Merry Christmas!

Photo of my brother and myself, circa 1981.

Merry before and afters

1. Burlap table runners = cute, rustic xmas stockings.

2. Old sweaters= fuzzy, festive wreaths!

Details on Design Sponge.

anthro boho holiday chic

Last year's Southport Anthropologie window that I never got to post. Cute/clever as usual.

Cookiepalooza 2011

My kitchen was recently transformed into a cookie factory with the help of a few very enthusiastic and detail oriented friends. Already excited for next year!

Cake in a Jar

Since everything seems to come in a mason jar these days, why not CAKE?! Chocolate cake with whipped cream topping.

happy

If I could swan dive head first into this, I would. Vanilla scented sweet potato puree. Seen on the Voltaggios Take On: Thanksgiving on the Cooking channel. Michael lost me at "immersion circulator", but I was paying attention when he mentioned his potatoes are silky smooth because he uses a third of the potatoes weight of butter. Yuummmm.... Best Thanksgiving Wishes!!

scenes from the weekend

A hand-tied bouquet for myself, dessert at Takashi, tasty turkey cookies at Catering/Chocolate, and the results of a Sunday crafternoon.

hand tied bouquet

I was generously gifted with a hand tied bouquet lesson at Epoch floral, so was off to class on Friday morning! I learned the technique of building a Biedermeier style arrangement, which is generally a round bouquet in an understated design.

murmuration

My friend Michelle posted this video on Facebook yesterday and it's this kind of beautiful nature that makes me nerd out for the National Geographic channel.

"Murmuration" by Sophie Windsor Clive, on Vimeo. Click HERE if you can't see the video. Filmed on the River Shannon, Ireland.

Murmuration is such a cool "collective" term... I also like: exaltation (larks), pandemonium (parrots) and parliament (owls). More here.

notebooks

Minted added some really pretty notebooks recently. Cute and personalized. I've wanted to start a food journal for ages so I can actually remember what we are making and eating.

if i were to dress up like a princess for halloween...

I think this dress would do the trick. Marchesa Fall 2011, from here and here. Maybe Kate would lend me her fab tiara. If not, it looks like I can get one at Sears!

For cool Halloween decor and tables, check out this Sweet Paul shoot (pgs 116-123).

well branded- cowshed

I was in Miami last week and managed to snag a decent rate at the Miami Beach Soho House through Jetsetter. Loved the bath and body products by their Cowshed Spa. Named after the original occupants of the first outpost of the spa in Somerset, England, the products are plant based, contain no "nasties" and are also quite attractively packaged. Really cute. Their online "mood indicator" says I am a knackered cow and I do not disagree!

apples and falling leaves

Its suddenly brisk outside and the trees are getting ready for another Chicago winter. Have been so inspired by the pretty, swirling red and gold leaves and the bushels and bushels of apples at the farmers market that I combined the two. Old-Fashioned Apple Pie recipe from this month's Food & Wine. Really simple, just dough and apples with cinnamon and nutmeg. I used leftover crust dough and a fun cutter to make the decorative leaves.
*Photos by my personal photographer/husband.

liking alot

I am in to how organically textural these plates and serving pieces are. From West Elm.

cultivate chicago

Cultivate Chicago held its first ever festival of food stars, artisanal eats, local beers, and music in Lincoln Park. Chefs like Richard Blais, winner of Top Chef All Stars, and local food hero Paul Virant, of Perennial Virant, did cooking demos with local food producers. The festival was free to enter and you could purchase tastes of everything from artisanal coffee to blueberry upside down cake to pork tostadas to Great Lakes Brewery beers. The festival had 16,000 people in attendance throughout the day and raised $50,000 for FamilyFarmed.org, a non-profit that works with farmers to build local food systems. It was run by Chipotle's Cultivate Foundation, who's mission is to help create a more sustainable and healthful food supply. Really fun!

how to tie a bow tie

Cute and potentially helpful before that next big event. via 100 layer cake

new notecards

mustaches and pink stripes.

fall foliage

From the farmers market. Plus 3 stems of fragrant lilies.

chicago gourmet

Michelle, my friend in all things foodie, took me to Chicago Gourmet at Millennium Park on Sunday. This fabulous event had over 100 chef tastings, wine, beer, spirits, chef demos and silent auction. We started out hungry and slightly overwhelmed by the number of choices, but quickly got in line and into a groove (aided by the handy Chicago Gourmet I phone app!). With at least 3 chefs per tent presenting a nice variety of beautifully plated tastes, we were quickly on our way to being euphorically happy/stuffed, despite the rain.

Highlights- Braised shortrib and gruyere sandwich on extremely buttery brioche type bread from Socca, squid and tomato salad from MK, salmon sashimi from Giuseppe Trentori in the Buick tent, and our finale, the pot de creme from Sixteen (pictured above, shortly before being devoured).

*first photo by Huge Galdones for Grub Street Chicago.

yes

I have a confession- I cupcaked twice this week.

paper plane party

How cool is this paper plane installation?! Recycled paper and monofilament line (plus some nice soft colored lighting). Would be fun for a child's party or room. From Design*sponge.

lovely simple table

Really like the pretty and neutral table setting here, via once wed today. Twine, burlap, kraft paper and wood, accented by white china and simple, twiggy florals. This would be a lovely setting for a cosy dinner party. The kraft paper here was used for seating assignments, but would be a great place to write out a menu for a more informal party.

I'm back

We're back from Ireland and can't wait to post some photos of the rugged, rainy countryside! Have just been trying to catch up and get back to normal. Also spent most of yesterday taking breaks from work to check if the Target website is back up for Missoni shopping, but no luck. Back up today but SOLD OUT! That was fast. I would have gone to the local store, but the rumor on Facebook was 200 person long lines and fights in the shoe department. No thanks.

Dahlias are in season (yay!), the gorgeousness above by Saipua, of course.

Iphone Super 8

My husband shot this little video at our friends Brian and Casey's wedding this past Saturday with the Super 8 app on his phone. Yes, on his phone. Song is Holocene by Bon Iver. Brian and Casey look so sweet and happy, I just love it.

Nice work honey!

just pretty

From here via snippet & ink. I just like the photo, but it could serve as great bridesmaid dress inspiration. Nude dresses in different textures/degrees of sparkly?

yum

LES

Sunny Saturday morning stroll around the lower East side of Manhattan.

back to school

My good friend Rachel spent a rainy crafternoon getting a jump start on Halloween decorations.

cilantro lime butter

Put this on your corn right away. you will not be sorry.

Cilantro Lime Butter:

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

1 lime, zested and juiced

2 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Put the butter in a mixing bowl and, using a rubber spatula, mix in the cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, salt and cayenne. Use immediately or refrigerate.

Yield: 3/4 cup

You can roast the corn in foil with the butter (in oven at 400F, 25 minutes). From Food Network. We just grilled it and buttered it.

recently...

The Shedd aquarium hosts "Jazzin at the Shedd" on Wednesday evenings after close. Nice to be able to stroll the aquarium with a cocktail in hand. And who can resist a penguin cookie?

We were gifted some nice jalapenos straight from our friend's vegetable garden so fajita night was in order. Finally, gorgeous weather made for a great visit to the farmers market. The purples were very purple.