Category Archives: Friends and Family

Nov 10 2012
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Around the House/DIY, Chicago Specific Fun, Friends and Family

Day 47: Young House Love

A few weeks ago, my sister told me about a blog called Young House Love written by a couple who tackled the task of renovating their old, wood-paneled home using DIY techniques and a lot of time and patience. They took four and half years to get it to their taste. Now they live in a new house with similar challenges and blog full time. They also just published a book that my sister, her best friend and I all preordered so that we could go together to a book signing with these bloggers turned authors at the Chicago West Elm.

After waiting in line for three and a half hours (don’t worry, we brought chairs and were sitting almost the whole time), we finally met Sherry and John, took pictures with them and had our books signed. So much was fun about this experience (especially the free cookies and hot chocolate we got while waiting) but the best part was probably the time the three of us spent reading the book, looking at projects and talking about what we’d each like to do in our own homes.

The intro to the book is totally inspirational and reading it made me feel like I could do many of these projects, as the couple themselves had no experience with renovation when they started. The biggest idea I took from it is that your home should be something you love and that makes you smile every day. And that walking in to a room you made beautiful is satisfying on so many levels. I foresee many fun projects in my future…

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Nov 07 2012
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Friends and Family, Games

Day 44: Dog Love Letter

Recently I saw a post on Facebook that said something to effect of “Some days are just bad days. Accept it and move on.” I remember it because, at the time, I thought to myself, “That is just the kind of thing I’m working against with my blog.” However, today, for the first time since I started writing this blog, I had a crummy day. I didn’t really accomplish anything and I was in a bad mood–I think because I did not get a lot of sleep and I, unfortunately, let missing my acupuncture appointment derail my whole day. (I missed it because of a car/key situation that I won’t get in to details about here). I just felt bad/tired/mad/bored all day.

I think some people, when they feel this way, are able to say, “oh well’ and just watch tv and relax and realize tomorrow will be better. But I, on the other hand, start to feel bad about all the things I’m not accomplishing by being in this bad mood and, therefore, worsen the mood further.

My spirits did improve when my husband came home from work and then more when we went out to dinner with a friend, but I would say the thing that really perked me up was playing with my dog after dinner. It’s probably pretty clear, if you’ve been reading this blog, that I LOVE this dog. She is quirky, funny, cute, sometimes annoying and needy but very lovable and sweet.

We played two of our favorite games. Well, I don’t know if she actually likes the first one. I don’t totally either because it just involves my husband messing up the fur around her face and then us laughing at her crazy appearance. (Sometimes I think it is mean, but sometimes I laugh anyway–see pictures below). Her absolute, by far, favorite game, though is fetch. She will fetch anything anytime anywhere. Tonight we played with one of her small rawhide bones. I throw, she chases and brings it back. Sometimes she throws it for herself (or really launches it out of her mouth somehow) which is actually the best.

I’ve heard that pets improve your mood, mind, even life expectancy. And I could write much more about companionship, unconditional love and loyalty. But let’s just say that when I need a pick me up, obviously I know I can count on family and friends, but I can also just pick up one of the many pieces of bone that is always underfoot, throw it and watch as this dog goes after it like she’s never seen it before and I have just given her the best gift she could ever imagine.

Also, she gives high fives. Which is pretty cool.

Nov 04 2012
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Food/Drink Fun, Friends and Family

Day 41: Sunday Dinner Part 2

I wrote about Sunday Dinner the first week of this blog. It was at that Sunday Dinner that I told my friends about this blog and my reasons for doing it. We have had Sunday Dinner almost every Sunday since then but I’m writing about it again because tonight, a very low pressure, small (in attendance) Sunday Dinner, was very fun. They always are because my friends are fun people, but I think part of the reason this one was sticks out is because it was planned last minute.

Part of doing something fun and writing this blog every day while also working and living a busy life is planning, making sure I have something fun to do and then time to do it and write about it. Lets be clear, I love planning. But sometimes it is fun to leave things a little more open. The days I don’t plan anything for this blog can be the most stressful (like getting home at 8pm, needing to have dinner and unwind but also needing to have fun and write about it before needing to sleep-a window of about two to three hours) but they can also be the best because I’ve left myself open to the possibility of unexpected fun.

I knew this dinner would be great and I knew I was going when I got up this morning. But I did not intend on writing about it. I did not have a plan.

Doing this for me has been, as I’ve said, to intentionally enjoy each day or something about each day. I’ve been doing that and one of the things I’ve learned is to also appreciate and enjoy the other elements that make up my day and to find fun in the things I already do. Of course I will still try new things and plan for fun but tonight made me realize that, before the blog, I had a lot of fun just living my life. However for many reasons I’ve discussed having mostly to do with RA, I wasn’t seeing it or appreciating it.

Today’s fun thing is really a lesson, one that is not profound but one that feels new to me tonight; love and enjoy what is fun in life, acknowledge that the small or routine can provide just as much fun as the large and spontaneous.

Now here are some pictures from dinner.

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Oct 27 2012
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Chicago Specific Fun, Friends and Family

Day 33: Didier Farms

I have this whole weekend off, which is amazing, so the hubs and I decided we would go to a farm/pumpkin patch kind of place to get fall food items like apple cider donuts and apple cider and decorative gourds. It wasn’t until we were on our way out to the suburbs that we thought to see what our friends, who live in the area and have two young kids, were up to. But, as luck would have it, they did not have much on the schedule for the day and said they could join us!

After stopping by their place first–and dropping off a gift I had for their 5 year old daughter (see pictures below. Giving a gift to a child could be its own fun thing) –we piled in to two cars and headed for Didier Farms.

We spent a few hours there. Highlights include: drinking hot apple cider, seeing baby potbelly pigs, watching all the kids, but particularly our friends’ children, enjoy the rides and games, and picking out the perfect little pumpkin to bring home. We did as much as we could before we got too cold and had to head back. It was everything I had hoped for and more!

Oct 23 2012
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Food/Drink Fun, Friends and Family, Nightlife

Day 29: A Drink

An impromptu drink and food with a friend concluded my day. Spontaneous plans can be the best! You just have to be open to them.

Now these days, I don’t drink more than one drink per week (or less) due to the medications I take and to how tired I usually feel the next day. But my friend had reason to celebrate (new job) so we each had a beer and toasted to his success! Consequently I feel a little tipsy as I write this. It has been a while. I say once a week but really I don’t imbibe unless there is some occasion like a wedding or anniversary and sometimes even then I refrain. The potential liver damage just doesn’t seem worth a few extra giggles. I’m learning to have that carefree, drunk if you will, feeling in lots of situations without the help of alcohol. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t still fun once and while.

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