XRT- my kind of people in my kind of town.

::bowing down to radio gods::

Before too much time passes, I must mention the greatness that took place this past Wednesday on 93.1 WXRT. It was the 5th annual Chicago Day! -but this was the first time I've listened in. I remember when I heard them promoting it how excited I was that I was going to be working in a shoppe that received the signal perfectly.

They kicked the celebration off at nine where they talked a bit about it and then I believe Lin Brehmer played Sufjan Steven's "Chicago" to ease us in. I remember I was making the gourmet cookies for the shoppe during this and I said "Aw YAY!!!" That is the huge perk of working alone. You can say things out loud, shed a few tears, laugh extremely loud, dance like you're in a musical, and sing with great enthusiasm- all things that XRT provokes me to do daily. The song definitely kicked off a journey of music that starred this wonderful city I have to close by; it made me appreciate it. It made me want to hop on the Metra and emerge myself in the city of wonderful food, good people, beautiful buildings, and fantastic artists. It made me want to be seated in a ballpark, scarfing down a Chicago Style dog-extra everything. I wanted to be found in Spiaggia on a Saturday night date, only to return to the W on none other than Lake Shore Drive to retire in a room overlooking the water. Chicago Day wasn't just music with a theme or exquisite interviews and insight with the City's finest, it was musical and verbal nostalgia. The stories and great tunes made me wish summer would just get here already!

I am so appreciative to have this line up of DJ's. When I tell people that the folks at XRT are "my kind of people", I'm not kidding. I'm dying to get in a class over at Columbia just to be in the presence of Terri Hemmert. These people are so lucky. They inspire me to tell people the stories behind the music I give them. The information I receive is used to promote shows around to people I work with and encounter. They make me want their jobs-to spread the love and joy of music. Best. Station. Ever.

I was so excited when they played Aliotta Haynes Jeramiah's 'Lake Shore Drive'. I knew they would, but it is always so great to hear that awesome piano intro. A customer was in the shoppe when it came on and I was like "OH MY GOSH, I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL DAY FOR THIS SONG! MY MOM USED TO DATE THIS GUY!" ha ha. I was also revved when they played The Smashing Pumpkins a countless number of times and of course Frank Sinatra's 'My Kinda Town' brought out the best in me and led to compose a fancy little sequence of steps that left a little something special for the cameras ;) I loved; singing along to 'Hands Open', hearing Mavis Staples, and doin' the shoulder shimmy while decorating cookies. Thank you XRT for such an amazing day! I never wanted it to end.

*random note* so excited that Enterprise uses Rusted Root's 'Send Me On My Way' for their commercial.

You can stream XRT on your iPhones!

Prada stole my Starburst wrappers--& THANK GOD!

Faaaantastic. I was excited when I read about THIS. Elise Øverland is combining fashion and ice and using the Ice Theatre of New York to do so. This perfect inception is being choreographed by Johnny Wier, who is apparently a long time client of said designer. I'm anxious to see it played out.

And then there are these...

These awesome, awesome shoes.

I love these shoes. Unfortunately, with my current means, I lack the ability to ever own a pair, but these are so fun; flirty, a little bit of tack, a ton of colour, and they totally remind me of those chains I used to make out of Starburst wrappers...right?!

How perfect. I remember sitting on the sidewalk outside a friends house eating starbursts and making these chains for hours. It definitely provokes my desire for endless bags of sour starbursts, conversations with no limits, and hot pavement under my legs. It's beautiful when shoes make you nostalgic.

For now it is winter and this was my outfit from Friday.

The sweater vest is my moms & the striped sweater under it is Old Navy.

The stickers on my phone ARE from the most recent issue of POP.

Exhilarating!

This is what happens when winter wallops!

Such a well forecasted storm with such fantastic results. I loved being snowed in.

Ah, here's to Chicago Snowstorms! On that note; WXRT posted the remake of Aliotta Haynes Jeramiah's LSD (Lake Shore Drive), but it's the snowed in version (see below!) What's funny is that I always used to hear this song on the radio and I loved it, and then I found out my mom used to date the lead singer, Mitch. Unfortunately, no one I know has ever heard of this song, but I think that's an outrage! Especially if you're from Chicago! So go ahead, grab some Starbursts, and groove out!

Original Version of LSD

Snowed-in Version

-Tessa

"That was plums!"

Where to even start?!

It has been quite awhile since I have blogged.

Last week at this time I would have been (well, working) but looking forward to seeing

Modest Mouse.

It seems like one thousand things have happened since then. I suppose that is pretty accurate.

The highlight would have to be the wonderful weekend I spent in the city.

I got whisked away to the W on Lake Shore Drive!

What a unique and fun experience.

I have never done anything like that.

The weekend included some of my favorites!

1) Spiaggia. Two words. Damn Delicious.

2) Art Institute of Chicago

3) Lake Shore walking. Especially because on Sunday the waters were quite rough!

4) Room service!

5) A lot of good laughs

6) Fantastic room view (31'st floor overlooking the lake)

It was something to gush about that is for sure! It was hard to snap back to reality today and drag myself to classes at 9am this morning. My classes really do seem like a joke.

I say this because they are 50 minutes long. If there is any form of discussion, what we actually need to learn gets pushed off. I also hate that I ordered my books online because I really need them and feel mentally unprepared for a class unless they are in my possession.

You know what I do not get? Why people buy books aware of the fact they are not going to read them. I also do not get why people sign up for classes if they are just going to sit and text or walk in 20 minutes late to class. I try and make the most out of it. I feel good about that atleast. Anywho, I just hope my books get here soon!

I am exhausted! Hopefully I can squeeze in a quick skate tomorrow and head to work at two. I am excited to get back to decorating :) It seems like it has been forever!

Have a wonderful week! Hope you have something exciting planned!