Key Learnings, sales and my Chicagoversery

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! This weekend the "other" man in my life, dad, came for a visit and between that, Friday happy hour and a birthday party, I am ready for some quiet next weekend. Oh yeah, that's a week away, but it's never too early to plan ahead.

So take a break from the commercials and let's enjoy some key learnings.

Key Learnings:

• Plaid pants are never a good idea for men or women. Ever

• Just because you can wear a fanny pack, that doesn't mean you should

• Lite beer still gives you beer gut the next day, and a wicked headache

• Cracking lobster is messy and unladylike but oh so good in butter

• If you get a good tax return, it feels like Christmas morning or your birthday

• When parent's volunteer to pay for groceries, stock up and always take them up on it

• If a dress is on sale from $190 to $18 but needs alterations, get it. You'll save money in the long run

• Women go crazy for deep discounts on a Saturday (I was nearly trampled at one store)

• Calories don't count on Super Bowl Sunday (or your birthday)

• There is never enough staff at the Apple store to help you when you have a quick question

• When a woman says your boobs look amazing and perky in a dress, you buy that dress, flattery helps making purchasing decisions easier

Sales, sales, sales!!

I know this sounds crazy, but one thing I am loving about the recession is the retail sales. Dad got super lucky at Brooks Brothers with 60 percent off regular prices and I hit the JACKPOT at Banana Republic. I love the Banana Republic winter sale, when they clearance out fall/winter merchandise up to 60 percent off, but this weekend they offered an additional 30 percent off sale price. I got two party dresses, a skirt and cashmere hoodie for $90. Each of those items individually was over $90 at ticket price.

Finally...a Chicagoversery

I cannot believe it, but Saturday was my Chicagoversery. Four years ago yesterday, my dad moved me down to Chicago to start a three month internship, neither of us knowing how it would turn out.

Before I moved here, I never wanted to live in Chicago. Dad and I would come down for the day to shop and see the lights on Michigan Avenue at Christmas, but the thought of living here never crossed my mind. But around my 25th birthday, I was in a professional limbo. I couldn't find work in Wisconsin and I was tired of temping and having unstable employment. I was also recently let go from a job I hated and wondering if my career field was right for me. I was even looking at going to law school or nursing school as a back up.

So after a talk with my dad, we decided I would give my career one more try and apply for internships in Chicago. Within two weeks my company called me for an interview and a month later we were looking for apartments in Chicago. And now...four years later, I'm still here. Three months turned into four years and I have to say, moving here was a huge chance but one that totally changed my life.

Living in the city has given me the confidence to make it as an adult, on my own, and be the independent person I knew I could be. Things haven't always been easy and there have been bumps along the way, but for now, Chicago is home and I miss it when I go away for too long.

Stay classy Chicago, I'm not ready to quit you just yet :)

Here's a picture of me about a month after I moved here. My look has definitely changed :)

How was everyone else's weekend? It was almost...warm in Chicago. Yes, it was a balmy 35 degrees.