I've Been Burnt...

So I know I have been MIA for awhile & before that been a bit more serious.

So for those who preferred my lighthearted stories & ridiculous predicaments, here's a good one for you.

Guys if you've ever wondered if you should shave the scruff on your face. The answer is yes. Always shave. Scruff is rough. And can do major damage to sensitive skin [like mine].

Seriously I went on a date last Saturday and my chin is STILL irritated a week later. At least it no longer looks like a 12 year old boy's face during puberty.

I consulted the internet for some home remedies the day after and the suggestions were... wait for it... I can't make this stuff up: 1) Ask your man to shave, 2) Deal with it & buy some hydrocortisone cream & lather up, 3) Stop making out with or dating the person.

Since it was only date #2, I'm going to go ahead and go with option #3. And not just because of the scruff.

But for all you single men out there on Tinder who are reading this blog [I'm guessing approx. -5 people] if you want a swipe right, you better be posting clean-shaven photos.

Dating while #30before31

One of my #30before31 challenges is to "date for real". I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's something I've had a hard time doing since my divorce. Part of me wants to not deal with dating at all, but the other part of me doesn't want to miss out on the experience of dating. Especially in Chicago. 

Well after a few months, I've discovered that my dating life and my cooking skills are unfortunately very similar. I keep crashing and burning with every new guy I meet. [And it's not totally because of my awkwardness]. 

I mean there was the potential #Tindernightmare with "Tinder Tom". On the second date he wanted me to come over to his condo - or rather his parent's condo - that he was living in at 11 o'clock at night. I mean if that doesn't scream "bad decision", I don't know what does. So needless to say, I didn't go on that second date.   

And then there was Chris, a pilot and huge Chicago Bear's fan. Who at 38, acted 23, and was obsessed with selfies. Like dude, if a guy does selfies more than the gal, there's a problem.  

And who could forget about Bobby, who just graduated from grad school, but I am pretty sure still lived in a dorm. Let's just say that didn't last too long.  

And of course, Nick, who dragged me around to every karaoke bar in the city so he could sing karaoke. He was fun, until he kept asking me, "why do you like?" Finally, I was like, "I don't." 

But I've also met some guys who have really been great - intelligent, driven, attractive, fun, etc. But the problem lies with me. I have a problem with commitment and making dating a priority. So there's that. Meanwhile, I'll continue keeping my options open and giving dating a chance. And maybe one day I'll be ready. Because #youneverknow

#FridayFail

Well, shoot. 
#FridayFail
#DinnerDoneWrong
#ShouldHaveGoneToTheBar

Louisiana Burn #30before31

One of my #30before31 challenges is to eat something I've never eaten before. So naturally, I decided to try Turtle Soup at Heaven on Seven, a restaurant with good old Louisiana fare, for a dinner with my cousin & her husband. 

Yes, that's turtle as in the green, slow-moving animal. No, it wasn't green. Or served in a turtle shell.

So what does turtle taste like, you ask? Chicken. But seriously the taste and texture of the turtle chunks were very similar to the consistency of chicken. The soup itself was very tomatoey and a bit oily. I'm not sure if the oil was from the turtle. But after one heaping spoonful, I was okay with not investigating any further.  

I can imagine to the vegetarian cousin-in-law at the table, this was harder to swallow than it was for me. 

Would it eat turtle again? Probably not. Am I glad I tried it? Not really. Would I do it again? Sure, why not try something that I haven't tried before. I mean, after all, #youneverknow what you might be missing out on. 

Don't You Like Burn Everything?

"Don't You Like Burn Everything?" was the question directed toward me. To most people that may seem like a "burn" (see what I did there?). But when one of my favorite copywriters turned to me and asked that question I just laughed and said yes. 

I'm like the opposite of your friend who tries new recipes and posts pictures of their gourmet meals and everyone drools. I'm the girl who burns toast and then posts it, I said. 

You should start a blog, she said. And so this blog was born. 

But don't worry, I know what you are thinking. This blog is not going to be chock full of horrible-looking, inedible food photos - although there will be a few. But this will serve as a venue for me to share how I navigate life by "being there, burning that" and how I'll navigate the city of Chicago where I am moving in approximately 6 weeks with my friend, Kattie. 

Why would I care about your life, you ask. I don't know, but you're reading about it now, so I captured your attention somehow. I will conclude my first intro post with a slightly burnt food item and a few words of wisdom. 

I had turned down chicken nuggets earlier in the evening because I wanted something more "adult". So when I got home later that evening, I was starving and regretted not eating the nuggets, so I decided to make a quick turkey & grilled cheese sandwich that - spoiler alert - turned out to be neither adult-like and rather a bit burnt. Perfect, I said.  

But I'm not ashamed to say I ate it anyway. I mean, everything tastes better after being washed down with a big glass of wine. 

Morale of the story. You are never too old for chicken nuggets and always say yes if offered some because you never know what your alternative will be.