I’m making my way in Chicago and truly enjoying my time here. Beautiful architecture, friendly people and delicious food – what’s not to love? I have to say I miss my little family in SoCal, as this is the longest I’ve been apart from Christian since we got married, but I’m trying not to let that get in the way of soaking up the city.
Speaking of love, how cute is this feature from this post on the INPink blog? A big thank you to the gals at INPink for this fun mention!
I’m trying to regularly hit up the hotel gym to attempt to counteract all of the amazing food I’m gobbling down like there’s no tomorrow. What are your plans for the weekend? Thank you so much for reading! XO –
The kids sweater strikes again. Are y’all tired of me talking about this sweater yet (shared here, here and here)? You know when you purchase an item thinking it will go with everything and you in fact never wear it? This sweater is the opposite. A kids sweater purchased by mistake that ends up going with everything. BIZARRE.
In other news, I recently purchased a Peter Pilotto for Target dress that I wasn’t digging, so upon returning it to Target I managed snagged this skirt off the sale rack! I love wearing red regardless of my matchy-matchy syndrome.
– spending the afternoon reading in the sunshine while this guy surfed –
– spotting my face in Modern Luxury Riviera –
– great seats to LA Fashion Week –
– breakfast and Glee on my DVR –
– pretty breakfast room blooms –
– playing with these new super fun Sticky9 jigsaw magnets –
– thinking of all of those matching for their medical residency this year and extra appreciative of our good luck –
I had so much fun attending some of the shows for LA Fashion Week last week. My girlfriend and I were able to sneak backstage between shows and as I passed a line of tall, svelte models – I immediately flashed back to the episode of SATC with Carrie modeling in the runway show. In the episode, the fashion show is split between models and “real people.” When walking past these models backstage, I was very much the “real person.”
And then I got another cocktail.
Today is Match Day for all the fourth year medical students and it certainly takes my heart back to last year when Christian was matching. Some of you may remember this post – but I know the nerves all those residents (and their hopelessly in love significant others) are feeling this year! Christian interviewed in 14 cities between California and New York for a program with less than 300 available spots nationwide, so everything was on the table. As long as I had my college sweetheart (and my (at the time) four-legged pets) with me, I was along for the ride. I’m so proud of Christian for really putting himself out there and so thrilled for him that his hard work paid off. Being so far away from home has been such an enormous team-building experience for us and I truly wouldn’t change it for anything.
In other news, this is my last weekend with my honey in sunny California before heading back to Chicago for two weeks. It’s definitely going to be hard to leave my girl Lula LaShonda (and Christian and Bailey), but I know these three will look out for each other. How on earth am I going to pack 12 days of clothes in one suitcase? Any tips? The last time I packed for this long I was going to Miss Teen USA…and that was a little different. More sparkle, less thermal socks.
Y’all have a beautiful weekend and thank you for reading! XO –
– Lula getting her second set of staples from her second surgery out- bless her –
– realizing that the ends of celery hearts looks like little cabbage flowers –
– coming home to fresh flowers –
– some new goodies –
Welcome to the weekend!! It’s always the best time of the week, right? This weekend I plan to be the beach cheerleader while Christian surfs. He has this weekend off and I want to be sure to pack in some FUN for the guy who gets four days off a month. I’m also planning to meet up with some blogger babes for brunch on Saturday – always fun to meet some new girls! What are you plans for the weekend? Enjoying some sunshine or catching up on the DVR? Two of my favorite things to do, of course.
Thank you for reading and have a beautiful weekend! XO –
Christian requested a coconut cake for his birthday last week and I realized I had never made a coconut cake. We both grew up in coconut-loving families, so while I’ve eaten many a coconut cake and pie, this was my first stab at making one on my own. Luckily, this easy recipe was a big hit and I’ll definitely be using it again!
Note/confession: I made two 9 x 9 square cakes and layered them. I didn’t use the entire can of sweetened condensed milk and 14 oz. cream of coconut. I used more like 10 oz. of each and then used the leftover in my coffee for the following week. YUM.
So delicious! These photos are a little dark – I impatiently snapped a few because I needed a bite asap. Priorities. Thanks so much for reading and stay tuned for the winner of the Over the Moon giveaway! XO –
I’ve loved this sweatshirt since the moment I laid eyes on it. I’ll be a sucker for pink and sequins as long as I’m alive – I was born this way!!
I snagged this faux leather vest from a local consignment shop and it is just the piece I’ve been looking for to layer with. I just can’t pull off the denim vest like so many, but this faux leather beauty does just the trick. I’ve listed similar ones I adore below. I picked one out for my coworker in Chicago and now I want to buy the same one!! Shopaholic 101.
I’ve blogged about Chicago here and here, but I recently just got back from another week in the city and even though it was less than 10 degrees – I loved it! We had another date with RPM Italian, Balena, Sable and Lulu Belle’s Pancake House (which made me miss the South). I ate my way through the city with no regrets.
We also saw another Second City show (and I snagged a sweatshirt AND a fanny pack) on the main stage and I think I embarrassed the girls I was with because I was laughing so obnoxiously hard. I wish I could go again with Christian – he would have loved it!
Thanks so much for reading and for all of your suggestions!!! Don’t forget to enter the Over the Moon giveaway – XO –
As a Southern girl, pearls are a jewelry staple. I am thrilled to be wearing beautiful pearls from Pearls for Life, an organization that works to raise money for countries without access to clean water. The company began when the founder met a pearl farmer in East Asia and after a visit to Bangladesh, the company was born. You can read more about the founding story here and how you can support the cause by wearing their fabulous pearls.
On another note, these festive and fun party balloons from Over the Moon came in perfect time for my birthday boy! Today is Christian’s birthday and these balloons are so fun to add to the mix. Once the balloons begin to deflate, I can toss them and use the tassels as fun accents – multiple uses!
– the most interesting and fun plant in our neighbor’s yard –
– a fun collaboration with Pearls for Life, benefiting a wonderful cause –
– Mom accidentally packed one of Lula’s recovery crop tops in her suitcase, so like any artist would, she bedazzled it and mailed it back to us –
– sequined scalloped pillows my Mom bought for us when she was in town – obsessed! –
– a beautiful rainbow of macaroons –
I’ve been in Chicago for the majority of the week and am actually enjoying the true February cold! Christian can vouch that I was actually rooting for Hartford, Connecticut for his residency match – he knows I love the East Coast. God had His own plan bringing us out West and it’s been amazing to see what life is like in Southern California. I certainly cannot complain, but I must admit it’s a real treat to travel to Chicago so often for work. Even with the polar vortex, I love Chicago and the incredibly kind people from the Midwest.
Thank you so much for your local suggestions!! I truly appreciate it and loved trying new places. We have had some amazing meals and have had a really had a great time. I look forward to sharing some photos with y’all in the next few weeks!
Today I’m flying back to California and cannot wait to see my girls (Bailey and Lula). And of course my guy. Time to do some laundry, upload some photos and sleep in my own bed! Although snuggling up in the fluffy beds at the Thompson Hotel was nothing to complain about.
When I first laid eyes on this L.Mae Boutique skirt, it was love at first sight. I love a festive element like fringe that is incorporated into a wearable piece like this. I dressed it down for a weeknight date night to our neighborhood Mexican spot, but how cute would this skirt be with a chambray shirt?
The women in my office have such great style, I’m always inspired by the ensembles I see on the daily (you can see some of the office style here and here). Cali life has brought a (little) edge into my wardrobe (example here), and I’ve enjoyed exploring some new styles this year. Above are some pieces that I’m currently craving and being inspired by. In my closet there’s never enough black or leather. Ever.
How do you incorporate some edge in your style? Thanks so much for reading! XO –
– these Polagram printed instagram photos that I am obsessed with –
I had some exciting projects present themselves this week and I’m feeling motivated and inspired! I am enjoying some downtime with both Christian and some girlfriends this weekend before I head back to Chicago for the week. I find it so hard to watch what I eat when I’m traveling – any tips or should I just go by YOLO and eat deep dish pizza?
How cute are these polaroid-style photos from Polagram? It’s an app that allows you to select instagram photos to print in various styles. These are so adorable – I can just envision stringing wire and using clothes pins to hang these babies.
A Lula check-in — she continues to learn how to get around with her new body and we work hard to keep her from licking her wound so it will heal properly and quickly. This has involved a few newborn onesie “crop tops” (you may have seen on instagram) and the head-cone, but she’s a good sport and we love her more than ever. I will meet with the veterinary oncologist in the beginning of March for our first check-up and am hopeful that she will live a cancer-free life. Only time will tell. Thank you SO much for your prayers!! You have no idea how much your encouragement means to me. It has truly been essential in keeping me positive and optimistic that we made the right decision for her.
My mom recently shared this video and it moved me to tears. I have a beautiful niece with special needs and a family full of animal lovers. I felt like this video was speaking directly to my heart. Warning: don’t watch this unless you have some tissues nearby!
Thanks so much for reading and have a beautiful weekend – XO –
