Drum Roll Please...

I am happy to announce that Roger and I have decided to move to a new location at the end of June when our current lease is up. 

Where could we be going?

Bejing?

LA?

New York?

Staying in Chicago and moving just a little north on Lake Shore Drive?

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

We are heading over to sign the papers tonight... a post with pictures of the new place will be posted soon.  Let me just say.... it is AMAZING!  Can't wait to show you!



One Beautiful Day and One Small Blunder...

So I totally got sucked into all of the excitement surrounding the Royal Wedding last week.  Honestly, until about a week before the wedding I totally wasn't interested, thought I would probably watch some highlights and that would be it.  Then, I watched one pre-wedding show that covered all of the details and BAM!  I'm hooked. 

I shamelessly got up at 4 am to watch the big day with my sisters and my good friend, Courtney.  I thought everything was amazing.  Kate looked beautiful, the couple was so comfortable and cute together, loved her choice of minimal flowers and lots of greenery, liked that they kept the tradition but also added some of their own touches...


All and all, a beautiful day. 

However, I did see one small blunder in this photograph.  See if you can catch my drift...

Really?

She's a commoner turned Princess and you can't make sure that her dress isn't creased or laying wrong before the official royal photograph that will be placed in the palace for years to come?

Really?

Someone was following her around making sure her dress looked perfect at every moment execept for this one?

Oh well, I guess there are always small blunders here and there, even in the biggest and most historical moments.  Luckily, the day was perfect in every other way, and that's saying a lot!  Congratulations to Prince William and Princess Catherine!

(I'm such a nerd...)

Shameless Plug...

Hello blog world!

The reason for my post today is a shameless plug for a cause near and dear to my heart! 20 scholars from my Charter School in Chicago have been accepted AND have won scholarships to attend an enrichment program at Northwestern University this summer! This is an opportunity that has endless benefits. They will grow academically, be exposed to college life, and learn to make life changing goals for the future. However, these scholars live VERY far away from the Evanston campus, and most of their families cannot provide transportation to the program.




So, we are attempting to raise $6000 for busing to and from Evanston every day for these scholars. We really want them to be able to make the most of the opportunity they have worked so hard for. I can guarentee that any and all donations are directly benefiting the scholars I see every day.



If there is any way you can help, or if you just want some more information, please click the following link!



Thanks so much for your time!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/stephanie-bartell/galapagos2011

First Night on the Roof!

Roger and I spent our first night out on our rooftop deck last night.  This deck literally sits on top of our apartment complex and offers amazing views.  We took a bottle of wine up and lounged on the lounge chairs.  Spring has definitely arrived!

Besides almost getting blown off the roof once or twice, it was an amazing evening.  I love our little life in Chicago, and it's nights like last night that remind me exactly why!

Here is a picture of a similar view to ours.  I opted to leave all electronics inside the apartment, so I'll have to snap a picture next time of our actual view.

Ahhhh....

The tortoise bought me quite possibly the most amazing gift ever for my birthday in January... a massage.  I am such a sucker for massages and I absolutely positively will accept any and all offers for one.  Needless to say, I was pumped when I received this gift.

So, in January I headed in for my amazing deep tissue massage.  It was awesome, and afterwards I was wakling around in a haze.  Blame it on my haziness or on my extreme relaxation (I blame it on my Hare-like impulsivity)  but I may or may not have (I did) signed up for a monthly massage membeship after that initial massage.  Because the tortoise loves me and is a fabulous person he agreed to let me keep it.  It's actually a good deal, and it allows me to enjoy a massage every month which wipes away all the stress that I could ever accumulate.

Last night, I headed in for my April massage.  As I was in the middle of the process, I realized that I go through the same thought process every single time I go in.  I always opt for the deep tissue massage to relieve the most tension.  As I am getting poked, prodded, and pounded I am ALWAYS thinking, "Next time, I am going for a Swedish massage.  A more relaxing, less intense, swedish massage.  This hurts."  Then inevitably, I feel the tension melt out of my back and my immediate thought is, "Nevermind."

So, I guess there is only one way to really describe my relationship with massages.  We sort of have an abusive relationship.  They hurt so good...

Cubs Weekend!

Roger and I had the good fortune to be able to score some Cubs tickets from a friend of his at work.  We were excited to be part of the opening week extravaganza.  It was lots of fun, although very windy.  We went to the game on Saturday, so we did in fact get to watch the Cubs come back in the 8th inning to beat the Pirates!

Here are some pictures from that fun, although slightly chilly game:

And of course, my very favorite part of any baseball game...

Sick Day... and a New Baby!

NO, I'm not having a baby.

Ok, now that we have that cleared up...

I'm spending the day at home, on the couch, in front of the TV.  I have been battling a nasty cold/sinus issue/cough/headache/fever/overall feeling of terribleness since Saturday.  I went to work Monday and Tuesday of this week, and after being incredibly crabby with the kids, not being able to breathe out of my nose, and passing out promptly as soon as I got home every day, I decided this was an ok time to take a sick day.  I have to say, after one half day of total rest, I am already feeling a little better.  I'm hoping this R and R does it's job fast so I can be feeling back to myself asap.

On a more happy and exciting front, my cousin Kristen and her husband, Dan, welcomed their new baby boy, Blake, into the world on Monday.  Congratulations to the new family!

Dreaming of Paradise...

Over the last couple of days I have noticed my mind slipping away from what I am supposed to be focused on, and instead, focusing on the possibility of a vacation in paradise.  It could be because I haven't had a break from school since December.  I may be because I'm reliving memories of the awesome time Roger and I had in Jamaica for our honeymoon.  It may be because my sisters just recently spent 5 wonderful days in Siesta Key, my favorite place.  It may be because I am tired of the weather.

Whatever the reason, I am definitely dreaming of paradise. 

So where to?

Back to Montego Bay, Jamaica?

 Siesta Key?

Hawaii?

Unfortunately, my only spring break plans involve extensive oral surgery to remove my wisdom teeth.  Wonderful.  I guess I will just have to see these places in my dreams...

Quiet, Relaxing Weekend

Roger and I have had very busy weekends for the last couple of weeks.  We went home and had a blast at my best friend's engagement party a couple of weekends ago, then last weekend I headed to Nashville with some friends for a rootin tootin fun weekend.  Before that, we've had a lot of vistors and have headed home to LaPorte quite a bit.  So, this weekend has been very restful and relaxing.  No one came to visit us, and we didn't leave the city.  It has been GREAT and much needed.  Don't get me wrong, the last few weekends have been a blast, but it's nice to be able to catch up on stuff we've been neglecting around the apartment and just spend some time together.  Here's a run down of what a quiet weekend in the city looks like for Rog and I. 

Friday:
Dinner at The Counter with my sister.  Then, we headed to Kelly's apartment for some cinnamon rolls and beer (I know, interesting combo) while we watched the basketball games that were on.

The Counter is this AMAZING build-your-own burger place.  Seriously, everytime I go there, I want to make 7 different burgers and take them to go.  It was actually voted "Best Burger" on the Oprah show.

Saturday:

I woke up with a fever (weird) and spent the whole day relaxing while Roger took care of me.  We watched Butler beat Florida (woo-hoo!) and clench their spot in the final four for the second year in a row.  Then, we watched UConn do the same. I wasn't nearly as excited about the second game but it was still fun.

We ordered dinner from Pita Pit.... my all time favorite take-out place.  Think Subway, but wrapped in pitas instead.  Yum. 

It's Saturday night, and I'm feeling much better and waiting for Roger to get home with the movie The Fighter.

Sunday:

Plans for tomorrow include a brunch/clothes swap at my sister, Kelly's, apartment.  I will also be showing the spa products that I sell for BeautiControl. 

Sometime on Sunday, Kelly and I are heading out for a  7 mile (ugh) run.  Hopefully this weird 24 bug is totally gone by then!

All in all, it's been a great, relaxing weekend!

Told you!

I told you I was enjoying the Carb Lovers diet!  We are on night 3 of Carb Lovers dinners, and I could not be more in love!  Here is a picture of our (my) masterpiece from tonight:  steak salad with homemade bleu cheese dressing (Roger's has Italian... he's not a bleu cheese fan) with broiled sweet potato fries on the side.  !

It was totally delicious and the sweet potato fries made me feel like I was eating junk food, but I wasn't!

Side note:  To make healthy, delicious bleu cheese dressing, all you need to do is combine nonfat greek yogurt and bleu cheese crumbles.  Then season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste!

Loving Me Some Carbs

I recently stumbled across a new diet plan in Health Magazine that sounded right up my alley.  It's called "The Carb-lovers Diet."  My first thought was yeah right.  Then... I was intrigued.  I have always loved carbs.  I would be completely happy if all I had to eat for the rest of my life was bread or grain products (ok, maybe throw a little cheese in there too).  So this diet seemed like a great idea for me.  The cool thing about it is that it's not a fad diet, or something that is hard to maintain.  It doesn't let you eat all the carbs you want, or anything unrealistic like that.  Instead, it give you recipes to make that include the GOOD carbs your body needs and are really satisfying.  It teaches you how to get rid of the bad carbs, and use them to your advantage to lose weight and get healthy.  That, and it also integrates tons of good ways to eat fruits and vegetables for a person like me who can't stand them.  Click here for a link to the website.

I haven't bought the book yet, so I am using recipe ideas from the website.  I did all of my grocery shopping this week according to the Carb lovers plan.  Let me just say, so far so good!  We had some delicious whole grain pasta with olive oil, chicken, onion, and garlic last night.  I even got to sprinkle it with parmesan cheese! 

Some other meals this week include:
Chicken breast and garlic potatoes
Sirloin salad with homemade bleu cheese dressing and sweet potato fries
Bistro Steak and potatoes


My kind of diet!  Yum, yum, yum!

Weird or not weird?

I am writing this blog today to pose an a question to the blog world that has been on my mind for the last couple of days.  I recently have been forced to ask myself if it is weird that the Tortoise and I do not do EVERYTHING together.  Now, to me this seems like a no-brainer.  Of course it's not weird.  We each have friends that we like to hang out with (girls/boys nights) like a lot of couples do.  But is it weird that sometimes I go home to visit family for the weekend while he stays in Chicago?  Is it weird that we don't always stay at the same house when we are home at the same time because sometimes it just makes more sense to stay where we were hanging out with friends?

I feel like this is has been a question/comment that has come up a lot since we have been married.  Before we were married, this was never an issue.  People expected us to spend time with our friends.  People expected us to stay different places when we were both visiting our home town.  The Tortoise and I have always enjoyed the fact that we can be independent while also still doing really fun things together. 

I guess I just wonder why it seems like once you are married everyone expects you to be attached at the hip at all times.  If I want to go home to visit friends or family and the Tortoise has something he wants to do in Chicago, doesn't it only make sense that we do the things we want to do?  We don't have kids, we spend everyday together normally, and we have tons of activities that we do together as a couple.

Still, is it weird to have seperate interests and do seperate things?  Comments I have been receiving from people lately make me think that maybe it is...

I don't know.  Even if people do think it's weird, I feel like it is up to the Tortoise and I to decide what's right for our relationship.  One of the things I have always valued is that the Tortoise appreciates who I am as a person and respects my interests, even if they don't match his own.  As the blog name suggests, we have a lot of seperate interests.  I don't see a problem with pursuing those interests as long as we are spending quality time together as a couple along with it. 

Let me know your thoughts.

-The Hare

Life Update

I decided it was about time for a little life update on the Tortoise and myself.  So, here's what's been happening in our neck of the woods!

I am currently training for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon that is taking place this May.  I am really happy to have a new goal to be training for, and it is definitely keeping me motivated to work out and stay in shape.  It's amazing what a little structure in your work out schedule will do to keep you on track!  The tortoise has also been really good about exercising and is running a few times a week.  He's good for my motivation, because on most nights that I feel like skipping my work out, he puts on his running shoes and heads down to the fitness center.  By my competitive nature, I can't allow him to have more exercise than me, so I usually follow him down!

I am still dabbling in cooking, and I love trying new recipes.  My crock pot is my best friend, and I LOVE finding tasty, healthy recipes that I can use it for.  If you have any, feel free to send them my way!  The poor tortoise has had to go along while I continue to experiment, and he does well with handling my cooking ups and downs!

I was recently asked to be Matron of Honor in my best friend's wedding next summer.  I could not be more excited for Ashlie and her fiance Nick.  They are a great couple, and I'm honored to be able to help her in her planning and preparations for their big day!

I feel like I am finally sort of becoming an "adult."  The tortoise and I have been spending a lot of time discussing finances and delegating household responsibilities.  I spend a good amount of my internet time on a site called The Nest (it is affiliated with the wedding website, The Knot, and also the baby website, The Bump).  It gives me all of sorts of great articles to read about decorating, saving money, and tricks to make household chores more manageable.  I love it!  Check it out be clicking here.  It's ridiculous how excited I get about coupons these days...  


There's a little bit of a life update for anyone who might be interested.  I will make a point of coming back around to this corner of the internet more often.  For anyone looking for more blogs to stalk, check out the blog that my sisters and I do together by clicking here.

Have a great day!

Happy and Healthy New Year!

The tortoise and I have recently decided that for our joint New Years resolution, we are going to try to be "healthier."  Now, at first I was sort of like, no way.  That resolution doesn't work for anyone, it's WAY too vague, and I'll stick to it for a week- maybe.  But then, after careful thought, I think in our situation it actually can work.  We have since talked about some very specific lifestyle changes we can both make to help us acheive this goal, and it will definitely be easier with both of us in the same frame of mind.  Here is a list of the specific things either the tortoise, myself, or both of us are working to stop doing (or seriously cut back on).

-Snacking after dinner
-Drinking any alcohal Sunday-Thursday
-Using healthier ingredients for dinners and lunches (example: whole wheat pasta, baked chips, low fat cheese, A LOT more veggies).
-Eating breakfast each more (coffee alone doesn't count anymore).
-Working out at least 4 times a week.


We'll see... I shall keep you updated on both of us!

-The Hare