IT'S A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP...WITH MY BANGS

Dear Bangs,

In case you haven't noticed, I have a huge love-hate relationship with you.

I mean, Bangs, you're trendy and cute and in-style. You add that little extra-something without getting too drastic...what's not to love about you?!

But Bangs, my husband prefers to have me all to himself... without you. He hasn't actually asked me to break things off, but just prefers me to be without you. I hope you can understand!

And the more I think about it, Bangs, you make my forehead sweat and grease up.

You're too hot for the Summer, but ooooh, Fall is coming up and it's my favorite time of year. By the time I'm done going to football games, drinking pumpkin spice lattes, watching the leaves change and making chili, I have a feeling I'll be bored and antsy...and I may even take things into my own hands as I have so many times...and bring you back into my life!

But for now, I will slowly part ways with you.

We're really coming to the end you know. It's getting kinda messy...even ugly. You're slowly fading away from a cute side Bang.

Now you're too long to look cute, but too short to do much with aside from clipping you back and forgetting about you.

So we'll tangle and weave our way around together and hold on for the last few moments that we have...until you're gone for good (or until I get bored AGAIN).

Then someday soon, my hair will be all grown out and long and our days together will be a thing of the past.

Oh Bangs, it's not you...it's me.


I hope we can still be friends!

Love, Jen.

IT'S A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP: BLOGS

While "Just another Manic Monday" plays through my head...I introduce you to a new segment on this blog: Love-Hate Mondays.

I previously wrote about my love-hate relationship with Whole Foods here...and in doing so, have realized that I have many of these love-hate relationships.

I figured Mondays would be the best time to confess these love-hate issues since I have my own love-hate relationship with Mondays.

 Who doesn't HATE Mondays...because, well, they're Mondays??? The weekend is over!!!
...but who doesn't LOVE a fresh new start to the week. New goals, new plans, a new start.

So, without further ado...my love-hate relationship with BLOGS.

Dear Blogs,

I love you and I hate you.

I love the inspiration I receive from the artsy blogs, the encouragement I receive from the DOC (Diabetes Online Community), the motivation I receive from the foodie/healthy living blogs, the inspiration I receive
from the marriage blogs, and the love I receive from my friends and family's blogs.

And I have you Blogs all organized in Google Reader, alerting me just like email when a new post is available to read.

But Blogs...I hate the time it takes to read you every day.

Over 100 blog posts on average to read every day. Yikes!

And Blogs...you make me jealous, especially when I follow the lives of people who get to blog for a living!!! Oh, what dream...to get paid to blog?!?!?

But Blogs, I keep on reading and I keep on writing...and life goes on...even though I can't decide whether I hate you more or love you more.

Blogs...it's not you. It's me! I hope we can still be friends!

Love, Jen

p.s... read about why I continue to blog here.

It's a Love-Hate Relationship...WHOLE FOODS

Whole Foods in Lincoln Park, Chicago...it's like no other WF I've been to.

(source)

With a trail mix bar, a grind your own nut butter station, mini chicago restaurants right in the store, a graffiti artist, music stage, wine and cheese bar, cafe, etc... it's quite the shopping experience!

Now I know WF is often called Whole Paycheck and I agree that yes, if you do ALL of your shopping here, you're gonna have to fork over your entire paycheck.

There are a few staples that I get from Whole Foods each month such as: ground flax seed, flax seed oil, probiotic vitamins, gluten free spinach & feta pizza, an occasional metro mint water (delicious), rice crackers, Lara Bars, etc.

Speaking of Lara Bars... Whole Foods-LP has an UH-MAY-ZING selection of them, as shown above!

These bars are one of the only gluten free granola bars that don't raise my blood sugar, are made with all natural ingredients that you can pronounce (usually only 3-4 different ingredients), and are 20-30 grams of carbs depending on which one you eat.

The Apple Pie tastes like Apple Pie.

The Banana Bread tastes like Banana Bread.

The PB&J tastes like PB&J.

"...and the snozzberries taste like snozzberries" (Willy Wonka).

So, while there are many things I love at WF...there is one aspect of the store that is going to be the death of me!!!

The DOWN escalator!!!

I'm so thankful for parking at this WF. It's rare to see a FREE parking garage in the city. So when I parked for the first time, I was amazed and grateful. However, when I walked through the door to see this escalator...I booked it for the elevator! I don't know why it's so scary to me. It's just REALLY steep, the area where you stand is SUPER thin, and I just can't do it!

Oh, I've tried, (several times) to get on...only to make myself look like a fool, putting my head down in shame, and walking over to the elevator where the other moms are getting on with their karts and kids...as I get on alone, holding one empty shopping bag, already starting my grocery shopping in defeat.

Alright, I know escalators don't have to be so dramatic...it's just that every time I ride one, going down, I feel like I'm gonna plumit to my death!

Ya know, every now and then I fear complications of Diabetes...kidney failure, blindness, leg amputations, etc...but mostly, I just fear the Whole Foods Lincoln Park Chicago down escalator. It's true!!!

The odd thing is, going UP is no problem!!!

So on my lunch break Friday, I grabbed some frozen organic strawberries (for making smoothies), an orange-mint water, gluten free spinach feta pizza, and 2 Lara Bars, met Ilene at the check-out register, handed the cashier my reusable shopping bag, paid, and made my way onto the escalator, going up...as if I had no known fears of escalators at all!

Ilene (visit her cute etsy shop here), enjoying a slice of WF veggie pizza.

Ilene and I drove back to work, discussing weekend plans, my weird fear of going down escalators, and our favorite OPI nail polish colors.

A successful lunch break.

Enjoy your weekend...and don't be afraid to share your weird fears with eachother :)