A Batty Life » Daily Musings

Photos From Around the World

Liz — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:00:35 +0000

Some friends, Laura and Ryan from the blog “Round We Go”, recently completed an “around the world” trip, which they memorialized through the photo journey in the video below. It’s so breathtaking, I had to share it with you guys.

I am so happy our friends got to have this incredible Read More

A Perfect San Francisco Saturday

Liz — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:32:15 +0000

This weekend we took a couple days off skiing to go to San Francisco to see my parents who were in town visiting my sister Amy and her husband Mike. Amy and Mike are one of those couples who rock at entertaining and hosting guests, so I wasn’t surprised when they had the perfect Saturday planned out for us.

We started the morning off with a trip to the farmer’s market in the Ferry Building. The sights, sounds and smells were a lovely way to start the day.

The New & Improved ABattyLife!

Liz — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:00:33 +0000

All my talk about “shaking things up” has motivated me to FINALLY launch the redesign of my blog I mentioned way back in August on my one-year blogging anniversary.

TA-DA! Here it is!

I chose this design because of it’s ability to let me post much larger photos than my old design. Like this crazy-pretty sunset from last week.

Breaking Out of the Routine

Liz — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:20:23 +0000

We’ve officially been living in Lake Tahoe for almost two months. Life is settling down and we’re getting into a daily routine.

Weekdays:

Wake up > shower > drive to work with coffee/radio > work, work, work > drive home > stop at grocery store > make dinner > watch Luke do the dishes :) > read/watch tv > go to sleep.

Weekends:

Wake up > have coffee and breakfast > drive to mountain > ski, ski, ski > drive home > pick up dinner > take a loooong steam shower > relax > pass out from exhaustion.

You’d think after all the stress of moving, I’d be happy to welcome a regular routine, but actually, part of me misses all that excitement I felt during Read More

What Drives a Man to Approach a Woman?

Liz — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:06:04 +0000

This morning on the way into work, I was listening to the Wild 102.9 morning show on the radio. They were talking about a new study that Ok Cupid released about dating. I can’t find the study online, but the jist of it is this:

Men are more likely to message/approach a woman who is moderately attractive vs. a woman who is beautiful because the chances of rejection are lower and therefore less of a threat to their egos.

The men who called into the show backed up this theory, saying they don’t bother hitting on a girl who is a 9 or 10 because they’re sure she has men lined up around the corner, and they don’t want to waste their time with a girl who is in Read More

Reflections on the Year Past

Liz — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:37:30 +0000

Well, today is the last day in 2010. What a great year this has been for me….possibly the best year in my life. No joke!

Before I start thinking about the things I want to improve upon in 2011, I think it’s important to reflect and appreciate all the wonderful things that took place in 2010. Here’s my top ten list.

10.Almost everyone in my life was blessed with good health this year. This can be something we take for granted until it becomes an issue, so I want to make sure to recognize how blessed we are to be healthy.

9. I lost 10 lbs and have never felt or looked better, just by changing to the Primal/Paleo diet. Yeah!

8. We went on the best vacation ever to Maui, HI. I highly recommend!

Do Men Really Prefer Women Without Makeup On?

Liz — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:00:55 +0000

Living in the mountains has taken a toll on my beauty regime. I’ve been rocking a pony-tail most days, my nails haven’t been manicured in a month and my snow boots are the only shoes I wear.

One day last week when Luke and I were driving home from skiing all day, I looked in the side mirror at my ski-helmet matted down hair, pale face and chapped lips and asked aloud, “Am I even attractive anymore?!”

This alarmed Luke a bit. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

I explained the beauty rut I was feeling, how I hadn’t done my hair in weeks, my makeup was minimal at best and my clothing has been more functional than fashionable.

He stopped me short to say “Honestly, the past few weeks when you are leaving for work, I’ve thought to myself Read More

A Few Days of Respite

Liz — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 23:05:01 +0000

Well, all our packing is essentially done and we’re prepared for our big move on Monday. In the meantime, we’re relaxing down in Florida with my family for the holiday.

It’s really nice to be around my parents, brother, sister and their spouses. Catching some rays and spending time reading (I’m mid way through The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) has been exactly what we needed after several stressful weeks.

We’re about to all go to dinner and then bowling! I’m looking forward to getting revenge on Luke Read More

The Annoying Side of Moving

Liz — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:22:54 +0000

So far of all the details involved with our move, subleasing our apartment here in Chicago has been the most nightmarish. We’ve had a hard time finding renters and the process has been frustrating to deal with.

Here’s the story.

After about two weeks listing the unit on Craiglist, we got a call for a showing with a couple who already live in our building. They came and really liked the unit, but must have known we were getting a little desperate because they made a lot of requests outside the parameters of the lease.

They wanted to move in on Dec. 15, not Dec. 1. They wanted a reduced rent rate during our sublease period (four months) before resigning with our landlord. They wanted our landlord to put in a break clause that lets them get out of the lease Read More

Lots To Do, Lots To Do

Liz — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:04:46 +0000

Thank you everyone for your kind words of support regarding our decision to move to Lake Tahoe! It means a lot to us.

Ever since deciding to move we’ve been scrambling to get things ready. Man, there is a TON to think about when moving across the country.

We’ve had to

- Sublease our current apartment

- Find a new place to live

- Buy a car, get car insurance

- Find a job for Luke

- Resign our current jobs

- Change banks

- Forward our mail

- Pack; move

- Handle about 50 million other things

Just typing this is making me break out into a nervous sweat. Ahhhhh! SO. MUCH. TO. DO!

Luckily I have a good partner-in-crime and incredible families who are bending over backwards to help us Read More