My New Obsession - Wii Zumba Fitness Core

Bring it on 2013 - I'm ready!!

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Random Findings on the Web - Love

There’s a saying that goes … ‘you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.’ Truth is, you already knew what you had, you just never thought you’d lose it.

(via letsgetaway)

End of the World Suvival Kit - designerstyle

The best part of the holiday season at work is the amazing and tasty gifts our partners send us. There are cookies, sausages, popcorn, chocolates, cheese varieties, etc... and now, an end of the world survival kit!

While the useful and tasty items included are cool, the real start here are the slogans and comments. This must have been a truly exciting project for everyone involved! I took a few photos for your entertainment...

The box came in a very strong black bag with a warning label "Open in case of Armageddon" and below it "Radiation dampening and RF-shielded bag. In case of emergency, bag may be inflated and used as a floatation device."

The box was labeled for the "Apocalypse" and sealed extra tight...

The dramatic dark colors, "scientific" fonts and extra features such as the aluminum panel all gave us second thoughts as to whether we might actually need this in a few days!!

A close-up of the contents... whisky (with a note to remember that the bottle is "portable"), rope (not to be used too close to the whiskey), duct tape with a "not edible" warning label, soap - to keep it clean, anti-rad pills (i.e. tic tacs), a glow stick which can also be used for light during surgical procedures, a chocolate bar that provides an aphrodisiac if needed, and a box of matches to burn the chocolate wrapper and prevent any zombies from following the smell. I can't forget the coffee labeled "Stay awake, stay alive!" and lastly, the white flag to wave, in the event you need to surrender!



In the event you aren't sure of what qualifies as "Armageddon", there is a graphic-list of possible scenarios...

Hands down the BEST and most creative I've seen so far! Kudos to the amazing designers of Hexanine!

*bonus for all of you marketing and brand geeks - Check out their book Damn Good: Top Designers Discuss Their All-Time Favorite Projects

Don't give up - There are blessings around every corner

After such a rough time in 2011 (my grandmother's death, the car accident, and the 4.5 year "breakup") I came into 2012 with very low expectations of doing anything beyond my regular physical therapy appointments and late nights at work trying to catch up...  but deep down inside I had high hopes for an amazing year. As the final weeks of 2012 are winding down, I can say 2012 has been an absolutely unforgettable year and every time I thought things were heading downhill, I learned that there are new blessings around every corner. Even the dark ones.

My motto for the year is posted below. Its a reminder that nothing is bigger than what God can do. Keep on trucking, and keep on believing. A little faith can go a long way.



As I enter my second Christmas season without my grandmother, I can feel her presence all the time... and not just because I wear her necklace nearly every day. The memories live strong and the love is ever apparent. As I read about the crazy events that are going on around this world, my heart aches for the families that are being destroyed and children's whose lives are being taken during what is supposed to be one of the happiest times of the year in a child's life. It makes you want to hold your loved ones a little tighter and say "I love you" a little louder.

Working on a Sunday

I'd sooo much rather be blogging about the awesome heat wave we had earlier in the week, or the greek yogurt with fresh berries and granola that has become my daily snack, or the AWESOME time I had at Screams in the Park - the Rosemont, IL haunted house I screamed my way thru last night... Unfortunately, duty calls in the form of a 600-page document I have to review for tomorrow's meeting. I'll try not to gaze out the window too hard today...

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Susan G Komen 3-Day in Michigan

60 Miles. 3 Days. I can do that. Wait - I did that!!

I have sooooo much to talk about and as soon as I find the time I will have to share all of the amazing stories of my Komen 3 day journey through the Metro Detroit suburbs with hundreds of men and women, all in the name of fighting, stopping and providing education on breast cancer. There are waaaaay to many pics to post in a single blog, so I'm sure it will take a few posts with plenty of fun captions to tell the amazing story of the weekend that helped inspire me to do more!

Come back soon and read all about it!
#the3day

The 6 People You Need in Your Corner (via FORBES)

Read this post on FORBES today and had to share... great info! The original article, by Jessica Hagy, is posted here.

The 6 People You Need in Your Corner

 

Nothing incredible is accomplished alone. You need others to help you, and you need to help others. With the right team, you can form a web of connections to make the seemingly impossible practically inevitable.

The Instigator:

 Someone who pushes you, who makes you think. Who motivates you to get up and go, and try, and make things happen. You want to keep this person energized, and enthusiastic. This is the voice of inspiration.

The Cheerleader:

 This person is a huge fan, a strong supporter, and a rabid evangelist for you and your work. Work to make this person rewarded, to keep them engaged. This is the voice of motivation.

The Doubter:

 This is the devil’s advocate, who asks the hard questions and sees problems before they arise. You need this person’s perspective. They are looking out for you, and want you to be as safe as you are successful. This is the voice of reason.

The Taskmaster:

This is the loud and belligerent voice that demands you gets things done. This person is the steward of momentum, making sure deadlines are met and goals are reached. This is the voice of progress.

The Connector:

This person can help you find new avenues and new allies. This person breaks through roadblocks into finds ways to make magic happen. You need this person to reach people and places you can’t. This is the voice of cooperation and community.

The Example:

This is your mentor, you hero, your North Star. This is the person who you seek to emulate. This is your guiding entity, someone whose presence acts as a constant reminder that you, too, can do amazing things. You want to make this person proud. This is the voice of true authority.

Susan G Komen 3-Day 60 Mile Walk

This August, my step-mom, sister-cousin (the cousin that's more like a sister) and her friend will all join the thousands of women who have walked 60 miles to raise money for the cure! This is my first time ever doing anything even remotely close to this, so I am just as terrified as I am excited. Initially 60 miles seemed like a bit of a distance... but now I realize that is LONG AS HELL!!!!

I mean, I don't even like to DRIVE 60 miles to the outlet malls. I can barely ride a bike 5 miles and I hadn't jogged over a single miles in years until very recently (and by over a mile I literally mean 1.25 miles). My chiropractor and I are observing my training closely, but I am hopeful that on August 17th I will be in the best condition possible.

I have almost hit my minimum goal of $2300 as of today. I still have a little ways to go, but the support has been tremendous so far!! If you have a few bucks to donate to the cause, please click the link below! We are walking in honor and memory of friends, family members, coworkers and colleagues who have been affected by breast cancer, whether directly or through their own circles. Please take a moment to learn about the 3-day, 60 mile walk and all the lives that are touched by this annual fundraiser!

...or go here to donate (and pass the link along!!) - http://www.the3day.org/goto/cherishcherish

Happy 4th of July WEEK!!

Since the Fourth falls on a Wednesday (stupid for work calendars) its only right we celebrate ALL WEEK!!! Since I didn't get to go back to Detroit and spend it with my family, it was only right that I have an equally appropriate meal in Chicago. Enter "Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles" in Oak Park, IL. (Un)Fortunately I have become a near regular at this place! My wallet forgives me, my waistline cringes unless I get up the energy to walk to two miles there) and my friends love me for bringing them along!

This visit I had my usual Reverend C.E. Robinson's smothered wings and potatoes with collard greens. It gets NO better. Drool away... Then go check it out for yourself!!

 

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(Real) Ponytail Support Glue

I went out with friends last night and was too lazy to curl my hair or pull a wash-and-go so I slicked my long hair back into a ponytail (which I rarely ever do for a night out). A while back, I came across the got2b glued water-resistant Styling Spiking Glue and grabbed a trial size to see just how well it might work. This easily became my go-to product for slicked back ponytails! Even after wetting my hands, mixing the glue and brushing it into my hair, it doesn't make my hair get wavy like a lot of gels. After hours of dancing and doubling over with laughter I never have a hair out of place! #success

I included a pic from last night's ponytail look (and for clarification, its all me, no extras although I imagine the product could work for a clip in poytail too). I should have turned more lights on and took a clearer version, but I was rushing so this is the best you will get for this go-round... Enjoy!

Another reason I love Zara…

While browsing along Michigan Ave this Saturday (which was nearly deserted thanks to the #NATO warnings everywhere) I ran into this lacy gem at Zara. I have been looking for a lace dress for a while but never found the perfect look and fit… until now!

I paired the dress with a pair of Calvin Klein wedge sandals and a metal belt with “elephant-face hooks” from Anthropologie. The compliments were flying all night!!

Confession: I had to run into Ann Taylor Loft to grab some beige colored Assets (i.e. Spanx) to wear underneath since the beige colored slip dress kept riding up. I’m sure that would have made for an interesting night, but I decide to take the safe route and ensure folks at the dinner party I was attending didn’t think I was wearing a see-thru dress with nothing under it!

*I took a pic with the mirror behind me so you could see the cute, low, criss-cross back!

Waffles (Chicago South Loop)

So, I'm finally in the South Loop about to check out Waffles, one of Chicago's newer brunch spot!

The menu looks amazing and I had to post a pic of the waffle selection... They also offer a hot chocolate flight as part of the Groupon deal I snatched up weeks ago. Hmmmm... Decisions, decisions!!!

*edited* I ordered the Hot Chocolate flight with the Cheddar and Short Rib Waffle... SOOOOO GOOOD!

Bobbi Brown Party Eye Palette

Just got the "Party Eye" Palette I ordered using a Barney's gift card that I held onto for WAY too long! So excited to use it this week.... The colors look perfect for a neutral-smoky eye!!

cherishthegeek shared an Instagram photo with you

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"Beautiful lilies on Easter Sunday"

All in the Details

Working on a Saturday afternoon (BOOOOO) and figured a Red Bull might help. After reading an awesome article earlier this week on Harvard Business Review about the attention to detail given by companies such as Disney and Apple, I'm so much more aware of the "little things" that companies do to make us enjoy their products that much more.
As I opened my Red Bull, the tab caught my eye. Most soft drink tabs are those plain ones with the middle opening... But this Red Bull tab opening is shaped like the bull in their logo. How cool is that???

TheRealCherish is One Year Older...

I had an amazing birthday week!!! Its so great to hear from old friends, share cake with coworkers and even a semi-surprise visit from the family. Between Smith & Wollensky, Salud Tequila Lounge, Papa's Cache Sabroso, Crumbs cupcakes and all of the restaurants that send me free dining vouchers that I have yet to use... This week has been great for eating!!!!!! I got some awesome gifts too :-)

Headed to brunch now and then a day of relaxing... Topped off by a great Sunday night of commercials... I mean football. LOL!

Thanks to everyone who sent well wishes and helped make this birthday as amazing as it is!!