Cherish's World

Skype offers free airport WiFi for the holidays | TG Daily

2011-12-21T11:33:00.000-06:00

Skype offers free airport WiFi for the holidays | TG Daily

I absolutely LOVE free wi-fi deals around the holidays so this is very cool for me, especially since part of my holiday will be spent in an airport! Last year, Google made a similar (but even better) offer for free wi-fi that included in-flight connections. on AirTran, Delta and Virgin American. That was the greatest!

2011 Christmas Wish List

2011-12-08T22:02:00.001-06:00

This year has been such a rough year, my Christmas spirit has been less than “cheery”. My parents have been asking for my list for weeks and I just couldn’t seem to come up with anything good. Recently, I looked through the Nordstrom Holiday catalogs and came across the awesome items listed below. Most of them won’t fit in my parent’s ideal shopping budget for me (LOL) but they’re fun items to dream about…

Yves Saint Laurent Large Satchel

Prada 'Baroque' Round Sunglasses

Valentino 'Rockstud' Open Toe Pump

MICHELE 'Cloette Fleur' Diamond & Mother-of-Pearl Watch Case

Michael Kors 'Gia' Ostrich Embossed Clutch

Vera Wang Lavender 'Sammy' Peep Toe Pump

Lagos Diamond & Caviar™ Station Bracelet

MARC JACOBS Zip Clutch Wallet

MARC BY MARC JACOBS 'Petal to the Metal' Zip Clutch Wallet

Echo 'Touch' Tech Gloves

Burberry Brit Trench Coat

UGG® Australia 'Ansley' Slipper (Women)

…and last but not least…. this Gilt/Jetsetter week long cooking excursion in Italy would totally make my year!

That’s about all I can come up with… It’s a sad day when a fashionista isn’t moved by shiny dresses and sparkly heels. I gotta get outta this funk soon! But enough about me… So what’s on your designer Christmas wish list???

The Usual ComeUp – Nordstrom Rack

2011-12-05T11:00:00.000-06:00

A few years back I got luck in Nordstrom Rack during a search for a formal gown. Ended up with a beautiful, yellow BCBG number that had been altered from a size 6 to a 4 and never picked up, was 80% off and gained me a number of compliments!

Well, my luck has struck again…
Found this beauty in Nordstrom Rack – Oak Brook, IL. A beautiful Diane von Furstenberg Kipling dress (my first by the illustrious designed whom I’ve admired for so long). The dress is on sale for only $269.50 at her website… but the “slightly altered” version I got from the Rack cost me only $89 (plus Chicago’s crazy high tax, but even still…) I tried it on with a belt and my black Burberry pumps and it looks amazing!

I can’t wait to wear it… I just need to find a cool place to go!

Guy on D train - Random Mobile Pic

2011-10-15T12:42:00.001-05:00

This guy spent the whole ride sniffing little bottles he kept pulling out of his bag, about 5 minutes per bottle... I wanted to ask what he was sniffing, but figures I wouldn't disturb his flow.

New Chicago Fav... Pierrot Gourmet

2011-08-30T09:57:00.000-05:00

I know I owe a summer compilation blog of my food fun in Chicago, but this spot deserved its own recognition. Pierrot Gourmet, in The Peninsula Hotel on the corner of Superior and Rush, was such an amazing experience. The ambiance felt like a small European bistro, and the service was great! When we couldn't decide what to order, our waitress recommended sharing two items, and they even split the plates up for us... skimping on nothing (see photo)! The cheese platter was a great touch and while I skipped dessert, the selection was very tempting.

Two thumbs up for one of my new fav spots!

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Stuff engineers do...

2011-08-18T18:01:00.000-05:00

So I finally settled on a new bed! Its gets delivered soon and I have to decide where to put it beforehand, since I'm not strong enough to move it afterwards... What better way than using a bit of AutoCAD to draft a quick layout and see what option has the best flow for my furniture??

Cherish The Geek

Sorting through my Mobile Uploads–2011 Random

2011-08-14T22:28:00.001-05:00

Every once in a while I gather all of the photos I meant to post into a single blog… here is your entertainment for the week with a summary of some of the year’s events so far…

Valentine’s Day/February Birthday celebrations with the girls at Benihana – the chef left me a message *smile*.

Took this pic of a page in the Macy’s ad and went to find it… In the end didn’t buy it. The model must be way taller than me.

My dad was in Chicago the weekend I took my license and took me on a father daughter movie date that night.

A manager posting this after repeatedly telling me to stop walking/running so fast in the office.

I made it to the United Center taping of the Oprah show. It was the BEST concert ever!!!! I had a blast!!

Spent the holidays with my favorite little cousins at Navy Pier.

Took a trip to Detroit and got to see my Papa’s growing urban garden, including the cantaloupe along the fence (its hanging in the bag in the 3rd pic above).

Oh, and I grew my hair out!!! This pic is from June/July when I first straightened it after a few months of wearing it curly.

When I get a chance, I’ll post the food pics… there were too many to include on this post!!

No more new-car scent...

2011-08-01T18:05:00.001-05:00

I got a new car a month ago and the little cousins insisted on breaking the backseat in properly... Having zero kids myself, it was a bit creepy to look in the backseat and see two kids looking back at me!!! LOL... But we had a good time, as always, and I even learned how to install a car seat :-)

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Topshop comes to the Windy City… My Anticipation

2011-07-17T01:04:00.001-05:00

Are you counting down Chicago???? This September the city of Chicago will get the second stateside Topshop store!!! I am so excited, as if H&M and Zara weren’t already super exciting. This will totally round out my summer shopping options. I already browsed the US site to see what’s out and created a nice “set” (new and old items) on Polyvore of the types of items I will be looking for! SecondCityStyle posted images from the preview. I can’t wait!

Topshop Wishlist by therealcherish featuring a pink romper

Yellow dress
$95 - topshop.com

TopShop bodycon dress
$95 - topshop.com

TopShop striped dress
$78 - topshop.com

TopShop sequin dress
$200 - topshop.com

TopShop cropped jacket
$100 - topshop.com

TopShop cropped blazer
$116 - topshop.com

TopShop pink romper
$75 - topshop.com

Mini skirt
$80 - topshop.com

Topshop
$20 - topshop.com

TopShop mary jane pumps
$135 - topshop.com

TopShop red pumps
$110 - topshop.com

TopShop leather high heels
$124 - topshop.com

TopShop purple heels
$92 - topshop.com

TopShop peep toe espadrille wedge
$100 - topshop.com

TopShop leather shoulder bag
$190 - topshop.com

Summer is here!!!

2011-06-05T12:03:00.001-05:00

Chicago is finally getting the summer we’ve all been waiting for! 90 degree days with heat indexes near 100 degrees and humidity levels that would make almost any black girl go hat shopping immediately! This weekend I had the opportunity to check out the Forest Park Summer Fest on Madison Ave. It was a nice, FREE, community-type of festival. Lots of families, groups of friends and fun for all ages. The music was good and the food choices were decent. I didn’t realize that the event started Friday at 5, so when I walked up at 3PM, the tents were just going up. So I took the opportunity to see the neighborhood…

One of the more memorable stops was the Paciugo gelato shop (for the readers over 21, check out the drink recipes on their website). After sampling enough to make the bored sales girl a little testy, I settled on a small cup which, for just under $5, allows you to pick up to 3 flavors. I chose the 3 pictures below: Amarena Black Cherry Swirl (my favorite), Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel (an unbelievably salty-sweet combination) and Banana Crème Pie (much better than I was initially expecting, I selected it off a recommendation).

The final product:

On a hot summer day, this was a perfect treat to enjoy while I sat on the bench outside and enjoyed the view.

On Saturday I enjoyed a nearly 3 hour bike ride through Oak Park with Bobby. We stopped for lunch at the Prairie Bread Kitchen and then spent the rest of the afternoon watching a hilarious Parking Wars marathon on A&E. That evening I went to the Division Street Fest and decided to start the evening with a celebratory margarita! The only problem – the house special for the festival only came in one size - 32 oz!!!

Needless to say, it was hard waking up this morning, but I made it. We also went over to Moonshine to hang out for a while before heading home. I had a wonderful time at the festival and can’t wait to check out more of the Chicago area festivals this summer! I’ll leave you with one last thought… this Journey song has been stuck in my head since last night, hopefully it sticks in yours. Reminds me of the Detroit Tigers baseball games back home…

“Born and raised in South Detroitttttt…..”

Therapy (…and not the retail kind)

2011-05-22T20:12:00.001-05:00

I’ve been trying to write this post for weeks and just haven’t been able to work through it. Now is as bad a time as any other day has been, but I want to get it done. So… imagine you’re in a bland office space, sitting in a high-backed chair with arms, wearing your black rimmed reading glasses with legs crossed and arms folded over the knees… staring at me, sprawled across your chaise lounge, one arm over my forehead, the other dangling so that my hand just misses the carpet. Yes, you are my personal therapist and I am your overly dramatic, demanding client who called you on a Sunday evening for an emergency visit… let the story begin.

The past month has been so full of UPs and DOWNs. Its as if my life jumped on the Magnum XL-200 roller coaster at Cedar Point and never figured out how to get off the ride.

I took the Principles and Practice of Engineer (PE) license exam in April. I’ve dreamed of passing this exam for nearly a decade but initially didn’t meet the requirements, and eventually couldn’t muster up the courage, to sit for it. It was stressful, intimidating and full of pressure. Especially since it’s a HUGE (pretty much the only “certified”) requirement for my advancement at work. In other words, I need to pass. And preferably on the first try. I don’t get the results until late June, so until then I’m on pins and needles. I need ZERO fingers to count the number of Black women I’ve ever met who have PE licenses, so needless to say, this is WAY bigger than just getting two letters after my name.

As if that weren’t stressful enough, my grandmother fell ill during my final study weeks and passed the following week. For some people, this is a sad thing. For me, this was utterly devastating. My Granny was one of my BEST FRIENDS for my whole life. We were two of a kind, if that could be possible in any way. We talked about everything under the sun and it was always entertaining to hear her perspective. She was my shopping buddy and most of the items I posted here over the years were purchased with her approval (and occasionally with her credit card, LOL). She was my Senior Fashionista Advisor, enjoying plenty of televised fashion shows and Nordstroms ad books in her retirement, always reporting back to me about who wore what and how I should try that trend for myself. I was her personal shopper, making sure she was one of the sharpest dressed ladies in the church. She turned me on to Coach and Dooney and Bourke in high school; I turned her on to Marc by Marc Jacobs handbags and MAC makeup in her final years (to show her sense of humor, she had just promised me a new bag for my wedding shower… only problem was, there’s no wedding in site).

The space she occupies in my heart is huge. Her passing is something I am still learning to deal with, but her memory has kept my family and I close and comforted. I have days where I wish I could simply lay my head on her lap while we watched Real Housewives, or replay that regular moment when I would first walk into the house after driving to see her and feel my lips kiss her soft cheeks again. She had a feisty personality and when people say “You act just like your Granny” (usually said in regards to my snappy tone or spoiled attitude), I simply smile because that is the greatest compliment a granddaughter could receive.

I did mention that there were UPs – one of my oldest and truest friends ever just got engaged (in the most adorable and unconventionally romantic way), while another is a couple of months away from having her first baby (which will be the first kid in our crew so we’re all very excited). I also got to attend the HUGE Oprah taping at the United Center in Chicago, which was better than the Grammy, Oscars and Tony award shows combined (blog to come later… can’t reveal the surprises now)!

I’m still going through more up and down in other areas of life and really I just feel like I’m ready for 2012 already…. As if January 1st really means a clean slate or something, LOL. Really, I guess I’m just ready for a break from life. I find myself staring into space often. Imagining what it would be like to be in a “neutral” phase or even trying to visualize what my “ideal” phase looks like. In the end, I know that God makes those decisions anyway, so my best bet is to just say a prayer, buckle up and remember to smile for the roller coaster cameras. I’ll be back on the ground holding that elephant ear in no time!

(P.S. Thanks to all my family and friends who provided support, hugs, cards, and advice in the past months… you don’t know how much your thoughts truly mean to me.)

With love, Cherish

Almost there…

2011-04-02T21:23:00.001-05:00

So we’re down to the final week!! A year ago I began studying for the Principles and Practice in Engineering exam… affectionately (or not) referred to as the PE Exam. While the passing rates can be a bit intimidating (see them here), I have remained positive and strong. Now, its less than a week to the big day! I am dealing with a mixture of anxiety, excitement, nervousness and an overall anticipation of my former social life which officially returns once this exam is over!

I’ve been slow on the posts because all I do is study, study, study (and eat, of course). I’ve had a few moments of retail therapy to carry me through this extended time, but now I’m just focusing on not just taking, but PASSING this test!!

So, if you’re reading this, please wish me luck and say a prayer for me! Here goes nothing!!!

Random Post - New Bracelet

2011-03-12T19:07:00.002-06:00

Just thought I'd brag about my new bracelet made from bolts! Picked it up at Muse in Oak Park for only $24!

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Current Obsession... Courtesy of Crate and Barrel

2011-02-19T14:12:00.002-06:00

I'm searching for a new bedroom set and recently got distracted by a set at Crate and Barrel in Oak Brook. The bed alone breaks my "ideal" budget, but the Del Re furniture collection has been on my mind since the day we met.

The collection is made from "solid, renewable bamboo" (so its kinda good for green-ies). The 2-tone finish features a "rich coffee satin finish" with an "espresso satin finish" for the trim.

While the price isn't right (the nightstand alone costs more than my entire current bedroom set), the look is ALL ME.

Guess I'll add it to my "Wish List".... The search continues....

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Biting into my first apple

2011-02-15T22:49:00.000-06:00

Believe it or not - prior to 2011 I refused to eat an apple that wasn't covered in some form of sugary bliss (with the preference going to caramel and peanuts). I never picked up and apple and bit into it. At least not at any point I could remember in my life. I HATED "naked" apples. Hated them with a passion. That includes apple juice too.

So imagine my negative surprise when I was told that apples were good for reducing the effects of acid reflux - something I've unfortunately dealt with for years. I decided 2011 would be the year. I would eat an apple. Every day.

The hard part was finding WHICH apples to eat. Since the peanut apples I love from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory are made with Granny Smith apples, I decided that was a good place to start.... here are my overall ratings:

Granny Smith (B-) LOVE LOVE LOVE the tart flavor, but I hated the "thicker" skin. I ended up slicing it most of the time, but when I tried to bite into it I just ended up scraping the skin with my teeth and spitting it out.

Honeycrisp (B+) Tasty and crisp, the skin is a little weird but not too bad. But the PRICE - OMG. $3.49/lb - which is easily running around $2/apple.

Braeburn (C+) Flavor is "ok" but the texture is not great. Too soft. A friend mentioned "grainy" apples and I'd guess this is what she meant.

Gala (C) texture is good, crisp is perfect. But the flavor... *turning nose up*

Pink Lady/Crips Pink (A) the CREAM of the CROP! I have been eating these non stop for 2 weeks straight. A coworker's wife told me about them but he said he had never tried one. So I brought an extra to work and gave it to him. He loved it! And so did I! The price is ok, While Foods has organic Pink Lady apples on sale for $1.79/lb this week - time to stock up!

I found some GREAT information on the various types of apples from http://www.orangepippin.com/... check it out!

Cookbook Obsession

2011-02-09T21:21:00.001-06:00

I wish I could cook everyday but there is never enough time! I love to try new recipes and I drool over the latest catalogs from Williams-Sonoma and the windows of the Caphalon store in Chicago. Since 2006 I've maintained a subscription to Everyday Food Magazine, which is my #1 go-to (both the books and the website) for new cooking ideas.

Yesterday I was wandering through Borders and realized... Everyday Food has a new cookbook out! The recipes look sooo tasty! I'm adding this to my "List of things to buy after I finish my PE Exam". I can't wait!

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Friends with Skills

2011-01-16T23:30:00.001-06:00

So my friend Michelle is starting up her own jewelry business in Minnesota and I’m so proud of her! Being the fashionista that I self-proclaim to be, she sent me a pair of her handmade earring to test run. I don’t think I’ve worn another pair in the last month. These earrings are great to dress up or down and they are so lightweight I can barely feel them! She did an awesome job and I can’t wait to share her website with all of you when she finally decides to sell them!!

As for the item of the day and my newest current obsession, big ups to my girl Maya for putting me up on the Tieks by Gavrieli foldable flats. (See image below from the Tieks by Gavrieli website)

These handmade flats are butter soft and feel like slippers (read more here), but will last WAY longer than the $10 not-so-foldable flats I used to get from Target and run into the ground after 3 months. I got a pair in black, but I honestly would take a closet full of every color they sell!! Here are some pics of my new “buddies”…

The beautiful packaging:

The pouch for folded flats (shown in the box, next to my iPod Touch for size and inside my purse… you can’t even tell it’s there!!):

The flats – folded….

…and then on my feet (sorry if they are a little ashy – its cold and my feet are bare, LOL!)

As an added “just in case” bonus, they come with this cute foldable tote to put your heels in!

Go grab a pair – I promise you won’t regret it!

Healthy Eating–Chicago’s Raw Food Network

2011-01-16T01:32:00.001-06:00

I love McDonald’s – and I’m not just saying that because they pay my salary. The filet-o-fish, with a small fry and water is my usual choice, but sometimes I branch out and get a cheeseburger (no pickles, no onions) or Chicken Selects or the Crispy Chicken Club sandwich… or (gasp) a McRib when they are available. I have always been a fast food junkie (see pics below for evidence of my early love affair with Ronald McDonald) and realistically, deep down inside, I believe I always will be.

That being said… my love for eating out and my distaste for working out, means I have to focus on one very important word – BALANCE. That’s right. I am one of those “eat what I want” people. But now that I’m 30 and my metabolism is about 75, when I eat out, I aim for smaller portions of fried (yummy), creamy (heavenly) and high fat foods (more fat usually tastes better)… and then I balance them with larger portions and more frequent “meal swaps” with entrees and snacks that are of fruits and vegetables.

This year I decided to kick it up a notch and learn about Raw Food diets. No, I’m not leaving the work of meat and heat… but I was interested in learning more about food options and their benefits. So I went to Chicago’s guru of raw foods – Karyn Calabrese. Karyn owns 3 restaurants in Chicago, one of which is the city’s first raw food restaurant. You heard me. A menu full of uncooked items that will trick even the smartest of foodies. Poor Bobby took me to Karyn’s Raw Café for lunch, not believing me when I said there is no cooking – as the menu sounds like any normal boutique restaurant in the city. I ordered the “Ravioli” and he ordered the “House Salad”.

Basil Scented Ravioli

Half moon shells (turnips) filled with macadamia whipped crème dressed with an Italian olive marinara sauce $14

Karyn's Famous House Salad

Shredded Cabbage, Hearts of romaine, red onion, shiitake mushrooms, asparagus sunflower sprouts, candied walnuts, and teardrop tomatoes caesar dressing on the side $12

The flavors were interesting. In some ways its all tasted like “salad”, just varying types of salad. Overall it was good (though quite pricey) and we could “feel the benefits” as our stomachs digested all the healthy veggies shortly after.

We went on a Saturday afternoon and the atmosphere was nice and calm and the presentation was very pretty. We stayed after our lunch for a 2.5 hour presentation by Karyn herself on her lifestyle as a Raw Foodist/Vegan/Entrepreneur. It was interesting to say the least. We were able to try a few food items, and I’d just say, I’m not converted and only liked 3 of the 6 items. While those three items were really good, when we left, I was starving and begging for a carb. Bobby wouldn’t satisfy my requests to stop and grab a Big Mac, he felt it was too soon after we had educated ourselves, so we went by his spot and made some of the healthiest tacos you’ve ever seen. I’m definitely interested in checking this place out again, but it seems like I might have to save up, cause that lifestyle is NOT CHEAP!

My item of the day, since we’re talking about food, is the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker. I can hear you know… “What the heck is that???” (Ok, if you’re not saying it I am). I have no idea what this thing does but it looks AWESOME. The geek in me wants this on my kitchen counter now. I have never cooked most of the things it claims to be perfect for (gnocchi, pot roast, short ribs) but I bet if I had one I’d be a roast queen in no time!

New Year’s Eve–Family Style

2011-01-13T23:39:00.002-06:00

My New Year’s Eve celebration have ranged from wild hotel parties to late night church services to being boo’ed up on the couch with a movie. But in my (not so) many years as an adult, I’ve never had a New Year’s Eve celebration that involved little kids. Enter 2010.

I decided to use the plethora of flight vouchers I had earned during the year and spend the holidays with my family. For Christmas, I headed east to Detroit and for the New Year I headed west to Minneapolis where my sistercousin Gabbi, her husband and their two WONDERFUL kids (ages 2 and 5) were finishing their holiday vacation with lots of fun and tons of love. It was definitely different, but it really reminded me not only how wonderful my family is, but also how much fun kids can really be.

The 2 year old is truly a SUPER model. This chick has “diva” written ALL OVER HER. I don’t have a clue where it comes from, but she loves to walk in heels, carry big purses, sing/perform and go outside. In Minnesota. In January. And I think its just because she likes to dress up in her cute winter coat and hat. She also likes to take pictures. Of herself. I don’t even know how she figured it out but there were about 25 self-taken photos of her face in my Blackberry by the time I left. The last pic is a drama queen moment… which she is known for. Its actually quite entertaining. She’s like a little Mariah Carey in the making. Oh,and she made me a Fresh Beat Band fan too. LOL

I did a little shopping and found her this cute Calvin Klein Jeans girls' outfit on clearance at Macy’s (much cheaper than shown here). It was adorable on her!

The 5 year old is a kid GENIUS and sports analyst/fanatic. I’ve never seen a kid WANT to watch so much ESPN – all day long if he could! He absolutely loves all sports and can tell you the score/time/coach/top players/bracket for pretty much every game coming on – both college and pro (see pic below where he is cheering on Wisconsin). He was a champ and made it all the way to midnight, although he did get a nap in… but we won’t count it against him. I like to cuddle with him and I always stock up on hugs and kisses since I don’t get to see him as often as I did when I lived in Minnesota and was his “nanny”. I love the 3rd pic where you can see our freckles :-)

It was such a fun, peaceful, relaxing weekend, I didn’t want to leave... and I’m already looking forward to going back! I miss them a lot *sad face*

Oh,and you might notice that I CUT MY HAIR! I went with bangs, which I hadn’t had since I was about…. oh, 10 or 12, maybe? When I cut them in Sharon’s bathroom with her safety scissors and got yelled at by my parents and made up some lie about my hair falling out. LOL…. oh to be young again! So my item of the day, almost exactly 3 years after the last time I posted this item of the day – A HAIRCUT!!! And once again, the beautiful work was done by none other than Mr Brian Graham himself. Check him out at Brian Graham Salon or check out their Facebook page… if you’re going to be in Minnesota, save up some money, pay him a visit and post a pic for us to see!

Watching the little cousins dance…

Always start my Christmas by giving to others

2010-12-25T08:50:00.001-06:00

April and I hit up Meals on Wheels today to pass out holiday dinners to Detroit's elderly. My grandparents started this Christmas tradition for my family when I was young, and my friends and I carry it on now.

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Catering to my inner (imaginary) Puerto Rican side

2010-12-19T20:02:00.001-06:00

I am the product of two Black parents…. but I swear there has to be some Latin in my blood, based on the way I obsess over the food. Here in Chicago, we have a number of places that claim to have the best JIBARITOS, and after trying out a few, we’ve found our A+ spot – Papa’s Cache Sobroso in Humboldt Park (with the jibarito originator “Borinquen” pulling a close second for the sandwich, but taking #1 for mofongo in Chicago).

For a while, Bobby and I were making regular trips for their tender, tasty rotisserie chicken dishes (with Spanish rice and tostones) and the wonderful jibarito sandwiches. The prices are what we call EXCELLENT for date night (dinner for 2 can easily come in under $20 and you’ll be full when you leave). This is a pic of our standard meal – a steak jibarito with Spanish rice. The sandwich comes with cheese (“white” or “yellow”), lettuce (which I remove), tomato, and mayo. Instead of bread you get all of this smashed between two perfectly fried garlicky plantains. Here’s a pic from our last trip to Papa’s…

After a few regular trips, it got me to thinking…. can I channel my inner imaginary Puerto Rican and make this dish myself??? Hmmm…..Why not try??? The hardest part was the research on cutting and frying the plantains… oh, and seeing the amount of oil that I had to use. LOL (don’t ask for nutritional content on this sandwich, I have convinced myself it doesn’t exist). In the end, my version came pretty close visually and the flavor was really good!!! I’ll definitely have to add this to my successful recipe list!

The item of the day, since I’m in a cooking mood, is something I have no room for in my kitchen but sure plan to get one day….. A couple of years ago my cousin found a great recipe a while back for potatoes au gratin that included Jarlsberg and Raclette cheeses (both of which were expensive and difficult to locate among the abundance of cheeses in Whole Foods). This was the BEST side ever. Half of the fun was in making it, and I had the job of potato slicer. In my kitchen this would be dreadful, with my somewhat dull knives and shaky hands. But in her kitchen I learned about a “mandoline” (a.k.a. “slicer”)… talk about amazing!

I don’t recall the brand she had, but it was similar to this one by Oxo, featured on the William Sonoma website:

Based on my past experiences (and the line on my pinky from the stitches that I got after slicing an avocado the wrong way) I think this may be a good idea to go with my mandoline, whenever I get it… the cut resistant glove from Microplane. Great invention indeed:

If I don’t see you before then…

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!

Golf is Not Second Nature

2010-12-19T13:26:00.005-06:00

My department's Holiday Party included an outing to Top Golf in Itasca, IL. While I own a set of nice clubs and a pair of cute Nike golf shoes, I've never actually used the clubs on a course and the shoes have never been worn. Needless to say, golf is not "my sport".

I must admit, despite the 20 degree weather (as you can see, this involved being outdoors) there were electric heaters all over the place and the hot cocoa was flowing! The food was actually really good (I admit, I wasn't expecting that from a driving range) and the concept of balls with microchips to assign points based on where you land made for a fun, competitive afternoon! I'll definitely be going back, with my own clubs.... Only next time it will be in the spring!

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Christmas Wish List 2010

2010-12-13T17:00:00.000-06:00

Yes people, its that time again… all the things I want but won’t get this Christmas. You know the drill and if not, you can check years 2006 and 2008. So here goes….

For this years Work Holiday Party, it would be great to show up in something as un-engineer-like as possible… you know, really cater to my inner fashionista. The Sunbird silk-gazar dress by ROKSANDA ILINCIC is something I would never get up the courage to buy, but can easily imagine myself walking into a crowded room draped in it. The fluorescent yellow is very unexpected. I love it.

For the vacationing girls’ night out, we usually tend to relive our college days through our attire, and this Jenny stretch-cotton mini dress dress by Preen Line is the perfect balance of the “young me” and the classy grown up me. My girls would love it.

This year I because a fan of TOUS jewelry, especially the teddy bears pendants. While I like many of the options available, I definitely have to include the black diamond Bubble Bear pendant on my wish list!

After my canopy zip-line experience in Mexico, I’m ready to take it a step further and hit the rainforest in Coast Rica. The Rincon de La Vieja Adventure is right up my alley… of course, that includes getting to Costa Rica, which is a ~~minor~~ major obstacle.

In one of the recent episodes of Giuliana and Bill (one of my fav reality couples) Bill went to Martin Katz to buy Giuliana a nice band… it was gorgeous and inspired me to check out the website. Turns out they have a huge collection of stackable diamond microbands. I’d love a few of these in various colors…. and maybe a couple in the black diamond to match my TOUS bubble bear!

My current HP laptop is holding out very well, but like any gadget geek, I am always ready to upgrade. The new HP ENVY 15 laptop is right up my alley! The HP store only shows the 14 inch (too small) and the 17 inch (a little on the heavy side) so I’m not even sure if the 15” is still an option… but for the right features (i.e. Beats by Dr Dre limited edition 14” or the 3D enhanced 17") I’d be willing to settle in either direction.

For years I’ve said I would love to take cooking classes. Ideally I’d like to take a few months worth of classes in Italy, Spain and/or Mexico!!!!! But until then, the good ol Chicago Metro Area will work just fine. Rest assured, I will still keep my eye open for the specials that occasionally pop up on Jetsetter.com…. and hopefully I’ll no longer be scared of turkeys (see pic below from Thanksgiving 2008). The Chopping Block

Flav’our Cooking School

Chez Madelaine

Cooking Fools

For about 5 years now I have been obsessed with this gold Roberto Cavalli snake watch. It has seemingly NEVER gone on sale (yes, I check a few times each year) but someday I may have to just go for it. I can already picture it on my wrist….

…and while we’re talking watches, the new Movado Bold watches are a great fun take on the classic style! I love the black and white styles equally!

While in Nassau recently, I caught a glimpse of the “Mad Summer” yacht, docked near the cruise ships. I don’t really need a yacht of my own, but I’d love a year, or even a week, on this one – with my family along, of course! See it in all its glory here: http://www.moranyachts.com/Article/?ID=69

Saving the best wish for last…

…my greatest wish would be the health and safety of all of my loved ones as we go into 2011!

A break from real life…

2010-12-12T12:51:00.001-06:00

This fall I had the chance, TWICE, to get away from the work world for a few days and enjoy some sun, water, warm weather and good food! I will spare you to hundreds of photos and share a few that stand out from each trip. Up first – My stepmom planned a girls’ trip to Nassau… The islands were not ready, heck, neither was I?? See below for my photo headings and pictures…

Dinner on Night #1 was at Twin Brothers (recommended by a LOT of the locals we talked to) included conch salad (being prepared in the center photo below) along with cracked lobster (MY FAV), cracked shrimp, rice and peas, and plantains.

We found a bar that was having a Karaoke night so my cousin and I did a world class performance of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”.

Me hanging out with the captain of the Booze Cruise… The girls were lining up to take pictures with this guy… and will say, he was pretty HOT!

Our booze cruise advertised a portion of the day spent on a" “secluded island”… which was actually a small, deserted, dangerous, rocky piece of land. One of the highlights was the starfish in the pic…. I was so fascinated by it. The semi-shelter in the second pic became a prop for a few folks who decided it was a great place for some drunken, not-so-sexy photo shoots… pure comedy!

We stayed at the world class Atlantis resort…. In the center of the pic on the left you can see an archway which contains the “Bridge Suite” also referred to as the “Michael Jackson Suite”. All yours for somewhere between $25,000-$34,000 per night (4 night minimum). We would have stayed there but it wasn’t available the week we were there

We had a great time!!!

For the item of the day, I saw this BCBG RUNWAY GEOMETRIC WRAP DRESS in Macy’s the other day. Its not on sale in the store (Orig. $348), but it is discounted at BCBG.com ($208.80). Its absolutely BEAUTIFUL and the flowy silk is extremely soft!!! I love the belt shown in the runway pic below, although it is sold separately.

Three words... My taco heaven

2010-12-06T13:15:00.002-06:00

Yummy weekend lunch at La Fonda del Gusto in Bucktown/Wicker Park... Yep, that place again.

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Sorting through my Mobile Uploads–Crazy Edition

2010-11-28T13:13:00.001-06:00

Many of my friends on Facebook joke about my fondness of my Blackberry Tour’s camera and capturing the unexpected moments that occur right in front of my eyes… Today I realized that I had nearly 300 photos on my phone’s memory card so while I’m organizing and deleting. I definitely think some of these are funny enough that they should be shared with the rest of my blog readers… Check out these hilarious pics and the captions beneath them… I’ll be sure to post more later on. Obviously there are PLENTY to go around, so look for the Fashion, Travel and Food editions to follow!

An EXTREEEEMLY drunk guy at the casino trying to get a crippled April to go home with him and become his wife, while Sharon happily pushes April’s wheelchair so she’s practically in the guy’s lap. LOL – I love my girls….

Amtrak took a “smoke break” at one of the stops and we hopped off, into the COLD weather, only to see a very tall guy wearing the world’s shortest shorts ever. Nice legs.

My grandfather decided he wanted a garden in his Detroit backyard and got a little carried away… a few months later he had taken over the backyard and converted it to a farm.

Bobby’s roommate (car on left) came home a little “tipsy” and decided to park in the END SPOT, against my car (on right) leaving me NO SPACE to get out. I sent this pic along with some choice words.

When my 5 year old cousin BJ found out I “work with Ronald McDonald”, his response was “So… Cousin Cherish works with a clown? Like, in her office?” Hahaha - I swear he thinks like a grown man.

Father son duo taking a scooter ride down the street. Poor kid… I sure hope that man doesn’t have gas.

Suburban prostitute trying to get a gig but doing stretches, on the corner, in shorts, on a brisk Spring day. Get it girl! *giggle*

The most appropriate cake-topper for my relationship… and the very close runner up.

The photo I showed the beautician, and the hair style she gave me because she felt it look better. Thus, I would NEVER recommend Stacey at Mirror Mirror Salon in Chicago unless I wanted to make sure you look way worse than I do.

And last, but not least… My brother, Bravo, got bored in a CVS one morning and starting rearranging the toys and sent me a pic… *shaking my head*

The item of the day is the Barnes and Noble Nook Color, available for $249 at BN.com or Best Buy.com!!! This e-reader looks AMAZING and has been getting good reviews. I asked my parents for a Nook for Christmas, I would love the color edition for magazine reading, but really don’t NEED it so the basic version of the Nook would be ok for me. I’ve debated buying an e-reader for a couple of years, and many of my friends that have them absolutely love them!

Daydreaming of Ball Gowns…

2010-11-05T01:22:00.001-05:00

So I have a gala coming up soon and as much as I’d like to buy a new dress, after returning from a week long vacation I’m going to have to zip up my Botkier handbag and visit my trust old closet… Stay tuned. There is no telling what I might find in there!

But before I go, I’ll share a few of my “ideal gowns” for this weekend’s gala… Too bad BCBG doesn’t rent their gowns, because these price tags are UP THERE! :(

This black BCBG tulle gown would look awesome on my “fresh off a Mexican vacation” tanned body!

This tulle one-shoulder gown is fun and gives a bit of a romantic, ballerina feel… cute!

I don’t think I’m daring enough to wear this but it would definitely stand out, which is a REALLY good thing…

And if I really wanted to take over the room and sparkle (literally)… this would be a no brain! The beautiful sequin gown by Rachel Gilbert, available at Net-a-porter.com, is the best way to capture every eye and every ray of light in the room!

I Love My Hair!

2010-10-18T23:40:00.003-05:00

This Sesame Street video is flying around the internet and I liked it so much I made it the main video on my blog! I had been waiting and waiting for a video that inspired me nearly as much as the Dove “Evolution” ad (which showed the process of turning a model into a MODEL but pretty much creating a new, an artificial, person – which is unfortunately the image we are encouraged to envy by mainstream media). This muppet shows off her many hairstyles and sings a very cute song to show them off. I LOVE THIS VIDEO!

Sesame Street “I Love My Hair”

I got my first relaxer (chemical straightening process, for those who aren’t familiar) in my kitchen when I was seven years old. Yesterday I finally watched Chris Rock’s movie “Good Hair”, and nearly cried when they showed 3 and 4 year old kids getting perms because they “needed to”! ARGH!!! They are babies!!! Overall the movie was a very interesting one… funny, yes. But it really talked about so many aspects of a Black woman’s crown and glory… and a source of so much pain, both internally and physically, that many people can never truly understand.

In undergrad I changed my regular 8 week relaxer schedule to 12 weeks, then 16 weeks, then 6 months and eventually I was getting them once a year… which was when I realized I really didn’t NEED them at all. So I stopped wasting my money on relaxers (but still fed my addition for hair coloring!). I grew my relaxed hair out, chopping it as I went to get rid of the old processed hair. I started trying new products and styling tools for straightening and began to embrace my naturally curly hair. I was initially terrified to wear it curly to work and I used to straighten my hair before job interviews or big events. I created a “hair diary” a while back… I’m still adding old and new pics to it, but this shows fav pics of a lot of the different hair phases I’ve been through.

Now, I do whatever is convenient, because I love my hair curly AND straight and in the end, what is most important to me is having HEALTHY hair! I love to see my girlfriends, many of whom are “natural” and happy, and all the creative styles they come up with. I have lawyers and doctors and engineers and teachers in my circle who embrace their natural textures and rock em like they belong on a concert stage somewhere. Check some of us out… (No creamy crack allowed… LOL)

NOW…. years later… I can actually say I LOVE MY HAIR!! I can’t imagine ever putting those chemicals in my hair or on my scalp again.

If you’re considering the transition (cause it isn’t easy for everyone!) check out some of the sites below for suggestions, inspiration and pics of other women who made the transition and are loving their hair!

Be sure to go out and get the movie “Good Hair”!

Nacional 27 in Chicago (River West)

2010-10-09T20:27:00.003-05:00

Yes... I know... Another Latin place… *insert smile*… but my recent dinner date at Nacional 27 was AWESOME! I figured I'd post here since I've been posting so many Latin spots over on ChiLanta Foodies! Check out our dinner selections from the AWESOME MENU…

We started with the n27 combination platter - smoked chicken empanada, boniato and plantain croqueta, bbq’d lamb taco, shrimp skewer (I didn’t think about taking a pic until I had already devoured it!!!)

…followed by the N27 ROAST SUCKLING PIG “CUBANO” refereed to as the 10th anniversary of Nacional 27's roast suckling pig… “cubano” accompanied by caramelized onion mashed cuban sweet potatoes, eggplant with spicy tomatoes, coconut rice, black beans, chicharrónes, ancho pork jus…

….and my date had the beef tenderloin "medallions" - spanish cheese-potato gratin, red wine jus (with chimichurri, blue cheese and truffle crust)

Thursday nights also feature salsa lessons (in the middle of the dining floor) at 7:30. There were quite a few couples out there having a good ol time on the dance floor!!

Great choice for a date or even just for dinner and drinks with friends! **Tip: RSVP by phone and ask for the booth seating to get a good view of the dance floor!

I haven’t posted an item of the day in what seems like FOREVER! So today’s item of the day is the MARC JACOBS Camille large leather tote for only $1,850 on net-a-porter. This bag is sooo perfect for a working woman, much like myself, who wants to carry her items in a stylish, timeless bag. Its out of my “current” budget.. but who knows. Maybe one of these Powerball tickets will hit and I’ll order it tomorrow :-) or maybe not… Have a good one!!

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2010-10-04T23:41:00.002-05:00

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Chicago Food… on the other blog

2010-10-02T22:23:00.001-05:00

Great times at Zocalo, Café Iberico and La Fonda del Gusto this weekend! Rather than posting twice, I’ll just direct you to ChiLanta Foodies where you can check out the pics and review….

http://chilantafoodies.blogspot.com/

Also check out my previous post on “A Taste of Brazil” in Oak Park, IL.

Michael Kors Jacket

2010-09-29T22:33:00.001-05:00

I'm getting my Christmas list ready early this year. This jacket by Michael Kors (available online at Michael Kors' website or in select Macy's where its currently 30% off) is at the top of my list.... The only problem is that I need it now because by Christmas it will be too cold to wear it!!

-Bonus - the asymmetrical leather jacket on the Michael Kors site!! That one is sexy!

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I LOVE my Coach "Gillian" Sandals

2010-08-07T20:28:00.006-05:00

So after a year with a pair in a nice beige color called "Sand", I didn't think twice to purchase a pair at more than half off in black. I absolutely love these and the leather is so soft! Here's a pic from my latest trip to the laundromat...

I purchased from BHFO.com for the first time and the experience was good! Shipping was fast and I found a coupon on RetailMeNot.com

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Lupus Alliance of America

2010-07-18T16:53:00.001-05:00

We interrupt the “irrelevant” posts for a very relevant post… last year I announced my participation in one of the Michigan Lupus walks in support of my best friend, Sharon, who has been ~~fighting~~ winning her battle with lupus since 2001. Well, that time is here again and Team Cakesy needs your support! Below is her email.

Hey there,
First, I want to thank you for your love and support especially during the last year. My 2008 and 2009 was pure health hell but because of you interceding for me, lupus has grown and enlightened me is so many ways.
Two of the most wonderful ladies that I know, Cherish and April, have decided to continue on with the Lupus Walk this year on TEAM Cakesy's behalf and we are asking for your donation in whatever amount. No one has to tell me how tight times are and if all you are able to spare is $5, please give that $5 like it's a million. Last year, our fundraising goal was $3,000. We wound up raising more than $4,500.
All funds raised go to benefit the Lupus Alliance of America Michigan Indiana Affiliate. It is the only lupus organization in Michigan that helps folks like me. Last year, due to the fact that I didn't have any insurance that covered my medication, this organization provided what I needed to keep me alive. At this point, I am unsure of who knows what about my ordeal but I needed chemotherapy to help Sharon get back to being Sharon. The Alliance stepped in and gave me what I needed and then a couple of months later, a job. I am currently the Media Director for the organization. Haha! Isn't it funny how things work out?!?
Just within the last couple of months alone, I have written and had 2 newspaper articles published. I have been in a Lupus Alliance commercial that was shown throughout Michigan and Indiana and I was also featured on PBS 'A Wider World' news show about my battle with lupus. I was also a guest on the CW50 television show 'Street Beat'. I have been to Washington, DC twice to lobby Congress on behalf of the Alliance. As a result of our hard work, we currently have two Appropriation's Requests both worth $650,000 each in the offices of the Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick and Congressman John Conyers. We should find out soon whether or not the requests were approved. If they are, the appropriations will change the dynamic of the Alliance drastically which is a good thing. We can help more folks and keep more daughters, mothers, sisters, grandmothers, cousins, brothers, fathers, everyone's loved ones alive.
I didn't mention my awareness successes in an effort to pat myself on the back. I mentioned them to remind you to never tell God how big the storm is but always tell the storm how big your God is. Things have a supernatural way of working out in your favor ;).
The fundraising page is here. http://www.firstgiving.com/sharonharris If you have any questions, contact me. Please forward this at your discretion. Thanks for all that you have done and will do.
Be Encouraged and Be Blessed,
Sharon ('Cakesy')

Please support us in anyway you can, even if its simply passing the word along! I posted a donation badge to the right of my page. If you are in the Detroit-area and would like to walk with us on September 25, or even start your own team for the walk, please do not hesitate to sign up HERE –> http://www.firstgiving.com/milupus.

Peace and love, Cherish (and Sharon and April)

Short Shorts.... for Men?

2010-07-12T22:46:00.001-05:00

One of my fav blogs The Sartorialist posted some pics from the Bottega Veneta fashion show in Milano back in June. I loves the earthy colors used throughout the show and the cool safari-like vests and shorts.... then I came to one pic. A guy in brown leather short shorts. And I do mean SHORT. I don't believe I own a pair of shorts this short. So I guess this is the new "in" thing? Hmmm....

Great Boutique - She Bang

2010-07-05T14:50:00.005-05:00

Found this awesome, super-soft Mini Convertible Hobo purse by 49 Miles at SheBang in Bucktown/Wicker Park (Chicago)... Love the green color!!! Adding it to my summer wish list!

I managed to snag this adorable 5 strand crystal headband by Deepa Gurnani along with a pair of delicate silver flower stud earrings.

This boutique definitely makes my Top 10 List for Chicago!!

Go team USA!!!!!

2010-06-23T12:56:00.000-05:00

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“Designer Dossier”

2010-06-22T21:22:00.001-05:00

I ran across an article in Marie Claire titled “designer dossier” which talked about the Spanish designer Rosa Tous. One of the items featured is the Tous Bubble Bear – a carefully crafted teddy bear that is amazingly designed in such a small size. I absolutely love this pendant! It brings out the child inside without hiding the sophisticated fashionista that exists today. I’ll take one in every metal/stone!

$1.069.00 - 18kt white gold TOUS Bubble Bear pendant with diamonds. Total carat weight 0,33qt. Size: 0,04”

$905.00 - 18kt white gold Tous Bubble Bear pendant with black diamonds. Total carat weight 0,34qt. Size: 0,04"

$69.00 - Sterling silver Tous Bubble Bear pendant with sterling silver choker 17 11/16". Size: 0,04".

As a bonus… this ring is awesome! I may have to add this to the collection soon :-)

Picnics on the Lake

2010-06-19T16:36:00.001-05:00

I’m usually not really a sucker for romance, but these picnic baskets by Picnic at Ascot make me want to grab a bottle of wine and a hot guy and spend some time on Lake Michigan! the sale going on at Ruelala.com features a number of options, including sets for 2 or 4 people, along with detachable wine and blanket compartments. Check out some of the cool styles featured below and hurry over to Ruelala.com if you want to purchase one for your honey or for your family at a cool discounted price! (The sale ends Tuesday night and prices for sets shown below range from $25 to $79)

Happy Picnic-ing!!!!

I have nothing against Lady Gaga....

2010-06-04T14:59:00.002-05:00

But her stylist and the designer of this outfit just moved to the top of my fashion HIT LIST.... Creativity went a little too far on this one. LOL

Favorite Children’s Books

2010-06-02T20:56:00.007-05:00

My line sister KMarie sent a text today asking me for 2 of my favorite children’s books. I didn’t ask her about age groups or ethnic backgrounds of the children in question. but instantly brought up the two books that ALWAYS come to mind first: Aida and Mufaro’s beautiful Daughters. Aida is a story line that is great for middle-schoolers, while Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is great for preschool and younger elementary school-aged children.

I had the pleasure of seeing Aida on Broadway in New York in 2003(?), when Elton John and Tim Rice collaborated to create this awesome musical based on the storybook version of Giuseppe Verdi's Italian-language opera with the same name. The illustrated storybook was written by Leontyne Price, who is an American operatic soprano best known for the title role in Verdi's Aida. When I was able to see the musical, the leading role was played by singer Toni Braxton. (Over its run, the musical has also included stars such as Michelle WIlliams of Destiny’s Child, Heather Headley and Deborah Cox). By the end of the musical I was in tears! It is such a great story and seeing one of your favorite children’s books come alive on stage is such an amazing feeling! I read that the final performance in NYC was in September of 2004. Maybe it will come back there or in another city and I can see it again?! (PS, you can click the performers’ names to see videos of their Aida performances).

But enough of the musicals… now, back to the books! Here are the summaries from Amazon:

Aida (difficult to find in hardcover these days but worth it if you can get it!)

There's no voice like that of opera singer Leontyne Price, and in this retelling of Aida, published in paperback for the first time, we discover that her writer's voice is equally moving. This tale of the Ethiopian princess-turned-slave, her soldier lover, and their inevitable tragedy is a favorite of Price, who reveals her feeling of sisterhood with the doomed Aida in the book's afterword. Price brings just enough distance to this story of love, jealousy, war, envy, and suicide to temper her passion. Telling the tale of Aida, one of the world's most famous--and tragic--operas, in appropriate language and tone is a task to which Price is more than equal. - Amazon.com Review

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale

(PreSchool-Grade 3) An African villager named Mufaro had two daughters whom everyone agreed were beautiful. However, their dispositions were not alike: Manyara had a bad temper and was selfish (although not in front of Mufaro); Nyasha was always kind and considerate both to people and to animals. When Mufaro receives word that the Great King is inviting all of the most worthy and beautiful women to appear before him so that he might choose a wife, Mufaro decides that both of his daughters should go. Manyara, believing herself more worthy and beautiful than her sister, sets out alone so that she can be presented to the king before her sister. What happens to each girl along the way depends on her response to the strange people whom she encounters. This folktale shows the traditional qualities, characterizations, and predictability. It is distinguished, however, by its colorful ink and watercolor illustrations of the costumes, artifacts, flora, and fauna of the Zimbabwe region. The expressive drawings of people and events enhance the story and serve to strengthen readers' familiarity with traditional African culture. A magnificently illustrated book, filled with rich textures and vibrant color, and a story that will satisfy young romantics as well as those with a strong sense of justice. – Review by Helen E. Williams, University of Maryland, College Park

If you know any young children that like to read, you should definitely check those out!

For the item of the day, I have had my eyes on this necklace for some time now... Its from Objets d’Envy, a local Chicago jewelry company. At $662, this handmade piece is out of my current shopping budget but is soooo worth saving up for! (That is, if one of my lucky readers doesn’t snatch it up first!) This truly artistic piece of jewelry (its so much more than necklace) is titled “Tresor”, which means “treasure”…

Be sure to check out the other items from Chicago designer Kirsten over at Objets d’Envy!

Click below to go right to Amazon and purchase the books or the Broadway CD of Aida!

Eating out in Chicago

2010-05-20T13:09:00.002-05:00

Great things I discovered in the last week...

The Mexican Breakfast "Sandwich" at Eggstacy in Oak Brook - they could have kept the bread and piled everything else (except the onions) onto the breakfast potatoes! The chorizo was good, potatoes were tasty, salsa was just right, and I love the avocado slices they added!

"The Margarita Flight" at Zocalo in River North - Not for the faint at heart. It was so great I had to write a review on Yelp. The drinks were STRONG and the portions were enough to induce a nice, strong "buzz"!

Zocalo officially makes my list of Top 5 drinks in the city!! Other's include:

Elderflower (Margarita) - Salud Tequila Lounge (Bucktown/Wicker Park)
Peach Cobbler Martini - Three Peas Art Lounge (South Loop)
Mango Martini - Red Light (West Loop)
Sake-Tini - Tatsu Sushi - Taylor/UIC are

Let's see if anybody gets bumped off the list this summer!!!

William Conger’s “Ragtime”

2010-05-15T19:18:00.001-05:00

While walking through the River North area today I came across the Roy Boyd Art Gallery on Wells and decided to take a peak around. I saw some amazing pieces of art, many of which were beyond my price range, but definitely noteworthy for remembering at a future time. One piece that led to some interesting conversation in the gallery is the work of famous Chicago artist William Conger. The piece, called “Ragtime” is shown below and reminds me of hearts, solar systems, banana peels and the TV show “In Living Color”… all in one piece. (You know?? The intro when they were painting the walls?? LOL… ok, after watching the video, maybe not…)

I also enjoyed these pieces by John Fraser… respectively named “Legend (revised)” and “Guild”…

Check out more pieces and get directions to the gallery here.

Next door to the gallery is a cool boutique named Elements Chicago. I didn’t have a chance to go in but I will definitely return after seeing some cool pieces of jewelry in the window displays. Check out some of the beautiful necklaces, which will serve as the Item(s) of the Day:

Happy Shopping!

Please Vote Today (MONDAY)

2010-05-10T09:59:00.001-05:00

Hey folks, there is a contest going on in the Chicago RedEye newspaper today only. "Bobby" has a song that is up against another one. For those of you who like hip-hop music that you can dance to, please check out "Never Love You" and cast your vote TODAY! Click here to vote: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/kyles-files/2010/05/-young-general-never-love.html

If you listen to the song, please feel free to come back and let me know your thoughts! I will be sure to post a follow up tomorrow with the results. Lets help Young General get those votes in!

Thanks,

Cherish

Chicago Tourist shows us how NOT to wear tights.

2010-05-08T17:34:00.000-05:00

Saw this group on the street while waiting for valet after a wonderful lunch at Grand Lux Cafe.... Knee length summer shorts in yellow worn with black tights. Hmmm... Future trend? I sure hope not.

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T-shirt slogan

2010-05-05T22:18:00.001-05:00

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I’m officially a Burberry chick!

2010-05-01T12:25:00.002-05:00

Thursday was truly a day of surprises!! Two of my coolest cousins (who don’t even know each other) decided to shower me with gifts! One sent a very cool Coach signature laptop sleeve in all black with a matching work tote bag as a thank you gift for me helping her out!! Totally unexpected but greatly appreciated. The other cousin bought a pair of pumps from one of our favorite websites Gilt.com and they ended up being too narrow for her so she decided to send them to me as a surprise. We wear the same size and swap shoes regularly but imagine my shock when I opened the Priority Mail box and saw these lovely black patent Burberry pumps inside!

Totally hot, classic and SEXY!!! Lucky for me, I have a narrow foot and apparently Burberry caters to that, from the way these shoes fit. I felt like Cinderella prancing around the house in these babies… guess this gives me an excuse to go dress shopping!! I found a couple of ideas for a sexy all black night out in Gilt.com’s Paige Black Label sale…hmm… Should I go with a sexy, shorter low cut dress? Or a classic sheath either worn with this belt or worn with a bunch of long necklaces? Decisions, decisions…

(If you’re not a member to Gilt.com’s invitation only shopping click here to join and get awesome deals of up to 70% off on designer fashions, purses, shoes, kid’s clothing, bedding, vacation trips and everything else you can think of: http://www.gilt.com/invite/cherish).

Current Obsession: Nude Pumps

2010-04-24T23:28:00.000-05:00

I have had my eye on a pair of Stuart Weitzman pumps for about 6 months or so. They are a very basic style (not too round, not too pointy, high heel with a small platform to make it more comfortable... etc, etc) but the color is what really gets me. This classic shoe comes in a host of colors but my favorite is a shiny (patent) and subtly sparkly and... well, sorta "nude".
*Disclaimer, my favorite color would be the Red Quasar but I already have the pointed toe pump in that color, LOL*
Check out the Stuart Weitzman Platswoon pump in "Hummus Aniline Patent"... (a.k.a. "Nude")

So hot, right??? Its on the top of my radar... which means I will keep an eye on it, but can't touch it until it goes on sale!! Here are a few other options in a variety of classic and classy styles, both above and below the Platswoon's listed price of $298 at Nordstrom....

Christian Louboutin Pointed-Toe Patent Pump $565 at Bergdorf Goodman

Jessica Simpson Jessica Pump in Nude $69

Charles by Charles David Pompadour Pump - Sale $100

Jimmy Choo Logan d'Orsay Pump $495 at Nordstrom

I have only 1 day left to spend my virtual bucks at The Limited so I guess I'll see what they have to offer online. I almost caved today during the RueLaLa Ray-Ban sale on these cute, pink Jackie-O II sunglasses that were on sale for $69...

Here is a link to the official Ray-Ban site if you want to see more colors available (not on sale). If you're not a member of RueLaLa and want to get in on the great designer sales, follow this link to sign up or send me a message and I can email you an invite -> http://www.ruelala.com/invite/cherish!
Oh well, maybe next time!

Have you ever been stuck at a light...

2010-04-07T21:38:00.002-05:00

... and the car in the gas station next to you is about to explode, RIGHT NEXT TO A GAS PUMP???? The cops were laughing at me crouched down in the drivers seat with my hands by my face the whole time. My car must have pulled off and went 0 to 60 in about 1.3 seconds. Whew!!! Close call!!

Sent from my Sprint® BlackBerry

Girls Trip to Orlando

2010-04-05T22:41:00.002-05:00

Anyone who has followed this blog knows I absolutely LOVE my girlfriends and even more I LOVE to travel with them!!! Last month 9 of my lovely line sisters and soror-friends decided to terrorize the city of Orlando like no other girls can do! We got an awesome deal from Thursday-Sunday at the Mystic Dunes Resort in Kissimmee/Celebration, FL area. For the 9 of us, we rented the Three Bedroom Lockoff with gave us a 3-bed, 3-bath, 2-kitchen space with lots of room and a great balcony. The rates were VERY affordable and when split among the group we spent nearly half of the cost we paid for admission to Universal Studios! We also rented 2 cars for the weekend which was a great idea that provided for plenty of flexibility for the group. (Although in this pic below I was sitting on the floor of the backseat because an extra person jumped in the "mall" car at the last minute and there wasn't enough space for 6 in a Ford Focus! Long - and funny - story short, it was NOT a comfortable ride!!!)

While some of the girls ventured to Cocoa Beach (it was still a bit too chilly for me) the second car spent the WHOLE day at the outlet malls! I am OBSESSED with Orlando's Premium and Prime outlet malls and found so many great items and great deals. I brought Rob back a couple of shirts from the Thomas PINK outlet store (priced at $59 each, versus the normal $180+) and grabbed myself a new pair of black and white Pumas to replace the ones I've had for about 5 years by now. I saw many other great deals and was a little upset that I didn't snatch up the gray Chelsea skinny jeans at the Joe's Jeans outlet store or the blue fitted blazer at Off Fifth.

All in all, we had a great time!!! There is nothing like getting away to celebrate with good friends. Check out some of our fun times:

Fresh off the plane and in an alley somewhere trying to find trouble...

It was 2AM and we were looking for something to get into

The guys at Panchero's moved the tables so we could have a dance competition

The BEST pop in the world - The Coke in the bottle from Mexico made with SUGAR and not that high fructose stuff

Trying out the pedicab at Universal Studios

Peer Pressure - Emily trying to convince Candice to ride one of the rides

Head to head Dance Dance Revolution competition!

Posing for the camera right before Kiana KILLED me at Guitar Hero in the arcade... it was my first time playing but it was fun!

I went to the doghouse looking for Bobby but he wasn't there so I was sad...

Cap'n Joe from Big Toho Airboat Tours - our tour guide on the alligator swamp ride. He stopped in the middle of the swamp to collect payment and he had a credit card machine in his pocket... just in case. LOL

Gator coming towards us and the front row huddling and screaming!

The family gator, we all got to take pics with him... he was pretty nice!

The trip ended with a FUN and FILLING dinner at Benihana followed by what else???? A SLEEPOVER!!! LOL!!!

What a weekend!!!!! I can't leave you without an item of the day, so here it is..... After a year of speculation it has been announced that the disgustingly crazy "sandwich" offered by KFC, which replaces the typical two pieces of bread with two chicken patties and keeps the rest of the goodies in the middle, will be released this month. You do have the option of grilled or fried, because we all know, two grilled patties is way better... right? This just grosses me out!! Is anyone planning to try it??? The KFC website Nutrition Guide lists the health content near the bottom of page 1 which is summed up as:

Original Recipe Double Down - 540 calories, 32g of fat,1380mg of sodium

Grilled Double Down - 460 calories, 23g of fat,1430mg of sodium.

Blue Line - The End, At Forest Park

2010-04-04T15:15:00.001-05:00

I went to the last stop on the Blue Line today (Chicago's el for those who aren't familiar with the trains here). Snapped a few pics and wandered around a bit. Not too many people out and the stop is in a quiet area of the near-western suburb Forest Park. It was nice and warm but kinda windy at times... but this is the "Windy City", so that's to be expected. Enjoy! (Disclaimer: I am not, nor do I pretend to be, any form of a photographer or a person who even knows how to use a digital camera other than crossing my fingers, pressing the button and downloading the pics)...

The Forest Park Blue Line transit center

Danger sign, the cartoon is funny

Train pulling in

People getting off at the last stop

Man leaving the transit center in his Red Easter Suit with his iPod

Family on a stroll

The "ancient" steps

Wind and sun all in my face...horrible shot. LOL

Wind blowing through my curls... such a great feeling!

Jill Scott on iPod Shuffle with wind in curls with sun and 70+ degrees is a BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY!!!!

Happy Resurrection/Easter Sunday everyone!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...

2010-04-04T13:30:00.000-05:00

...so I think I'm going to take a journey through the streets of one of Chicago's near-suburbs and see what I can find to share with you guys.... stay tuned...

Can there ever be too much bling??

2010-03-22T21:48:00.002-05:00

While I have a very strong tomboy side, my inner girly-girly screams out for attention quite often. I came across a post on GeekSugar that talked about blinged out TVs. Yes, flat panel TVs that are covered in crystals, diamonds or whatever else you can find that sparkles. From the Stuart Hughes signature collection of PrestigeHD. Sadly enough... I want one!

Here are pics of two of the TVS...

"55” TV sets...The Rose edition is the pricier one with the base and outer frame crafted in 28 kilograms of solid 18ct rose gold, and adorned with 72 brilliant round cut 1ct flawless diamonds on the frame, with the remaining area set with Sunstone and Amethyst. The inner screen layer is made up from alligator skin, all hand sewn. The ornate make comes with a matching price tag $2.26 million" - bornrich.org

"... base and outer frame done in 22ct gold and encrusted with 48 diamonds with the remaining area set with Aventurine and Topaz...the inner screen layer is made up from alligator skin, the price tag reads $ 1.51 million" - bornrich.org

AWESOME, right????? LOL!!!!

Since those are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY out of my price range, I'm gonna post an item of the day with the same theme but that I may be able to treat myself to one day (ok, maybe not, but its cheaper than the TVs and absolutely gorgeous!)

That's the Elsa Peretti Diamond Heart Pendant from Tiffany. How lovely!!!

Corporate Holiday Party Dress

2010-02-25T00:19:00.000-06:00

So I promised my friend over at The Working Wardrobe that I would post a pic of my final decision for the semi-formal/business-attire company holiday party that was held last month! I was so "rush-rush" after a couple of weeks of finding nothing that truly inspired me. At 1PM the day of the event I tried on a beautiful dress and made my final decision!! I had some photos take for my birthday and wore the dress in a few shots. Check it out!

Dress: Trina Turk (on sale at Macy's for 60% off!)
Shoes: Mui Mui (bronze leather with rhinestone heels, a Christmas gift from 2006)
Makeup: Me - Dior Addict high Shine in Chestnut Chic
Nails: OPI - Meet me on the Star Ferry (the new Hong Kong collection)
**The pics are still raw so just ignore the barely-there Spanx line to all of you over-critiquers... LOL

Von Maur Shoe Room - Great Find!!

2010-02-14T08:46:00.000-06:00

For the past 2+ years I had obsessed over buying myself a pair of Frye boots (or per the pic on the post I did a while back, the Amelia Airhardt boots, as Bobby refers to them).

With the approach of my most recent birthday I decided to go for the splurge and buy the Frye boots, with a purchase price of around $300. Before I had the chance to order them, I was on the hunt for some dressy shoes for a work event. A co-worker told me to check out Von Maur, DSW and Nordstrom, in that order. Of course, I went in reverse and after no luck at Nordstrom or DSW, I walked into Von Maur and decided to browse the clearance room racks.

Lo and behold, there were quite a few pair of frye boots in there, on sale! I was so excited, but the thing that really caught my eye were these Coach "Whitley" boots in a nice chestnut color. Having seen the boot at regular price ($398) I didn't have much hope for those being on the purchase list but tried them on since my shoes were already off. It fit like a GLOVE!! The boot shaft was perfect over the skinny jeans I was wearing and the color was exactly what I wanted. Not wanting to get my hopes up, I turned the boot over the check out the price.... then I quickly found a sales person to bring me the mate. Can you believe the markdown was $99?!?!?!?!?! I almost forgot I was supposed to be looking for dressy shoes! I boxed those babies up and called it a night! What a birthday!

The item of the day is the Gucci work bag. Not one in particular, but a friend was saying that she wanted to invest in a Gucci bag that is corporate office-friendly and would be a great long term investment at under $1,500. Since Gucci is usually significantly out of my price range, I only check out the bags when I'm "online play-shopping" or reading TPF or sites like that. Always one to share my personal shopping services and skills, I decided to put together a few options that I would recommend.

G ucci Bamboo Bar Medium Tote $1,250

Guccissima Bronze Tote (great for people who like to keep their work bag and purse separate) $1,260 (SALE)

Gucci Icon Bit Large Tote $1,600

Key factors for me when finding a work-worthy bag are:

papers/binders should fit comfortably in the bag should I have a meeting to attend
leather, structure and quality/durability are key
select a color/shade that is versatile.

I have a black bag and a burgundy bag which typically take turns serving this purpose for me when I have to meet with executives or am required to wear a suit. The black goes with almost everything, the burgundy goes with everything else. LOL! If you REALLY want to splurge, try this Gucci Crocodile tote bag for $29,900

What a bag!!!!

Hot new magazine - Swaggr

2010-02-13T01:38:00.000-06:00

Its late and I'm tired... but I wanted to make sure I gave you all a heads up on a magazine I came across in an email link. I was just about to hit "delete" then paused and decided to check out the magazine, in case I saw some interesting clothes for future blog posts. Imagine my surprise when music began to play and the on-screen magazine pages came to life with interactive advertisements and awesome photographic images. I immediately sent the link to a few friends, all of whom has proclaimed this to be one of their new favorite magazines!

Check out Swaggr.com for the online issues, which take magazine reading to a level I've never seen! The articles cover hip-hop artists, new products and technology tools, industry related fashions and accessories, and plenty of other cool topics.

Check it out and I hope you enjoy it!
**watch the volume if you're at work, the music plays when the page opens.

FREE Birthday Food

2010-02-06T16:38:00.000-06:00

I am ALL ABOUT free food! And your birthday is the best time for it. Last year I was in the middle of a no-spending challenge so the free certificates really came in handy. This year, they are just as great! When the emails come in I print them out and put them in my purse. So when I am driving around and pass one of the places I just stop and eat!

Earlier this week I enjoyed a delicious (FREE) meal from Noodles & Co, where the waiter made the great suggestion of the Pasta Cavatappi dish with a bowl of Tomato Basil Bisque soup. Very tasty!

Today I ventured out solo to use my Benihana coupon which entitled me to 1 free entree. I normally do the hibachi style chicken and shrimp combo and figured that would be a great lunch on a cold day. Since it was lunch the price was reduced to around $11 or so. When I placed my order the waiter said "That is cheap for lunch time. You get up to $30 for a free entree. Why don't you get something bigger??" I said , "Ok, maybe lobster? I dunno... you have any suggestions?" he immediately suggested the $35 Benihana Ocean Treasure which includes hibachi style lobster tail, mussels, scallops and jumbo shrimp. As a seafood lover, I was sold from the jump....

And it was AMAZING!!!!!!!! I snapped a pic on the grill. Can't beat that!

Up next: I still have Braxton Seafood, Maggiano's, Brio Tuscan Grill, Cold Stone Creamery, FlatTop Grill, Applebee's and a couple of others!

The item of the day just earned me the official title of Girlfriend of the Year!! As a gadget geek, I am pretty sure Bobby loves not having to ever research anything electronic, because he knows I already have and can run down the list of features, how it works and why I/we need it. Bobby has a huge TV and last year I won a BOSE stereo system, which I donated to his entertainment center and hooked up to a receiver a friend of his gave him which gave an almost ultimate experience. The downside, was that Bobby loves his music. So in order to play the music from his macbook through the speakers, he had to hook the macbook to the receiver and essentially leave it there, since the cables weren't long enough to keep the laptop on the couch. He had to get up and hunch over the mac to change songs/albums and after weeks of watching this I decided to make his life easier for Christmas....

So I bought him an Apple TV.

FINALLY (over a month after Christmas) he opened the package and hooked it up to the TV today. You would think he won the lottery as he so excitedly called me to run through all the features (which I of course already knew, LOL) and the simple setup (which was a huge selling point for me). So what does all of this mean, in a nutshell??

- he can use wi-fi to connect to the sound system and doesn't have to hunch over by the receiver. Now he can control it from the couch.
- beyond the couch, he can actually control the music wirelessly from any room in the house.
- he can rent movies in HD without us having to get calls from Blockbuster asking for the movies we rented weeks ago.
- he can watch the videos from his and his friends YouTube channels on the big screen. In HD.
- I can rest until next December knowing I accomplish my goal and my title still stands! :-)

The proper way to make amends

2010-01-13T22:46:00.003-06:00

Today had a conversation with a friend (we’ll call this person Boston), with whom my relationship is a little strained due my “lack of personal interest” (in an effort to be politically correct) in another person (Jersey) with whom Boston is related to and they are an extremely important part of Boston’s life. The conversation was apparently one that needed to happen, as a number of things have occurred, both in and out of Boston’s presence, that have let to this current state between the other parties. Boston’s wish is that we could all be good friends, both together and as individual pairs. While I (I’ll refer to myself as Chicago) don’t think that’s impossible, I think its hard to move on without addresses fundamental issues that have led to the present time, and are likely to reoccur, as the issues seem more personality driven, than situational.

SO… in mathematical terms:

Chicago + Boston= GOOD
Boston + Jersey = GOOD
Chicago + Jersey = NOT GOOD

That being said, there was a recent “attempt”, on Jersey’s behalf, to “squash” the past and move forward with Chicago (me). The comment was made in 2 parts: Part 1 – address the emotions that resulted from the most recent incident, and Part 2 – express a desire to attempt to be more friendly. Sounds great, right? I mean how can you not appreciate someone who steps up to the plate… right?

WRONG. And I’ll tell you how.

The message, so nice in its intent, was actually read over the phone by Boston who claimed to be simply relaying the message from Jersey, because Jersey felt that Chicago would not want to hear from them. So instead of trying to call Chicago, or (e)mailing the note, or even a “can you call me text”, Jersey took the childish way out by saying “I’ll have my assistant do it for me”. And the acting personal assistant, Boston, did it, all the while defending the fact that Jersey had attempted to reconcile and yet Chicago is not cooperating… confused yet?

Either way, I thought long and hard about the situation and still stand by my belief. An apology, reconciliation, discussion to get past an issues, etc should ALWAYS be done by direct contact. To make matter worse, Jersey has a ~~bad~~ habit of contacting Chicago regarding issues that Jersey is not even involved in, often times giving unwanted opinions and voicing unrequested comments… but the one time that there was something worth saying, instead of going straight to the person, they went through a liaison, using the excuse that they didn’t know if their attempt would be welcomed.

This leads me to today’s lesson… while Jersey was not necessarily attempting to apologize, you could look at the rules of communication the same way for a reconciliation. I found an interesting article called “How to Apologize Like A Man” and took a few pointers to share. I am tempted to print it and mail it to the person, but I think that would be done with the wrong intentions, despite being helpful. This section of the article really caught my attention in terms of Jersey and the past problems we’ve had, along with the way the message was given through a third-party, versus person to person, even if it does mean calling a few times, sending a voicemail or even risking getting hung up on….

Why We Don’t Apologize
Pride. Apologizing can be particularly hard for men because it involves the admittance of fault. It’s hard to say that we messed up. That we were wrong. Our pride gets in the way.
Embarrassment. If we messed up royally, doing something truly boneheaded even though we knew better, it can be difficult to talk about it to the person we hurt or let down. We feel stupid and would rather pretend like it didn’t happen.
Anger. Things that need apologizing for are rarely a one way street (more on this later). We probably did something wrong, but the other person probably did too. And sometimes our anger over how they offended us is so great that we justify what we did and can’t get past it to apologize.
The antidote to all 3 obstacles? Humility. The reason we put up these walls is that we have an overinflated view of our true selves. We’re always right; we always have it together. But it ain’t true. We’re human. We mess up sometimes. You have to accept your imperfection as a part of life. Suppressing it will cut you off from others. Embracing it will allow you to grow as a man.

-
Pride. Embarrassment. Anger. <- All powerful worlds. For your Item of the Day I give you the message of Humility and some advice… handle your business like an adult. If you can start it, you can finish it, repair it, redirect it, or whatever else needs to be done. Just make sure you handle it. that’s all. Back to your regular schedule programming….

oh, yeah, and ALL COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS are welcome :-)

The 2009 Testimony

2010-01-03T19:10:00.010-06:00

My little brother posted a testimony (which I actually made to him) on his Facebook Fan page and I wanted to share with you all. His wording was a bit incorrect (you know how stories change the more they are told - LOL) so I have minimally edited some parts to reflect the story more accurately. At the end he posted a song of inspiration, which he sends every Sunday to his fans. I am so proud of him and happy that he could find inspiration in my story.

As a preface, I was laid off in fall of 2009 and hired for a new job before the end of the year. During my job search I WORKED HARD to find job opportunities and listings while pulling from my steadily growing network of industry friends, family members and former clients. My hard work paid off, as I had a number of interviews with some great companies for some awesome positions. As I started interviewing, I began to listen to my own voice... What did I want in a job? What did I not want in a work environment? What sacrifices was I not willing to make and where was my flexibility? I learned so much about myself and realized the path I wanted to be on and the type of workplace I was looking for. To have so many options, especially in this economy, was TRULY a blessing and a testament to the time spent over the years building a career foundation that would carry me through potential hard times.

After a long talk with my brother to tell him the story, he posted this on Facebook:

Welcome to 2010... I know it's still early, but I am already saying "What a year!". These last 3 days have brought me to 1 realization... that 2009 is no more! Let's get ready for a breakthrough family...WE will have SO many testimonies this year!! I have already seen multitudes of friends and patrons being blessed beyond their understanding!! YESSS!!! (Pumps arm*) lol My sister has given a testimony for the New Year that I must share... hopefully she wont be upset.

After being laid off from her company, she contacted a recruiter to help her find another one. Being the faithful woman she was, she didn't hesitate to cry, instead she went FORWARD and pushed until she received two job offers that exceeded her credentials as an Architectural Engineer. Not only did they offer her a job, she received a call from the Mayor of a smaller city and from the upper level management at the one she accepted. This was all without the help of the recruiter, without being in practice for 2 years and with everyone telling her she was out of her league, including friends & family. She has yet to look back and is moving FORWARD faster than ever!!!

THIS is your first chance to move forward. Where do you want to be right now? What is holding you back? Why are you letting it? Where will you be if you let it for too long??? Your past is over, you ARE NOT going back there!! God is placing your thoughts against you for a reason, he is limiting your space so that you HAVE to move...there is no choice! You must have the same faith my sister had that NO MAN can tell you how far you can go in YOUR life. I don't have any analogies tonight...just a testimony... a testimony that "staying there" is not moving FORWARD...it's simply "staying there". Even if you don't reach all your goals, You've gone higher than you would have if you hadn't set any... This is your first word of inspiration for 2010... may you be blessed in it and receive YOUR testimony sooner than you expect. Happy Sunday. Here is your song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO4ISkFGrEs&feature=related

The key word here is “FAITH”. While my family was in a panic about how my bills would get paid and where I would work after my last day, I stood strong and prayerful and put in the work on my end. When i walked into my first interview at the company I decided to accept the offer from, I knew right away that’s where I wanted to be and I made it clear to them in every way possible! When it came down to it, I trusted that I was making the right decision, and everything else fell in place even better than I could have expected it to!

For the item of the day, I am going to recommend a Facebook app. Yes, for those of you who know me personally, I made a number of comments about being anti-apps on Facebook. But there is one that I truly enjoy, called “On this Day, God wants you to know…” and each day or so it gives you a message of inspiration. Though small and random, these messages gave me such an unexpected motivation at times of stress. Like little reminders that the situation will be resolved. If you are on facebook, click here to sign up.

As an example, here is my message for today:

On this day of your life, Cherish, we believe God wants you to know ... that you are exactly where you are meant to be. Trust in God that everything is exactly the way it is supposed to be.

Just as a child has to pass through a tiny channel on its way from the womb into life, so are you on your way to God.

Have a wonderful 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Round-up (Late)

2010-01-02T00:18:00.009-06:00

I had a wonderful Christmas back home with the family! It was like the "gadget Christmas", which for a geek like me is heaven! I got a Wii game system, a new Canon Digital Elph camera, some makeup from Sephora, a Macy's giftcard, cash (who-hoo) and a Links of London watch. All GREAT gifts!! I got to spent time with the family and had dinner with my girls!

The watch was the true surprise, as I have been wanting a new watch for quite some team (I keep posting them on the blog around Christmas but I never went out to look for one). I have blindly walked past the Links of London counter at Macy's numerous times, yet never paused to look down. Well, now i can' stop looking at my wrist. I may even sleep in it tonight! (Ok, not really, but I hate to ever take it off!)

Here is a pic... I'll have to post one wearing it later!

Ready for the Next Phase

2009-12-31T20:32:00.003-06:00

As 2009 comes to a close, I am sitting here thinking about all I've experienced in the past year... And beyond that the past decade. I am beginning 2010 with a wonderful support system of family and friends, a new job, a new apartment, a stronger love relationship, and a new lease on life! I hesitate to call 2009 a challenge... It was more like a lesson in life and having faith in God.

There have been so many blessings in my life, both expected and unexpected, that have led me to a place I never would have imagined myself being in... A place of peace and purpose. A place of goal setting and achieving. A place of love and appreciation.

I am looking forward to everything that 2010 has to offer me!!!

Life Sabbatical

2009-12-03T01:37:00.009-06:00

I am currently “between" jobs” (literally) so I’m thinking of this time period as a sort of unofficial personal sabbatical. Unfortunately, the “spare” time everything but free. I have sooo much to do. In preparation for 2010 I am really changing my life style. REALLY. (Yeah, I know I said that every fall but this time I’m DEAD SERIOUS).

2009 was FUN. Soooo much fun! I went to well over a dozen different cities, some more than once, hung out with all of my girl friends and experienced a fun summer in the city I live in and love! (Chicago, for my new blog friends). Unfortunately, all this fun left one of my biggest goals for 2009 on the back burner – saving money. My plan was to sacrifice 2009 as my hard-core year of saving and laying low, and live it up in 2010… except I did it backwards. So what happens now? I have to do the extreme opposite for 2010 in order to make up for it.

No girlfriend trips. NONE. Family trips are ok and I need to take some time to vacation with “Bobby” since we didn’t get to do much this year, but my friends have to wait until 2011! They are not taking that well, since there is a 30th Birthday celebration planned in Miami this coming March (that I was attempting to count as my birthday celebration too).
Move into a less expensive apartment – I was living the HIGH life here in Chicago and despite early attempts to justify the costs, reality set in that I was living beyond my means. Time to find a cheaper place.
SAVE SAVE SAVE – stop eating out as much. And not just eating out…. I mean the expensive dinner+drink events go on with my girlfriends regularly. You have to treat yourself, but I need to get back to the point where its actually a “treat” and not the norm!
Take the BIG TEST – Engineers can earn the designation of ”PE” by passing a specialized exam that demonstrates their knowledge of the industry. I WILL take that test. The version I want to take is offered in April and while 2010 is very close, 2011 is VERY realistic. I have developed a detailed outline for my study prep to ~~ace~~ pass the exam in 16 months. Its daunting but I WILL do it!!

So these last 28 days will be enjoyed responsibly, but January 1 will bring a whole new light to my life. It should be very interesting! A year with limited travel??? What on earth will I do with myself?? I need to find a good birthday gift that will keep me entertained throughout the year and prevent me from daydreaming too hard about leaving town… any suggestions? A Wii? A new purse? A new Blackberry? Should I order cable/satellite? ~~A gym membership?~~ An all-in-one printer, scanner, copier so i can scan all these pics in? VHS-DVD extracting and converting software/hardware? So many options…

As for the Item of the Day, I got a message a while back about the Burberry sale going on. I am a huge fan of the classic Burberry trench coats, but didn’t pay much attention to the handbags… until now. There are some AWESOME items on sale! Maybe these Powerball numbers will hit in time for me to grab a few nice gifts for myself and my friends :-)

HAPPY HOLIDAY SHOPPING!!!

Count Your Blessings!

2009-11-24T12:15:00.000-06:00

While there is much to be concerned about with the economy, the job market, the uncalled for crime in many cities, and the values of many of our youth Thanksgiving is a time to stop complaining for a moment and reflect on the GOOD in your life. For me, 2009 has been an interesting year but nonetheless, I have PLENTY to be thankful for!

Family - my family has always been an important part of my life but a lot of that focus was on immediate family for a long time. Through Facebook I have connected with (and even met) cousins and other extended family whom I rarely ever talk to. We share event photos, talk about what's new and old in our lives and have even made plans to connect when we are in the same city. I have heard a lot of people talk about their lack of interest in Facebook and other social networking site, but I'm a believer in the connections it can provide. Then its up to you to do the work.

Friends - the Lupus walk this fall was an awesome opportunity to support my best friend of 25 years as she continues to win her battles with lupus. I reconnected with old roommates, sorority sisters I hadn't seen in years and took WAY too many girls' trips for one year! Despite the incurred debt, the memories are irreplaceable and I wouldn't trade them for the world!

Love - my relationship with "Bobby" continues to grow and we have found true love but have an even greater friendship and appreciation for each other. This year has been a bit of a struggle for us as individuals with a lot of big decisions that we've started to make together. Most of my friends would never have used the word "romantic" to describe me, but for some reason, he brings out a lot of traits that were hidden for so long.

Career - while I can't go into much detail, all I can say is I am setting myself up for bigger and better opportunities career-wise that will take me on an entirely new path in life. I have the most amazing support group and professional network!

Health - I FINALLY decided to take my health and my future more seriously and start making changes. A little at a time over the years has helped, but not enough. I am determined to change my diet to help myself and to support Sharon as I force her to do the same so we can live many, many more decades as healthy, fun women!

Life - the saying that "everyday is not guaranteed" has never been more apparent. It is so important to live your life to the fullest! There is soooo much to be thankful for but the ability to wake up and experience it one more day is a blessing in itself.

I hope you take a moment to reflect on what you are thankful for this Thursday and share it with family and friends. Let them know how much they mean to you. Oh, and one last thing, don't put the macaroni in the oven after its already done... be sure to ask first. Just had to put that disclaimer on there. (LOL)

My item of the day are these AWESOME cookies by Edith + Ethel.

Not only are the fresh baked, they are HUGE and so very tasty. They make awesome and inexpensive gifts for the holiday to family, friends, coworkers and even clients or vendors! The Oatmeal Golden Raisin are my favorite, but they all taste great!!

I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!!!
(For laughs, here's me against the turkey last year!)

Homecoming Recap

2009-11-14T18:26:00.002-06:00

Last week had the opportunity to return to my undergraduate alma mater and spend a few days “on the yard”. The celebration also included a number of events with my line sisters as we celebrated our 10th anniversary as women of Alpha Kappa Alpha. I had an awesome time!

In a previous post I mentioned my search for the perfect part dress to wear to homecoming. I settled on the “Crush (Sweet) on You” dress by French Connection. Given the choice between black and red, I went with red, because I absolutely love to stand out! Macy’s had a sale going on that reduced the price quite significantly. Coupled with a credit from a past return, the price was right on target! I completed my ensemble with a pair of Zigi Soho Zipora ankle boots from DSW (used a few coupon codes and saved 30% off plus shipping!) Not the greatest pic of me in the dress, but it will do… LOL

In “The Hole” with my two “adopted big brothers” wearing their respective colors…

This is a party going on at 2PM… if you’ve never experienced an HBCU homecoming you probably can’t understand…

Hanging out with my gorgeous line sister and fellow blogger over at “OH BABY!!!”...

It was a good trip back, after 5 years away. Good to see all the changes to the campus, and most importantly, get one of those good ol’ Jefferson Street fried fish sandwiches with hot sauce and white bread…

For the Item of the day, I am researching “wedge pillows”. As a “victim” of acid reflux for many years now, I have finally decided to quit being lazy and fight back. In my search for behavioral and dietary suggestions (including NOT eating FRIED fish, on WHITE bread, with HOT sauce on it) I read numerous times that elevating the bed 6-8 inches is an easy remedy. Well, i have a fear of my bed sliding off the bricks/blocks or whatever I use to elevate it so I’ve never done it. Well, apparently wedge pillows will give the same effect. Probably takes some getting used to, sleeping in that position, but I’m willing to try it. Adding it to my Christmas list now… I‘m not sure which one to get, some look ok…

while others look downright uncomfortable…

I guess we’ll find out!

Don't do what I do, kids!

2009-11-12T11:07:00.002-06:00

Rough day for me is entertainment for you...

Learning to slow down

2009-10-27T17:58:00.000-05:00

I am definitely getting older...

While I'm holding up very well from a physical standpoint - meaning I'm within 15 lbs of my high school weight and still have most of my thick curly hair - mentally I am FEELING the age setting in with occassional bouts of forgetfulness (mixed with hurriedness). I was most recently reminded of this after a trip to Grand Lux Cafe in Chicago...

It was raining so hard when I left dinner and I would have had to take 2-3 buses/trains to get home so I decided to take a cab. When I got home I rushed out of the cab to change out of my wet clothing and prepare for a night of Hulu and ~~wine~~ juice.

As I setup my computer I gathered all of my electronics in front of me as always (2 Blackberry phones and an iPod Touch) so I would hear them if they range... and play Scrabble on the iPod while I watch TV. Lo, and behold, there were only 2! I was missing my work Blackberry!! *insert gasp*

I emptied my purse, shook out my business suit, groped at my coat pockets, walked every inch of the condo in serach of this pink Blackberry. No luck. I threw on some shoes and ran down to the lobby, even walked outside to see if it were in any of the street puddles where the cab let me out. NO LUCK.

Feeling defeated, I called the cab company to file a missing phone report. They were closed and an automated message informed me that someone would contact me the following morning. In a last ditch effort I made an outline of my evening, after that last Facebook post I made from the phone during dinner...

1 - Dinner Table? (check - I had it in my hand when I bought the cookies at the carryout counter)
2 - Carry-out Counter (double check - had it in my hand when I was on the escalator, PLUS I called the restaurant and they confirmed there was no pink BB found)
3 - Valet Counter? (check, I didn't stop there since I took a cab this time)
4 - Cab? (hmmm.... don't remember using it in the cab)
5 - Home? (can't find it in the house)

So that means its between numbers 3 and 5... which leads me to the cab ride.... I ran out the restaurant... hugged my mom... darted across the street to flag a cab... struggled to combine my bags + carryout + purse.... oh, wait.... THERE IS IT!!!!!

I jumped up, ran over the refrigerator and pulled out my carry-out bag. Sure enough... the pink Blackberry was there. Nesteled between a bowl of soup and carton of bread where I had carefully placed it, as I ran to the cab. I guess it wasn't NEARLY as bad as the Minnesota bus-car incident, but still... reminds me of how fast I'm moving sometimes.... gotta learn to slow down. Makes me think of an India Arie song that I like. The lyrics in the second verse say:

Thinking the faster that I go

The faster that I will reach my goal
The race is not given to the swift
But to the one who endureth.
I thought that all of my obstacles were behind me.
Walking around like I'm made out of diamond.
I tripped and fell and it reminded me to move over and let the angels guide me.

Take a listen:

Slow Down - India Arie

FINAL SALE at gilt.com

2009-10-23T23:01:00.004-05:00

I'm checking out gilt.com's final sale going on.... OMG, this is pure torture for a chick on a budget! There are dozens of designers and some amazing prices. Most of the items are not "in season" for us northern/cold-climate girls, but there are some good ideas for those of you (us) who buy your classic/basic designer duds off-season when they are on sale! I liked a lot of the gowns in the SALE, and here are some of my favs...

This gown by Oscar de la Renta....

The Cairo gown by Temperley London

The Lace Tie Dress by Vivienne Tam (very cute to attend a spring/summer wedding)

If you aren't a member of gilt.com you can use this link to sign up for the invite-only website!
http://www.gilt.com/invite/cherish

Carrying over from my earlier post... I'm so obsessed with these sequin leggings. I LOVE the LaRok pair at Saks, but $350 is a LOT for a pair of leggings, even if they do sparkle like Michael Jackson's glove did. I found a more wallet-friendly pair at Express that may have to go on the "wish list"...

Everything that Glitters…is on my wish list!

2009-10-23T12:57:00.001-05:00

This holiday season is all about sparkle and I absolutely love it!! I was browsing the pages of Saks.com and everything that caught my eye had some sort of glitter/sparkle/sequin/metal accent to it. I can imagine myself walking to a dimly lit party, loaded with candles and accent lighting, and turning heads all across the room as the light shines off my dress…. OOHHH-WEE!!!

*please, don’t wake me up yet*

While the party dress I bought for my November homecoming event doesn’t glisten, I‘m slowly beginning to wish it did! Guess I’ll have to find another party to attend! Here are some of the beautiful, bauble-like items that I’m over here dreaming about…

For the item of the day, this is a “dress” style that I wish would vanish from the fashion industry all together… BCBGMAXAZRIA calls this the “blouson” dress… I love BCBG + Max Azria but THIS, needs to go…

Wing Stop issues parking tickets in Chicago… or not

2009-10-20T20:33:00.000-05:00

If you have lived in Chicago for any amount of time, you have probably received a parking/red light violation notice… A.K.A. ticket. I would venture to say if you’ve lived here at least a week, since I managed to get a boot AND a parking ticket, on separate occasions, both within my first week of relocation. That big orange and white envelope is cause for horror, making blood pressure instantly go up and sweat beads form as you open it and peer inside to see how much they will charge you for parking 57 seconds longer than your meter allowed for.

Poor “Bobby” has had it even worse than me. The first month he moved here his car was towed at 7:02AM. As he walked outside to retrieve it from the 7AM NO PARKING zone he couldn’t find it. I swear they must have had it hitched at 6:58AM ready to go. While I take the bus/train regularly, he is a driver. All day everyday. In sales, its a requirement and his territory reaches well beyond the “metro area”. The signs here can be difficult to read/follow at times and since the city sold the parking meters in a hasty move to raise money, the situation has been worse. So he’s definitely has his share of parking violations, which add up quickly and can cause tons of problems in the meantime. So one nice summer day, less than a week after he finally resolved a huge ticket fiasco with the city, he calls me laughing in the phone with this distinct laugh that I only hear from him when he realizes he’s been punked…

Photo of the real parking ticket I got this month

Photo of an orange and white “Wing Stop notice” (taken from Chicago Now’s Parking Ticket Geek blog).

When Bobby was walking to to his car, he saw this notice on his windshield and nearly flipped out, thinking he had been awarded ANOTHER ticket… knowing good and well that the place he was parked in was perfectly legal and acceptable. Turns out, a local restaurant called Wing Stop, decided to try a new marketing tactic and play off of the parking ticket mayhem by creating flyers that were NEARLY IDENTICAL to the tickets with the wordings adjusted to reflect menu items and discount offers. As the person whom I would have expected to drive over to Wing Stop and start a fight, Bobby laughed hysterically at what was, for him, the ULTIMATE prank… and I joined in the good hearted laughter, sad only because I wasn’t waiting behind the bush with a video camera to see his priceless reaction.

Read more about the views on these flyers here: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/parking-ticket-geek/2009/10/fake-parking-tickets-selling-hot-wings-but-raising-tempers.html Some of the various opinions that were expressed include:

"At first I was shocked. I thought 'Oh my God'--a parking ticket," said new Wing Stop patron Cindy Huerta. "I got my free wings and been going there ever since. If it were a basic flier I would have thrown it away. I thought it was really cool."

"Advertising taking the form of parking tickets can be confusing to motorists," explains Chicago Department of Revenue spokesperson Ed Walsh. "Sometimes it generates complaints. As such, we ask businesses to refrain."

So what do you think?? Good marketing?? Bad idea?? Kinda risky?? Unfair?? Totally cool??

Since we’re posting pics of Bobby now, this is what I imagine his initial expression was… before the curse words… LOL

Item of the day: I currently have 2 Blackberry phones, one for work (Curve), one for personal (Pearl). I have considered upgrading my personal phone to the Blackberry Tour, honestly, for no reason other than to have a newer phone. But all of that will go away once I get the BLACKBERRY WATCH!!! Here is a pic I snapped from Crackberry.com

Check out the reviews here at Computer World… I’m sure I’d use it all of 2 weeks then find it 6 months later in a drawer, but by golly, those two weeks wuld be awesome!

The Big Reveal

2009-10-19T17:20:00.000-05:00

OK, ok, ok…. I guess Bobby has been a mystery for long enough… LOL. I had a few comments and emails, both here and on Facebook, asking why I’m still “covering” him up. No real reason… it was fun in the beginning since we were just dating and I didn’t want folks to “be all in my business” and know who I was dating (since we have some common circles)…. But now, its been a couple of years and things are awesome, so I guess I can start posting “face pics” of him :-)

Here’s the “real” version of the Date Night pic, along with another pic from that evening of fine dining and dancing… (wow, my heels must have been sky high and I was standing on a step or something because he’s WAY taller than me, despite the pic on the right!!!)

Eat your heart out ladies – this tall hunk of chocolate is TAKEN!!!

Chicago Date Night

2009-10-18T01:47:00.000-05:00

With our busy/conflicting schedules its often hard for “Bobby” and I to do a real “Date night”. So this week we put it in Outlook and set the time aside for some food, fun and dancing! He picked me up and we headed to Flatwater, a beautiful restaurant on the Chicago River that is rated one of the “Best Date Spots” by Citysearch. Upon telling the host that it was a late anniversary celebration (I’ve kept him for over 2 whole years!) they went right to work, making sure the entire experience was enjoyable.

We started with a couple of drinks (my Mango Tango Martini was tasty but WAYYYY too strong!) and Bobby ordered a great variety of my favorite appetizers from the simple yet elegant menu – Seared Scallops (TO DIE FOR), Brushcetta (which he told me had mushrooms on it – which I hate – but I later discovered they were roasted beets) and Homemade Guacamole (I LOVE guac with flour tortilla chips any day). With so many appetizers I knew I wouldn’t be too hungry, but the soup of the day was my absolute favorite and I had to order it – Butternut Squash! Bobby, on the other hand, had more of an appetite and went with the recommended entree – Grilled Pork Chop with Fennel Slaw and Whipped Potatoes. We ended up sharing the entree and soup, actually swapping plates at one point!

Next up – The Joynt – a retro piano bar in River North. While there were plenty of music rooms to chose from, we settled in with the live band in the Swing Bar. The band was awesome, we danced a little, laughed a lot and chatted with some folks in town from Cali for the Notre Dame vs SoCal football game. All in all, it was an awesome night! Still not posting “face pics”, but here we are having a blast!! (LOL)

For the Item of the Day, I recently read, over at Stylelist.com about OPI and Dell coming together for a new line of fashion forward laptops based on OPI’s constantly changing, oh-so-cool nail polish colors! The new designs will be available in time for the holiday in Dell’s Design Studio. Absolutely awesome!!

End of Summer

2009-10-16T04:34:00.000-05:00

An eventful and travel-filled summer has come to a close. What better way to start of Fall than with a wedding!!! One of my favorite line sisters (aka, sorority chick who was on my pledge line) had a beautiful wedding this past weekend in chilly Chicago, but the weather didn’t even stand a chance as ruining these activities!

We started with a trip to Chocolate for Your Body for $31 No-Chip manicures, as part of the Pretty City’s Pretty in Pink spa discount specials to raise money and awareness for bright pink - breast cancer research. I tried out Salon O Sixty-Five, where they were offering a Kerastase Oleo-Slim treatment for $31 (normally as much as $100!). While the treatment worked great on my hair, making it shiny and silky, the stylist Todd was not so great. He used a ROUND brush to try and straighten my wet hair (a no-no for Black women) and an inadequate flat-iron to “finish'” it. It was a waste of time AND I got a parking ticket. I ended up fixing my hair myself later that night.

Then there was a bachelorette party at Flirty Girl Fitness where we all dressed for the class in 80’s gear with the theme FLASHDANCE. We walked to Red Kiva for $5 Absolut vodka specials and flat bread pizzas, then we then rented a HUGE party bus limo and cruised the town, causing lots of trouble!

Friday we had a “girls’ brunch” at Flattop Grill in West Loop (not one of my favs but this time my food turned out pretty good) and then a rehearsal followed by the rehearsal dinner at Captain Hard Times – a South Side Chicago, family-owned soul food restaurant. The wedding was held at Apostolic Church. Saturday was the BIG DAY and many of the girls went to get their hair done and we all met up at the AKA Community Center for makeup and hair retouches. There was a makeup artist (not to be named) who was scheduled to do most of the bridal party but a few of us opted out and used our soror Kiana (who has done makeup for years but hasn’t set up a professional name yet). It was like a battle. Them vs us. In the end, we won. While the hired makeup artist went for a palette of caked-on foundation, dark smoky eyes, BRIGHT round over-blushed cheeks and burgundy lipstick on ALL THE GIRLS; Kiana went for a more neutralized look that matched the eyes and lips to the personality of the person, keeping the overall look very neutral and “pretty”. I felt like a super model!

Luckily, the makeup artist was unable to attend the wedding, so back at the church, the other girls did not hesitate or even feel guilty as they started wiping away at their faces. They convinced Kiana to soften their looks too, and in the end we had a BEAUTIFUL bridal party!!!

The reception was held at the Grand Ballroom on Chicago South Side. A true hidden gem. This ballroom was big, elegant and had an awesome staff! The reception was very interactive with games being played throughout and, lets not forget, an open bar (which we took FULL advantage of)!!! As always, I had a wonderful time with my beautiful sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha… next month, we celebrate our 10th year as members of the sorority with a huge weekend of fun at TSU’s homecoming!

Item of the day is the “Homecoming party dress”…. I tried on a number of dresses to determine which would have the best “party effect”… I think I have made my decision, but you won’t find out until November!!! Here are some of the contenders that didn’t make the cut but deserve some attention… (A lot of them were by Rachel Roy as she has seemingly taken over Macy’s Young Contemporary Department, and with good reason!)

Rachel by Rachel Roy 24 Hour Dress…. it just did not drape right on me

Rachel by Rachel Roy Studded Sleeveless Dress… had issues with the band at the bottom

Rachel Roy Art Deco Dress… one of the top choices. I tried it belted with a wide black belt and loved it.

French Connection Wizard Cotton Dress – I’ve loved this dress in every color over the past year, but the top just didn’t fit right, no matter how far up in size I went! Macy’s had the Red and the Color-blocked Red-Black-Navy versions on sale for about $80.

BCBG Tulip dress… not flattering AT ALL on me… or the girl in the pic for that matter

BCBGeneration Halter Wrap Dress… the fit just didn’t work for me and the pattern was a bit much for me. I prefer solids for my party dresses.

Ladies get those dresses together, Nashville is gonna be a blast!!!