RED in the city

love - at Starbucks

2012-02-10T12:01:00.000-06:00

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to post some heart-inspired pictures. When I got my Joy tea yesterday, Starbucks served it up in this love-ly cup.

Photo credit: Me. My BlackBerry.

rich colors and textures

2012-01-21T15:20:00.000-06:00

While I was waiting for my hair stylist last month, I snapped these pictures from a Harper's Bazaar spread. I thought the editorial was fantastic, and paired with the Maybelline ad on the facing page - dramatic! The snakeskin coat is designed by Frida Giannini for Gucci's Fall 2011 collection. More saturated, rich colors and gorgeous clothes from the collection are available via Vogue's slide show. I love the hats, sunglasses, rich jewel colors, snakeskin shoes, but this fur teal coat is next up on my fantasy wish list!

next up on our (fantasy) registry

2012-01-19T17:25:00.000-06:00

Being that I love (most) things giraffe, My mom sent me this Craigslist post - a taxidermy giraffe for sale! As part of our fantasy wedding registry, I think I may have to add him to the list! The ceilings in my condo are at least twelve-feet high - at eight-feet tall, he would fit in just fine.

Photo credit: Craigslist post by Kahuna's Antiques & Uniques in Grand Blanc

The Three Graces

2012-01-16T21:29:00.002-06:00

A friend and I went to the Art Institute recently and one of the exhibits I found very intriguing is a small photography exhibit called, "The Three Graces," which runs through January 22, 2012. I've been to many a second-hand shop or flea market and looked through boxes of discarded photographs, wondering who the people were in the photos. A man named Peter J. Cohen came across collections of discarded photographs and started collecting them. He noticed that many of the photos featured women in groups of three and named his growing collection The Three Graces, which is an iconic motif in Western art. Here are some of the images that caught my eye in the collection.

1910s, Photographer Unknown

1920s, Photographer Unknown

1950s, Photographer Unknown

My mom, sister and me at our friend Kerri's wedding. 2003.

And an addition of my own from my photo collection!

a new sparrow finds his way (to my) home

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

My mom gave me this sparrow for Christmas and I love adding it to my bird collection.

may you live a long & happy life

2012-01-08T21:51:00.002-06:00

Chachi surveying the scene. Thanksgiving 2011.

I was up every two hours on Friday night with Miko and his upset stomach, so we were off to the vet early Saturday morning. Miko needed to stay at the vets for fluids via IV and monitoring, so then I came home from the vets and took care of Elliot's breakfast and litter box. Shannon stayed home and fed Chachi and took him out.

Miko enjoying being a country dog. Thanksgiving 2011.

The daily care and feeding of the fur posse on a regular day is a lot. On a day when one or more of these guys are sick, it can be overwhelming. (Extra trips outside, laundering pet bedding, mopping up mishaps...) On Saturday, I said to Shannon, "Whew...sometimes our pets are a lot of work."

Elliot relaxing in his usual perch.

Shannon said, "Well, pets are supposed to make us happy and help us live longer." To which I responded, "Then we are going to live a LONG time."

Photo credit: Me. Chachi and Miko - Canon Rebel. Elliot - BlackBerry.

Eve of the Eve 2011

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

To close out 2011, we went to Eve of the Eve at Union Station. I love the grandeur of the space. Out of the cluster of sparkle, I ended up wearing a rhinestone necklace, but the best accessory is a smile! (Corny, I know, but I can't help myself.)

I added texture to my outfit with lace-patterned stockings and shoes with bows. And so did my friend Mary! When I was trying to decide between a sparkly bracelet, or my favorite bird ring, Shannon's input was, "Wear the bird ring, it's more fun." (Does he know me or what?)

Head to Toe - We clean up pretty well, I'd say!

A live performance by "South of I-80"

2,000+ people fill the Great Hall at Union Station

Union Station - Great Hall

I added color with my vintage green coat.

We had our photos taken in a photo booth (Magnolia Photo Booth Co.), enjoyed cake pops (and other goodies) and the open bar, and danced. Another great night, and a fun way to close out 2011.

Photo credit: Me or Shannon. Panasonic Lumix.

every day living

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

One of the things I love about Shannon is his enthusiasm for life - in the little things and the big things. The other day he said, "It's wonderful to be excited about tomorrow every day!" I love the sense of optimism about what's ahead. I have been thinking about my goals for this coming year and I'll be posting my thoughts on this soon (before the 'new year' gets away from me), but this is a good mantra for daily living, not just a new year resolution.

Photo credit: Me. Canon Rebel.

dressing up - the details

2012-01-02T07:30:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite events in Chicago is "Eve of the Eve" - which takes place the night before New Year's Eve at the Great Hall in Union Station. It's a black-tie optional event, so a great night to get dressed up. The event is also a benefit for an organization called HighSight, which helps provide scholarships and academic support to Chicago students.

Alex Evenings Taffeta Dress - Von Maur

I love an occasion to get dressed up (both my grandmothers did too), so I decided to get a new dress for the event. While I was home in Michigan, my mom and I went shopping at Laurel Park. We found a great dress at Von Maur - a classic black dress, with this beaded detail at the waist. It also has pockets - I love dresses with pockets. It's a simple dress, but as soon as I put in on, I liked how I felt in it.

I was going to get a new necklace and then I remembered I had all of these options at home! Lots of vintage rhinestones and sparkle to choose from in my own jewelry drawer.

So... I got these new dressy shoes instead!

I'm very happy with how it all came together. Photos from Eve of the Eve to come!

Photo credits: Dress - Von Maur; Details - Me. Panasonic Lumix.

out on a limb

2012-01-01T22:09:00.000-06:00

When I was home visiting my family, we got plenty of laughs from the squirrels who like to eat berries from a tree outside the dining room window. The squirrels would hang by their tiny little feet in order to get the berries they wanted, and then flip back around to get back to more secure branches. So funny to watch! I also thought that this photo would be a good reminder for 2012 - to remember to go out on a limb once and a while.

Happy New Year to you!

Photo credit: Me. Canon Rebel.

2011 Ornaments

2011-12-31T16:18:00.000-06:00

Growing up, my mom gave each of us kids an ornament with the year on it, and our name. As adults, my brother, sister and I have a collection of ornaments with a lot of special memories. I've continued with this tradition and have added new ornaments each year. These are the ornaments for 2011 - paper mache letters with my initial and Shannon's initial. We both love to read and I like how they are made with recycled paper. These were made in Haiti.

Scenes from Christmas 2011

2011-12-31T13:07:00.000-06:00

Before I pack up Christmas for 2011, I thought I would post a few more photos of some of the other decorations.

The Wise Men travel east.

A colorful Santa

A Christmas Fairy

I got the white angel in 1997. There's a label on the back that notes the year.

Tree No. 4 - This one is by the front door.

sleepy dog update

2011-12-29T11:02:00.000-06:00

Chachi finds a good spot on the bed with all the pillows this morning.

After we come home from visiting family, our dogs are worn out! It's a break from their regular routine, especially during the work week when Shannon are gone and they sleep most of the day. At my parent's house, they are busy from the moment they wake up in the morning until night time with lots of TLC and attention from my mom, dad, and sister, romping with Sam the dog, trying to befriend Lila and Darwin the cats, and a yard to run around in whenever we open the back door. We come home and Chachi and Miko crash for a couple of days.

Miko crashed out on the couch.

Chachi's second spot this morning - on the couch. He likes to burrow and be 'in' somewhere.

Getting a little more comfortable.

tea tastes better...

2011-12-29T10:42:00.000-06:00

This is a mug that I keep at work for tea. One day when I was getting hot water, a coworker commented that it was a "nice mug," and "I'll bet tea tastes better in a mug like that." That made me smile - it's true, sometimes tea *does* taste better from this pretty blue mug!

"Beautiful People Do Not Just Happen"

2011-12-23T11:13:00.000-06:00

I found this on Pinterest and I just love this quote. Think of the beautiful people you know and share it with them!

happy holiday sparkle!

2011-12-23T11:09:00.001-06:00

So I didn't actually buy the sparkly boots I posted the other day, but I'm very happy with my Merry Christmas manicure! Super glittery. This is two coats of OPI's An Affair in Red Square and one coat of Excuse Moi, from the new OPI Muppet collection.

shiny disco ball shoes

2011-12-21T16:27:00.000-06:00

Check out these super shiny silver boots! These are in the window at Akira on State Street.

silver and peacock blue

2011-12-20T07:30:00.000-06:00

We also have a five-foot silver Christmas tree. This year I decorated it mostly in turquoise. I have a pretty peacock ornament for the top of the tree and I found these feather ball ornaments at Walmart. I love how fluffy these ornaments are!

Photo credit: me. Panasonic Lumix.

a white Christmas

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

Here's the latest addition to the Christmas tree collection - a four-foot white tree. It's pre-lit, which is great! Plug in and decorate. I really like how the colorful ornaments really pop against the white.

The other night I saw what must have been an eight-foot tall white tree a window as I walked by on the street. It was gorgeous. I tried to take a photo with my Blackberry, but since I couldn't do much about the lighting, the photo looked like really bright light coming through the window, but the tree wasn't visible in the photo. I would love to have a big white tree (and the alcove window to go with it) like that one.

Since Miko is still very puppy-ish, I put up trees that can be placed on tables or on the window ledge. With the white tree in the window, Shannon said, "Maybe we should get a tree for EVERY window." I burst out, "I LOVE THAT IDEA!" Shannon just shook his head and said, "Uh... I was really just being sarcastic." Hmmm.... maybe I'll surprise him with that NEXT Christmas!

Photo credit: Me. Panasonic Lumix.

interesting details: cow skulls

2011-12-18T17:50:00.001-06:00

I went to the Art Institute of Chicago this weekend to get some of my Christmas shopping done at the AIC gift shop (I'm a member, so it is also nice to use the member discount benefit). I found some interesting gifts and when I was leaving, I noticed the bas relief on the pillars outside of the AIC. I had not noticed them before, which surprised me. I like how worn they look, like a real skull weathering over time.

Photo credit: Me. My Blackberry.

a taste of Detroit (sparkling wine)

2011-12-16T18:04:00.000-06:00

Someone brought this M. Lawrence Detroit Sparkling wine to our nail spa outing. It was quite delicious. So much so I wanted to be able to remember the label and name and learn more about where it's from. The M. Lawby winery is in Michigan and has been growing and bottling Leelanau Peninsula wines since the fall of 1978. They started producing sparkling wines under the M. Lawrence label in 2004. The winery offers tastings year-around. To visit, check out their web site.

Marilyn at Night

2011-12-16T07:30:00.000-06:00

Sculpture by J. Seward Johnson Jr.

All around Chicago there are so many wonderful public art displays from Cloud Gate in Millenium Park to more temporary exhibits like the "Eye" and last winter's Pop-Up Art in the Loop. The sculpture of Marilyn Monroe in Chicago's Pioneer Court has both drawn criticism and wonder from the many passersby. At night, I think the sculpture looks ethereal and a bit magical, as if she was dropped into the city by the Chicago wind.

Photo credit: My Blackberry.

Girls Night In - At A Nail Salon!

2011-12-15T21:30:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com

One of the things I enjoy about the holidays - all the parties and gatherings. One of the things that is stressful and overwhelming about the holidays - all the parties and gatherings! That's why I love a work outing that has become a tradition with my female colleagues these last few years - a late afternoon spa outing. There are a number of nail salons and spas in Chicago that are "BYOB," allowing clients to bring wine and champagne as well as food. We pick a spa close to the office and set up manicures and/or pedicures for everyone who is interested in going. We all bring festive food and drink to make it a party. It's nice to be pampered during the holidays and who doesn't love holiday-ready nails! There's no pressure on anyone in the group to make special preparations to entertain guests at their home since it's hosted at the spa. We all get to relax, catch up outside of the office, and toast to the busy year (the one behind us and one that's ahead!).

Jasmine's Nails and Spa, Chicago

Tonight I'm baking my contribution to the party - a red velvet bundt cake. As I've mentioned in a related post, I love my bundt cake pan. It's all one piece, there aren't layers to contend with, and it looks nice enough to take to a party. I gathered up my hand mixer (which is an oldie but still works), the bundt cake pan, a Duncan Hines red velvet cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. I'm going to top the cake with vanilla frosting and crushed Pretzel Crisps- White Chocolate Peppermint.

Once the cake mix, eggs, water and oil are mixed, I pour it into the bundt cake pan that I sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

The cake baked for 45 minutes. After cooling, when I went to take the cake out of the pan, there was a mishap - about a quarter of the cake was still in the pan (hmmm... not enough non-stick spray)! I took a thin spatula and very carefully pulled the cake away from the pan. Luckily for me tonight, I was able to fit the missing piece back on the cake.

The frosting will help cover these imperfections (and I'm not one to worry about an imperfect cake). I drizzled the vanilla frosting over the top of the cake, letting it run down the sides. Next up - the red sugar sprinkles. Then I crushed the white chocolate peppermint pretzels and added those around the top. I finished with one more quick glaze of frosting to keep the crushed pretzels from slipping down the sides.

The imperfection is covered up and I think the cake looks pretty good! Hopefully my friends will like it too. Cheers to you and yours - I hope you enjoy the holidays with friends and family. (And don't let the mishaps along the way dampen your celebration!)

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.

holiday decor: a homemade wreath

2011-12-13T12:42:00.002-06:00

This past weekend I got a lot of my Christmas shopping done and decorated the house. But Christmas feels official at our house when I put the wreath on the door. I made this one a few years ago (maybe even close to ten years ago?!) and each year I carefully pack it away and so far, it's holding up pretty well. I love the sheen and shimmer of the green ribbon and the bird with its birdhouse.

Today I went to get my lunch at Block 27 (a shopping mall) and there was a student orchestra set up in the atrium, playing holiday music. It made me smile and that's a nice bonus during this busy season!

Christmas Trees Around Town - Public

2011-12-09T07:30:00.000-06:00

This is Christmas tree is in the lobby of Public Hotel in Chicago. I liked seeing the reflection of the tree in the mirror. My friend Jon has a review of the lobby bar at Public on his blog, Author On the Town.

all that glitters is gold this season

2011-12-07T19:30:00.000-06:00

Thanks to L'Oréal for sponsoring my post about my favorite beauty looks, tips and tricks! Check out Makeup.com for beauty advice from the experts.

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is that everything has a special shine, extra sparkle is encouraged, and all the lights seem to wink and twinkle. I don't need much encouragement in that department, as I don't think I've met a sequin I didn't like! (Previous posts on my magpie tendencies are here.)

A glittery gold window at Macy's, State Street

One of my favorite trends this season is gold make-up. When I first saw gold-toned make-up, I was hesitant to try it. I think it's an easy thing to go from attractive to tacky pretty quickly. When I saw this eyeshadow collection from L'Oréal Paris, I was happy it includes a really pretty gold that I could experiment with this season. It turns out it's one of the shadows I like to wear every day.

Colors Take Flight - Watchful Owl's Gaze - L'Oréal Paris

I start with the dark charcoal color (upper right in quadrant above) and make a "wedge" of color on the corner of each eyelid, blending it into the crease of my eyelid. I use an eyeliner brush, dipping it in the charcoal color and line the lower lid along the outer edge. Then I take the bronze/brown color (lower right) and blend from the inner corner of my eyelid and over the eyelid. This tones down the charcoal a bit and adds another subtle dimension. I finish by sweeping the gold (lower left) over my browbone and arch. I curl my eyelashes, add one coat of mascara (my current favorite is Soft and Full from Maybelline in very black), let the first coat dry, and then I curl my lashes again.

If I want to intensify the look for evening, I add more of the charcoal to create a smokier eye, and more of the gold. I really like that I use this same shadow collection for day or evening.

With a little lip gloss, this is the finished look.

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. Click here to learn more about Makeup.com or become a Facebook fan by clicking here.

holiday decor in 3-D

2011-12-07T17:49:00.001-06:00

I did some Christmas shopping today during lunch and stopped in at Anthropologie. Once again, I was struck by the displays. This one hangs over merchandise at the top of the stairs. The "snow" falling from the ceiling on the main level is also very pretty. And both displays have a great 3-D effect and use of space.

my first chili cook-off

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

There was a chili cook-off yesterday at work to raise money for the food drive this year. Employees were asked to participate as "chefs" and bring in their favorite chili. Employees who didn't want to cook paid $5 and they were admitted in to the tasting and got to taste as many different chilis as they wanted. I was so impressed - there were so many different kinds from the traditional beef and bean chili recipes to white chicken and vegetarian chocolate!

My friend Kristine shared her recipe with me a couple of years ago and I've since adapted it as my own. I decided to participate and as a nod to Kristine, I named the chili, "K&L Corral Chili." It's made with lean ground beef and ground turkey as the base. I like to top it with avocado (instead of sour cream), red and white onion, and shredded cheddar cheese.

I didn't win the chili cook-off, but I enjoyed participating. And I received a lot of nice compliments from my coworkers who tried my chili. The real winner is the food bank, where the money raised will be donated. It was fun to see another side of my colleagues too. Some chef-testants really got into the presentation and toppings. I felt like we were all on Top Chef!

wishing you joy and love this Christmas

2011-12-01T11:01:00.003-06:00

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

I am pretty excited about our Christmas cards this year! I used Shutterfly to create the cards and I like how I could add so many photos. From top left: Shannon and Miko, Snowpocolypse 2011 - Miko and Chachi - the hopeful travelers - Shannon and I in front of Comerica Park for a Tigers game April 2011 - The night we got engaged at Quartino, March 2011 -On the ski lift at Bittersweet, February 2010 - Elliot, the elder statesman - Chachi, Snowpocolyse 2011.

just what people in the U.S. need...

2011-11-29T17:52:00.001-06:00

... MORE encouragement to be lazy! I give this a thumbs down. (And really, a "zippered back hatch"?! You don't even have to take it off to go to the bathroom? Gah.)

big face and little face

2011-11-22T16:46:00.001-06:00

One of the (many) things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving is that I have two dogs that can hang out like this and we have a peaceful home. Just a year ago at Thanksgiving, Chachi was not getting along with Miko or Shannon. He had become snappish and snarly. He was aggressive with Miko, attacking him in more increasingly scary ways. Chachi started to guardme – growling and biting Shannon if he approached me, or growling if Shannon wanted to sit on the couch and Chachi was on thecouch. Chachi’s behavior was becoming more threatening and it was verystressful for all of us. We had to make a decision – either we had to getprofessional help or we had to think about where Chachi could go. I washeartbroken at just the thought of having to give him up.

We were taking Miko to puppy training classes and our trainer Laura Monaco Torelli was a great help in coaching us through this stressful time. Laura recommended that we take Chachi to see Dr. Ballantyne at Furnetic. Dr. Ballantyneis a veterinarian who also specializes in animal behavior. I filled out a formthat detailed Chachi’s behavior and ALL of us (me, Shannon, Chachi and Miko –it felt like an intervention!) went to meet with her in person. She asked usmore questions about Chachi’s behavior and his interaction with Shannon and Miko.She also asked us how Chachi behaved with other dogs. She provided us with adiagnosis (fear-based aggression and anxiety) and provided a specific behavior trainingplan and recommended anxiety medication.

Over the next few months, Shannon and I worked on thetraining with Chachi and Miko. We worked on creating a calm house withthe dogs. One of things we did when we got home from work is ignore both dogsfor a few minutes – taking off our coats, putting away work bags, etc. There isless frenzied jumping and barking when we come home now and the dogs are not competingfor our attention. Our training also involved providing Chachi with a command, andrewarding him if he followed the command. For example, one of us would use a handtarget to get him off the couch, and he would get a treat if he got off thecouch and he touched our hand with his nose. We used this a lot to get him offthe couch. Then we would invite him on the couch with the word, “up.” He wasallowed on the couch if he was ‘invited.’ At first, Shannondidn’t understand why we had to ‘bribe’ Chachi to behave. Dr. Ballantyneexplained we weren’t bribing him, we were requesting specific behaviors andrewarding Chachi for the behavior we wanted. That explanation really helped usa lot.

When I’m out walking with Chachi and there are dogs thatusually cause him to be nervous or reactive (for some reason he really doesn’tlike sheperds or dogs that have wolf-type faces), I worked with Chachi to focuson me and gave him treats and ‘clicks’ with the training clicker when he wouldturn his head towards me (at first, even the slightest nod towards me would geta click and a treat). I rewarded friendly greetings with dogs (sniffing, playbowing, allowing himself to be sniffed) with more clicks and treats so Chachiwould associate these experiences in a positive way. Now, we can walk by avariety of dogs and he doesn’t bark or lunge. When we’re out on walks together,Chachi is so much more relaxed and happy and so am I!

As part of the treatment plan, we checked in with Dr.Ballantyne by phone or via email over the next few months. She would reviewvideos of the Chachi and Miko interacting together and give us feedback andtips about positive and negative behavior.

The anxiety medicine has also helped a great deal. At firstI thought it would make Chachi a dull dog, but he’s got his same personality –he’s just more relaxed. He doesn’t paw at my leg and whine and follow me aroundthe house (which he would do quite a bit even before we got Miko). Through allof this, I am grateful that Miko has such a sweet temperament and he’s responsiveto training as well.

Chillin' out with Shannon

Now, Shannon marvels atwhat a different dog Chachi is, noting, “I used to just tolerate him becauseyou love Chachi, but now *I* love Chachi too.”

Five years ago, I rescued Chachi and he’s been such a bright part of my life. I feel like with the help of Laura Torelli and Dr. Ballantyne,Shannon and I were able to rescue him a second time!

Recommended reading: Laura recommended these books to me andI found them both to be invaluable resources.

Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas –Thisbook explains how dogs communicate with each other through their physical behavior.I have a better understanding of how dogs interact and communicate which helpswhen I’m out walking with the dogs and at the dog park.

Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog by Emma Parsons – Theauthor shares her personal experiences and provides a lot of trainingexercises. One of the things the authors recommends is that if a dog isaggressive with one person in the household, teach the dog to rely on thatperson for its care. In our case, Shannon isthe person who feeds the dogs most often. Chachi has come to rely on Shannon for something he values quite a bit – food!Feeding time is a positive experience and one that Chachi associates Shannonwith, so it reinforces a positive interaction with Shannon.

Big Sweet Face

Word of caution: I’m just sharing what worked for us and our situation. I’m by no means an expert! If your own dog is having behavior issues, I would recommend seeing your vet to rule out any health issues, and a trainer and/or veterinary behaviorist for additional help.

Photo credit: Me. My BlackBerry.

patterns in the city

2011-11-19T12:46:00.001-06:00

Pritzker Pavilion

More photos from Brian's walks around the city. I was struck by how many patterns and textures there are in the buildings and how he captured interesting images in simple shapes.

Pritzker Pavilion seating

Photo credit: Brian. Canon Rebel.

baby Elliot

2011-11-18T09:20:00.000-06:00

I often wonder what Elliot would have been like as a kitten. I received this promotional mailer from Dominick's this week, promoting their Pet Pals promotions and there's a baby Elliot, right on the cover!

The real Elliot, enjoying his new cat bed. He's walking a little more creakily these days, so I think this cushy bed helps his old bones.

the bean through a different lens

2011-11-17T20:54:00.001-06:00

I have mentioned the "Bean" in other posts on my blog before. One of the things I find fascinating about it - it's different every time you see it, and as you can see from these photos, it's different depending on who is looking at it.

My brother Brian took these photos of Cloud Gate. I like how the city skyline is reflected and almost blends into the sky.

The whispy clouds look a little like they are radiating out of the Bean.

Photo credit: Brian. Canon Rebel.

cold blooded

2011-11-16T21:58:00.001-06:00

The lizard turned his head just as I was taking the photo. Photo credit: Me. Panasonic Lumix.

These two hang out in the reptile and small mammal house at the Lincoln Park Zoo. As the weather gets colder, I don't think they have to worry about trying to stay warm. They seem to have a pretty cozy set-up.

I like the texture of the snake and the sand in the photo that Brian took. Photo credit: Brian. Canon Rebel.

While it's a jump to go from winter flowers one day, to snakes the next - this post actually makes sense if you're following this season of Top Chef. In tonight's episode, the main ingredient they have to cook with is rattlesnake. (I have it recorded on our DVR. I haven't watched it yet!)

winter flowers in 3-D

2011-11-15T17:32:00.001-06:00

I walked by the Sephora window today and loved the new display. The 3-D winter flowers and the snowflakes are gorgeous. I'm dreaming of a winter where everything really is this lovely.

Photo Credit: Me. My Blackberry.

in formation

2011-11-13T21:19:00.001-06:00

We went to Champaign, Illinois this weekend for the Illini vs. University of Michigan football game. Shannon and his family are big UofM fans. I like going to live sporting events and I always enjoy the festivities that go along with the games. Before the game started, the University of Illinois marching band entertained the crowd. Not being musically inclined, I was impressed with their ability to play well AND march into different formations.

Clever! They also formed the state of Illinois.

Brought to you by the letter "I"

Photo Credit: Me. Panasonic Lumix.

more fall colors

2011-11-11T16:40:00.001-06:00

There are a few trees in my area that have not yet given up their leaves. Here's to the hold-outs!

This one almost looks like a pointallist painting, don't you think?

Photo credit: Me. Blackberry.

it's snowing today in Chicago

2011-11-10T13:50:00.001-06:00

Snow is falling in Chicago this afternoon. I don't think it will 'stick', but winter is on its way. Makes me glad I bought these fingerless gloves. Not so practical for the walk to the office, but I think they will be good for driving or even when I'm walking the dogs. (No more pulling off the gloves to be able to grab dog bags, or find the keys in my pocket.)

keeping an eye on you

2011-11-09T07:37:00.000-06:00

My brother took this photo at the Lincoln Park Zoo in the Regenstein Center for African Apes. I love how this gorilla looks like he is looking right at me!

Photo credit: My brother Brian. Canon Rebel.

point and shoot

2011-11-08T22:23:00.000-06:00

My brother likes to take photos and I think he's got a good eye. He can also explain (in detail) all the settings on his camera and what they do (which he did while we were riding the brown line). While he was visiting, we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. He also shared some of the pictures he took while he was out and about in the city. There are some really good ones. It's fun to see the city through his 'lens'. I'll post more photos from his visit soon. (There are a lot so this could take a couple of weeks.)

Eating Well in the City - Cantina Laredo

2011-11-07T13:10:00.000-06:00

There are so many good restaurants to choose from here in Chicago, sometimes it's hard to decide on where to take friends and family when they come to visit. Cantina Laredo just opened up a location in Chicago and my friends and I had a good time (and good food) for my birthday dinner, so I decided to take Brian there for one our nights out.

Two hungry guys - ready to dig in.

Everything we ordered, from the guacamole made table-side to our entrees, was very fresh and flavorful. Brian had the Camaron Poblano Asado - grilled steak wrapped around a poblano pepper with shrimp, mushrooms, onions and monterey jack cheese, on chimichurri sauce. Shannon had the Enchiladas Veracruz - chicken, spinach and monterey jack enchiladas topped with tomatillo sauce, marinated vegetables, and queso fresco.

Colorful AND delicious.

I had the Tamales de Barbacoa - something for new for me - I usually order something like fish tacos. The tamales were filled with slow-roasted brisket, artichokes, sautéed spinach, roasted red peppers and queso fresco. I really liked the tamales a lot! For dessert we shared the Mexican Apple Pie, which had sizzling Mexican brandy butter and cinnamon ice cream.

Cantina Laredo was packed (it was a Friday night when we were there) and it is loud, so if you're looking for a quiet night out, this is not the place to go. We all enjoyed our dinner and had fun catching up. This was a fun spot to celebrate my birthday too, so it's good for groups. Upstairs has more lounge seating which is nice. Downstairs it looks like the window walls will open up which will be nice in the summer.

a 'gourd-geous' way to connect with customers

2011-11-06T08:20:00.000-06:00

Anthropology.com

As I have shared in other posts, I am a big fan of Anthropologie. I received an email this month from the store about the fall window displays that feature over 10,000 gourds (across all the participating stores, not just one store!). Anthropologie partnered with three farms to find all these fruits - Amish Gourds, Pumpkin Hollow Farm, and Schusters of Texas.

I love Anthropologie's artistic approach to their stores, creating an amazing visual experience for their customers and to showcase the merchandise. And I actually enjoy reading their email newsletters. How many emails do you receive from stores you like, but more often than not, you hit "delete" without even opening an email because you know it's not going to be worth reading? I can say for myself, I delete a lot of email from stores that I actually like - their emails are usually just a promotional flyer (which is sometimes of interest, but not that often). I almost always open the emails from Anthropologie. Even if I don't plan on shopping there, the email features something interesting or inspiring, making it a worthy "open." I think this does a lot to continue to build on the customer experience and create a loyal following.

The gourds featured in the stores also reminded me of Gourdology and the painted gourds I love so much. Here are some of the ones I admired at the Northville Farmer's Market this past summer.

To see more photos of these "gourd-geous" windows at Anthropologie, there is a great album on Facebook (you can view it from the link even if you don't have a Facebook account).

city lights tour with my brother

2011-11-05T11:43:00.000-05:00

My brother Brian is here in Chicago this week for a conference. During his free time, we've been able to hang out and enjoy the city together. Last night after dinner we walked around downtown and took photos with different lighted signs.

While not actually a sign, Crown Fountain at night is lit up.

Harry Caray's Restaurant

The House of Blues sign is one of my favorites.

Chicago Theater

preparing for winter

2011-11-04T10:45:00.000-05:00

I'm not trying to rush the cold weather, but I am very happy with my latest purchase - a faux fur vest with a HOOD from Ann Taylor Loft. Even better, I got it on sale. So when this winter brings its worst, at least I'll be cozy chic.

fallen leaves

2011-11-01T07:11:00.001-05:00

I love how the rain made these fallen leaves so shiny and the colors more vibrant. The shapes of the leaves also seem to jump out. When I look at these photos, I feel like I could reach in and touch the layers and imagine the chill of the rain.

Photo credit: Me. Panasonic Lumix.

changing seasons

2011-10-31T20:44:00.001-05:00

Halloween seems to mark the end to fall. Once November arrives, the air seems to change. This coming weekend, we also "fall back" an hour, which will make it seem even more wintery.

We recently drove to see some of Shannon's friends and took the 80/90 tollway through Indiana. The trees were still colorful and bright. I didn't have my camera on-hand in the car, but I think these shots from a couple of fall seasons ago (2009) at the Northville Mill Race capture the crisp spirit of fall.

Photo Credit: Me. Panasonic Lumix.

these two know how to work it, don't they?!

2011-10-31T15:56:00.001-05:00

Look at these two pathetic faces. They sure know how to look sweet and pleading. (And how exactly do dogs *know* how to look when they want something?)

magnolia cupcakes come to Chicago

2011-10-29T11:33:00.000-05:00

Magnolia Bakery just opened in Chicago and it's dangerously close to my office! I stopped in the other day and treated myself to a cupcake since it's my birthday this week. I'm sure I'll come up with other good reasons for more cupcakes...

The cupcake was delicious! I especially love frosting and their buttercream frosting is perfect. I like to separate the cupcake top from the bottom and eat just the cake part first and then I eat the frosting top. I've been doing this since I was a kid.

I love old fashioned hand mixers. Magnolia has vintage baking tools and tins on display in the store.

I have been to the Magnolia Bakery in New York City. The bakery and its cupcakes gained a lot of fame when the 'Carrie' and 'Miranda' were eating Magnolia cupcakes on Sex and the City (the bakery is even on the Sex and the City tour!). When I was in NYC a few years ago, a friend and I went to Magnolia Bakery to check it out and it had become so popular, there was a line down the street to get into the store! Here's a video showing the line of people waiting.

goth and glam at sweet petal

2011-10-28T17:28:00.000-05:00

Sweet Petal, a flower shop in my neighborhood, hosted a "Goth Glam Wedding" open house last night. I decided to stop by and check it out. The store was decked out with webs, candle lighting, skulls, and great floral decor (sadly, I did not get any pictures...). I liked the creative angle - you wouldn't expect a flower shop to take on a dark theme, but it was very clever and shows the creativity in an interesting way. I thought the entrance was also striking. I've never stopped in before, and since I pass by on my way to work every day, it was a cool way to see the store and meet the owner, Melisa Jimenez.

"fetch my slippers"

2011-10-24T13:28:00.000-05:00

When I said, "Fetch my slippers," I did not mean, "Please chew on them and make them a slobbery mess."

"she loves glitter"

2011-10-21T09:33:00.000-05:00

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am drawn to anything sparkly like a mag pie. My friend's daughter Miss A. is the same way. This year for her birthday I sent her a gift card and she and her mom picked out some new things for school, including one pink and one silver glitter belt. Her friend was admiring her new belt and Miss A said, "My Aunt Chicago got these for me. She loves glitter."

Christmas is coming...

2011-10-21T07:23:00.001-05:00

Macy's on State Street has started to pull out the Christmas decorations. While I'm not eager to rush the season, I so love the sparkle!

smells like Adrian

2011-10-20T07:11:00.002-05:00

Milk glass from Adrian, MI and a bottle of Poison perfume

During my college years, I went everywhere in a cloud of "Poison" perfume. (Although during my college years, I was also on a college budget, so I bought the Designer Imposter version, "If you like Poison, you'll love...") I went to Adrian College and during my freshman year, Kerri and I were roommates. One weekend Kerri went home to visit her family and brought her laundry. Her sister picked up one of Kerri's shirts and said, "This smells like Adrian." Kerri said, "What? Give me that." After smelling the shirt, Kerri said, "That's not Adrian! That's my roommate's perfume!!"

176 more things to do...

2011-10-19T07:03:00.008-05:00

I signed up for the web site, "the Knot" to help with wedding planning and it's both helpful and a pain in the ass. I get emails that honestly stress me out, "TEN months to go... your 10 month checklist..." "NINE months to go..." According to the Knot checklist, there are 176 more things to do! The tips themselves are good, but I hate feeling like, "Wait, wait..., what? Only ten months? What have I been doing with my time?!"

I actually have some of the main things checked off the list. We came up with a budget. We have a date and a venue - we're getting married next summer at Willow Harbor Vineyards. We have asked friends and family to be part of the wedding party. My sister and I have looked at bridesmaids dresses (she's my maid of honor), and I've also had a chance to go out with my friend Julie (one of my other bridesmaids) to look at dresses and get ideas. And I bought my dress - more on that in another post! (So I will be all dressed up, with a place to go.)

I am really excited to work on the colors, flowers, decor, and invitations (and welcome bags!). My mom and I have been brainstorming ideas for table decor. I love thinking about all those details.

The colors I'm going to go with are turquoise, coral and moss green. This palette on theKnot.com is very close, although I would like more orange I think. Since we're getting married in the summer, I like the idea of juicy orange - like sunshine and sunsets, and turquoise - like the bright summer sky. You can view this image in full size here.

Another one of my obsessions has been the bridal magazines - I love paging through ideas for dresses, colors, flowers, cakes, invitations, decorations. I especially like seeing photos from real weddings. One of the best issues I've picked up is Real Simple "Weddings". More than just a magazine, this planner covers details such as the timeline, budget, location, guests and invitations, attire, flowers, vows, photos, food and setting the scene. I've also started a binder to hold the ideas and inspiration all in one place (it's turquoise!). I thought it would be helpful when I meet with vendors to discuss what I like - I can show pictures and ideas. And it's easier than hauling out a raft of pages from magazines. I organized it my category.

More (176) details to come!

walk softly...

2011-10-18T07:06:00.001-05:00

... and carry a big stick - that's Miko's motto. (The original quote by Roosevelt is actually, "Speak softly and carry a big stick.") Miko is so funny when he finds a stick when we're out walking. The bigger, with more branches and awkward to maneuver, the better. The morning he had this stick, we walked through the Printer's Row Saturday Farmer's Market and people really got a kick out of him. He walks so tall and proud. I let him take the stick all the way back to the back door to our building, and I tell him, "Leave it" and he will drop the stick and I leave it by the back door. (I trained him to do that by giving him a small handful of treats for giving up something he likes. Laura Torelli, the trainer we work with, recommends a lot of positive reinforcement and it really works!)

a (few) place(s) to lay my head

2011-10-17T20:05:00.001-05:00

It's getting colder out and there are predictions that this will be "the worst winter ever". Great. My mom is a step ahead of me - she's already ordered new boots for me, my sister, and herself, so our feet will be warm.

My solution to cold weather? Keep the inside nice and warm. Pillows are a good start! I got two faux fur pillows this past weekend and I couldn't resist adding the pillow with the turquoise embroidery. (Also from World Market AND I used my birthday month coupon.)

a table for two

2011-10-16T19:21:00.000-05:00

The latest addition to the house is a new coffee table. I'm very happy with the way it looks with the rug and couch. It's all coming together! We found this at World Market.

summer redux in Chicago

2011-10-08T14:53:00.000-05:00

It's sunny and summery in Chicago this weekend. Not so great for the Chicago Marathon runners tomorrow, but everyone else is happy in the city! We went to Tastee Freeze today and enjoyed a twist cone.

fanciful feathers

2011-09-28T07:44:00.001-05:00

The Swarovski store windows on Michigan Avenue caught my eye. I love the feathery ballerina mannequins.

where are the real Milli Vanilli singers?

2011-09-27T22:28:00.000-05:00

Shannon and I were listening to music tonight and Milli Vanilli's song, "Girl You Know It's True" came on. We started talking about how much we actually liked their music, even after learning that Rob and Fab were not the real singers. Why didn't the real singers make an album on their own? Does anyone know who they were and what happened to them?

[I posted "Blame It On The Rain" because I loved that song more than "Girl You Know It's True."]

Miko's Favorite Toy

2011-09-27T22:20:00.000-05:00

This is Miko's favorite toy. I've had to sew its arms on more than once and sew up the ends on the feet and hands. Despite its precarious condition, Miko loves this toy and carries it all over the house. Sometimes he'll flop the toy in my lap, full of mastiff mouth slobber. Gah. While I'm disgusted by the toy, I still tell him what a good dog he is, sharing his beloved toy with me.

big feet and little feet

2011-08-29T22:45:00.000-05:00

The other day I was reading and hanging out with the dogs and I saw my feet next to Miko's feet and was amazed at how big his paws are!

Chachi's are so tiny!

our (fantasy) registry includes...

2011-08-06T07:26:00.003-05:00

As I think about wedding plans, it crossed my mind that Salvage One would be a crazy fun place to register for our wedding.

Registry: One set of tusks. "Seriously, these would look so cool in our house."

One Ionic column. Luggage, various sizes. One fancy fringed lamp.

A rickshaw. Three plastic horses.

An air hockey table. (I do love a competitive game of air hockey!)

I'm not sure how all of this would fit into our one bedroom condo, but we'll make it work!

update: bird ring

2011-08-05T18:11:00.000-05:00

I love my Rachel Roy bird ring!

all signs point to Chicago

2011-08-05T17:41:00.003-05:00

The outdoor garden at Salvage One has this cool "Chicago" sign.

a forgotten friend

2011-08-01T16:52:00.001-05:00

At Salvage One, this cheeky monkey is awaiting his next life with someone special.

festive = colorful umbrellas

2011-08-01T07:35:00.001-05:00

We went to the Taste of Lincoln Avenue festival this weekend. Five music stages, artists, plenty of food and drink, and lots of people watching -- a fun way to spend a summer afternoon. I love all the colors of summer and these umbrellas, both large and small, caught my eye.

The makings of frozen pineapple drinks (served in a pineapple half).

artwork at the el stop

2011-07-31T22:33:00.000-05:00

This beautiful mosaic is at the Fullerton Red/Brown line stop in Chicago. I love seeing artwork at the el stops around town.

a cozy spot

2011-07-30T08:53:00.000-05:00

Chachi has his own dog bed, including one that sits on the couch. Despite that, he's always looking for a cozy spot to relax. The pillows on the bed are perfect!

Ahh....

Sinking....

"Seriously. Would you leave me alone so I can sleep?"

Senior Dogs Across America - Portraits by Nancy LeVine

2011-07-28T13:35:00.000-05:00

I am always inspired by the art and photography featured on Lensculture. I really love the photos of dogs in Nancy LeVine's photo essay, "Senior Dogs Across America." The expressions on each of the dog's faces are wonderful and she really captured some great moment in the lives of these senior dogs. With Austen's passing, and Elliot becoming more geriatric and a bit off, I often wonder how long I will have Chachi and Miko in my life and appreciate the time I have with them.

This is a screenshot of the slideshow on LeVine's site, browneyesgallery. I highly recommend a visit there as well. She's done a lot of interesting work.

Brick House - Summer Dance

2011-07-25T23:23:00.000-05:00

"She's a brick house
Mighty mighty just lettin' it all hang out

She's a brick house

The lady's stacked and that's a fact,

ain't holding nothing back."

The Platinum Band performed so many great songs during Summer Dance. "Brick House" is one of my favorites. Here's just a bit from their performance.

SOOOUULLL Train Night at Summer Dance

2011-07-25T23:01:00.001-05:00

Summer Dance is one of my favorite events in Chicago -- free music, dance lessons and dancing, Thursday through Sunday nights. This last Saturday it was Soul Train Night at Summer Dance. The Platinum Band performed and they were great!

Getting ready to get movin' and groovin'

The Platinum Band

The Sears (Willis) Tower in the background.

dog day at the beach

2011-07-23T19:06:00.000-05:00

It's been so hot all week we weren't able to take the dogs out to play at the park. This morning it was a bit overcast and cooler from the storms the night before, so we decided to take Chachi and Miko to Montrose Dog beach.

Miko loves the water.

And Chachi loves running in the sand.

SUPER FAST!

Taking a break.

drive by flowers

2011-07-18T08:08:00.002-05:00

Driving down my mom's street, these gorgeous flowers caught our attention and they were so amazing I had to jump out of the car to take a photo. I love the contrast of the roses with the clematis. The clematis is actually forming an arch into the back yard, which was also enticing, but I didn't venture any farther.

Photo credit: Me. Panasonomic Lumix.

the bed sans dogs

2011-07-17T22:49:00.000-05:00

I thought I should post something that showed that the dogs are not *always* on the bed! My mom made me this quilt and the pillow shams and it's one of my favorites. I usually put it on the bed for summer. My friend Erin said she thought I got the quilt at Anthropologie! (My mom does beautiful quilts, and I'm so lucky to have them!)

I added the pink and white pillow and the turquoise furry roll -- some fun finds at Target. Although I'm not sure how long the roll will last. I've already had to scold Miko a number of times for dragging it around like one of his toys.

We're not sure what kind of bed we're going to get yet, so for now, the mattress set is on a metal frame. Instead of a dust ruffle, I put a fitted sheet over the box spring so it goes with the bedding. It's hard to tell in this photo, but the fitted sheet is a dark purple.

Photo credit: me. My BlackBerry.

Juggling at the Peninsula

2011-07-17T08:15:00.001-05:00

Peninsula 10-Year Anniversary Party

2011-07-17T08:11:00.005-05:00

In June my friend Erin invited me as her guest to the Peninsula Chicago's 10-Year Anniversary party. And wow, was it something. There were geisha girls on stilts towering over the crowd, jugglers and acrobats, blues singers, a white disco room, amazing food and desserts. For more great pictures of the event, NBC Chicago has an album online. (And I discovered my friend Erin and I are in it - photo #27.)

A juggler

View on the Shanghai Terrace

A geisha makes her way through the crowd.

Perhaps the one unhappy party-goer in the crowd.

Colorful decorations in the Lobby.

Mini-desserts on display.

The entrance to the white disco.

Lonnie Brooks performing in the blues bar.

Her dress is body paint.

cleaning up on a rainy day

2011-07-16T07:25:00.000-05:00

Doesn't this look like a display of fudge?

Last month I went to the Northville Farmer's Market and the Cellar Door Soap Co. has a booth there. It was a rainy morning when we were at market so the bright colors drew me into the tent. I also wanted to get some thank you gifts for some friends who helped me out with Chachi, Miko and Elliot while we were traveling and the soap made a nice gift, plus I like that they are handmade, have vegan ingredients, and look and smell great!

I picked up a bar of rosemary mint, morning dew, and calypso. You can view the different types of soaps they offer on the company site. And because I bought three bars of soap, I got a little bundle of sample soaps as a bonus! There were pre-made bundles, but I picked the five samples I wanted.

A clever way to make use of what is probably scraps.

In addition to selling soap online, you can find Cellar Door Soap Co. at various Michigan Farmer's Markets and the Dixboro General Store in Ann Arbor.

Photo credit: me. Canon Rebel.

a new mattress = a better back (hopefully)

2011-07-15T12:25:00.002-05:00

"You're feeling very sleeeepy..."

Our new mattress set was delivered today! I'm so excited to see how I sleep on it tonight. Will I wake up more refreshed? Will my back not be sore in the morning? We'll see! But how did we get here... we've been talking about getting a new mattress for a while now but it was a trip to the ER that got me to the store to make the purchase.

Almost three weeks ago, I was doing laundry and bent over to put something in one of the front-loading machines and felt a sharp twinge in my back. I thought, "Hmmm... that did not feel so good." I finished loading the laundry and when I went back upstairs, I did some stretches and yoga moves to stretch my back. As the day progressed, the pain and discomfort got worse until by 8pm I could not walk without crying/screaming in pain and the back of legs started to feel numb like they were asleep. Shannon called 911 and I went to the emergency room in an ambulance. After discussing my symptoms with me and the pain I was experiencing, as well as testing my ability to move my feet and legs, the ER doctors gave me a pretty serious round of medication: Valium to help my muscles relax, 800 mg of ibuprofin to help with the inflammation, and Norco to help with the pain. After a couple of hours and checking on my pain levels and ability to move a little better, they sent me home with prescriptions and a recommendation to see an orthopedic specialist.

The next few weeks that followed included the pain meds, heat and ice packs on my back, a back brace, and four visits to a chiropractor. The chiropractor put me through a series of movement tests and determined two of the vertebrae in my lower back were out of alignment, causing muscle spasms and nerve pain. I liked the electro-massage therapy. He put these patches on my back with electrodes that would pulse and massage my back and wrap my back with a heating pad. After the muscles were relaxed, the doctor manipulated my back/spine so the vertebrae went back in place. What a relief! I'm just now starting to feel like myself again!

Living better through chemistry: this was also my first experience with some serious medication. When I told people what had been prescribed, the most common comment: "Oh, you got the good stuff." Having never needed this kind of medicine, and since I've never been one to experiment with drugs of any kind, I wasn't sure what to expect. The Norco took the edge off the pain in a major way and made me feel slightly floaty. The Valium helped relax the muscles in my back and I also felt more relaxed in general. After this brief experience, I can see why people get addicted to pills of different kinds. (I should note that I prefer my regularly-programmed, non-medicated life!)

I can't believe I've been through all of this because I bent over and tweaked my back, but I have talked to so many people that this has happened to them too. In trying to trace what led to hurting my back, I realized I had been waking up with an achy back for about a month or more. I had also been going through a busy time at work and was not working out like I used to -- yoga, pilates, weight training, cardio. So, all of this led to buying a new mattress and lucky for us, the timing worked out with a sale at Macy's. I'm also going to ease back into the gym in the next week or so!

Chachi and Miko think they will sleep better on a new mattress too.

Photos: Me. My Blackberry.

birds at the Bellagio

2011-07-10T22:20:00.000-05:00

There's something about birds that I do really love -- I don't want to have any as pets, but I love birds and as I did a search on my blog, I've actually posted or mentioned birds quite a bit. When we were in Vegas, we went to the Bellagio which has a beautiful atrium garden with birds.

These birds were not interested in having their photo taken.

This guy was all about having a photo taken. He would turn and look at me as if he was posing and I ended up getting a few shots of him. So funny! He reminded me of the lorikeets in Long Beach. I just ordered a print of this photo - I like it enough to see how it looks framed in my house.

Photo credit: Me. Canon Rebel.

Cirque Shanghai Extreme

2011-07-08T20:48:00.001-05:00

Last night we celebrated my friend Nicki's birthday and went to see Cirque Shanghai Extreme at the Skyline Theater at Navy Pier. I really enjoyed the acrobatics, aerialists, and stunts! Here's review of the show from Chicago Now.

This is takes place above where people are seated.

There are four guys on motorbikes zooming around in this cage!

The Finale

found: one bird ring!

2011-07-08T17:48:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited! In January of 2010, I shared that I saw this Rachel Roy ring online. When I went to order it from her site, it was sold out. I was at Macy's this week and the rings were available and I now have my very own love bird ring - complete with sparkly eyes and turquoise rhinestones. I love bold jewelery. Maybe when I have a fresh manicure I will update the post with a photo of how it looks on my hand.

Rosedale Community Players - Writer Portraits

2011-07-07T07:49:00.001-05:00

My sister Julie and her husband are members of the Rosedale Community Players in Michigan. When I was home visiting my family, I went with them to their dress rehearsal night as they prepped for the upcoming performances that weekend. I took photos during the one act plays, backstage during prep (my sister was in charge of make-up and hair for the shows), and of each of the writers. I played around with some of colors and tones and I like how these turned out.

"What Do You Do?" - Ilana Bruton

"Royally Touched" - Dave Durham

"Grapefruit Diet" - Jen Bindeman

"Before the Law" - Lance Alan

"Dark Corners" - Sean Paraventi

You can learn more about the Rosedale Community Players and their upcoming shows on their web site.

Photo credit: Me. Canon Rebel.

shoe obsessed lately

2011-07-06T22:45:00.000-05:00

Glossed Loafers - Photo Anthropologie

Catalog marketing still works -- at least on me, and as it relates to getting catalogs that are interesting to look at, like the Anthropologie catalog. I got the "Issue Seven 2011" catalog today and these shoes are featured through-out. "Wish List" = YES.

sunset at night

2011-07-04T19:09:00.001-05:00

This was the view from Mary's rooftop last night. The sky was so beautiful. Ah, summer time!

Photo credit: me. BlackBerry.

festive footwear

2011-07-04T11:09:00.000-05:00

My friend Mary hosted a BBQ last night and I loved her festive Fourth of July shoes!

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-04T07:18:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday America! 1776 - 2011

Macy's on State Street in Chicago has a huge flag hanging from the seventh floor to celebrate the Fourth of July. This is as much as I could photograph with just my BlackBerry.

July 6 update: I found out this flag is 5,000 square feet.

summer pie #2

2011-07-03T17:14:00.001-05:00

We're going to a friend's house for a BBQ tonight and I made another strawberry pie. (My tester, Shannon, agreed that my first strawberry pie was fit for public consumption. Although he also suggested, "Maybe we need TWO pies. One for the party and one for home.") This time I added blueberries from the farmer's market. With whipped cream on top, this will look like a festive Fourth of July Pie! This pie is super-easy to make. If you want the recipe, let me know.

Photo credit: Me. My BlackBerry.

delivering style in style

2011-07-02T16:09:00.001-05:00

Look what I discovered when I was leaving my building today -- an aqua PT Cruiser custom painted for Nordstrom. The Michigan Avenue store makes deliveries on Saturdays! Nordstrom already has an exceptional reputation when it comes to customer service. From returns and billing questions, to in-store help when I'm shopping, I've always been impressed with how I've been treated and the service I have received. I also think they do a great job interacting with customers via Twitter. I think this customized delivery service car adds to their reputation for CUSTOM, customer service with a dash of personality. Well done!

Photo credit: Me. BlackBerry.

AllSaints - London

2011-07-02T08:14:00.002-05:00

Another place I discovered in Las Vegas - the clothing store All Saints from London. Both display windows were filled with old sewing machines and these same tactical elements were through-out the store.

Clothes, shoes and accessories are displayed on old printing presses and machines. Movie and theater lights hang from the ceiling. The attention to detail in their merchandise is impressive and gorgeous. And I really liked the mix of casual with dressy options. In previous posts, I've mentioned how much I enjoy shopping at Anthropologie because it's a tactical, visual experience. The way the merchandise is displayed makes me want to pick it up and hold it. And from there, it's one more step closer to making your way to the register. While I didn't buy anything at AllSaints this time around, I'm definitely interested in keeping tabs on their offerings via @AllSaints_ on Twitter and Facebook.

This is one of my favorite photos. I like the reflection of the other store window layered over the old sewing machines.

Photo credit: Me. Canon Rebel.

the view from inside a chandelier

2011-07-01T15:01:00.001-05:00

View of the tables at The Chandelier at the Cosmopolitan

Ever wondered what it would be like to see the world from inside a chandelier? Chandeliers are all over the casinos of Las Vegas, but at the Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, you are actually *in* the chandelier. And it's such a cool experience and viewpoint. Miles of crystals cascade from the ceiling, creating layers of light and sparkle.

I also wondered how they keep the crystals clean, "Who dusts this place?" And was glad that it's not my job!

Photo credit: Me. Canon Rebel.

shoes waiting for outfits

2011-06-30T19:02:00.001-05:00

Here are some examples of shoes I had to have and ones that are "waiting for outfits." (Or the perfect occasion...)

Poetic License

Blue/turquoise is one of my favorite colors and I love the flower detail on these heels. I do have a dress in this exact same color, but that might be too much blue!

Hype

I love these red and brown pony-hair wedges. I think they actually go with a lot of things, but the truth is these are a little tight.

Betsey Johnson

I found these Betsey Johnson heels at Nordstrom Rack and I had to have them. I love the bronze color and the tassels on the sides. I think these are great holiday party shoes. Although I have to admit I would probably do a lot of sitting at any party I went to wearing these since the arch is so high.

Photo credit: Me. Panasonic Lumix.

buy the shoes...

2011-06-30T16:25:00.000-05:00

"Buy the Shoes... the Outfit will come!" Artist: Constance Guerra

My mom gave me this picture during my last visit. I think it sums up my philosophy about shoes pretty well!

vacation strawberries

2011-06-29T21:15:00.001-05:00

Donahee Farms, Salem, Michigan

One of my favorite memories growing up was going to pick strawberries with my mom, brother and sister. I can remember my mom would wake us up and pile us in the car in mid-June. We picked lugs full of berries and we'd get them home and my mom would make strawberry jam and pie.

Fresh from the farm. June 2011.

During a recent visit at home, my mom and I went strawberry picking. While my mom and I were talking about the strawberry outings, she said, "You know, we'd bring home all these berries and you kids would go off to play and I'd be stuck in the house playing with berries for the rest of the day."

My first strawberry pie!

I always loved my mom's strawberry pie and I made one myself for the first time. I called this the "test pie" because if it turned out, I plan on taking one to my friend's Fourth of July party. And guess what, Shannon and I both agree we have a winner! I'm going to get strawberries from the Saturday Farmer's Market for the pie.

After I made the pie, I still had enough strawberries to make some jam -- about 16 ounces of jam, which is just enough for the two of us. I adapted this recipe for blueberry jam from Real Simple. The only thing I added is about 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch. The jam was still a little runnier than I prefer and the cornstarch did the trick to thicken it up a bit. Yay summer!

Photo credit: Me. Panasonic Lumix + BlackBerry.

we're off on vacation!

2011-06-16T13:49:00.000-05:00

Miko and Chachi look they wish they could go too.

Shannon and I are getting ready for a weekend vacation. Shannon has never been on a plane before, so we're off to Vegas to get some airline miles under his belt before we go to Italy next summer. Shannon joked, "Chachi has logged more air miles than me!"

Birth of Venus - Reimagined

2011-05-30T21:29:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month I went to Las Vegas for a conference for work. I stayed at Caesar's Palace. These paintings are along one of the walkways. I liked the reinterpretations of Botticelli's Birth of Venus.

Modern Day - Papparazzi Inspired

cloud gate

2011-05-10T07:34:00.005-05:00

This is one of Chicago's popular attractions -- Cloud Gate in Millenium Park in Chicago. Around Chicago, it's also known as "the Bean." Cloud Gate is artist Anish Kapoor's first public outdoor installations and weighs 110 tons.

A seagull enjoys the view on top of the bean.

The view standing under the bean.

What I like about the Bean is that even though I've seen it a number of times, whenever I go again, it's always a little different, depending on the weather and sunlight.

Photo credit: Me. Panasonic Lumix.

putting it all together

2011-05-09T06:43:00.008-05:00

The rug we ordered with our couch and dining set from Roy's finally arrived and we went and picked it up yesterday. Here's how the dining and living room have come together.

I like the copper and blue in the rug. I think that helps bring the seating area together.

Miko was tentative about walking on it at first, trying to skirt along the edges, but he got over that pretty quickly.