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Remember when I said I was craving color?

Remember when I said I’ve been having a major macaron moment lately?

This picture, these treats…

Two birds with one stone, no?

For a lot of people, this may seem to be just another business transaction but in my mind it is totally spitting in the face of craft beer. Solidarity in the industry rises from the fight against the Big Three. Not fucking joining them. AB’s portfolio accounts for 48.3% of all retail beer sales.

Goose, you are dead to me. And I’m sorry for my friends who work there, it’s nothing personal of course.

Now I’ll go back to supporting the independent area breweries like Metro, Two Brothers, Half Acre, Three Floyd’s and all of our wonderful brewpubs (Rev,Haymarket, Flossmoor, Piece, etc.)

Edit: Letter from Goose founder John Hall. And a more detailed article onBeerAdvocate (looks like the offical press release).

(via SeaofStatic and FYC)

I’m not going to go as far as boycotting (although Two Brothers and Half Acre just went up in my Chicago Cool-Factor book) but I am a little bummed that Goose Island and my beloved 312 is no longer all that Chicago-centric…

For me, the draw of Goose Island beer is that it’s local.  Before I moved to Chicago, I loved coming to town and knowing I could have “that number beer” when I went out.  The night I met Ryan, he had just moved to Chicago 9 days prior…so naturally, the first thing I did was buy the man a 312.

Yes, I’ll drink that last Sofie that’s in our ‘fridge (because it is delicious)… but I am a little sad that Chicago’s Craft Beer isn’t all that Chicago anymore.

I just received word that there are only 30 spots left for Bright Pink’s Fit Fest!

Bright Pink is a non-profit that exists to enlighten and empower high risk individuals to take control of their breast and ovarian health by providing education, support and a sense of community for a better and brighter future.  As a host of Bright Pink’s 2nd Annual Fit Fest, I could not be more excited to be a part of supporting their mission- it’s so important to take on your health and I think it’s amazing that Bright Pink is so committed to supporting and elevating this cause.

If you want more info on Fit Fest, click here or email me at justachitowngirl@gmail.com.  If you love fitness classes like Tabata (I just die for the amazing Julie Valenti), Core Fusion (Exhale Spa, hello!), cardio hip hop and yoga (my favyogi in the Chi, Mara, is teaching!), then you absolutely cannot miss Fit Fest.  30 spots left…get on that!

As these final days of grey winter drag on (and on and on), I am finding myself craving COLOR in a big way.  Bright, popping, vibrant, blaring color.  I bought a neon gingham shirt last weekend, my little tootsies have a “Big Hair, Big Nails” colored pedicure and I swear, Ryan may come home sometime this week to find our bedroom has been painted hot pink.  I need color and I need it now!

Cue Pantone’s new hotel in Brussels.  Usually known for it’s insanely extensive catalog of colors, Pantone now has an entire hotel dedicated to experiencing color.  Each floor is a different color so guests can choose which color fits their mood, they offer color therapy, there’s color consultation, you name it.  This lobby, those colors- I can practically hear the colors popping!  And how delicious is this pool?!

Color is often associated with being bold. We stick to neutrals in our homes and wardrobes and, frankly, in our lives because neutrals go with everything- they’re safe.  After this long winter, I could use some color in my life but more than that, I’m ready for the bold.  Courageous and daring, not hesitating or being fearful; bold. So, I’m starting with the visual color in my daily life and going from there.  With so much rainbow bright going on, it can’t be too long before it rubs of on everything…

(photo via kate spade)

• Good News.  I don’t care of it’s mine, yours, or a stranger’s on the Today Show- chances are that I will get all teary eyed and do some fist pumping in celebration.  I am so grateful for the good news that Ryan and I have received recently (new gig for him, work props for me) that I am all-aboard the good news bandwagon.

• Macarons. There is a big Macaron moment happening in my household.  The question “Ya know what I’m craving right now?” is pretty much always answered with an enthusiastic “Macarons!”  The beauties pictured above are from Whole Foods; also in lust with the ones at Eleaven.

• Bistronomic. Date night last Saturday started with wandering around until we decided what we were hungry for and ended with snagging 2 seats at the bar of Bistronomic, a new French Bistro in the Gold Coast.  A solid Dirty Martini, mussels and the truffle gnocchi for me and an Old Fashioned, Caesar salad and braised Lamb for Ry…I can’t say enough good things about this surprising little find.

• Luna Bell. This little cat brings so, so much joy into my life.  Despite recent behavioral issues (hello, randomly biting guests that come into our home?), she is the best little four legged thing in the world.  She plays fetch, loves carbs and occupies the third chair at the table when we have dinner.  Here she is scarfing down a piece of homemade calzone.
• (Sidebar: the pizza dough at Trader Joes AND Whole Foods is to-die-for when making homemade pizza or stromboli/calzones.  So easy, so good, SO cheap-99 cents and 2 bucks, respectively.)

These hilarious cards are just cracking me up this morning.  Well done, folks at Sapling Press!

Speaking of global warming…it can get to Chicago anytime.  Us locals are getting mighty tired of looking at forecasts of 24 degrees and snow.