The Chicago Girl

Get Fit In A Trim Economy

2009-02-02T16:03:00.000-08:00

So you don't want to shell out the cash for a monthly gym membership? Neither do I. Here are a few tips for staying fit on a budget.

1) Exercisetv .tv has over 100 free full length videos. Even if you want to buy a few videos, they'll still likely cost you less than a single Pilates class and you'll be able to work it anytime you want without having to feel self conscious.

2) Get together a group of friends to go in on a training session. You'll split the costs, while maintaining all the results.

3) Take advantage of a community yoga class - Free yoga classes in Chicago

2009-01-30T12:47:00.000-08:00

Although this is only my second winter in Chicago, I’ve lived through wintry weather my whole life. Still, every time winter comes around, it makes me want to migrate like the old Jews to Florida or Arizona. Sorry to kvetch.

According to a study in USA Today, yesterday I’m not alone in my wanderlust. Almost half of the people in our great country would like to move somewhere else, preferably down south or out west. Denver, San Diego, and Seattle are apparently all the rage right now. And they say that more than half of people living in cities would like to move.

So I’m wondering, do you lust after the fresh air and slopes in Denver, the beach in San Diego, or are you at home in sweet home, Chicago?

USA Today Article

Winter Weather Got You SAD?

2009-01-18T20:20:00.000-08:00

If getting up during the week has become harder and harder and dark and dreary days have you feeling depressed and lethargic, you're not the only one. It's the time of year for Seasonal Affective Disorder and 70 to 80% of those affected are women. Whether you have SAD or just a bit of the winter blues, there are a few things you can do to brighten your outlook.

1) Take a walk outside: You probably don't want to go for a stroll when temps of -30 make you check your address to make sure it doesn't say 222 Arctic Circle, but on those hot and sweaty 20 degree days, taking a walk can lift your mood.

2) Replace the vitamin D you're not getting from natural sunlight with fish--cod, salmon, mackerel, or tuna are all high in D.

3) While you're at it, eat plenty of proteins, whole grains, fruits, and veggies too.

4) Get a few friends together: Yeah, it might involve leaving your apartment, but you'll be glad you did.

5) If you're still down, try talking to a doctor about light therapy.

Taking Shelter From The Snow

2009-01-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

I woke up to a downpour of snow outside my window this morning. That was more than enough to keep me tucked away all day. I spent the day doing laundry, working out, cleaning, reading, watching TV, and drinking lots of hot tea. While I generally enjoy being out and about, it was good to relax.

So I want to know, what do you do when Chicago's long, cold, windy winters make the great outdoors less than inviting?

Awards Season

2009-01-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

This award season, I'm actually tuned in. That's because there are so many good movies out right now, and I still haven't seen all of the flicks generating buzz. Here are my thoughts so far.

So far my picks for best films of the year:

Slumdog Millionaire - I was engaged the whole time. I rooted for the protagonist and was drawn in by the movie's beautifully drawn characters

The Wrestler - I cringed, I cried, and felt compassion for "The Ram"

Over-hyped -

Benjamin Button - Overall, a good movie, but definitely can't touch the previous two. For all the hype, an hour should have been cut and it definitely had the potentially to be a deeper, more thought provoking movie. The scenes with the old dying woman didn't seem to fit either.

When in -

Doubt - You can't go wrong with Meryl Streep, even in her cheesy movies. And, Philip Seymore Hoffman does a terrific job with his role as well. But, the story itself was stagnant and rather boring.

Still on my list:

Milk

Revolutionary Road?

The Reader?

Any other suggestions?

Happy New Year

2009-01-07T20:04:00.000-08:00

I went to an event tonight with a friend who's a part of a social club. To be frank, it was a pretty lame event. The event coordinator spoke for an hour about how to register for events. Then we played a game where you put a sign on your back and try to figure out who everyone else is. But one good thing I took from it is that it reminded me that I need to start finding and doing more things I'm passionate about.

I don't usually make resolution, but this year I may be making one too many. In addition to my goal of living a healthier life (I started that one a month before the new year, and have been working out for five days a week for the past month-plus), my other resolution, is to get involved.

I want to start going to French club meetings again, or take a refresher French class, take a yoga class (there are free classes I'm going to try to take advantage of), take another salsa class, see more plays, and put my self in situations where I can meet new friends. Hey, it may be too hefty of a resolution to stick with, but I'm going to give it a go.

I want to know, what are you New Years resolutions?

Inspired Scarfs From Chicago's Felt Inspired

2008-12-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

I've been awfully bored with the scarf selection that I've seen in stores this season.

Felt Inspired's Etsy shop quickly ameliorated that boredom.

Felt Inspired's Shop

Hello Photo

2008-12-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

This one is dedicated to the camera shy.

Photo retouching costs a lot less than you think. Less than a cup of Starbucks. For $3.50, PhotoHand can whiten your teeth, remove glare, adjust color, improve your complexion, and get rid of blemishes. Plus, PhotoHand is offering 20% off for the holidays.

Just tread lightly when giving someone a retouched photo as a gift. "Happy Holidays, you looked great in this photo after I got it retouched to make you 20 lbs lighter." Ouch.

Integrating Summer Pieces Into Your Winter Wardrobe

2008-12-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

You can wear your clothes year round. Last night, I was looking to wear something that I haven't worn in a long time. I ended up choosing this sheer striped top, which I'd ordinarily wear in the summer with more color--a chunky green necklace, perhaps something white on bottom. For winter wear, I paired it with a black skirt, tucked and belted. Then I put on wool black tights and black booties. For the cold walk, I put on a black pea coat, scarf, and black brimmed knit hat, scarf and I was off.

Faux Less

2008-12-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Bags Faux Less From Accessory Bug

Lindsay Lohan and "faux pas" often go hand in hand. Fortunately, this time, the only faux I'm featuring is the leather in LiLo's look-alike bag. The bag is certainly the star of her ensemble. Make a much more affordable verision yours.

I'm also loving the Grey Basketweave Woven Faux Leather Clutch for $39.99. It would be great for the outfit I'm putting together tonight for a birthday party.

For holiday gifts for your stylish friends or a treat for yourself, check out Accessory Bug's sale. Enter holiday20 for an additional 20% off your purchase. Offer ends January 31.

Belle Of The Bawd

2008-11-17T18:20:00.000-08:00

Owen Kalt is the lyricist of a new musical in Chicago, "Belle Barth: If I embarrass You, Tell Your Friends." He talks with The Chicago Girl about the show, the inspiration, Ms. Belle Barth, and a practical joke that made him question the show's composer.

CG: Tell me about the musical.

OK: I had never heard of Belle Barth before playwright Joanne Koch asked me to work on this project. Belle was a famous standup comic in the 1950s and 60s--famous for her bawdy jokes. Our show tells her story with music, humor, and even some poignancy.

CG: What do you like best about the show?

OK: One thing that appealed to me about the project is that Belle was a rebel. Very few women were breaking social codes by telling dirty jokes in public at the time. Belle paved the way for performers like Bette Midler, Margaret Cho, Sarah Silverman, and Lisa Lampanelli. In fact, Bette Midler likes to quote her. If someone heckles her during a concert, Midler likes to respond, "As Belle Barth used to say, 'Shut your hole, honey. Mine's making money!"

CG: Who should see the show?

OK: Our show is packed to the gills with laugh-out-loud dirty jokes. It's a great show to see on a date because even people who don't ordinarily enjoy musical theater will have a great time being bombarded by raunchy jokes.

CG: Tell me about your process.

OK: This was my third time working with composed Ilya Levinson, who was raised in Russia. Ilya likes for me to write the lyrics first, and then he creates a melody. He played a good prank on me while we were writing this show. I gave him the lyrics to a song called "Dirty Little Secrets." A few days later, he told me he had written the melody, and then he sang my lyrics to the tune of "Some Enchanted Evening." I was stunned and tried to tell him that his melody wasn't original--that it was from South Pacific. He started laughing and I realized it was a gag.

For more information: Theo Ubique Theatre Co.

See, Explore, Eat

2008-11-15T13:29:00.000-08:00

See I'm looking forward to seeing Slumdog Millionaire tonight. I've heard good things, so I'll let you know what my thoughts are.

Explore Obama-mania has made Hyde Park the place to be. I still haven't explored the neighborhood. I'm wondering, where are your favorite digs?

Eat I'm embarrassed to say that I devoured this apple cake like a ravenous dog. It's incredibly easy to make. I recommend following the reviewers' instructions on how to spice it up. I doctored the recipe by adding nutmeg and cloves to the crust mix. Then topping it off with a cinnamon-sugar oat mix. Just try to eat it like a lady. Mmm Swedish Apple Pie...

Nore-bang For Your Buck

2008-11-15T12:46:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of nore-banging at my cousin's birthday party. It's not what you think. Well, you decide. Norebang is a Korean style karaoke where you rent out a private room for your party. Our norebang spot was at Lincoln Karaoke in Lincoln Square. And it was a trip.

Entering Lincoln Karaoke, I wondered if I had mistakenly dropped by somebody's apartment. Walking further in, I saw a bar, doors marked with numbers, and heard "If You Wanna Be My Lover" as someone walked out one of the doors.

I found out that we were in door #9. The party guests were singing along with karaoke on a flat screen TV with a video behind it of some city scene. It wasn't long before the party-goers flipped the background on the karaoke screen to a porn background to shock the newcomers. They succeeded. The owner had earlier asked if everyone was 19 and turned on the background. Let's just say that Lincoln Karaoke put the bang in norebang.

Lincoln Karaoke

Consumers Riding Out The Recession In Style

2008-11-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

The recession has hit and I've seen a slew of articles about fashion on a budget. But have you cut back on the amount of money you spend on shopping?

If you're already a consumer of designer goods, have you paused purchasing luxury items? If search habits are any indicator, if you were into high-end goods before, odds are, you're still seeking out your beloved Burberry and going after the latest Gucci.

Using Google Trends, I analyzed searches for various designers, including Marc Jacobs, 7 Jeans, Coach, and Manolo Blahnik. I also compared a few stores that sell cheaper budget clothing like Forever 21 and Old Navy with retailers like Neiman Marcus and Saks.

In general, the trend was that search volume for all of these retailers remained about the same. The only store that showed steady an upward trend was Forever 21. I would imagine that H&M would be about the same if you could shop online in the U.S. The Forever 21 trend is to buy more clothes for less money, even though the quality of the clothes are inferior. Still, Forever 21 is still outpaced by GAP brand.

So while recession fear is out there, it seems that consumers are still riding out the recession in style.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=forever+21

November Is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

2008-11-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try to start keeping up the blog again.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month and I'm working on getting the word out about an event that PanCan and the Young Professionals of Chicago are putting to benefit pancreatic cancer research. You get to network and get two free drinks, all while contributing to research for a type of cancer that is grossly underfunded.

Here are all the details:

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network presents The Metropolitan Club Event:

Join us to learn about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the efforts that are being made to help fightthe 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

The Sears Tower - 67th Floor 233 S. Wacker

$25 inclusive in advance, $35 at the door

2 complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres

RSPV to Jessica Otis: jotis@pancanvolunteer.org

Nordstrom Rack Today

2008-05-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a shopping tip-off for today:

Tag Sale, Nordstrom Rack
Look for the red dots on select items
throughout the store for extra savings—

take 25-60% off the last marked price.

Also, Keep an eye out for more regular
blog entries in the near future!

Finally, Express Gains Some Momentum

2008-04-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

I usually rush to Express for a few trendy pieces, but their Spring collection left me speeding out of the store. Thankfully, Express British bohemian designer Celia Birtwell brings Express up to speed. My favorite piece is her Volume Sleeve Dress for $128. Still, the problems with mass-designed clothing lines are that everyone has it and it's not all that cheap. On the other hand, if you can wear it and own it, then you can make it your own.

View The Collection

Tuck Ever-Lasting Longer

2008-04-01T09:24:00.001-07:00

Jeanne Calmet holds the record for world's longest lifespan at 122 years
(1875-1997)

Americans seem to be fascinated with the prospect of living a longer life. Perhaps it's because science could bring biblical character's centennial-plus lifespans into a feasible reality.

Barbra Walter's special, "Live To Be 150", which airs tonight explores just that.
I imagine that Barbra Walters will investigate how living a quality life
and a longer life are two interchangeable factors. But the part of the quest of quantity that irks me is the extreme measures people will go to extend their lifespan and the oversight of the quality of life.

For instance, there has been research involving whether an extremely limited diet might prolong a lifespan. There's still no hard evidence it does. (See "Starve Yourself Live Longer.")

And while I am a supporter of emerging science that could make 40 the new 20; I still can't comprehend why outrunning the Reaper for longer makes you more admirable. See Michael Kinsley of The New Yorker's humorous take on the subject: "Mine Is Longer Than Yours."

We should exercise, temper bad habits, and eat well enough to sustain our lifestyle, but even if we have the potential to 150 in the future; we're still a mere speck in the scheme of things. So relax, enjoy and eat that cupcake with the butter-cream frosting. There's no reason to deprive ourselves of a quality life.

A Spring Dress With Flex

2008-03-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

I realized upon recent inspection of my closet that my Spring wardrobe screams less chic and more Salvation Army. I'm one of those keep-them-just-in-case kind of gals, but a series of stretched-out cotton tank tops from middle school just won't cut it anymore. That's the sad truth. It's time to revise. My goal is to add a few versatile and more grown-up pieces like this one from New York & Company to my wardrobe.

$54.95 New York & Co. City Style Colorblock Shift Dress

Stephanie Simek Strikes Again

2008-03-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

Just try to make sense of 25-year-old Stephanie Simek’s world. Rererato, the Portland-based art/music space she shares with her man, Adam Keller sounds as wacky and interesting as the exhibits they feature. Take, “Spaghetti: A Rhinestone Studded Suburban Dream.”

But if you can't make it to Portland, you can still experience Simek's equally interesting wearable art here in Chicago (1951 W. Division, www.habitchicago.com. Simek has added a new piece to her collection and it's just as eye-catching as her eyelash necklace. The centerpiece is a delicate pearlized Turbo Cinereus shell filled with a silver powder that sprinkles a dusting on the wearer's chest when tapped.

$95 www.StephanieSimek.com

Shooting The Breeze With Simek

TCG: How do you come up with ideas for your pieces?

SS: I like thinking about materials, all kinds of them and, how to they can be worn. I collect materials and then sometimes later they take the form of jewelry or adornment.

TCG: When did you start designing jewelry? When did your work start catching on?

SS: I started this line in the summer and things have been going pretty good from the start. I think because they are somewhat unusual, they've been getting some attention.

TCG: Would you say you have sort of a cult following for your jewelry?

SS: I'm not sure about that, but I am very pleased that even though I am based in the U.S., more than half of my sales come from other countries.

Simek's Projects:

Hello Baby Bird

Rer-what-oh?

Walgreen's DUDS

2008-03-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

Walgreens wants you to done their new duds. The problem is that their "clothing line" really is a dud. The Casual Gear line is cheap, but if Walgreens thinks they're marketing anything other then pajamas, then they've really woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Stick to what you know best Walgreens--condoms and candy.

Clean And Simple Charactures

2008-03-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

The subjects of her art are dreamlike caricatures drawn with clean lines, sprinkled with a touch whimsy and a Japanese anime flair.

Chicago artist Laura George attaches simple themes to each of her drawings. The result is an image that conveys a singular thought and expresses that thought in a clever and upfront manner.

Rebirth: A New Life In Perth?

2008-03-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Is it curiosity, a question of identity or an innate existential desire to wonder what it would be like to be someone else?

What if you gave up your job, friends, hobbies, and home to a stranger and left town with only your wallet and a sense of wanderlust?

One man in Perth is doing just that. After divorcing his wife a year ago, his home that was meant for two started to feel like an itchy wool that had to come off. He’s aching to throw it aside and start new so he’s selling his life on EBay, seriously. The winner is expected to bid roughly $500,000 for everything from his skydiving equipment, car, big screen TV to his job and introduction to his friends.

Bidding takes place on June 22. Check out his website: A Life For Sale.

Lady Inside The Red Diary

2008-03-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

Read The Red:

The Red Leather Diary

Release Date: April 8

Born and raised in Chicago, 26-year-old writer, Lily Koppel began her career doing celebrity reporting, going on to cover the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and eventually creating her own beat covering the hidden characters of old New York.

But it was the story that Koppel found in an old diary in the dumpster outside her apartment building that bridged the gap between her reporting and personal life. The diary follows the life of a young woman through 1929 to 1934 whose candid accounts range from sexual curiosity, a love of Baudelaire to horseback riding in Central park.

Koppel immediately identifies with the author in her self-consciousness, love of the arts, and free-spirited nature so much so that she hires a private detective to find the author with the only clue the inscription on the frontispiece being—"This book belongs to …Florence Wolfson."

From there, Koppel and Wolfson begin an unlikely friendship that gives new life and perspective to both.

Raise A Glass To The Winos With Class

2008-03-19T14:32:00.000-07:00

I See Wine In Your Future & Lots Of It
Wine enthusiast heaven

Whether a snob or wine gringo, you can find a Pinot Grigio or learn some vino lingo at The Toast Of The Town at The Field Museum.

Bring your buds (taste buds & your posse) to the May 1 event. Over 500 wines and spirits will be paired (what cute couples) with food from some of the city's hottest restaurants. Tickets are pricey at $95 a pop, but you can save $10/ticket if you're bringing a crowd of over 6.

C'mon, I'm giving you enough notice to start saving. Besides, you really don't need these. They look ridiculous on you.

Please email your events to melissa.a.talon@gmail.com