Urban Oasis

So I didn't win.

The winner of the HGTV Urban Oasis of 2011 Giveaway Sweepstakes won apartment in the highly coveted Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago, designed by Vern Yip. The luxury apartment, which has uninhibited views of the architecture of Chicago from the sky high 35th floor, boasts a contemporary look with classic Chicago details. The sweepstakes ran from August to October and you could enter on both HGTV.com and Frontdoor.com twice a day. And of course I did. Everyday. Twice a day. I had it all planned out...calculated the property tax that I would pay each year, picked out the small apartment purse dog that I would have to buy to fit in with the neighbors, thought of themes for a house warming party...sigh. I selfishly didn't post anything about this to increase my chances of winning. I know. I'm a lunatic.

So back to the apartment itself. I am a sucker for knick nacks and Vern Yip is indeed a knick nack genius. He used details to add to the otherwise contemporary design from the Chicago Botanic Garden, Frank Lloyd Wright inspirations, a piece salvaged from an old Chicago ice cream parlor, photos of Chicago landmarks (and not in the typical cheesy way) and the list goes on and on. As for the Trump Tower amenities? To say that the resident's of the towers live in luxury is quite an understatement with the ridiculous amenities they have on site...53 spa rooms, a health club on the 14th floor, Sixteen, a Michelin-rated restaurant, a lounge and bar, Reba and access to all hotel concierge services, including in-room dining, housekeeping, valet and babysitting.....see why I was so crazy about this?! Starting to save my pennies meow!

[photos courtesy of www.HGTV.com/Urban-Oasis)

Illuminating Company

[Bible my dress is NOT white, but look how gorg the bride is]

[Fist pumpin' through the night]

[A little reflection at the Wit]

Last weekend I had so much fun at a wedding at the Chicago Illuminating Company, a very modern, yet classic place to have a wedding in the South Loop. It was SO Chicago with the El track literally right above the building and the warehouse feel of the rooms with exposed brick walls and piping.

As for the decor, I died for all of the beautiful details.....Chicago themed tables with photos taken by the bride's uncle, mini hand-made terrarium giveaways, an amazing three-course meal aaaand not to mention....ahem, top shelf open bar service. The ceremony itself was short and sweet, but what made it so memorable was that one of the grooms' closest and oldest friends from childhood officiated the ceremony. Think of Zach Galifianakis officiating a wedding and that's just what we got to be a part of.

Awesome.

Girl and The Goat

Stephanie Izard is pretty much my idol. A successful female entrepreneur, visionary and damn. good. chef. Her restaurant, The Girl & The Goat, has only been open for one year, in which time I have only had the pleasure of eating at twice (mostly because reservations at normal eating hours are ridiculous to come by and I'm not cool enough to "know" somebody). In that one year Stephanie Izard has managed to snag raving reviews from Time Out Chicago, Saveur magazine, Food & Wine and was nominated for the 2011 James Beard Best New Restaurant Award. ONE YEAR. And before that she was the first female winner of Top Chef. Legit.

This past weekend two of my girlfriends couldn't make our rez for four, so the lucky two of us who were left got to sit right at the kitchen bar. If you want to have a romantic, boring dinner, don't sit right in front of the kitchen, but if you want to have fun and watch the artists at work and chat about the food, where it comes from, the chefs favorites and of course, other boring people eating at the restaurant, then the "best seat in the house" is just that. A bottle of red wine, Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpea fritters, Braised Beef, Pork Ribs and a ton of laughs with the staff later I decided that this is what the other side must be like.

And Taye Diggs.

Good thing I’m compiling my “it’s too cold to breathe outside” list. Here’s to #1 on my cooking projects list: Girl & The Goat Recipes

Weekend

I have to admit, I've been partying pretty hard lately and also working just as much to match. Rough life, I know. Definitely needed this weekend of "rest" so according my definition of it, that's just what I did. Stocking the fridge to make some recipes I've been oogling over, buying flowers to lighten up the apartment, stopping by Design Harvest down the street, going to Wolff's flea market in Rosemont and spending an afternoon exploring downtown Evanston, which is freaking beautiful, by the way. Monday you've got nothing on me!

[Meat and Garlic? YES.]

[Wood side table]

[New friends]

[Evanston, IL]

Instagram My Life

I really question how I ever functioned efficiently without my IPhone. My little buddy is such an intuitive tool and I am surprised everyday by the [entertainment] purposes it offers. One day I'll be sitting on my pinterest and wonder how 30 mins has passed so quickly, while multitasking to book a hotel on my hilton app, pulling up directions to the next location I'm headed to and then texting a friend to tell them that I'm running late (very rarely in this context of course =) ). On the other hand, I wonder if my brain is being killed softly.

[Target.com can suck it because through persistence and tons of yelling at the website, I got my Missoni pouf!]

[A watch that I plan to own someday (soon). In the meantime, dreamtime. I tried this on while I waited to get my battery serviced on my Michele at Division St Watch Co by the awesome owner Steve]

[Balloons lining Michigan Ave for a Chicago Ideas campaign]
[Sunday Funday with a little NFL quiz action at Mother Hubbards in River North. Not to brag, but me and my girlfriend got 100% with no googling][Never get sick of the view from our living quarters][An early morning run on the "beach", a little north of the city]