Tuesday, March 29, 2011

hope

via svimes

"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today."

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Monday, March 28, 2011

happy monday!

Creating a bicycle board on Pinterest makes me happy!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

sunday supper: lavender

The weather in Chicago this past week has not been very Spring-y! Snow = Winter, not Spring! I am so over snow and the cold. I'd really like to believe that Spring is just around the corner. But if I can't get Spring weather I'm at least going to get Spring flavors. So keeping with last week's theme here are some lavender inspired Spring recipes.

herbed focaccia via pinkparsleycatering

lavender roasted potatoes via boulderlocavore

grilled chicken salad with lavender via frommylemonykitchen

lavender shortbread cookies via jessicasdinnerparty

lavender lemon bundt cake via thefoodlibrarian

Happy Spring! At least I'm hoping!!

Friday, March 25, 2011

photo love


I really dig her photos. The colors, the angles, the stories behind the adventures- they make me happy!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

art of the title

Another cool video.

A Brief History of Title Design from Ian Albinson on Vimeo.

I saw this over on Black Eiffel this morning and because I love movies so much I wanted to share it with all of you.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

chalkboard paint

I bought some chalkboard paint because I've been wanting a chalkboard wall in the kitchen for some time now. We're renters though and I don't want to actually paint the wall. And not because we can't paint our walls because we can, I just don't want the responsibility of having to repaint whenever we move...I know, I know- kinda lazy!

I bought a piece of ready-to-use plywood from Michael's Arts & Crafts, but I haven't painted it yet. I'm just not sure it's the right size for the wall space, so now I'm re-thinking the whole project. I've been looking for some inspiration and I think what I want to do is to use the chalkboard paint on clipboards and hang the clipboards on the wall.

Here's some inspiration from etsy:



Tuesday, March 22, 2011

flourish


"No work or love will flourish out of guilt, fear, or hollowness of heart, just as no valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now."

~ Alan Watts

Monday, March 21, 2011

happy monday!

Being a tourist in my own city makes me happy!

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Sunday, March 20, 2011

sunday supper: hello, spring!

Spring is here...finally...and I couldn't be happier! It was such a long winter, at times I felt like I would never see blue skies again or feel the warmth of the sun against my skin. I know, I know...a bit dramatic, but being cooped up for months at at time will do that to you.

When I first started looking for recipes to feature on this joyous day I kept thinking about the flavors of spring- what flavors remind me of spring? And for some reason I kept tasting lemon, asparagus and goat cheese. I don't know why those ingredient's "sprung" to mind, but they did. So here are some spring-time recipes for you to enjoy!

asparagus, goat cheese and lemon pasta via smittenkitchen

lemon scented quinoa with asparagus via eggsonsunday

asparagus, fingerling potatoes and goat cheese pizza via achowlife

shaved asparagus salad via eatmoredrinkmore

lemon goat cheese cheesecake via tartlette

Happy first day of spring!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

happy st. paddy's day

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It's 68 degrees in Chicago today- time to put away the winter coat and I'm really hoping it stays put away. When we lived in L.A. this green coat was my winter coat. Oh, how times have changed.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

star gazing

Good things are happening on this here blog of mine- not only did I get to collaborate with Julia yesterday, but today I'm collaborating with the talented Becky of Empty Wallet. Becky created Empty Wallet to share her love of the arts with the people of Chicago, but knowing that a lot of artists have empty wallets themselves only free or pay-what-you-can events are listed. I love that! I often say to Ebert "chicks dig economy", especially this unemployed chick. Empty Wallet is currently getting a makeover, so in the meantime you can look for free events here on create . your . happy!

via Northwestern University's CIERA

The first event Empty Wallet has for us is a FREE public viewing at the Dearborn Observatory in Evanston. Every Friday at 8pm the Dearborn Observatory is open for public observing with the historic 18.5-inch refracting telescope. Spend an evening gazing into the night sky dreaming about boldly going where no man has gone before. Doesn't that sound lovely? And you can't beat free.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

featured local: basya berkman vintage

Remember when I mentioned wanting to collaborate with someone on something awesome? Well, I'd like to introduce you to Julia, the owner of Basya Berkman Vintage- a fabulous vintage shop on etsy. Julia is my first featured local guest and she's been kind enough to share a bit about herself. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have!



What are a few of your favorite things to do in Chicago?
Thrifting would be high on my list as it feeds both my shop and my creative soul! Some of my favorite pieces have come from the many neighborhood Salvation Army's and Village Discounts. One of my best finds was a red wool coat with black floral applique, c.1960s. I scored it for 49 cents and have worn it for over a decade now. My husband and I enjoy seeing plays and hearing live music. Remy Bumppo often puts on work by our favorite playwright, Tom Stoppard and Uncommon Ground in Edgewater has great local performers and good food.

What five things can't you live without?
In no particular order and focusing on just ”things”, of course: hot tea, hot baths, books – the “real” kind, my laptop, and sweater tights!

What's your favorite vintage possession?
My husband bought me two engagement rings (he couldn’t choose) from the 1930s/1940s that I treasure. One is rose gold and pearl and the other is white gold with gorgeously delicate scrollwork.

How do you put together a fabulous vintage outfit?
I prefer vintage mixed in unusual ways, often with modern pieces, so I'm all for not being afraid to try unusual combinations. Pair a fancy chiffon dress with chunky boots or wear a pillbox hat with jeans and a vest. Stay open to possibilities, so many things come to life on the female form that just seem dead on the hanger. Try it on! Also, everything looks better in heels. Learn to love them. Platforms and tall wedge heels can be pretty comfortable.

What's your favorite Chicago store, restaurant or etsy shop?
I love Bittersweet CafĂ© in Lakeview for incredible hot chocolate, sweets, and brunch. Akai Hana in Wilmette for the most kid-friendly Japanese food. Bookman’s Alley in Evanston is my favorite used book store hands down- it’s a world within a world. As far as clothes, I’m a shameless bargain hunter and enjoy the clearance racks at H&M and Urban Outfitters. For storefront vintage, the plainly named Antique and Resale Shoppe on the northwest side might be the best kept secret in town – affordable with an amazing selection.

How do you create balance between being a stay-at-home mom and an etsy shop owner?
That’s my biggest challenge. I work mostly in the evenings and on the weekends when my husband is home. I try to include my kids in my work when possible. They are expert estate sale attendees at this point and I’ve been meaning to ask my son to try his hand at some of my book-keeping, so that he can practice some arithmetic while seeing how much the business has earned that month. The best thing was when I stopped feeling guilty whenever I needed to pull myself away to do work related tasks, and realized how positive it can to be for them to see mommy excited and immersed in her work.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I can only gush and gush when trying to answer this! Apart from friends and fellow Etsy shop owners who are always doing amazingly creative things, I get inspiration from older movies, especially from Europe, they are full of incredible costumes and set designs that fuel me: Fellini, Tarkovsky, and Hitchcock, to name a few directors. I also can’t overlook films I saw growing up such as Flashdance and The Unbearable Lightness of Being where I consciously tried to copy the look of those heroines at different stages of my life. Style icons would include Bjork, Sophia Loren, and my aunt Victoria who turned me on to Erte when I was little. I still can’t shake the decadence he represents. Mad Men goes without saying, but I also adore British period dramas like Downton Abbey and The Cazalets. Then there are old fashion magazines and catalogues, as well as vintage and antique photographs that I collect. Finally, street fashion really excites me and I try to follow a few blogs/websites to get a feel for that. Here are three I like: leflattery, lookbook, keikolynn, plus one out of Finland which is pretty wild: hel-looks

How do you create your happy?
It so happens that homeschooling my kids, collecting vintage clothes, running my Etsy shop – all are things I love to do and there are few boundaries between my family, my work, and my hobbies. The happiest days are when my passions intersect and show me new and exciting paths.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

present

as in being present...


"There exists only the present instant...a Now which always and without end is itself new. There is no yesterday nor any tomorrow, but only Now, as it was a thousand years ago and as it will be a thousand years hence."

~ Meister Eckhart

Monday, March 14, 2011

happy monday!

Pi(e) Day makes me happy!

Peach and Creme Fraiche Pie via smittenkitchen

If you're feeling adventurous and want to bake a pie today, here are some recipes for you:

Lemon Merinque Pie
Key Lime Pie
Rosemary and Pear Mini Pies
Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies

But, if you just want to eat some pie today, check out these places:

Hoosier Mama Pie Company was listed in many sources as the best place to get pie today, but unfortunately they're closed on Mondays, however all is not lost because they're tweeting locations today

Golden Apple Diner
Lovely
Bake

Sunday, March 13, 2011

sunday supper: the luck of the irish

In honor of St. Patricks's Day, especially since celebrations have already commenced in Chicago this weekend, here are some Irish inspired dishes for you.

Corned Beef & Cabbage via peggyunderpressure

Colcannon via the goodmoodfoodblog

Colcannon with brussel sprouts is good too! Or maybe try it with kale.

Boxty via theparsleythief

Guinness Chocolate Cake w/Peanut Butter Frosting via pigpigscorner

Irish Brownie Bombs via endlisssimmer

And here are two foodie blogs I just found that I'm loving: thestonesoup and honeyandjam

Happy Cooking!

overnight vacation

While Ebert and I were in the suburbs this weekend we were given a gift certificate for an overnight stay at the historic Hotel Baker. I love staying at hotels, especially the moment when you first open the door to your room- there's such a sense of anticipation and excitement as to what magic is waiting on the other side.

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Our room had a lovely view of the Fox River.

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And there was a gorgeous revolving door to the entrance of the hotel.

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We dined with friends, then everyone came back to our room for wine and brownies. Maybe I'm getting old, and that's ok, but hanging out with friends in a nice a hotel room is a really fun evening!

Friday, March 11, 2011

italiano

We went to ZaZa's last night for dinner. Every time we eat Italian food Ebert always brings up this scene . . .



Hilarious, right? If you haven't seen Big Night then I highly suggest you plan an evening this weekened to make a big bowl of pasta, drink a glass or two of red wine, and enjoy the sibling squabbles of Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub. Buon appetito!

And Happy Weekend!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

my first paczki

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And it was, oh, so good!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

shine


"Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas." ~ Henry Ford

Monday, March 7, 2011

kicking it up a notch

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Sometimes I'm in utter amazement of how the Universe works- you always receive at exactly the right moment. It doesn't always feel like this to me, sometimes I feel like I'm floundering in a stagnant pool of mud...stuck, going nowhere with nothing happening. My dreams have been squashed. But, then in an instant everything changes. I'm filled with hope again, my dreams are bigger than ever, and there's magic...lots and lots of magic!

Today's magic was brought to me by the bringer of magic extraordinaire- the lovely Amy KR! She shared this on her blog today- a piece written by her 13 year-old daughter. It was exactly what I needed to hear!

Read it, pass it on, share it with others. Someone you know, it may even be yourself, needs to hear these words today so that they don't give up on their dreams.

happy monday!

Sunshine makes me happy!


I'm hoping that if I post enough about sunshine that maybe Chicago will see some, so get your sunglasses ready because there's going to be rays of light shining this week.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

sunday supper: oscar inspired menu

The only thing I enjoyed about last week's Oscars was the 5 minutes that Billy Crystal was on stage. I really, really hope he comes back to host next year. I mean, come on, he received a standing ovation everybody wants him back.

Even though I was not inspired or entertained like I want to be when watching the Oscars we did have a plethora of delicious food to enjoy and that made up for a disappointing show.

Here's what we ate, and we ate a lot, while watching the Oscars. Some of the dishes were based on a character's name, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be but a really fun menu to create nonetheless. The other dishes were inspired by the overall theme of the movies, also quite clever and creative. Good thing it's such a long show, it allowed our bellies time to rest so that we could enjoy eating throughout the entire evening.

Here are the dishes for the 10 Best Picture nominees . . .

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THE SOCIAL NETWORK: WinkleVOSS Water
&
TOY STORY 3: Mr. Potato Heads

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WINTER'S BONE: ThREE Cheese Mini Macs
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INCEPTION: "Layered" Taco Dip

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THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT: Bacon Wrapped MedJULES
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127 HOURS: Mixed Green Salad w/PoMEGANranate Dressing

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TRUE GRIT: Whiskey Smoked Chicken
&
THE FIGHTER: Spotted DICKY

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BLACK SWAN: Black Oreo Truffles
&
THE KING'S SPEECH: Champagne

Saturday, March 5, 2011

gotta love chicago

First there was calling "dibs".


Now, there's Pulaski Day . . .



and Paczki Day. I'm not really sure what a Paczki is but it looks delicious!

I really do love this city!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

strength

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Hatillo, Costa Rica

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength."

~ August Wilson