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chicago bucket list {american science and surplus}

Well, it's not what I expected.

The other weekend we were out and about and decided to stop by American Science and Surplus.  I had been hearing things about this store since Freshman year of college.  Everyone talked about how awesome and random it was, how they sold anything you could think of.  I was imagining something like Architectural Artifacts but instead of large pieces of furniture it would have old science junk you had to dig in nooks and crannies for.
It is a store, and it is random.  If you're looking for something specific I don't know if you'll find it, but if you just want to walk through aisles and aisles of strange trinkety things then this is the place for you.
(Holiday, Bags, Boxes, Shirts, Military, Weather Balloon, Notebooks, Stationary, Audio/Video, Automotive, Line Cords, Lighting, Wheels, Mechanical, Office Supplies, Desk Toys, Puzzles Games, Novelty Items, Medical Supplies, Lab Coats, Corks and Stoppers, Small Bottles, Labware, Test Tubes, Cleaning Supplies, and those are just the signs you can see in this photo!!)
  I really can't think of a better way to describe this place than "random."  You need some army gear?
No problem!

You need a motor?
They have both AC and DC!

What size beaker do you need?
 They have them all!!!
I actually really liked the beaker and test tube aisle.  These small bottles would be so cute for a centerpiece, just fill each with one bud and group them together or spread them out in a line down the center of the table.... I want them.

I ended up buying a little box that holds a bunch of empty containers you can fill with paint (i.e. watercolors or silk dye).  I just can't seem to leave a place without trying to spend money, but the great thing about American Science and Surplus is that everything is pretty cheap.

I think the best part of the whole place are the labels.  Most of them have jokes or silly drawing on them, which makes it really entertaining to meander around the store.


doodle day

Whenever I have a free moment I try to doodle, whether it's using a pen, pencil, paint or pixlr.  So I thought I'd start a new weekly post called "doodle day" where I post one of my drawings, cute, funny, strange or otherwise.



Today's doodle was drawn in pixlr:
 bunny mountain!

fixin' for a picnic

A couple of weeks ago we went outback to the communal outdoor area of our apartment building and saw that our picnic table was broken.  Remember the picnic table The Man and I built over 2 years ago! I can't believe it's been that long, but I can believe that one of the beams snapped.

With the summer in full force and Independence Day on the way we decided it was time to fix the sad broken table. So we got some new 2X4s at Home Depot and went to work.
So here she was in all her newness all those years ago:

And what a difference 2 years make:
Look at what 2 Chicago winters can do to cedar. Beautiful!!  You can definitely tell which pieces are new.

I love having a productive weekend, breaking out the power tools really makes you feel accomplished!




mani mondays

Did everyone have a great weekend?
The Man and I were very productive (I'll tell you all about it tomorrow)
These didn't quite turn out the way I wanted.  
I ordered some brushes and dotting tools online and I can't wait for them to get here.  They were super cheap because they're coming from Hong Kong, but that also means that the shipping is taking forever. Some of the order should be coming soon, but the last bit of it might not be here until August!
When everything gets here I'm going to be able to do a lot more details, I've already drawn up some ideas.



doodle day

Whenever I have a free moment I try to doodle, whether it's using a pen, pencil, paint or pixlr.  So I thought I'd start a new weekly post called "doodle day" where I post one of my drawings, cute, funny, strange or otherwise.



Today's doodle was drawn with pencil:


chicago bucket list {concerts in the park}

Last night The Man and I saw Pink Martini in Millennium Park.
I love Pink Martini.  I think I've seen them maybe 5 times, including a New Years Eve show a few years back where they did fantastic rendition of Peter and the Wolf. When you live in Portland it's almost more difficult not to see them play.
It was really nice to sit outside and listen to great music.  The weather was perfect and you're even allowed to bring in food and alcohol for a little picnic on the grass.  It was a little hard on the knees (The Man's knees) to sit on the ground for 2 hours, so next time maybe we'll get some camping chairs.
One thing I didn't add to the Chicago bucket list is seeing a show at Ravinia.  Ravinia isn't technically in Chicago (it's in Highland Park) so I kept it off, but it's definitely on my mid-west bucket list!

Ravinia is another outdoor venue, they have big name people come out and you can buy a ticket for the seated area, or if you don't really care about seeing the bands' faces you can buy a much cheaper ticket for "the lawn."  I've never been, but from what I've heard people go all out in "the lawn."  They have tables and table cloths and chairs and wine and real dishes and fancy food and candles!

June 30th the B-52's and the GoGo's are playing at Ravinia.  I really hope we make it because that sounds like the best combo ever put together of anything by anyone...ever.



guerrilla truck show 2013

The Guerrilla Truck Show was last Tuesday, and this year we went on purpose! We had a great time and ran into some great people.
The Guerrilla Truck Show happens once a year in the Fulton Market neighborhood of Chicago.  Artists rent moving trucks, create a gallery of their work in the back, and pull the trucks up to the loading docks along the industrial buildings on Fulton St.  It's really fun to see what people have been able to rig-up in these temporary spaces.

Last year was the first time we went to the Guerrilla Truck Show. We were in the neighborhood for another gallery opening and kind of stumbled upon it (it's hard to miss a crowd of people and 60 moving trucks!).

This year I was pretty impressed with quite of few of the trucks, here are some of our favorites (please forgive the blurry photos, it was too packed to stay in one place long enough to get a clear shot):
This bookshelf by Thomas Oliphant caught The Man's eye.  He also had some big and beautiful floor lamps I wouldn't mind taking home.

 I loved the textile designs of Katie Chappuis.  Her patterns are so fun and playful, and I love her color palette.

 This truck was filled with work by both Tandem Made and Squared Furniture.  Both are companies from Minneapolis, who came all the way down to Chicago to be a part of the show.  They had some really great pieces, like those pendant lights (by tandem) and the awesome shelving system on the back wall (by squared).

We also saw New Breed's work again (they were at the show last year too).  Everything they make is fantastic, but I hadn't seen these stools before .... and I love them.

We even saw some slightly familiar faces pedaling some high-quality wares.  This truck displayed work by Munie Designs.  Jeff dabbles in a little bit of everything, but his main focus are these gorgeous handmade backpacks and totes.  We got to talking with Jeff and his beautiful and equally talented wife Louisa, and learned that the show is really just an exhibition of your work.  You are not allowed to sell anything during the show.  So instead of awkward conversations that are cut short the second the maker realizes you aren't going to buy something, you get to have genuine conversations about their products and their passion for what they do.
(I was instantly drawn to this lamp he made out of laser cut veneer - I Want One!)

We had such a good time, we might even go on purpose next year!


mani mondays

Happy Monday everyone,

For this week's nails I was trying to do a lace look...I don't know if it really comes off as lace, but either way I think it looks cool:
 I painted these using "Lilacism" by Essie and "Got The Blues For Red" by OPI


daddy's day

HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD!!

To the best, and I mean The Best, Dad there ever was and ever will be!
Story-time genius, All-star cooker/baker, Hippest bearded band-man, and my go-to guy for a simultaneous reality check and confidence boost!  

I love you so much Dad! 



it's not about the nail

My boss sent me this video and I just had to share.

I can't tell you how many times I've complained to The Man about something, anything: work, life, knee pain, hunger, goals, "what it all means," and all I want is a little sympathy, a little "yeah, that sucks," but every time he tries to solve my problems!

It's always the same, ladies just want a little camaraderie, they want to share their problems and in return get some justification that their feelings of frustration or sadness or annoyance are right on point.  Men hear our complaints and want to tell us how to fix our problems or tell us that we're probably over-reacting and with a few adjustments we could just get over it.

It's Not About The Nail from Republic Content on Vimeo.

This video is so funny I got tears in my eyes!!   

The Man and I have had this discussion more times than I can count, and now when I complain he asks me "Do you want me to help or just agree with you?" and for the most part I pick the latter.



doodle day

Whenever I have a free moment I try to doodle, whether it's using a pen, pencil, paint or pixlr.  So I thought I'd start a new weekly post called "doodle day" where I post one of my drawings, cute, funny, strange or otherwise.



Today's doodle was made in pixlr:
 Let's go glamping!

mani mondays {and alypalooza cont....}

Alypalooza has been fantastic!!!
I came home on Tuesday to a plethora of gifts:
The Man got me a fully stocked bar for my birthday and I am fully stoked!
Mom and Dad got me a rad outfit and some lamp money!!

We had a little shindig on Saturday for my birthday and went to Lincoln Karaoke where I rented a room (if you're looking for a karaoke place in Chicago, that one is pretty great).  I did end up making that Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake, and I even brought it to the karaoke bar, but without a knife to cut it with it was barely touched, so I now have an entire six layer cake to eat by myself!!
By the time Saturday rolled around my first set of birthday nails were all chipped, so I had to paint some new ones. This time I went with Cupcakes!! Yum!

This has been one of the best Alypalooza's ever.
Thank you to everyone who made it great!!


doodle day

Whenever I have a free moment I try to doodle, whether it's using a pen, pencil, paint or pixlr.  So I thought I'd start a new weekly post called "doodle day" where I post one of my drawings, cute, funny, strange or otherwise.



Today's doodle was drawn with colored pens:
I am planning on making myself a birthday cake this weekend and this Martha Stewart Recipe for a Salted-Caramel Six-Layer Chocolate Cake has caught my eye.  What do you think? Is that too much decadence? Is there such thing as too much decadence??



mani mondays {alypalooza}

It's ALYPALOOZA Time!!!

Tomorrow is my official birthday but as soon as the 1st hit so did Alypalooza!
For this birthday I did party hats and number nails, I also realized that "Tart Deco" by Essie must be my favorite polish color, just look at last years nails.

I'm turning 26 this year, which means I'm that much closer to being in my late 20's . . . isn't that when you're supposed to feel like a grown up?
So, if you'd like to join in on the festivities of Alypalooza just buy yourself something pretty, grab a margarita, and spend an entire afternoon watching mindless television!



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