Twistbands

Love- Birchbox. I signed up for Birchbox two months ago. If you remember I blogged about a friend getting it months ago. Oh my goodness it was last year August 11.

This is what I got for samples/actual products this month:

Birchbox and Color Club® Custom Collection Nail Polish

Hollywood Fashion Secrets® Hollywood Fashion Tape®

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint

kate spade new york Twirl 

Skin, An Apothecary Soy Body Whip

twistband™ Lace up for Fall 

I love the deep blue color I got from Color Club. I only got to sample the Kate Spade perfume a few times before I was a huge klutz and dropped it in my friend's bathroom. The sample shattered all over the floor and engulfed her whole tiny apartment in wonderful aroma. I really like the body whip. 

The reason I wanted to share what was in my Birchbox this month is for the Twistband. The colorful, snag-free, super soft elastic hairbands. I absolutely love mine. It does take some time getting used to the feeling of the thick band on your wrist since it is wider than most hair ties (hair things). 

Say goodbye to crease lines in your hair from your hair things and hello to Twistband!

You can buy a pack of twistbands on the Birchbox website. Or on the Twistband website. 

They sell for $2.50 each or $8.00 for a pack of three. They have solid colors, metallic, neon, tie dye and you can even print words on the bands. You can also buy headbands and shoelaces!

TGIF! Gallery Weekend

I feel like this week just flew by. It always seems to go that way when my boss is in town. I also had something going on each night of the week. Autumn is officially here! I'm a little sad summer is over, but I do love fall. The cooler temperatures, apple picking, football games, sweaters and boots, and cuddling up on the couch for a good movie.

Does anyone have plans for the weekend?

I recently signed up to receive emails from a website called PureWow. They have a few different versions of the subscriptions. I follow the Chicago location and Recipes one.

I got an email this week about it being Gallery Weekend in Chicago! This is the 2nd year. They have events today, tomorrow and Sunday. I plan on walking through a few galleries tomorrow after I get my hair done. Check out the link for event times, locations and restaurants that have partnered with the event.

"On both Friday and Saturday of Gallery Weekend Chicago, invited guests will enjoy private tours of the participating galleries led by Chicago art world luminaries and exclusive dinner reservations to Chicago’s most coveted restaurants." Source

Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Spinach

I know I haven't blogged in awhile again. Last night I was feeling ambitious to make a big meal. I was craving mushrooms and chicken. I knew I had spaghetti sauce in the fridge. When I was in New York I went to a restaurant in Little Italy. My boss had veal and sauteed spinach which was really good. She told me how easy it was to make and how good it was for you. So I put together my shopping list and headed out to Aldi. I spent $30 on dinner and other things for the week.

For this meal I bought:
-Chicken tenders (because I thought they would cook faster)
-Olive Oil
-Minced Garlic
-A bag of spinach leaves
-Mushrooms
-Noodles
-Mashed potatoes

I started by putting the chicken tenders in the oven with some salt, pepper and olive oil. Also during that time I sauteed the mushrooms and set aside in a bowl. Once the chicken was cooked through I put the sauteed mushrooms and pasta sauce over the chicken. After putting the chicken back in the oven I started the sauteed spinach. This is the recipe I followed: Food Network. I feel like I cheated and made quick, easy bag mashed potatoes that I threw in the microwave.

One bag of spinach really doesn't make a lot. Don't let this bowl fool you. I probably will only get 3-4 servings out of it.

The chicken was really good and so were the fake potatoes! The spinach was ok. It didn't have a lot of flavor. I did forget to buy lemon so I don't know if that made a huge difference in taste. I froze some of the chicken so I won't be eating it for a month! Overall I was pleased with my meal I threw together. I finished the night off with a small bowl of icecream and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days". 

I have been M.I.A.

Sorry life has been a little crazy lately and I haven't really had time to post. I noticed today that I have a few new followers! The last time I post was right before leaving for the Elements Showcase in New York August 19-21st. I created a collage of images to show you what the tradeshow looked like.

I was featured on Whom You Know blog! 

Check out the article that she wrote on this dress that I was wearing.

Then I was back in the office Wednesday and Thursday and took off Friday August 24th to drive up to Eau Claire, Wisconsin for my college friend's wedding. She had a beautiful outdoor wedding and reception. I again created a collage to show you a few of the photos I took. I included my finished "guest book" wall art. The cake pops were amazing.  

I got back from her wedding and my work moved to a new office so I spent most of the week helping unpack and waiting for the office to be set up with phone and internet access so we could resume working. Then it was Labor Day weekend. I spent the weekend lounging by the pool and test driving cars. It is finally time to trade in my 2000 Nissan Maxima for a new 2012. I am looking at the Mazda6, Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Tucson.

Which brings us back to this week. Tonight I test drove the three cars again. I think I kicked the Tucson out of the running. Tomorrow I will be at an all day Photoshop conference. I am very excited to learn shortcuts and tricks in CS5! I have a few people interested in my old car. Hopefully I can show that to them this week and sell it. 

This weekend (Saturday) is my birthday. A few of my friends and I will be going to a BYOB thai/sushi place and out for salsa dancing. 

Ok there, phew, caught up once again. 

I found out a little while ago I will be working a tradeshow in San Jose, CA October 6-8 and then back to New York City Oct 9-11th for our annual Young Designers competition. That will be a very busy week for me. I think that will end my tradeshow streak for this year.