books are better than boys

A couple of weeks ago I went to the happy hour pottery class at Penguin Foot Pottery. Despite the fact that it was my first time using a pottery wheel (and we were sipping a few adult beverages), I managed to successfully make a couple of small pots. That was in no small part due to our amazingly helpful and also super laid back instructor, Chris (who also owns the place). The white one is the my first piece of wheel pottery ever! I know it’s not perfect, but I’m pretty darn proud of it. I really loved the whole process and would highly recommend trying a class at Penguin Foot if you get the chance.

Punk Goes Acoustic at Bonny’s is quickly becoming one of my favorite bar nights. Chill crowd, good vibes, nostalgic music, excellent bartender, and last night they played Avail and The Weakerthans back-to-back. What more could a girl ask for?

It’s all the music you loved when you were fifteen (and still do). No earplugs necessary.

This afternoon I was invited to two parties. A gnocchi party and a bacon party. Finger crossed that the invite for another whiskey party lands in my email tomorrow (Austin, I’m looking at you). Maybe we should also plan a workout party or a run a 5k party so that we don’t all gain 20 pounds this winter.

My friends are kind of the best. Just sayin’. 

(Photo from the whiskey party Austin threw two years ago).

15 Mac & Cheese Recipes | Martha Stewart

Some friends and I are participating in Interesting Winter.

What is Interesting Winter, you ask. Well, dear reader, it’s our modest attempt at doing something other than hibernate and excessively drink* while we’re slogging our way through another Chicago winter.

So, what do we do? Something. Anything, really. Trip to the CSO, five-course beer dinner, go to PechaKucha, take a pottery class, craft/game night, whatever. (If you have any good ideas please let me know.)

But why is there a huge picture of mac & cheese for this post? Well, I was thinking that for Interesting Winter we should have a mac & cheese dinner. Everyone can bring a different kind and then we can feast on many versions of one the best dishes known to man! (Grilled cheese would be another excellent option - lactose intolerant need not attend, or should bring a big ol’ box of lactaid.) Perhaps it could be called Gain Twenty Pounds Winter instead of Interesting Winter, or maybe we need to schedule some physical activities - would anyone be interested in winter kickball, or is there an adequate hill somewhere in Chicago for sledding?

(via peterwknox:sequinsandsideeye:stickyheels:haygirlhay:sheasylvia)

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*But we’re not trying to have a sober winter, rest assured there will be a healthy amount of drinking and drinking-related shenanigans.