June

I love June - it's my birthday month! - but now there is another reason it's cool: it's the name of new restaurant in nearby Peoria Heights.

The chef is only 28 and he's worked with some of the world's best (I feel so unaccomplished!). He's committed to using farm-fresh ingredients which I highly respect and admire. The buzz is building - from The Wall Street Journal to Daily Candy - and we're anxious to visit...maybe we'll celebrate Ben's May graduation and my 31st (NOT 32nd -aiyiyi!) with a June outing.

Oscar fashion so far

My favorites:

• Freida Pinto's dainty blue dress -- love the lace sleeve
  
• Taraji Henson's flowing, rippled-like-freshly-churned-butter creation
• Heidi Klum in the best red dress of the night
• Amy Adams' super cool statement piece--her mosaic necklace
• Tina Fey's loose side-do
  
• Anne Hathaway's intriguing scaly dress
  

Still un-decided about:

• SJP's "barely mint" ball gown
• Marisa Tomei's beautifully pleated dress -- I liked it from the waist down. The top seemed ill-fitted

Yuck:

• Miley Cyrus in a gown Helen Mirren would have looked much better in. She should have worn something much younger and fresher.
  
• Props to Mickey Rourke for his own style. I do wish he would have worn fewer accessories (chains or doggie necklace).
  

accidental dinner

Some of our favorite ingredients came together unexpectedly last night so we celebrated a bit of a late Valentine's Day.

We opened a bottle of wine we purchased about a year ago and it was delicious! Our first Viña Esmeralda was years ago after our post-college trip to Europe. So enjoying another bottle last night made the evening extra special...on just your ordinary Tuesday. Got some wine you are saving? I encourage you to open that bottle!

love of paper

As much as I love email and blogs, there is something about paper and snail mail that I love more.

I can spend hours browsing stationary and cards (I really miss my favorite Chicago and LA shops, Hazel and Pulp). In a pinch, Borders and Target can give me a paper fix.

As much as I love the process that results in a friend or family member receiving a piece of mail, I do not enjoy the post office. The long, slow lines and endless waiting don't fit into my rushed errands schedule. I won't ever love the post office, but this article makes me appreciate it more. Bless you, Pinkie.

Stamps are due to increase again; mail delivery may be reduced to 5 days a week. And that's okay with me because it just makes receiving that card or letter all the more special.

cool stuff

If you like colorful, whimsical design like I do then check out Target's new line from Orla Kiely. I browsed the selection at Target.com and it's sparse. The cute canisters are sold out already and some stuff isn't available online yet. I'll be heading to the store tomorrow to see what's what...

48 hours

The weekend flew by in a blur and now it's nearly Monday again. IMO, the only thing worse than a Monday is a Monday with a dentist appointment, which I hastily scheduled without considering the implications, so I am dreading tomorrow.

We've gotten a lucky break in the weather - nearly 60 yesterday! - and I think it's going to last for a few days. It's nice to see the grass again though I'm certain this means snow in April. We'll see.

My brain's tired.

Happy work week!

my spin

Being in the PR business I hate that when people say or do something questionable it is sometimes equated to "the PR machine at work" or "PR spin."

Jennifer Hudson's people say she used a backing track. Because they didn't say she lip sycnhed, some might say that is spin. Perhaps.

Consider this...you didn't pass the test or you failed? That handbag your friend's carrying isn't your style or it's just fugly? Face it, we all spin.

When Blago was out on his press tour, people said he was on a PR blitz. Ouch. I take offense to anything Blago does being called PR. He's a crazy, liar! Is that what people really think of PR or are they too scared to just call a crazy liar when they see it? They spin. PR just takes the fall.

commercials so far

We're having a very low-key Super Bowl. The game's been interesting (currently at the beginning of the 3rd quarter) and actually better than the commercials. My commercial ratings so far:

Dumb: most of the bud light commercials - especially anything promoting drinkability, go daddy, teleflora, cars.com, audi. diet pepsi for men

Somewhat entertaining: the heroes promo where they are playing football, bridgestone Mr and Mrs Potato Head

Above average: Conan in Sweden (rare good one for Bud Light), all the Bud commercials with the horses and dalmation, Pedigree get a dog