Monday, June 30, 2014

Chi festivals

One of the most fun things about Chicago (and any city) during the summer is checking out the array of festivals. They show the flavor of the neighborhood you are in, serve some of the greatest food and display some of the coolest art, clothing and jewelry in the city. Check out some of the festivals I've gotten to see this month for the first time.

Do Division Fest in Wicker Park with Stacey & Anna the first weekend of June
Lincoln Park Greek Fest at St. George on Sheffield
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival in Lakeview
The joys of having hundreds of people right outside of your apartment!
Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park
Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park
Taste of Randolph - a time to explore the West Loop & drink some of the best sangria!

Wells Street Art Fest in Old Town 
Wells Street Art Fest in Old Town
Although this wasn't in Chicago, for the third year in a row I went up to Milwaukee for Annunciation Church's Greek Festival at Wisconsin State Far. Always a great time!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Groomsmen choreography: viral video

Late last week, this video spread across the Internet where a groom and his groomsmen surprised his bride with a choreographed dance.

What shocks me most about it is the fact that they stay so serious and on point for five entire minutes. Enjoy!


Saturday, June 28, 2014

iPhone location tracking

When Kathryn was visiting recently, she showed me a cool iPhone trick she came across on Buzzfeed.

Within your settings, your iPhone creates a location map of all of your recent calls and where you have dialed them from. 

If you go to Settings --> Privacy --> Location Services --> System Services --> Frequent Locations then click a country or region, you can see where you've made calls from. Between my family's travels May through June, it was a pretty exciting visual overlay. 

It also shows you where the calls you make around you track as. For example, calls from my apartment track as the restaurant next door. 

Check yours out! 


System Services 

Frequent Locations



Thursday, June 5, 2014

Flower shops that get it

I'm sometimes embarrassed at how little I know about plants, gardening and keeping things alive. A few weeks ago, I came home with a flower pot from a bridal shower and ranted to my friend Meredith on the phone that flowers should come with an instructions tag so we can take care of them properly. "It's common sense," she said. "You water them everyday."

A few days later, my boss sent me flowers from ProFlowers.com at work. Aren't they lovely?!

While digging through the flower box, the first thing I found was this tag below. My dream had come true; someone knew I wouldn't know how to take care of the flowers. This instruction postcard was exactly what I needed: Directions on how to care for them, extra tips and a specific timeline with days and hours included. 
Instructions in the ProFlowers box
It's exciting to see that ProFlowers understands its audience and provides this information. If I have to order flowers in the future, it will definitely be from here!

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

May quotes

The monthly quote list continues with funny conversation tidbits, quotes overheard while traveling and some funny Greek stories. Enjoy!

FUNNY THINGS

“It's like suburban travel times with all the violence on the way.” -Billy, on moving back to Rogers Park

"Can you believe my son doesn't eat pizza? If I didn't witness the birth, I'd think we weren't related." -a co-worker

“We have so many things in common. We even chew the same gum.” -Stacey

“They’ll call two days before & be like ‘Eh the bride is backing out on the nude model.’ I already paid him!” -Woman at Art N Spirits, 5-9  (Norbert nude model man story)

“So do you think there is a market for Sour Patch parents?” -Dad

“You can't even carry a conversation and you can have a husband?” -Maria, on young people being married

“She posts so many pictures all the time. Doesn’t she care that no one likes them?” -Hannah


“1. You’re never bored, you’re always busy, when do you have the time to look through all these pictures. 2. If you went cold turkey, you have plenty of photos to look at and would still have a lot of time to fill your boredom.” -Eleni, to me on taking photos too much 

"I think we'll have children before we get rid of this hand soap." -Becca

"50 ways to wear a scarf? Id like it better if it was 50 says to knit a scarf." -Becca

"I used to choose my friends based on their mother's cooking." -Sherman

"Win for Better Homes & Gardens- we haven't had to pay for toilet paper or cascade!" -Alyssa, on her roommate working there 

"I don't understand how everyone in the world can win 2048 but me." -Becca

“What kind of fool doesn’t eat the chips at a Mexican restaurant?” -Hannah, on a boy on a date that was cutting calories

“He kind of rocked it.” -Emily, on her engagement ring, #puns

“I hate my life.” -Irina
“But you look like you’re having fun in the pictures.” -Brooke

“The waitress at the restaurant was horrible.”
“Not as bad as the one as her birthday. I made a Yelp account just to complain about her.” -Irina

“Here’s the problem. In the summer everyone takes out all their cute stuff and you’re like shoot! I need some.” -Anna

“It’s like a who’s who of maxi dresses. There are so many of them.” -Stacey

“When I’m an old person, I’m not going to talk to people.” -Eleni

TRAVELING
“Ladies and gentleman if you have change for a $20, can you please ring your flight attendant call button? Thanks.” –American Airlines flight

“Not sure what gate my flight is at.” -me
“It's ok, there's only one gate.” -cab driver, on Bradley airport in Connecticut

"So he is the primary breadwinner?" -man to a woman on the plane
"Yup, I'm just the secondary breadwinner." -Woman, on her husband
"It's okay you're more attractive." -man

“I don't consider this place a city. It's just tourists.” -Maria, on Orlando 

“I forgot when there are more than four kids it smells like sunscreen.” -Eleni, at Disneyworld

“I forget they all wake up at like 6 a.m.” -Eleni, on young kids at Disney

“Last time I checked naptime was a no talking event.” -Eleni

“We had snacks and we just napped so we’re all good to go the next few hours.” -Maria, to Dad on the phone

“Are we going to swing around?” -Mom
“Mom you'll be fine. Look at all the parents and toddlers going on this ride.” -Maria to Mom, on Haunted Mansion

“Expectant women should avoid this ride.” -speaker
“Why are expectant women at Disney?” -Eleni

“It’s always a tease when there is soap because I always think it’s fudge.” -Eleni

GREEKS 
“I’ll volunteer anywhere where I can wear an apron since that makes you legit.” -John 

“And these people are having a wedding on New Year’s Eve. How crazy is that? And then you’re going to have your anniversary on New Year's Eve. Why? It’s so selfish. I'm not buying a dress for it on principle.” -Elena

“And my Yiayia always goes 'Not so much smile with the teeth.'” -Sara

“You have to say your name before you drink it.” -Stephane, on communion wine at a birthday party 

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Sister road trip

It's not every week that you drive and stop in Orlando, FL --> Atlanta, GA --> Chattanooga, TN --> Knoxville, TN --> Lexington, KY  --> Cincinnati, OH  --> Indianapolis, IN --> Chicago, IL all in 36 hours.

After not having spent a lot of time together over the past few months, Maria, Eleni and I had a fun time driving back home: we caught up, took turns driving, slept and learned new things- like how to put oil in the car. They were even flexible on making stops, so we had the pleasure of reuniting with plenty of friends and family members on the way. Check the journey out!
When the drive started like this, I was terrified.
First stop: Meeting up with Stepheno from Project Mexico and his girlfriend Marina in Atlanta
After spending the night in Chattanooga, Andrew took us to the International Biscuit Festival in downtown Knoxville, TN.
We met Dani at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY - where she recently moved!
Saturday afternoon, we made it to our Thea Jeanie's house outside of Cincinnati to spend time with our cousins Megan, Courtney & Drew! Oddly enough, we had to drive through Indiana to get to her Ohio house from Kentucky.
Next, we surprised Yiayia at the nursing home and brought her Skyline Chili + United Dairy Farmers ice cream.
We ended the night in Cincinnati stopping by Thea Julie's to see our cousin Jillian, since her sister Christina was at Prom. 
Despite a few weeks of craziness, we made it back to Chicago alive and to Wrigleyville Sunday afternoon for the Brewers-Cubs game with the Milwaukee Greek crew. Fun week!