Men (and women), please take heed to this very important warning: Jump-offs can not be trusted. I’ll say it again. Jump-offs can not and should not be trusted. You can live in denial if you want to, but never say that Auntie Meta didn’t warn you. One day, maybe not today but someday, that side piece you thought was none the wiser is going to find out you’re booed up or married and she or he is not going to be happy. Then, they’re more than likely going to spend a lot of time and energy making sure that you are not happy. As the icing on the cake, your partner isn’t going to be happy either, and they’re going to either leave you, or stay just make you miserable.

Read more »

The glycemic index (GI) is an important word to understand, especially when it comes to weight loss. The glycemic index measures how fast a food is likely to raise your blood sugar. Another word that is important is glycemic load (GL). This takes the GI and factors in the serving of carbohydrates in the food. For example, the GI of watermelon is pretty high, but since there’s not a lot of actual carbohydrates in the watermelon, the actual GL of watermelon on the blood sugar is fairly low. It is believed that wide fluctuations in blood sugar levels promote over-eating, mood changes, increased LDL cholesterol, decreased HDL, hypertension, and obesity. Generally when choosing foods with a low GI, they will be higher in fiber (and nutrients) and will be absorbed more slowly. This provides a better sense of fullness and an even level of energy, without widely fluctuating insulin levels. There are many places on the internet to find the glycemic levels of food. If you are looking to change the shape of your body through dieting and exercise you must become familiar with these foods. High glycemic foods are alright right after a workout when you may want quick sugar, but overall you’ll feel way more balanced if you eat slower releasing carbs. A few numbers to help you out with. A GI of 70 or more is high, a GI of 56 to 69 is medium, and a GI of 55 or less is low. The number that may be even more important is the GL. A GL of 20 or more is high, a GL of 11 to 19 is medium, and a GL of 10 or less is low. Become familiar with these numbers for the foods you eat, if they are high or high medium, see about replacing them with lower glycemic foods. One common example, white rice versus brown rice. Long grain white rice like Uncle Bens has a GI of 75 and a GL of 28, obviously very high on both. Yet Uncle Bens precooked brown rice pouches have a GI of 48 and a GL of 20. This shows that brown rice is a better choice than white rice. But also realize with a GL of 20 it may still not be the choice you may want in the long run. The glycemic response to broccoli is so small there isn’t considered one. Most vegetables are vey very low. Making wise choices of food based on what time of day it is and what activities you have just done or are getting ready to do will help you have control in your weight loss.

It is my desire to help you build the most fabulous event possible.  So I want to make sure that you have all of your bases “covered”.  What better way to start then to get that wood burning in your mind about linens.  No not the bed linens your in laws check when they come to visit, but the spectacular world of table linens that can make your event have that special WOW factor.

Gone are the basic white, ivory and black colors.  There are now colors to match every combination, texture and pattern.  And we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that not only do you take your table from drab to fab but the chair can not be left out.  Any fine linen company you select will have your chair covers as well when you are forced to rent those less than desirable ballroom chairs. 

Remember less is always more, and a little color or pattern goes a long way!!! I have a few favorite linen companies I use:  For your high end speciality linens BBJ  is the way to go, their expertise and selection will have you wanting to do events every weekend. The Chair Couture provides exceptional service and has a great eye for detail and it wont hurt your budget!

As you prepare for your event make sure that the details that you select to add are a reflection of you and what you are celebrating! 

BBJ Linen www.BBJlinen.com

The Chair Couture www.thechaircouture.com

As always, until next time…Make it and Event-ful day!!!

Spring is almost here, snow is almost melted, the daffodils are starting to peak out and soon people from all over the world will be flocking to the one of City’s best outdoor feature, Millennium Park. But did you know that this gorgeous tourist attraction, enjoyed by Chicagoan’s as well, is surrounded by some amazing real estate?

Every block offers great residences, from 340 On the Park on East Randolph, heading south on Michigan we have 6 North Michigan, The Heritage (just off Michigan on Randolph), The Legacy, The Park Monroe and Metropolitan Tower. All of these luxury buildings offer something for everyone. They boast amazing views, luxurious amenities, full service staff and beautiful interior finishes.

Next time you are taking a stroll to Millennium Park take a peek at some these beautifully appointed buildings and who knows maybe you’ll find your dream home!

Hungry Z, GrandOverview

Greatness is often discovered during life’s most tragic times. At age 15 and in the midst of a family crisis, Rick Tramonto left school and began flipping square burgers in a New York Wendy’s. His drive and ambition eventually launched him from burgers to culinary greatness. After years studying abroad, Rick has created several successful restaurants, most notably Tru.

While Tru remains a hot spot for city folks, suburbanites can revel in an amazing dining experience of their own. Wheeling’s Tramonto’s Steak and Seafood (601 N. Milwaukee) wows patrons with lavish wood, deep reds, and dramatic ceilings. Luckily for the diners, the food is equally as impressive.

Similar to a good book, an appetizer should grab the diner’s attention. Scallion and red pepper infused shrimp tempura both tickle and awaken sleeping taste buds. Supporting characters play a vital role in how much we care for the star players. Heavenly white truffle macaroni and cheese adds comfort to your soul, while the grilled asparagus will keep your mother happy.

To keep your stomach happy, big beautiful cuts of prime beef are readily available. While some steakhouses just char the meat with little or no seasoning, steaks here are treated to fresh cracked black pepper, sea salt, topped with herb butter, and plated with an optional house-made sauce. Tramonto’s serves up a stunning 20oz bone-in ribeye that literally melts in your mouth! Pair that with the red wine reduction and you remember what it’s like to truly live again.

Think you have to be in the city limits to get a… For those who like a little surf with their turf, buttery lobster tails are available and should not be passed up.

A great ending is the best way to make a lasting impression. With that end in mind, be sure to order the soufflé. Warm and sinfully decadent chocolate cake, topped with creamy hazelnut ice cream leave you with the sweet taste of satisfaction.

Typical dinner for two plus gratuity will run about $200 — on par with most high-end steakhouses. Traditional thinking leads us to believe that superior steakhouses are only located within the city limits, but Tramonto’s proves that first class dining truly exists and thrives in the suburbs.

Location

601 N. Milwaukee

Wheeling, IL

847-777-6575

The opportunity for those of us who want to know hip-hop star Trina intimately has arisen as nude pictures of the raunchy rapper floated through cyberspace this week. Trina claims that her cell phone was stolen and that she’s being blackmailed to pay for the safe return of her celly, or have even more pictures distributed to the seemingly endless number of gossip bloggers on the Web. Now, the self-proclaimed “Baddest Bitch” is making the rounds on various media outlets, discussing her ordeal and informing fans that the FBI is involved. It’s garnering the Diamond Princess more attention than anything she’s had to say on CD in the past 10 years. And while most people wouldn’t mind 15 minutes of fame, I doubt that they’d want to gain it from having their lifestyles and bodies scrutinized by millions. But, that’s just what can happen to you if you aren’t careful about what you send via cell phone.

Common sense should tell people that anything that can be lost or stolen so easily, such as a cell phone, should not hold valuable information. And, nude pictures of yourself should classify as something valuable, whether or not you are in the business of making money off of your body. Some might even go so far as to say that their nude body is priceless. But, if you send the wrong picture to the wrong person you might find out quickly that there is a price tag that can be attached to your nakedness, even if you aren’t a superstar. Read more »

By now we’ve all heard the freestyles and seen the list.  After denying claims of a “leaked” list that hit the interwebs last December, XXL has officially anointed its Freshman Class of 2010. And while I give XXL credit for a brilliant marketing strategy in introducing the list (Selections aside, the concept of each newcomer freestyling in the shadows is dope), I have to admit that the list itself is underwhelming. In the event that you’ve been living under a rock for the last two weeks, XXL’s Freshman Class 2010 consists of:

Nipsey Hussle

Wiz Khalifa

Freddie Gibbs

Pill

Jay Rock

Big Sean

Fashawn

J. Cole

Donnis

O.J. Da Juiceman

To XXL’s credit, the Class of 2009 was a Read more »

Well that’s why they play the game right? It’s a reason why Jordan is the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time), Ali is Ali, and Babe Ruth has a candy bar. Only a select few can be considered the GREATEST!!! Manning’s back breaking interception to Tracy Porter two weeks ago was another reason why he’s not ready to wear the crown yet. Numbers and achievements are great but Manning still has a bit of work to do. In fact at this point he may need to win one more, maybe even two to at least re-enter the conversation. Manning’s Super Bowl loss raises questions. Brady lost his first Super Bowl on the forth try and he was up with two minutes left in that game. Montana was four for four. Even Big Ben who’s not even on this list yet won his first two Super Bowls. Super Bowl titles more than anything else define an NFL quarterback’s career. Manning should know that better than anyone else. His own father Archie was a tremendous field general for the Saints in the 70’s through early 80’s. But the team around him was so God awful people forget how good he was. So let’s get a few things out the way and you know what I mean… a few names that didn’t make the cut! Let’s just call them “The Others”. I’m on my big ABC Lost kick right now.

“THE OTHERS”

DAN FOUTS
Fouts is famous for being one of the most prolific quarterbacks of the Super Bowl Era. But Read more »

Whether you are looking for the occasional centerpiece for your home, decor to liven up your gathering or to set the stage for your nuptials, flowers have become one of the most intricate details of events. On Average 8-15% of your event budget will be spent on flowers.  With the times we are in today that may not always be the most economical way to go and you certainly don’t want to skimp on quality.  We’ve all done it, needed a last minute floral arrangement and rushed into our nearest grocery store to pick one up only to be disappointed when they don’t even survive the car ride home.  Since you wouldn’t let your grocery store clerk do your taxes, why would you entrust them to handle your floral?  So, what can you do to have the best of both worlds?   Lets explore a few options that wont leave us sacrificing quality for quantity.  Read more »

Lenders analyze your credit score to determine whether or not to approve your home mortgage request.  Before lending you money, creditors want to determine how much of a risk you are—in other words, how likely you are to repay the money they loan you. Credit scores help them do that, and the higher your score, the less risk they feel you’ll be.

You can improve your credit scores by taking a close look at your credit reports and charting a plan of action to improve them.  Keep these simple rules in mind: Read more »