The Bitch is Back (it's not cursing when you're quote an Elton John tune)

Like Pookie in New Jack City, I have to confess that "it be callin' me, man!" 'It' being this stream-of-consciousness free-for-all (dash between words much?) I call a blog. Even though I chose to suspend Peep Chicago indefinitely--mainly because I felt it was too unfocused, me-centered and not really adding anything to the discussion about all things Chicago--I hate that I haven't been documenting this lovely summer, if only for myself and the two other people who read this thing regularly.

Having said that, I've been on a serious "Summertime Chi High", trying to "get it in" (as the kids say) and squeeze every ounce of fun from this far too fleeting season. What better way to restart the blog engine than with a little taste of what I've been up to:

• Celebrating my brother Gamal's graduation from UMASS Boston at a ridiculously fun family/friend gathering outside of Beantown (corny to use 'Beantown', but I did it anyway);
  
• Cheering on my superbly hot, funny and smart sister, Marina Franklin, at the TBS Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Chicago
  
• Bringing in my summer solstice bday on the roof of the Wit Hotel (I think they're going to make it mandatory for all summer babies to have bday parties there);
  
• Sunning myself at Foster Avenue beach;
  
• Hanging out with supercute toddler spawn and our awesome cousins at the Taste of Chicago (it's not so awful if you go in the morning and confine yourself to the kids' activities);
  
• Rocking down the house with 20,000 fellow house music lovers at the annual Chosen Few Picnic on Chicago's south side lakefront;
  
• Shaking my hips to King Sunny Ade (a childhood fav) and Femi Kuti at Ravinia;
  
• Watching in awe as supercute toddler spawn danced to the afro-latin rhythms at Summer Dance at Humboldt Park;
  
• Hanging at the Brookfield Zoo with the supercute toddler spawn, the co-pro-creator and our friends;
  
• Mooching weekly dinners, wine, love and great conversations from our NBFFFs (neighborhood best friend family);
  
• Strolling the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival;
  
• Enjoying the music, fashion and pretty people at the annual Soundsystem Block Party given by The Silver Room;
  
• Getting good eats and neighborly vibes from the Logan Square Farmer's Market every Sunday;
  
• Growing more in love with my co-procreator...and that's all I'll say about that. ;-);
  
• Getting super chocolatey (and stronger and faster) by running around the northwest side of Chicago;
  
• Dancing as much as I possibly can at various parties;
  
• Working with some amazing clients, like the Gary Comer Youth Center, Healthy Schools Campaign and Multilingual Chicago (and getting some great media coverage. But I don't like to brag, haha.);
  
• Networking and connecting with cool-brained people doing creative things, like the recent Mashable.com/Hyatt4Good Tweet-up in downtown Chicago;
  
• Taking a burlesque classes at Studio L'Amour...
  

And that was just June and July.

What have you been doing with your summer? Do tell.

Happy Friday! Let's Dance

As I tweeted yesterday, I found it hilarious that this song, Energy to Burn by BT Express, came on my iPod right around the 2.5 mile mark of a 4-mile run that took a LOT out of me. And by 'hilarious', I mean cruel, as I haven't run in a month of Sundays and had almost no energy, least of all any to burn.

I survived, and thought this was a great song to take us disco dancing into the weekend.

Enjoy!

Do Over: Kick Fat in the Ass Plan, 2.0

Remember when I was all excited to tell everyone that I signed up for the Soldier Field 10-mile race and had started eating right again back in April? I even came up with a cutesy name for my plan: Kick Fat in the Ass. Many of you sent words of support and encouragement; some even started their own plans.

Well, as you may have gathered from the MANY restaurant and food (especially cookies) posts here, I wasn't serious. So un-serious that instead of losing any pounds, I gained about seven (!!!) and stopped running altogether. Talk about an epic FAIL.

Did I mention that I'm running a 10-mile race in two weeks????

So, I'm calling a go-over and actually creating a plan for myself this time, not just a cutesy catchphrase. I'm running 3-4 times a week, strength training twice a week (this is my very weakest area), reading my girl's book, The New Fast Girls to help me detox my system, have amped up the raw fruits and veggies, eliminated most meats and am trying to drink a gallon of water each day. Oh yeah, and sleep more than five hours at a time.

Why am I oversharing to tell you all this? To hold myself accountable, to ask you to join me and maybe give some giggles as I chronicle this journey, part deaux. Please feel free to share with me your advice. Please feel free to share with me your own fitness/wellness plan. And please feel free to call me on any slacking off, if need be.

I'll be posting my weekly stats: What I've done (and where), what I'm eating (I think) and other TMI details.

Happy Friday! Let's Dance

In honor of the lovely Ms. Donna McGhee (who just friended me on FB), I give you the deep and sexy vibes of "It Ain't No Big Thing". Here's what I told Ms. McGhee about her song: "'It Ain't No Big Thing' is one of my all-time favs. It inspires me in the gym and humming it keeps me from saying the wrong thing when I'm upset with my husband, lol."

Enjoy!

Love, Meh, Ugh

A list of things from my week that I love, could take or leave and really can't stand. Tell me what you think and feel free to add your own.

Love
Grouponchicago.com: If you're not already signed up for this service, what are you waiting on?!?!?!?! Each day, you receive an email letting you know the day's offer, which usually is a super deep discount on something fun. Last week, I bought a month's worth of group workout classes for $25 (usually $55). This week, I moved too slow to scoop up $14 Chicago Architectual Tour tix (usually $28). The catch is that a certain number of folks (20 or so) have to sign up for the offer for everyone to get it. Your credit card isn't charged unless that number is hit. Check out this week's Chicago Sun-Times article about the service for more info.

Meeting the future: Yesterday, I media trained six juniors from Richards Career Academy in the New City nabe. I thought I might get laughed out of the classroom, but these kids were the epitome of grace, youthful optimism and awesomeness. They won Healthy Schools Campaign's "Cooking Up Change" healthy school food contest last fall, and on Tuesday, May 5, their meal is being served to the U.S. House of Representatives as well as 40,000 high school students across the country. The kids are flying to Washington, DC to take part in a press conference with HSC, government officials, and Sam Kass, personal chef to the First Family as part of an effort to push reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, which provides most of the money for school lunch programs in the U.S. Unfortunately, current allocations don't allow for much healthy food to be served to kids, which is why the Richards Six are making their voices heard in DC. Please join them by contacting your Congresspersons and asking them to attend the lunch on May 5, and vote to reauthorize (and increase funding for) the Child Nutrition Act. Click here for details.

Saving lives (no, really): I'm very happy to report that my client's Messengers of Hope church tour and telethon generated nearly 4,000 new organ donors last Sunday. And I was tickled that I was able to generate quite a few media clips for the cause. It's not too late to sign up here if you are so inclined. One person donating their organs can save the lives of up to 25 people.

Good eats on the cheap: Click here for the scoop

Meh
Chicago Blackhawks playoffs: As a Chicagoan, I of course want the Hawks to do well, but, ummm, I kinda don't care all that much. Sorry.

Ugh
Being fat, lazy and unmotivated to do better: The Kick Fat in the Ass Plan is on hiatus. Yesterday I stepped on the scale and came face-to-face with the reality I've been feeling in my tighter pants and somehow shorter tops: I've gained weight. And, I haven't run consistently in about two months. Oh, and I'm signed up to run the Soldier Field 10-miler in three weeks. Any ideas to jolt me out of my rut?

Multiple overtimes in Bulls/Celtics playoff series: Get 'er done, fellas. Folks have lives to attend to, and those of us who are self-insured can't afford heart episodes and various other ailments these endless OTs are causing. That said: GO BULLS!

A balm for these times: all-day breakfast for $4.99

My favorite Logan Square breakfast joint, Cozy Corner, is doing its part to ease the pain of this nasty recession by extending their $4.99 breakfast specials all day. I ask you: Where else but in America, on the corner of California and Milwaukee in Chicago, can you get (well seasoned, yummy) steak, eggs, hash browns & toast for $4.99!?!?!

Two specials + two beverages = less than a trip to the multiplex. Color me tickled pink.

Happy Friday! Let's Dance

Whew! It's been one hell of a week...pitching so much, I should play for the Sox. And generally just running around like a crazy woman getting ready for my client's big event this Sunday.

But be that as it may, it's never okay to forget the Happy Friday! Dance, so here we go, Phreek's "Weekend". Hope you enjoy yours.



Oh, because I so love this tune, I'm recycling it: Two Man Sound's "Que Tal America"



Baile, amigos!

Holy Batman! I can post from my phone!

Love, Meh, Ugh

Here's my second try at Love, Meh, Ugh: a list of things from my week that I love, could take or leave and really can't stand. Tell me what you think and feel free to add your own.

Love
Hanging out with my co-procreator in crime for his birthday...who knew that breakfast at Cozy Corner + shopping at the Gap Outlet + seeing an EXCELLENT Congo Square Theatre play + eating (yummy) maki and doing tequila shots at Thalia + picking up cupcakes at Sweet Mandy B’s + attending Anna Fong’s fashion show at Heaven Gallery + doing tequila shots, eating and drinking w/fam and friends at Salud Tequila Lounge + dancing our asses off at Africa Hi Fi (thanks to our beautiful hostess, Sonia Hassan, DJ Ron Trent and whomever the guest DJ was...yall rocked it!) at sonotheque + doing more tequila shots + eating (yummy) cupcakes at the club + getting the cabbie to stop at McDonald’s on the way home would be so much fun?

Breaking bread and spending time with family on Easter Sunday. Seeing the kids run around together and having some good eats was a wonderful way to soothe my soul and ease the sadness of missing my sister on her 30th birthday.

Getting my biz and blog cards after 79 years in business and realizing that I’m SUPPOSED to be doing it for myself—I come from a long line of entrepreneurs.

Attending a seder dinner for the first time. Thanks, NBFFs (neighborhood best friend family)!

Learning at said seder that Joey’s Brickhouse on Belmont has some seriously awesome specials, like all-you-can-scarf-down pizza and beer on Tuesdays. Gotta check that out soon.

Wishing my traveling-in-South-Africa mommy a happy birthday via phone and of course, the obligatory email card featuring the supercute spawn.

Getting media coverage for my client’s campaign to recruit new organ donors. Seriously, please sign up to the donor registry. It really does save lives, like my dad’s. September will mark his fourth year with a donated kidney.

Meh
My hair. It’s going through a serious funk right now. I need an intervention. And a hot oil treatment.

Easter candy. Didn’t really feel any of the pickings from my kid’s basket this year.

The cupcake selection and customer service at Bleeding Heart Bakery. Yeah, we waited til the last minute, so selection was more limited, but at almost double the price of Sweet Mandy B’s, these cupcakes needed to be sold to us. Just needed a little convincing, a bit of a pitch...which never came. The couldn't-care-less-staff on hand was over it, so we took our sweet teeth (and money) on over to Mandy's. May give BHB a second chance, but I'm in no hurry.

Ugh
Learning at the last minute that our tax returns weren’t electronically transmitted to the IRS due to a new software glitch at our accountant’s. Thankfully got it taken care of before running afoul of the law.

Stupidly setting myself up for yet more sickness by not going to bed at a decent hour.

My wardrobe. It’s a shell of its former self, and my shoe game is disastrous. Why God, why?

Letting fat kick ME in the ass this week. More on that later.

Got a minute? Save a life.

Today is I Heart Organ Donors Day, so if you're not already one, please go sign up at Gift of Hope's site (for Illinois/northwest Indiana; for those elsewhere, please click here to find out how to sign up for your state's registry). It takes just a tiny bit of your time to save a life. And NO, none of the myths you may have heard about organ donation are true. Promise.

Beyond the professional (Gift of Hope is my client), the issue is personal: my dad received a donated kidney in 2005 and now lives an active life free from the tether of dialysis.

Did I tell you that I Heart Organ Donors? Even got the t-shirt on to prove it. :-)