Sunday, July 13, 2014

Summerfest

Last Sunday, I went to the Milwaukee Summerfest grounds with Hannah for the Usher concert.

It was the first time since high school, when we went straight to the main theater for the Blink 182 concert. Back then, we exited the highway, got dinner in a lesser built up area of town and didn't really get to explore the festival, so honestly speaking…my opinion of Milwaukee was not a high one.

Over the past two years, I've had the opportunity to see a bit more of Milwaukee and appreciate its lakefront location, culture and character. This time when we went to the Summerfest Grounds, I saw everything it had to offer. You can see the entire skyline from the theater, and plenty of small bands and stages on the way to the main show. Take a look!

Summerfest Main Gate 
The grounds are right on the edge of Lake Michigan!
Hidden stages as small as the tiki hut...
…And as large as the Harley Davidson Stage
View of Summerfest Grounds & downtown Milwaukee from the top of the Marcus Amphitheater
Marcus Amphitheater
Hannah and I in the lawn in the thunderstorm while Usher sings "U Got It Bad"

Friday, July 4, 2014

June quotes

Summer means a lot of friends, traveling & fun gatherings after work. I've had the opportunity to see a lot of my best friends from home and college this month, so most of these quotes are characteristic of their personalities. 

You might not find them funny if you don't know them, but overall, they're pretty reflective of who they are and entertaining regardless. 

Enjoy! 


  • "The scenery isn't even that great. my question is why they were even there in the first place." -Helen
  • "We're all going to go get on this super skinny dock. Who does that?" -Alima 
  • "Whoever thought that was a good idea is dumb." -Sam
  • "We are staying FAR FAR away from all water." -Lexi
  • “It’s because you have too many people in the darn wedding party. I just get really annoyed when you see the wedding party and half the people invited to the wedding are in it.” -Alex
  • “Why are the bridesmaids not helping the bride?” -Lauren 

Everything else: 

“I got in the elevator the other day and thought it smelled like Alex, then I realized it was because it was the smell of coffee.” -Zach, Alex’s boyfriend

“You seem very grandpa-like.”
“I live in southern Florida and had cataract surgery, I am a grandpa. I was at the pool last week & the only other person there was 92.” -Zach

“Except I want to cancel it because I pay for the Netflix subscription for my whole family. I started trying to charge my sisters 50 cents a movie but they weren’t going for it.” -Anna 
  
“He does the PR for the lighthouse for the deaf and disabled.” -Jordin,
“Can't they not see or hear?” -Sam
“It's more to get money for said people.” -Jordin

“It looks like a green alien gave you a hickey.” -John, on what people look like after the color run 

“Greek guys have it so easy. You come to something like this and it's like fishing with dynamite." -John

“Nice boy, he’s been dating the same girl since high school, good family, grandfather’s a judge.” -Mom

“And she is such a know-it-all, that’s coming from me.” -Shaina

“It’s Drew’s wedding. And I’ve never met Drew until this weekend because 90% of their communication is through League of Nerds. He proposed to his fiancé by coding this website.” -Laura

“Don’t underestimate the power of not responding to a text.” -Meredith Hayford

“These are Greek boys. What do you expect?” -Stepheno

“Going on a trip with a dude means that I’ll keep the pictures and they won’t get deleted when we break up.” -Stepheno

"There are certain people that even if they post a sucky photo you like it anyway.” -Casey, on Instagram 
"WHY?"
“You want them to know you're paying attention.” -Casey

“It's scientifically proven that bridesmaids don't need a +1.” -Kathryn

“I liked Sherman’s Instagram, doesn't that mean I'm flirting with him? I should comment - maybe it would seal the deal.” -Meredith

“So what all is in this area?” -Joy, a non-Chicaogan 
“Nothing.” -Chicagoans
“Like if someone told me to meet them here, I'd say no.” -Stacey, on US Cellular Field

“What don't you like about the giraffe?” -Katie 
“It's wrinkly, it needs Botox.” -Sherman
“Well you would want to put me down right now.” -Old Grandma next to us at the zoo

“Mixed humans are a lot better looking then mixed animals.” -Sherman

“Well he lives in the suburbs & has insurance.” -Hannah, on a boy at the bar

“If showers were really that great, you would keep having parties like that. But no one does. They should just make these co-ed and not all women.” -Kaleigh’s mom

“I knew I was low on toilet paper so I just took some from the bagel place.” -Kathryn

“Brides without siblings are the worst.” -Kathryn

“If you really don't think guys and girls can be friends, why did you ask to meet up?” -Sherman, on an ex-girlfriend 

“And I think they're going to get really annoying about that and think we're getting married all because he's Greek, a future doctor, and we're friends. so kill me now #greekgirlprobs -Maria

“It’s okay, my family has 35 tickets to Lollapalooza.” -Elizabeth

“Naming ticket prices it took me to Priceline.” -Christina P, on looking up how to price boat cruise tickets 

"I already told him that if he didn’t like my pledge family it’s a dealbreaker. -Shelley, on her boyfriend 

“They had coffee on the porch and chatted at 6 in the morning. Who does that? Is this what 29 year olds do?" -Meredith 

"And then I'll go pick him up from Midway. Should I just break up a him now?" -Eleni, on picking up her boyfriend for a visit 

"I can't think of anything in the world, that if you added bacon to it, wouldn't be good." -Greg 

"And then mom called McDonald's to see what time they serve breakfast until." -Eleni

"Michelle you don't have string? You don't make friendship bracelets anymore?" -Michelle's cousin, on sending a note to neighbors through their balcony

"This is the beginning of an SVU episode. I'm going to get stolen." -Lauren, on walking home alone at night and a man approaching her on the street 

“It’s easier to recall the calls I didn’t return today. The article says church officials did not respond. That’s me!” -Dad

“Everyone's streaming the World Cup so we got a mass email about how our WiFi has slowed down, and where the games are playing in the building.”  -Liz

“Greater than sign! It was a last minute decision but applies to a lot of decisions. Pizza is greater than salad, wine > water.” -Sam, on her new tattoo

"What a morning. Every 10 feet, stop, “Waiting for signal clearance.”"–Ricky, problems on the CTA 

"Did you eat all your gnocchi because I'm totally about to." -Shelley

"And I learned two things - no wedding outside and choose an easy hashtag. I think I spelled theirs three different ways." -Shelley

"You guys are going to love this. I found out on Instagram that this horrible girl in my pledge class is getting married the same day I am." -Helen
   
"He's really cute but has the watch of a 10 year old boy. It looks like it's from a happy meal." -Helen, on our server at dinner 

"What could she possibly get annoyed at you for? She's so patient." -Steve, to a friend
"Sometimes I text her and I read it, then don't answer." -Friend
"Dude, you have to set up text reminders." -Steve

"You have to like my photo from yesterday since it only has 10." -Helen, to Steve

"They also have the weirdest proposal I've stalked on Facebook." -Helen


"I don't trust Mary Jo because she doesn't have a LinkedIn." -Helen, on someone in the business world  

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