Gals' Guide

Scary CTA Moment

I was heading to the blue line train a few moments ago, using the underground well lit tunnel that connects the red to the blue line trains. I was walking against the wall when I noticed a young man walking away from his friends towards me. I had my Iphone music on low and caught this guy's eye. The next thing I know he darts at me attempting to reach me. Surrounded by other pedestrians, I quickly moved. This idiot tried to grab at me in front of numerous commuters. The guy left and meanwhile I continued to walk backwards watching where he went. I noticed another man watching as I watched. I came up to the el tracks and the second man came over to ask if I was ok and that what just happened was horrible. I wanted to publically thank him for watching my back. Ladies it doesn't matter where you are or how many people are around you. Be well aware of your surroundings. Be a city Bruce Lee.! Hiiii-ya!

Public Transportation Etiquette - Bags

Humph.

Hello all fellow commuters. I know you are tired, trying to drink your coffee, hold your gym bag, your laptop bag and attempt to read the paper on a moving train/bus.

Guess what?

There are a slew of other people on the train that need to get to work, too. It'd be nice to have a comfortable spot to stand or sit - without your over-the-top bags hitting me in the face.

Can you please put your bag(s) down at your feet to make room for the rest of us? Thanks. Grazie. Merci.

Signed,
10 Year Veteran of the Chicago Public Transportation System

See you at the CRAVE Party Tonight!Stop by the Gals' Guide Table

Are you ready to shop and support local Chicago boutiques and entrepreneurs? Well come on over to the Chicago Cultural Center TONIGHT from 5:30-9:00! Gals' Guide will have a table, so you better be sure to stop by and say hi. Meet the other GG ladies - we'll be wearing pink.

What exactly IS the CRAVE Shopping Party? 40 local designers, cocktails, food and some of the most unique gifts around will be in store for you. Your $20 Entry fee will get you...

• The opportunity to shop locally with 40+ Chicago boutiques, designers and spas 
• A 1 year subscription to Time Out Chicago Magazine
• Complimentary Vitamin Water & Rain Organic Vodka Cocktails
• Complimentary Dove Chocolates
• Complimentary Appetizers by Monogramme Events Catering
• Complimentary Photos in our CRAVE Photobooth by Photobooth Express
• Eco-friendly reusable YELP shopping tote for the first 300 guests
• Free Dove Chocolate
• Complimentary Gift Wrapping 
• & much more.....

Pictures from Banana Republic/Maxine Salon Event

On a chilly Friday night, about 80 of you came to Banana Republic to get your hair done, enjoy 25% savings on EVERYTHING and shop with your girlfriends. It was a fantastic evening - thanks to all the new and current GG Readers for coming.

After all, the goal of this site is to provide as many resources as possible to help you navigate thru life after college. Did you know there are over 800 articles on this site to help you out? Since many of you are new readers, I'll be reposting some of the earlier tips and tricks. You can also use the search feature on the right to navigate around.

As always, sign up for the newsletter and/or the Facebook group to let us know what type of questions you'd like answered or events you'd like to see.

Special thanks again to Banana Republic and Maxine Salon for partnering with up. Also, thank you to David Schach who snapped photos of the event all night long!

Chicago Gals: See You Tonite

Get ready for a FUN night! We have over 100 ladies that RSVP'd to come to the event at Banana Republic/Gals' Guide/Maxine Salon event tonight!

7 pm - 10 pm

Banana Republic

Michigan Avenue FLAGSHIP location, not Water Tower

25% off everything, including current sales (discount doesn't include the new Monogram collection)

Hair stylists on site

Make up artist on site

Make sure you get a snack in before you shop!

Meet the Enterprising Kitchen One of Our Partners on 12/5

The Gals' Guide/Banana Republic/ Maxine Salon event is shaping up to be spectacular! As I mentioned before, those ladies that attend will receive a goody bag. In addition to some perfume and discounts, you will also be treated to some natural soaps made from The Enterprising Kitchen.

Who is the Enterprising Kitchen? From their site:

Mission. The Enterprising Kitchen (TEK), a nonprofit social enterprise, provides workforce development and support services to women who are working toward self-sufficiency and economic independence. Within the context of a business where we manufacture natural soaps and spa products, under the brand name Choices from The Enterprising Kitchen, women receive intensive workforce preparation and skills development including: paid employment, work and life skills training, individualized career planning, high school equivalency preparation, technology training, financial planning and a variety of other support services. Located in Chicago, our enterprise enables lower-income women who have been unemployed and underemployed to maximize their individual potential and move into sustainable employment after 6-12 months. The Enterprising Kitchen was founded in 1996 and in 2005 relocated to a larger, more efficient training and production facility located in Chicago's Ravenswood industrial corridor. 

Banana Republic's been a partner with The Enterprise Kitchen for some time now - and you'll be able to experience some of their handiwork first -hand on Friday!

See you then!

Adventures in DrivingSafety Tips (In and Out of the Car)

I attended a conference in a Chicagoland suburb this morning.  I take after my father and do pretty well with maps, directions, roads and exits. Today was one of those mornings where I couldn't predict how the trip would go. In a nutshell, there was hefty Saturday morning construction going on, I couldn't get to my exit and I ended up driving 25 minutes out of my way - only to turn back around and rush to my meeting.

I panicked. I had a chance of being late to an important meeting, I couldn't get off the expressway to hop back on in the opposite direction and I started screaming at the top of my lungs.

That's when I realized: I'm in a moving vehicle, flying 70 miles an hour, listening to a loud station on XM Satellite radio and I was angry - not a good combination. Here are some tips to ensure a safe trip, especially when you are off to a new destination. 

Gals' Guide / Banana Republic/ Maxine Salon Event

RSVP REQUIRED

Either email me

OR

RSVP via Facebook

Thank you to John Morrison for this poster design!