The (holiday) weekend, succinctly

I especially love long holiday weekends because I can:

:: watch all four hours of The Today Show (who doesn't love a drunk Kathy Lee at 10am??)
:: spend hours upon hours experimenting with new recipes
:: hang out with friends
:: go to sleep late (and not have to work the next day) or go to sleep early (and not feel like a loser)
:: exchange defunct, very old blenders for brand-new ones (like the Euro-Pro Ninja!) at Bed Bath and Beyond, no questions asked
:: bop around to three different grocery stores in one day. Why? Just because I can.

The yo-yo weather only slowed us down a little. We had two BBQs to attend––one, on a miserable, torrentially rain-filled day at a converted funeral home-turned-apartment, and the other on a brilliantly hot and humid day in A+J's backyard. Stark differences, but both filled with good food and friends!

{ frittata with roasted red peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and Dutch cheese }

{ lamb ragu with fresh fettucine (6x more expensive but it makes all the difference!),
modified from this recipe }

{ roasted asparagus with lemon and olive oil }

{ squid with paprika, lemon, olive oil }

{ rice krispy treats }

{ grilled marinated steaks, recipe from F&W magazine }

Hope you had a stellar Memorial Day weekend!

What I Wore: Pre-Memorial White + spring florals

Two weekends ago, The Fella suggested we take impromptu walk around our Wicker Park neighborhood. This really brightened my day, because I was having another "down" day. We enjoyed crepes and lazy magazine-reading at Crepe Crave before ambling down North and Milwaukee Avenues.

{ luscious lemon }

Here you will find mostly independently owned boutiques, cafes, record and bookstores although a few chains have encroached recently (think Urban Outfitters, Steve Madden, Jimmy John's). I especially heart stumbling upon new-to-me vintage shops, like Heaven Gallery and Vintage Underground. Heaven Gallery is actually an exhibit space for music and art that sometimes also has pop-up jewelry and clothing trunk shows. Luckily for me, that day we happened to wander in and I found a romantically-vintage floral blouse! And, for 15 bucks, to boot!

{ what I wore a week ago to work on the one Spring-like day we had }

If you don't already, I highly recommend taking a jaunt about your own neighborhood. There's lots to be discovered!

Flirting with summer

Thank you, Flirty Cupcakes! You make my day, everyday! (Fine, I wish it were every day, but really I just mean whenever you make a stop in my neighborhood.) Yesterday was a very "down" day for me, but today I thank you for your fine "Flirtini" cuppy on this long-awaited, sunshine-filled, albeit cold day in Chicago. You brought me a hint of summer with your lemon-zest and pink champagne cupcake, filled with gin-soaked strawberries and topped with strawberry buttercream and lemon twist...

The last few months, succinctly

It's been a long time away from here. Have been so preoccupied and generally busy with a lil' thing called life! Dear readers, here's what I've been up to the last couple months!

{ 03.31 quality girlfriend time––although this was the Chic Boutique shopping event,
we mostly stalked the hors 'deuvres and open bar }

{ 04.21 covered the launch event of L.K.Bennett London––and couldn't resist trying on
something fabulous! Read more about it here! }

{ 04.23 admired the springtime buds blooming around the neighborhood }

{ 04.24 dressed the dog in her best Easter finery }

{ 04.27 interviewed Maria Menounos––yes, that Maria Menounos! Read more about it here! }

{ 04.29 baked homemade raisin and orange scones for the office
in celebration of The Royal Wedding }


{ 04.30 covered a fashion event/trunk show debut of a new hat line. Read more about it here! }

{ 05.02 produced my first video shoot for a client – Note to self: Don't wear heels next time! }

{ 05.03 attended the Matt Lamb Umbrellas for Peace Parade at Navy Pier }

{ 05.06 met a crown prince among other international glitterati––read more about it here! }

{ 05.07 and finally, a weekend trip with the in-laws in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina––
helloooo, Biltmore mansion and gardens! There's nothing quite like perfect weather,
lovely-scented roses, 8,000 acres of lush landscaping, and stunning
views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to take your breath away! }