celebrate!

Happy Birthday to one of my besties, who inspires me in so many ways!

My favorite things to-do list, these days, is completed by purchasing gifts for friends and mailing thinking-of-you cards. They say that sending thank-you cards to people for whom you are thankful for can enhance your mood significantly. Forget emails and text messages, I am all about snail mail! You can only imagine how my mood was elevated by sending this gift.....especially when the gift recipient is so much like you, it's just like shopping for yourself (with the added fun of picking out the perfect card and wrapping paper). Feliz Cumpleanos!

new music mondays

My first experience of Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays at Millenium Park. A free viewing of Iron and Wine while enjoying good company, bagged sandwiches and adult beverages? Yes please. I have officially logged every event that I want to attend this summer in my iCalendar and my schedule could not be more full :D

sneak peek

We finally moved into the new West Town digs this weekend. More photos to come! View from our living room. [Photo courtesy of the BF and his Lightroom skills]

Love the french doors that lead to our bedroom

Character

A little NYC love

My fridge doesn't have a lick of food in it yet, but better believe that I can't live without my pressed coffee in the morning!

on the road again

Button-up shirts, my kindle, Netflix, Frequent Flier Miles, and business reviews. Welcome to my life outside of Chicago :) Lookin' forward to a weekend of moving into the new place!

memorial

I kept the events of memorial day weekend super low-key, which I guess don't make them events at all, but nonetheless had a nice relaxing weekend of eating, furniture shopping and...more eating...per the usual time consuming suspects in my life.

A girlfriend and I had a delightful American tapas meal at Sable downtown. A charcuterie plate, bottle of Zin and cauliflower gratin later, the waitress informed us that if we chose to participate, 5% of our dinner total would go to a charity. She then presented us with a cook book, which we got to take home, that featured dishes from Chicago's most famed chefs. Furthermore, the chefs featured in the cookbook would donate 5% of all participants' checks when dining at their restaurant. What's the catch? All in the name of charity. All smiles here.

The BF and a few friends stopped into Owen and Engine and surprisingly got a seat at the bar with no resos. When in Rome, or I guess in a British-themed pub, it's only natural to order Fish and Chips. So to go with my Fish and Chips I enjoyed a yummy Pimm's cocktail with Strawberry liqour and for dessert, an oat streusel topped with rhubarb. I am so spoiled living in this city!


Room and Board is where I shall die and go to heaven some day. Or max out every credit card I have to own the stylish home pieces possible. Love the simplicity, not to mention, the amazing quality of the Scandinavian pieces in the showroom.


Revolution Brewery was a quick stop after an exhausting day of completing my honey-do list for the new apartment. Popcorn in bacon fat with cheese and a pork belly burger. Need I say more?


And how cute is this Italian Ice spot on Taylor Street? Amazing first WARM weekend in the city.

tease

Pictures from a weekend when I foolishly believed that spring and summer had finally begun. I cannot wait to have consistent days like this!

consignment

Ever since I attended the Luxury Garage Sale Pop-Up Shop Event a few months ago, I have not been able to stop thinking about buying designer goods for less. So I have been meticulously shopping around town and online to fulfill this new obsession. And saying that it's an obsession is an understatement. Much to my surprise, Chicago's consignment scene is fairly popular. Oh lucky me.

One of my favorites is Crossroads Trading Co, which just celebrated their 20th anniversary, and has locations in Wicker Park, Lincoln Park and Evanston. I recently purchased this YSL blouse there and keep making up celebrations where I will have to wear it.


E-Drop Off just opened a new store in the Gold Coast and word around town is that "ladies who lunch" quite often drop off their good for resale here. They only accept items that have at least a $50 selling potential and give owners 40% of each item sold. They also have an amazing selection of designer goods on their website. I noticed a Berkin bag and vintage Hermes recently sold.....

Luxury Garage Sale, which started my whole obsession with designer consignment, also operates under a similar premise as E-Drop Off. Their online shop can be found here.

Buffalo Exchange is the consignment shop most probably know about. The location in Chicago is in Wicker Park, right down the street from Crossroads. I've been sporting a vintage, crossbody Coach purse, that I picked up a few weeks ago as a result of dropping off some old designer goods of my own.


Decrease your footprint, save money and look good while doing it! Everybody wins.