...halfway there

happy hump day!

still on the hunt for the perfect drip... {via}

...since 1937

received the first ever madewell catalog in the mail the other day, and this is the result. both items were purchased in anticipation for my upcoming trip to san francisco.

bag = good carry on

tights = comfy plane riding attire

you see, i have practical shopping habits...

{Whistles Autumn/Winter 2011 from WHISTLES on Vimeo.}
wow! kudos to the masterminds behind the Whistles A/W ’11 campaign. spectacular. stunning. inspiring.

i've started noticing a fall theme creeping into all of my blog posts lately. maybe it's due to that crisp morning breeze we've been feeling here in chicago?  in any case - i want that sheer polka dot dress!

...save the date

happy monday my beautiful readers! why am i so cheery on a monday morning you wonder? well, it's becuase the 2011 announcement of design harvest just floated into my inbox! so so so excited for this festival - even better it's held practically right outside my door! the fest will feature Chicago's best local furniture and home accessory makers, vintage and antique collectors, and local retailers of the home design industry. pretty much pure amazingness! if you are in the chicago area on oct. 1-2 i highly recommend you mark this on your calendar.

oh and if you aren't familiar with what design harvest is - you can check out the site here.
{images via}

...bananarama

bananas are one of those fruits that i can never seem to eat fast enough. so, when they overripen or get too many brown spots i throw those suckers in the freezer for future use. this is my all time go to favorite banana bread recipe. it's so quick and easy it's shameful. i used this recipe yesterday to whip up muffins for a friends block party - pretty sure they were a success! {via}

note: though it doesn't call for it in the recipe, i like to add walnuts and on a crazy day - chocolate chips!

...kicks

 

need some rachel comey in my life. {via}

...foodie food

in anticipation for today's food truck social - here is walk down food memory lane.

{1} pizza verde - crust organic

{2} somen noodle salad - belly shack

{3} steph + egg panini - milk & honey cafe
{4} cold press from chicago's BEST coffee spot - caffe streets

{5} soup shooters - counter culture coffee

{6} homemade brews by my friend eric - strange pelican brewing

{7} banh mi (sandwiches) - ba le

{8} egg bagel - whistle stop grocery

{9} lemon poundcake, basil ice cream, huckleberry compote - bite cafe

...friday beat

{Rodrigo y Gabriela - Tamacun from mazlum yol on Vimeo.}
i could listen to this incredibly talented duo from mexico all day long. their beautiul acoustic sounds are so soothing (can't you just picture yourself on a tiny mediterranean coastal town sipping a cocktail at a local beach bar - ahhhhhhhh)

...happy day

on tuesday night we celebrated this amazing girls' day of birth at one of my favorite byob spots in the city - irazu.

costa rican food + wine + kristen's pistachio cake + friends = happiness. thank you jess for being born. ruv ru!

...bag lust

i think it's become pretty obvious that i have a serious addiction to all things bag related - in fact, one of my first posts on this little 'ol blog was about one of the wonderful creations of this fabulous bag designer. her new collection makes me absolutely giddy! just this morning i was thinking about how i needed to make another purchase from her shop - looks like now is the perfect time (i mean, i do need a new fall tote...) check out her new shop here.

...rustic treat

i LOVE everything about our CSA but sometimes it can be hard to go through the bounty before the next weeks share is ready (or the food goes bad) - so we have to be active food planners and get really creative with our fruit + veggies. this week I want to make a fresh fruit tart like this one from hungry ghost {via}- it's exactly the thing i've been looking for to use all the champagne grapes we've been receiving!

...piece of toast

though i'm desperately hanging on to the lingering summer days - the new toast early autumn catalog is giving me a serious craving for crisp fall days!

...friday beat

{Youth Lagoon - Cannons from Trevor Powers on Vimeo.}

a beautiful song to start what is sure to be a beautiful weekend! 

...three

it's hard to believe mr. O has been in our lives for three years. the cute little love bug has brought us so much joy. here's to many, many more years with this little man!

...bag lust

how adorable are these screen printed bags from depeapa? i already know... super adorable!

...beet cake

{beet cake from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.}
as you know from this post, we joined a csa this year. i'm very excited to try this recipe with all the beets we've been getting lately!

...dinner party

our friends joe and henry wanted to try out their homemade pasta making skills on us - we happily volunteered! i love sharing a table and a glass (or two or three...) of wine with these guys!

...tea time

on days when back to back meetings don't allow for a leisurely sit down lunch - i opt for a quick bubble tea fix. today is such a day. i like experimenting with flavors. today's: blueberry/almond. pretty good!

...bag lust

 

loving everything about these cute beach bags from deep dark africa.

...fleur

one of my favorite floral shops in the city {fleur}. i can NEVER have to many fresh flowers in my home.

...rhinestone cowboy

{Rhinestone Cowboy from Brain Gravy Creative on Vimeo.}
some friends of mine took part in the 48 Hour Film Project. we went to a screening this past wednesday and though i may be biased, i have to say, rhinestone cowboy was a top three pick for sure. crowd pleaser! it says a lot about the talent of this team that they were able to complete a fully animated - 4 minute film - in 48 hours. congrats team scratch pad!!!

...lost love

Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven 

where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy. - Eskimo Proverb 

________________________________

two weeks ago today, i lost someone very, very dear to me. a man who was loved and adored by all who knew him. a man who would give and do anything for his family. a man i will never forget. 

while antquing this past weekend, i saw this quote and it made me smile - and somehow - took away some of the pain.  it's funny how these things happen - how a small gesture or a silly card with words on it can transform your emotions. 

although his physical form is no longer with me, the memory of his kindness, love, lessons and jokes will live on forever.

love and miss you grandpa!

...into nature

 

 

 

this past weekend my roommates and i took off for a weekend of much deserved r&r. after a very physically and emotionally draining week, it was just what the doctor ordered!

i can't even begin to explain how wonderful it felt to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and melt into nature. we gave ourselves over entirely to the slow pace life and indulged in long bike rides, antique festivals, glasses of wine, soulful cooking, hours of reading, long bouts of laughter, lake swims and daydreaming.

it was wonderful. i feel refreshed. i'm invincible (not so much).