The folks at Piece A Cake Bakery are cooking up something special. Roger and Diane Ahrens, both former Marines, bake delicious cookies, cakes and pies to satisfy any sweet tooth. You can visit their bakeries in East Dundee and in Gilberts, Illinois. They also support our troops year round through Operation Sweet Tooth. For just the cost of shipping, about $20, you can send a sweet care package to a friend or loved one serving in our military overseas. The Ahrens will whip up a large box filled with cookies carefully wrapped to prevent damage and ship the package to our troops. The boxes are filled with plenty of cookies to share. The couple has donated and shipped over 10,500 cookies in 7000 boxes since they started Operation Sweet Tooth in 2004.
Click here for more information, drop by their stores or call them at 847.836.6703 (East Dundee) or 847.426.1104 (Gilberts).
Giuseppe’s La Cantina is a favorite place my family. We have been welcomed by the Brunetti family since 1963 when they opened their doors in Des Plaines and our extended family gathers for dinner once a month. We held our wedding rehearsal dinner there too. Originally started as Nicks’ La Cantina by Nick and Giuseppe, the restaurant has gone through expansions, renovations and transformations through out the years. The place even rose like a phoenix after a fire closed their doors a few years back.
The family business is grateful for customers who have stayed with them through the years. We are now bringing our third generation of our family for dinners. Once again, the family is giving back to the community.
The Brunetti family knows there are those who are struggling through these challenging times and they want to help. They are offering a free, full course Thanksgiving meal for those who have been or are in danger of foreclosure. Reservations are required at (847) 824-4230.
I spoke to Mary this afternoon about the event. She said reservations must be received by Monday to allow her time to order and prepare the turkeys.
If you are in the mood for a great pizza or Italian dish any other day, drop by Guiseppe’s at 1062 Lee Street. Tell them April sent you.
I just got a tweet from my buddy the @RoamingGnome who said “@AprilMWilliams: Let’s have a peek at the photos! I can only imagine I look stunningly handsome.”
Well of course the Roaming Gnome is handsome and dashing. And I have photos to prove it.
While I posted the photos on my Twitter feed and often use this photo in my presentations as an excellent example of building relationships with customers, I did not post the photo to my blog. So I am fixing this today.
On a recent trip to Hawaii Nathan Kam @NathanKam let us in on a inside scoop. We took advantage of this photo op during the gnome’s busy and adventure packed visit to Hawaii. We snapped this shot at Duke’s Restaurant & Barefoot Bar at the Outrigger Waikiki. He has a bit of a tan from all the surfing he did the day before. Fortunately, he was slathered in maximum sun screen protection.
Here’s the Roaming Gnome and I enjoying breakfast overlooking Waikiki Beach. Aloha!
I had the pleasure to meet Patricia Jean Roper and her friend Cathie this week. The pair was out celebrating Cathie’s birthday in Barrington at the 111 Grille. As we talked, we found that Pat and I have the same birthday. Pat shared her four guiding principles she believes in which have helped her overcome challenges in her life. Through these, she finds happiness in the world around her.
Here are Pat’s Principles which she says contribute to her longevity and happiness:
1) Get off your butt and do some sort of exercise. There are no excuses. Pat uses a wheelchair and exercise is an important part of her day. She suggests arm and leg exercises, biking and walking. Ask a neighbor to walk with you and you are set for principle 2.
2) Have lots of friends. Continually make new friends and treat yourself to new experiences. The more friends you have, the longer you will live.
3) Eat right, especially plant founds to nurture your body. Restrict your intake of animal products. She encourages a vegetarian diet. Take a daily vitamin and watch Dr. Oz once in a while.
4) Always say nice things to others and keep good thoughts in your mind. Start you day with positive thoughts and reflect on the good things that have happened. Act like a child. Laugh! Enjoy music.
These tenets work for Pat and may be just what the doctor ordered for you!
Took this video driving through Southern McHenry County, Illinois Oct. 24, 2009. Blue skies, trees in their finest autumn colors, warm temperatures. The perfect fall day.
I recently attended a networking event in Chicago’s north suburban Glencoe. The event was held in a mansion at 458 Lakeside in Glencoe, Illinois. This 10,000 square foot home built by Adel Tarakdjian of Tara Designer Homes is available for private events like the one I attended. The couple hundred people at the session comfortably roamed all three level plus the lower level of the home, patios and gardens. Our host for the evening, master networker Dan Felix.
What a great way to market a home in this economy. By renting out the facility, a few hundred people a night visit the showcase home. Rental fees generate income and during our session, Adel gave a short commercial on his company and background on the home.
You can see professional photos at the website but to get a real feel for the property, you have to see it to believe. Even the mini kitchen and wine storage on the third level were spectacular.
Tomorrow is Make a Difference Day. Take this opportunity to share your talents, skills and passions with others. Feel good about yourself while making a difference in someone else’s life.
Volunteering can give you a chance to explore career options, sharpen abilities or gain new skills. Look for chances to mentor other or learned from a seasoned pro.
I work with several career centers in my area year round to provide job search advice and motivation. In return, I am rewarded with success stories from clients and even new business. It keeps me in the loop on the latest in the area.
You can learn more about Make a Difference Day here.
In the Midwest, the foliage can offer up a bouquet of colors as deciduous trees prepare for the long cold winter. This year the weather turned cold and damp early fall and leaves on the tree did not get a chance to show dramatic shades of color. Many leaves fell while still green.
We take advantage of the last few days of summer-like weather around here. It is time to bring in any hoses, lawn ornaments and furniture. It’s also time to bring the snow shovels out because we will be needing them soon.
As I enjoyed our Indian Summer this week, I had to capture the sound as I walked through the leaves. Listen in:
Driving around our suburb the other day, we spotted these two guys enjoying a leisurely breakfast. We have a few deer who hang out in our yard along with racoon, possum, squirrel, chipmunk and a variety of birds. It’s like having a little backyard zoo.
Confessions of a Slave Driver
Random ramblings from an idiot who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah; Can’t find a better job then carriage driving, and has way too much free time. Free time + internet access + mouthy & opiniated = blahgs, blahgs, blahgs… (Hey! I made up a new word!!!
