Cool Cat: Brian Bolt


Brian Bolt is a 24 year old writer, director and producer out of Los Angeles. Have you seen his work? Probably not but he is cool with that. As Amy Poehler, said- Most people become ‘famous’ or get ‘great jobs’ after a very, very long tenure shoveling shit and not because they handed their script to someone on the street. And Brian gets that the journey to following his passion is one filled with constant learning opportunities, patience and a day job – an impressive quality for someone smack dab in the “give it to me now” millennial generation. Of course, that doesn’t mean that he can’t have a little fun writing web series, working at podcasts, doing an embarrassing Pacino impression for Bill Hader and indulging me in a ridiculous round of Marry, Shag, Kill - all before he gets his big break. With several 24-hour films, a couple of web series, an entertainment blog called the Martini Shot and numerous other projects under his belt, Brian is a cool cat! 

And just what kind of cat is he?

 Brian considers himself a fierce, strong Bengal tiger a la Shere Khan from the Jungle Book. However, in his heart of hearts, he will admit that he is a fluffy, white Persian lap cat. Big dreams never hurt anyone, so this guy is a tiger!

How did you become interested in writing and entertainment?

In high school I wrote mainly short stories and longer fiction. It wasn’t until college when I took a playwriting class that I discovered a way of storytelling outside of prose. I wrote a play called What Horace Hears (not to be confused with Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who in case you were wondering) which was actually performed at a festival at the College of William and Mary. I had some say in the casting and attended rehearsals where I got to work with the director and actors. I loved being a part of the whole process that came with the play. It was a true collaborative effort which was something that I really enjoyed and sparked my interest in writing more scripts and productions.

What kind of projects have you been involved with?

I wrote for a William and Mary TV show called Ghostburg . I didn’t create the show but when I took it on, I created 7 different Twilight Zone style episodes for season 3 where I acted as writer, executive producer and narrator. That show was probably one of the most fun projects that I have done.


College was also when I first participated in the 24-hour film making competition – something that I have done every year since including this past year. That competition was my first film piece. The way it works is that teams meet one evening, draw a genre (our first year we got Rom Com) and then have 24-hours to write, shoot and edit a short film. To make sure that people turn in films made in 24-hours, we also receive a prop and a line of dialogue that have to be in the film. It is all about collaboration which is a blast. This past year we got a weird genre – juvenile delinquency which we created a movie called Slack, outside of Nuart Theatre in L.A. all in one shot. It follows a man who walks out of the theater and at the end *major spoiler ahead* gets strangled. Visually the film looked great but the sound was terrible so I like to watch on mute. Obviously, 24 hour competitions like this don’t expect high quality products – it’s more of an exercise to learn more about film making.

So how did you move that passion from college to the real world?

I am from Virginia and when I went home after graduation I realized that there wasn’t much for me there. Though most people from my college ended up in Washington, DC that wasn’t really a city that interested me. So kind of on a whim, I had a friend who was going for a job in L.A. and I said that if he got it, I would go with him. Though I wasn’t really counting on following through, L.A. made the most sense for someone interested in the entertainment business. So I kept my word and moved cross country to a whole new city. In the words of Miley, I hopped off the plane car at near LAX with a dream and my cardigan (which I quickly took off because it is hot in the desert).

I worked at Bullseye with Jesse Thorn – an NPR affiliated podcast that includes interviews from famous people. That experience opened me up to the world of podcasts and really made me think that more people should listen to podcasts. Seriously, if you are sitting in traffic, why not put on a podcast and learn something while you’re at it?

Image result for bullseye with jesse thorn

Do you have a favorite podcast? (For the record - MY current favorite is Hollywood Handbook)

I think that podcasts are personal and there is a perfect podcast for everyone. After all, there are thousands of podcasts out there on almost anything you can think of. My favorite is a podcast called JamesBonding which is essentially two guys discussing a James Bond movie and news in detail with a guest each episode. I have been obsessed with James Bond since I was a kid most likely because it was something that my dad, someone who is not an avid movie/TV watcher, actually liked. I still remember being in the living room and seeing my dad stop to watch Thunderball on the screen. Clearly James Bond was a guy who commanded so much respect that even my dad had to stop and watch. Since then, it’s been an obsession. I have James Bond posters in my apartment and a life size cardboard cutout of Sean Connery that was a gift from friends. I don’t keep him out all the time – just for the occasional movie viewing. So I like that podcast. 

So what makes a good podcast?

I think a good podcast is one about passion. If you are starting your own podcast it should be on something that you love. It makes it easier for you to do and for people to enjoy. I like James Bonding because I get to hear two people with the same passion talk about something that I love. So if you are starting a podcast, start with identifying your passion.

What was your time at Bullseye like?

It was not that glamorous.  I did very intern things most of the time. Occasionally, however, I would get to work the sound board when someone above me was too busy to do it. I think a very common intern theme is that  you get to do something semi-important because everyone else is busy. Either way most of my time spent was doing background research on the guests before the interview and then sitting in to watch them with Jesse which was cool because he is a really good interviewer.

What makes him a good interviewer?

He is a good listener so the interviews are conversations. I think a good podcast in general is one that is informative and conversational. Some are conversational but not really informative. Then there are others like WTF with Marc Maron that are more of a one way conversation about him. Jesse is good at balancing his conversations with guests. 

Did you have any fun stories with the guests at the Bullseye podcast? Feel free to name drop….

So many! Jack Black came into the show and I was star struck. He is this guy from my childhood who was just like how I remembered him and he was delightful in person. That interview was actually with him and Susan Orlean which if you don’t know who she is, she is the real life writer that Meryl Streep played in the movie Adaptation so it was just two famous people talking to each other and ended up being a great interview. I was pretty creepy that whole time though. I just stared at Jack the whole interview. He was so busy that I was able to just stare at him unnoticed. Of course after that, I was in a small group talking to him and I had gotten so used to staring that I kept doing it. He clearly noticed and I think to ease the awkwardness, abruptly said “Hey, I’m Jack” and shook my hand. 

So you are clearly now best friends with Jack Black?!

We go on SO many dinner dates.

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Anyone else?

Gillian Jacobs from Community (and Netflix’s Love for a more recent reference, guys) came in. We also shook hands. She was cool. I didn’t stare at her.

I think the coolest thing I did though was a Bullseye liveshow with June Diane Raphael, Bill Hader, The Internet, and Jasper Redd. June Diane Raphael was the nicest person. She did an episode of Comedy Bang Bang! with Casey Wilson where they did a bit as twin sisters.  I asked her what the prep time was like for that and she said that they actually didn’t really prep. She just asked if she wanted to be twin sisters and they just did it on the show which I found funny.  
Bullseye


Bill Hader was also there and was as charming and fun as you’d think. I did embarrass myself in front of him. A friend of mine and I used to do our own perverted versions of Bill’s Al Pacino impression so when I was there I couldn’t resist telling him that we used to do that. To my surprise he said “Do it” so I had to nervously do it for him and he just responded with “Work on it.” I assumed he was amused at asking someone else to do an impression for once but it was pretty embarrassing.

That is embarrassing but amazing. Tell me about your post-podcast departure from entertainment.

I’ve taken a little departure from entertainment in terms of a day job. I make DVDs, blu-rays and restore old movies as a job and then on the side write and make films.  

Do you think not doing entertainment as a job disadvantages you to enter that business?

I want to make money and have a  nice life so I have a day job. I have many friends who have temporary jobs and PA jobs to dedicate more time to the business. Those jobs aren’t very secure and not what I’m interested in right now. To be in this business, you have to give up some type of security. I’m not ready to do that at this stage so I’m balancing job security with my passion on the side. Eventually when I’m ready I can make those sacrifices. Even though I’m not writing as a career, I am still learning and building on those skills on the side. I am part of a first drafts club with a friend where we write and then swap our pieces to give feedback. I think an issue with millennials is that we want everything now. People aren’t happy unless they are on big projects right away. But in reality, you need to keep working and developing skills so you are ready for the next step. You need to develop skills and qualifications on smaller things to be ready for bigger opportunities. You really have to start somewhere.


What are some tips for starting out and building those skills?

I have a lot of friends who are producers and actors so I have learned to keep saying “yes” to projects. If someone asks me to do something, I tend to do it because that is one more experience. I recently worked with two actresses who had an idea for a web series about an aspiring model and actress. I produced, directed and wrote for it. I got to practice my editing skills with this project by trying something new each episode. This web series was more of a visual project compared to Ghostburg that was very story heavy so I've been able to do both types of series.

Any other cool side projects?

I got to do some acting in a short movie called Helix. It's an action film where I get shot and got to use a squib - a condom filled with fake blood and a penny attached to a fishing line that gets pulled to make the blood burst. They don’t really use them anymore in movies because it's messy so most blood is digital or just not present to keep a PG rating. Pay attention to the lack of blood in Marvel movie next time you watch.

As for the writing which is my main passion, I have some writing projects. I’m working on a script. I also have an entertainment blog of my own as well as guest posts on sites like Wild Night In (the best). I like to use blog pieces as a way to ease writers block. Writing narrative can be hard but writing in my voice about pop culture comes easy so it’s a good way to just get things going. I am currently doing a Marvel movie marathon and writing about it. I did something similar to this last year and allowed myself to be a hermit in the name of writing. 

Do you have any parting words of wisdom for people wanting to pursue writing?

Force yourself to write. I went through a period when I wasn’t writing so I had to really force myself to pick it back up. A good way to keep it up is to bring other people in to share ideas and read things. It holds you accountable which I think is good advice for any goal - writing related or not. Support and having someone to hold you accountable can help you achieve it. 

Marry, Shag, Kill With Brian

Imperator Furiosa, Black Widow, Wonder Woman
 Marry Furiosa. Shag Black Widow. Kill Wonder Woman because that movie was terrible.

Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig


Marry Daniel Craig which is an easy choice because he is dependable. Shag Sean Connery who is cool but accused of domestic violence. Kill Pierce Brosnan for ruining James Bond. 

Cast of High School Musical, Cast of the OC, Cast of Freaks and Geeks



Marry Freaks and Geeks because they are all hilarious. Shag HSM obviously. Brutally kill the OC cast especially the guy from Gotham. 

Angelica Pickles, Eliza Thornberry, Helga G. Pataki

Marry Eliza, we'd go on cool adventures with her cool dad. Shag Helga. Kill Angelica which for the record I'm thinking of the grown-up version not the toddler. 

Zooey Deschanel, Kristen Wiig, Cecily Strong




Marry Kristen who will make me laugh all the time. Shag Zooey. Kill Cecily though all three of these ladies are beautiful.


Revenant Leo, Wolf of Wall Street Leo, Titanic Leo

Marry Jack from Titanic not thinking about if he will die or not. Shag Revenant Leo because he would probably be super beastly and so grateful to have a person keep him warm. Kill Jordan Belfort for sure.

Ava from Ex Machina, Pat from Smart House, Samantha from Her


Marry Scarlet Jo in Her because "Awwww." Shag Ava. Kill Smart House because she scared me so much as a kid.


Follow Brian on Twitter @bboltburg, check-out his blog The Martini Shot and catch up on episodes of Ghostburg season 3.

The Most Important Unimportant Things From Coachella Weekend 1



It's that time of the year again when Instagram becomes filled with hot celebs taking selfies in Forever 21's finest attire while riding giant swan floaties in fancy pools and only occasionally checking out music sets. It's Coachella!

How To Get Ahead At Work In 10 Simple Steps



Getting ahead in the workplace can be challenging. You may think that putting in extra hours and taking initiative are the way to go but that's not true. Hard work will get you part of the way but the rest can easily be achieve by adopting these 10 extremely effective workplace tactics.

1. Constantly Talk About How Busy You Are

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It doesn’t matter what your workload actually is, talking about how busy you are is always a winning conversation topic in the workplace. People just love to talk about stress and work and having no time for anything so you should too! Be sure to keep the busy talk vague without ever actually providing details on what is making you busy so you seem mysterious.

2. Speak At Every Meeting

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People really respect those who are constantly offering their input whether it's solicited or not. If you are struggling for something to say, try asking an obvious question or letting the group know that you agree with what was just said. 

3. Make Every Task Seem More Important Than It Is


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Sure you are doing a task that a middle school student could do but if you really make a huge deal about it, you will floor your bosses with how you are actually doing your job which will make you irreplaceable. To master this, be sure to take the simplest task and ask a minimum of 7 questions about it, take a full day to do it and then let everyone know how challenging it was. 

4. Bring Your Laptop and/or Phone Everywhere

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People need to really know that you are so important and such a hard worker that you just cannot unplug so have your eyes on screens at all times. Happy Retirement, Betsy! Excuse me while I furiously check email in the corner during your farewell speech.

5. Fill Your Calendar with Meetings


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While at work, you want people to always think that you are in demand. You can easily achieve this by scheduling meetings for everything even things that could easily be solved with an email. You'll have a full schedule and your co-workers will love all of the meetings that you booked for them.

6. Wear a Blazer

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Blazers = Professional, that is a known fact. Invest in a blazer and wear it every day, with everything – even jeans and a t-shirt. A famous study, from a famous research institution found that when a man and a woman said the same stupid thing, people agreed with the man which probably was because he was wearing a blazer.

7. Rush Everywhere But Never Be On Time

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Casually strolling around the office at a normal pace shows that you are a garbage employee. Speed walking around, however, shows that you have a purpose. Of course, it is not enough to rush around, you must still show up everywhere late. Being the last person at a meeting claiming that another meeting ran over let’s people know that that other meeting was way too important to leave early. As a result, people in this meeting will work very hard to impress you and win your approval. It’s a classic work neg.

8. Strategically Send Emails

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The true way that you will shine at work is via email so you must play the game correctly. This means, taking a long time to answer important emails that require your input (because once again- you are WAY too important and busy to respond) but then respond immediately to emails that don’t require responses. For example, if you get an email asking if you have time to complete a task, take 2-3 hours to respond so people assume you don't have time and find someone else. But if you are copied on an email with 10 other people as an FYI, reply all immediately with something pointless like "Thx!" People love seeing that extra email in their inbox. 

9. Give 8 Pieces of Feedback a Day

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Similar to constantly speaking at meetings, providing unsolicited feedback on the regular is impressive. To do so, it's best to set a daily goal for yourself and not leave the office until you achieve it. Offer input on things that nobody asked you to do. Make useless edits to documents. Just start giving unneeded feedback and suggestions to shine. 


10. Use Meaningless Buzzwords in Everything You Do


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Professional buzzwords will get you everywhere. People will respect you when they hear that you are well versed in the jargon of a future CEO. Some example terms and phrases that you can start incorporating into daily conversations right now:

Synergy
Circle back
Regroup
Wrap my head around this
Innovation
Think outside of the box
Let's a tell a story with these numbers
Let me take time to digest this
Touch base
10,000 Foot view

Enjoy your promotion!

Spring Trends To Get With and Those That Can Just GTFO



Spring has officially arrived which means constantly stalking the week's forecast hoping that warmer weather is on its way. And as the temperatures slowly but surely rise, you can start to prepare to put away your frumpy sweaters and jackets, and opt for some fun seasonal updates.  And for those non-basic souls who are hoping for some updates outside of the obvious...
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fashion weeks and celebrity street styles have provided an ample amount of trends and suggestions to offer that spring makeover that you've been searching for. Of course, tread lightly as some of these "hip" fashion items might not be the best. To help you decide, here are some of the trends this season that you should get with and those that just need to GTFO. 


Trends To Get With....


Off The Shoulder Tops

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A shoulder baring top offers that “I don’t try too hard to be cool” hippie look which is pretty much the gold standard. From street style to runways, this top works as long as it’s paired with simple bottoms and accessories to save you from looking like Vanessa Hudgens trolling Coachella. Choose a top with structure so it’s clear that the off the shoulders is intentional and not a result of you being a sloppy hot mess. If you can’t go braless and/or hate strapless bras (which who doesn’t?) – Off the shoulder tops with straps still gives the same hippy effect while allowing you to wear a bra. Amazing. 

The 90's

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90’s fashion is obviously a must. Think floral skater dresses, overalls, crop tops and chokers not embarrassing bucket hats, butterfly clips and stretchy one size fits all tees. Of course, the key to rocking 90’s staples in 2016 is to not actually wear anything from the 90’s. The 2016 version of 90’s fashion is form fitting and flattering offering a look that is playful, laid back and effortlessly cool. A word to the wise - as pro-chokers as I am, skip the plastic tattoo ones from Claire's to save you from looking like an overgrown child. 

Denim Other Than Jeans

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Going along with the 90's theme, you should embrace more denim in your wardrobe. I would even dare to say you can even successfully rock denim on denim this spring without looking like Britney and Justin at the VMAs (#neverforget). Look for jean jackets, dresses, skirts (especially those with front buttons), and button down shirts which you can mix with jeans as long as they are different washes. 

Gingham

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If you want to add any single update to your wardrobe this spring, a gingham print is the way to go. Modify this fashion classic by wearing it in jumpsuits, rompers, and dresses. Of course, as cute as it may be, skip the red gingham to avoid looking like a walking picnic blanket. You may think that dressing as a picnic would result in people just handing you wine and cheese but it doesn't, trust me. 

Sparkles and Bling

What some may consider a GTFO trend, I say that sparkly fashion is a must. You can make it work in the day time by pairing items with sparkle accents with plain items to tone it down. Of course, when it comes to night time, feel free to go all out - sequin pants, sparkling dresses etc. Life's too short to play it safe and hide the bo$$ that you really are.

And Trends That Can GTFO...


Culottes

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 I love a wide-legged pant as much as the next gal. But when it comes to culottes, I am transported back to my days in middle school failing to make gauchos happen and I'm just not over it. Like most pieces in fashion, the culotte, which seems to be creeping up on runways and fashion blogs, can work on those who are tall, thin and with legs for days - so you know, like 1 in 10 of us. Sure, it's a laid back look but it makes more sense just to wear shorts when it's hot and pants when it's cool.

Lingerie As Clothes

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Lingerie inspired clothing is essentially like regular sexy lingerie - you might own it but it may only leave the shadows of your drawers for a sexy holiday or frat party. When it comes to actual fashion, staples like the slip dress, as much as we keep trying to make it happen, just should not be out in public. You'll always just end up looking like you forgot to put on your actual dress or that you had to flee from a one night stand - not really great looks. 

Slip On Shoes

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Similar to slip dresses, the slipper shoe walks the line of comfort and just socially uncomfortable. Depending on the style, you can end up looking like you ran out of the house too fast to put on real shoes. And of course if you really want to round out the whole hot mess look, you can pair the slip dress with the slip on shoes to really jump start that intervention that your friends have been planning for you.

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These of course are just some of the trends that we will see this spring. You better believe that fringe, stripes and bold colors will be there too. No matter what trends you are stoked for (even if its a slip dress) just rock it with confidence and no one can say anything - except behind your back but who really cares about that...

Cool Cat: Windy City Wanderlust




Amidst a sea of millennial bloggers, I was able to sit down with Sarah - the creative mind behind Windy City Wanderlust, to chat about what makes her Chicagoland blog unique, as well as gain some insight into lessons learned from her first year of blogging and play a quick round of 10 Random Fast Facts.

If you like Chicago, cool places, fancy photos or just appreciate awesome people doing awesome things, Windy City Wanderlust is the blog for you. Sarah is the absolute best. She also was one of the first supporters (and blog guru) for Wild Night In so you know that she is great. Check out my chat with Sarah featuring a preview of her great photos from her site. This really is one cool cat!

Quick Background on Sarah


Sarah is a twenty-something Floridian who lives in Chicago with her lawyer, high school sweetheart husband (cue the "awwwws"). She works full time in health care research for a non-profit company in the Loop and started her blog, Windy City Wanderlust, almost a year ago. Sarah has a Master's in Psychology which makes for entertaining conversations analyzing people's motivations which trust me can be hours of fun.



If Sarah Was A Cat She Would Be....


A classic white house cat with baby blue eyes who eats fancy organic canned food out of crystal glass bowls.

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So now that we've covered that. What exactly is Windy City Wanderlust?


It's a food and event review blog for the city and suburbs of Chicago. It's unique in that it isn't just limited to food or even just the city. It's a balance of life in the city as well as out in the suburbs where I live.

What made you want to start Windy City Wanderlust?


I wanted a creative outlet. As an English major, I've always loved writing. I also love food and talking about it so that part was a given. The events piece came as a way for me to explore the city more and hold myself accountable to actually follow through and get out of the house. I have to actually do things and go places to write about it so the blog has been a good way to avoid cabin fever.




What is your blog schedule?


I typically post to the blog on Mondays and Wednesdays. If I'm feeling extra inspired, I may post on Sunday as well but any more than that is just too much for me. For social media (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook), I post once a day everyday. It's less frequent for Pinterest.

How do you stick to that schedule while working full time?


As I mentioned, the blog really has been more of motivation to do things. I get to spend quality time with my husband and friends going to cool places so posting about those experiences is not seen as more work or a burden. I also will write articles about future events when I can't physically go to a restaurant or event that week. I do try not to blog after Wednesdays to give myself a break. I don't even edit blog pictures or anything until the weekend - that way there is blog/life balance. Also, though I am consistent with the Monday/Wednesday schedule I don't force myself to stick to a specific time on those days and will not stress if I just can't post  - life happens.



What are some challenges that you've found with your blog this first year?


Mixing up the content has been a challenge. I want a balance of food and events as well as a balance of city and suburbs. However, because Chicago winter lasts 5 months out of the year there aren't a lot of events, so the majority of my content has been food reviews which then causes people to assume that I'm just a food blogger which I am not. I've been working on figuring out ways to write about other stuff to add variety which I've been doing by previewing future events and doing season recaps.


Have any advice for new bloggers?


I would say that one of the first thing bloggers should do is to pick a name and then secure that name on every social media platform even if you aren't going to use it right away. You will at least have them all locked down so you can have some name recognition. A lesson that I learned as well is to focus your outreach on one or two social media outlets rather than all of them so that you can build a following. When I started I was trying to post on various social media platforms which felt as if that outreach was diluted. It was only until relatively recently that I dedicated more time to Instagram and  actively engaging users there that I was able to build more of a following.

Goals for Windy City Wanderlust in Year 2?


I want to buy my domain and move from .blogspot to a .com this year. I also want to revamp the look of my site. When I started, I designed it with the basic HTML that I knew and what I could figure out from Google so it is very simple and basic right now. I want to add some more flair to it.

I also want to take better pictures which I am working towards now. I got Photoshop for Christmas and was surprised with a Canon Rebel T5 camera from my husband for Valentine's Day so I've been experimenting with photography to make my site more visually appealing.

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Any final thoughts on blogging?


I blog because I love it and other bloggers should do it for the same reason - the love of it. Do what you want and do so unapologetically. It's your blog. It's all about the effort you want to put in and your ownership of it. So write what you want to write.


Windy City Wanderlust: Death Cab for Cutie at Chicago Theatre:


10 Fast Facts About Sarah


1. Favorite Place in Chicago: 

Garfield Conservatory. It feels like a little bit of Florida in this cold city.

2. Guilty Pleasure: 

Carbs. I love comfort food. Mashpotatoes are my favorite.

3. Celebrity Crush: 

Domhnall Gleeson and/or Jimmy Fallon

4. Celebrity You Can't Stand: 


James Franco. He makes my skin crawl.

5. Pet Peeve: 

Warming up fish in communal microwaves.

6. First Thing That Catches Your Eye When You Go To Places You Review: 


The climate of the place. I'm very observant and can pick up vibes immediately so that influences the review that I give.

7. Hogwarts House: 


Ravenclaw though I was Hermione for Halloween so my husband thinks I should be Gryffindor (he is a clear Gryffindor by the way).

8. Song To Play In The Soundtrack Of Your Life: 

The Funeral by Band of Horses

9. Greatest Fear: 

This is gonna be dark but my husband dying before me.

10. Top 3 Favorite Things In Life: 

My husband, food and the beach.




Be sure to check out cool cat Sarah at windycity-wanderlust.blogspot.com and follow @wcwanderlust on Instagram and Twitter. 


Check back in April for our next Cool Cat interview

Struggles of Your Twenties As Told By Broad City


Let's face it - life in your twenties is not as glamorous and carefree as the movies. You aren't living in a trendy loft paid for by your super hip job at a women's magazine spending your weekends at the hottest brunch spots and nightclubs flawlessly chatting up the most eligible bachelors while living life to the fullest in expensive leopard print Prada heels. Oh no no, your twenties are for minimal paychecks, hopeless dating and constant life freakouts. It's a complete struggle but it's what ties us all together. So here are some struggles that we've all experienced at some point as told by our favorite ladies of Broad City.  


No Longer Being Able to Drink with No Hangover

How did I ever take handles to the face on a Friday night and still have no issues hitting the library the next day in college? Now a few drinks means a day long hangover. 

Adjusting To Life With A Real Job


So as cool as this whole work thing has been, can we all just acknowledge how impossible it is to be alert for 8 hours a day? K cool thx, I'm gonna go back to my Buzzfeed articles between meetings now.

Not Understanding Today's Pop Culture



Is One Direction still a thing? Is "bae" an adjective or noun? Can someone please explain Vine?! Things just felt easier when Jennifer Lopez went by J.Lo and wore velour tracksuits.

Trying to Care About Your Diet - To An Extent


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With real money and a slowed metabolism, you might think that now is the time to start actually caring about what you eat (at least while you are sober.) So you'll create a Pinterest board of healthy meals and start shopping at places like Whole Foods where you'll spend a bunch of money on anything organic, free-range and local only to come home and realize that you are really craving pizza rolls. 


Feeling Momentarily Rich With Your First Salary

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Now that you are probably making more money than you ever have before, you'll feel like an absolute queen and start spending it on useless stuff. Of course that feeling is short lived and you'll end up rethinking it all when the first of the month rolls around. Bye, Paycheck! 



Navigating "Business Casual"

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Getting dressed for work every day can be a constant struggle when your closet is filled with crop tops, flannels and ironic t-shirts. For those fashionistas who aren't quite ready to completely give up style for neutral tones and slacks, everyday without an HR complaint can be a #win. 

Demanding to be treated like a responsible adult...


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You pay bills, have your own place and get a paycheck. You are an adult and demand to be treated like one. Hear that Mom and Dad?!

But still feeling clueless and irresponsible like a child.

 

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What are taxes even? Am I supposed to call to make my own dentist appointment? What is the difference between HMO and PPO?! Where are my Mom and Dad to do this for me?

Wanting a Pet Without Being Able to Care for Yourself



Sure, you spend most weekends passed out on various people's couches and just ate peanut butter for dinner because groceries are low but you really feel like a dog will bring your life happiness to the next level.

Finding Value In A Night In


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As cool as bars and clubs are, there comes a time when a night on the couch in sweats, binging Netflix shows over takeout is the way to go. No judgement or FOMO here.

Attempting to Make Friends IRL


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In college, friends are practically handed to you. However, IRL it's not so simple. You'll find yourself having to resort to seeking friendship in creative places - work, exercise classes, coffee shops, Chipotle, on the train etc. Sure you might end up coming off like a complete weirdo engaging strangers but when you actually befriend that cool chick on the bus, it's worth it. 

Hopelessly Attempting to Figure Out Dating



Whether you are using apps, online profiles or trying to meet someone organically, dating is awkward. You'll cringe at your lack of charisma when failing to be a "chill, cool girl." Drive yourself crazy interpreting text messages. And sit through date after date of painful small talk wishing you were home chatting with your cat about the latest episode of the Bachelor. 

Dodging Marriage/Children/Serious Life Questions

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As if you aren't already questioning when you'll be ready for whatever next serious step is on the horizon, there is nothing like having to explain to your family and other nosy people why you aren't there yet. There's only so many times you can say that "you just haven't found the One" before you just end up creating an imaginary boyfriend who can't come to Thanksgiving because he was shipped off to war and hope that everyone forgets about it next year. 

Unintentionally Spending Hours In Front of Screens


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As much as you want to live a YOLO lifestyle, once you get onto your laptop you'll find yourself down for hours. We've all been there. It starts off innocently - just reading up on current events before heading out for the day. Flash forward two hours to you taking a Buzzfeed quiz on what kind of cheese is your perfect match and totally questioning your life choices.

Adjusting to Affordable Living Situations


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Finding a place to live on a junior level staff salary usually requires you to shack up with multiple people or live in a 200 square foot studio. One day you won't have to leave passive aggressive notes around the kitchen telling your roommate to wash the dishes and will actually have a separate bedroom and living room - dream big.


Trying to Prove Yourself at Work


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Let's face it, no one likes being treated like the lowest man on the totem pole so when you finally get the chance to show that you are worthy, you'll try really hard to prove yourself. Sometimes it'll all work out, others you'll crash and burn. All life lessons.
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Having a Quarter Life Crisis Every Other Month

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No matter how happy you are or how much you feel like you got it together, there will always be those periodic moments when you completely freak out about something. It can be about your life choices or whether you are surrounded by the right people or the mysteries of hypothetical situations that may never even happen.

Waiting For Your Big Break

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Even if you are currently stuck in a job you hate or hitting the books to get that advanced degree, you can still achieve your dream job - it's not too late. So keep chugging along and ignore the fact that Taylor Swift is 26 and practically rules the world. 

Cheers To The Struggle!

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