Vida

I am blessed with hands that get super dry in the winter.  Cracking to the point of bleeding is not uncommon. But this year I came at winter with a strategy! My friend suggested coating my hands in thick lotion and then putting them in socks before going to bed.  I did this for awhile, until the newness wore out and I was tired.  Guys, I am always tired at night.  I'm a morning person over here.  So the socks were too far away.  I couldn't manage to get myself up to grab those socks.  This plan faded and my hands started to show it. One morning (mornings are my jam) when my hands were getting close to the bleeding level, I coated my hands with the thick lotion I was using before bed, put my gloves on and made my way out the door for my commute.  And I am happy to report this plan has stuck! My hands are nice and smooth (at least for several hours) and it's a system that works for me. Any others with super dry hands out there?  What ...

Here we are another weekend, after another rough winter week. So much complaining from me lately so today I want to switch it up. What are you grateful for? I'm grateful: My sister picked me up from work Wednesday when it was 1 degree.  Words do not exist for how happy this made me.  I felt like I'd made it.  (Even if it was my sister.) I'm grateful for Spotify. my co-workers for putting up with me while i'm in my funk Sunshine.   Even especially when it's -6 degrees see the sun in the reflection? just for memory's sake -6 degrees P.S. February

Here we are again.  Right around this time each year seasonal depression hits me really hard.  It's hard to get over to deal with and continue on with life and not fail as a friend or my job. Yesterday I had a chance to focus on me and that's exactly what I did.  I had a comp day from work and as the week continued and I got deeper and deeper into this season I decided I was going to make the most out of my day off! Here's a glimpse of what my day looked like: -morning kickboxing class w/ molly (normal friday) -between kickboxing and my fav yoga class ever the half hour of chat time with Molly that I miss so dearly since I started my new job -fav yoga class ever (it was freezing yesterday, but that's beside the point) -brunch -library for some spanish kids books for volunteering today.  This year I'm working with a spanish speaking girl and I know she needs to work on english so we still read the english book, but she needs to feel smart too so I got some...

Growing up my mom had a pair of moon boots that she'd wear for every snowfall or shoveling adventure.  She swore by how much she loved them.  She had them for years & years.  (She may still have them.)  She had them so long they went out of style and came back in style while she kept wearing them.  That's the sign of a loved item! In my grown up life (I guess I should admit to being a grown up at this point), I've never had real snow boots.  Unless you count the $10 ones from some cheap store, which were warm, but definitely not water proof.  The same pair that one of the soles fell off while I was walking and I picked it up and used some fancy shoe glue to put the sole back on.  I still have those boots but I'm starting to realize they're somewhat useless. A couple years ago I bought the tall rain boots with the intention to wear them in the rain and snow (with thick wool socks on).  After very little use I realized my feet were alwa...

Yesterday morning after getting almost 2 feet of snow Sunday and working from home Monday I thought I could bike to work.  In my defense, they do keep the bike path pretty clear. I biked about a half mile, almost wiped out several times, had to walk through extreme patches of ice, thought about the impossibility of biking this in the dark on the way home, and turned around.  I put my bike safely in my place and headed to the bus. My bus ride to work was not horrible.  It was normal.  I stood and listened to this girl on her phone complaining about a wedding she's going to.  (That part isn't necessarily normal.) Then it was time to head home for the evening.  As I crossed the street I saw my bus at my stop and I was hustling.  There's only so much you can do when there's limited space to walk (they don't shovel the entire sidewalk) and lots of people.  I missed the bus.  I waited 8 minutes.  The next bus didn't even stop. ...

Who else hits the kitchen hard core in the winter? I've said this before, but all summer I can happily survive on tomato & mustard sandwiches then we ease into fall and cooking starts to happen more.  Winter hits and I start planning recipes, grocery store trips, and my kitchen always seems to be a mess busy. I rarely make the same recipe twice.  With so many recipes out there, why would I? The Post Punk Kitchen has been one of my favorite sites to get recipes for awhile.  I have one of her cookbooks and it's vegan.  Over the weekend I made  Chipotle Mac & Cheese .  Pretty good one there.  I always love me some chipotle (peppers...not the restaurant). Last night I made  Pesto Soup with Gnocchi, Beans & Greens  I made a few substitutions, using kale instead of swiss chard (kale is cheap right now!) and adding chipotle because I had some extra from the weekend and adding chipotle is never a bad idea to me.  I lov...

Here we are.  January.  My second least favorite month of the year. 3 degrees today means no bike ride for me. Hello crowded bus. But I did get to walk by our Chicago Love Locks. And I found my new favorite youtube video . Tomorrow's a new (hopefully better) day!

Paczkis are big in Chicago.  Paczkis are a Polish tradition for Fat Tuesday and if you aren't aware, there are a lot of Polish in Chicago.   " Poles in Chicago  constituted the largest ethnically Polish population outside of  Warsaw  before 1918 when  Poland  reemerged as an independent state, making it one of the most important  Polonia  centers today," ( source ) Therefore, paczkis are big.  And...in the eight ish years I've lived here:  I never had one!   This year I put that to a close.  This morning Karen & I headed over to Dinkel's bakery  (in the snow) to get one.  It was delicious.   If I had to describe it, I would maybe say like a jelly donut, but no jelly.  Instead filled with the filling of your choice.  I went for Apple Cinnamon and it was wonderful. Here's to taking part in traditions!  One of the best parts of being in a city is having so many cultu...

Tomorrow is the Cardinals first game of Spring Training!  Can Not Wait. No, it is not one of my favorite days of the year (opening day & first day of summer), but it means one of the favorites is coming real close! ( via ) Never thought the day would come. #2days pic.twitter.com/2JBWcHCUK6 — Cardinal Nation™ (@STLCards_Nation) February 27, 2014

Oh, how I feel so very much better today!  And I'm going to enjoy it for as long as possible! What do I attribute this to: *volunteering was particularly awesome this week *I GOT TO RIDE MY BIKE *the sun was out *uber gave my sister and I a rose! *yoga helped, as well as the stories and thoughts shared there.  I did bruise my chin attempting a chin stand & I loved it. *i made two new friends this weekend - one at the gym, one at a coffee shop *a couple dates *celebrated two friends birthdays *high quality friend catch-up time at a wedding.  As well as meeting new ones too!  One of the ladies at our table is from Barnhart and went to SEMO.  What's the first thing I asked?  Did you participate in the gum tree?  She enjoyed it.  I remember when I visited my friend Jess at SEMO freshman year I made her participate and said it was a rite of passage (even though I never heard of it until she told me ;) candy heart favo...

Before I hop into the field trip, I realize I haven't yet shared I have a temporary roommate!  My sister!  =) So Karen, my sister, moved to Chicago for work about a month ago and she's been living with me while she finds a place and gets settled.  It's pretty tight around here right now, when you think about space, and we bicker more than anyone I know, but after we finish complaining and telling each other why we're mad, we always end up picking on each other for whatever it is later...and laughing.  She picks on my for my no wasting ways.  I pick on her no cooking ways.  (Yes, Karen, I am aware you used the microwave a couple times and made grilled cheese once.) We're opposites in pretty much every way.  Example:  I reviewed what I was planning to cook this week and she turned up her nose to everything.  The same is true vice versa.  (I added in something she will eat so she'll eat something home cooked.) At the end of ...

Every year my parents come visit me around my birthday.  And the exchange while planning the date has lately become this: Mom:  We'll have to watch the weather though.  If the weather's bad, we won't be able to come. Me (always a bit selfishly):  I didn't choose to be born in January. While it is true, I would rather have a summer bday, I did choose to live in Chicago.  I'm sure if I lived south, my parents would have no issue getting to me.  So I'm going to take some blame here...but I'll probably still say the same sentence next year... My parents haven't missed a year yet. you can call this my prime color outfit, i will not be offended 2..7!  Get it?  I like it.  It's a once a decade kind-of thing. I was a bit concerned about turning the big 27 for some reason this year, but now that it's here, I'm pretty a-ok with it.  Although it is interesting how my perspective of time has changed. Me and Dad walking by the ...

Yoga in the winter generally = "heart openers" Or shoulder openers.  Or chest openers.  Take your pick.  They all involve many of the same poses. That's what all the instructors call it, but basically, in the winter we all walk around with our shoulders hunched over because we are cold.  "Heart openers" counteract that and open up our shoulders. As a consequence my backbends have never looked better.   mid-backbend This also means my instructor is, of course, finding ways to make it even better...and harder.  There is ALWAYS another step in yoga. After class this morning: My gym friend, Molly:  Do you pull out your back bends as a fun party trick? Me:  Haha.  No. Molly:  I guess that could be dangerous. I love that we both have our own strengths though.   I can move into compass pose: But she can take it further into eight-angle pose: So I just sit there in my compass pose and smile at her...

Anyone else notice the influx of people at the gym after the new year?  I am fully aware this is not new news.  However, I do wonder when the gym influx is in the southern hemisphere because it's nice outside so they can just go outside for fun. I really don't mind the additional members.  Although a few things do annoy me: -I use the same general area for my locker all the time.  With all the people, I'm always putting my stuff in a different area so I forget where my stuff is at the end of the workout and peak through the lockers for my orange coat.  I look silly, but that's ok. -Classes are legit full.  I got kicked in turbo.  It wasn't all that bad and in the first song I knew it was coming because this girl wasn't looking where she was kicking and it was close quarters.  It didn't happen until the second to last song. -I never get my bike for spin class unless I show up an hour before class to sign-up.  Yes, I used to think, 'W...

On Saturday we had some snow...pretty much all day. I had lots of Christmas errands to run considering how far behind I am on Christmas things!  The decision was conquering the snow Saturday or waiting for very cold temps Sunday.  Cue: Riding through the snow/slush/ice on a bike with two wheels On the streets I go, braking all the way Slush covering me and soaked socks All to get some Christmas gifts before the temperature drops. Now snow can be frustrating: Then (circa 1990): yep, i'm hanging out on my dad's back i think karen's giving snow a taste yep, i was even stubborn at 3.  don't tell me i can't do something... FUN!  

I know many people to do not appreciate daylight savings time.  Are we in that now?  Whatever, turning their clocks back and waking up to dark skies.   I'm not the biggest fan either, but this morning on my walk back from the gym I saw the sun rising over the lake the entire last block and it was pretty awesome and what I needed for a new day. I came in and got my camera just for you, for this picture.  (Yes, it was more awesome in real life.) It makes me excited for the future.  What are you looking forward to? I'm looking forward to: *Karen's visit for St. Patty's day and hitting up the festivities with friends *Easter (including a trip to Missouri) and then BAM it's April.  Hopefully we'll have at least normal temps by then since we've been below average for a couple weeks.  burrrrrr... Who's ready for the weekend?  Besides me.

Last week at volunteering we did a once around where everyone shared their favorite thing about spring.  Yes, I made it up.  It's because we were making butterflies.   Annnd maybe it had something to do with the fact that I'm over winter. So many people said they're excited for spring so they can ride their bikes again.   In honor of them and since I'm pretty much over winter let's talk about biking and especially the new bike lanes downtown! ( via ) I think that statement is a stretch, but every little bit helps and the bike lanes downtown are really nice.  You can read a bit more about the addition here via nbc .  (it always takes a bit for people to adjust to change) While this is very exciting, bikers need to be careful on the city streets.  Come on friends, let's not be stupid.  When you act like you rule the road, cars are going to dislike you and it's highly possible they will take their anger out on a different biker.   ...

Today was already the best day of the week. Not a big surprise, since it's Saturday.  But hang in there while I explain. Today I volunteered and I just love those kids. It's been a bit off for about the past month because many of the kids are in mandatory ISAT prep classes (yes, on Saturday) and there's so much going on that messes with the organization of the three Chicago Cares programs that usually occur at the elementary school.  (The other two programs were actually canceled for the last month and I think they start up again next time...) I walk in expecting a bit of chaos and as soon as I sit down with the fellow volunteers and introduce myself one guy makes a sigh of relief and says, "oh good, Lisa, you're the regular."   Me:  Yes   thinking I don't know this guy Guy:  Yemsi (the regular program leader) had a doctor's appointment today and can't make it.  She said you would know how to run everything. Cue me being the leader...

Yes, I know it is not spring yet.   Today's the meteorological beginning of spring or something, isn't it? I definitely suffered some winter blues last month (yeah, it's March!). Check out these tulip fields for your Friday! Normann Szkop  took awesome photos while flying over Dutch  tulip fields . ( via ) p.s. Two days later I'm still feeling amazing after my juice cleanse .  Yes, it's possible that's not what it's from, but considering nothing else has really changed (except starting a new month, which I am so excited about), it's getting the credit. HAPPY FRIDAY & HAPPY MARCH!

So I just finished sewing a dress.  This is my first real sewing project.  I've made pajama pants out of uncomfortable fabric for girl scouts and those stuffed animal patterns for home ec in middle school.  This is the first time I've really made something for realz. I learned a lot from this process and I'm going to share it here so others can learn, but if sewing is not your thing and you couldn't care less, may I recommend skipping this post?  I don't want to waste your time. I pulled out my trusty sewing case Yes, this did not originate as mine... It was a requirement to take Home Ec in middle school so Mom put together a nice sewing box with all the requirements when my brother was in 6th grade.  He used it for the class and never again so on it went to my sister.  She used it for the class and never again so you see where this is going... on it went to me.  I kept it. Clearly it only had the basics, but I can now accurately...