A couple weeks ago, I hosted book club.

It wasn’t any old book club though. It was probably the coolest book club ever. We’re talking classic books, e-readers, champagne bars and simultaneous twitter parties in three cities.

I KNOW, RIGHT?

Let me back up.

In July, my guests and I were all sent a DSi XL and the “game” 100 Classic Books. We had a month to read before we would all meet to discuss our book, which was Pride and Prejudice. The coolest part was that there were book club meetings simultaneously happening in Boston and St. Louis. We all could keep up with each other by interacting via Twitter since it was streamed on a screen for us.

RIGHT?

My book club took place at Pops For Champagne, a champagne bar here in Chicago, which couldn’t have been a better choice for my bubble loving friends and I. We pulled out our DSi XLs, ate delicious little cheesecake creme brulee things and discussed our book. There was talk of helicopter parents, if Mr. Collins was gay or not, feminism or just strong female characters and more. The only thing that was missing was Colin Firth.

I’ve been pretty anti e-reader for the longest. For someone who really loves technology and her gadgets, nothing can beat an actual book with pages. I love the smell of new books, turning pages and I love being the first one to make a crease in the spine. I love that older books are not only are stories, but are a story themselves with where they have been, who owned them before, notes in margins and things forgotten about in the pages before they were passed on.

BUT.

I can definitely see their appeal now. I have 100 classic books in my handbag right now, from Austen to Shakespeare to Dickens to Bronte. I mean, that’s just really neat. It’s especially awesome for travel (I took it with me to NYC for the plane).  I kind of wish I could download regular books on it too and not need software for them. I’ll always be a book girl, but this is a really great option to have too. I’m think I’m going to start Sense and Sensibility soon.

So since we’re discussing the classics, which is your favorite? Little Women has always been one of my favorite books, classic or not.

Disclosure: Brand About Town and Nintendo provided my guests and I with DSi XLs and software and my book club at Pops was courtesy of them so back up off me, FTC.

Hey you,

I know I wrote you once before and said that was it, but what can I say? I changed my mind. That happens sometimes.  You’ll get used to it.

The other day I wrote about how I can be a little materialistic at times, but I want you to know I still consider myself a simple kind of girl. And while I might like to buy myself pretty things every now and then, I still rock the hell out of an $8 boyfriend tee from Target. And for as many pairs of heels you see in my closet, I probably won’t wear them too often because to be honest? I can barely walk in them. Shh! I’m a flats and sneakers girls in the end, so I’ll probably spend much time on my toes reaching up for kisses.

I love finding hole in the wall type spots that you would probably never find if you didn’t step off the beaten path, so I hope you’re up for exploring. The mom and pop joints are my favorite. Trust. I know where the best pizza in Chicago is and you won’t be disappointed, even if we have to make a trek down to the hood to get it.

I can be impulsive, so there will be a lot of things I have to do RIGHT THIS SECOND or I might just die (see: most recent tattoo). And when I like something, I take it and run with it. You’ll hear the same album or song, 37 times on repeat until you’re just about ready to kill me and then I’ll switch to something new. It’s an obsessive cycle. Just go with it. And don’t get frustrated when walking somewhere takes forever because I’m stopping to pet and baby talk each and every dog we see. I just can’t help it.

You know those things people call phones? Well, you can actually use them to talk to people and hear the other person’s voice (I KNOW, RIGHT?!) Yeah, I like that every now and then, so I hope you don’t always rely on texting or whatever.

Sometimes I just prefer being alone with a cup of something and a good book. But when I do go out, you’re more likely to find me at the neighborhood bar rather than the club. I don’t need to be wined and dined, I’m totally cool with a burger at the pub over a five star restaurant. Drinks on the patio instead of the hotel bar. Groups of friends over all night ragers with complete strangers. You know the night life is just not for me ’cause all you really need is a few good friends. I’m mostly pretty low key and I’m fine with that.

In the end, I just want a simple love. I know love takes work and is not the fairytale we all wish it could be, but sometimes it can be easy too. I hope we have balance and and I hope that we compliment each other well.

As weird as it may sound, I’m not in a huge rush to find you. I kind of feel like maybe I’m just not quite the person I need to be in order to be ready for you. And maybe you’re not either. But when it’s time, our paths will cross.

Until then,

Jamie

I just like things.

I may or may not have a shopping problem. Or well, I did have a shopping problem.

Now I have an I-want-things-but-can’t-have-them problem since I’m between jobs. I really was getting better about spending though before that happened. And when I get some work again, I’ll be hammering out a budget because priorities of mine have been shifting even more in the last few months.

But seriously, I just like pretty things. The things I like usually happen to cost lots because I kind of have expensive taste. Expensive but FABULOUS taste.

Those people who are all, “pshh money won’t make you happy” have obviously not smelled a brand new leather or laid their hands upon a butter soft leather bag. Because if you did, you wouldn’t be saying that because those are two of the best things in the history of forever.

(trust me, go in to Nordstrom and go to the handbag section, but try not to be all creepy with your caressing and smelling)

My Matt & Nat bag makes me smile every time I pull it out. My Betsy Johnson sunglasses are super cute. My Etsy finds are my favorite thing to get in the mail, especially because most sellers have the best packaging so it feels like a present (Yes, I know a present I bought with my own money. Shut up I deserve it). My Marc Jacobs bag makes me insanely happy. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

(they don’t call it retail therapy for nothing, my friends)

Besides, who needs to eat anyway. I definitely have lived off peanut butter and ramen (ew not together, freak) for awhile so I can afford a new pretty rather than eat like a regular human being.

PRIORITIES.

And when (if ever) I have some extra cash flow, I’ll pick out something nice and treat myself to because I’m generous like that.

Poof!

Happiness in is totally a bag.

This has been popping up all over my reader lately so I figured I’d give it a go as well. Elsie from A Beautiful Mess has challenged everyone to meet four simple goals by 2011.

Get busy in the kitchen. No, not that kind of busy. I need to start cooking more. I can definitely get lazy with food with ordering out or eating peanut butter sandwiches and mac and cheese forever because it’s simple. There are plenty of easy recipes out there that are better for me because they aren’t so processed, but they are also super yum. If you have any delicious recipes or know of any great food blogs, please pass them on!

Be more active. I need to start being more active. It’s easy to get lost in this whole internet thing for hours and before you know it, you’re whole day is gone! I tend to let that happen way too much. I’m going to start getting outside more. Take more walks with the pup. Get a bike and start riding. Finally pop in that yoga dvd I bought. This isn’t necessarily about weight loss (even though that will happen as well), but it’s more about just feeling good. I definitely feel better when I’m not so stagnant.

Learn how to knit. I feel like I need a new hobby and even though I’m the most uncrafty person in the history of ever, I think I might be able to learn how to knit. I chose knitting rather than sewing because there’s not much more I love in the world than fall and winter accessories. I love chunky, super long scarves and slouchy hats and I would love to try my hand at making some of my own. I know a couple shops in Chicago that offer classes and I think a friend of mine might be able to teach me too. Hi Monica, I think I just volunteered you to teach me how to knit.

Say yes more. It’s so easy to say no, to avoid things and just be unapproachable. Whether it is yes to going out, meeting someone for drinks, reading something or even just being around for conversation, I’m going to start saying yes more. I’m going to be more open and welcome new things, people and ideas. I may have to get a little bit more crafty with how social I can be considering the whole losing two major jobs thing that recently hit me so there is a big cash flow problem at the moment, but I’ll make it work!

A couple weeks ago, BlogHer was going down in New York and even though I didn’t have a ticket, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go hang with my friends who were going to be there. I booked a plane ticket, Caroline agreed to let me crash on her couch and last minute, I managed to get a hold of a party pass (thanks to Justine!). It was my first time being in New York and actually getting to spend some time exploring.

I didn’t bring a camera because I always forget I to use it. I do, however, always have my iPhone in hand so here are a few pictures I snapped throughout the weekend.

transport to the Nintendo dinner

truth.

me taking a picture of Doni taking a picture of me

delicious buffalo chicken mac and cheese from S’MAC

Lacey and Katelin at the CheeseburgHer party

the view from Caroline’s roof

I can’t wait to get back there and see more, but take things a little more slowly. New York is exhausting. It was amazing to see all of my friends for a weekend though. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

San Diego next year, ladies!

I plan to try to recap BlogHer soon, but that kind of takes effort and I’m still recovering from my whole NYC weekend and moving on Tuesday.

These, I had to share though. I was straight up silly on Saturday night for  some of the BlogHer festivities (including my favorite the CheeseburgHer party) and had the best time with my girls.

Katelin, Lacey & me

(more…)

Last weekend was pretty terrible. This weekend has so much potential for awesome.

Really digging these things:

• my new Matt & Nat bag and Betsy Johnson sunglasses
• NYC ON FRIDAY
• sleepovers and seeing the city with Caroline
• seeing Katelin for our third annual drunken BlogHer video blog (with hopefully another special guest appearance by Jess)
• Mad Men starting again and the new babe that works at the office
• how long my hair is getting
• the Nintendo DSi XL book club I’m hosting with Stacey next weekend
• the fact that it’s August and FALL WILL BE HERE SOON
• making super fun amazing plans for fall
• Joseph Gordon Levitt and his three piece suits (hi, call me)

Things I’m not obsessing over and actually like, really hate:

• summer
• losing a big freelance job very unexpectedly on Friday
• having to do laundry and pack for my trip
• not being able to get in at my salon for a teeny tiny trim before I leave for New York so my bangs and hair are kind of a hot mess

So yeah, if you’re in NYC this weekend – holler.

If you know of any awesome freelance gigs around the interwebs and/or bad ass jobs in Chicago – holler times two.

Your turn. Currently obsessing over _____.

My family is moving.

Not far away or anything, but out of the house that I’ve lived in since I was 12. After a big, long, drawn out “deal”, my mother bought out my dad on the house we’ve lived in. There was lots of backing out, changing terms, low balling and general crazy from her.

AS USUAL.

I really didn’t think it would bother me this much. Seeing everything packed up and away and being slowly moved over to the new place is making me sad. I’m really procrastinating on getting all my things together; everything in all the other rooms is cleared out, it’s all empty. Mine is pretty much just as it should be, down to the Marilyn Monroe poster on my wall and the books on my shelves.

Seeing my childhood burn down was one of the worst things that happened to me. Seeing it packed up in boxes after rebuilding it for years is still really tough even though I’m much older. I didn’t think it would be this hard.

In the end, it’s a good thing though.

My dad really needed this. This house was too big for just him to maintain and he needed this to move on. Everyone needed it to get away from my mother. With this, all ties are completely severed with her. Well, for him at least. She still tries to “have a relationship” with my brother and sister (you know, by buying their love). Me, on the other hand, I’m perfectly content with never having to speak to her again. I can’t deal with the lies, the greed and the fakeness.

Everyone is so excited for the new house. This new space to call their own and I want nothing to do with it.

I want the lavender paint on the walls I picked out and sloppily painted when we moved in. I want the backyard that my dog runs circles around like a crazy face. I want the video store I worked at in high school to be just two blocks up. I want the long route that I’d walk my dog down every day to be behind my house. I want the sound of baseball bats clinking from the Little League field down the street. I want the house I thought I’d be having Christmas in for years and years to come.

I don’t want things to change, but I’m still so ready for change. I’m happy about it, but still sad.

It’s just really bittersweet.

I’ve posted this before, but it’s just very fitting seeing how my weekend went from Bad Day to What The Actual Fuck? to Seriously? SERIOUSLY?!

Tomorrow, I start fresh.