Apartment Envy...

Obsessed with everything, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G, about this colorful SoHo loft.

It belongs to Devon Radziwill and was photographed here by Vogue.

Lucky Duck...

Girl from Ipanema...

It’s a fact that travel is one of my favorite things.

And who doesn’t love it? There’s nothing better than a really great vacation—just packing your bags and checking out for a while. I could travel every day of the year.

Last year The Boyfriend and I were so lucky to get to experience so many great places together. But at the end of 2011, with about a half dozen domestic vacations under our belts, we decided that in 2012 we had to get out of the country.

That’s why when the opportunity to go to Brazil presented itself about a week ago we had to grab it by the horns. For the past 7 days I feel like I have been studying for an upcoming exam—reading books, blogs, the travel section of the New York Times—anything I can get my hands on that will tell me what I should take advantage of while we’re there.

At this point we have a pretty good idea of what the trip will look like but we’re still seeing things every day that we feel we must do.

So if anyone has any tips they can share I would really appreciate it…

Birthday Bash

So I realize my birthday was almost a week ago, so I promise that after this post I won't say another word about it... But I couldn't go without sharing some of the photos from my little soiree on Friday night. 


Friends came from far and wide to help me celebrate and ring in another year. And it was such a nice evening. 


We gathered at Clutch, one of my favorite bars in my neighborhood. It's warm and intimate and they have a great art collection and beer selection. I have to say, it was one of the best birthdays I can remember. 

xo 

Crush Collection

Oh this past weekend was lovely.

On Friday I was surrounded by many of my nearest and dearest to celebrate my birthday… Pictures to come later, but I felt very loved and it was a wonderful way to kick off another year.

The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and catching up with friends (brunch, wine night and finally watching The Help!) and planning this quickly approaching vacation with the boyfriend. 80 degree weather in a tropical destination has gotten me to thinking about all the clothing I haven’t worn in months that will have to be dug out of storage. Can’t wait!

I also put together a little “Crush Collection" for this Monday… Amazing things I’m lusting after to make the day a bit brighter.

I have a crush on this bathroom... via

I have a crush on this bikini

I have a crush on these Booties

I have a crush on this cashmere

I have a crush on this batik

I have a crush on this headband and bangs... via

I have a crush on this vintage match collection... via

I have a crush on this Ottoman

I have a crush on this pillow

I have a crush on this pup...

I have a crush on these rings

I have a crush on this Pony Top

The Art of Planning...

When the weather is cold and the days are short I find myself turning to my trusty planner to see what the coming weeks and months have in store. It’s a way I have come to find calm even when stress starts to seem overwhelming. 

It’s a habit that I think I learned from my father. His collection of calendars date back to his college days.

Of course, through him I have learned that the habit is not only for looking forward, it is helpful for looking back and reflecting as well.

Thanks to his collection, my Dad is able to look up even the smallest milestones, accomplishments and occurrences - a day one of us came home sick from school, an important conversation had about the future, the day I learned to drive stick, a weekend visit home when the family was all together.

As I start a new year - and thus a new planner (seen above, a recent Christmas gift from my mother) - I see that I have so many exciting things on the horizon.

Here are just a few that I am so looking forward to…

A visit to Michigan to see my grandparents, only a train ride away...

Incorporating yoga back into my weekends

An upcoming weekend brunch with a friend I have not seen in way too long

An upcoming (and to-be-revealed soon) vacation- Passport required!

Valentine's Day... It will be here before we know it

Happy Birthday To Me

I thought some birthday Pinspiration would be appropriate since today is mine...

When I was little my mom used to throw the best birthday parties for my sisters and me. One year she made all of my guests tutus and taught us a ballet. She made big sugar plums out of construction paper and when parents came to pick up their children we put on a ballet for them. 

I hope she doesn't mind if I copy some of her ideas someday... 

This year I'm here in Chicago for my birthday. I've never been thrilled about having a January birthday but Chicago winters bring that to a new level. I'm going to make the most of it with a dinner date tomorrow night and a get together with friends on Friday at one of my favorite bars in Chicago, Clutch. 

Because if I can't have the sugarplum ballet I will gladly take celebrating with some of the people I love most. I'm a lucky gal.

Back to Reality... Reminiscing of vacations past through my iPhone

Just a brief look through my iPhone at what I've been up over the past week... Though the holidays have come and gone, today is my first day back to reality. And it is not fun. 


I guess I should have known it would feel like this. The past two weeks have been spent sleeping in far too late and wasting the afternoons away curled up by the fire reading a good book.


And earlier this week I got to spend the day with my cousin Scott who was in from California. He's interested in art and so I took him to the Museum of Contemporary Art where they are currently featuring a beautiful exhibit by Andrew Bird. I highly recommend it. 


For those of you with 9-5 jobs, I hope you're adjusting well to being back at it. And for those of you without them... I'm jealous. Have a nap for me. 

xo 

A super cool light installation at the MCA

"Stay Away From Lonely Places" My cousin Scott at the MCA

We finally made it to Native Foods where I had The Moroccan Bowl

Better late than never... We stopped by Zoo Lights in Lincoln Park 

Ringing in the New Year

Our friends' French bulldog Stanley, bow tie and all, out at 10 pm on NYE

NYE

Chai tea in our new Anthro monogram mugs... Best served warm and by a fire