Mac & Cheese Lists

Head Cheese-It Saya likes lists

Saya’s Type A. She’s organized. She likes bullet points. She likes to cross things off. She has (strong, sometimes inane) opinions. She finds lists really helpful in brainstorming and reflecting. She likes easy to find, access, and share information. Especially of the win-win-win variety. Lists here are of the “This is so helpful!” variety and of the “What am I supposed to do with this knowledge?” variety. Take what serves you, leave what doesn’t.

Links may be referral links. You may get goodness, M&C may get goodness, both may get goodness. Goodness being a credit, discount, compensation, a high-five. If M&C refers someone or something, know that the referral is rooted in genuine reverence for his/her/its quality and usefulness.

Because Mac & Cheese is headquartered in Chicago, many of the lists are Chicago-heavy. But many of the people, organizations, activities work virtually, so if something piques your interest, don’t let location deter you from exploring further! If a business listed has closed, shoot Saya a note (so hard to keep up with openings and closings!).

To pop out any listing, tap it/”expand space” arrow. To make tables easier to view on non-mobile, click “View larger version” at bottom.

Mac & Cheese Service Provider Referral List

Look for this badge to know you’ll get quality work by quality people

Due to the amount of asks and Saya attempting some amount of selectivity, no, you can’t be added to the list (even though what you offer is fabulous). She adds people at her discretion. If you’d like exposure to the Cheese-It network, head here.

Alphabetical by category — 

  • AV
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Facilitation
  • Financial
  • Graphic Design
  • Housing
  • Insurance
  • Law
  • Organizing
  • Personal Development (career, love, self-care, life)
  • Physical (doctor, dentist, trainer, etc.)
  • Web / Social Media / Tech / Online Marketing
  • Words

Life of Yes℠ Resources

See tabs for categories. On mobile, click the upper left three lines in the orange menu bar.

Coffeehouse Recommendations

For non-Chicago coffeehouses, head here.

More Lists

Material Item Loves (cleaning, household, tech, writing+)

Chicago: activities, lodging, eats+

Your (used to be my) Excuses

  • “It’s not the right time.”
  • “I’m waiting for a better time.”
  • “When I have more time.”
  • “I’m saving money.”
  • “I don’t have money.”
  • “When I lose ten pounds.”
  • “Once I get that promotion.”
  • “I’m waiting for a sign.”
  • “When I move.”
  • “Next month.”
  • “Next year.”
  • “January 1.”
  • “After I get certified.”
  • “Once I get it perfect.”
  • “When it feels right.”
  • “I don’t know what to say.”
  • “I don’t have anything new to say.”
  • “I’m a private person.”
  • “I’m an introvert.”
  • “I’ve been hurt.”
  • “I don’t want to appear braggy.”
  • “I haven’t done anything share-worthy.”
  • “I like so many different things.”
  • “I’m not an expert.”
  • “I don’t want to be a downer.”
  • “I’ll offend someone.”
  • “I’m different.“

Your Pet Peeves

I collected pet peeves for a film I was making. A sampling.

  • People who clap when airplanes land
  • People who use tiny Neiman Marcus bags to carry their lunch to work
  • People who say “that’s a mute point” 
  • The Dave Matthews Band
  • When people set alarms and then go out of town
  • New fathers who talk of their wives as if they’re farm animals. “Her left breast doesn’t produce as much milk as the right breast.”  
  • People who wear outerwear – coats, hats – indoors
  • Nicholas Sparks’ books
  • People who put clothing on animals
  • Stock tip emails
  • Waiting for service people to make house calls (cable, phone, etc.)
  • Men adjusting themselves in public
  • People who groom themselves in public, particularly cutting nails in close quarters like an el car or bus
  • Cleaning out the sink trap
  • Losing one glove instead of two
  • People who honk going through alleys
  • People who don’t honk going through alleys

My Pet Peeves

  • Refrigerated peanut butter
  • People who say “It’s in God’s hands.”
  • Open-ended text messages like “How was your day?”
  • Dogs that look like rats
  • People who hate the Dave Matthews Band because so many people like them
  • Guys who have seven acoustic guitars but don’t play guitar
  • Black jelly beans
  • When I can hear people: 1) chewing 2) swallowing 3) breathing
  • When someone refers to their condo, instead of their home – “Want to come over to my condo on Friday?”
  • Spending money on feminine hygiene products
  • Sticky syrup bottles
  • Not being able to find your favorite bra in stores anymore
  • Emails with the urgent flag
  • People over 25 who have their bed in the corner or don’t have a headboard
  • The expression “Where you at?”
  • LOLs and text spelling, e.g. “Where r u?”
  • People who boo at karaoke
  • People who wait to take out their Ventra AT the turnstile
  • Socks that slide down in my boots/shoes
  • Squishy fruit
  • Food that goes bad right after you bring it home
  • People who don’t know how to use Reply All
  • People who choose ringtones in coffeehouses
  • No matter how slow/fast you open a yogurt/pudding, it always squirts on your clothes
  • When you eat something and then later that day you notice mold in it
  • Socks with sandals
  • People who don’t wave when you let them pull in front of them
  • Men who catcall, stare, comment on your physical appearance
  • When you’ve been talking forever on the phone and realize the person was disconnected and have to restate your deep thoughts
  • When people tell you the age of their child in days or months if the child is over a year

Where I’ve traveled internationally

  • Jamaica
  • Rwanda
  • England
  • Mexico
  • Amsterdam
  • Belgium
  • France
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • Argentina
  • Chile
  • Ireland
  • Belize
  • Bahamas
  • Italy
  • Japan

My Education Path

  • Cornflakes Preschool
  • Chiaravalle Montessori School
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Experimental Laboratory School
  • Evanston Township High School
  • Boston College
  • Life

Where I’ve lived as an adult

More in depth list: What do the homes you’ve lived in as an adult say about you?