Happy

New Year to you! AND Happy Birthday to me (hello 30)! 2012 is going to be a good year for sure...

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Or it will be. Chicago has had a surprisingly mild fall/winter but don't be fooled it will be real cold, real soon. Here are a few things sure to keep you warm all winter long...

Fur Hat | I'm pretty jealous of Style-For-Style's thrifted 'Russian Princess Hat', aren't you?!

Table Top Fireplace | BrasaFire has created the perfect solution for homeowners without hearths. The Avani portable fireplace is tops on my winter wish list.

Simple Tortellini & Spinach Soup | I love love love the vegetarian blog site Fresh365 year round, this recipe happens to be a wintertime staple in my kitchen.



Other things keeping me warm lately... planning a Puerto Rican getaway (to celebrate the aforementioned Russian princess' 30th!), new violet Hunters, and watching American Horror Story while sipping hot toddys. Hope it's toasty where you are!

Don’t listen to Hot Chip alone.

Drinkify may just be my new favorite thing. Plug in what you're listening to and Drinkify suggests an appropriate libation. Neat. (I think it can sync with Last.fm too but I'm not that tech savvy.)


Side note: I've found that listening to Hot Chip at the office increases productivity (as well as the occurrence of cubicle dance parties).

Jackson Blvd

If you happen to find yourself on Jackson Boulevard (between State and LaSalle) take a moment to look up...I designed those banners!! Spotting them on my walk in this morning was beyond awesome!

Contact

My apartment needs to have an affair with contact paper...

chalkboard contact paper + fridge
via >>> vol.25  

metallic copper contact paper cut into circles + bathroom wall
via >>> Martha Stewart (obvi)

Vera

Vera Klement, Woman at the Window, 1965, oil on canvas, 58 1/4 x 70 1/2 inches (one of my favorite paintings in the ULC collection)

I opt not to talk much about my 9 to 5 here but it should be mentioned that there are perks of working for "the other Art Institute of Chicago." Last night I was able to attend a lecture by painter Vera Klement. I have met Vera on a few occasions but listening to her discuss her life and work is something else entirely.

At 80 years of age she is just as forthright and witty as she appears in Blunt Edge the documentary for which director Wonjung Bae won an Acadamy Award. Watch for yourself...


Vera Klement: Blunt Edge from Wonjung Bae on Vimeo.

Adorned

I bought this etco pyrite necklace the other day as a super early birthday present to myself. It's the perfect everyday gem. I'm thinking I should also pick up one of their paper mache bowls...

Gift giving is a slippery slope.

Symbols

If you're looking for something to do Saturday head on over to HungryMan Gallery and check the latest work by San Fransisco artist Jared Silbert. (The image I chose may not be recent but I used to drive the kid to the movies so whatevs. Also It should probably be noted that there are two other dudes participating in this show.)

Before Jared became a west coast resident he (+ his twin Jordan) and my little brother were junior high besties. A few years after that we ended up in the design department at CCS together, I'm excited to see what he's been working on since!

I blogged about the other Silbert brother here.

DIY : Backlog

I'm pretty behind on my DIY to-do list. Here are a few of the latest additions...

DIY Doormat | via >>> woonideeen 

DIY Chevron Mug | via >>> Wit & Whistle

DIY Mustard Bow Shoe Clips | via >>> NO144 (for my bff's wedding!)

Maybe it's time to host another craft night?!

Happy Anniversary, Hood!

This time last October my apartment was a mess of boxes and I was new to the North side. One year later I've settled into my little tree fort and neighborhood. To celebrate our year together I thought I'd share a few Ravenswood recommendations...

Eats/drinks:

FOUNTAINHEAD | 1970 W Montrose

With a multi-page beer list, warm wood decor and working fireplace Fountainhead is my favorite place to be on a chilly Chicago evening. Try the smoked Mac & Cheese. Trust me.

TIZTEL CAFE | 4631 N Clark

This casual cafe happens to be located just around the corner from my place and offers a traditional brunch menu with a Mexican twist. If that alone doesn't sell you there's never a wait to be seated (a brunch anomaly in Chicago).

BEANS & BAGELS | 1812 W Montrose  
Unpretentiously cute and conveniently located next to the Brown Line it's not unheard of to run into Mayor Emanuel while picking up your morning latte. 

MIXTECO | 1601 W Montrose
With an ever-evolving menu Mixteco succeeds in serving upscale Mexican cuisine in a boisterous BYOB atmosphere. While I'm not a frequent patron I've never had anything less than amazing.

MARMALADE (image via >>> Chopped Foodie) | 1969 W Montrose
This place is new to the neighborhood and I tried the Sweet and Tart Roasted Pear French Toast a few weekends ago...I'll be back!

THE LONG ROOM | 1612 W Irving Park
Dimly lit with deco inspired dive bar charm The Long Room was one of my favorite Chicago bars looong before I moved to the north side. It's nice that it's only a short walk away now.


Spots:
CHASE PARK | 4701 North Ashland
This blah brick building is home to an outdoor running track, tennis courts, and POOL (please forget you read this by next summer, the less people that know about it the more likely I am to score a reclining chair)! I spent most of July parked on deck or in the water.

LILLSTREET ART CENTER | 4401 N Ravenswood
Lillstreet offers a wide range of classes and while a 10 week course may seem a bit pricey they give you full access to the studios during open hours (of which there are plenty). Anyone that ever went to art school will feel at home in the 3-story studio space.

ARCHITECTURAL ARTIFACTS | 4325 N Ravenswood
80,000 square feet filled with unique museum-quality antiques. While purchasing anything is pretty much out of the question (unless you're the market for a $15K clock face from a bell tower) looking is free and it's easy to lose an hour or so wandering around.

HAZEL | 1902 W Montrose
This cutesy card shop is the best place to pick up last minute gifts (and maybe a little something for yourself). They carry work by several local artists, one of a kind jewelry, and fun home stuffs.

Come up and visit!

Pinned

Loving Pinterest lately...

1. Amethyst Stalactite Earings | Friedasophi 2. Zig Zag Tray | Up In The Air Somewhere 3. Up North | Esme McClear  4. Swank Cabin  

Glitter

Because Studio

My friend Jenny hosted a glitter party last night! Check it out here.

(I'm still finding glitter everywhere.)

Turning 30 (in Sequins!)

I'm turning 30 this winter and instead of pouting about it I've already begun planning an over the top celebration; Clipper cocktails, a sequin mini, and Confetti System inspired decorations will make the occasion all sorts of awesome!

1. French Connection 'Paint Box' sequin mini  2. DIY Tinsel Drink Stirrers | Martha Stewart  3. Confetti System Garlands

1 Down

I'm terrified of mice. So when I found evidence of a tiny new roommate last week I lost it and outfitted my apartment with poison, steel wool, and some sonic sound thing.

If I were of the live and let live philosophy when it came to rodents I'd totally dig Aakash Dewan's OneDown. An aesthetically pleasing and humane alternative to the deadly black box sitting under my kitchen sink. Pretty clever, right?

I've gotta say the aforementioned black box may be ugly but it did the trick... 1 down! Ewww.

Think different.

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

– Steve Jobs

(10/11 – I happened upon this Michigan Avenue Apple Store memorial last night. 1,000,000 post-it notes. Pretty neat.)