My recent Love Lists have had a theme. So when putting together this week’s list, I tried to keep to cohesive. Tried to keep a theme throughout, and then I thought: who needs a theme when all 5 things are so Love-List worthy? Isn’t luuuuurve a theme?

So this week’s theme is now renamed: 5 things Jill Loves this week that you should too. Because if you’ve learned anything by now, it’s that- well – I have pretty good taste. I don’t steer you wrong and I know what I’m talking about.

So here are this week’s 5 things I love that you should too.

The Perfect Spring Dress. Perfect for day (big camel bag, gold woven sandals, ivory shades and a cute scarf or headband) and perfect for night (nude or gold pumps/wedges, small metallic clutch, camel belt around the waist, gold bangles). The color just makes me happy. And ready for Chicago to warm up from its current 50 degree status since it’s – um – MAY.

Matt Kearny’s new song: Closer to Love. This little ditty will pair perfectly with your iPod,  a sunny day, iced coffee, and the perfect spring dress (see above).

Starbucks Vanilla Roobius Tea. Seriously heavenly. My mom told me about this God-send and if it’s one thing I learned (begrudgingly), it’s that she always seems to be right. About everything. Especially beverages. I tried it for the first time yesterday and this bad boy does not disappoint. To cut the cals, ask for one pump of syrup and pair it with soy or nonfat milk. It’s 100% pure summer bliss. That I am sipping on as we “speak.”

Real Life Twitter. The truth is ALWAYS funny. Really, I LOLed.

MixMyGranola. We’ve talked about this before, but I am so in love with it I can’t shut up about it. You can make your OWN granola from start to finish. A healthy blend for breakfast (think fruit, nuts and organic base) and a “late night mix” for when healthy is not the first thing on your mind (peanut butter balls, choc chips and gummy bears anyone?). It comes in a cute canister with the name of your special blend on it, in addition to the exact nutrition info! It’s perf for gifts and ever more perfect for a gift to yourself. After all, you deserve it. Why? Because you’re you.

Spring is almost here. Although you wouldn’t know it anywhere in the country given the frigid temps. I’m in Chi town and one day its 60 the next its 25 and snowy. Seriously, the weather is more BiPo than our pal Brit Brit and I for one am ready to shed my puffy jacket and grab myself a cute spring dress (and a bottle of self tanner).

So since spring technically starts next week, I though I’d gear us for those springy days with my five loves of spring. Who knows? Maybe some positive thinking coupled with some cute spring staples will convince Mother Nature to bring us sunny skies and warmer weather.

Come on, woman! Help a sister out. Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List, a list on all things I love. Because if I love them, well, obviously you should love them too. As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes, I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

Sure we all remember our jams from 8th grade. Baby One More Time made pigtails cool; we were singing about Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems, even though our $5/ hour babysitting fee was our only income source; and the Backstreet Boys got us doing the Everybody dance at bar mitzvahs around the nation.

We all reminisce about those regularly (…or is that just me?), but what I fail to remember on a more regular – wow I was soo awkward – basis are the earlier 90s jams, and the jams that were from the random bands/artists (Vitamin C, anyone?). But when you listen to them now, you are taken back to that time in 3rd grade when you stopped playing pogs to bust a move to one of these…

Surely these were on the very first editions of the Now That’s What I Call Music! CDs.

Ah, memories.

Love em.

So this is my Now That’s What I Call Music! Love List Throwback. Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List, a list on all things I love. Because if I love them, well, obviously you should love them too. As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes, I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

There is nothing I love more than a good laugh. And more importantly, a good laugh when I’m bored. at work. at home. on a sunday. in an airport. Thanks to the internet gods of the world, there is no shortage of things that can make us laugh. A You Tube Video, a website where people share their horror stories (which are always funny) or a sight meant to be serious but makes you wonder, “is this for REALZ?”

And boy do I love it all.

So here are 5 of my favorite online sites that make me go hahaha. They make me LOL and sometimes even ROFL. Seriously. They are my go-to’s when I’m about to kill myself (or someone else) out of stress, or boredem, or a lack of desire to be productive. So, to sum that up, I pretty much visit these sites every day.

1) fmylife.com. Today, I discovered a site that I have become so addicted to that I’ve completely stopped productivity in all areas of my life. Well, except my love life – that’s always lacked productivity. FML.

In all seriousness: you will die over other people’s horrible mishaps – true or not. This site makes me feel a whole lot better about the time someone once asked me if I was pregnant… Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List, a list on all things I love. Because if I love them, well, obviously you should love them too. As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes, I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

I’ll be the first to admit it. I love Superbowl Sunday for three reasons and three reasons only:

1.The food

2. The advertisements (Remember Britney Spears’ Pepsi commercial/music vid that debuted during the Superbowl? Sigh. Those were the days)

3. The food

There used to be 4 but then Justin showed Janet’s boobs, the FCC went crazy, and the halftime shows became lamer than my past few Saturday nights, which included watching Little Einsteins with my nephew (need I say more?).

Anyways, here is my Super Bowl inspired Love List. Because with the biggest sporting event of the year comes a lot of food things to love. Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List, a list on all things I love. Because if I love them, well, obviously you should love them too. As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes, I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Dolce Vita “Ellie” Sandal. Maybe it’s because I don’t have the ankles to wear them. Maybe it’s because it’s currently -5 outside and I would give my left foot to wear them (literally). But either way I love these bad boys….

2. MyPublisher.com. So, a while ago I told you about my love for Shutterfly and their photo books. Well, ladies, I’ve found the Louboutins of photo albums. Mypublisher.com turns your books into coffee table books. And I am convinced there is NO better coffee table book than one filled with your most treasured pics. Think about it: when was the last time your coffee table books were more than just dust/shot glass collectors? Or, more importantly, when was the last time you even had a coffee table book? (Aren’t those tables supposed to be danced on?) Now here is a coffee table book worth l-o-v-ing. Read More »

Welcome to my Weekly Love List. A list on all things I love, because if I love them – well then obviously you may (and should) love them too.As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Right now it’s all about Britney’s comeback, but after spending my Friday night in a bowling alley with a bar and massive music videos playing that made me think it was 1999, I started to wish the comeback was for someone else: our dear friend, Whitney. As in Houston. As in “It’s not right, but it’s okay,” and all the other amaaazingness that she brought before she went all drug bust on us. So, as Whit once said, Greatest Hits CD, “I will always love you.”

2. While doing some research on great gift idea websites, my BFF Google suggested a site called kaboodle, which reminded me of Caboodles. Which made me get all nostalic, and there is nothing I love more than nostalgia. So my curiousity was piqued and as it turns out- Caboodles? Still in business (and still an awesome gift for your nostalgic friends). I think I still have my turquoise, pink and purple one from the 80′s – nothing better than lifting up that clip and opening the top layer just to find more sparkley blue eye shadow beneath it!

3. Ok, enough missing my middle school days. Right now I heart these scarves. They spruce up an outfit, hide the cleaveange in front of your grandma, and make you look effortlessly coooool.

4. Keurig Individual Coffee Maker: When you live alone making a whole pot of coffee just seems useless. This may just be the best invention ever. So many flavors, brews super fast (when you wake up late for class), and makes that perfect cup for late night studying and hangover cures alike.

5. Ojon ‘Rub Out’ Dry Cleanser. For days when you oversleep but realllly shouldn’t have because your hair looks like Danny’s from Grease (or just actual grease?). Fear no more. This stuff does the trick when you need to stretch it out for one more day and it smells good. Not like grease at all; more like heaven. Now that is (Summer) lovin’.

Welcome to my Weekly Love List. A list on all things I love, because if I love them – well then obviously you may (and should) love them too.

As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Michael Kors Gold Watch- While it’s not the cheapest thing on the block, its definitely a cheaper option as far as gold watches go. It’s Chunky, it’s cute and it’s made by my favorite Project Runway personality. Now if only I could get him to design me a one-of-a kind gown…

2. Did you ever wonder what you would look like with blonde hair? I did. When I was studying abroad in Florence and thought it would be a GREAT idea to surprise everyone by dying my hair blonde. Had I known about Taaz, I would have saved myself some money, and more importantly, a whole lot of embarrassment. Because as it turns out blonde hair – especially when done by dark-haired Italians? – so not my look. Taaz is a virtual makeover site. Upload your photo and see for yourself if you can pull of the Katie Holmes Bob or the Jenny Humphrey shag. Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List. A list, on all things I love. Because if I love them - well then obviously you may (and should) love them too. As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Pumpkin Mousse. It may be post-Thanksgiving but while the rest of the world has moved on to egg-nog or latkes, I’m more like Ross Gellar and still craving Thanksgiving leftovers. So if you still need something to be thankful for make this low fat amazing pumpkin mousse and then thank me later.

What you need: 2 Packets instant fat free/sugar free vanilla pudding, 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 2 cups skim milk, one 15 ounce can of pumpkin, and one tub of fat-free Cool Whip. Make the pudding with the milk and once it’s ready, fold in the other ingredients, stick it in the fridge, maybe throw some ginger snaps on top and you’ve got yourself some guilt free leftovers.

2. While I may not love Miley Cyrus, I love this girl who loves Miley Cyrus. Seriously, over 1 million hits, tons of tribute vids back, and over 12 different videos. And those special effects? Ahhhmazing. Check out her version of Disturbia too… I sort of want to be her best friend.

3. Britney Spears’ comeback. I know, I’m a sucker like everyone else, but that magazine cover? The vid? I’ve been working out to old school Brit all week and I’m just rooting that our favorite baldie makes this comeback big (not lame-o like the last one). I know you are all excited for the documentary tomorrow night. Watch it with some pumpkin mousse for a double dose of love. Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List. A list, on all things I love. Because if I love them - well then obviously you may (and should) love them too. As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Wall Decals- The best way to make your dorm room or apartment look more legit. It looks like it’s hand painted or wallpaper, but- surprise! – it’s a removable decal. So leave those drinking posters with the ripped corners to the boys. You can find them in fun shapes, pictures, sayings – you name it – there is a decal for it. Click here for another great option!

2. T-shirt quilt. So you have 5 bajillion t-shirts from the 5 bajillion bar crawls, Powder Puff football games, Halloweens, college sports teams, etc. Some have holes, some don’t fit (thank you, Freshman Fifteen), but mostly you just don’t have enough room in your tiny closet, or enough days in the year, to wear all of them. But you can’t seem to part with them given that each has a fabulous drunken story behind it. Solution? The T-shirt quilt. It’s a bit pricey but it’s a way to keep them forever without sacrificing room in your closet.

3. Almond Breeze ‘Milk’. It’s yummy, all natural and super low calorie. Not to mention it’s a great alternative to dairy and soy and since the studies on soy being good/bad for you is more fickle than Britney Spears’s sanity, this milk is definitely worth loving. Read More »