, WHERE do they go, and HOW do they decide what birds get to go and which ones have to wait for a different V.
* HAPPY HAIR TRIAL WEEK ERIN!
Monday, September 11, 2006
9/11
In a world where entertainment power houses profit on a nation’s suffering, and “remembering” has been reduced to magnetic ribbons on our cars, I’ve found it hard to figure out my own personal way of paying tribute to so many loss of lives during this 5 year anniversary of 9/11. As luck would have it, I randomly came across a blog which had dedicated itself not only to remembering the victims of 9/11 as a whole, but to remembering each individual, by name…all 2, 996 of them.
2,996 bloggers were assigned a different person and were asked to post a tribute to their specific victim. I was thrilled to receive my name in my email inbox and I spent numerous days researching his name and his life, trying to get the best sense I could as to who this man was in his years before the terrible tragedy of 9/11. With each article I read and each picture I saw, his presence began to feel more real and I found myself crying for his loss, many times. For the first time since the attacks, I somehow felt personally connected to an individual and I knew that the other 2,995 people felt the exact same way.
Today, I remember Herman Sandler who according to his obituary was a loving husband, a devoted father to three, a role model and mentor to hundreds of young people. He was a generous and caring man, devoting much of his time and money to Sting’s Rain Forest Foundation and in smaller projects such as the Tibetan Peace Garden in London. His memory is not forgotten, and the kind words of remembrance can be found all across the World Wide Web. As I close my tribute to Herman Sandler on this five year anniversary, I’d like to leave with words from his closest friends and family. Today, Herman is not just another number…he is remembered.
“I will miss his company; I will miss trying to amuse him just to hear his infectious laughter. He imbued New York with his vital life force, and it’s a smaller apple without him. We will always remember him.” Trudie Styler and Sting
“To our best friend who filled us with a passion for living and the inspiration to carry on. We will always remember and love you.” Melvin, Helen and Jack Heller
“We will miss you, your knowledge, enthusiasm, generosity, humor, and most of all your friendship. Our deepest sympathies to Suki and the family.” Jackie and Mort Ackerman
Herman Sandler, 57
2,996 bloggers were assigned a different person and were asked to post a tribute to their specific victim. I was thrilled to receive my name in my email inbox and I spent numerous days researching his name and his life, trying to get the best sense I could as to who this man was in his years before the terrible tragedy of 9/11. With each article I read and each picture I saw, his presence began to feel more real and I found myself crying for his loss, many times. For the first time since the attacks, I somehow felt personally connected to an individual and I knew that the other 2,995 people felt the exact same way.
Today, I remember Herman Sandler who according to his obituary was a loving husband, a devoted father to three, a role model and mentor to hundreds of young people. He was a generous and caring man, devoting much of his time and money to Sting’s Rain Forest Foundation and in smaller projects such as the Tibetan Peace Garden in London. His memory is not forgotten, and the kind words of remembrance can be found all across the World Wide Web. As I close my tribute to Herman Sandler on this five year anniversary, I’d like to leave with words from his closest friends and family. Today, Herman is not just another number…he is remembered.
“I will miss his company; I will miss trying to amuse him just to hear his infectious laughter. He imbued New York with his vital life force, and it’s a smaller apple without him. We will always remember him.” Trudie Styler and Sting
“To our best friend who filled us with a passion for living and the inspiration to carry on. We will always remember and love you.” Melvin, Helen and Jack Heller
“We will miss you, your knowledge, enthusiasm, generosity, humor, and most of all your friendship. Our deepest sympathies to Suki and the family.” Jackie and Mort Ackerman
Thursday, September 07, 2006
My Own 100
I never really envisioned myself making a big deal out of my "100th" post in fact, I didn't even know I was nearing my 100th until I randomly checked my profile the other day and realized I had just posted number "99". What are the chances!
As I purused other blogs I realized that the trendy blog-thing to do is to post a "100 Things About Me" post, and I happily obliged.
So here it is, my very own 100th post...100 list.
1. I was born on May 18, 1982 in Burlington, Wisconsin
2. I was born to two teenage parents who fought all odds and have developed a successful, healthy family life.
3. They were married when I was two, and have been together ever since!
4. I have one younger brother, his name is Mikey. Hes one of my favorite people on the planet!
5. When I was younger I used to plan out our marriage to each other. I was seriously under the assumption that every family had one boy and one girl so that they could be married some day. I was shocked to later find out that kind of thinking is a crime! (And that some of my friends had more than one sibling!!)
6. There are 8 children on my dads side and six children on my moms side. Our Christmass are always quite big!
7. I used to memorize books on tape when I was three and then read to my parents.
8. I cried on my first day of Kindergarden because I got on the wrong bus, and I didnt learn how to actually read!
9. I grew up idolizing Madonna and Cindy Lauper. I used to run around my school singing "Like a Virgin" when I was 4.
10. I miss the way the world looked behind the handle bars of my tricycle, but now I love the way the world looks under the drop top of my Cabrio.
11. Ive always been ridiculously independent. In first grade my parents would have to leave early for work so I would have to get to and from school by myself. I always knew it was time to leave when Captain Kangaroo was over =) Ive done things on my own pretty much ever since!
12. In 3rd grade I used to force my friends to skip their recess because we had to practice our dance for the talent showthe following year!
13. I once cried for a week straight when I found out my parents butchered the pig I thought they were bringing home to be my pet.
14. Ive ALWAYS been a girly girl
15. I loved barbies, dresses, and makeup when I was younger.
16. I started myself on a strict skin care routine at the age of 10.
17. Ive been following it ever since!
18. My mom and I make yearly trips together to the Spa to get facials.
19. My parents always wanted me to be a jock so they enrolled me in a number of sports.
20. With each sport I was always more interested in the flowers on the field or the food in the stadium.
21. I once tried to pee in a Depends to see just how much those could really hold.
22. I went to a Catholic grade school and a public high school. I never bought the Catholic beliefs. I was a born skeptic of everything I was taught. Ive had a hard time going to church since I left.
23. We had two cliques in Grade School: The Snob Squad and The Nerd Herd. I was of course part of the latter =)
24. I drank my first beer the summer leaving St. Marys at Tony Belmores going away party. It was the first time The Snob Squad and The Nerd Herd hung out together. Ill remember it always =)
25. I once saved $500 for a horse but ended up going out and shopping with it instead.
26. My first kiss was in my Freshman year of High School.
27. We ended up dating for 4 years but never officially broke up. I wonder if that means all this time Ive been cheating on him =)
28. I LOVE to eat Gushers
29. I like to pop out the juice from them first, suck it out then eat the squishy part last.
30. I peel ALL the cheese off of my pizza and just eat the crust.
31. I also refuse to eat the last bite of any of my food, or drink the last drink of any of my drinks.
32. *knock on wood* Ive never broken a single bone in my body.
33. But I did sprain my tail bone REALLY bad at Karen Smileys birthday party in fourth grade. I never told anyone!
34. I have pride issues.
35. I get my hair done every two months and every time I go in, I change it.
36. I think I have ADD
37. Im fascinated by how people act when they think nobody is watching
38. I was once in a damaging earthquake while studying in Mexico.
39. It was the strangest feeling Ive had to date.
40. I think Im addicted to Myspace
41. Im a TERRIBLE speller.
42. Its more so just laziness.
43. I could dance every day of my life
44. I was on the dance team for two years in High School and I absolutely loved it!
45. It wasnt until many years later that my best friend Erin and I were watching old tapes of our routines and we realized we were actually quite bad! (We thought we were pretty good at the time)
46. I was on Prom Court in High School. I was seriously convinced for the longest time that it was a joke. (was it?)
47. I had a hard time saying goodbye to High School. It was a great four years!
48. My best friend and I planned a three week tour of Europe for the summer we left High School. The day we went to buy our tickets, she bailed on me and I think Ive held a grudge against her for it ever since.
49. I went to three different colleges after high school, in three different states and I finally graduated with a BA in Fashion Merchandising from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago, IL.
50. Im still trying to tap into the fashion industry.
51. I went through a huge experimentation phase in college.
52. Its important for my character that I try everything once. Im a firm believer in the dont knock it until you try it cliché.
53. If I could choose to be addicted to one drug I would definitely choose Exstacy
54. I truly feel everyone should try it at least once (please dont fight me on this he he)
55. I got my first and only tattoo when I was living in Minneapolis. My roommates and I were very bored one day and so we decided to get tattoos to pass some time.
56. Its a butterfly on my lower right hip.
57. It means absolutely nothing
58. Politics bore me
59. Im not an over opinionated person
60. I just like things to go my way =)
61. I love to travel, but I have a fear of flying! I literally have panic attacks on every plane ride.
62. My first plane ride was when I was 11. My entire family went down to Florida.
63. Ive been to four different countries (other than the US) and 24 of the 50 US states.
64. I have a slight (read: immense!) fear of terrorists and death. Enter my fear of flying.
65. My first concert was when I was 15. It was Alanis Morrisette. Since then Ive seen well over 100 different concerts in my lifetime.
66. Ive always been relatively quiet and well mannered. Every year my parents would always hear from my teachers I wish all my students were like Christi
67. I lost my grandma in 2003 and Ive thought of her every day since then
68. I ran and finished the Chicago Marathon in October 2004. It has been the greatest achievement of my life thus far.
69. I recently lost a family member to suicide. I found myself angry at the situation and I still to this day cannot understand depression.
70. Im a true optimist, but rather cynical with my own personal life.
71. I over analyze most tough (read: all) decisions
72. Jealousy annoys me
73. I am in love with a wonderful woman. Weve been together for two years.
74. Shes the first person Ive fully let into my life.
75. I refuse to label myself as a lesbian, or as bisexual. I believe labels are too confining.
76. Ive only had my heart truly and fully broken once. It was the hardest year of my life!
77. I LOATHE the malls. I love shopping in an intimate boutique setting as opposed to a cattle-like shopping arena.
78. I have a slight obsession with couture denim. Ill usually spend between $200 and $250 on my jeans.
79. I love to reminisce. I miss a lot about my past.
80. I could watch old home videos for hours!
81. I get bored easily
82. Ive always loved planning things. Even as a kid I would plan little events for me and my friends to do.
83. Music is in my blood. Its the one thing I turn to when Im having a rough day.
84. Drives in the Cabby with the top down and fabulous music blaring is one of the things I look forward to most in my life.
85. I love simple pleasures and playing with my inner child.
86. People will argue with me, but I am absolutely NOT high maintenance
87. My first job was as a hostess at Houlihans in Lake GenevaI HATED it!
88. Soon after, I went to work at Geneva National Golf Club and it is still to date the best job I ever had!
89. I currently work in the bridal industry but am desperately trying to get out of itat least the retail end of it
90. Im not an over doting person.
91. Romance and sweet talk makes me laugh.
92. Im a huge mood killer
93. When I am tired, I play with my hair. Its very soothing.
94. I am not engineered for the cold. When the temperature drops below 70 my sweaters come out and the extra down comforter goes on.
95. Im very passive
96. My biggest pet peeve is when people slow down traffic to stare at whatever is going on off to the side of the road.
97. Im a big flirt, sometimes unknowingly
98. The words poop and sippy cup ALWAYS without fail put a smile on my face. Im smiling as I type this.
99. If I could own an entire farm of Pugs I would!
100. I love these self indulgent blog moments
As I purused other blogs I realized that the trendy blog-thing to do is to post a "100 Things About Me" post, and I happily obliged.
So here it is, my very own 100th post...100 list.
1. I was born on May 18, 1982 in Burlington, Wisconsin
2. I was born to two teenage parents who fought all odds and have developed a successful, healthy family life.
3. They were married when I was two, and have been together ever since!
4. I have one younger brother, his name is Mikey. Hes one of my favorite people on the planet!
5. When I was younger I used to plan out our marriage to each other. I was seriously under the assumption that every family had one boy and one girl so that they could be married some day. I was shocked to later find out that kind of thinking is a crime! (And that some of my friends had more than one sibling!!)
6. There are 8 children on my dads side and six children on my moms side. Our Christmass are always quite big!
7. I used to memorize books on tape when I was three and then read to my parents.
8. I cried on my first day of Kindergarden because I got on the wrong bus, and I didnt learn how to actually read!
9. I grew up idolizing Madonna and Cindy Lauper. I used to run around my school singing "Like a Virgin" when I was 4.
10. I miss the way the world looked behind the handle bars of my tricycle, but now I love the way the world looks under the drop top of my Cabrio.
11. Ive always been ridiculously independent. In first grade my parents would have to leave early for work so I would have to get to and from school by myself. I always knew it was time to leave when Captain Kangaroo was over =) Ive done things on my own pretty much ever since!
12. In 3rd grade I used to force my friends to skip their recess because we had to practice our dance for the talent showthe following year!
13. I once cried for a week straight when I found out my parents butchered the pig I thought they were bringing home to be my pet.
14. Ive ALWAYS been a girly girl
15. I loved barbies, dresses, and makeup when I was younger.
16. I started myself on a strict skin care routine at the age of 10.
17. Ive been following it ever since!
18. My mom and I make yearly trips together to the Spa to get facials.
19. My parents always wanted me to be a jock so they enrolled me in a number of sports.
20. With each sport I was always more interested in the flowers on the field or the food in the stadium.
21. I once tried to pee in a Depends to see just how much those could really hold.
22. I went to a Catholic grade school and a public high school. I never bought the Catholic beliefs. I was a born skeptic of everything I was taught. Ive had a hard time going to church since I left.
23. We had two cliques in Grade School: The Snob Squad and The Nerd Herd. I was of course part of the latter =)
24. I drank my first beer the summer leaving St. Marys at Tony Belmores going away party. It was the first time The Snob Squad and The Nerd Herd hung out together. Ill remember it always =)
25. I once saved $500 for a horse but ended up going out and shopping with it instead.
26. My first kiss was in my Freshman year of High School.
27. We ended up dating for 4 years but never officially broke up. I wonder if that means all this time Ive been cheating on him =)
28. I LOVE to eat Gushers
29. I like to pop out the juice from them first, suck it out then eat the squishy part last.
30. I peel ALL the cheese off of my pizza and just eat the crust.
31. I also refuse to eat the last bite of any of my food, or drink the last drink of any of my drinks.
32. *knock on wood* Ive never broken a single bone in my body.
33. But I did sprain my tail bone REALLY bad at Karen Smileys birthday party in fourth grade. I never told anyone!
34. I have pride issues.
35. I get my hair done every two months and every time I go in, I change it.
36. I think I have ADD
37. Im fascinated by how people act when they think nobody is watching
38. I was once in a damaging earthquake while studying in Mexico.
39. It was the strangest feeling Ive had to date.
40. I think Im addicted to Myspace
41. Im a TERRIBLE speller.
42. Its more so just laziness.
43. I could dance every day of my life
44. I was on the dance team for two years in High School and I absolutely loved it!
45. It wasnt until many years later that my best friend Erin and I were watching old tapes of our routines and we realized we were actually quite bad! (We thought we were pretty good at the time)
46. I was on Prom Court in High School. I was seriously convinced for the longest time that it was a joke. (was it?)
47. I had a hard time saying goodbye to High School. It was a great four years!
48. My best friend and I planned a three week tour of Europe for the summer we left High School. The day we went to buy our tickets, she bailed on me and I think Ive held a grudge against her for it ever since.
49. I went to three different colleges after high school, in three different states and I finally graduated with a BA in Fashion Merchandising from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago, IL.
50. Im still trying to tap into the fashion industry.
51. I went through a huge experimentation phase in college.
52. Its important for my character that I try everything once. Im a firm believer in the dont knock it until you try it cliché.
53. If I could choose to be addicted to one drug I would definitely choose Exstacy
54. I truly feel everyone should try it at least once (please dont fight me on this he he)
55. I got my first and only tattoo when I was living in Minneapolis. My roommates and I were very bored one day and so we decided to get tattoos to pass some time.
56. Its a butterfly on my lower right hip.
57. It means absolutely nothing
58. Politics bore me
59. Im not an over opinionated person
60. I just like things to go my way =)
61. I love to travel, but I have a fear of flying! I literally have panic attacks on every plane ride.
62. My first plane ride was when I was 11. My entire family went down to Florida.
63. Ive been to four different countries (other than the US) and 24 of the 50 US states.
64. I have a slight (read: immense!) fear of terrorists and death. Enter my fear of flying.
65. My first concert was when I was 15. It was Alanis Morrisette. Since then Ive seen well over 100 different concerts in my lifetime.
66. Ive always been relatively quiet and well mannered. Every year my parents would always hear from my teachers I wish all my students were like Christi
67. I lost my grandma in 2003 and Ive thought of her every day since then
68. I ran and finished the Chicago Marathon in October 2004. It has been the greatest achievement of my life thus far.
69. I recently lost a family member to suicide. I found myself angry at the situation and I still to this day cannot understand depression.
70. Im a true optimist, but rather cynical with my own personal life.
71. I over analyze most tough (read: all) decisions
72. Jealousy annoys me
73. I am in love with a wonderful woman. Weve been together for two years.
74. Shes the first person Ive fully let into my life.
75. I refuse to label myself as a lesbian, or as bisexual. I believe labels are too confining.
76. Ive only had my heart truly and fully broken once. It was the hardest year of my life!
77. I LOATHE the malls. I love shopping in an intimate boutique setting as opposed to a cattle-like shopping arena.
78. I have a slight obsession with couture denim. Ill usually spend between $200 and $250 on my jeans.
79. I love to reminisce. I miss a lot about my past.
80. I could watch old home videos for hours!
81. I get bored easily
82. Ive always loved planning things. Even as a kid I would plan little events for me and my friends to do.
83. Music is in my blood. Its the one thing I turn to when Im having a rough day.
84. Drives in the Cabby with the top down and fabulous music blaring is one of the things I look forward to most in my life.
85. I love simple pleasures and playing with my inner child.
86. People will argue with me, but I am absolutely NOT high maintenance
87. My first job was as a hostess at Houlihans in Lake GenevaI HATED it!
88. Soon after, I went to work at Geneva National Golf Club and it is still to date the best job I ever had!
89. I currently work in the bridal industry but am desperately trying to get out of itat least the retail end of it
90. Im not an over doting person.
91. Romance and sweet talk makes me laugh.
92. Im a huge mood killer
93. When I am tired, I play with my hair. Its very soothing.
94. I am not engineered for the cold. When the temperature drops below 70 my sweaters come out and the extra down comforter goes on.
95. Im very passive
96. My biggest pet peeve is when people slow down traffic to stare at whatever is going on off to the side of the road.
97. Im a big flirt, sometimes unknowingly
98. The words poop and sippy cup ALWAYS without fail put a smile on my face. Im smiling as I type this.
99. If I could own an entire farm of Pugs I would!
100. I love these self indulgent blog moments
Friday, September 01, 2006
Weekly Shoutouts
- TARA RAE! She FINALLY came out!!! HORRAY!! It has been a long overdue occurance and I am so excited for her to finally share in this part of her life with her family.
- Autumn. It is well on its way and I have to admit I'm ready for it. As I drove to work this morning I was honestly thrilled to see the leaves begin their yearly change to orange and red. I am sad to see the Summer end, but I know that in 7 VERY long months, I'll get to go through the re-growth process all over again, and that makes me really happy!
- Harley Davidson for giving me an interview on September 13. Here's hoping!
- My Aunt Jackie, for sending me a card that made me bawl my eyes out. I am truly blessed to have a close-knit, ever accepting family.
- Nicky...I'll miss you roomie =(
Monday, August 21, 2006
In Death We Find Strength
"You guys are the Andersons. You'll get through all of this by using your music!" ~ Katie D.
In a time, when a family cannot possibly comprehend a death, they are somehow able to come together, and smile through their tears, through the very music that has always held them together as a family. I sat in awe this weekend as I watched my family heal before my very eyes as they played their hearts to the sounds of Black Sabbath, Pat Bennetar, and Lynard Skynard.
They may never truly heal from what has happened, and they may never be able to truly understand any of it...but the Andersons will forever have music to guide them. It's the cornerstone of our entire family.
...our late dear Annie would have agreed.
So *cheers* to music, and that it does for the world every day. Some people pop pills, some down alcohol, us Andersons....we sing, we dance, we jam our little hearts out. It is definitley something to smile about.
Rest in Peace Aunt Annie
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Vegas 2006
I’ve been trying for the past couple of days to find the right way to describe my trip to Las Vegas this weekend and I’m finding myself at a loss of words. What I have been able to pull from my four days there is this:
- I took lots of drunken PICTURES.
- It was HOT. 110, can’t stay out in the sun for more than 10 minutes at a time HOT! I loved it!!!!
- I still can’t believe I had to fly on the day when the alleged terrorist plot was stopped and travel was in return delayed and a bit chaotic. Way to add to my already tremendous fear of flying!!
- Bally's was the best place for us to stay. Innexpensive, and right on the strip
- Front of the Line passes are the way to go if you plan on going to the hot clubs. Even if you paid to be on it, it’s still fun to walk to the front of the massive line and say “I’m on the list”.
- Everyone in their lifetime needs to experience Ghostbar. Even if you only stay long enough for a few martinis and to learn a new phrase: “Silly Hot”.
- Looking hot and being brought up to the VIP room at RAIN nightclub is reason enough to have a big ego for the evening…especially when it’s accompanied by free vodka drinks!
- Vegas boasts some of the most fabulous clubs, and fabulously nice people! Apparently everyone that visits either comes from California…or Oshkosh, WI.
- I still have dreams about the gorgeous Go-Go dancers at Studio 54.
- I HATED Coyotee Ugly and hated Harrah’s even more!
- Travel the strip by city bus. It’s cheaper, and much more entertaining!
- Nickel slots suck. Can anyone even win anything on those?
- Three nights out and two full hot days is enough to make you crave your own bed and the cooler weather of Wisconsin. I had a blast, but was ready to come home.
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