Company Partying

It is Friday afternoon, and I am still feeling the effects of last night's company holiday party. From 6-11, at Martini Park, co-workers enjoyed food (well I didn't, more on that later), drinks, music and each other's company. I am seriously trying to figure out how I am functioning today. I seriously woke up at 7:37am, and hadn't set nan alarm, somehow pulled myself together and made it to the office today. I ran out at lunch to get a 3 piece, biscuit and some fries from Popeye's and ran into a co-worker in the elevator. We looked at each other and immediately laugh because we know we are both still out of it.

This is my 3rd company holiday party (2nd as an employee), and I have to say that my company tries to pull out all the stops for parties. Open bar, good food. The music is always a hit or miss but we still kick it. However, last night's party made me realize there are some "Do's and Don'ts" to company holiday partying or just company functions in general.

Do bring your significant other and if they're hot, do flaunt them around.
- One of my co-workers brought her fine a$$ Aussie boyfriend last night. He could be David Beckham's little brother. He had the down under accent. Goodness! He had us girls swooning. Co-worker knew, and she was loving it, lol. I had to dap her up and give her the "go girl" because she had a winner. I should have asked if he had any brothers and if they plan on moving to America. This makes me realize that when I do decide to bring an actual date to the party, can I top that? I'm going to have to find my Idris soon! Plus, who knew the Aussies were doing it like that... besides Dr. Troy from Nip/Tuck (I love him!) I should've went to Australia with T & D. (Disclaimer: This is just me being really silly right now but I do need to find Idris)

Don't allow your boyfriend to say inappopriate comments to your co-workers.
-So one of my co-workers brought her obnoxious BF as her guest (and he brought his boy; how does your guest invite a guest?). So as we're standing at the bar, he tells me that I look like Rihanna. It's the hair I tell him. His boy agrees and comments that he loves Rihanna. Woopty do. Then boyfriend goes, "but man she's a darker skinned Rihanna." Really!? I immediately turned up my face and walked away. T comes over to me and tells me that he was asking about her hair (which was pulled back in a fro), "when she picks it out does it get big?" Again, really?! He was totally out of order! I suggest you make sure you keep an eye on your BF if you know he gets out of pocket, or don't invite him at all!

Do take advantage of the open bar
-Open bar for 4-5 hours? Includes top shelf? Not just beer & wine. Get yo' drink and 2 step on. I was definitely throwing a pear 'tini back every half hour.

Don't overdo it at the bar
-Yes, you can have unlimited drinks all night, but don't go shot for shot, or try to drink someone under the table. Pace yourself. You don't want to be known as "that guy" or "that girl" who didn't keep it together at the holiday party. I can typically hold my liquor, but a few of my co-workers and I were having conversations, and they started doing the emotional talk. You know the "I looove you" and they're yelling even though you're standing next to them.

Do make your presence known at the party
-I know you see these folks for 8 (if not 10) hours a day, 5 times a week however you're out of the office, so be sure to chop it up with them.

Don't show up late
-The company party was from 6-11. My girl and fellow co-worker made the decision to go home (we both live south) and get fabulous for the evening. We don't need to be there right at 6 right? Wrong. We showed up at 8:30 only to find no food. Now this was about the same time we arrived last year. We were able to grub on calamari and sliders before we got our drink on. Not this year. Food was gone 'cept the dessert which consisted of donut holes. We both were HUNGRY. Like I couldn't wait to eat. We talked to the host and the manager. Found out food was snatched up at 8 and that if we wanted to eat we would have to PAY for it. Damn! Like that? I don't know about y'all but when I haven't/don't eat, I have a 'tude. Like I become evil. Can't be evil around the co-workers, so I decided to go to the bar and get a drink to calm down. I did throw back a few of those donut holes to hold myself over. So I say to you, if you trying to eat and the company might be on some cutback/recession type ish, show up at your function on time!

Do get your boogie on
-If the music's good, dance. If it's not, still find the beat and rock to it. It's always a good time to dance with co-workers and see who's got rhythm and who needs lessons.

Don't drop it like it's hot
-Yeah, they might have put on Flo-Rida or Ursha, but that does not mean you let your knees hit the elbows. At our summer function, a couple of the co-workers were getting low, bent over. I mean it is still a work function people! Let it be known that it's your joint, but still..keep it classy.

But all in all, do party like a rockstar :)

Let It Snow

Since the Chi has been experiencing a white December this week (we're expecting up to 9 inches between tonight and tomorrow!), I decided to dedicate this Throwback Thursday to the weather. Boyz II Men ft. Brian McKnight's "Let it Snow." Doesn't this song just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and excited about the Christmas season? I know it just solidified my excitement to go home for the holiday. There aren't many R & B Christmas songs, and this is one of favorites (not sure if it's a classic quite yet).

Video Moments: The matching 'fits. Those sweaters are a guaranteed winner for any ugly Christmas sweater party. The mustard yellow TAPERED LEG pants with WHITE SOCKS (or are they cream?)... hot mess, lol.

Mama

I am a mama's girl. So when it comes time to Christmas, Mother's Day, and other special days, I try to spoil my mama. However this year, I am having the hardest time trying to figure out what to get her for Christmas. This is a woman that I have bought everything you can think of ... PJs, shoes, electric toothbrush, jewelry, clothes, perfume. You name it, I think I've bought it.

So I'm trying to think of some things out the box and that won't cost me too much however she can appreciate. There is a recession and I'm trying to save. Here are a few that I've thought about: a gift certificate to a spa for a massage, a voucher towards a flight, or I was thinking of a mantage of small items (lip gloss, a scarf, a book, etc.) I'm sure my presence at home for a week is more than enough but still want to get her something :)

I Got that Goose

As many of you know I'm on my workout grind...up to four times a week now (yeah!). So today, personal trainer cutie offered to give me a ride home since he drove to work. Well, he parked in the South Loop (southern area of downtown for my non-Chicagoans). But I wasn't complaining since I'd be in a warm vehicle (and he owes me BIG time) instead of waiting for the bus in the frigid air. In order for us to get to where he parked, we have to jump on the red line. Now, the red line going and coming anywhere between South and downtown can be quite an adventure (as well as the Green line, which I have great stories from riding to and from church).

So we're sitting across from each other chatting it up, this brotha with a large coat proceeds to move so that he's now sitting next to us. Trainer and I both give each other the "ok, what he want?" eye. Brotha proceed to ask, "yall drink?" Trainer answers "naw man." Brotha proceeds to say as he brings a fifth of Goose out the inside of his coat, "oh ok, 'cause I'm about to say, what yall need, cause I got it. Goose, Remy, Henn, and it's half off." And like that he brings out a fifth of Remy, Henn along with the Goose. I immediately crack up laughing because never have I seen a brotha selling liquor. We all know that brothas be on their hustle in the Chi. Socks, washcloths..DVDs, CDs. I have even been in the beauty salon and some ladies came in selling panties from H & M. Yes, panties!

But I digress. So, Trainer humors him and says, "so how much you selling that Goose for?" Hustleman: "It's $35 but for you $20." Trainer goes on to explain that he doesn't have enough cash on him, and Hustleman proceeds to bring out a 1/2 of Goose saying "well if you can't afford the 1/5 I got the 1/2 and the small bottle. I even got Absolute," as he goes in a pocket and brings out a small bottle of regular Abso, and turns to me and says "I know the girls can't handle the strong stuff so I got the Citrus for you." He speaks of Absolute Citron. At this point, my head is down and my laugh is muffled. And, I'm not sure if I'm laughing at the fact that Hustleman is selling liquor, he called Citron citrus (I know it's the same thing, but he said it so seriously), or that he was able to walk around with all those bottles of liquor! He had to have had at least 10 bottles on him..but I guess if he was breaking a sweat, he was probably keeping him warm in this darn cold.

You gotta love Chicago right?

On Repeat on my iPod

Common ft. Kanye - Punch Drunk Love

So when 'ye and Com' get on a track together, how can one lose? I absolutely love this song. From 'ye's hook "I awwwready know I'm too fly" to Com's line "I knock and I knock girl, can I come inside." Hopefully this is the next release from his album....