Monday, Fun Day: Weekend Edition

While I couldn't get out of D-Vegas (Danville to those not up on the slang) fast enough when I was younger, I enjoy heading back every now and then to reunite with the people and places I love most in my hometown. This weekend, I did just that and it was the perfect mini getaway from suburbia. Roll the highlights:

1) Family time all weekend. I loved having three days with mom, Kelli and Bogey all to myself. Also, enjoyed spending time with the rest of the family and family friends. Bands, boats, babies, and beer! A unique combination, but wonderful time with the fam!

2) Custard Cup, of course! A must-go every trip home, March through October that is. Key Lime Pie snowstorm is seriously the best thing ever. This trip we managed to go twice. 3 minutes before closing time and a little rain won't stop us from another go the Custard Cup. Love that place.

3) Dance camp! The Devillete dance team was holding camp at the high school over the weekend and I had the honor of leading a Zumba class for them to close out the camp. It was an absolute blast!

Until next time D-Vegas!

Party time, excellent!

Its the weekend lovers and I am signing off! Half day in the home office and now its time to head downstate for the weekend. Custard Cup (and, mom & Bogey:)) I'll be seeing ya!

Where will you be November 6th?

I'll be at the Willis Tower (let's be real, Sears Tower) for the Third Annual SkyRise Chicago. That's right, I've signed up again! SkyRise Chicago is a stair climb up the Willis Tower to benefit the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). Its the worlds largest indoor, urban stair climb - 103 flights of stairs, 2,109 steps total to the top!

This event is so motivating to be a part of. While the majority of participants are climbing to the top, there is an option for those unable to climb to complete the feat by hand. The category gives those competitors the option of testing their upper body strength using hand cycle to complete the feat. Participants that have spent time in RIC are in attendance and complete the climb along side everyone else. Firefighters also climb to the top in their full gear -talk about strength and endurance!

2011 marks my third year participating in the climb and I am pumped! I've already recruited a couple SkyRise newbies. Soon enough I'll be hitting the stairs to start training. My goal is to beat last year's time and hopefully finish in less than 30 minutes!

Tower up!

Summatime is here!

Here are two of my favorite summerly products in honor of the solstice!

1) Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisterizer

I'm a ginger and while I love being out in the sun, I don't tan. Underneath millions of freckles is very pale skin and if I'm out for loo long, my skin might catch on fire. After years of trying to 'tan', I finally accepted my fate and sought out the perfect product to help me cope. I lather up every morning after I shower and within a week developed a nice little glow. Continuous use enhances the color and now I actually look tan! Even friends and coworkers have noticed. This bronzed ginger is turning heads.

2) Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Sun Tan Lotion

While the Jergens makes me appear tan, I've still got to cover up my pale skin to avoid those scorching rays. This new product from Hawaiian tropic is wonderful! The added shimmer highlights and enhances my fake lotion tan to perfection. The coconut scent actually smells good too! And, just in case you do feel the burn, there is an after sun lotion available too.

The only thing left to do now is lather up and hit the pool!

Monday, Fun Day.

It's always tough to start the work week when its dark and gloomy. What I'd really love to do is spend the day in the basement with a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream watching a Real Housewives marathon, but instead I'm here in the office plugging away on this week's projects.

That said, I think its time for another rendition of Monday, Fun Day!! Here are a few things that I am loving about today:

1) I am 4 days closer to spending a weekend in my hometown! Kelli and I are heading home this weekend to visit Mom. On Saturday, I am leading a Zumba class at my former high school. The Devilettes (dance team) are holding camp this week and I've been asked to come back and lead a Zumba class. We'll get to see Cooper Wilson, my cousin's baby girl, who is just the cutest little babe! Oh, and Custard Cup!

2) New opportunities at work. Excited for a lunch meeting to start figuring things out. Stay tuned...

3) Bachelorette. Guilty pleasure. I never used to watch the show, but everyone at work always talked about it and I wanted to fit in at the water cooler. I've already read the blogs and know who 'wins' but I still love to watch the drama unfold every Monday night. Team JP!

What tops your Monday Fun Day list?

All work and now play...

...makes the AK's very happy!

Only because I'll probably be too busy tomorrow to write, today's post goes out to my husband Jake. He'll be graduating with a 4.0, yeah 4.0!! from the MSIT program tomorrow at Northwestern University!!!! It was a short, long two years, but tomorrow it will all be worth it. And, I will finally get to hang out with him again on weeknights and Saturdays! What could be better?! Well, winning the lotto...maybe. But, in all honesty I'm so proud of him! This is a huge accomplishment.

Congrats babe!!!

I'm royalty.

Ok, that might be stretching it. But I am the owner of a shiny new crown, dental crown that is. Happy to have wrapped up my 5 trip tour de dentists this month. Not so happy that in order to complete the work today, the dentist had to burn away part of my gums. Burn, that's right BURN away my gums to put on the crown. The bright red tip of that scorching tool meant business. Holy moly, my mouth hurts!!! Please, please let the pain subside soon. I've got important things to do, important people to see. I am royal afterall.

So delicious.

My thoughts on Starbucks new Mocha Coconut, with caramel (my special addition), Frappucinno....AMAZING, so delicious!!! They've had all these flavors forever, but give it up to their new marketing campaign to encourage customers to make it their own! Vacation in a cup.

They were also giving away samples of Strawberry-Banana Coconut Frapp's while you wait. Another tasty combo - kudos to who came up with that one.

Brew Review: Commodore Perry

Another one already?

I'm a fun lovin', beer drinkin' gal, what can I say. In all seriousness, as serious as beer reviews go, I tried something new tonight and I want to make sure to get it on the books.

Here goes...

Great Lakes Brewery - Commodore Perry

Commodore Perry is another IPA, an English India Pale Ale (IPA). It's medium bodied with 7.5% ABV.

Ali's Rating: ***1/2 This one is tasty, but with a stronger alcohol % I can only drink one or two. Its a good summer beer, but most IPA's are. I mentioned in previous posts Burning River Pale Ale from Great Lakes is my favorite at the time. Having tried Commodore Perry from Great Lakes, I am intrigued to try some other beers from this brewery. For an IPA, I'll drink Mr. Perry again but it won't be a regular buy for me.

Beer Advocate Rating: B+

Cheers!

Brew Review: New Holland Mad Hatter IPA

Take one.

If you've read below, you understand, a little, what led to this post. Jake and I hit up the local wine and beer shop this weekend (plug: Wine Knows in Grayslake) to pick up some beer and it occurred to me that I've tried all these microbrews lately but I can't recall how I felt about each one. Was it great (hopefully if it was great, I'll remember)? It was ok, I'd pick it up again. Was it gross and I dare take another sip?

Lightbulb! New idea and use of the blog! What a great idea to write about the beers I try and rate them. I am not an expert in this area, so I am going to lean on Beer Advocate for help. But, I will give them a score ala Yelp or Yahoo. Now, you too can try them and see what you think. We're friends, surely you like what I like.

That said, here is the first review!

New Holland Brewery - Mad Hatter IPA
Mad Hatter IPA is a light-medium bodied American IPA 5.25% ABV.

Ali's Rating: **** (out of 5, just to clarify :)) I've had before and I will have again! Great for a sunny day on the deck. Very drinkable as far as IPA's go.

Beer Advocate Rating: B+

At the start, these reviews will be short. Will I or won't I drink again? The only thing I know about hops is that's how bunnies get around. Like a fine wine, I'll get better with age. Or by drinking more beer? I think more beer.

Cheers!

Picky, picky.

Eight years ago I turned my nose at most foods. Very, very, verrrry picky. Calamari was gross; eat squid, you can't be serious? Spinach, no thank you. Turkey burger, who would eat anything other than a 'real' beef burger? Well, me. You could call me sheltered, but that's not it. Mom cooked all kinds of great meals, I just thought if it looked funny or had a weird texture than I just won't like it.

Same goes for beverages. Ok, adult beverages. College days hit, it was necessary to acquire a taste for beer. I do like to fit in. But, just light beer, Bud or Miller. Guiness, weird sounding beer, IP what?, from some brewery in a small town in Vermont, ewww. My theory was, if I can't see through it, I don't want it. Same applied for wine. White only. Red, let's not get crazy.

Then, I met Jake. Maybe I just grew up, but I will give him some credit. A lot of credit. Thanks to him, the foods above are some of my favorites. Whoa. Who ordered calamari for an app last week? This girl! What's my current beer of choice? Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale. Pale Ale?! That's right.

We are both beer snobs now. I love it. Sure, we'll still drink Bud Light. But, its way more fun to try microbrews from all over the country. Enter new recurring post, the Brew Review! Keep reading....

The Sounds of Summer

Music is such a huge part of who I am and I love all genres. Usually, you can tell a lot about a person by the type of music they listen too. Seriously, put my iPod of shuffle, you'll get a little bit of everything. Celia Cruz (who?! yep, Latin artist, Zumba influence), Britney, Enya, Glee, Jason Aldean, Journey, Police, Good Charlotte, RHCP, Ting Tings, and the Biebs just to name a few. Good luck figuring me out :)

There is nothing better than sitting outside in the summer, sipping a cool beverage and enjoying your favorite tunes. I recently discovered Ravinia, an outdoor theater in Highland Park. Aaaaamazing place for a concert. Nosh on cheese and crackers from your picnic basket, throw back a couple of bottles of wine, and relax outdoors with a few hundred of your closest friends. I'll be going back this year to see Maroon 5 July 1st. Cannot wait! Love you, Adam Levine!

Here are a few other concerts on my wishlist this summer:

~ 311 ~ With a new single, aptly named 'Sunset in July' and a new album dropping in July, 311 is on my must-see list this year. They'll be playing Summerfest and in Chicago, both in July.

~ Jason Aldean ~ Kelli, thanks for bringing me over to the country side. This guy is awesome and I'm sure he puts on a pretty good show! He'll also be at Summerfest and Chicago later this summer.

~ Blink 182 ~ Love these guys, they always put on a good show. Travis Barker is awesome. Say no more. Coming to Chicago late-August.

~ Lolla ~ So many I'd love to see here. Christina Perri, Eminem, Foo Fighers, Muse, the list goes on. Another hot one for August.

Not quite on my hitlist but who would have thought?!
~ Debbie Gibson and Tiffany ~ Talk about a blast from the past! I think we're in love now.

That said, who's coming with me!?!

Are you there 5 o'clock?

It's me, Ali and I'm ready to go home!

Ever have those days that just seem to go on forever? Today is one of those days. It's beautiful outside and I am stuck in this cubicle for what seems like hours.

My work for the day is done. Maybe I'll research vacations to pass the time. Disney, a cruise, New Orleans, St. Lucia, anywhere that serves a margarita?

Jimmy Buffet says 'It's 5 o'clock somehere'. In the midwest, Jimmy, I'm still waiting.

Another day, another dentist.

Couple months ago it was just a cleaning, few weeks after that some fillings and yesterday a root canal!! A root canal! WTF! Cue anxiety.

Everyone told me it won't be as bad as I think and for the most part they were right. The procedure itself was painless. The worst part was holding my mouth open for an hour an 15 minutes. After I left, I was invincible...pain-free! That lasted for all of 30 minutes and then the pain kicked into high gear! Mostly, just uber-sensitive and sore from all the poking and proding of my poor little upper molar. Today, things are looking up! I think I'll make it.

That said, here are just a few tips for surviving the next one or your first one (but, let's hope I won't need to refer to this post ever again).

1) iPod. Music is my savior. Thank you Adele for your healing words. And, thank you Sennheiser for earbud volume control and being able to crack it up at seconds notice when the dental tools got a little too loud.

2) Painkillers. In my case, Ibuprofen. 3 an hour before appointment. And, 3 there after.

3) PTO. Take the day off. Nobody, except my husband and animals needs to see me the day of a root canal. Plus, the three hour nap after I got home was the ticket to masking the post-canal soreness.

Let's hope that the final dental visits in the next couple weeks for the crown are the last for a loooong time. Or, the next time I need a crown it isn't because of a trip to the dentist. :)