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If you have a quiet Sunday planned for tomorrow, make sure to run over to your local Borders.
Print off this coupon for a free coffee or for some of the other great deals listed (coupon is only good through Sunday, May 31).
Right now is a great time to head to Borders because of the looming rumors of bankruptcy. With their financial problems they are cutting down the prices on just about everything.
I was just there this week and was greeted at the door by bins of books ranging from $1 to $3 dollars. So go pick up your free coffee and surf the bins! Sometimes you have to work through some stacks of less than stellar selections, but there are some great gems to be found.
If you don't have luck in the bins, make sure to look over at their table of buy one, get one 50% off. They even keep top-sellers included in their sales!
So head over to Borders and find your newest pool-side read for the Summer!
Kate
Ah, this weather rocks. There's absolutely nothing better than summer in the city. Festivals (!), sports events, ice cream, cookouts - when accompanied by family, friends and sunshine, I can think of few things that put a bigger smile on my face.
To make sure you celebrate the season appropriately, here's a list of some festivals and farmers markets going on now or in the next few weeks that you shouldn't miss (and that I can't wait to attend!).
* Farmers Markets - They're amazing. Cheap flowers and produce? Check. Unique jellies, jams, breads and other items? Got it. Support local growers? You know it. Here's a detailed brochure with market times, dates and locations.
* Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest - noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday (May 30, 31), located on North Sheffield Avenue from Belmont Avenue to School Street. Bands like the Trippin Billies and Mike & Joe will be there to provide some tunes and there's also fine arts and crafts. There's no cost for admission but they ask for a $5 donation at the gate.
* An event after my own heart: Printers Row Lit Fest. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 6-7 in the blocks surrounding Dearborn and Polk streets, free to attend. Booksellers, wine tastings, exhibitors, poetry, cooking demonstrations and more. If you want to attend the free author events at Harold Washington Library Center, you have to register for tickets online.
* Old Town Art Fair - 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 13-14 at Lincoln Avenue and Wisconsin Street. 260 nationally acclaimed artists will be on-hand. $7 donation requested.
* Chicago Turkish Festival - 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 29-30 (hurry over!) at Daley Plaza, Washington Street between Clark and Dearborn streets. Free to attend, cultural performances between noon and 2 p.m., food, exhibits, music and more.
* I know there's a lot of people, I know it's usually hot, but I saw a bus advertisement for the Taste and it's approaching: June 26-July 5, free entry and free music! There's a list of musicians, but Counting Crows, Barenaked Ladies, Buddy Guy and The Wallflowers caught my eye. And - bam! - Emeril Lagasse will be in attendance opening day.
* Eastside Millennium Art Festival - noon-5 p.m. June 5 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 6-7 on Lake and Stetson streets on Michigan Avenue. Free admission, live music, food and 175 artists (reader Janie's sister is one of them!).
Get your summer on!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
The end is in sight! According to an Associated Press article, more than 90 percent of surveyed economists think the recession will end in 2009. Whew!
The economists say the recession recovery will be bumpy but we've already been through the worst. The survey also says 71 percent of forecasters think thrifty consumer spending will stick for at least five years. I've learned tips I can use for the rest of my life and I plan on always living the laid-off lifestyle (with all of you!) so I'm prepared and conscious of my spending habits.
With that in mind and new summer clothes tempting us at every turn (I'm currently loving maxi dresses but don't own one yet!), here's some ways you can refresh your wardrobe on a budget.
- First and most importantly, get innovative and think outside the box. It'll help amp outfits and show personal style. Have a light-weight jacket? Update it with new buttons or define its waist with a belt.
- Accessories are key. Wear basics but dress them up. Layer, wear a loud necklace or if a light-colored shirt's seen better days, dye it. It's really simple - I dyed a duvet cover with my mom a few years ago. You can pick up fabric dye at most craft stores for a couple bucks.
- If you have jewelry that's now out-of-style, use it to refresh other items. Brooches aren't just for your lapel any more, pin one or a couple around your favorite chain. Have too many long necklace strands? Whether they're plain or detailed necklaces, tie them around your wrist as a bracelet or if they're long enough, wrap them around your neck to make a shorter necklace.
- Take well-loved shoes to the repair shop instead of buying new. You also can keep tall boots in shape throughout the summer by stuffing them with newspaper, plastic bags or rolled-up magazines, and instead of buying shoe bags, keep shoes clean by putting them inside of a sock that lost its partner.
- Make capris or bermuda shorts out of ill-fitting work pants or jeans - you don't have to sew! Use iron-on hemming tape (thank goodness someone out there was thinking - I've been using safety pins for way too long!) to make clean lines. If you have a quality, expensive piece you no longer wear, think of ways it can be tailored into your wardrobe. Take off the sleeves, add sleeves, shorten, etc.
- You can even spice up your wardrobe further by having a clothing swap party with your girlfriends. Of course, set standards and even bring jewelry and shoes, so there's something for everyone. The idea was huge last year, but don't forget it's still an option today!
- When you've done all you can to overhaul items on your own, decide what else you need to complete your wardrobe. Shop around before you make any purchases (I make myself walk away from an item I want, think about it for at least a half-hour and if I've determined it's not an impulse buy and it's something I need, I'll re-consider). Check online retail sites, as there's often coupons floating around the Internet (I use a search engine to look or go right to couponcabin.com or retailmenot.com) and you can often get free shipping. Also, make sure items are versatile, professional and reflect your unique style.
Reinvent your summer wardrobe! It's time for fun in the sun!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
If there's one thing a Laid-off Lady is never short on, it's stress.
Whether it's the stress of finding a new job, figuring out a way to keep the current one, or any everyday stress that keeps you on edge, stress can take over your life and it's not healthy.
After doing a little research to help you ladies find ways to keep your stress from boiling over this Mental Health Month, I found some interesting new tips to keep in mind next time your boss makes you want to rip all your hair out.
I came across the typical suggestions, such as taking a bath, going for a walk, closing your eyes and counting to 10, and those are great if they work for you, but here are some new tricks that might help you stay sane this month:
~ Stress relief lotion or aromatherapy. I personally swear by Bath and Body Works' stress relief line, specifically their Eucalyptus Spearmint scent. Before I go to bed, I put some of this lotion on my face or chest so I can breathe it in as I fall asleep. It can be a little pricey, but what I do is wait for Bath and Body Works' big semi-annual sale (they have one usually in January and June), and stock up for the following six months and I'm set for the whole year! (Rumor has it the Bath and Body Works summer semi-annual sale should be coming to a store near you June 1st.)
~ Reach for a banana or foods high in carbs. Don't overdue it, but potassium (bananas are rich with potassium) and carbs are a great way to get your stress levels down because they help the body produce serotonin, a hormone that tells the body to slow down and relax so it creates a sense of calmness. For a list of other foods that can help you de-stress go here.
~ Careful with that caffeine! Put down the pop and coffee, they'll only stress you out more. But a little caffeine can go a long way. For example, a little bit of dark chocolate is a healthy way to enjoy some sugar while keeping the stress level down. My suggestion: Buy a bag of Dove Promises dark chocolate. Not only can you use a piece of chocolate, they have the cutest messages inside each wrapper that help bring a smile to your face. Just the other day I was ready to scream I had so much work to do and I opened a piece of the chocolate and the wrapper said, "Take five deep breaths." I took the breaths and felt a lot more calm. Try them out!
~ Sit up straight. By keeping good posture, you will have more room for your lungs to take a deep breath, bringing more oxygen to your blood and head so you can work with a clear mind!
~ Laugh it up! Break out your favorite comedy movie, go see a stand-up comedian or just hang out with your funny friends. You'll release endorphins and feel better in no time!
~ Stop and put things into perspective. When you're at your peak stress level, stop and ask yourself one of the following questions, "Will I even remember this in five years?" and "How many more people out there have problems way worse than mine?" Both questions can help you put your stress in perspective and help you to remember to count your blessings!
Put these methods in use and let us know how they work! Do they help? Do you have better ideas to help us keep our cool? Have any odd routines that help you de-stress? Comment here or e-mail us at askthegirls@laidoffladies.com.
Take a deep breath, you can get through the day!
Kate
Eat and drink up! Right now, there are budget deals to keep you caffeinated and your belly full.
David Burke's Primehouse, 616 N. Rush St., is offering its signature burger for $5 through Friday. The discount is good during lunch - from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. - and reservations are accepted (312-660-6000).
I covered an event at the Primehouse back in my newspaper days and the food was beyond amazing! So amazing that I would consider eating meat for a $5 David Burke's burger (I've been a vegetarian for a little more than a year).
If you're having a hard time waking up after the long holiday weekend, participating Dunkin Donuts are offering small hot or cold lattes for 99 cents through June 20. The deal is good during business hours and you can add a flavor at no additional cost. Per a press release, the deal is available at Chicago stores, but look for a sign promoting the deal at your favorite Dunkin Donuts to see if they're joining in on the fun!
Through June 29, all company-owned Starbucks are offering medium iced coffees for $1.95. You can order it sweetened or with milk for no additional charge. I ordered one this morning - yum!
If you want to eat and drink locally, according to reader Maureen, you can get a coffee drink and a treat for under $4 at The Basil Leaf Cafe, 2465 N. Clark St., and their coffee prices are budget-friendly all year round!
Give yourself a boost and treat yourself to a gourmet burger at lunch, you deserve it! What's your favorite deal around the city? I'm catching up with a friend at Sopo Lounge & Grill, 3418 N. Southport Ave., on Thursday for $5 sandwiches - another favorite of mine!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
... my girls and I got all dolled up on Saturday and right before we headed out the door, we traded in our heels for flats. Platform peep-toes, strappy sandals, wedges and chunky heels were swapped for a pair of black flats and three pairs of flip-flops. The heels completed our outfits but the flats didn't give us blisters, and the bar was so crowded no one could see our shoe selection anyways. Plus, we were able to explore the city the next day without complaining of sore feet. Sometimes comfort is key!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
Happy Memorial Day!
In case you haven't heard, Americans are being asked to pause at 3 p.m. today for one minute (local time). So take the time and share the opportunity with your fellow Americans to honor those who have died protecting our right to freedom. It's the least we can do, right?
I have something I'm embarrassed to admit. Before today I saw Memorial Day as a day off of work, but also a great day to celebrate our troops protecting us. However, I was a little uneducated about the actual history of today.
If you were in the same boat as me, you'll be interested in this article from CNN.com. It has 10 facts about Memorial Day that I found to be very interesting.
Did you know Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day? It started as Decoration Day because Americans would adorn graves with decorations, but the holiday was changed to it's new moniker in 1967. It's true, you learn something new every day!
Lisa Marie and I would like to take this time to thank all our troops out there fighting for us, and for all those who have fought for us in the past. Without them, we might not even have the opportunity to be writing to all you Laid-off Ladies!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and God Bless!
Kate
Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope everyone's having a relaxing weekend and remembering the men and women who have died in our nation's service.
Today, I went to the Randolph Street Market Festival with my high school besties. We bought our tickets online (they're $2 cheaper than at the gate) and we also received two $5 vendor vouchers to be used with purchases of $25 or more.
The fair is over for the month of May, but it also will be held on June 27-28, July 25-26, August 29-30 and September 26-27 on the 1350 block of West Randolph Street (between Ada and Ogden) and inside Plumbers Hall on 1340 W. Washington.
There are antiques, vintage clothing and jewelry, furniture, art, an indie designer market and tons of one-of-a-kind items. Four out of the five of us girls made purchases - including jewelry, a framed photo, flowers and drink stirrers - so there's something for everyone! If you're hungry, there's food and drinks within the fest gates and if you want to bust a move, there's a live band.
Make a day out of it and let me know any purchases you make - there's so many unique items!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
... I ran the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Corporate Challenge! That's right, I actually ran the entire race! 3.5 miles seemed a little longer than I expected, I ran with my makeup on (ick!), I didn't wear my best running shoes and I'm already a little sore, but I scored two free event T-shirts and bragging rights! This may have motivated me enough to start training for the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago half marathon!
Another awesome perk? My running group is celebrating our feat with Salseria's $4 Thursday margarita special. The drinks are yummy, there's chips and salsa involved and it's located on the second floor of the Sears Tower - perfection!
What's your biggest recent accomplishment?!
Congrats to all the runners!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie
