Tag: Blogapalooza

If I could do it all over again, I'd have become a lawyer

If I could do it all over again, I'd have become a lawyer
Yesterday a friend of mine posted on Facebook about that it had been 19 years since Princess Diana was killed. Nineteen years I thought. Where have those years gone? The night of Princess Diana’s death began like many Saturday nights that summer: I was at home in my Alexandria, Virginia apartment studying for the LSAT,... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
August 31, 2016 at 10:00 pm • 

What happened to my BFF Mary?

What happened to my BFF Mary?
When we moved to Arlington Heights from Ft. Myers, Florida, in 1975, one of the biggest perks was that our block was filled with kids my age. There was Kenny and Judy next door; Kerrie and her younger brother across the street; Amy and her 3 siblings on the corner; Greg across the street; a... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
September 30, 2015 at 10:15 pm • 

I'm simply the best, better than all the rest (at these 17 things)

I'm simply the best, better than all the rest (at these 17 things)
How often do you stop and pat yourself on the best for being simply the best? If you’re anything like me, the answer is not often enough. The truth is that none of us gets as many compliments as we need and taking stock of our talents or accomplishments is one important way to lift... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
June 24, 2015 at 10:08 pm • 
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Piano lessons: Although I quit them 32 years ago, I wish I still played

Piano lessons: Although I quit them 32 years ago, I wish I still played
When I was 5 or 6 years old, my parents made me take piano lessons. The key phrase there is “made me.” Music lessons were not optional in my house. Properly raised children played the piano. Period. My mom had grown up taking piano lessons from my step-grandfather’s first wife (before she passed away) and my... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
October 1, 2014 at 9:59 pm • 

Washington DC: I'll always call it home

While in D.C. over Spring Break in 1993, I attended a constituent breakfast with Senators Paul Simon and Carol Moseley Braun. This was one of the highlights of my life.
In the Spring of 1993, when most of my friends were headed to sandy beaches during Spring Break of our senior year of college, I hopped on a plane and jetted off to Washington DC where I hoped to land a job. I knew no one, had no connections or “ins,” and this was before... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
July 30, 2014 at 10:19 pm • 

Blogapalooz-Hour: Top 11 Tips for Success

Blogapalooz-Hour: Top 11 Tips for Success
Blogapalooz-Hour: One hour each month when the bloggers of ChicagoNow blog about the same topic sent out at exactly 9:00 p.m. CT by Community Managers, Jimmy Greenfield or Shavon Banket. (Ed. note: That’s the wrong Jimmy Greenfield. ChicagoNow‘s Jimmy is not related to that James Greenfield. Find the right one here.) Bloggers hit publish at 10:00 p.m.... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
July 30, 2014 at 11:44 am • 
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Love letter to my tears

Love letter to my tears
June is almost over. And thank goodness for that. Between the five weeks my mom was in the hospital and one week in a rehab facility, my 43rd birthday, and the sudden and unexpected death of my favorite uncle, it’s been a month I’m eager to see come to a close. That, of course, is... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
June 25, 2014 at 10:00 pm • 

We never met, but my grandfather, Jesse Paulk, shaped my life

We never met, but my grandfather, Jesse Paulk, shaped my life
If I could meet anyone in the world, I’d choose to go back to before September 12, 1961 and meet my maternal grandfather, Jesse Paulk. September 12, 1961 was my mom’s 13th birthday and also the day my grandfather died. I was given my name, Jessica, in his memory. My mom’s brother also named his... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
May 28, 2014 at 10:12 pm • 

Watervale - My Slice of Heaven

Watervale - My Slice of Heaven
Every summer for as long as I can remember, my family has vacationed at a resort in Northern Iowa Michigan called Watervale. Watervale is a third-generation family owned resort that began as a logging town in the 1800s. The Kraft family purchased the abandoned town in 1917. My family ties don’t go back quite that... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
April 30, 2014 at 10:05 pm • 
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Bring Me Some Texas Tea, My Guilty Pleasure is Dallas

Bring Me Some Texas Tea, My Guilty Pleasure is Dallas
Once a month, the bloggers of ChicagoNow come together for Blogapalooza. It’s a one-hour event. At exactly 9:00 p.m., our fearless leader, Jimmy Greenfield, emails us a topic. We write and post whatever we have at 10:00 p.m. This month’s Blogapalooza topic was just released. Welcome to ChicagoNow’s Blogapalooz-Hour! Your challenge, if you choose to... Read more »
By Jessica Gardner,
March 19, 2014 at 10:08 pm • 
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    Jessica Gardner

    A native of Chicago's Northwest Suburbs and resident of the North Shore, Little Merry Sunshine comes by her name honestly. The story goes that as a child, she was always so happy that she even slept with a smile on her face. Her mom nicknamed her Little Merry Sunshine. It stuck, along with her insatiable desire to focus on the good in the world and to leave it a little better than she found it. She does this by sharing her passions and dreams, what inspires her, and maybe you too, and furthering the discussion about how we can listen to our better angels. You can reach her at LittleMerrySunshineCN[at]WowWay[dot]com.

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