All About Bacon

One.  Being perfectly honest, we do not buy bacon very often.  It doesn't come into our home as a regular necessity, like milk, eggs or butter.  I suppose we only buy it when we actually crave it.  The most common way I use bacon is for breakfast... actually, that is probably the only way I use bacon.  So I suppose the sounds and smells of bacon signal breakfast in our home (even to my dog).  However, living with a chef, he comes up with all sorts of ways to use bacon and bacon fat no matter what time of day it is!  If bacon is being used as a breakfast item, I would say Dan and I eat it together about half of the time it's actually prepared.  If it is being used as a dinner item, I would say that Dan and I eat it together almost every time.

Two. The two kinds of bacon I'm aware of are good ol' regular old fashion pork bacon, aaaaand turkey bacon.  Pork bacon seems to be more fatty and greasy while Turkey bacon seems to be a more lean meat and doesn't get quite as greasy.  And Pork bacon definitely has a more intoxicating, powerful, and delicious smell.

a. Yes, I believe that certain bacon is better for you than other types of bacon.  I don't really care about brand names when I'm shopping, I usually just go with whatever is cheaper.  But if I'm really concerned with getting something that is healthier, I typically will just look at the label and reach for uncured turkey bacon, then pick the cheapest of those options.

b.  I guess the biggest way I can tell which brands/types of bacon are the healthiest would be by actually looking at the bacon at the amount of visible white fat chunks one each slice.   I'm sure the less sodium there is the better.  I do not necessarily turn over every label and compare sodium levels, but the easiest, most obvious way to determine the healthiest choice (when it comes to sodium) is by reading the label.  Sometimes labels will have 'uncured' or something similar on it meaning it wasn't preserved in salt.  I really do not have a brand that screams 'HEALTHY' at me since I do not associate bacon with being a healthy food.

Three.  I suppose my criteria when shopping for bacon is mainly the price.  I've never had an experience where a certain brand or type of bacon has wowed me more than another type or brand.  To me, especially when it comes to pork bacon, bacon is bacon.  And no matter which brand it is, it's frickin' delicious.  :)

a. The importance of brand name, thickness and packaging is very minimal to me because price will always win over these qualities.  Of course quality and flavor our important to me, but as I said above, no brand strikes me as amazing over another because I cannot imagine any kind of bacon tasting anything but delicious.  Meat type is definitely the most important thing to me.  Pork bacon tastes so much better than turkey bacon, but turkey bacon is healthier for you.  I suppose it just depends on the mood I'm in or who I'm eating the bacon with.  If I'm eating it by myself I feel less guilty about getting the pork and definitely don't feel guilty while I'm actually eating it.  I also suppose that since I do not eat it a lot, I do not feel as guilty on the few occasions I do splurge on the unhealthier type.  But if I am eating it with my boyfriend I'll get Turkey bacon to help support him in his dieting and eating healthy.

b.  When I think of bacon, really only two brands come to mind:  Oscar Mayer and Jewel's bacon.  I generally just go with Jewel's bacon because it is usually just cheaper.  I haven't ever noticed a large difference between the two.  Then again, I've never been blind-folded and asked to state which is better.  I suppose if I was shopping for a nicer event, dinner, or special occasion where I wanted to be sure to impress the people eating the food I would go with Oscar Mayer.  Mainly because it has to be more expensive for a reason right?  (Which is totally the American thought process... more money = better quality or a higher status, even if it is not true at all.)  But for my every day use and for my own consumption, I would just grab whatever is cheapest.  I guess subconsciously serving Oscar Mayer bacon to a large group I would feel better than serving the Jewel brand (just because I know it is a better quality), but in all honesty, I doubt anyone would comment on the bacon either way, unless it was to comment on the overall dish itself.

Four.  I think that Oscar Mayer bacon is a brand that I can trust, a brand I will not be disappointed in, and a brand I can find almost anywhere.  However, it does not WOW me enough to choose it over a cheaper brand of bacon.

a. I think men, women, and teens of all ages, sizes and colors use Oscar Mayer.  It is a well - known household brand.  They also did a great job targeting kids in their commercials (the Wiener Mobile and the Oscar Mayer song) so that kids who grow into adults continue to know the brand and trust the brand.  I can see the exception to this rule being people with money or people who only eat organic foods.  I'm sure really wealthy people or celebrities have some ridiculous type of bacon no one's heard of, or it's fresh off a pig 24 hours ago or something... I mean, let's be honest.... nothing is too fancy for the rich. :)  And I don't even know if Oscar Mayer offers an organic, all natural, uncured bacon, but if it does, I would assume not many people know about it.  I know I don't know about it.  Because of this, I think they are missing out on the organic crowd.  Also, I feel that people who stick to organics may not trust Oscar Mayer to be 100% organic because it is a mass produced food and because it did not start out as organic.

b.  I generally do not buy Oscar Mayer unless it is bacon.  I used to buy Oscar Mayer hot dogs, but then my boyfriend drilled a Vienna Beef loyalty into my brain.  I supposed I used to buy Oscar Mayer hot dogs because that is what they are KNOWN for.. I mean they have a Wiener Mobile for Heaven's sake!  :)  But my Oscar Mayer wiener days are now behind me.

Five. My letter to Oscar Mayer:

Dear Oscar Mayer,

I wanted to write you with my thoughts on your bacon and let you know what you can do to win my loyalties to your brand completely.  First and foremost, I fully admit, as I'm sure most people will in this current economy, that money is my biggest concern.  Be sure to match your prices with your competitors, or maybe even beat them, if possible.  It is so important to remain competitive.  Money talks in so many ways; not just because everyone is looking for a deal, especially now-a-days, but because people also do not like to feel like they are getting ripped off.  Remaining competitive instills a sense of trust in the fact that they are still getting a great deal.

Also, offering a 'rewards program' is a great way to build loyal customers.  Having an online 'point system' if you will.  I have about 5 different 'rewards programs' going based on different foods, and now I'll go to the store and buy that brand because I feel like I'm also getting something out of the purchase rather than just coughin' up my money to one of the richest corporations in the world.

All in all, I have nothing AGAINST your product.  I just have nothing keeping me coming back for more.  Right now, price wins over all and I can always find a brand beating your price.  

Sincerely,

Jonelle N.

Let's Dive Into the Pantry/Refrigerator

Refrigerator/Freezer

One. The Overall Contents of the Refrigerator

a. The contents in my refrigerator definitely scream convenience.  There are very few 'raw' contents in the refrigerator for me to make anything from scratch (besides scrambled eggs).  However, I do chalk a lot of this up to the fact that my boyfriend and I usually shop on a 'per meal' basis or eat out.

b. I'm definitely surprised by the amount of things that can and should be thrown out.  I pride myself in being a tidy, clean and organized person. However, I guess the fridge follows the 'out of sight, out of mind' rule.  I also was surprised by some of our multiples.  For example, miracle whip, ketchup, Hershey's syrup.  I probably don't use those condiments enough to realize how much is left of them and when we do buy something we need these condiments for, we buy another one just in case we don't have it.

Cabinet

c. I'm happy to see avocados, frozen fruits/veggies, milk, wine and the array of V8 Juices. :) I'm proud that I still find a way to incorporate healthy foods in my 'everyday' refrigerator and I'm not totally bound to the ways of frozen lunches and pizzas. I usually eat a half of an avocado a day when they are in the fridge.  When I want more than just water, I stick with the V8 Juices instead of pop.  Also, I usually have a bottle of wine on hand because at the end of a long day at work, a glass of wine is just what the doctor ordered.  Plus, wasn't there some new study that says a glass of wine a day is actually good for you and your heart or something?? :)

Pantry

d. I'm less than thrilled with the cookies, whipped cream, chocolate chip waffles, wine and sheer amount of frozen dinner and pizzas.  I'm disappointed to see this because it is a testament to my laziness and desire for convenience.  Also, by having these things in my fridge allows me to 'splurge' on them easier and more often rather than actually  having to go seek them out at a restaurant (i.e. the cookies, whip cream and chocolate chip waffles).  I put the wine in here too because sometimes I have two glasses instead of one.  : /  It's not even the fact that I HAVE to have two glasses, I just really enjoy the taste of wine.

Two.  Convenience items/prepared meals:

Convenience Food Items

 a.  These items are so helpful for two reasons.  First, they have a long shelf life (either being frozen or being made of ingredients that do not perish or get moldy quickly, if at all) and second they are quick and easy to make or grab on the go.

b. The frozen pizzas and Stouffer's dinners, Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese, and PopTarts, etc., definitely fit into the 'poor' category of eating.  These foods are not healthy for you and are high in sodium, sugar, and/or carbs.  I try to limit myself to eating these things once or twice a week, especially since I got the news about my cholesterol being close to the 'high' level.  But, again, having these things highly accessible makes it harder to stick to my goals.

The frozen fruits/veggies, and individual cans of V8 fit well into my philosophy of eating.  The frozen fruits/veggies are convenient because they have a long shelf life, but are still healthy for you. This allows me to buy them to have 'in stock' and eat at my convenience.  The V8 Juice cans are also great because they are better for you than pop and are quick and easy to grab on the go or pack in a lunch.

The Lean Cuisines I have in the 'in between' category because I know they are healthIER for me than the Stouffer's meals, but JUST how much healthier?  I'm not sure.

Three.  Items that help me eat the way I want:

Good/Healthy(ier) Eating

a.  These items help me eat the way I want because they are healthy for you and are all foods I enjoy eating.  They are rich in flavor and can be eaten alone or incorporated in so many dishes.  Fruits can be made into desserts, put in cereals, or made in smoothies. Veggies can accompany any main dish or serve as a light appetizer or snack. The V8 Juices are a good alternative when water won't cut it.  The Truffle Oil is starting to substitute my use of butter when cooking and the Garlic Powder is starting to substitute my use of salt when cooking.  They are both delicious ingredients that you only need a small amount of to still taste the deliciousness.

Four.  Items that trip me up from how I want to eat:

Bad/Unhealthy Eating

a.  For a  majority of these items (Cinnamon Sugar Pop Tarts, Cinnabon bars, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Frozen Pizzas, Stouffer's dinners, canned soup and beans, etc), they trip me up because they are quick and easy to make, they are cheap, and they taste pretty good.  Butter trips me up because it tastes delicious and its such a common staple in homes that sometimes it is easy to forget that it can be bad for you.  Also, the wine is my favorite guilty pleasure.  Having one glass always calms my nerves and relaxes me after work, but it's usually followed by a second glass because it tastes good.  In the winter its a bit easier to stick to one glass because I drink red and it's heavier.  However, the summer is where I run into trouble with whites because they are generally light and refreshing.

Five.  Prepared and Pre-Packaged Meats:

Prepared/Pre-Packaged Meats

a. The only one that is a 'staple' is the Chicken.  Chicken is a meat that will generally taste the same if you buy it fresh and cook it, or freeze it and defrost it a month later. Also, it is not a meat that Dan and I thoroughly enjoy, so we don't mind having it sit in the freezer for a while.  The Brats were something I bought last summer on a whim because I had a craving for them... and probably should be thrown out.  The pork chops have a similar reasoning as the chicken.  It is not necessarily a 'staple' but it is something we don't mind buying frozen or pre-packaged.  There is a large package of rib-eyes that we've also had for quite some time, but I think those are something Dan received through work, as a sample or something.   As you can tell, there are very little frozen meats or pre-packaged meats/poultry/fish in my fridge/freezer.  This is mainly because we tend to shop for these on as need/want basis when we plan on cooking that night or the next night.  Because I live with a chef he knows how good fresh meat can be.  So when we do shop for fresh meat and fish we generally go to Whole Foods and cook the meat within 48 hours.

b.  Hot Dogs/Brats are generally foods we buy in bulk for parties and barbecues.  We do not just eat them on our own for the heck of it.  I guess these foods are just easy and cheap to serve and are a sort of party/BBQ staple because of it.  People almost EXPECT that is what will be served at a BBQ... along with chips and dip, and alcohol, of course.  Bacon is a pre-packaged meat that we usually do not buy unless we have a need for it.  It is not a staple in our house and if we buy it, it's because we have a craving and eat it with breakfast the next couple days, or it's because Dan is making some creative dish that he needs the bacon for.  I love eating/serving bacon simply because the taste and smell are frickin' delicious. :)   Cold cuts are also not something we generally have as a 'staple.'  However, when I want to be sure I'm eating healthy and want to be fiscally conservative I buy cold cuts from our deli  so I can make sandwiches for a week or two and bring them to work.  I don't think we have ever served cold cuts as a snack to people.  But I do enjoy eating them.  They are lighter than most meats and still taste good.  Plus, ham, turkey, and chicken sometimes taste better as cold cuts because they are more moist and can easily be combined with other foods; i.e. sandwiches, salads, alone as a snack, etc.

c.  The most important thing to me for prepared meats is quality.  I hear such horror stories of prepared meats being the hooves of cows and beaks of chickens, etc., etc.  I suppose I would eat them more if I was guaranteed the meats were organic, healthy and not the left-over scraps.  When you're a kid you are naive to these things and don't really care what you put in your mouth.  But as you get older and you become more aware of what you are ingesting, the idea of eating ground chicken claws really creeps you out.

Six.  At Whole Foods we always buy fresh meats form the deli.  However, when I shop at Jewel by myself I kind of feel the pre-packaged meats section is a bit overwhelming.  Since I am not the cook in the house I do not know by just looking at meats what type of cut they are so I have to read every label.  I also find that I never know where the item I'm looking for is.  I have to eyeball every meat section I come across to make sure I do not overlook the specific type of meat I'm looking for.  I've also noticed that the bacon always seems to be at the very bottom along with the hot dogs and brats. 

On occasion, I will buy pre-packaged red meats from Jewel, and when I do I normally hit up the most expensive ones.  I figure it's still probably cheaper than Whole Foods anyway.  When it comes to some things, like raw meat, I associate price with being a little better quality.  However, when it comes to most food, I will generally choose cost (the cheaper, the better) over brand because most foods are already cooked or processed or have fewer choices.  

I'd say I associate this section mainly with Dinner.  However, I associate bacon with breakfast, and I associate Hot Dogs/Brats with BBQs/Lunch/Party food.

 

Eating & Food Choices

One.  For me, the most important thing when it comes to food is that it tastes good.  I love guilty pleasure food just as much as I love healthy food as long as it is of good quality and it tastes good.  Until I met my boyfriend, I thought it was pretty hard to eat healthy and still have it taste great.  But he has shown me that by substituting simple ingredients I can turn not so healthy dishes into healthy ones.  For example, instead of butter or margarine, use a small amount of vegetable oil or a flavored oil.  Or instead of salt, use garlic.  Or instead of fried chicken, throw some spices on raw chicken and grill it.  Also, I've learned that soy ice cream actually does not taste that far off from actual ice cream and it's much healthier for you.  Obviously, there are some things you just have to give into, like raw cookie dough and chips and dip, but I've learned in moderation, it's not THAT bad for you.

I'm willing to compromise on eating smaller and healthy/healthier breakfasts and lunches so that I can jump into dinner without any, or as much, guilt and without jeopardizing a healthy diet too much either.  Dinner is by far my favorite meal of the day so I'm always willing to sacrifice unhealthy breakfasts and lunches if it means I can eat what I want for dinner.

Two.

a.  I have a very fast metabolism and always have while growing up.  This allows me to eat and drink almost anything I want without seeing any weight gain or physical results.  I've been very lucky to be given such a high metabolism but it has also made me naive to healthy eating and just how hard some people do have to struggle with their weight.  With that said, my boyfriend has struggled with weight gain since before I've known him.  He had gained a lot of weight in college and ended up getting Gastric Bypass Surgery.  I met him at his lowest weight as a result of the surgery and in the first couple years of our relationship I was a TERRIBLE influence on his eating habits.  So he began gaining weight again.  At a certain point it hit us and we realized that he needed to start dieting and exercising.  When you are in a family or relationship and you want what is best for the person you love, you begin to make sacrifices.  So I decided that just because I didn't LOOK like I ate like a 300 lb fat man, doesn't mean my insides weren't getting angry with me.  So I began to eat healthier along with him and also began to exercise to tone rather than to lose weight.

b.  When my boyfriend and I shop for food together we are usually only shopping for one or two meals at a time and we generally shop at Whole Foods.  It generally takes us about 30 minutes, maybe less depending on how extensive the meal is that we are preparing.  At Whole Foods, it never really occurs to us to use coupons or to try to find coupons.

However, when I shop alone I tend to go to Jewel and buy more of the things we need over long term.  For example, the first few months of working at my full time job I began packing lunches with a sandwich, small amount of chips, string cheese, pudding, etc. Very 5th grade of me, I know. :)  So I would go to the deli section of Jewel and get enough bread, meat and cheese to last me a week or two.  I definitely use coupons at Jewel, and I'll just choose the deli meat that is on sale rather than stick with one specific brand all the time.  Really, that tends to go for any brand... for example, if one brand of butter is on sale, I'll choose that brand just because it's on sale.  I suppose the only REAL brands I actually care to stick with are foods that are prepared a certain way.  For example, I prefer Tostitos salsa, on sale, or not on sale because it has the perfect amount of 'sauce' and 'chunky ingredients'.  But with generic food items like olives, pickles, milk, butter, etc., I really have no loyalties.  I do, however, prefer organic eggs, but I have no specific brand of organic eggs I stick to.  I'd say I spend about 30 minutes to an hour when I'm shopping on my own for bulk items.

Three.  A few years ago I was a Senior in college, then I immediately moved and was new to living in the actual city of Chicago.  I was very into convenience over health and quality back then and stocked my cabinets with Kraft Mac n Cheese, Ramen Noodles, and processed sweets.  My freezer would be stocked to the brim with frozen pizzas, TV Dinners, and ice cream.  And my refrigerator would have pickles, milk, butter and the occasional left overs.  Now, I am definitely trying to eat less TV Dinners and Frozen Pizza for dinner, now making meals that contain a meat, vegetable, and carb, and I have switched my lunches from the full throttled heart-attack-in-a-box Stouffers frozen dinners to Lean Cuisines and sandwiches.  I also never used to eat breakfast every morning simply because I valued sleep over breakfast.  However, now every morning I have a cup of Cheerios and 1% low-fat milk (of which I recently switched from 2%).  I'm also trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and I currently take fish oil pills and vitamin D+C pills every day.

These changes came about for a number of reasons.  I started dating my boyfriend shortly after moving to the city and he opened my eyes to the world of lamb chops, oysters, and eating healthy while still eating delicious foods.  He taught me how to cook and showed me that pasta in vegetable oils with zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms and tomatoes actually do taste better and are way healthier for you than Ramen noodles.  I also began to eat healthier in order to support my boyfriend in dieting and exercising.  Finally, when my doctor told me I was bordering on high cholesterol, I was definitely, more than ever, interested in giving myself a healthier diet and lifestyle.  I also started eating Honey Nut Cheerios because of the fact they advertise it can help lower cholesterol.  Plus, eating breakfast every morning helps boost your metabolism.  

So, I suppose I am trying to accomplish a number of things through these changes:

• Helping support my boyfriend leading a healthy lifestyle
• Lowering my cholesterol
• Being overall healthier
• Maintaining my high metabolism.

Four.   
a.  Monday through Friday my breakfast and lunch eating habits are pretty monotonous.  

Honey Nut Cheerios w/1% Milk

Every morning I eat a cup of Cheerios with 1% milk (of which I do not drink all the milk, I just simply have it in there to accompany the cereal... generally I do not like the taste of milk by itself) because it is cheap and also because I am hoping it will help lower my cholesterol. The only exception would be every other Friday our company has 'bagel day,' which I then eat a 'Good Grains' bagel with reduced fat plain cream cheese (both from Einstein's).  (The Bagel Pictured below is one pulled from the internet.  I do not normally have Lox and Capers on the bagel.)

'Good Grains' Bagel from Einstein's

For lunch I generally eat some 'flavor' of Lean Cuisine. Today's choice is Apple Cranberry Chicken (grilled white meat chicken in an apple reduction with cranberries, french cut green beans, and whole wheat orzo pasta... fancy, I know).  On the few days I do not eat a Lean Cuisine, it's usually because I have some sort of leftovers from dinner made at home or dinner at a restaurant.

Apple Cranberry Chicken Lean Cuisine

As depressing as it sounds, I almost always eat breakfast and lunch by myself in front of my computer.  Oh the joys of cubicle life. On very rare occasions I will leave the office and meet my boyfriend for lunch at a nearby restaurant.

During the week, my dinner generally revolves around if Dan is coming home in time for dinner or not.  If I'm eating by myself I'll generally whip up some whole grain pasta (sometimes with tomato/marinara sauce, sometimes with oil) so that I have leftovers for lunch the next day at work.  Also, this way Dan will have some to easily reheat when he gets home.  If I don't feel like pasta, I will succumb to my old ways of a Frozen Pizza (of which I usually canned black olives and canned mushrooms) or ordering take-out/delivery from my favorite Chinese place (Young's Chinese Food - sesame chicken with fried rice) or Mexican place (El Burrito Mexicana - a ground beef burrito).  If Dan is home in time for dinner, he or I will either find something to make with whatever is in the house or go to Whole Foods and get something to cook.  Altho, there are times when he's had a long, hard day in the kitchen at work, and he too just feels like ordering in.

Whole Grain Pasta

Snacks tend to vary depending on my mood. But the snacks I most frequent are Chewy Spree candy, Smoked/Roasted Almonds, or Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn.  My boss also sometimes picks up small desserts from Starbucks for me.  Lately its either a Red Velvet Whoopie Pie or a Birthday Cake Pop.

Starbucks' Birthday Cake Pop

b. I tend to eat much unhealthier and much more random over the weekends.  I usually skip breakfast every Saturday and Sunday morning because I either sleep until lunch time or I wake up and start immediately doing chores until I realize it's lunch time. 

Usually, lunch just depends on what I have lying around the house or if I want to meet a friend for lunch at a restaurant somewhere.  I'm not very consistent on the weekends.  However, I can say I am a big fan of mushrooms, goat cheese, truffles/truffle oil, all seafood except cooked fish, angel hair pasta, fried calamari, creamy soups, and I'm sure much more I'm not thinking of.  So chances are if there is something on the menu with those ingredients, I'm all in!

However, Dan and I have been known to get sushi at our favorite Sushi place called Toro for lunch on Saturdays quite frequently. When we do go there, I usually order a miso soup, a small salad with ginger dressing, a California crunch roll (generally 8 pieces), 3 pieces of raw Salmon (mmm, my favorite), 3 pieces of raw Yellowtail, a Yellowtail hand roll, 2 pieces of raw Salmon over rice, 2 pieces of raw Tuna over rice, and two pieces of Super White Tuna over rice.  I usually dip these in soy sauce, but do not eat the wasabi or ginger that comes on the side.

Salmon (Sake) sushi at Toro

Just as with lunch, my dinners during the weekends are totally random.  If I stay in my house Saturday and Sunday night I usually just try to find whatever is in my house.  Especially on Saturday's because Dan generally has to work late.  However, if I am planning on going out for the evening, I almost always eat out somewhere on my way to wherever I'm going, or meet up with the friends I'm going out with for dinner beforehand.

No matter which day of the week, Dinner is the meal that has the most variety and I really do not have a specific regimen of what I eat.  If we feel like going out to eat, we pick the cuisine we feel like, then go.  If we feel like staying in and not cooking, we again, pick the type of cuisine we want and order in.  If we feel like cooking with whatever is around the house, we just use whatever is around the house (and when you live with a chef, sometimes it can be very random).  If we feel like going shopping for food to cook, the real only constant we stick to is that we shop at Whole Foods for the produce and meats/fish/poultry.

Five.  A successful meal for me would revolve around dinner since it is my favorite meal of the day.  It would be nutritionally healthy and also be absolutely delicious.  I would say more often then not my meals are not 'successful' as they often revolve around take-out, frozen pizzas, and/or pasta.  Instead, I wish I could have a well balanced, delicious, hearty, and healthy meal.  Preferably with a creative salad, a meat, a vegetable, and either a potato or some sort of bread with a unique spread (truffle oil?).  Dan would be the one preparing it since he is such a good chef, and I would clean up the mess.  We would be able to sit down at the table together and actually have a quality time meal, instead of eating by ourselves or sitting on the couch while eating take out and watching TV.  I'd say we achieve 'success' 1-3 times per month.  Most often it's because of conflicting dinner time work schedules or just being too tired to cook.

About Me

One.  My name is Jonelle.  I would describe myself as outgoing, social, a quick learner, open-minded and compassionate.  I live with my boyfriend of 4 years and my 3 year old female Puggle named Riley in a Chicago apartment.  I went to Illinois State University and graduated with my Bachelors in Science with a major in Mass Communication and minors in Public Relations and Sociology in 2007.  Currently, I am working as an Administrative Assistant at a financial trading firm in the loop.  I have a fairy large family (one older half-brother, two older half-sisters, one younger brother, and one younger half-brother, plus 3 cousins, and 11 nieces and nephews to boot.) Although, I did do a majority of my growing up in a household with just my mom, my younger full brother, and I.  

Let's Go Cubs!

I am very competitive and love to play any game you throw at me.  I love watching/attending Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks games.  My boyfriend is a Chef and he has passed his passion of fine food and wine onto me.  I also love to travel and my boyfriend and I have traveled to Australia, Hawaii, Puerto Vallarta, and various places in the States together.  My favorite TV shows include Friends, Grey's Anatomy and Glee.  I am a horrible dancer, but desperately try to be good at it.  :)

Dan, Riley and I

Two.  My home is fairly low key.  It is the perfect size for my boyfriend, dog and I.  It has a cozy home feel, but also feels modern at the same time.  My dog, Riley, likes to hang out on the back of the couch and watch the world outside... and occasionally bark at those who are walking their dogs or tormenting her through the window.  Since it is just the 3 of us in our household, Riley does a great job at keeping us both busy and not feeling lonely when we are alone in the apartment.  She is a very sweet and cuddly dog who has never met a stranger and has the perfect amount of playful puppy still left in her.  We have pictures all over our apartment of memories with friends and each other and the apartment gets a lot of sun, so the apartment always feels upbeat and lively.  

Dan and I

When my boyfriend, Dan, and I are home together we like to relax with a glass of wine and just enjoy each others company.  Living with a chef means we always have interesting food and wine in the house and there are often delicious smells emanating from our apartment into the hallway.  Given that Dan is the cook of the household, and makes a larger salary than I do, I like to think of myself as the disciplinarian/organizational clean freak.  I'd say I keep the basic functions of the apartment running... whether it be getting the laundry done, scheduling Riley's vet appointments, making sure rent gets in the mail each month, and general upkeep of the place.  I would definitely say Dan agrees, and I know he better appreciate the crap out of it.  ;) 

Three.  I tend to live by 3 philosophies that I feel define me as a person and explain how I live.

•  "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. [Matthew 7:12]" -- The Bible. 
  I try so hard to live by this quote.  Not even so much as I am an extremely religious person but because I believe in this philosophy.  I try to have a generally positive outlook on the world around me and the people I come into contact with.  There are so many people in the world who go through life bitter, angry with themselves and angry with others.  I feel that being so upset at the world and spreading that feeling around is like spreading around an unwanted disease.  I try to treat people with respect, be courteous of others and their feelings, and strive to make people happier as that is how I would like to be treated.  I am a loyal friend and girlfriend and do things just because I know it will make people happy as I appreciate it so much when these gestures are returned.
• Pay It Forward. 
  This is a concept I feel gets so easily lost in our world that has become so driven by money, greed, and technology.  If the opportunity presents itself, I try to do one nice thing for a stranger every day.  I don't expect this from other people because I don't believe in only giving when you are getting.  But I hope that doing that one nice thing for someone new will add something to their day and maybe they'll pay it forward to someone else. 
• "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain.
  We have only one life to live.  Which means we have one chance to experience, see, and discover as much as possible before we move onto wherever it is we move onto.  I try to make sure that I take advantage of opportunities that come my way and jump at spur of the moment adventures.  I want to travel and see as much of this world as I can.  Our planet has so many hidden gems, so much to discover, so many people to meet, and so many cultures to experience, that I do not want to wake up 20 years from now and realize that I can never get that time back and I spent a majority of it on my butt at work and in the shelter of my home.  I try not to be afraid of new things and welcome them with open arms.  I hate monotony, crave spontaneity and as long as my bank account will allow for it, I'm the first to jump in with my friends.  I often find myself wishing I could be in 3 places at once because I never want to miss out on another memory or experience.

 Four.  I am most proud of my work-ethic and compassion for others.  My mother struggled as a single-mom while I was growing up, but she has since then done very well for herself through hard-work and expanding her education.  I think she passed her work-ethic onto me as I tend to be a perfectionist when doing projects and I strive to be the best at what I am doing.  I am a very quick learner and have the ability to 'mime' what I've been shown and master the task after just doing it two or three times.  I also HATE to disappoint people; whether it be my mom (most importantly my mom), my boss, my friends, my boyfriend, even my dog!  So I believe in giving everything I do everything I've got so I can prevent anyone from being disappointed in me.  Because of continuing with my strong work ethic I have received raises at my jobs, end of year bonuses, priority shifts when I used to waitress/bartend, and putting a smile on my mom's face.  :)

I am also very proud of my compassion for others.  I like to help people and make people feel better about themselves.  I love to over-gift, over-surprise, over-help those that I love and I thoroughly enjoy making others happy, including those I've never met.

As far as what I can improve about myself, one major thing sticks out.  Although I'm sure my boyfriend can argue I have a few more after living with me for so many years.  :-)  Sometimes I tend to 'over-share' secrets.  When it really, really matters I am very good about keeping things to myself.  But in the past I have definitely gotten into trouble with sharing my own secrets and sharing things I've let slipped to others about others.  I'm not the 'Mean Girl' gossiping type, so I never talk about or spread the 'he said/she said' rumors in hopes of breaking up relationships, friendships or business relationships.  But I have accidentally let some things slip out simply because I over-hear somebody talking about something and I want to feel important/special too so I contribute to the conversation by proving I might know more than them.  It's a pretty bad feature about myself and in the recent months, maybe even year, I have gotten MUCH better about it... but I'm definitely not where I would like to be.

Five.  One of my other major goals is to that I found a job I love and actually enjoy doing.  I don't want to just settle at a job because it pays the bills and because it provides health insurance.  I want to WANT to get up every morning and go to work.  Almost half of our lives are spent working, the other almost half are spent sleeping... so I want to enjoy the times I am awake! :)  I've always wanted to go into TV Productions, but that is one hard dream to crack!  So I'm hoping to incorporate my other major passion, which is traveling, and hopefully find a way to make traveling a part of my occupation.  I'm the type that would rather spend money on a plane ticket than a new outfit and I'm hoping that going into a travel job will allow me to do both. :)

Five years from now I see myself finding a place to call home and settling down.  I will hopefully be enjoying what I do for a living and living somewhere that doesn't have negative temperatures half the year.  I'm hoping my boyfriend and I will be married and our dog will still be running around our new home.   All in all, I expect my boyfriend and my dog to remain my constants and I'm really hoping the locale and my career will be what has changed.

Six.  I've decided to list the top 12 brands that I interact with on a daily basis. I have organized them from most to least frequent.

1. BlackBerry

I use my BlackBerry for everything every day.  I use it to surf the internet, send and receive emails, check/update my social networks, as my mp3 player for my workouts, my morning alarm, etc., etc.  I really like my BlackBerry Torch because it has a touch screen and a regular keypad... best of both worlds! It is practical, easy to use, and convenient to have since it performs so many different functions.

2. Primal Pet Food

This is the dog food I serve my dog.  She eats twice a day so I feed her breakfast before I leave for work and dinner after I get home from work.  I chose this pet food because I have been told a raw meat diet is the best pet food you can serve your dog.  I really want Riley to be happy, healthy and live a long life so I opted to spend a bit more money in order to ensure her the best daily diet possible.  Plus, she LOVES it!

3. Crest Toothpaste

Currently, I am using Crest toothpaste.  I usually brush my teeth when I wake up and before I go to bed.   However, I must admit I normally use Colgate, but I ran out and this was all that I could find in the house.  Once this tube is gone I will be switching back to Colgate simply because I like the brand better.

4. BareMinerals By Bare Escentuals

I use this makeup on a daily basis (sometimes twice if I need to touch up before going out to dinner or out for the evening).  I love it because it is very light and doesn't really FEEL like I'm wearing make up.  It is also healthier for my skin because it allows it to breath more than other makeups and liquid foundations do.  Also, it makes my skin look more like it's glowing rather than simply covering up flaws.

5. Clear Care Contact Solution

I switched to this contact solution after I had a few problems with my contacts causing eye infections.  It supposedly is among the top of the line when it comes to a contact solution fully disinfecting germs and bacteria on soft contact lenses and also provides the best 'like-new' contact experience even if you don't wear daily disposables.  I really like it because I can stretch the life of my contacts so I do not have to buy new ones as frequently.  The only draw back is that once you put the contacts in the solution, they can NOT go back into your eyes for 6 hours until the chemicals have neutralized... unless you enjoy the feeling that your retinas are being burned out of your sockets.

6. Pureology Serious Colour Care

I use this Shampoo and Conditioner now because my mom recently convinced me to switch and offered to buy me my first large bottles of the shampoo and conditioner.  I must say, now that I have been using it, I also really like it and it makes my hair smell great and feel super soft.  I will probably stick with this brand even if my mom doesn't offer to buy the refills (it is pretty expensive tho).  Also, it's really good at preventing the color in my hair from fading.

7. Facebook

Facebook is a social networking addiction.  I think most people will agree with me.  Heck, even my grandparents are now on Facebook!  For me, it is a great way to stay updated in my friends' and family's lives even if I cannot pick up the phone every day to catch up.   It's also a good way to pass the time at work. ;)  I also love that all of my photos are electronically stored.  If something were to ever happen where my photos got destroyed, they are now always electronically backed up and I'll never permanently lose my memories.  I just have to be sure to take extra special care of those that were taken circa Facebook.

8a. Mac

8b. Windows

My computer at home is a MacBook (I personally prefer Macs over Windows computers) because I find Macs to be very user friendly.  I also have never had a single virus in the near 20 years my family and I have owned Mac computers.  Also, my hard drive has only crashed once, and the Mac people fixed it for free even tho it was out of warranty.  They're products are amazing and their customer service is great!  However, I use a Windows computer equally as much because that is the brand my company uses.  I use Windows more not by choice, but simply because that is what my company has chosen.

9. JP Morgan Chase

I log onto my online Chase accounts (savings and checking) every day to check the balances of my accounts and to make sure I know exactly when payments have posted and checks have cleared.  I also don't balance a checkbook, so I always log on to make sure I'm not close to overdrawing my account and to make sure I didn't forget about any expenses that I had purchased.  I also frequently use Chase.com to monitor my account to make sure there is no unauthorized activity.  I ended up with Chase kind of by default.  My first real checking account was through BankOne, then Chase bought them out.  I've just happened to stay with them ever since.  However, Chase is starting to get more expensive on their policies for free checking and savings, and they are taking away their debit card reward program.  With that said, I might switch banks to a bank that offers less strict policies on free checking accounts.

10. Honey Nut Cheerios

I eat Honey Nut Cheerios every morning for breakfast.  I started doing this about 3-4 months ago after I went to the doctor and got a general blood exam.  The results came back that I was bordering on high cholesterol.  Cheerios has been one of the cereals where they advertise to adults by saying it can help lower cholesterol.  Hence, I added this to my diet.  I chose Honey Nut Cheerios because the plain ones don't have any flavor and because and other variety are more unhealthy for you.

11. Lean Cuisine

I started eating Lean Cuisines for the same reason as I started eating Cheerios.  I used to eat just the regular Stouffer's TV Dinners for lunch every day when I started my full time job (no wonder my cholesterol sky rocketed!) and made the switch to Lean Cuisine in hopes it will help me be healthier (in addition to working out 3x a week).  Lean Cuisine has a TON of options so I don't have to eat the same one every day and it is convenient in the mornings to just grab one out of the freezer on my way out to work.  Also, it is cheaper than buying my lunch downtown every day.

12. Netflix

We decided against continuing our extensive cable package at home (switching to very basic cable) to save money and opted for getting Netflix at $9/month.  Now, this is our main source of relaxing entertainment and we are able to get one new DVD at least once a week, sometimes twice depending how quickly we watch the movie.