I love not being a model

This makes me scream on the inside, a) because feet are kind of gross anyway, and b) LOOK AT IT!

According to The Cut, this is the foot of model Sojourner Morrell after walking in 14 shows last month at the various fashion weeks around the world.

Are you going “Ahhhh! EW!” like me right now?

I’ve never had a greater appreciation for UGGs than at this very moment.

Retro photo gems: 1st installment

Because I’m struggling to find something to write about today, I’ve decided to start a new series of posts entitled “Retro photo gems” in which I post old photos and we all laugh at them.

I like to call this first photo “Tiffany Drinks Herself Under the Table.”

Waaaay back in 2005, my friend Tiffany made this ubiquitous “young 20-something girls hanging out in a bar” photo SO much better by falling under the table mid-shot. I love this photo so much.

I think we can all agree that Tiffany looks incredibly angelic and peaceful as she resigns herself to the fact that the bar stool on which she was previously resting has shifted in a most unfortunate manner, and she is now in the throes of a situation over which she has no control. I love how she closed her eyes – as if she knew what happened next was not going to be pretty. Or maybe she had the presence of mind to utter a split-second prayer.

Needless to say, once our eyes had recovered from the flash of the camera, we found Tiffany on the ground. Under the table. Luckily, she was fully intact and cracking up with the rest of us.

Leopard heels, iced coffee and sunshine

Yep, it’s a good day!

I have some family members who are going through tough times right now. And I know material things like (super cute) leopard print heels are trivial. But even if you think they are ugly (what??) or a waste of money, don’t forget to find and appreciate little things like this that make you happy. Because at some point in your life, just getting through the day might be really, really hard. But maybe you can focus on these trivial little things. And they might not be enough to make for a good day, but at least they will give you a good moment. And help you remember that when bad things happen, the good will always still be there if you can just remember to look for it.

(Inspired by my idol, Danny Tanner, the master of heartfelt, sappy monologues.)

(source)

Amazeballs

Dear Chicago Weather,

This five day forecast is amazeballs. If you’re doing this to make up for your undeniable crappiness last week, I accept. Just throw in a light and variable breeze and all will be forgotten.

Love,                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Carlie

P.S. If the great weather now is due to the fact that you feel guilty about the awful winter we’re about to have, I take back all the nice things I’ve ever said about you. Jerk.

P.P.S. Thank you for providing the proper context for me to use the word “amazeballs” for the first time in my life.

Lake Geneva: There’s more to Wisconsin than cheese curds

Last Sunday, we met up with my family in Lake Geneva, WI and spent the day walking through rich people’s backyards and nonchalantly trying to peer into their windows.

And while that might just sound like a normal afternoon, the thing that made it special was that we were also walking alongside a really pretty lake.

Not a bad way to spend the day.

For the love of pumpkin

There are many differences between me and Cinderella, but I think the major one is this:

It’s midnight! The stagecoach has turned in to a pumpkin!

Cinderella: Crap!

Me: Someone get me a fork!!

In case you were questioning my love of all things pumpkin in the fall, I’ll have you know that I consumed all of these items last weekend:

  • Pumpkin spice latte
  • Pumpkin cupcakes
  • Pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese
  • Pumpkin beer
  • Pumpkin donut
  • Iced pumpkin coffee

And no, I am not ashamed. Just very, very satisfied.

Image from candlefind.com.

Chicago neighborhood adventures: Lincoln Square edition


Last Saturday, my friend Megan and I decided to hop on the brown line and explore Lincoln Square, a neighborhood a little north of where I live. It’s a super cute area, and I’d venture to say it has a bit of a German influence, ja?

We walked around, drank some beer, ate some food, drank some beer, ate some gelato, took poorly exposed photos in cute bars with bad lighting, watched some polka dancing, drank some beer, rejected advances from old men and made funny observations that we decided I should include in the blog and then promptly forgot them. Also, we drank some beer.

It was a great time, as expected, since I’m always fond of places where it’s socially acceptable to wear lederhosen.

Megan and I had such a good time, that we decided to make a point to explore other neighborhoods in the near future. Next up: Andersonville! (Tentatively scheduled for later this month.)

Here’s a list of the places we hit during this particular neighborhood adventure, in case you’re interested. I’d highly recommend all of them for a successful Lincoln Square experience!