Just A Chi Town Girl’s Favorite Things 2011

adminUncategorized%s Comments

Back again for the 2nd year, I bring you Just A Chi Town Girl’s Favorite Things. It seems as though everyone I talk to has had their Christmas shopping done for weeks but with preparing for familypalooza last weekend, I am way behind. This list is full of things I have found in the last year that I love to give, love to get and if you still have a few things on your list, maybe this will help you out.

Have joy.

20111214-120754.jpg

Lezzet Spices Isot Pepper is a Dose Market find that has made everything in my kitchen ten times better. Way more than your average pepper, this Isot Pepper is crazy flavorful, goes with everything and lasts forever- I have had my jar since August and use it nearly everyday.

20111214-121400.jpg

Heritage Rosewater is the best thing about washing my face (aside from the being clean part). Before putting on moisturizer, I spritz my face with the Rosewater. It smells amazing and is a nice way to infuse a little spa-like feeling into a usually humdrum routine.

20111214-121701.jpg

Bittercube Bitters in Cherry Bark Vanilla is seriously the best thing on our bar right now. A few drops in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan makes such a difference and word on the street is that it’s delish in champagne too…

20111214-123535.jpg

Warby Parker– I bought a pair last winter and love, love, LOVE them. So many styles to choose from and $95 for eyewear is a steal. Oh and philanthropic too- when you buy a pair, they donate a pair to someone in need. Love that.

20111214-124249.jpg

Lush’s Gift Sets are my breeze in, breeze out go-to for hostess gifts or little treats for myself. Their bath and shower bombs make my entire bathroom smell like a spa. I picked up the Baby, It’s Cold Outside gift set for my friend Kate yesterday- Everything in it is super invigorating and shower friendly which made it perfect for her as a new mom. The Jilted Elf is my new fav- sudsy, smelly, slimy and fun. I always feel like I can’t go wrong with Lush.

20111214-125206.jpg

Rare Bird Preserves is such a tasty find. This Oak Park company whips up such imaginative mixes (blueberry chocolate, anyone?) in small batches so every jar is perfect. We picked up a box of 6 at Dose Market and cannot wait to give a few as gifts, serve a few at our place over the holidays, etc.

Girls Night Goodness

adminUncategorized%s Comments

20111214-090144.jpg

This is a scene from the best kind of girls night.

Cookie making abandoned, uncorked bottles of wine, appetizers devoured.

The intent was to make a “holiday craft”, bake cookies, and bring together different groups of our host’s friends. The result? We did actually make ornaments but why bake when you can gossip about Twilight, in-laws, holiday plans, where to find the perfect sequin dress and eat cookie dough from a bucket?!? It was such a wonderful evening and it confirms that my friend’s impeccable taste in home design and style extends to friends- I met really, really great girls last might.

Oh and that holiday craft? It totally happened, in the form of a glitter pinecone ornament. A nice a addition to our tree, if I do say so myself!

20111214-091752.jpg

Moral to the Story

adminUncategorized%s Comments

20111214-002914.jpg

This. So this.

I had a long, career’ish conversation with the nicest person tonight and this was the moral to the story: work hard, be kind and amazing things will follow.

(via)