jamie ann

Every now and then, I come across a band that I just really can’t get enough of.

The Gaslight Anthem is one of those bands for me. Their three albums (and EP) are consistently part of my music rotation and like I said, I just really can’t get enough.

Tuesday night, I finally got to see them live. I pre-ordered tickets a million years ago and have been looking forward to the show for months. I invited Dani because she’s awesome and one of the only people I know and hang out with in Chicago who really digs the same kind of music that I do. I think she liked them even though she was having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

The Gaslight Anthem didn’t disappoint. They put on an amazing show. They are really one of the best bands I’ve seen live (and that says a lot because I have been to A LOT of shows) and there was just an awesome energy the whole night. The crowd, the band, everything. I heard all my favorite songs (Miles Davis and The Cool and We Came to Dance and many more!) and they closed out with The Backseat, which was kind of perfect.

I really can’t wait until these boys hit Chicago again.

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When the opportunity arose to take a complimentary month long bootcamp with Total Results Training, I knew I couldn’t pass it up.

I needed some accountability. I needed someone to show me what I should be doing.

And this came at the perfect time.

I am really out of shape. Like, REALLY. My weight has yo-yo’ed the last five years from very low to very high. Right now, I’m at the higher side of that, but that’s going to change. It has to change.

Monday was really hard. I did terribly, was nauseous because I hadn’t worked out that hard in ages and it was 90whatever degrees out. Tuesday, I was so sore that I could barely walk. Getting in and out of my car was rough and sitting down and getting back up was so painful I didn’t want to move because I knew how much it hurt to do. Wednesday, I woke up on only a few hours of sleep and almost didn’t go to my second class. I hurt and was exhausted, but I dragged myself up and went anyway. Class was better Wednesday. Thursday, I wasn’t as sore and Friday was tough again.

Every day I could feel exactly what muscles I worked out that day and the day before. Even if I was incredibly achy and super tired, I still felt good. I felt good knowing I shut up and actually did something about it. I really have no right to complain about how unhappy I am with my body if I’m not going to do anything change it.

So, I’m doing something about it.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, you can find me sweating it out at the park. Well, at least for the next three weeks. I’m excited about it and looking forward to classes now. I’m ready to get in shape, change my body and feel better about myself.

I even treated myself to a brand new yoga mat for class as a small reward for making it through one full week.

Of course in true Jamie fashion, I had to convince myself not to spend more money on the yoga mat with pretty designs. I’m pretty sure a solid yoga mat will work me out just as well.

(Or it will at least until I find a really, really cute one.)

Ryan, my coach, isn’t yelly and mean like the kind you would assume goes hand in hand with a bootcamp. He’s patient and encouraging but still firm. Not scary in the slightest and doesn’t make me want to cry. Except when he asks us to go over to the big steps.

(Hate the big steps, Ryan. HAAAATE.)

(Probably because I have no balance and almost fall on my face every 3 seconds.)

Total Results Training also offers bootcamps at different days and times at four Chicago parks. There really is a time and a place for everyone so no excuses.

Chicago, come work it out with me!

Cool. So let’s talk about how Mad Men is the best show on television. Since pretty much ever. And how I’m completely obsessed with it. And how it starts again on Sunday.

And we can discuss how awesome it would be to live in the 60s, because their wardrobe is just ridiculously amazing. And how I worship Joan Holloway and how I love Don Draper. And how sad I am Sal is no longer around. And how Paul is such a hipster and I love him. And how Joan and Roger need to get back together.

No joke, last summer I watched the first two seasons in like a week and then watched the rest of season three as it came on. It’s likely that I probably tried to make you watch it. It’s likely you think it’s a little boring at first, but I swear it picks up.

Seriously.

BEST. SHOW. EVER.

Anyway, I really wish I was going to a Mad Men party because I want an excuse to wear wiggle dresses and drink old fashioneds and dye my hair red and basically pretend I am Christina Hendricks.

(except I wouldn’t dye my hair because just no)

(well, maybe if I was guaranteed to look like her even though that’s kind of creepy, but seriously, I love her)

So yeah, I’m not attending a Mad Men premier party which makes me sad. But I’ll probably be drinking some sort of drink and pretending I could pull off red lipstick while watching it on Sunday.

To take my obsession a little bit further, I also made a How To Have a Mad Men premier party list over at Shoptopia complete with decor and everything. To go along with my Get The Look lists for Joan Holloway and Betty Draper which are both filled with vintagey goodness and exact replicas of their dresses.

OBSESSED.

I told you.

Okay, Mad Men fans. Let’s discuss.

How psyched are you for the new season? What do you think is going to happen?

Dear Erin,

Today is your baby shower.

Everyone, in real life and virtually, will shower you with adoration, love and presents for those little ones. Your little girls are loved so much already by so many people and they couldn’t be luckier to have you and Ted (Kaya and Rufus, too!) as their family. You two are going to be amazing parents. Scratch that… you already ARE amazing parents.

I cannot wait to meet those little girls and spoil them with adorable Etsy things. Cuddle them and serve as babysitter any time you guys need a break or a date night or even a nap. That’s a standing promise!

As for favorite things that come in pairs, I have a pair of favorite twins. I know you’ll appreciate them too, Erin.

My favorite trouble makers, dealers of Wizard Wheezes and causers of mischief — Fred and George Weasley!

But I hope for everyone’s sake, your little ones aren’t as big trouble makers as this duo.

Well, maybe a little just mischief

Happy baby shower day, Erin!

Love you!

I’ve had dogs in my life ever since I was born. 26 years and there has always been a pup around dolling out kisses and begging for belly rubs. I honestly really couldn’t picture my life without a furry little friend by my side.

When my Princess was dying (the dog I’ve had since almost as far back as I can remember), I got Edie. Not because I was trying to replace Princess, because that’s just not possible, but because I wanted her to show the new pup the ropes and so she could meet who would be taking care of me after she was gone.

Since then Edie has been my guardian and best friend. She’s always on the lookout, is terribly sad when I leave, ecstatic to see me when I return, a complete and total brat, but always knows when I need some puppy love. She’s my little shadow and I’m pretty much always tripping over her. Pretty much the exact same way that Princess use to be. She did good showing the new pup how to be.

So when Allie Larkin (bloggy friend!) asked if I wanted to check out her book STAY, I couldn’t say no. Like me, Allie loves her pups to death and in her book, one of the main characters is a big, huge Slovakian dog named Joe. Savannah met Joe after he was accidentally ordered online after an alcohol fueled Rin Tin Tin marathon.

(hi, I could totally see myself doing that. Thank goodness, one bossy pup is all I can handle solo)

And well, Joe turned out to be just what Van needed.

I don’t want to give it all away because I really would love if you all picked up STAY for yourselves. I promise, it won’t disappoint. I laughed. I cried. I really read the whole thing one afternoon while laying out getting a tan. It’s a witty, fabulous novel with characters – both human and canine – that you will fall in love with. The relationship between a girl and her dog is a special one and STAY kind of hits it on the head.

Friday evening I’ll be hanging out with Allie at her reading and signing in Oak Brook. If you’re in Chicago, come by and say hi.

Last week wasn’t the best, but it definitely wasn’t the worst. To make up for it, I decided I was going to have a fantastic weekend no matter what. I have to say, I think it turned out pretty great.

I’m not too big on sports, but I do love baseball. White Sox baseball, that is. When Mark asked me to go to a game, I was super excited because it was the first I’ve been to this season. We beat Kansas City pretty good and then there was an awesome fireworks show after the game. I definitely need more baseball in my life.

One of my favorite things in the world to treat myself to, especially now that I’ve stopped biting my nails, is to get a pedicure AND manicure. Of course, I always manage to smudge my manicure like, 5 seconds after I think it’s done because I’m too impatient to wait for it to fully dry. Whatever. Siberian Nights on my fingers and toes right now. Loves it.

Sunday was an especially delicious day. My new, super awesome friend Dani just moved back to Chicago from Austin and she need to check out the local cupcake bakeries. And well, me being the super awesome friend that I am, I stepped up to the plate and brought WG2 with me. We had a mini cupcake crawl and hit three places (it would have been four but Swirlz was closed and that basically ruined my life).

First up was Sweet Mandy B’s and I’d say it was my favorite of the day, but mostly because of the hot tattooed dude who was working the counter. (Hi, call me. Bring cupcakes, please. The vanilla kind with pink frosting because they are yummy.) Next was Molly’s Cupcakes and my goodness, that place was adorable. I got a strawberry shortcake cupcake there and the frosting was pretty yum. The rest? Eh. Third was Southport Grocery, but I haven’t tried the one I got yet because holy sugar overload. I’ll report back once I’ve tasted it. There will definitely be more cupcake tastings in the future though because it was a pretty fantastic way to spend my Sunday afternoon.

Weekends like this are the best.

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I have lots to write about. Denver, new friends, Eclipse and apartment hunting! And I will. Soon. I’m still catching up from my week in Denver for the NAHJ Conference.

But for now you should check this stuff out:

• This awesome gift Jessica Maria’s friends have her and her husband. Seriously, it’s amazing.
• Molly welcomed a new baby boy into her family and he is adorable.
• I made a list of some seriously amazing vintage and retro inspired swimsuits. I now want ALL OF THEM.
• Have you seen the poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? I may or may not have fangirled out over it.
• I can’t stop listening to The Constellations. Go give them a listen if you like good music.
• This is probably the cutest picture ever in the world.
• Are you obsessed with Mad Men as much as I am? Particularly the clothing. I broke down Joan Holloway’s style (and found an amazing Etsy shop that makes replicas of her dresses!!) and the fashion of Betty Draper.
• That brings me to my next point, there needs to be a Mad Men season premier party so I have an excuse to buy something new and dress up. Chicago, let’s make that happen!