Joyful It's Finally Friday

Image found here

Party Favors:

This should come in handy while watching Football

I love this concept of using your wardrobe as decor

I have to agree with this

Have you seen the world's tallest dog?

LOL with these AIM away messages

 

xoxo

 

PS

Fab 5: Life Lately According to Instagram

 

1. Lauched The Grand Rapids Guide

2. Latest addition to the apartment (found here)

3. Bright Pink for Fashion's Night Out

4. Fresh flowers from the Green City Market

5. Working on some new pieces for the Etsy shop

 

xoxo

 

PS



Weekly Pick: Style.ly Hosts Celebratory Selling Soiree

 

Head over to POPS for Champagne tonight for the Style.ly celebratory selling soiree. Learn more about this new online social marketplace that connects merchandise directly with social media and how to's in preparing and selling your personal clothing.

 

RSVP to SkirtPR at info@skirtpr.com for this fashionable event.

 

xoxo

PS

Tasty Tuesday: Apple Crisp

My all time favorite fall dessert is Apple Crisp with an oatmeal crumb topping. Growing up I used to only eat the topping of this crisp because it's really just that good. Check out our family recipe for Apple Crisp below.

4 medium sized apples (I used Granny Smith and Honey Crisp)

1/2 cup of butter (softened)

3/4 cup of packed brown sugar

3/4 cup of all purpose flour

1/2 cup of quick-cooking oats

3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

Heat oven to 350 degrees F and grease the bottom and sides of an 8-in pan. Spread apples in the pan and in a medium sized bowl combine the ingredients (I use my hands). Sprinkle the oatmeal mixture over the apples and bake for about 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Enjoy!

xoxo

PS

Fashion Report: Emmys 2012

 

My Picks for Best Dressed:

                                       Ginnifer Goodwin                                                   Edie Falco

                                         January Jones                                                  Julie Bowen   

Padma Lakshmi

 

xoxo

 

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What I'm Reading Now: My Reading List

I'm still preoccupied with In the Woods right now, but here are a few books I'm looking forward to reading next...

                                   Casual Vacancy                     Gone Girl                         Unbroken


You can also find more books on my reading list by following me on Goodreads. What books are on your reading list?

xoxo

PS

Weekend Links

Image found here

Party Favors:

I love Emily's Rules of Fall (PS if you're in Chicago stop by her book signing tomorrow)

The Tiffany story

Creating storage in a small bathroom

Setting standards

Rise and Shine with these (Toaster 1, Toaster 2)

 

xoxo

 

PS

Fab 5: Tastes of Fall

                                        Acorn Squash & Sweet Potato Soup                                Bruschetta with Roasted Pumpkin, White Cheese and Rocket Salad

                                    Cinnamon Apple Cake with Salted Caramel                                                           Butternut Squash Slaw

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

xoxo

PS

Weekly Pick: The Grand Rapids Guide

For over a year now I've had this idea of starting a website in Grand Rapids that focuses on local businesses and fun events happening around the city. Although I currently live in Chicago I just couldn't put this website to rest and decided it was time to either pursue this dream or live with asking myself "what if?". So this week I launched the The Grand Rapids Guide and I'm really excited to follow through on this idea and what the future holds for the website.

If you currently live in Grand Rapids and have any ideas for the website please let me know. I'm totally open for feedback, and I hope to deliver something people in Grand Rapids will use and enjoy. Thank you for all your support!

xoxo

PS

Tasty Tuesday: Balena

Bon Appetit magazine recently selected Balena for it's 50 best new restaurants in 2012 list so I just had to check this place out. After reading so many raving reviews about the Peter's Bread I knew this was a must to order first. Let me tell you this bread was absolutely the highlight of our evening with 5 different breads (carrot multigrain, tomato crostini, sage and lavender roll, chocolate cherry sourdough and nigella grissini) and 3 types of sauces (gazpacho, caramelized onions, and a peach-vinegar sauce). We also loved the mozzarella, tomato & basil pizza with a perfectly toasted crust in their brick oven and a homemade marinara sauce. To end the night we ordered the blueberry pie gelati with lemon sorbet, caramelized pecan and pie crumble...need i say more?

Images found here & here

xoxo

PS

What I'm Reading Now: Poppy Magazine

I just came across a new e-mag that focuses on the amazing creativity of the design and blogging community. Poppy Magazine has some great features in their August/September issue from Awkward Girls and A Daily Something with helpful tips for inspiring creativity. Love it!

xoxo

PS

TGIF

Image found here

Party Favors:

21 secrets for your 20's

I already found my Halloween costume

The perfect dog leash

How to make an episode of Barefoot Contessa

This is Pure Michigan

xoxo

PS

Fab 5: Looks at NYFW

 

     Honor                                                        Oscar de la Renta

  Marchesa                                                                Jason Wu

 

Jenny Packham

 

Images found here

 

xoxo

 

PS

Weekly Pick: Cheers to 20 Years

Well Tipper here's to you...We'll never forget that exciting day we picked you out (as the small runt of the litter) with that iconic tip on your tail that sealed the deal. As we headed right to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate your homecoming not even the thrilling games or rows of tickets could take my mind off you. I was just too excited to take you home and dress you in my doll clothes and show you off to my friends. 

I know you really loved it when I accidentally locked you in a cabinet while playing house, for giving you a bath when you really didn't need one, and for getting you in trouble for climbing the Christmas tree and breaking all of those ornaments. But I know I made it up to you by remembering to leave you voicemail messages while we were on vacation and sharing my after school snacks with you. I'll probably never eat an Oreo or Teddy Graham again without thinking about you.

We'll also never forget your week long vacation you decided to take without saying goodbye. Wherever you ran off to thanks for coming home to enjoy the last few years of your life being babied with plates of milk and water from the upstairs sink every night at 9PM. Life has never been the same since we brought you home 20 years ago.

Cheers Tipper...You've been through all the best parts of my life and all the challenging pitfalls knowing just when I needed you most. Thank you for all the happy memories that we'll cherish forever.

xoxo

PS

Tasty Tuesday: Bow Truss Coffee Company

After hearing such amazing things about Bow Truss coffee I just had to stop by and see what all the buzz was about. Bow Truss offers a wide selection of diverse coffee blends that are curated and roasted in-house to ensure their beans are always fresh. Because the beans are so fresh you'll definitely be able to tell the difference in the rich and flavorful brews they offer. If you're in the Lakeview area of Chicago be sure to stop by this cozy coffee bar for some spectacular specialty coffee!

Images found here and here

xoxo

PS

What I'm Reading Now: In The Woods

After reading such raving reviews on Tana French and her book In The Woods I decided to finally see what all the hype was about. The book follows detective Rob Ryan on a murder mystery of a young girl in Ireland that triggers memories of the unsolved disappearance of his two childhood friends. Tana French is an excellent writer that delivers suspenseful plot lines (I'm having a hard time setting the book down) and great characters. Have you read any books from Tana French?

xoxo

PS

Happy Friday!

Image found here

Party Favors:

I'm so glad mascara doesn't look like this anymore

What successful people do with the first hour of their work day

Powdered beer?

You can find me on this next summer

Amazing tape portraits

xoxo

PS

Fab 5: Fall 2012 Trends

 

                                Color Crush: Burgundy                                                     Leather

         Fur                                                                 Ladylike Suits

Brocade

Images found here

 

xoxo

 

PS

Weekly Pick: Fashion's Night Out

Fashion's Night Out is tomorrow and Chicago will be buzzing with some of the hottest events to celebrate. Since you can't be everywhere at once I've complied a list of the best places to see and be seen tomorrow.

Here's your itinerary for the night:

1. 900 North Michigan Shops: Join celebrity host Ali Larter for the fashionable events at the 900 shops. You'll enjoy complimentary services from Mario Tricoci, a Fall fashion show (runway starts at 7PM), festive in-store celebrations, a fashion photo booth with Glossed and Found, and decadent bites from some of Chicago's best restaurants.

2. Neiman Marcus: Check out a Fall fashion show hosted by Cori McFadden (owner & founder of Chicago's eDrop-Off and star of VH1's House of Consignment). Also find some amazing food from restaurants RPM Italian, a manicure nail bar, and a fashionista photo booth.

3. Macy's on State: Join the Chicago Fashion Incubator designers and shop their latest styles at this FNO event at Macy's. Nzmiro Optu (from NBC's Fashion Star) will host a fall fashion presentation styled by some of Chicago's hottest fashion bloggers including Shae Peppler (VanillaFringe.com), Nikia Jefferson (ChiTownFashionista) and Hallie Wilson (CoralsandCognacs.com).

xoxo

PS

Tasty Tuesday: Vapiano

If you're looking for a new happy hour destination with your girlfriends or the perfect spot for date night look no further than Vapiano. The restaurant started in Europe and offers made to order Italian favorites in a laid back yet classy atmosphere. Ordering is super easy with their "chip card" that allows you to visit separate stations to order pasta, pizza or a glass of wine. Each table has a fun center console with a potted basil plant, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt & pepper. Great food at a great price in the Lincoln Park neighborhood!

xoxo

PS