Cheers to the Weekend

 

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Party Favors:

10 ways to create joy

 A creative way to use paint chip panels

Do you think it's ok for this top L.A. restaurant to shame no-shows on Twitter?

What your Instagram filter says about you
Do Millennials stand a chance in the real world?

xoxo

PS

Fab 5: Under $20

1. This pineapple kitchen towel from Furbish Studio adds a fun element to your kitchen ($18.00)

2. I'm slightly obsessed with making pro/con lists so this notepad from J.Crew is right up my ally. ($8.00)

3. Pick up the latest issue of Domino Magazine featuring great tips for small spaces - perfect for city dwellers ($11.99)

4. Keep your feet warm and in style this spring with floral socks from the Gap ($7.95)

5. Jen Roffe's Etsy prints will add some inspiration to your gallery wall ($18.62)

xoxo

PS

Weekly Pick: Five Things

I'm loving these "Five Things" posts floating around the blogosphere right now so I thought I would join in a give some of you a chance to know me a little more. What I love about these posts is that sometimes we (or maybe just I) forget about the person behind the blog. We're all real people with different backgrounds and interests and learning more about each other is a great way to stay connected and understand one another on a personal level. So here are five things you might not know about me:

1. I'm always cold. And I know always is a long time but this really is the truth. My hands and feet are cold all the time which leads me to believe the saying "cold hands, warm heart" is actually true. If you come to my office 9 times out of 10 I'll have my coat close by or my space heater on.

2. I'm terrified of sharks. Seeing them at the aquarium or in TV/movies will without a doubt give me nightmares. This also includes the show River Monsters...Please don't tell me if they did an episode in Illinois or Michigan.

3. I'm a vegetarian (or maybe I should clarify and say "pescatarian" since I eat fish). For the past 2 years I've been meat free and not because I hate meat or to make a statement about animal cruelty, but because being a vegetarian just fits my lifestyle.

4. I need background noise. I'm one of those people that sleeps with a fan, always has the TV on, walks around the city with earbuds in, and works best with a Spotify playlist going in the background. The thought of sitting in a room that's completely silent makes me anxious which is probably not normal but it's true.

5. I hate going to the doctor/dentist/etc. I come from a family of doctors and I probably know more about medical illnesses and medications than most people so going to the doctor shouldn't be a big deal right? Wrong because I loath going to the doctor and will reward myself (with a trip to J.Crew, Sprinkles cupcakes or a new pair of shoes) if I make an appointment and don't cancel it.

xoxo

PS

Tasty Tuesday: The J.Parker

The weather in Chicago has been anything but spring-like which has me longing for some warm weather and the chance to hang up my North Face jacket for good. I recently celebrated my birthday at the The J.Parker and had to keep you in the loop about this gem located atop the Hotel Lincoln in Lincoln Park. The views of Lake Michigan and the city can't be beat from this rooftop patio which is why I intend to spend quite a few of my summer days with friends right here. The J.Parker has an awesome cocktail list and their food is outstanding so all in all this place is a win.

Images found here

xoxo

PS

What I'm Reading Now: The Other Boleyn Girl

I've always had a slight obsession with historical fiction and for awhile I was really addicted to watching the The Tudors (if you haven't seen this show watch it on Netflix now and thank me later). So naturally I picked up The Other Boleyn Girl and I haven't been able to put it down at night (this is the reason I need two cups of coffee each morning). I already know the plot line obviously, but for some reason I just can't stop reading this book to find out what happens next. The characters are really well developed and reading the story from Mary Boleyn's point of view puts things in a new perspective.

xoxo

PS

Words for the Weekend

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Party Favors:

38 best local news captions

I'm slightly obsessed with this idea to use a framed map as a headboard

If I had $42,000 laying around I would totally buy this

What goes through my mind every time I go to Trader Joe's

 Healthy office snacks

xoxo

PS

Fab 5: Keep it Short

1.2.

3.4.

5.

1. Gap clean front floral shorts

2. Old Navy the Diva cuffed denim shorts

3. LOFT Triumph stripe jacquard shorts

4. Lilly Pulitzer Callahan print shorts

5. Joie Merci shorts

xoxo

PS

Thoughts on Turning 27

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Highlights from this past year:

1.Starting the Grand Rapids Guide

2.Featured on WGN for Rent the Runway

3.Opening an Etsy Shop

4.Being featured on the Cherry Republic Newsletter

5.Kayaking the Chicago River

6.Summer vacation in Glen Arbor

7.Writing for apartments.com

8.Celebrating my Mom's 50th birthday in Disney World

9.A memorable first trip to New York

10.Seeing Andrew Belle perform in Old Town

11.Touring Wrigley Field

12.A style feature on the Urbaness

13.Running the Lincoln Park Zoo 10k

14.Saying goodbye to Tipper

15.Starting my 101 in 1001 list

Although this might be true I'm embracing 27 today with open arms and excitement for the year ahead. It's slightly scary to think I'm getting closer to 30 (typing that number was a little difficult), but age is really just a number. After receiving this quote in my inbox yesterday to "laugh like you're 10, party like you're 20, travel like you're 30, think like you're 40, advise like you're 50, care like you're 60, and love like you're 70" I realized it's important to embrace each stage of life regardless of where you are.

xoxo

PS 

Tasty Tuesday: Bread & Wine

Growing up in Grand Rapids, MI and currently living in Chicago brought me a little closer to Bread & Wine with mentions of my favorite restaurants and recipes I've always wanted to re-create. For instance, the Gaia Cookie in Grand Rapids ranks at the top of my list for "best chocolate chip cookie" and every time I have one I'm always guessing the ingredients with my Mom. When I saw the recipe for these cookies in the Table of Contents of Bread & Wine I immediately flipped to the recipe with a big smile on my face to finally uncover the recipe.

Gaia Cookies: (I cut the recipe in half because let's be honest I would have eaten all of these)

Ingredients:
1 stick of butter (I recommend unsalted butter)
3/4 cups of brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon of vanilla
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped dates, raisins, dried cherries or cranberries

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix well. Add flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and mix well. Add coconut, walnuts, chocolate chips, and dates or other dried fruit. Mix until combined. Drop tablespoons of dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (or Silpat), 8 per sheet. Refrigerate for a few minutes so the dough doesn't spread out too quickly while baking (this is my new secret for baking cookies). Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden. Makes 1 dozen cookies.

I also made the Goat Cheese Biscuits from Table Fifty-Two (a must visit restaurant if you're ever in Chicago) and the Green Well Salad from The Green Well in Grand Rapids.

I don't typically use this blog as a place to dive into my personal life but making a recipe from Grand Rapids and Chicago was a chance for me to remember what I love so much about each city. Some of you reading this know I've been wrestling with the decision to continue following my dreams here in Chicago or move back to my hometown of Grand Rapids in pursuit of new dreams. When I moved to Chicago two years ago I had a vision for how I thought Chicago would bring me closer to my personal and professional goals, but I lost sight of this vision when things weren't lining up the way I wanted. To tell you the truth I think I was afraid of creating a life for myself here and apart from everything familiar in Grand Rapids. My mindset of Chicago was a "second home" or a "temporary"solution that was ultimately preventing me from creating a home and roots of my own in this city.

So I'm officially staying in Chicago for a least another year because I feel like my story here is still being written (although many of you know these past two years could already be made into a New York Times bestseller or Emmy winning TV sitcom). I'm challenging myself this year to recognize Chicago as my "home" and create more of a connection to this amazing city.

xoxo

PS

What I'm Reading Now: Bread & Wine

When I heard Shauna Niequist was writing a new book I was instantly excited to get my hands on it and devour her inspiring words. Well the best part about her latest book Bread & Wine* is that you can also devour some of her favorite recipes that are scattered throughout the book (warning: this book will make you hungry). Shauna has an incredible gift of connecting with the reader with her stories that make you feel like you're reading a letter from your best friend. Her intention with writing this book is that you'll read the pages curled up on your couch and then bring it to the kitchen, turning pages, breaking the spine and spilling red wine on it while you chop and play music in your messy kitchen. This is exactly how I found myself reading the book with a pen in my hand highlighting different passages and bookmarking recipes to make.

Since I grew up in Grand Rapids, MI and currently live in Chicago it was really fun to read through references and recipes from each of these two cities I call "home." To be honest I laughed and cried as I was reading the book and came away with a clear understanding of how food not only feeds our body but also our soul. This quote at the end of the book sums it up well, "I want you to gobble life up in huge bites, tasting everything, trying every new flavor, remembering every smell and texture like it's the best thing you've ever had. I want you to live with wild gorgeous abandon, throwing yourself into each day, telling the truth about who you are and who you are not, writing a love song to the world itself and to the God who made every inch of it."

Shauna's other books Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet were life changing books that I still flip through from time to time. The chapter "Twenty-Five" from Bittersweet has always been one of my favorites for this reminder, "Don't get stuck in the past, and don't try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven't yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life's path." I find myself keeping these books close at hand for times when I need a little inspiration, and they make awesome gifts for friends and family members.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my Tasty Tuesday post featuring the Goat Cheese Biscuits from Table Fifty-Two here in Chicago and the Green Well Salad and Gaia Cookies from Grand Rapids that are featured in Bread & Wine.

xoxo

PS

*Bread and Wine will be released April 9, 2013 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.

TGIF

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Party Favors:

A great reminder

7 habits of uber-productive people

The perfect nail polish guide (OPI's Bubble Bath is my all time favorite)

A guide to picking the best seat at a restaurant

This video just made my day

xoxo

PS

Fab 5: Laser-Cut Details

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3.4.

5.

1. I love this laser cut top from Madewell that's easy to dress up or down.

2. The Tory Burch laser cut iPhone case is a fun stylish accessory.

3. Send your friends these beautiful Vera Wang laser cut notes to stay in touch.

4. Step into spring with these Belle Sigerson Morrison flats in a bright hue.

5. You can update your classic leather bag with this ASOS laser cut tote.

xoxo

PS

Weekly Pick: City Style

I got the hint after my last outfit post that some of you are really interested in my style and want to see more. So with my sister in town last weekend we headed down to the harbor to snap a few photos and take advantage of a sunny (yet chilly) morning. Walking along the harbor had me longing for warmer weather where I wouldn't have to worry about slipping on the ice in these heels or running back to my apartment to grab a coat. Thankfully next week is the first day of spring!

Cape: J.Crew/ Shirt: J.Crew/ Jeans: Gap/ Heels: Gap/ Sunglasses: Forever 21/ Hat: H&M/ Bag: VJSTYLE

xoxo

PS

Tasty Tuesday: Brasserie 54

Last week my friend and I went on a culinary journey to France at Brasserie 54 located in Andersonville. The comfortable bistro atmosphere, exceptional customer service and a menu featuring classic but approachable french cuisine were highlights of the evening.

We started with a delicious cheese plate that included a cottonwood aged cheddar, petit basque and comte cheese paired with toasted baguette and apricot preserves. Those of you who know me well know that I'm obsessed with a good cheese plate and this one didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed trying a new type of cheese and the fresh apricot preserves was a delicious pairing. 

My friend ordered the croque vegetable with spinach, brie and caramelized onion served with their homemade frites. The sandwich was cooked to perfection and we couldn't stop eating the addictive frites. The portions here are pretty generous so I would suggest splitting the sandwich and save room for dessert (or more frites).

I ordered the savory quiche with mushrooms and spinach served with mixed greens in a lemon vinaigrette. The flaky crust of the quiche and the fresh seasonal ingredients made this dish a winner. I also really enjoyed the side salad with the tangy vinaigrette to round out the meal. 

If you're looking for a great date spot or a place to catch up with friends I would highly recommend Brasserie 54. I'll be back with my friends for the affordable french cuisine, amazing customer service, and the patio this summer. 

xoxo

PS