This same thing happened to me in France. My bank couldn’t figure out why the ATMs kept declining my requests. My dad was able to wire me money eventually, and at some point, my card randomly started working. It was terrifying to be stuck with no money, though.

I was rarely aggressive (only when someone ELSE was in danger), but I learned quickly that in Europe the American “polite decline” that comes with a small smile absolutely has the opposite effect, and any smile was basically taken as encouragement. After 6 months I definitely had the firm “no” down pat. This guy just…

I was traveling through Europe at the end of the study abroad, so I was lugging a huge suitcase from France, to Belgium, to Italy, to Greece, to England. Upon my arrival in Brussels, a man approached me and offered to carry my suitcase up the stairs. I declined, having learned in my time in Europe that men who offered…

It blew my mind that Johnny Flynn (Mr. Knightley) is Jerome Flynn’s (Bronn from GoT) brother.

I went up to Lake Como in Wisconsin with some friends some years back, and I think the bar we went to had regular Friday fish frys, not just during Lent. It was delicious, but the real star was this rye bread that I swear was baked by some sort of bread angels. As a Nebraskan with Czech heritage, I have eaten my fair…

The vegetable biryani is one of my go-tos. It’s a bit dry, but I think the dumplings are delicious.

No, my weeknight meals are a bunless ground turkey breast burger and a portion of a huge kale salad I make on Sunday night. That’s probably partially why I love getting creative on weekends. LOL

Personally, I love complicated and/or impressive recipes. I’m single and child free , so taking time to cook is one of the ways I relax at home, and it’s such a great sense of accomplishment. I love to have friends over for food, and I feel such a sense of pride when I can serve them something special.

I think it will too. I don’t believe this will hurt Joe Biden in any way with people who were even remotely likely to vote for him in the first place. If you’re a NRA voter, you’re voting for Trump. You’re not considering Biden or Sanders or any of the other Democratic candidates. What it does do, is appeal to…

When my friend and I were studying abroad (both in different places), another mutual friend asked us to visit him in Belgium, where he lived with his parents. His mother insisted on house shoes. She thought that it was dangerous to walk on wood floors in socks, and that walking in bare feet gave you a stomach ache.

“...and also appeared to confuse his wife with his sister.”

That was the only one for so long, and now there are two within like four blocks of my place! The one on Belmont, and another one on Broadway and Wellington. 

Nisei Lounge (best dive bar ever) did this two years ago when the only Taco Bell near Wrigley closed. 

I’m going to see Portrait of a Lady on Fire today in honor of these absolute badasses.

Dario’s Brasserie in Dundee. Honestly, I’ve done two extended study abroads in France, I’ve lived in New York and Chicago, and Dario’s 100% without a doubt has the best steak frites I’ve ever had. The majority of the food is excellent (and I love their unique wine list), but I have a hard time going there and not…

He was not an ex by my choice, but I was over the worst of the hurt by that time. Honestly, I was probably angrier at the universe for literally sitting her at the next table from me. Even in Omaha, what are the odds?!

I normally go home to Omaha for my birthday, even though I live in Chicago. My brother and sister and I always go out to an amazing dinner. We went to my favorite restaurant, that serves the best steak frites I’ve ever had, and everything was going well until my ex-boyfriend’s current girlfriend sat at the table…

I wanted this to be a little bit more cutting and incisive than it was, rather than just Taylor Swift dressed up like a dude. I did like that she got The Rock to do her voice at the end though.

I’ve been making a similar cornbread for years, and the only issue I run into is that it’s hard to get a good rise. So it’s delicious, but ugly, cornbread.

For me the fresh ones are definitely worth the effort. They’re so sweet and green and fresh...they taste like spring personified. I usually use frozen as a substitute, but nothing wrong with canned!