JenofChicago on Squidoo

Bridesmaids and Guests and Weddings, Oh My! Fall Wedding Season Approaches!

2010-08-27T14:51:00.000-05:00

Other than summertime, Fall is one of the busiest wedding seasons of the year - I've got at least two to attend in the next few months myself! Let me share some of my bridesmaid experience with you in these two lenses -

The Bridesmaid Survival Guide - A must read for anyone who thinks they might be asked to be a bridesmaid soon, this guide offers tips, tricks and jokes to help you get through the most important day in your friend's life.

Wedding Welcome Bags - With so many people traveling for weddings these days, nothing shows guest how much you appreciate them like a welcome bag left for them at the hotel desk. Here are my suggestions for what you should include in a wedding welcome bag.

Appletters is here!

2010-08-26T14:48:00.000-05:00

The fine folks at Bananagrams have released their newest game, Appletters. A domino word game for all ages, Appletters is sure to delight families, students, and anyone who enjoys a new, fresh take on word games and board games.

Halloween is coming - are you ready?

2010-08-25T14:48:00.000-05:00

Squidooers are in the midst of getting ready for Halloween, and I've joined the fun with three new lenses -

Vegetable Costumes - I came up with this lens for people who are tired of the same old Halloween costumes. Take a "fresh" approach this year with vegetable costumes! Everything from ears of corn to chili peppers and all veggies in between can go trick or treating this year!

Halloween Dog Toys - Don't you feel sorry for your doggie on Halloween? All those trick or treaters wearing strange costumes and knocking at the door is enough to make any pup start to loose their mind. Treat your dog - and keep him or her occupied - with these Halloween Dog Toys!

Halloween Books For Preschoolers - They're old enough to know and enjoy Halloween, but not old enough for all the really scary stuff, so what can you do with preschool aged children on Halloween? Read them these age-appropriate Halloween books - maybe even give one as a gift instead of candy!

Art Institute of Chicago

2009-04-15T09:15:00.000-05:00

Continuing with my series about great Chicago area attractions, I've created a lens on perhaps the most significant Chicago museum, the Art Institute of Chicago. Please let me know what you think!

Adler Planetarium

2009-04-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Alder Planetarium in Chicago was America's very first planetarium? Neither did I, until I started putting together my new lens about Adler Planetarium. Visit and let me know what you think!

Chicago History Museum

2009-04-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

I've noticed that there's a lack of good information on Squidoo from locals about things to see and do when visiting Chicago. So, I'm going to start a series of lenses about Chicago attractions. The first is, appropriately enough I think, a lens about the Chicago History Museum. Please visit and tell me what you think!

Chris Hughes - Obama's Secret Weapon?

2009-03-29T18:15:00.000-05:00

I just finished this month's issue of Wired magazine and learned about Chris Hughes, who was one of the founding members of Facebook and also the architect of the Obama online campaign. I have a feeling we'll be reading about him in history books in a generation, so please enjoy learning more about Chris Hughes on my lens.

Ada Lovelace - The First Computer Programmer

2009-03-28T14:00:00.002-05:00

I always think it is neat when I find out about women who were trailblazers, who have been overlooked by history. One such woman is Ada Lovelace, an English woman who developed the first computer programming language in the 1800s. I read this week some women in computer science had started a campaign to get people to know who she is, so I decided to create a lens in her honor. Go learn about Ada Lovelace, the first programmer!

Mike Quigley

2009-03-27T20:05:00.001-05:00

The race for the former Congressional seat held by Rahm Emanuel is heating up here in Illinois, so I created a lens on who I think will probably win the election, Mike Quigley.

Alphabet Art, Posters and Prints

2009-03-19T20:00:00.002-05:00

I've been having fun with lens with a lot of graphics, using my Allposters.com affiliate account. I was browsing through allposters.com and saw a series of fun alphabet-themed posters and I thought it would make a nice collection for a lens. If you're a teacher or parent in need of Alphabet Art, Posters or Prints, look no further!

Dorothea Lange - America's Photographer

2009-03-03T21:00:00.000-06:00

In this time of economic crisis, there have been a lot of articles and news reports about the Great Depression, and how we might learn some lessons from our grandparents and great-grandparents in dealing with today's crisis. Time and time again, the photographs of Dorothea Lange continue to show up. As the first true documentary photographer in America, Dorothea Lange deserves her own lens, don't you think?

Vintage Chicago Travel Posters and Artwork

2009-03-01T18:50:00.002-06:00

I am loving my affiliate program with Allposters.com, and especially everything that I am discovering on their website. My latest discovery is some really neat vintage travel posters of Chicago, which would be perfect for framing and displaying in your apartment. I created a lens, Vintage Chicago Travel Posters, to showcase my favorites.

Funny Food - great decorations for your kitchen

2009-02-26T19:00:00.002-06:00

As an affiliate with allposters.com, I often browse through their posters and art prints to see what is new and fun to feature. I came across this series of paintings by Greg Brown that feature veggies and fruits being pretty hilarious. These posters are a fun and inexpensive way to redecorate your kitchen, or your restaurant, and so Funny Food: Posters and Paintings for Your Kitchen or Restaurant was born!

A True Heroine - Lynne Cox

2009-02-08T19:30:00.002-06:00

I first read about Lynne Cox after randomly picking up a copy of her book, Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer. Since then, I've been fascinated by her story, and decided to create a lens in tribute to her work as an athlete and a peacemaker. Please click through to learn more about Lynne Cox!

Relay For Life Fundraising Ideas

2009-01-27T19:40:00.000-06:00

After seeing the success of my Relay For Life and Relay For Life Team Theme Ideas lenses, I wanted to do another lens on the topic of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. The next logical step seems to be how to raise donations, so I created a lens on Relay For Life Fundraising Ideas. I plan to continue to add to my list of ideas as time goes on!

Illinois Senate Candidates - John Fritchey, Tom Geoghagen and Sara Feigenholtz

2009-01-27T19:30:00.002-06:00

Since the resignation of Illinois Representative Rahm Emanuel, there is an open Congressional seat in Illinois' 5th District. I thought it would be a good idea to get to know some of the candidates running for office.

Tom Geoghagen is a Chicago labor lawyer.
Sara Feigenholtz is a representative in the Illinois House.
John Fritchey is a member of the Illinois State Senate.

New York's Newest Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand

2009-01-23T18:45:00.001-06:00

With all of the attention on Roland Burris, we've overlooked another Senate appointment - that of New York's newest Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand. I thought I'd pay tribute to another woman joining the Senate with my lens!

Relay For Life Team Theme Ideas

2009-01-22T19:30:00.001-06:00

Ever since I created my lens on the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, I have noticed that most visitors are looking for information about team theme ideas or team name ideas. So, I decided to create a separate lens with some of my best suggestions for Relay For Life Team Theme Ideas.

Shepard Fairey - Artist of the Year

2009-01-19T20:00:00.002-06:00

Many people were interested in a lens I published other day on how to Build Your Own Obamicon, so I decided to do a lens on the original artist who created that style, Shepard Fairey. I think he's the artist of the year!

DIY Art - Build Your Own Obamicon

2009-01-16T20:45:00.000-06:00

How cool is this? Using a website, you can put in a photo of yourself and come out with an "Obamicon", a piece of art, icon-sized, that resembles the posters that President Obama used during his campaign. I've make a lens with step by step instructions on how to Build Your Own Obamicon.

Stargate Atlantis Gift Giving

2009-01-03T22:38:00.001-06:00

After creating a few other shopping lenses, I decided to create one for Stargate Atlantis toys, collectibles and gifts too. The show will end this year, so now seems a good time to get your Stargate Atlantis Gifts, before the show is forgotten.

Nerd Alert - Lens About Ron Moore

2009-01-03T22:32:00.000-06:00

For Battlestar Galactica fans such as myself, there's no greater authority than Ron Moore, the creator of the show. I was surprised that no one else on Squidoo had created a page for him, so I made my own Ron Moore lens.

Roland Burris, Illinois' Next Senator (?)

2008-12-30T22:28:00.001-06:00

Well, for all my creating of lenses on Squidoo and speculating about the replacement for Barack Obama in the Senate, I really turned up empty... other than my collection of lenses of Chicago politicians! We now learn that against the wishes of nearly everyone in the Democratic Party in Illinois as well as nationally, Governor Rod Blagojevich has named Roland Burris to be Obama's replacement. I think this came a bit out of left field, so I created a lens to show the rest of the nation who Roland Burris is.

My Christmas Shopping lens

2008-12-16T20:10:00.001-06:00

I'm attempting to do some of my Christmas shopping online this year, and I've found Squidoo lenses are a great way to keep track of gift ideas and lists. I created the JenOfChicago's Christmas Shopping 2008 lens to help me make sense of my lists - let's hope it helps!

Giving Credit - A lens for David Plouffe

2008-12-04T19:44:00.001-06:00

It's been one month since Barack Obama's success in winning the presidency, and I thought I'd make a lens to give credit to the genius behind the man, campaign manager David Plouffe. Without David Plouffe's strategy, tactics and passion for the campaign, who knows where we'd be now?

Here Comes Santa... On The CTA!

2008-11-25T20:56:00.002-06:00

There are few things about the CTA that bring me joy. Mostly, the CTA brings me pain, anger, frustration and annoyance. But, during the holiday season, they do one thing that lights up the faces of everyone on the train - they put the CTA Holiday Train on the tracks and suprise customers with candy canes and Santa! Yes, the real Santa, riding the CTA! You have to see my Chicago Holiday Train lens to truly appreciate the CTA Holiday Train. I hope I get to ride it this year!

Some More Political Speculation - Luis Gutierrez

2008-11-13T19:23:00.001-06:00

I think Luis Gutierrez is gunning for a position higher than his current job as Congressman, and I think he might be really good in the field of diplomacy and foreign affairs. I created a Luis Gutierrez lens as part of my series of Chicago politicians.

Environmentalist Forrest Claypool... yes, that's his real name

2008-11-13T18:53:00.002-06:00

With a name like Forrest, it is no suprise that Forrest Claypool grew up to be one of Chicago's leading proponents of the environment, and especially Chicago parks. I suspect that Forrest is going to go even further than his Cook County Board seat someday, so I created this Forrest Claypool lens to track his career.

A hopeful lens - Father Andrew Greeley

2008-11-11T14:00:00.000-06:00

Father Andrew Greeley is a journalist, writer and novelist, as well as a Chicago Catholic priest whom I admire. I have long enjoyed his books as well as his column in the paper, and I recently heard that he was very seriously injured in a freak accident - his coat was caught in a taxi and he was dragged for several yards. I suspect that Father Greeley is one of those "Chicago characters" who are unappreciated in their time, so I decided to make a page on Squidoo for Andrew Greeley. Here's hoping for his full and quick recovery!

Sushi Pack, A Hilarious Cartoon

2008-11-09T22:42:00.001-06:00

I first stumbled upon the Sushi Pack cartoon randomly on a Saturday morning, but I couldn't stop watching it. Tiny crime-fighting sushi? That live in a donut shop? I don't think it gets any more amusing than that. It's amazing television, and so I've created a Sushi Pack lens.

The Spokesman Of The Year, Robert Gibbs

2008-11-08T22:20:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I think I'd love this job, and sometimes I think I'd hate it. Robert Gibbs is the spokesman for the Obama campaign, and will now be Obama's press secretary in the White House. The least I can do is create a little lens love for Robert Gibbs!

A retirement lens for Emil Jones

2008-11-07T22:50:00.000-06:00

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones is retiring this year, and after all his years of service he deserves a vacation... BUT he might be tapped to play a part in an Obama administration! I created this lens for Emil Jones as part of my "who will fill Obama's senate seat" speculations!

Future Senator Jesse Jackson Jr?

2008-11-07T20:05:00.001-06:00

This is another lens about potential Chicago politicians who may replace Barack Obama in the Senate. Jesse Jackson Jr is definitely on the short list for the Senate seat, and I'm interested to see what will happen in the next few weeks.

Lisa Madigan, fighting for Illinois!

2008-11-07T19:59:00.001-06:00

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is one tough cookie, and that just might make for a good Senator, don't you think? I created this Lisa Madigan lens as part of my speculations.

A lens about Representative Danny Davis

2008-11-07T19:42:00.002-06:00

Now that Obama has won the presidency, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is going to have to make a decision about who to appoint to Obama's senate seat. I've been doing a bit of speculation and I'm working on various lenses about potential fillers. This lens is about south side Congressman Danny Davis.

Man of the Hour, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich

2008-11-07T18:25:00.002-06:00

Now that Barack Obama is going to resign his Senate seat to move into the White House, it falls to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to appoint a replacement. Blagojevich, who has become mired in investigations of corruption in the last few years, has hinted that he might even appoint himself to fill Obama's seat! With all the attention on him, I thought that Rod Blagojevich deserved his own lens.

Get Schooled - Arne Duncan

2008-11-07T16:15:00.001-06:00

Arne Duncan is a legendary figure in the Chicago educational system, and rumors are saying he's going to be going to Washington DC to serve in President Barack Obama's cabinet. It's nice to see more and more Chicagoans getting a spot in the administration, so I decided to make a lens about Arne Duncan.

Roaring Rahm!

2008-11-06T21:33:00.001-06:00

Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel is certain to have some kind of a role in Obama's administration, so I created this Rahm Emanuel lens to keep track of this tiger of the Democrats!

My Lensography on Squidoo

2008-11-05T19:07:00.002-06:00

Now that I've been on Squidoo for a little while, I've noticed that everyone seems to have a "lensography" about themselves and their lenses. I am a bit shy with my internet persona, but I decided to start putting a lensography together to showcase all of my lenses by topic. JenOfChicago's lensography is still a work in progress!

A shopping lens - Battlestar Galactica Gifts

2008-10-29T23:00:00.000-05:00

As a fan of Battlestar Galactica who is also dating a BSG fan, I have been on the lookout for some good Battlestar related Christmas gifts. While I was on the hunt, I thought I'd make a lens for other people too. My nerdiness perfectly compliments your laziness on my Battlestar Galactica Gifts lens!

Valerie Jarrett

2008-10-21T22:46:00.001-05:00

I'm excited that I'm the first person making this lens, because I think Valerie Jarrett is going to be on the minds of a lot of people in the coming weeks. She's an advisor and friend to Barack Obama, and some people say that if she doesn't end up being assigned his Senate seat, she's definitely going to the White House in some capacity. This great Chicago woman deserves her own Valerie Jarrett lens.

Another fabulous Chicago woman, another lens - Cheryle Jackson

2008-10-21T19:26:00.000-05:00

I've been on a roll with Chicago politics related lenses lately. This latest one is about Cheryle Jackson, an Obama advisor that I suspect may have a big role in the new administration should Obama win. This is sort of a speculative lens on my part, so we'll see if it gets any traffic after the election and once Obama starts naming appointees. You can learn about Cheryle Jackson at my lens.

Oh Jane, Mayor of Chicago

2008-10-17T23:02:00.002-05:00

So today I made my first major Squidoo mistake. I was all set to create a lens on Jane Byrne, former mayor of Chicago. I selected all the info, wrote the lens, and clicked publish... and THEN realized that I had spelled her name incorrectly in the URL. I'm going to have to go back and fix it at some point, but right now I'm going to bed. Jane Byrne, your politics made Chicago crazy, and you're making me crazy now!

Remembering Before Journalism Died, Mike Royko

2008-10-17T19:34:00.001-05:00

Mike Royko was a legendary Chicago journalist, and when I reflected on the current chaos in the world of print media, I decided to pay tribute to Mike Royko by creating a lens for him.

One tough lady - Rep. Barbara Lee

2008-10-15T16:45:00.001-05:00

I've always been fascinated by Representative Barbara Lee, because she seems to have nerves of steel and guts to match. As the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, she's been active on progressive issues for years, but she first came into national prominence when she was the only member of Congress to vote against the use of force following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. Learn more about Barbara Lee at my new Squidoo page.

Illinois State Flag

2008-10-08T20:00:00.002-05:00

Did you ever have to do the state flag project when you were in grammar school, where you picked a state and reported on their flag? I always liked my own state's Illinois State Flag, so I revived my memories of grade school and created this lens.

Waving the Chicago Flag on Squidoo

2008-10-07T21:32:00.000-05:00

The Chicago flag is one of the most distinctive municipal flags. Here in the city it is often used as a motif for private businesses and I know several people with tattoos of the Chicago flag or its colors. I wanted to show my Chicago pride in a less painful way, so I created a Squidoo lens on the Chicago Flag.

Progressives in Congress

2008-10-06T19:30:00.000-05:00

I think the fact that our Congress has different "caucuses" is very interesting - sort of like lunch tables for governmental leaders. The Congressional Progressive Caucus has always been a favorite.

I'm a Jan fan!

2008-10-06T18:05:00.000-05:00

My Representative, Jan Schakowsky, has always been pretty great. I generally find that she votes the way I want her to, and she's fairly accessible to her district. I created a lens for Jan Schakowsky because, truly, I am a Jan Fan!

Good Old Norridge, A Local Lens

2008-10-03T18:28:00.001-05:00

I've always been frustrated at the lack of good information on the internet about the village of Norridge, where I was raised. Apparently no one at city hall knows how to use the internet over there, ha! I decided to try making a local lens about Norridge, IL to share what I know.

A Lens For A Real Hero , Tammy Duckworth

2008-09-29T22:44:00.001-05:00

It's not too often you get to see true heroes, but ever since I heard the story of Tammy Duckworth I thought "she's one of them!" An Iraq veteran who lost both legs in combat, Tammy Duckworth didn't give up - she went on to create a foundation for injured veterans, run for Congress, and now she is the Director of Veteran's Affairs in the state of Illinois. Tammy Duckworth deserves a lens!

I love Studs Terkel

2008-09-24T22:40:00.001-05:00

So I created a lens for him. Studs is getting up there in years, and who knows how much longer he will be with us. My Studs Terkel lens aims to be a tribute to all he has contributed to the world.

The Heart of Wicker Park - Double Door

2008-09-24T21:47:00.001-05:00

As part of my job, I work on some projects at Double Door, a venue that is near and dear to my heart. I've had so many great times at this music venue in Wicker Park, and I'd say that even if I didn't work with the good folks at Double Door, really! This lens about Double Door is a labor of love to a place I love!

Pop Some Popcorn for the Best Movies Set in Chicago

2008-09-23T20:38:00.002-05:00

Similar to my Best Books About Chicago lens, I decided to create a lens about the best movies set in Chicago. I had to do a bit of research on this one, because not all movies set here were filmed here, and vice versa, but it was a fun project. Go settle onto the couch with some popcorn and enjoy the Best Movies Set In Chicago.

Oh Resurrection, Dear Resurrection

2008-09-22T22:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a new lens all about one of the few all-girls Catholic high schools left in Chicago, Resurrection High School on Chicago's northwest side. Goooo Bandits!

A lens about my favorite Chicago-related books

2008-09-22T20:45:00.002-05:00

I am an avid reader, and one of my favorite things is when I pick up a novel at random and find that it is set in Chicago. I also enjoy reading about Chicago history and imagining what the city was like at different times. I've collected some of my favorites on my Best Books About Chicago lens on Squidoo.

A Lens for My Alma Mater, Loyola

2008-09-19T19:21:00.000-05:00

Although Loyola University Chicago is a very different school then it was when I graduated, I will still surprised to see that no one else had made a lens on Squidoo about Loyola. So, I did, and you can learn about Loyola University Chicago here.

CHIRP on Squidoo

2008-09-19T16:30:00.000-05:00

Most of my free time lately has been taken up by CHIRP aka the Chicago Independent Radio Project. Once we get our 501c3 processed, we will be able to apply for various grants, including the non-profit charity program on Squidoo. I thought I'd get a head start and create a lens on the Chicago Independent Radio Project now. Hopefully we'll be able to apply for the charity program soon!

My new lens - American Cancer Society Relay For Life

2008-09-19T13:00:00.002-05:00

Today I created a new page on Squidoo about the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. I've been a Relayer for many years now, and it is has become my pet charitable project every summer to captain a team of my family and friends. This upcoming summer I will be assisting my local Relay with their online information and fundraising, so I thought I'd get a head start by putting together a page on Squidoo. I searched Squidoo to see if anyone else had already put together a page on Relay For Life, but I didn't see any that contained all the information that I wanted to include, so I started my own. I think this will be one of my most successful pages and I hope that it will encourage other people to get involved in Relaying! So go ahead and check out my American Cancer Society Relay For Life page now!

A Lens About Smart Bar

2008-09-18T22:36:00.000-05:00

I couldn't create a lens about Metro and not also create one for Smart Bar, Chicago's best dance club!

A Lens About Metro

2008-09-18T22:26:00.000-05:00

Those who know me well know why I created this lens about Metro, the greatest music venue in Chicago... and the world!
:)