Seeing the skyline from the plane, I was immediately excited about my first visit to Chicago. Driving through the city, I could definitely feel the old soul of the city and a sense of its rich history. With names like Oprah, Bernie Mac, R. Kelly and Kanye West associated with Chicago, I was excited to see firsthand what’s so special about Chi Town.
What captivated me most was the musical energy. Maybe I was on a high from Jade’s performance, but it is undeniable that music runs through the veins of Chi town. I got a chance to see just how serious stepping is when we caught a steppers party letting out_with couples dressed to the nines, fully decked out in furs and hats. After catching a quick glimpse during one of our nights out, I’m slightly obsessed with footworking. Going along with specific footworking songs or house remixes of popular songs, the dancers move so fast it looks like they’re in fast forward. It looks unreal. Even thought I won’t be attempting that anytime soon, I did pick up a little two step.
Like the Waffle House in Atlanta or a diner in New York, Taco Burrito King served as the perfect after party meal. One chicken and one steak (the better of the two) taco was all it took to fill me before collapsing into bed and convert me into TBK fan. Next was FlatTop, my first build-your-own-stir-fry experience. After conquering an overwhelming selection of sauces and veggies to add, I was more than happy with my creation: brown and white rice, noodles, bean sprouts, one edamame (out of curiosity), red and green peppers, chopped jalapenos, soy sauce, chili sauce, Asian BBQ sauce, FlatTop sauce and chicken, all topped with the most delicious pita bread. And I can’t forget my yummy Lava Colada. Of course no visit to Chicago is complete with trying the deep dish pizza, and I think we had one of the best. Our experience at Giordano’s was unforgettable. Our waiter Leo was great, the pizza was delicious, and I fell in love with my drink, The Chocolate Runway. I also finished my trip with a chicken salad sandwich from Potbelly’s, which was like all the toasted goodness of Quizno’s mixed with the personalized deli touch of peppers and seasonings added to my liking.
As a wide-eyed tourist, I got to see the Sears Tower (which is now the Willis Tower), The Bean at Millennium Park and the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue. Because of the fog that covered the top of the tower, we weren’t able to go up to the Sky Deck…next time! I also saw Navy Pier from a distance, got a recommendation for Garrett popcorn and heard good things about Flirty Girls. Of course the Oprah Store is a must see; all things on the to-do list for my next visit because this was definitely not my last.
To see all of my pics from Chicago, visit Miss Journey’s blog.
Ingredients:
- 1 can Italian tomatoes (28 ounces)
- 2 zucchini, grated)
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves (in my recipe I substituted this with basil)
- 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for sprinkling
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (I LOVE garlic, so I added maybe 6)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth (substitute light, tastes the same to me)
- 1.5 cups orzo
- 6 sweet bell peppers (red or yellow)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
- Poor tomatos into a large bowl (I’d recommend not pouring in all the extra juice) and break apart using a pair of shears or your fingers. Add the zuchini, mint (or basil), cheese, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir.
- Bring chicken broth to a boil in a medium sauce pan over high heat. Add orzo and cook for 4 minutes (you only want it partially cook, it’ll cook all the way through later). Use a sieve to transfer the orzo to the bowl with the veggies. Stir the orzo into the mix. Transfer the warm chicken broth to a 3-quart backing dish.
- Slice the tops off of the peppers and remove all the rib and seeds. Cut a thing slice from teh base to level the bottom of the tomato.
- Place the peppers in the baking dish with the warm chicken broth. Spoon the orzo mix into the peppers. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes (maybe it’s my oven, but I definitely didn’t need that much time). Remove the foil , sprinkly the top of each pepper with cheese and continue baking until the cheese is golden.
I made this a while ago and loved it… the first week. This recipes made about 10 (regular size) peppers, which was entirely too much for just me. If you live alone, I’d suggest halving all the ingredients and you’re good to go.
Original recipe and video on how to make here.
peace,
e.
As you know, we here at SASSY have been working on our fitness. Earlier this month a friend emailed and invited me to join in a running challenge. It was online, over on the Nike Running site, so I signed up and expected to just type in how far I ran. Nope, doesn’t work that way, you need Nike gear to impute your runs. So in order for my runs to be recorded I had to buy the sportband or an ipod shuffle AND the Nike+ Sportkit (womp), so I dropped the $60 and got the sportband. You also need Nike+ sneakers, but pretty much every running sneaker they’ve made in the past year or 2 in a Nike+ sneaker.
Now to be honest, I had looked online and did not find the most glowing reviews of the sportband – namely that it was difficult to calibrate. But I wanted to do the challenge and I needed some motivation to run (and let’s face, I like getting new things), so I got it anyway. So the first time out, I tried to calibrate it running. It was off – way off – like 0.25 miles off. But on the second try I got it to calibrate and it’s been smooth sailing since then.
As you can see, the face of the sportband is a USB. You just plug that into your comp, plug in your weight and the sportband does the rest. It tracks how far you’ve run, how long you’ve run and how many calories you’ve burned (I love to look at that part as I run). And then you plug it into your comp and it transfers all that info to your profile online.
To be honest, I think I like the website more than the actual sportband – or rather, I like all the things I can do with the website. So of course, there are the challenges (and you know no one’s cheating since the band is uploading all your info), but there are also coaches to help you (I’m training to run further) and you can also set goals. After each run, I plug in my sportband and can instantly see how much closer I am to accomplishing all my goals. It definitely motivates me to run more and for that I love my sportband. (Also, it’s pink!)
You can buy the Nike Sportband online or at your local sporting good store.
peace,
e.
**NOTE: We are not paid by Nike to promote their good, we just really like it. **
The breathtaking images and jaw dropping coverage since the earthquake in Haiti have certainly caused us all to say “wow” at one point or another. The past few days have been devastating, and it is hard to fully comprehend or imagine what the current state of the island really is. This tragedy has opened the world’s eyes to a country that was in dire need before the quake. Although Haiti is a land that is considered poor in riches, it has always been undoubtedly rich in culture. The tremendous support is comforting. However, the reality is that this is only the very beginning of Haiti’s recovery. When the media coverage dies down and the immediate hype fades away, it will be even more important to support. (We will continue to keep you updated on how you can do that.)
In these crucial days following the quake, basic needs like food, water and medicine are immediate priorities. (Click here for a full list.)
With all of the many efforts, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to support. Here are a few tips to help you help Haiti:
- It’s always wise to give to reputable organizations. The Red Cross has proven themselves time and time again in countless crises, and of course they have been instrumental in Haiti’s relief.
- Check with your employer to see if they will match your donations, which can easily multiply your efforts.
- A gift of any size is still a gift. Give whatever you can. (You can text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross.)
- Look for local projects where you can donate food, clothes, supplies and time.
- Spread the word! Some people feel removed from the situation and just need a little encouragement. If you get 9 of your friends to send a text, it’s like you contributed $100. Doesn’t that feel good?)
This is only the beginning of a long journey, but there are glimpses of hope with each person that is rescued and with each volunteer that supports the effort. Call me idealist, but I see this as our opportunity to build a new Haiti. I’d love to see the crowd of proud Haitians who dance along Eastern Parkway on Labor Day march through the streets of Haiti with helping hands. I’d love to see a Special Rescue Series of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition rebuild Haitian homes. And I’d love to see Haiti transformed into an island paradise that welcomes visitors and shares the beauty of its culture.
The reality is that this is a tragic situation, and it will take as many people as possible to make this better.
Happy New Year all! I know, I know, I’m late.
For me 2010 is all about the pursuit of happiness. I’m not trying to become a new person, I’m trying to become a happy person, or rather stay a happy person.
So what makes me happy?
Love. Love for myself and love for others. Real talk, I don’t think I fell in love with myself until 2007. So sad, right? Anyway since then I haven’t fallen out of love with myself since. It’s a priority for myself and really influences all the other goals I’ve set for myself for the next year. But I’m not so caught up in loving myself that there’s no room for loving others. While dating is really time consuming, I’ve decided I need to make the time to get out and meet people. Let’s face, I’m not going to find my Mr. sitting in my apt.
Being Healthy (read: not being fat). If you know me, getting fat is probably my largest phobia. And in 2009, I was hitting numbers on the scale I never thought I’d see. It was really really depressing. My clothes weren’t fitting right. And for the first time in my life, I did not like the way I looked. I hated it. So I whined for a while. I changed my eating habits, I got a trainer (then fired him, that’s another post), and now I have a regular routine for the gym.
Having money in my pocket. Currently I am “grad school broke” and I’m not exactly happy about it. I’d like for my money to work for me, so this year I’m going to learn how to invest it. I’ll share my (hopefully) success stories with you. With this crappy economy, we need all the financial advice we can get.
Not being stressed. When I started school, I decided the only thing I was going to let stress me out was school. Not friends, roommate, family or lovers. I know for some it seemed like I became an ice queen, but it’s a self preservation move. My main goal over the next 3 years is not only to graduate but to be, what my friend calls, the baddest bitch. I set a goal to publish at least 3 articles before I graduate, I need to work with different faculty members – put myself out there – and still do my coursework. That is all crazy time consuming and stressful. There’s simply no room for other things to stress me.
Having fun. This goes hand in hand with not being stressed. I had to learn to make time for doing something free (and stress free) and not feeling bad about it. This is probably the hardest part, but successfully making fun time for myself will ensure I don’t go completely crazy this year.
So what say you SASSY ladies, what are your plans for the 2010?
peace,
e.
The increase in travel fees, limited vacation time, and more conservative budgets can sometimes get in the way of a much desired vacation. However, oftentimes a simple change in scenery can provide the temporary escape that you may need.
Infected by the travel bug, I seize any and every opportunity for a new adventure. In this time when we have to be more creative with our time and finances, the “staycation” has quickly become popular. I’d like to share how you can give yourself the joy of a vacay within the boundaries of your hometown (and your budget).
Those of us in New York are fortunate enough to have an endless plethora of things to explore. However, in NY it is also easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the daily commute and the stress of the workday, not to mention overwhelmed by the daily demands of your personal life. With that hectic lifestyle one seldom takes advantage of the opportunity to admire the intricacy of the city that so many others come to witness.
I encourage you, for one whole day, to take a spectator’s perspective on a City Sights NY tour* **. For less than what you would spend on a roundtrip flight, you can view NYC from air (in a helicopter), water (on a Circle Line boat), and land (on a double-decker bus), granting you three unique views. Although you may already be familiar with the city, these tours open your eyes to things you may have never seen before, share information you may have never known, or simply just allow you a whole new perspective and appreciation for where you are.
This would be great for a family outing, a girls’ day out, when hosting out-of-towners, or as a solo adventure. This is also highly recommended for anyone visiting the Big Apple. It is nearly impossible to see NY in a short visit, but these tours do a great job of giving you a broad idea of what this city has to offer.
*City Sights NY offers a variety of tours, any of which are sure to be a great experience.
**If you are only interested in the helicopter tours, go directly to Liberty Tours to save $15.
This weekend I had the opportunity to attend Woodhull’s Young Women’s Ethical Leadership Retreat. It couldn’t have come at a better time. In my life I’m still adjusting to my transition from full time employee to full time student, a different apartment and roommate and all my own personal issues. It came after I did something that wasn’t too ethical and was beating myself up over it and getting beat up over it by the person I did it to. In short, I was kind of a mess. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but Leah and my aunt had both told me it would change my life. I was looking for a change and so I went open minded.
I had forgotten how empowering it can be to be in an all women environment. I had forgotten how supportive we can be. I had forgotten how amazing we can be.
I can’t give away everything we did. But something that kept coming up is how we get in our own way. How we constantly doubt ourselves. How we can’t/won’t own our accomplishments. How hard it is for us to ask for help. So one exercise was to create a superhero power to help you conquer what ever’s holding you back. I had a few but the one that relates most to SASSY is this boot. My superhero power was this boot that would come out and kick me in the butt to push me onto the next thing I have to go. I get so scared of failing (or writing crappy posts) that I just don’t do anything. Which in itself is a major #fail. So what I’ve been doing when I’ve been procrastinating and talking myself out of doing what I need to do is imagining the boot coming out of (hrmm… hadn’t thought of exactly where it comes from, but someplace above – like inspector gadget) and kicking me square in the butt and then I start what I need to. So far it’s been working.
SASSY ladies, I encourage you if you’re in a transitional period or just need some advice/encouragement/support about what’s next. Go to Woodhull. It’s more than some kumbiya session where you hug it out and paint pictures. We also covered negotiation (a skill I desperately want to work on now), financial literacy, and public speaking (talk about shaking like a leaf). It was also a lot of fun. I’m sure that video of me killing “I Want You Back” will be hitting the internet very very soon.
Thank you Woodhull Insititue for Ethical Leadership. Thank you Woodhull 72.
peace,
e.
Last Friday I went out with some friends to Beast in Brooklyn, and we had their amazing chopped salad. I don’t normally like chickpeas, but I figured since I devoured my portion of the salad which was chocked full of chickpeas, this would be a dope addition to my Meatless Mondays.
The salad is pretty easy to make, just chop up your fav veggies, toss em in, add some feta and this vinaigrette.
Salad:
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1 large tomato
- 1 cucumber
- 1 bunch arugula
- feta (as much as you like)
Shallot Vinaigrette:
- 1 small shallot (if you don’t have one, use a red onion)
- red wine vinegar
- olive oil
To make the salad, rise off the chickpeas, and toss them and all your other veggies into a bowl. Toss in some feta and mix.
To make the vinaigrette, heat oil and challot (either in microwave or low heat on the stove), let this cool. Add red wine vinegar.
To be honest, when I made this last night I hadn’t found this vinaigrette recipe, I just made my regular vinaigrette of red wine vinegar, oil olive, dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Yum.
To make the vinaigrette
Enjoy!
e.
While at the GW Monthly Networking Event, I was once again reminded of the value of networking. While it is honestly not my favorite thing to do, I have certainly learned to appreciate the value of forming relationships that can undoubtedly help you progress further than if trying to do it alone.
Here are a few tips that I’ve learned so far:
-Be prepared- You definitely want to have an abundant supply of business cards, flyers, brochures and whatever else can not only vividly represent you and/or your business but also leave a lasting impression on your new contacts. It is always better to have more than to run out prematurely. (VistaPrint offer great deals on business cards and other promotional items.)
*Attention job seekers: Giving someone your resume may not be appropriate in all situations, but having personal business cards with your contact information (and even a brief objective) is a GREAT investment.
-Be passionate- Passion is contagious, and it will boost your confidence. Even if they don’t remember all of the details you share, they will certainly remember your energy and the feeling you left them with.
-Smile- Some networking situations can be aggressive and somewhat intimidating. However, simply smiling will invite others to approach you. It will also contribute to your confidence in approaching others as well. Plus, it will leave a good impression 
-Always seize the opportunity- any and every situation can be seen as a networking opportunity. There is always an opportunity to meet a new person, who could potentially hold something of value to you. Be willing to strike up conversation and find common ground in nontraditional settings (i.e. the airport, elevator, nail salon, etc.).
-Follow up!- it may be hard to remember every single person you meet. Following up with new contacts within 24 hours of meeting them is a great way to make sure they remember YOU and to take that connection a step further.
NetParty, The Phenomenal Women Group and Girlfriends Get-Together are known for hosting great networking events.
The first step is to go out there and sell yourself!
Princess Wiggins Lyles is a lawyer turned entrepreneur whose online consignment boutique, Affordable Beauty, sells wedding and formal dresses, girl’s dresses and accessories.
What inspired you to start Affordable Beauty?
My love and enjoyment for fashion came from watching the women in my family who always seemed to look fabulous to me. Personally, I have always been pretty cost-conscious but never to the point where I would sacrifice quality. The concept of Affordable Beauty which is an online consignment shop combines my love for fashion and my cost-conscious nature. It’s all about obtaining quality in a cost effective manner by finding formal attire that has rarely been fully utilized.
How has the transition from being a lawyer to business owner been?
The transition has been fine. I practiced law for nearly three years and it just wasn’t my favorite thing in the world to do. I think it surprises others that I actually gave up practicing law. My legal background has helped me in many aspects of my business, for example, in forming my legal business entity and in negotiating with clients.
What are your favorite pieces?
I name each piece that I receive. I really love Turquoise Blues, it’s a floor length formal gown by BCBG Maxaria. If I could fit this piece, it would be mine! Having said that, there are many really nice pieces by other names like Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.
What are your plans for the future of Affordable Beauty?
The plan is to increase Affordable Beauty’s collections and its visibility as an online consignment gallery. Anyone can contribute to the collection by sending photo’s of wedding gowns and formal gowns they are interested in selling on consignment.
Who or what motivates you?
My husband and my family. My husband because he is so supportive of me and always looks for ways to make any endeavor that we do successful. Anything we do is a “we” effort because we are truly on the same team. My family because I was brought up to believe in the power of my dreams and to know that if I was willing to work hard, I could accomplish anything I put my mind to.
What advice can you offer future entrepreneurs?
There is no time better than the present to start doing what you want to do.
Seeing the skyline from the plane, I was immediately excited about my first visit to Chicago. Driving through the city, I could definitely feel the old soul of the city and a sense of its rich history. With names like Oprah, Bernie Mac, R. Kelly and Kanye West associated with Chicago, I was excited to see firsthand what’s so special about Chi Town.
As a wide-eyed tourist, I got to see the Sears Tower (which is now the Willis Tower), The Bean at Millennium Park and the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue. Because of the fog that covered the top of the tower, we weren’t able to go up to the Sky Deck…next time! I also saw Navy Pier from a distance, got a recommendation for Garrett popcorn and heard good things about Flirty Girls. Of course the Oprah Store is a must see; all things on the to-do list for my next visit because this was definitely not my last.
