GLIMPSE

A glimpse into our week.  My blogging bestie has spent the week in NYC for work...I spent the week trying to figure out what to wear (the temperature has fluxuating like crazy) AND what to put on the dinner table.  The GLIMPSE will become a regular Friday post.  Because it's just fun to show what we are really doing, since we are usually giving this grande allure of awesomeness - like when I post a snapshot of by bigwig desk or walk you through my lovely morning coffee ritual.

Always a good time to be in NYC

F21 Shirt (i can't wait to see the whole thing)
Bracelet on the right:  Henri Bendel (i had to know)

or at Craft Bar in NYC

enjoying a post work cocktail

My SJP inspired sweater over dress solution for 30 degree temperature shifts.  

 

Disclaimer:  That is not my real ponytail - more about my relationship with hairpieces another time.

And a very special thank you to Danielle at elleinadspir for saving me on dinner last night with a fantastic crockpot chicken chili recipe!  I could not think of one more idea for dinner yesterday and pizza (sometimes otherwise just know as "food" in our house) was not an option.  Head on over to Danielle's cute space and check it out her blog makeover!

Linking up for Fashion Friday!

Fashion Blogosphere Crush

Another installment of blogosphere crush, from the fashion blogs AND my stylin bestie and co-blogger.  Enjoy!

via thedaybookblog
So easy and cool...and yet unexpected.

via cupcakes and cashmere
Another lipstick shade to try…with a bit of a twist

High end design from afar…eDesign!
Before…



via elementsofstyle

After…



via elementsofstyle



pancake batter via cupcakesandcashmere

We all know how much Bestie loves pancakes…this method is genius.
Since I am in NYC this week…old world look updated.



via thesartorialist

fwb

Lucky you!

"...a horseshoe is said to bring good luck. Many believe that to hang it with the ends pointing upwards is good luck as it acts as a storage container of sorts for any good luck that happens to be floating by, whereas to hang it with the ends pointing down, is bad luck as all the good luck will fall out" - wikipedia

One of my favorite "congratulations" gifts is a bottle of champagne with a horseshoe attached to the packaging.  This photo is from 2004 when I first came up with this idea for someone starting their own company, but it works for many occasions.  

Because we could all use a container for collecting a little extra luck!

p.s.  I've gone to the local stables ( I know it sounds weird since I live in the city- but all the Michigan Ave carriage horses live very close to me) and they have just given me horseshoes.

Salad Kick

Sunday morning after half a cup of coffee.....

Me:  I think I'll try to go for a run along the lake this morning


5yr old son:  Mommy, this will be like your first exercise of the year, huh?!


Me:  Huh?!

Apparently, he doesn't considering our morning three block power walk to school a workout.  Nor does he think that power walk that sometimes turns into a full on sprint, with me holding a 40 lb weight, otherwise known as his sister, is exercise.  Even though, I break into a full out sweat every morning before we even get out the door.  Proof that I am burning calories.  I mean, there should be gatorade stops on our morning commute.  Or how about crossing guards handing out power bars!  Something, because this morning routine is hard work.

Who knew that I had my only little workout tracker app living under my roof.

If I went by my son's calculations, I probably should have gained ten pounds since the new year, but luckily that's not the case.  (Maybe a handful though and I'm working on that).  Perhaps, healthy salads have saved me from gaining the extra parental pounds.  Or maybe it's the calorie burning nervous energy that comes with rushing your kids to school on time or running to that next meeting.  Whatever the case, I'm on a yummy salad kick, and perhaps I should be on another kick, but nothin like a little 5 yr old honesty to kick me in gear.

Apple Walnut Salad

recipe adapted from my mother's church cookbook

(you know the one that calls for a lot of geletin and velveeta)

10oz Spinach

2 medium Granny Smith Apples - chopped

1/2 small red onion - chopped

1/4 chopped waluts

Dressing:

1/4 c olive oil

1/4 c apple cider vinegar

3 tbl sugar 

(recipe calls for 1/4 c sugar, but i think that's too much)

garlic powder or one clove fresh garlic

Blog Crush

Another weekly round of blog crushing from my bestie!

Enjoy!

via the sartorialist

Leather skirt and peter pan blouse

"Not condoning smoking whatsoever, but dying for this look"

Via elementsofstyleblog
The bathroom is sort of a mid-summer's dream…but I was more intrigued by the glowing endorsement of the products at the end of the post. (Shampoo by Kiehls)

via

If I were ever to become a crafty girl (and I am so NOT) this would be how I would do it.  I still remember the very first personalized stationary I ever bought.

via

Pizza crust made from cauliflower?  I actually made this last night and my husband wolfed it down.  Tweeted by @jillianharris

It's been insanely nice here and I have taken many iPhone photos that look like they belong in the month of July, not the first two weeks in March - as in just a week past February - in Chicago.  It's amazing and uplifting and makes me think how nice it would be to have mild weather year round.  But it is just a "grass is always greener" or would I miss digging my car out of the snow, scraping the windows, getting all the snow gear out, weighing down backpacks with snowpants and boots, yellow snow, and freezing hands?  No, it's not a "grass is only greener" thing - it's a grass is always greener thing.  I'd take breezy balmy days, evenings on the porch, and greener grass.

Barbecuing with old friends

Skinnygirl Sangria with lemons, oranges and a girl -  Yum and fun!

Beach time!

Top of the morning

Soda bread with a side of Leprechaun Juice (rainbow sherbet + ginger ale)

I've never seen a crazier or warmer St. Patrick's Day in Chicago!  There are seas of green on every corner and a big Miller Lite truck sponsoring free rides.  And lots of green beads, tons of them.  Meanwhile granny St. Paddy is sipping her irish tea while watching some poor hammered girl go to the bathroom while simultaneously vomitting on the sidewalk across the street.  It's getting crazy out there and a little sleepy in here.  Maybe next year, I'll paint the town green...or at least my toes.

Noah's Hope

I attended a spa event last night benefitting a charity called Noah's Hope.  Noah's Hope supports research for rare childhood diseases, including Batten disease, a terminal disease that strikes young.  The family behind this have three children and two of them are currently battling this insanely terrible disease.  The mother attended the event.  I cannot wrap my head around what this family is going through and where these parents find the strength to get through every day.  My thoughts and prayers are with them.  Another reminder to count our blessings.

Blogosphere Crush!

Hey friends!  My bestie and blogging cohort is doing a weekly blog round-up!  For several reasons and the main one being is that she is way more organized than me and apparently isn't being affected with this spring blogger's block that is going around.  Think they have something for that at Walgreens?  She actually remembers where she read stuff.  Imagine that?  I promise to step it up with more consistent posts because I actually may jot down what's in my head once in while.  So, without further ado, her favorites from the week...

The "blogosphere" has enabled me to have, at my fingertips, a plethora of "cool girls" to use as inspiration.  Were you ever that girl that would meet a new girlfriend and think "her hair is so awesome…I wonder how she curls it?" or "her outfits ALWAYS look so effortless…how does she do that on a daily basis?".  I was so that girl and similar to how it felt to listen to a new CD all the way through for the first time, finding a new g-friend that was cool, had her own style, or could apply makeup was like Christmas morning to me. 

Inspired by that feeling, I thought that each week I would share who and what I am crushin' on from around the web...

I never liked it in middle school when girls would rank their friends.  "You're my FIRST best friend, and she is my second, third, fourth, etc…  But, if I had to pick a first, it would be Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere.  Her first book is coming out in August…yeah, I pre-ordered it weeks ago.  This week, Emily posted about her sojourn to Austin for SXSW.  Austin happens to be the place that Bestie and I fantasize about meeting up in, and this post helps me remember why.

Blair Eadie from Atlantic-Pacific comes in a dead heat second.  I highly recommend signing up for her almost daily emails with just her outfit pics…daily inspiration.  Even if you can't pull off the entire look, you can pinch her signature stacked bracelets or simple hair style…even the outfit color combinations.  If you are a Pinterest kind of gal - she just started pinning…swoon.

You know you have too much time on your hands when you spend an hour on Sunday watching "Sock Bun" tutorials.  This is a good one.

The Bachelor came to a DRAMATIC and tearful end…but The Bachelorette begins in May with Emily Maynard (another style crush).  Dana from Possessionista keeps me rolling with her Twitter commentary…plus she has the inside scoop on what the contestants are wearing and where to get it.

A healthy and fast breakfast starring egg and avocado…yes please!

The perfect summer dress..linked to via Joanna of Cup of Jo.

And finally…a suspected crush of Bestie…Jenna, from JCREW, courtesy of The Sartorialist.

Have a good weekend!

xo - fwb

 http://pinterest.com/atlanticpacific/my-style/

Something is brewing

I construct posts in my head while walking the kids to school, driving to work, before going to bed at night - I had a really funny one in my head the other day - but the thing is when I finally get around to actually writing one, I can't think of a darn thing to say.  Does this happen to anyone else?  Blogger block?  What is it?

So, for lack of the spring post I was going to write, something about life balance, or a new natural deodorant, I'll talk about something I know best, coffee.  And this happens to be brewed up in the form of a delightful new coffee spot that sprouted in our neighborhood in the lobby of a recently renovated hotel.  The decor is on the preppy side with the perfect combination of modern and vintage details.  We sat by the windows with an unobstructed view of Lincoln Park.  They gave the kids mini coffee cups (with lids- key) for their Pelligrino Limonata.  And they serve the most delicious La Colombe coffee (based in Philly).  They also happen to have bottled ice coffee in their cooler - can't wait to try that this summer.

Since the kids don't have school today and I don't have to work, we are headed their shortly to start our day right and do a little coffee shop lounging, old school style.

 

Marni @ H&M

My bestie, fwb, posted this collection on my facebook last week.  Today, I just realized that there is a Sophia Coppola directed spot that accompanied it.  It's even more gorgeous than the line; although the line is pretty inspiring in itself.

Some of my favorites...

love the double cuff

 

happy shopping!

Pinkberry Me!

One day in December, it was predicted to be 50 degrees, so I promised the kids an after school trip to Pinkberry.  I didn't want to miss out on one of the last warm days of the season.  Then, a few days later, it was around 50 again, so we hit Pinkberry again.  Fast forward a few weeks to early January when a 47 degree days had Pinkberry written all over it.  Again, a few days later, high 40s, dictated another mandatory stop.  We braced ourselves for the typical Chicago weather and the only thing that came were more Pinkberry stops.  It may be time for me to start making my own frozen yogurt.  Looks easy enough and I will try as soon as I can COME UP FOR AIR as I am drowning in to do lists for work, family, personal, volunteer, etc.  Clearly, I've overextended myself.  CUT!  I'm on the wrong script.  

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt Recipe

via this lovely lady's space

3 cups (720g) strained yogurt (see below) or Greek-style yogurt
3/4 cup (150g) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Mix together the yogurt, sugar, and vanilla (if using). Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

To make 1 cup (240g) of strained yogurt, line a mesh strainer with a few layers of cheese cloth. then scrape 16 ounces or 2 cups (480g) of plain whole-milk yogurt into the cheesecloth. Gather the ends and fold them over the yogurt, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours. So, for the above recipe start with and strain 6 cups of yogurt.

Makes about 1 quart.

Color Burst

Another morning of eyeballing all the blacks, grays, and blah colors of winter in my closet.  Another morning of boring!  It's about this time of year when all I cal think about is Spring as I am getting tired of the same ole same ole clothing combinations.  So, I was delightfully surprised when these lovely bright socks from my mother-in-law arrived last week!  She is an expert knitter and is always right on with her color choices  So, along with one of my all black uniforms, I added this bright burst of color to remind me that bolder colors and warmer temperatures are in site.

Perfect for s day of location scouting for my next project!

Boots: Born

Coat:  BB Dakota

Special thanks to Ky for taking these photos.  Nothing like having a director offer a quick impromptu photo shoot!