Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Oh how I wish I were French

Last week before we headed out of town for Thanksgiving the boyfriend and I had a cozy little date at Maude’s Liquor Bar—a French spot in the West Loop with unreal cocktails and the best frites I’ve had in a long time. French food is my favorite.

And actually, our dinner— with its sultry low lighting, the bistro tiles on the wall and mismatched furniture—got me thinking about how anything French is my favorite.

My senior year of high school, while my classmates spent their spring breaks in Mexico, my best friend Erin and I went to Paris for a week and discovered that everything is more romantic there, everything tastes better there and everyone just seems to be more beautiful there. I think we fell in love five hundred times while we were in that city. And not just with the boys. But with the crepes and the handbags and the flowers and architecture and the way it rains in the afternoon and people duck into coffee shops to sip espresso until it stops.

In my next life I want to be French. And I want to live in an apartment that looks like this:








Robert Couturier’s classic and bold designs for a Manhattan couple as featured in Elle Decor

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Oatmeal Obsession

When it comes to food I have a tendency to get hooked on certain things. Bonus points if it’s something I can make on my own—because getting hooked on something from a restaurant can become quite the expensive and unhealthy habit.

Oatmeal is my latest obsession and I’ve nailed down what I think is the perfect "recipe." After a brisk commute to work there’s nothing better than a hot bowl of oatmeal to accompany a coffee. And with the right amount of healthy ingredients you can really cut back on the amount of sugar you add and still appease your sweet tooth.

Directions and ingredients are below. Enjoy!






1.      Add 1 cup water to 1/2 cup quick 1 minute Quaker Oats - microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes

2.      Once cooked—add chopped apple pieces, a pinch of light brown sugar, pumpkin spice Milk and Honey granola and dried cranberries (or substitute for your favorite toppings!)

3.      Enjoy!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap...

Every year it’s hard leaving my family after Thanksgiving break. But this year was especially difficult. We had the loveliest long cozy weekend together—I felt so thankful the entire time I was home.

In a weekend recap of sorts I thought I’d reflect on some my favorite moments of the break—some pictured and some not. I’m already looking forward to Christmas when I’ll be home again with my family! Three weeks to go!

Family Turkey Day run
Snuggling
Monet at the St. Louis Art Museum
An incredible Thanksgiving feast
Singing ‘The Hills are Alive’ at the dinner table
Eating the best banana cream pie in the world—courtesy of my mother
Catching up with old friends
Having Jered celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time with my family
Sharing what we all are most Thankful for
Spending time with relatives from California and Chicago
The techno bubble dance party at the Turkey Day game tailgate

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Wishful Wednesday... A light, bright dream home












Someday when I have my own home, it will have floor to ceiling windows and white walls and possibly floors as well. I can hardly breath looking at all of these photos... Give me natural light or give me death. 

all photos via Pinterest

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

More gifts for everyone on your list... Fab finds for $50 and under

Continuing on with my holiday gift guide, I have included some of my favorite finds from this past weekend’s Christmas shopping, in a list of gifts for $50 and under.

As I started making this list I found myself wanting to tweak my own wish list as well. Who wouldn’t want a fish hotel, or a chalkboard cheese slate? And how warm do those shearling JCrew slippers look? How sparkly are those earrings and that headband?

I want it all…



3. Penguin Classics ($20 Each)

Monday, November 21, 2011

Weekend Recap...

There's nothing like a weekend filled with holiday-esque activities to get you excited for an upcoming holiday. 

Between the festive Michigan Avenue lighting ceremony, buying the season's-first TJ's Joe Joe cookies and Christmas shopping that I did this weekend (list of gifts for $50 and less to come this week!) I can hardly wait for Wednesday when I'll board a plane for St. Louis to be with my family for Thanksgiving. 

Bring on the two-and-a-half day week! 

How was your weekend?

Fireworks from the 11th floor 

Hands down, favorite store-bought holiday cookie: Trader Joe's Joe Joe's 


Antenna Magazine Party at the River East Art Center 

Chicken & Waffles for brunch... Yum

Friday, November 18, 2011

Weekend To-Dos

Friday is here and I couldn't be more happy about it...

With the holidays just around the corner this is going to one of our last free weekends with very little on the agenda before Christmas.

It seems like things always get crazy around this time of year. Between travel and visitors, holiday parties and plans, calendars fill up quickly and I'm so looking forward to it. 

But in the meantime I'm looking forward to a lazy weekend filled with holiday shopping, sleeping in, a brunch date and hopefully a pedicure. 

Bring on the weekend!  

all images via Pinterest