Shopping is one of the most popular vacation time activities, and if your travel plans have you headed to Chicago, you’ll want to take advantage of some shopping time along the Magnificent Mile.

The Magnificent Mile is eight blocks of Michigan Avenue, running from the Chicago River to Oak Street, and is the main street between the Loop and the Gold Coast.  It’s also about a block off of Rush Street, home to lot of great bars, nightclubs, and music.  Here you’ll find exclusive stores and boutiques, hotels, and restaurants.

Shopping choices range from elite upscale stores to simple specialty shops.  You’ll find Nordstrom’s huge 271,000 square foot store, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, NIKETOWN, lots of high-end retailers (like MaxMara, kate spade, Burberry), specialty stores (like American Girl Place, Sephora), Chicago Tribune Gift Store, Hershey’s, and the classic Chicago popcorn store, Garrett’s.  You’ll also find hotels, restaurants and cafes.

Through May 31st, the Magnificent Mile is decked out like a spring garden full of hundreds of thousands of brightly colored tulips.  It’s a green, eco-friendly display of art, that turns Michigan Avenue into a beautiful garden site.  Take a closer look at those tulip beds and you’ll spot some artistic sculpture interspersed as well.

A stroll down the Magnificent Mile will appeal to the shopper in everyone!  And that will give you something to write home about!

Photo credit: wikimedia

I enjoy grocery shopping with my son the way some people like picking their scabs. There is something painfully pleasant about the whole thing. Sure, we end up with a box of some sugary cereal that he’ll eat two bites of and then toss aside for his tried-and-true Crispix. And at times there is some yowling as we cruise up and down the aisles. But we’ve got the experience down to a nice groove now. I can even manage that oversized car buggy without ramming other shoppers now. And that takes skill.

A girlfriend of mine was sharing an usually unpleasant story about a recent grocery shopping experience with her 3 ½-year-old. She wanted some words of wisdom – from me of all people! So I gave her some tips that work for us. And since I’m hardly the expert, you might want to share some wisdom of your own.

What works for us:
Truman and I have an agreement. He can have one thing, whether it’s cereal or a toy car that falls apart or some Crush Cup yogurt he will lick once and then toss away. But if he falls into a violent fit, then that one item goes away.

I also consult with him constantly while shopping. I did this when he was too young to talk back, and now that he can it’s even more fun to hear his logic. I say, “Should I get the Breakfast Blend or the French Roast? What do you think?” He says, “I think you should get the blue, Mommy.” I say, “The blue is decaf. We can’t get the blue. So is it the yellow or the red?” He says, “Is French from the country France, Mommy? I like France. What’s decaf? Why can’t we get the decaf?” And so on.

I also started giving him one of those long, thin reporter pads and a pen so he can “write down” and “mark off” his own grocery list. One time, when I glanced away to riffle through packets of ground turkey, he wrote all over his face with the pen. So be prepared for excitement like that.

As crazy as it sounds, I actually prefer grocery shopping with my son these days even if he causes the Windex Wipes display to knock over. Call it our mother-and-son bonding moment, but I actually miss him when he’s not there in the buggy with me.

(photo, JWJourney)

Miami Beach is known as much for the hip celebrities that visit as well as for the actual beach.  But a trip to Miami probably will feature at least a stop off in the area.

There’s more to Miami Beach than just the beach!

Lincoln Road is a popular area of Miami Beach, and is a hip, creative, pedestrian-only shopping area that features specialty shops and restaurants tucked in between some of the large national retail chains stores.  Although it likes to bill itself as more than just touristy, as I looked around I couldn’t identify anyone who wasn’t one.

Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

You’ll find lots of outdoor dining spots with the inevitable umbrella covered tables, but you’ll also find sofas and easy chairs put out for a more relaxed environment for cocktails.  It’s almost like having cocktails in your living room — except for the chair-side service and expensive bar tab.

On the cocktail front, however, I found most to be a little overpriced ($13 was a common price for a drink), especially considering that many of the bars offered little in the way of ambiance and the service was largely indifferent.  I think these are definitely “tourist” prices rather than “local” prices, especially when a half block off the main street prices dropped by about a third.

For dinner, I’d definitely recommend stepping away from the main street.  A block or so off of Lincoln Avenue you’ll find El Rancho Grande (1626 Pennsylvania Avenue), a charming Mexican restaurant.  This is not a typical Mexican restaurant — you’ll find strong Cuban influence, as well as other flavors and seasonings from the Caribbean.  Service is excellent!  Dinner for two, including a couple of beers, will run around $50.  Still a bit on the high side for Mexican food, but a bargain compared to the rest of the neighborhood.

If you’re 21 years old with a body to die for, you’ll probably be willing to spend the higher prices of Lincoln Road simply for the opportunity to see and be seen.  But if you looking for a better experience, at a more reasonable price, get off the beaten path.

Bleeeeeeep! Bleeeeep! Bleeeeeeep!

This is the soundtrack that plays when I enter store with shoplifting gates.

Bleeeeeeep! Bleeeeep! Bleeeeeeep!

This is also the soundtrack when I exit a store.

It always happens at CVS, some places in the mall, Brookshires, Old Navy, Ross . . .

All the employees seem to feel it’s a theft tag sew inside the inner lining of my purse or jeans. But, no one can find it. They all say it happens all the time and that it’s no big deal. They’ve even run my purse over their debleeping sensors. It never works.  

It has occurred to me that if it’s happening all the time and it’s no big deal they may just as well ditch the bloody things altogether.

This used  to be embarrassing to me. Now it’s just kind of pissing me off. I could stop carrying the purse - but I like it. My mom gave it to me and it’s ergonomically correct and holds a butt-load of stuff without feeling heavy.

It has also occured to me that if I looked a little less like a middle-class mom I’d be frisked and questioned everytime I went shopping. I have been asked to empty my purse at Anthropologie and a few other places.

Here in the Northeast of the U.S., we have endured very strange Spring weather. Winter didn’t actually leave us until early April, then we went through a heat-wave in May, and then a rash of dangerous flooding in June.

But today, July 1st…it’s a glorious day, it’s hot in that way I remember as a kid…there’s just something in the air that says beach.

But alas, I am not in beach condition…I had all of those winter months to get ready…but I did nothing. Even Kirstie Alley got off her duff and lost a ton of wieght.

I blame my slovenliness and lack of fetching beach attire on fate and entrepreneurship.

You see, if I hadn’t worked in corporate America, and I didn’t meet more than my share of crazy female bosses, and never experienced how freaking cold it is at 7a.m. on a ferry, crossing the Hudson River to lower Manhattan, then I wouldn’t have begun to think “This is nuts…I need to be working for myself–in my home–with my dog…”

I wouldn’t have begun to stay up till all hours of the day and night, figuring out my business plan. I wouldn’t have started The Pet Set, or won an award or reached over a hundred new customers. Which means, I wouldn’t have tossed my chic, slender suits in favor of loose-fitting “lounge-wear”–as a result of “testing” most of Rachael Ray’s recipes.

If none of that had happened, I would have been to the gym near my Wall Street office and I’d be ready for the beach!

So, this year, it’s t-shirts and flowy skirts…those are just as cute, right?
See, everything happens for a reason…time to shop!

Ever have days like this: Everyone seems annyoying? Nothing motivates you? The whole world seems unremarkable? You’re even unimpressed with yourself?

Today was one of those days for me–I felt invisible…business was a little slow–it was sooo bloody hot. And–yet again–NOone was answering my e-mails…I didn’t even want to deal with clients…I was in heavy phone-screen mode.

I decided to get out of my office and go shopping. I didn’t really want to buy anything…I just wanted to roam around the mall, alone — just to avoid engaging with anyone.

So much so–I even lied to the girl at the Clinique counter when she asked what I used to wash my face. “My dermatologist has me use something special”, I muttered. That shut her up…no tedious sales pitch to smile through, one less person to talk to.

What am I saying, I do that very thing to clients all day long!

Next, it was off to the jewelry store to get my wedding ring polished. Excellent. I’d accpmplished something and didn’t have to spend a dime.

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Ok, quick like a bunny…it’s time to think about yourself, noone else just vous. Time for a little feng shui of the mind, soul and body. Here is my list of spring things you need to do: (If there are things you’d rather see on the list, please feel free to add!)

Go shopping
Watch Food Network for 12 hours straight
You must get a manicure
You really must get a pedicure
Change your hairstyle or find a new salon
Endure/enjoy a department store make-over
Learn how to cook something you’ve never cooked before; better yet, start a cooking club
Buy a really expensive bottle of wine
Go to a 4 star restaurant or stay in a 5 star hotel for the week-end, just to get away
Send flowers to yourself
Overhaul your make-up case
Overhaul your work wardrobe
Toss any and all sweat pants
Learn a new language
Clean out your closet; if you haven’t worn something in a year, toss it
Find the music you like, not your husband’s
Find a book that’s not on Oprah’s list
Ride your bike
Volunteer in your community
Get a complete medical check-up
Teach your dog to hug you
Visit a spa and get a facial; better yet a massage.

Go shopping!
Tops2Bottoms
Blogdorf Goodman
DailyCandy
eBeautyDaily

Have a fabulous Easter or Passover! (or any other holiday that you celebrate at this time of year.)