Rejuvenated.

a view of the harbor from the spot we watched the sun set each night

I’m back from vacation, feeling recharged and rejuvenated. I love Chicago, don’t get me wrong, but there is nothing like taking a little time for some sunshine in the midst of an infamous Chicago winter. I escaped to a place of warm sun, cool breezes, white sand, and crystal clear water. It really was as idyllic as it sounds. A little island smack dab in the middle of the Caribbean ocean – two thirds of which is a National Park (extra credit to anyone who can name it ;). We spent our days hiking the mountainous terrain (I swear my hamstrings are 10x stronger upon return, and sore to boot) relaxing by the shore(s), snorkeling, sailing (which was an adventure in and of itself), and eating the freshest of seafood and fruit. I feel like myself again. Clear headed, happy, and full of life. And now, I’m actually looking forward to taking on the challenges at work, getting back into the swing of things at CGC (my acronym for City Girl Chicago…), and getting back to each of you personally who left some love! I can’t thank you enough for that btw, I was a bit nervous to see what activity had taken place in my absence; a bit worried that I would feel slightly dejected upon returning with a big fat “0 comments” staring back at me. But I shouldn’t have been. You readers are amazing and impress me daily with your perspectives, questions, and well, love! So thank you thank you – I love reading everything you have to say, and I make it a point to get to know those who take the time to get to know CGC. I have so much love for you!

I took a few pictures (well perhaps more than a few, but I’ll spare you) and thought I might share just a few of the scenes we took in. When the sky is grey and the wind is bitter, remember the cold weather just makes us appreciate the warm sun that much more.

Here's to appreciating the warm sun~

Leave me some love

Ladies and gents, I am off on a little trip

Off into the sunset…

First hopping on an aeroplane

Then a little ferry

The husband says it is to “unwind”, to “decompress”, to “unplug”

Basically, I need to relax

I am attempting a full week of no internet, no phone, and no internet phone

Just time to spend with the hubby, and soak in the beautiful surroundings

So please pardon my radio silence for the week

Leave me some love and I promise to get back to you, and CGC, as soon as I return!

~ xox ~

Chicago Weekend Warrior – Meet Bailey from Peppermint Bliss!

Meet Bailey from Peppermint Bliss! Bailey is a girl who follows after my own heart. She has a quirky, er, adorable writing style, great sense of humor, and such an energetic and bubbly approach to life I'm afraid she just might pop! (well not really, because that would be a crying shame)

Here are Bailey's responses to the Weekend Warrior questions. I couldn't agree with the girl more.

"I moved here from Texas in May to be with my fiancée who is from Chicago. I instantly fell in love with this incredible city and we have made it our goal to try at least one new restaurant a week…I think we have done a pretty good job so far, but I know we have barely even scratched the surface! I can’t wait to see what the other Chicago Weekend Warriors come up with, but here is my humble guide to my beloved adopted home."

Favorite restaurant fit to bring a foodie: The Bristol in Wicker Park embodies a lot of what I think Chicago dining is all about. It is cool and unpretentious, and the seasonal menu changes daily. All the food is locally sourced and even though some items on the menu might seem a little intimidating (Roasted Bone Marrow, anyone?) it is all delicious. I have tried and enjoyed things I never thought I would eat here. And they have options for less adventurous foodies-in-training as well. The only catch is that they don’t take reservations, so unless you go early enough you are going to have to wait.

Favorite place to imbibe: Although I can be found in bars shockingly often (I blame it on my new bad influences friends, I clearly am a perfect lady and would never hang out in such seedy environments unprovoked) I do not really like “bars”. My new fave spot for a cocktail is The Violet Hour, also in Wicker Park. It is modeled after an old-fashioned speakeasy (There isn’t a sign outside, just a light above an unmarked door) and you have to get a table with the hostess who greets you at the end of a long dark hallway, no loitering here people! I prefer to go on weeknights as the waits come Friday/Saturday are pretty ridiculous and if I’m in the mood to get to drinking, that just will not do.

Most loved romantic date night consists of: My fiancée and I really like Boka for a hot date. We are both really passionate about food, and you get the impression that the people who work there are too. Eating in the main dining room kind of feels like you are in some magical glow-y tent, which helps for the roommance.

Elected ladies night out agenda: For a ladies night I typically choose to partake in activities le fiancée will not do with me. Which usually means fondue (I like Geja’s) and maybe some pottery painting at Glazed Expressions. I know I am wild. Don’t get next to my fire, you’ll get burned.

Preferred place to shop fashion: Just thinking about shopping on Michigan Avenue makes me twitch. Maneuvering through the masses with shopping bags in tow is just too much for me. I tend to stick more to the online retail scene, but I do like Art Effect on Armitage. Art Effect calls itself “A Modern Day General Store”, I call it my shopping bliss. It has a bunch of random cute clothing and jewelry lines, but I really dig it for hostess/birthday/manic Monday gifts.

Favorite place to shop for fun: My fiancée and I just bought our first home together and I have been in full on nesting mode ever since. Like a lot of young couples we are pretty much starting from scratch. We want the house to feel homey and interesting, not just like we are living in a West Elm showroom, so for pieces that are different and look like they have a bit of history I go to MeCox on Clark or Architectural Artifacts on Ravenswood.

Mecox is more upscale and has a lot of stylishly recovered vintage furniture and interesting objects d’arte, if you will. Most everything there is one of a kind, which is nice, because who wants to worry about someone else having the same bronze baboon sculpture as you? Not me, suckers!

Architectural Artifacts is a warehouse full of reclaimed everything. Seriously, in search of the perfect antique fountain and have $200,000 to burn? They have just the thing, recovered from the Morton (as in the salt) Estate. For those of us who live in reality they also have endless rooms full of antique tiles, light fixtures, switch plates, and other treasures to give your new home some vintage cred.

Ideal place to shop food: I’ve heard this cupcake craze is on its way out, but I think that my favorite cupcake slanger, Sweet Mandy B’s, has what it takes to ride out the wave. Their icing is so delishy they sell it separately, so that you can eat it in by the spoonful in the privacy of your own home. Isn’t that thoughtful of them? AND they just opened an attached café space for those of you who lack the will to wait to dig into your treats, fatties.

Best place to sightsee: I’m not going to lie to you here people. I am doing very little sightseeing in the current frozen tundra. However, I recall really enjoying taking long walks through the neighborhoods around Depaul and the Gold Coast, looking at all of the beautiful old homes and stumbling on random new-to-me gems like

Oz Park. I am confident that the same charming city streets are still there under this snowy cover, but I’m just going to have to wait and see for myself after the spring thaw. Lest I wander too far and end up like the little match girl.

Favorite way to enjoy Chicago culture:
I kiinnnddd of feel like a poser posting this, because I have only been once, but Second City is a great time and I would definitely go back. The institution that basically created SNL (alumni includes Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey) is still hilarious, and you never know just who might be their next break out star.

Favorite way to enjoy a Chicago weekend (Friday night through Sunday afternoon):

Friday: Head to Big Star early and sit at the bar enjoying 3$ pork belly tacos and margaritas. Meet up with friends at Zella’s (especially in the summer when the patio is open), Pops for Champagne in the loop if Pete and I are feeling fancy, or if we get a real wild hair, for dancing at The Hangge Uppe (downstairs only, 80s music, no grinding here).

Saturday: Bundle up like an Eskimo and take my puppies to frolic in Lincoln Park or Dog Beach at Belmont Harbour. Check in with my Foodie App (Do you people have an iPhone? Download the Foodie Application. It gives you updates on specials they have finagled at some of the best restaurants in Chicago, and let’s you make a reservation with the click of a button. Awesome.) and notice that Perennial is doing a special 20% off brunch with the purchase of a Bloody Mary. Sold. Day drinking usually leads to night drinking, probably somewhere in the neighborhood like Gemini Bistro or the newly opened Kith and Kin.

Sunday: Drag my useless hungover self to Stanley’s Kitchen & Tap for all you can eat brunch. Lie on my couch in a food coma and research Urban Daddy and Daily Candy for all of the new and exciting places I am going to check out next week!

Like the way Bailey rolls? Follow her at Peppermint Bliss. Have some love left to distribute? Follow me and I'll be forever grateful. :)

Have a great weekend, warriors!

Wednesday Wardrobe Wants ~ Girl's Night Out!

About time we had a Girl’s Night Out!
For the days you’ve proved yourself at the gym and want to strut it,
For those evenings when you just want to sip ‘tinis with your ladies,
For the nights you want to look stellar and have it be all about the girls,
You need a girl’s night out!

Items in this set:
James Perse scoop neck tank, Monroe Double Breasted Tux Jacket, Feather skirt by Rare, Jezebelle shoes, Metal mesh and leather clutch, Double Wrap Stud Belt, Swarovski pendant necklace, Swarovski Honore Earrings

I am loving the scoop on this tank, the flirty vibe of this skirt, and the luxe gray-silver hues set off by black.
And anyone who knows me knows I’m a Swarovski snob, so I had to throw in a little of the crystal :)
I don’t know if I could survive a whole evening pain-free in these fabulous shoes, but no one said beauty was painless right?

These are my Wednesday Wardrobe Wants~

Transitional Tuesday ~ Time to Move!

It’s a transitional Tuesday for me rather than a tasty one. The husband and I have decided to move!

After 5 years living on the north side of Chicago, we’ve decided it’s time to try out living in a new area (still in Chicago though of course).

We’re very excited to have found a new place to call home, which fits our needs (read: more storage space), style (urban loft!), and location of choice (a block away from some of the best restaurants in the city, and I’m a happy girl).

I was able to snap a couple pics of the new place we found this weekend:

a view of the kitchen from living room

a view of the fireplace from living room

However, I don’t feel right talking about my new home without thinking of all those in Haiti who suddenly have found their homes gone.

If you haven’t donated yet, it’s not too late. Unicef allocates 100% of your donation to children in Haiti. Giving allows us to not feel helpless ~ it’s the least we can do.

A special offer for us gals on the go: GO-GIRL Beauty Products at 15% off!

GO-GIRL Beauty Products is offering a special discount to all readers! GO-GIRL is a line of must have problem solvers for every gal on the go. Recently featured on The Daily 10 and The Insider, they have products for just about any blunder a diva like you may find yourself in. This is a company dedicated to keeping even the busiest of gals looking gorgeous – what’s not to love?

Now through Wednesday, use code “CityGirl” upon checkout to receive your 15% discount.

I myself am going to be checking out the Lint-On-The-Go sheets (perfect for visiting any girlfriend with a pup before heading out!) and Chic Apparel Tape (because any classy girl wants to keep her clothes in place).

And wouldn’t these also make great Valentine’s Day gifts for your girlfriends, or party favors for a bridal party?

Chicago Weekend Warrior: Meet Jenna!

This Friday’s Weekend Warrior? Meet Jenna from The Clothes Whore. Jenna provides personal shopping and image consultation services, and has fantastic taste in all things high-end. With a slogan like “Vogue is my bible and Barney's is my place of worship” you know she’s serious about what she does. So take a look at how Jenna likes to her spend time during her Chicago weekends, then check out her awesome blog for fashion inspiration and couture fascination.

Favorite restaurant fit to bring a foodie:  Of all of the restaurants I’ve tried in the past (trust me, it’s a lot) I always resort back to Frasca being my favorite. It is a contemporary Italian influenced restaurant featuring specialty pizzas and we can’t forget their delicious wine cuisine! I think Frasca is the perfect cozy neighborhood restaurant with a great staff (ask for Kelly!), reasonable prices and they always use the freshest ingredients. Sorry for all of you NYEvers with resolutions to lose weight – their brick oven pizzas are out of this world, it is a must have in my book. If you are looking for any fashion advice during the early hours on the weekend, you won’t get it … unless of course you’d like to enjoy Frasca’s breakfast pizza (seriously) and the world’s greatest bloody mary with me, because that’s where you'll find me Saturday and Sunday.

Favorite place to imbibe:  The Violet Hour, once voted best bar of the year, has the most delicious and unique concoctions when it comes to cocktails. Aside from drinks like the Lock & Load, Daisy 17 and Juilet & Romeo, the décor is just as amazing. The oversized chairs, crystal chandeliers and long drapey curtains have almost an Alice in Wonderland feel. If that’s not enough, the bar offers eight kinds of ice and stops admitting people when all of the chairs are taken so their patrons can breath. What a concept! I truly think anyone that lives in Chicago and/or is traveling to Chicago must include this hot spot in their itinerary.

Most loved romantic date night consists of:  My fiancé and I have date night once a week and prefer to stay in the neighborhood. My all time favorite and most romantic location in our area would be dinner at Fiorentinos Cucina Italiana in their beautiful year round climate controlled garden piazza. The ivy covered brick walls, twinkling lights and lush plants make you feel like you are literally in the Italian piazza. It’s like a little piece of Italy right on Ashland Avenue. Amazing. For dessert we travel up north to Brownstown for their warm skillet cookie, in the oven just long enough to warm it up and serve with gooey center. Yum!

Elected ladies night out agenda:  Dinner and drinks (champagne in a can anyone?) at Hub51, quick stop at Mercadito for a margarita and dancing till the early hours at The Underground.

Mercadito

Preferred place to shop fashion:  This list could go on and on but I’ll try and make it simple. Akira on Diversy has great affordable trendy pieces that you wouldn’t be devastated if you spilled your pomegranate martini all over. I shop Veruca Salt for all of my staples: t-shirts, sweats, simple dresses, etc. Everything in the store is fashionable, yet not over-the-top-I’m-trying-too-hard-to-look-good. One can never go wrong when shopping at the Denim Lounge on Oak Street, they even have a butt cam – how cool is that? And of course we can’t forget shoes! Lori shoes, the sole of Chicago, is my go-to shop for everyday flats, boots, heels & even handbags.

Favorite place to shop for fun: All shopping is fun! M2 & M4 on Southport are small but packed (and I mean packed) with a lot of great jewelry, handbags, one-of-a-kind gifts, hats and gadgets for men.

Ideal place to shop food:  In the summer I couldn’t live without the farmers market on Clark street but in the winter you’ll find me at Whole Foods and Southport Café & Grocery. Their boutique grocery is stocked full with specialty olive oils, pastas, sauces, and baked goods. And of course they sell their award winning cupcake available in Vanilla and Chocolate with melt-in-your-mouth buttercream frosting, which is like an added bonus when shopping for groceries!

Best place to sightsee: On top of the Navy Pier ferris wheel!

Favorite way to enjoy Chicago culture:  Day at the baseball park, dinner and drinks at Signature Room and a horse and carriage ride around the city.

Favorite way to enjoy a Chicago weekend (Friday night through Sunday afternoon): Friday night dinner at Rise Sushi and movie at the Brew & View. Saturday morning run along the lakefront, all you can eat brunch at Joey’s Brickhouse (don’t judge I like to eat!), shopping on Oak Street, drinks at Crimson Lounge, concert at the House of Blues in the Foundation Room and staying the night at the Hotel Sax. Sunday morning breakfast at Frasca, Birds Nest for lunch, a stop at Candyality for a bag of the best candy in Chicago & back home to the couch to relax!

Thank you Jenna for being our Weekend Warrior ~ Have a great weekend everyone!

Wednesday Wardrobe Wants ~ from Day to Evening

I’m often finding days when I go from day activities straight into the evening~ from walking city blocks to dinner or drinks out with the husband or friends.

Perhaps I was a bit wistful for spring with this Wednesday Wardrobe, but I lust for a leather motorcycle jacket paired with an ethereal flowing top to balance girly with edge.

The perfect outfit to take a girl from day to evening requires comfortable but cool shoes, hip but not flashy accessories, and chic clothing with a laid back vibe

This might just be my ideal outfit to take us from the transition of winter into spring, and from day to evening ~

These are my Wednesday Wardrobe Wants~

Tasty Tuesday: Filet Mignon with Mustard Sauce

Meat and potatoes don’t have to be boring. You know you’re a true Chicagoan when you agree with this statement. True Chicagoans know that with just a little finesse, the meat and potatoes meal can become a culinary experience.

I realized last night I haven’t featured any sort of red meat for Tasty Tuesday, or any other day for that matter. While I try to only eat red meat about once a week, I still love me a good cut of steak.

This Filet Mignon recipe comes from a pretty book (pretty because of the pictures!) called Gourmet Every Day. I love this book because it has recipes which taste gourmet yet are actually quite simple (and quick!) to make; and well, did I mention the pretty pictures?

The husband and I choose this meal when we want to treat ourselves to a good Midwestern meal with some refinement.

gourmet plating doesn't hurt the dish either, eh?

Filet Mignon with Mustard Sauce

1 (7-8 oz) filet mignon (2” thick)

½ teaspoon olive oil

1 ½ tablespoons Cognac (or you may substitute with Brandy or cooking sherry)

¼ cup beef broth

¼ cup water

2 tablespoons course-grained mustard

1 teaspoon unsalted butter

Instructions

Halve filet crosswise and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a small heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook filets 2 to 3 minutes on each side for rare, slightly longer for medium (if you have a meat thermometer, the meat is rare at 125 degrees F, medium rare at 135 degrees F, and medium at 145 degrees F)

Let stand on a cutting board, tented loosely with foil, about 5 minutes (this allows the meat to rest readers. You want to make sure not to ignore this step, as this is when the juices redistribute and make it that succulent piece of meat your mouth is watering for. Cut into it too early, and all of those juices will wind up on your cutting board – no good!)

While filets are standing, deglaze the skillet with Cognac over moderate heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits (the brown bits hold a lot of flavor!). Add broth and water and boil until reduced to about ¼ cup. Remove from heat and whisk in mustard, butter, any meat juices from cutting board, and salt and pepper to taste (taste the sauce at this point, and adjust to your liking).

Thinly slice filets and serve with the sauce, and your favorite version of frites and a veggie.

Serving 4? Double it!

Happy Tasty Tuesday~

Please excuse me from being Mrs. Wishy Washy, will you please?

A new plan dear readers. Can you please forgive me for being Mrs. Wishy Washy (for just this one time)?

I’ve been flip-flopping on this for some time now; but have decided to run the Weekend Warrior series across several weeks rather than all together within a week’s span. This seems like the more natural progression for a series such as this, despite advice I received which said series are best when the posts are back-to-back. I tend to disagree on this one, and as I put the question to a majority vote today and the poll agreed, I am going with my gut!

So you can look for the next Chicago Weekend Warrior this Friday, and subsequent Friday’s for several weeks. The good news is there are already a number of Warriors lined up, and I’ve taken a sneak peak at their responses, and they’re all well, fantastic.

I’m excited to bring this weekly feature to you!

Chicago Weekend Warrior Day 1 - Fun Things To Do In The City From the People Who Do Them

This week, us city girls are teaming together to bring you loads of ideas for how to spend a Chicago weekend; no matter what kind of weekend you want to have (though this does involve leaving your couch despite the temps!) Enter our Chicago Weekend Warriors. Throughout this week, I’ll post new Weekend Warrior’s favorite things to do (and places to go) on a Chicago weekend (and don't worry readers, I will also post per usual as well!). I hope this brings some new finds to light for even the most deeply rooted Chicagoans, as well as provide excellent agendas for anyone looking to enjoy a weekend in Chicago.

Please let me know what you think as we go through this week, as I’d love to hear if you’d like this to be a reappearing series ~ I have loved seeing all of the Chicago lady bloggers emerge from the woodwork and bring forth some amazing recos and ideas – it’s been a blast putting this series together with them!

And without further adieu, I invite you to meet Johanna from 101 things I love. Check out Johanna’s amazing ideas for weekend fun and then skip on over to her blog for some great inspiration.

Favorite restaurant fit to bring a foodie: Marigold Restaurant in Uptown. Marigold is wonderful for so many reasons - including a quaint, intimate dining atmosphere fit for a bigger group or a date night; it's extremely affordable for the quality and quantity of food; and it's somewhat of a variation on a theme meaning it's a gourmet take on traditional Indian cuisine; it smells divine; the service and staff are incredibly helpful and approachable and the ambiance is an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional Indian decor.

Favorite place to imbibe: Besides my couch in the winter months...I would say the Bristol in Bucktown.  If you go for a drink, you should really stay for the food (however their cocktails are made as artfully as their dishes). The cocktails are reminiscent of traditional cocktails of the 30's & 40's but with a twist. A favorite of mine is the Sandia which is a spicy watermelon beverage - sweet with a kick. Head up to the 2nd floor because watching the bartenders making the drink is almost as much fun as drinking the drink! (And come early because they do not take reservations.)

Most loved romantic date night consists of: I love the task of getting ready and dressing up! I work from home so I revel in the small things...a dress, great pair of heels and some fun jewelry. Something that diverts from the norm. Being a foodie...any date night has to include a great meal. Some of my personal favorites are Bistrot Zinc, Topo Gigio, Sushi Wabi, Cafe Matou, and Boka.  A great date night includes a new restaurant pick complete with an early arrival to enjoy a cocktail at the newbie's bar and a nice, long drawn out meal complete with starters, entree AND dessert. And that's it...belly full; I am happy to cab it home and nestle into some pjs and hit up the DVR. I am a simple girl.

Elected ladies night out agenda: A great ladies night out starts in the afternoon. Perhaps a manicure / pedicure duo where my go-to source is Chicago Beauty! Then, depending on the neighborhood we are in, some light window shopping and what else? A cupcake or cocktail or both! Relaxed is key because I hate being rushed when I am getting ready so I like to mosey on home, get ready and sip a glass of wine and then head out for sushi - because you can't eat a bunch of carbs in form-fitting clothes plus it's even worse to drink in! Some of my favorite restaurants for lighter fare, great cocktails, and atmosphere fit for GNO are Coast, Duchamp, Sunda, Japonais, and Ra.

Preferred place to shop fashion: If money were no object, I would head out to Intermix, Barneys, and Helen Yi.  Since money is an object I still opt for Urban Outfitters, Cusp, Forever 21, le Dress, Handle With Care, Pump shoes, and Loehmann's.  I like to buy pieces contrary to most...mix 'n match. Keep it interesting. I cannot tell you the last I bought an entire outfit. And I think it's smart dressing to mix expensive and inexpensive items!

Favorite place to shop for fun: LuLu's at the Belle Kay. Laurie (the owner) is always there which makes it authentic and she is a character in the best of ways. Here you will find vintage estate jewelry, gowns and cocktail dresses, Trunk Sale Brian Atwood pumps and Jackie O coats to die for. Prices are all over the board but every time I go - I find something. My fave has to be a vintage, ivory Bob Mackie dress that I altered and made a mini complete with sequin belt and sleeves. Positively fab and one of a kind. (I bought Brian Atwood pumps to go with and they are just bananas!!)

Ideal place to shop food:  For produce and fruit...nothing beats Stanley's Fruits & Vegetables. It's the freshest you can buy and the cost is unbeatable. Hint: Friday nights are the best time to shop - no one is there! For overall groceries, I love Whole Foods (we have the nation's largest location, thank you Kingsbury!) and Trader Joe's.

Best place to sight see: It depends on what you're looking to see! I think the W Lake Shore Drive has some of the best lake views in the city but you have to go up to the 33rd floor, Whiskey Sky. It's pretty swanky. Next on the list would be Rebar at the Trump International Hotel & Tower. Get there early and see amazing views of Michigan Avenue on that little lake corridor by the Tribune and Wrigley buildings. Fantastic. And for something more random, head to the lake via the Irving Park exit on LSD. There is a golf course, tennis courts and softball fields but if you follow the path there is this amazing little stretch of wildflower gardens that are untouched and buzzing with butterflies, dogs, families...it's a little sanctuary in the big city.

Favorite way to enjoy Chicago culture: The performing arts...undoubtedly. Go see Second City, and enjoy the home of some of the great comedic geniuses of our time. Go to a Bears game at the new Soldier Field, and be sure to eat a slice of Connie's pizza. (I had my first slice in 4th grade with my Pops) And hit up The Art Institute...if for nothing else to see the new Modern wing.

Favorite way to enjoy a Chicago weekend (Friday night through Sunday afternoon): Tough questions! There is so much I love about the city; I could go on for days. Let's start with an outdoor activity. You can drink beer, be outside and scoop up some cool, vintage items. The Chicago Antique Market - small entrance fee and valet parking! Breakfast is a must and I recommend Uncommon Ground.  Get the Montana Omelet and gaze at local art while feeling good that everything you are eating originates from Chicago's 1st Certified Organic Rooftop Farm. Plus they have really fantastic lattes...just sayin'. Enjoy a beer garden and soak up what little of the sun we get! I like Bowman's on Lincoln & Montrose. You might even see some Chicago celebrity politicians. I told you where I like to eat so I think finally you need a cupcake to wrap up your weekend and should really take place at Swirlz on Lincoln and Belden.. They even have gluten-free! 

Thanks to Johanna for being our first Weekend Warrior.  I warned you you'd be inudated with ideas, did I not? ;)

Calling Chicago Weekend Warriors – A series in the works

There are so many fun things to do in the city, and so many fun people that do them. I wanted to highlight some of our Chicago bloggers and feature their favorite city places - where they go and what they do on the weekend. A weekend warrior series if you will.

Look out for the first Weekend Warrior post soon – with our first Chicago weekend warrior’s favorite places to dine, imbibe, shop for fashion, shop for fun, shop for food, sightsee, build their city culture, and more. 

If you’re a Chicago blogger and would like to participate in the Chicago Weekend Warrior series, please send me an email (link on the left sidebar) to let me know. I’ll send you a list of questions and feature your answers (and blog) on this series!

And in the meantime, enjoy your weekend dear readers~

Wednesday Wardrobe Wants: A Bookish Afternoon

A bookish afternoon doesn't mean you can't look pretty. A silk jersey cami keeps you cozy, a pretty-in-pink cardigan keeps it appropriately girly. Stack on some rings, and have your adorable ballet flats and bag by the door in case you want to run out later in the day (perhaps just to the closest coffee shop to continue your musings). Or not. Curl up on your sofa, put a pot on for some tea, pick up your latest favorite book and *unwind*

In this brutal winter weather, sometimes you just want a day to hibernate. A bookish afternoon.

Items in this set:

Phi Fluid silk-jersey tank

Thurley Felicity wool cardigan

MiH London Boy boyfriend jeans

Chloe Capretto leather ballerina flats

Marc by Marc Jacobs Sasha leather shoulder bag

These are my Wednesday Wardrobe Wants~

Tasty Tuesday: Try a Cooking Class and this Beautiful Salad

By now it’s no secret I frequent cooking classes around the city.  I love to cook, I love to eat – cooking classes combine the two.  If you’re interested and in Chicago, I would recommend checking out The Chopping Block’s schedule of classes to see what tickles you, as well as checking if your favorite restaurants have classes, as many offer them to people on their mailing lists (and how fun is it to cook in one of your favorite restaurant’s kitchens?!)

And after a particularly informative, fun, and sexy (the title was "In the Heat of the Night: Aphrodisiacs") cooking class at The Chopping Block, I came away with some absolutely amazing recipes. One of which I already shared (click here), and one of which I will share today. 

I made this salad for New Year’s Eve and it was amazing. It’s beautiful to look at (right?!), and homemade dressing is much more impressive than pulling a ready-made out of the fridge.  Besides, the tangy tart sweet deliciousness compliments the salad toppings oh-so-well.  

Strawberry, Avocado and Spinach Salad

For the dressing:

¼ cup raspberry vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons sugar 
¼ teaspoon hot sauce
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the vinegar, sugar, hot sauce and cinnamon in a bowl.  Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For the salad:

Spinach for however much salad you wish to eat (see below comment)
1 cup strawberries, stemmed and quartered
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
1 avocado, cut into slices or diced

(Now readers, don’t be strict on these amounts – use your judgment!  The plate is your canvas – own it!)

As Julia Child would say, “BON Appétit!”

Chicago Restaurant Weeks Abound!

If one of your New Year's Eve resolutions is to save money (and I'm with you) yet you don't want that to mean never going out on the town, exploring the food scene during one of the upcoming Restaurant Weeks may be just the thing for you. For those unfamiliar, restaurant week is a phenomenal occasion in which Chicago’s restaurants open their doors to the masses with a menu sampler at fixed prices.  This year Chicago is lucky enough to have more than just one Restaurant Week to choose from.  I'll let you do the math for just how many restaurants are participating!

• The official Chicago Restaurant Week 2010 (thrown by the Chicago Tourism Bureau) includes 150+ participating restaurants, with 3 course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus set at $22 and $32 respectively.  It starts Feb 19 and spans a full 10 days

Can't wait until February to get your foodie fix? You have options!

• The Local Tourist is throwing their own Restaurant Week starting this Friday, Jan 8 (for us impatient people).  A similar deal - $25 lunch menus and $35 dinner menus - and with 10% going to charity, you'll be feeding your stomach and your goodwill.

• Chicago Originals is also holding a Restaurant Week Jan 18-31 (I'm really not sure why they are calling this a Restaurant Week, it is more like a Restaurant Half-Month... though I am not complaining!) with 15 restaurants to choose from and $29.10 dinner menus. Can't beat that price!

Know of any other Restaurant Weeks going on in or around the city?  Let me know and I will update this post~

What James Castle Taught Me: Explore What You’re Exploring for New Appreciation

Keeping in line with my New Year’s resolutions (see post below or simply click here), I visited The Art Institute last week. I had fun wandering the Modern Wing as I always do, but another, unanticipated exhibit really spoke to me this visit – that of James Castle.

I became so intrigued with James’ life his art suddenly resonated differently than upon first glance. Castle was born deaf and never learned to read lips, sign, or finger-spell. Instead, he communicated through his artwork (and communicate he did!) His family lived on a farm and didn’t stock the cabinets with drawing papers, pencils or artist equipment of any kind, and so James was incredibly (ridiculously!) resourceful. He used materials found around the farm to create his art - matchboxes, butter cartons, or scraps of cardboard for his canvas. Soot from the fire-burning oven, mixed with his spit, for his charcoal. Despite the lack of materials, Castle found ways to invent.

He was fascinated with putting things together, and would find ways to “sew” together outfits for the characters he created. A bit of yarn, a rope unwound, anything he could use as thread to piece together his creations.

 

 

 

He also became fascinated with patterns. One of my favorite “charcoals” was of an empty room, which wasn’t empty at all. It had so many patterns within it! The wallpaper, the brick floor, this man knew his textures.

this isn't the exact "Empty room" charcoal I referred to, but it sure shows his eye for detail + texture

And the lesson here readers? Before you dismiss something (or someone), look into the life story, the context, the background - and it may just prove to be the missing link which allows you to appreciate it. Explore your city, and within that explore what you’re exploring. The exploration within the exploration. This is what I learned.

{Relevant} New Year's Resolutions

I am one who loves the concept of resolutions, for the New Year or for the new week.  And so while I have a slew resolutions for the year, all written down to in my handy notebook (to make them official of course!), I wanted to highlight the relevant ones to you here, and save you the boredom of reading those such as “drink more water” (ok sorry, starting now)

• Do one thing each week specific to Chicago.  Living in this gorgeous city, the husband and I have decided to make a concerted effort to take advantage of all things offered here.  Whether it’s taking a walk along the lake, visiting a restaurant, attraction, destination, or sports event unique to Chicago - - the idea is to never let a week slip by without appreciating where we live.
• Frequent and support local businesses.  I don’t know about you, but I think there’s something so satisfying in making unique finds in unique places.  It’s gratifying to know that not only am I making a one-of-a-kind purchase that is oh-so-cool, but also supporting the local businesses I so admire. 
• Eat local.  I love all the farmer’s markets that pop up in the city in the summer, but what about during the winter months?  It’s my resolution to seek out more sustainable and local foods to eat year round.  If you have any ideas, I’m happy to hear them!
• Always have an eye out for the next thing to hit the city, try it out, and write about it!  That’s my idea for direction with this blog in 2010 dear readers, to bring you relevant information about what is going on in our amazing city, applying the discoveries and ideas learned to topics people from all geographies can relate to.  Sound fun?  I hope we can together embark on this adventure.:)

Happy New Year to you and yours in 2010


Peace ~ Love ~ Happiness