{the amazingness of technology}

As you might remember, I recently was a resident of the great city of Chicago.  I love Chicago for many reasons, and yes, one of those reasons includes my love for seasons (even the winter).  Art, music, culture and beauty are the heartbeat of the city.  Because of Chicagoans' love for those aspects of life, it is a place to discover all sorts of new technology, forms of art and fashion.

Enter: Peapod's new virtual grocery store.

{photo courtesy Chicago Tribune, article found here}

This is truly amazing to me.  Peapod is a grocery home-delivery service that many Chicagoans use as an alternative to going to the actual grocery store.  You order items online and they are shipped directly to your house.  Peapod has recently taken this one step further by installing a "virtual grocery store" in one of the 'L' stations.  It is literally a huge flat installation of pictures of various products that the "shopper" can purchase.  Using a Peapod mobile app, the "shopper" can simply fill up their "grocery carts" and all the items get delivered to their homes the next day.  


GENIUS!  This is so great.  A hallmark of Chicago culture is residents' use of public transportation.  What better way to help busy residents than to provide a service to them in places they would already be, often with idle time on their hands as they wait for the train to arrive?!  Now, one thing you must know about me is that I am very old-fashioned in many ways. Going to an actual grocery store is a highlight of my week.  But I will also say that when I lived in Chicago, in a place where many people don't have cars (and don't really need to, given the amazing public transit system) and where the winters can be brutal, I had many moments where, carrying armfuls of groceries back in the middle of winter with 6 inches of snow on the ground, I would have LOVED to have my groceries delivered to me.  I had many classmates who used the Peapod service (the old-fashioned Peapod service, that is--the one where you order online).  But how great it would have been for them to be able to also be able to do their ordering while standing in the 'L' station!


Congratulations, Peapod.  You have won my heart.  

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this--is this genius or is it just making the world one step more removed from human interaction?  

P.S.  You can find the Chicago Tribune article about this topic here.

{because sometimes you want things you can't have}

I want it...


...but since I'm a broke student, I can't have it. Not yet at least.

It's a Silhouette machine!!! I am dying right now because at least 3 of my favorite blogs are hosting awesome deals on the Silhouette right now, but I can't take advantage of them, because even with a SPECTACULAR discount (I'm talking like $100 discount), it's still way expensive.

It's okay, though, because instead of a Silhouette, I'm getting a wedding...which means I get to be attached to my favorite person for the rest of my life.

Yep, I'll make that sacrifice. :)

...and who knows? Maybe if I smile sweetly enough my daddy (or my hubby-to-be) will buy it for me for graduation (or birthday).

{because sometimes you just have to pack it up}

I know that most people like to have their breakfast at home, but sometimes, it's just not possible. Solution? Cereal-on-the-Go!

How cool is this?!?! You put the cereal at the top, and it has this gel cup thing at the bottom that you can freeze so that the milk will stay cold.

I have to admit, I'm not totally sure when you would use this, but that's probably because I don't have kids. Parents out there, what do you think? Useful?