Cooking Lesson #1: Uses of Basil

Apparently the notoriety of my cooking skills spans state borders... so my friend, Matt, invited me over for family dinner at his place. 

My first cooking lesson in Chicago was making pesto with fresh basil. 

First we picked basil from their plant on the patio. 

Then we washed it & added it to the blender... with some walnuts

And other things, including pink himalayan sea salt. (Who has this in their house?)

. 

The pesto was delicious. 

Alright, I said. It's my turn to whip up something with basil. :) 

Mastering the Art of Cupcake Delivery

Kattie was a sweetheart and made our co-worker, Nathan, cupcakes for his birthday. I contributed a bottle of wine. 

However, the next morning she didn't feel so hot, so I took them into to work for her. 

Juggling a bottle of wine, a purse, laptop bag & tray of cupcakes was challenging enough - and then it started to rain. 

The good news is somehow I managed to add an umbrella to the mix and made it to the office - cupcakes semi-in-tact and me semi-dry. 

Live Music Gets Us Every Time...

... well specifically, we love live music & beer pong at Mother's Too. 

#baddecisions #thursdaynights #youneverknow

Did Your Phone Die? Just Plug It Into Your Dress

Sounds like something I desperately need - a dress that can also function as a phone charger. Especially after a near disaster this weekend at the Lake, in which my charger did this & stopped working. And everyone else had an iphone (I have an Android): 

But seriously...

Designer Pauline van Dongen wants to make sure you never experience that feeling of helpless desperation again. She's designed a dress and coat that harness the power of the sun's energy to charge your cellphone. All you have to do is pop your phone into a mini-USB cord attached to the inside of the dress, and its battery will recharge 50 percent within an hour of use. http://www.dailydot.com/technology/solar-powered-dress/ I mean the coat is not my typical style... but I'd definitely wear it if someone bought it for me. (Hint, hint, my birthday is in Oct.)

This Happened - #youneverknow

I set my alarm early to go running along the lake & woke up to a notification on my phone - "Tornado Watch". Well I guess I'll skip running on the lake & go back to bed for a few minutes, I said.  

So then woke up way more than a few minutes later... in a rush, I threw on one of my go-to outfits & was zipping up my skirt when it got caught. So naturally I just tugged harder and I zipped it closed. 

Turns out that both technology & zippers are against me. 

Ten minutes into my 18 walk to work, a girl tapped me on the shoulder and told me she thought my skirt might be opening in the back. Okay, thanks I said. Sometimes it does that at the top. 

What I didn't realize was that the "split" wasn't just at the top. It wasn't until a second girl tapped me on the shoulder to say, "Um your skirt is splitting down the back, like the zipper is split open" did I get it. It was in fact, splitting completely down the back. 

I ducked into Starbucks where I was supposed to meet my boss, untucked my shirt around my skirt & cinched my belt tight to keep it up. Meanwhile, I crazily was dialing my roommate to see if she could grab an alternate bottom for me to wear the rest of the day. 

Luckily, she came to the rescue. Morale of the story - bring a second set of clothes to work and/or have awesome roommates. Because #youneverknow

Brunch Series: Episode 1: Milk & Honey

Our first weekend in Chicago wouldn't be complete without an epic brunch. Our goal is to try a new brunch spot in a new neighborhood every week. 

This past Sunday after dragging ourselves out of bed from a late night. "You texted me at 4am" my friend said, "Are you still going to make it?" Yes. I insisted. We're on our way, I stated as I rolled out of bed.  

So we walked up to Milk & Honey in Wicker Park ready to plop down in a bench with a mimosa or greyhound to cure the hangover. However, unbeknownst to us we had to stand in line (practically around the corner) to place our order. 

In that time, I managed to talk myself into a not super great choice - a BLT & a blood orange mimosa - which were mediocre at best. 

And then we strolled down the street and stumbled across Big Star - a must-try place on my list. However, we were so full from brunch that all I could choke down was an ice cold Chilada*. Okay, It's no Mint Julep**, but I'm not complaining because it was delish. 

I just need to find a chance to go back to try their famous tacos. ;) 

*An amazing drink generally made with beer, TEQUILA & salt, but in this case - and better for me - it was made with beer, LIME & salt.  

**A drink associated with the Kentucky Derby - not to be mistaken for the Masters. 

Net-Working It.

Yesterday my friend, Lori, invited us to a party hosted by her company. Free food, free drinks and outside at a bar on the North Avenue Beach. 

It was a lovely evening - mingling, snacking, drinking a few cocktails, making connections. 

And then this happened. (And FYI, we don't know that girl in the sombrero). 

Breakfast of Champions

I was pumped to find out that I received the boxes with my office supplies from my cube/desk in KC. 

I was not so pumped to see that the boxes looked like this. 

Which resulted in this. 

Meaning leftover asparagus* instead of oatmeal for breakfast. 

*Yes, this is from the post 2 days ago from the company dinner 

On the plus side, my Coors Light came in tact. 

What? We Don't Have a Microwave??

That's what my roommate told me yesterday.

My response may have been a bit dramatic... "We don't have a microwave?? How am I going to cook?" 

It's Day 3 in Chicago. And we are missing more than a microwave. I'm jonesing for wireless internet. 

Or lamps. "Don't let me scare you that I am sitting in the corner connected to the internet cord in the dark." My roommate said as I walked in the front door last night. 

Or a bed. #thankgodforairmattresses. "Did you hear me blowing up my mattress after it deflated slightly last night?"

Well by August, we'll be up and running... 

But seriously... cooking without a microwave? How do you cook potatoes or popcorn or Easy Mac? Turns out when we get some cooking supplies my roommate will teach me. Until then I am taking home the asparagus from the company happy hour. 

Stay Out of Our Kitchen...

Apparently I am no longer allowed in the kitchen by Accounting in our office...