Leap Day

One of the perks of Leap Day: a free ride on the Navy Pier ferris wheel.
If you're anything like me and enjoy amusement park rides and places that teem with screaming small children,
this Leap Day freebie is quite a boon.

There are 1,461 days until the next Leap Day in 2016, and a few businesses are giving away some cool deals to help you celebrate this calendar rarity.

Thanks to help from the RedEye, here are some deals around Chicago (and the internet) today:

• "Free Cookie Day" at Subway
• Dunkin Donuts is selling donuts for 29 cents (don't tempt me with those sprinkles and glaze, you jerks)
• 1 in 10 diners gets a free meal at Mercadito (up to $50)

If you're more interested in experiences than growing plump (like Snooki is about to), today you can also enjoy:

• free ferris wheel rides at Navy Pier (pairs well with the $2.90 cent drafts at Harry Caray's that are also available today)
• free admission at the Museum of Science and Industry
• returns on today's Zappos.com purchase until next Leap Year

It's also 60 degrees and sunny in the Windy City (what?!), so go on and play hooky. You can have your cookie (or donut) and eat it, too.

Jackson Hole

Last week was amazing. I still can't quite believe how well I took to skiing and how much I enjoyed it. Once I got over the hump, it was so much easier and way more fun than snowboarding! I'm already looking forward to the next time I can hit the slopes. (Nevermind that Jackson has gotten nearly three feet of powder since we left... how's that for timing?) 

I took all of three pictures on mine and J's trip to Jackson Hole because my iPhone ran out of memory, and then out of battery (#bloggerproblems), but here are a couple from the long weekend and from the Bulls and Celtics game Thursday night.

Jackson Hole, WY. Winter wonderland.

First point of order: drink local.
Pako's IPA from Snake River Brewing Co. at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (where the bar stools are saddles!).

Got to recline on a leather couch in front of a fireplace while we waited for our flight.
Yep... I think Jackson might be my new favorite place.

Gimme that hot sauce! At Celtics vs. Bulls with J (as a delayed Chrismakkuh gift!).

A Perfect Match

Because I try not to make all of you single folk barf in reaction to my sappiness, and because you probably saw about 1,000 different flower arrangements on Facebook yesterday, I opted not to do a Valentine's Day post. But I like the card I made for J so much that I had to share it with you all.

J told me he "doesn't do cards," but I think this may have converted him.

And if you're wondering what I got him for MALEntine's Day, I took my own advice (partially) and got him a bottle of 14 year Oban scotch and a yoga mat -- he's complex, and I love it. A guy who enjoys liquor and the downward facing dog as much as I do must be my perfect match. Ha.

Hope you all had a great Valentine's or Singles Awareness Day!

Case in Point

I've been blessed with a slow week at work, so what better way to spend it than perusing the interwebs for things I'd like to buy? My latest finds: iPhone cases!

I'm rather obsessed with the one I have now, but these are pretty cool... might have to snag one or two!

And of course, I had to close with one just for Valentine's Day! (I've become such a sap about this holiday now... I don't even know who I am anymore. Jokes -- but seriously. Funny how things look a lot different through the lense of love!)

All cases can be found online at society6.com. They have lots of cool stuff -- check it out, kids.

Kate Spade Surprise Sale!

Thought I'd pass along the link to Kate Spade's Surprise Sale. Up to 75% off until midnight tonight -- happy shopping! 

Click here to access the sale.

Life is short. Make it sweet.

Such cool street art. What's on your bucket list?

My dear friend and Barcelona roommate posted the following quote on her Facebook today. Her coworker's partner passed away this morning, and wanted to be remembered by this quote from the Dalai Lama:

Every day, think as you wake up,
today I am fortunate to be alive,
I have a precious human life,
I am not going to waste it.

I am going to use all my energies 

to develop myself,

to expand my heart out to others;
to achieve enlightenment 

for the benefit of all beings.

I am going to have 

kind thoughts towards others,
I am not going to get angry 

or think badly about others.
I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

- Dalai Lama

Very selfless thoughts -- and something to think about. 

I typically think of life in more selfish terms -- things I want to accomplish, places I must see, experiences I have to have. But it's good to read the above and be reminded that it's not really all about me. Perhaps a legacy of charity and goodwill is more important than crossing things off a list -- though they certainly aren't mutually exclusive.

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a weekend that fulfills you in as many ways as possible.

[Image via Kertiii]

Goose Island

Chicago is a great city for beer. Along with being bonafide carnivores, Midwesterners love their brews. Add it to the list of reasons I fit right in out here.

Last weekend, I finally went to Goose Island for their brewery tour. As far as tours go, it was lackluster (you stand in one room while a guy talks to you about beer -- so if you're a serious beer drinker, you already know most of what he's telling you -- and then you go into another room for a brief beer tasting before the "tour" ends). But afterwards, we sat on their plush leather couches and had great conversation over good beer for a few hours. Doesn't get much better than that, am I right?

Beer tasting. [Unfortunately they aren't as generous as they are at Lakefront Brewery.]

If you like sour beer, this one's for you. Delish.

Lounging with J.