A fEATures Beginning!

So it's no secret that I love to eat.   And because I feel that so much of my budget goes to eating, I'm going to recommend and review some delicious places every so often from now on.  It will be fairly informal, but when I eat great stuff, I'll record it and share the experience.  

Today's fEATure: Jamba Juice Steel Cut Slow-Cooked Oatmeal (with fresh Banana and brown sugar crumble)

For less than three bucks, you get a filling portion of slow-cooked organic oatmeal made with soymilk.  Oatmeal is not only nutritious but wholesome as it is a great source of both fiber and protein. Plus, I'm addicted to Jamba Juice smoothies (show me someone who isn't).  I like banana best because combined with the brown sugar crumble there is a banana-bread-like taste.  Perfect for a morning treat, especially because it's inexpensive, quick and healthy.  Way to go Jamba Juice! 

Re-Cap

Hopefully February showers bring march flowers this year, thanks to global warming.  Or is it?  At any rate the weather in New York was great during my stay.  

I began the trip with an illuminating cab ride.  Not a cash cab. Strike one, NYC.  Seeing my cabbie flick off other drivers and yell cuss words out the window simultaneously, I was quickly reminded that NYC is no Wrigleyville.   

Two Tally Hall shows later, Ross and I got ready to see Noah and the Whale and The Hood Internet late night.  Noah and the Whale was hands-down the most disappointing.  After their first album, I expected a pretty good show, especially because it's NATW's only US show before Cochella.  However, the evening was cut short when they played for under and hour and mostly slow jams or new material.  Yawn.  

Noah and the Whale at the Williamsburgh Music Hall in Brooklyn, NY.  

Notice the people sleeping in the front row. 

The Hood Internet (pictured on the bottom right, sorry --fog machines plus my digital camera equal hazy photos) did not disappoint and saved the night! We trekked on the subway to the last stop of the G train in Brooklyn, then walked through an industrial neighborhood and through some sketchy streets, but eventually made it to The Bell House where there was a sweet dance party going down.  Awesome. 

Now would be a good time to point out my disdain for airports.  And airplanes. And airport bathrooms. And airport waiting rooms. And airport food. And airport food prices. So you can see how my traveling to and from NYC would be difficult.  

Anyhow, I made it back to Chicago just in time for Cornmeal's last winter Wednesday show! 

As the earth is defrosting and the streets of Lakeview are flooding, I can't help but look forward to warmer days when jackets, socks and scarfs will no longer be necessary daily items.  

In conclusion, I lied about the prizes!!!!!!! Thank god for my tax return!!! 

Back from the Big Apple

Ahhh...  A long weekend in the big apple.  Excuse me for not posting more regularly these past days, but as many of my readers (Hello, Erin, Mark, Drozd and Wookie) know, I've been all over the place.  Finally, I've landed back in Chicago and am in the Midwest to stay.  

I promise I'll have an all-inclusive update complete with revealing photos, exceptional prizes and probably upwards from three hundred exclamation points coming soon. 

Until then! 

Pretty Late Lights

As my live music quest continues and my money depletes, I find myself questioning which shows to attend and which to skip.  If I've already seen a band a few times, I'll pass.  Or if the ticket is really expensive and I'm not really into it.  

Pretty Lights was almost one of these.  

After weeks of being reminded by my boyfriend that Pretty Lights kicked ass and I really needed to get on listening to it, seeing as how we'd already purchased our tickets.  Although I'd heard his pleas, I was skeptical.  

Boy, was I wrong.  Pretty Lights was amazing.  The Subterranean is an awesome venue.  The upstairs balcony is slightly quieter than the floor level, but also more roomy and a great environment for a sold out show.  

Plus a V.I.P. area that was easy to get into and the location of Future Rock drummer, Darren Heitz. And because Future Rock  gives my boyfriend a raging boner as his favorite band pretty much ever, meeting him was his (albeit unplanned) valentine's day gift. I'm the best. 

Not to mention the fact that Pretty Lights then played a late-night secret no-rules situation show in a friend of a friend's basement in Chinatown after he played a second encore.  

Learning from my mistakes, I, from now on, will always listen when my boyfriend tells me to listen to certain music.  Maybe. 

Now, I must go back to bed and recover from my weekend filled with sassy shenanigans and even better times. 

Sharing is Caring #1

I'm riding on a dolphin doin' filps and shit.  And laughing at this video. It's as real as it gets. 

I never thought I'd be on a boat. 

Thanks, Mark! 

All You Need Is Love...

I love Valentine's Day.  

Not the corporate ploy to spend money on anything red or pink but the part where you express your love to those closest to you. Mostly because I have an overwhelming amount of love and a lot of people to give it to.  

Last year I did this by getting drunk off champagne while making pancakes for my roommates, who had not been informed I was making brunch, and went to class, so I ended up eating most of the pancakes with Kallie, while we finished our own personal champagne bottles.  Then I proceeded to spend the better part of the day sobering up while writing a paper.  

I think there was also a situation that involved some drive-by yells at the Planned Parenthood picketers. Who bring their families. When it's below freezing.  But anyways. . . 

Not this year.  

This year, things are different.  I'm attached to someone and I'm very much interested in being cute and making things that convey that.  I am still, however, not interested in spending a lot of money. 

So the combo of no money and a lot of love equals baked goods. My culinary skills are wildly lacking but my baking skills make up for the difference, leading me to decide on cookies and cupcakes for my loved ones.  

My great friend, Crowe, (who I love because she not only reads this but also thinks I'm funny) brought over some heart-esque shaped cookies she had already made and we got to work with frosting, sprinkles, and candy conversation hearts.  We also used some heart doilies and a lot of green glitter--both kidnapped from Chi Omega. And a bottle of champagne. 

Behold! 

(And yes, that's confetti cake with rainbow chip frosting topped with a dollop of pink frosting and a candy heart)

MY DELECTABLE MASTERPIECE(S)

So except for the tart variety, which are gross, candy conversation hearts are the best part of Valentine's Day.  Although it's painfully obvious that they don't have a quality control section in their manufacturing plant, because some of my candy hearts are not shaped like hearts and do not have words.  Some of my favorite conversation hearts include; No Way, Too Hot, LOL, and Don't Tell.

Now, not only will my friends know how much I love them, but also that I can spell their names in frosting! Believe me, it was tricky.  My 'Becca' cookie took 2 tries and one cookie just says HAT due to space limitations (See Picture). 

What Wealthy People Don't Do

In a strange turn of events, I found myself thinking I was headed to a job interview.  The ad called for a creative business professional and I'm just about the most creative professional I know, the business part shouldn't be too difficult to wing.  

However, the creative business professional they were searching for was a little too business-y and not very professional.  I will give them creative.   

The marketing position I thought I was interviewing for turned out to be a plug for Nouveau Riche, a real estate investment college and nationally known pyramid scheme.  

Dawn, the lady who greeted me, was not in on the joke that there even was a marketing position to be filled.  I know this because she looked at me pretty blankly and quickly started yapping about this school in Arizona that teaches you how to make the big bucks.  

One thing led to another and I was in a conference room with several pathetic looking individuals who seemed just as confused about their whereabouts as I was. 

The man giving the PowerPoint presentation asked a question: What's really in your future? Some of his possible answers were job stress, divorce, and nursing home, mostly due to rampant inflation.  

If I, too, purchased the Residential Real Estate Encyclopedia education package, then referred others, I could retire at 65 with millions-or more-in the bank. If only I could capitalize on the foreclosures and desperate families trying to live out the American Dream. 

At this point I'd realized that I needed to get out.  I silently motioned that I needed to leave, and quickly left. 

Cragislist- 1 Shannon- 0

Plans to rage

Here are a few dates that I'll be raging for sure: 

2/14 Pretty Lights @ Subterranean, Chicago, IL

2/19&20 Tally Hall, Brooklyn & CT

2/21 Noah & the Whale, Brooklyn, NY

3/13 STS9 @ Congress Theatre, Chicago, IL

See you there!

I'm in love with the Bonnaroo line-up

So I just checked out the line up for 2009 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN.   And can I just say, I'm having trouble finding reasons NOT to go.  

Especially after seeing Galactic last night at The Vic, I'm totally sold on just a few of those bands that make it worth $250 and a drive down south.  Plus a guaranteed stop at a Waffle House.  

I've never seen Wilco, so that draws me in just as much as my recent love for MGMT, and of course the chance to see Trey, Mike and the rest of those phishy boys two more times?! 

I need to find a job! For blogs-sake, wish me luck on my interviews this coming week! 

Belated Nonsense

Phew, one week at home and I'm spent. 

I kept meaning to post in this earlier this week, however, the lack of wireless internet at my parents house made it pretty difficult.  Plus, I was keeping busy by doing chores for money. 

My parents house used to be my house.  Let me explain.  After entering this new phase of my life where I'm looking for a job and trying to start taking on my own responsibilities it has become clear that Bloomfield is no longer where home is.  

That and I emptied my bedroom and dropped the contents off at the Salvation Army. 

Now, for your visual and intellectual pleasure, I am going to share a few incomplete thoughts from my week at home. 

First of all, Michigan is cold.  And not just cold, but bitterly cold.  And when I say bitterly cold, I mean the sun shines fooling you into thinking you don't need gloves, but you do because it's 1 degree outside

 before windchill. 

Secondly, babysitting is by far the best birth control there is.  Jon and Kate make it look so easy. 

Also, a friend of mine recently reminded me of two really fantastic cartoons from when I was a kid.  Duck Tales and Tailspin, both brainchildren of Walt Disney with amazing theme songs (that can be seen on YouTube, and I highly recommend doing so). 

And speaking of Duck Tales, the opening credits begin with Scrooge McDuck surfing on a wave of money.  Here is where I apply for that position.  I would bathe in money and bounce on pogo sticks any day, even if I do ruin the occasional christmas. If that job is available, I am absolutely, hands-down, the best candidate.  Com'on! Money surfing! 

The last thing I want to mention is that I recently saw the Sigur Ros documentary, Heima, which follows the band across Iceland as they play a series of unannounced  free shows surrounded by the beautiful and unique landscape of their native land.  It blew my mind.  I now have an intense desire to move to Iceland and wear sweaters.

I've Always Liked Puppies More.

Today was a nice Sunday. I spent the morning in bed and the afternoon seeing a chorale and watching the football. I visited my grandma at the Henry Ford Village, also known as a dorm for old people. And she only asked my name once.

This old people dorm comes complete with co-ed floors, sub-par cafeterias, and it's own television station. Not to mention the ceramics studio, doctor's office, market and game room.

Want to move in yet? With the income-fixed rent, it sounds pretty nice, huh? Too bad there's an age limit. Must be 65 to get in. I wonder if someone can doctor me up a fake ID...

Anyways, I spent the day at the OPD and usually I get all uncomfortable around all the older people, mostly because I mumble a lot creating a language barrier. Today was different. After listening to the chorale from Detroit High School for Performing Arts sing songs about Jesus, we went to a super bowl party!! It was B.Y.O.B., my grandma brought half a sandwich.

Upon our arrival, we were entered in the door prize raffle. After each touchdown, they picked a ticket from the scoring teams ticket basket. We chose the Cardinals, cause, come on Steelers, give someone else a chance!

And what do you know, after the first Cardinals touchdown, my grandma's ticket was chosen! She won a football shaped beer mug!

Winning a prize was too much excitement for us so we called it quits and went home to watch The Boss in the comfort of my grandma's dorm room (okay, apartment).

The game isn't over yet, but I've stopped watching it, obviously, because Puppy Bowl V is on.