Looking For an Easy Read??

Last January I took a cruise with my best friend from college, K. We're both huge bookworms and went through a dozen books. K always finds the light, easy reads we both love to fly through. It was on this trip that she introduced me to Nora Robert's Bride Quartet Series. I immediately loved it and bought book 2 in the airport.

The story line follows 4 childhood friends who run a wedding planning company out of one of the character's New Haven estate. It's an incredibly light read. So if you're looking for a deep, thought-provoking novel...put this down. But the friendship, romance, and details make it a fun and quick ride. I highly recommend it!

The series starts with Vision in White.

Then Bed of Roses.

Onto Savor The Moment

And Finally ends with Happy Ever After (Of course it does!!)

Who doesn't like a good, light read?

Saving Face

I'm a total product junkie. There I said it. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. I wanted to share my problem with you too...I know some of you have a problem like me :)

Here are my go-to facial products:

I recently got a facial and was told I should use a toner after cleansing. I took the aesthetician's advice and bought Aveda's Green Science Replenishing Toner. After 10 days of using it, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. It has a great smell and really feels like it's shrinking my pores and closing them off to dirt, etc. I bought the travel size which was $14.50 compared to the $39 for the larger size. When I'm done with this, I'll definitely buy the large one!



Anyone looking for a light, gel-like moisturizer that will work overtime should try Clinique's 'Moisture Surge' Extended Thirst Relief. It's the lightest moisturizer and it is so good at what it does! I use this nightly.


With cold weather and sharp winds coming our way, it's more important than ever to keep your lips soft and smooth. I have used countless lip exfoliators but Philosophy's is my favorite. It's sweet and simple. Put it on your lips. Smush (very proper terminology here) them back and forth. Rinse. Baby soft lips ;) I'm a big fan of Philosophy and swear by their Purity face wash. I mix it up between the cream cleanser and the foaming cleanser.



For traveling I like to bring Pond's Cleansing Cloths with me. I just saw Philosophy makes Purity cleansing cloths. Although Pond's are quite cheaper....If it ain't broke, don't fix it :)

For my day moisturizer, I use MAC's Studio Moisture Fix SPF 15. I use this under my make-up and like that it has SPF in it. However, I just saw they make one with SPF 50 in it and I'm thinking I've got to go try that now....but I'm worried it might be more primer, less moisturizer. Anybody have it?? Details, please!

What are your favorite face products?

Weekend of Celebrations!

Whew, that extra hour came and went and I still need more time! Time to recover, that is. This weekend was full of shenanigans!

We celebrated my snazzy license...

Terrible picture but you get the point.

...and a celebration isn't complete without delicious chocolate cake! Mmm. We stopped by a favorite of mine in the South Loop: Gioco.

Then Saturday night it was time to party for my cousin J's 30th birthday.

Or as we so lovingly called it, The Dirty Thirty.

My whole family came to Moonshine for dinner and laughs. The youngins then headed out for the night throughout Wicker Park and the West Loop. It was a long night. You know...we crashed a different 30th birthday and joined in on the limbo and danced in the middle of the group. Just a normal, quiet night. Riiight.

I, being the ever so responsible one, left early. At 3:30am. WHAAAT? Yeah. MMM-HMM. That, my friends, is what I like to call a PLD (Poor Life Decision). The rest of the gang made it home at 5:30 (or so I'm told) I guess the Dirty 30 brings out the crazy in all of us! Here was my outfit of the night:

Walls of mirrors :)

Black Blazer from Anthropologie. (this baby gets so much use!)
Top w/ built in necklace from Collective Concepts (looks like this)
Skinny Jeans from Old Navy (and honestly my fave, from last fall)
Intyce Boots from Steven. The ones everybody seems to have.
H&M Red Crossbody bag that I love even more since it was a whopping $19.


I recommend the Palmer House Hilton for anyone coming in to Chicago for the night or weekend. The hotel is very 1920's Chicago glamour and really is something. Potter's Lounge has good drinks and was a relaxing start to our fun filled night. Plus, PHH has tons of mirrors everywhere for my random self shots...haha

How amazing are these door knobs?! So intricate!


The Lobby area of the hotel. So glam :)

Hope you had a fabulous weekend and got the most of your extra 60 minutes!! Did you do anything fun?!

Cozy Sweater Weather

It's finally here! The cold chill that makes you want to wrap up in wool, cotton, and cashmere!

Today I wore this soft wrap cardigan with jeggings and couldn't have been more comfortable. It's long, and the cotton is incredibly soft & cozy. I also love fair isle patterns :) Plus it was so cheap. We're talking $39 for a sweater, holla!

Close-up of the print. More stripes. muahaha!

Sweater: Fire LA, Jeggings: Old Navy-Rockstar Style, Shoes: Metallic Tory Burch Flats (can't see but blogged about them earlier...people told me some secrets and they're finally broken in!!)

What are your go-to sweater styles for the Fall/Winter? I'm a sucker for anything that wraps and/or has a belt. The softer the better!

Happy FRIDAY! Have a fabulous weekend!!

Today's the Day

I'm off to McCormick Place for my Admission Ceremony to the Bar of Illinois.

I got these jazzy tickets in the mail and it's time to go! It's finally official and I couldn't be more relieved!

Thanks to everyone who helped me over the past three years, especially during the hellish summer of bar prep. It's finally ALL DONE!!

Nostalgia

"Nostalgia literally means the pain from an old wound. It’s a twinge in your heart, far more powerful than memory alone."

Mad Men

My trip to Iowa City was incredibly nostalgic. Driving up Dubuque Street and seeing my old apartment. Walking to tailgate & going to Kinnick. Hitting our old stomping grounds like Brother's. Browsing stores like Dulcinea, Catherine's and Akar. Eating at Quinton's. Sunday morning Chai Tea and paper at Java House. It goes on and on...

Nostalgia is hard. It's difficult to explain. I'm happy for where I am today, but I miss the days of college life. Or even my life a year ago. But memories are great and pictures are a fabulous way to remember what once was. I always find that certain songs bring me right back to a specific night or experience.

Here are some snapshots of my weekend down memory lane...

Apartment at Fairchild & Dubuque.

Love the beginning of the games! Our seats were awesome too!

Dulcinea is such an adorable boutique

Way too many carbs at Quinton's! Baked potato soup & the smoke stack. Yum!

Java House always has interesting local art hanging.

Mmm soy chai, berry muffin & the Sunday papers.

And last but not least....Halloween in a college town. Where students think less is more. It's not.

What are you nostalgic for?

Just a Quick Change

I have a lot of jewelry that I still own but never wear. Whether I don't like the style, the fit, or I'm just not feeling it, I hardly get rid of my pieces.

While cleaning out my jewelry the other day I came across this necklace that I haven't worn since I was a junior in college. I don't like the way it lays but I love the beads...I knew I had to revamp it somehow.

So I changed it up. I've made jewelry before so I had all the wire, clamps, etc. If you don't know how to make jewelry, I promise you it's not too difficult. Head to your local Michael's or bead store and I'm sure they'll give you some insider tips :) Google helps too!

I wanted to show you the before and after so you'll know that you don't always have to ditch your jewelry or throw it in the back of the drawer...you just have to restyle it!

Necklace

Sloppy picture, but you get the idea.

I still have a ton of leftover beads so now I just have to figure out what to do with them!

Have you ever taken something old and put new life into it? Do you make jewelry? Or restyle your old clothes? Do share!!