I recenly read this article on Yahoo regarding the 30 fun indulgences that won't break the bank. This is great considering everyone is scrimiping nowaday. I know that I am at least.
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/147/30-fun-indulgences.html
Among some of the suggestions they had - the article said:
1. Go out to brunch. Enjoying a meal in the middle of the day can be just as much fun as eating dinner out and a lot less pricey.
2. Get a foot massage. A good foot massage might not be quite as relaxing as a full-body rub, but it's pretty darn close and easier on your wallet. Just walking into a spa can lift your spirits.
3. Have a themed movie rental week. Clear your calendar. Pick a time period or a genre and watch a movie every night. Don't forget about the local library as a source of free movies. In fact, more people borrow movies from the library than rent from Netflix, Redbox, or Blockbuster.
I got to thinking what little indulgences that I let myself have. In no particular order:
1) Once a week get a fancy coffee drink with whole milk because really that skim stuff is awful. Vary this up with Soy.
2) Have a night in every two weeks where I walk my pup to the closest Red Box for a movie and then spend a lazy night cuddled on the couch and filling my brain with mush.
3) Make pancakes for dinner just because
4) Cook a big dinner and invite friends over for a hot meal
5) Try out new recipes that I cut out of magazines or find online
6) Add a ton of clothes, candy, makeup, and other items I don't need to my online shopping cart and then not buying anything
7) Allow myself to plan out all the countries I want to visit in my lifetime and buy tickets to an international destination every year
8) Sending my boyfriend a gift just because I miss him since he lives so far away
9) Buying a chapstick for myself even though I own about 2 dozen just because I forgot to bring any of them with me
10) Learning a little of a new language through workbooks and poring through manuals in Borders.
11) Relax with a mug of hot chocolate on a rainy day and do absolutely nothing
12) Concerts at Millieum park with friends - with snacks and drinks
13) Lose a good half a day at Blicks arts and craft stores because I WANT EVERYTHING IN THAT STORE
14) Buying very expensive candy in small quantities just to say I've tried it
15) Making an attempt to eat food from around the world one restaurant/stall/food truck at a time.
What's yours?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Chicago - Explore and Eat Task #1: Lawrence Fisheries
I've been back in Chicago for close to ten months now and I have yet to explore around Chicago like I did in London and get into all the different neighborhoods. I need to find a new routine for weekends anyways to keep boredom at bay (at least once I get my condo all clean) - so I decided that I'll give myself tasks of places/areas to explore in Chicago and a place that I MUST go for a meal in that area and take my camera along for the ride. Then I'll update the blog with what I thought and fun pictures. Sound like a plan?
First stop:
Lawrence Fisheries:
2120 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60616(312) 225-2113
http://lawrencesfisheries.com/
I have heard really good things about this place and their sushi for a looonnng time even pre-London. It is oh so close to Chinatown even though I haven't explored the area where the fishery is located at. I know it's very industrial - so there should be awesome pictures from the trip.
Where else would you go to? I am thinking Task 2 will be a bakery in Andersonville. Any recommendations?
First stop:
Lawrence Fisheries:
2120 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60616(312) 225-2113
http://lawrencesfisheries.com/
I have heard really good things about this place and their sushi for a looonnng time even pre-London. It is oh so close to Chinatown even though I haven't explored the area where the fishery is located at. I know it's very industrial - so there should be awesome pictures from the trip.
Where else would you go to? I am thinking Task 2 will be a bakery in Andersonville. Any recommendations?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Quick update - more to come - promise!
Why hello there readers (I'm sure there is pretty much only 1 or 2 people reading this) - I've been completely MIA for a while haven't I? Yes I know, I've been a bad bad bloger...here is a quick run down of the things that have happened that have prevented me from writing:
1) MOVING - this one was huge. The one month running up to me leaving London and returning to Chicago was crazy. Wrapping up work, seeing friends, walking through my favorite parks, going to the food markets, seeing friends, packing...it was a bit crazy
2) Readjustment time - so there is this thing called Culture Shock for when you move to a new country and adjusting to a new life style. There is also this thing called Reverse Culture Shock which is much much worse. I figured that because I would have my friends and family there that I would be okay - but I was pretty much in a three-four month slump of suck. I won't whine here - but in short while I love Chicago and everyone here, I miss my London life dearly
3) Family problems - less than a few days after I moved back I recieved some stressful family news. Dealing with that took a few months and I didn't have the mental space
4) Readjustment time - sorry I have to reiterate how much this reverse culture shock affected me.
5) Work - Americans just work more hours in general - enough said
6) Other personal issues
7) A lack of fun things that have happened - there has been a lack of traveling or maybe just a lack of posting anything. That should change though. :)
That was my quick update! I'll post some new things very soon!
Hugs,
Travel-Eat-Play
1) MOVING - this one was huge. The one month running up to me leaving London and returning to Chicago was crazy. Wrapping up work, seeing friends, walking through my favorite parks, going to the food markets, seeing friends, packing...it was a bit crazy
2) Readjustment time - so there is this thing called Culture Shock for when you move to a new country and adjusting to a new life style. There is also this thing called Reverse Culture Shock which is much much worse. I figured that because I would have my friends and family there that I would be okay - but I was pretty much in a three-four month slump of suck. I won't whine here - but in short while I love Chicago and everyone here, I miss my London life dearly
3) Family problems - less than a few days after I moved back I recieved some stressful family news. Dealing with that took a few months and I didn't have the mental space
4) Readjustment time - sorry I have to reiterate how much this reverse culture shock affected me.
5) Work - Americans just work more hours in general - enough said
6) Other personal issues
7) A lack of fun things that have happened - there has been a lack of traveling or maybe just a lack of posting anything. That should change though. :)
That was my quick update! I'll post some new things very soon!
Hugs,
Travel-Eat-Play
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