Dirty Little (Design) Secrets

adminChicago Architectual Foundation, Design on a Dime, Dirty Little Design Secrets, Frank Fontana, HGTV, Uncategorized%s Comments

Last night, the Chicago Architecture Foundation hosted a lecture by HGTV‘s Frank Fontana, the guy who does the  “Design on a Dime” show- you know, that show where they tackle a room or a problem area of a house, all for under $1,000.  Since the extent of my design skill being limited to whatever is at Crate and Barrel during any given season and my friend Linda is sick of looking at her white walls, we figured seeing what Frank had to say couldn’t hurt.

Highlights:

  • Re-purpose, re-vision, re-paint
  • Asking yourself “What is my design style?  What is my personal style in dress and do I want this room to reflect that….or not?”
  • the Craftsmen Experience (on Huron and Franklin-can’t wait to check it out!)
  • Have a pizza and painting party- invite great people over, eat pizza, slap some paint on a wall, make a night of it! (This is happening, Linda!)
  • Check out hotel furniture resellers for amazing pieces at cheap prices.  In Chicago, we have Cooper Hotel Furniture on Halsted and Fork Pit, out by Midway.
  • There’s a guy named Saul at the Fabric Outlet on 21st and Ashland- I guess this man is the go-to guy for amazing fabric imported from all over the world at rock bottom prices.

Frank said that laziness is the biggest holdback from home design.  Considering that I still haven’t put together the 4th chair of my dining room table and I’ve lived in this apartment for 6 months, I’ve got to agree.  Note to self: go to hardware store, find the right screws, seat 4 guests for dinner.  Step 2?  Recover the chair cushions.  I might have to go see Saul for that.

Oh and Frank is a Chicago man!  He tapes Design on a Dime here, has a gorgeous loft downtown and recently wrote a book called Dirty Little Secrets of Design. Ordered mine this morning.  Keep you posted on any divine inspiration beyond painting more walls and recovering these lame cushions.

Wednesday Walking

adminChicago, Cloud Gate, David Bohn, Equinox, Millennium Park, snow, sparkle, Tabata, The Bean, Uncategorized%s Comment

Even though it’s still 25 degrees, the sun was out in full force today so I was actually looking forward to my walk to the gym (if you haven’t tried David Bohn’s Tabata class at Equinox, do it immediately.  It will change your life or, at the very least, your butt).

On my way, I came across a snow covered-Bean, reflecting the city with a backdrop of blue.  And a Zamboni clearing off the skating rink.  And lots of other people like me, who were happy to ignore the cold for a chance to see some sparkle on the snow.

I love this city.

2011 Soldier Field 10-Miler

admin50 Yard Line, Chicago running, Chicago Running Season, Fleet Feet, Soldier Field, Soldier Field 10 Miler, Uncategorized%s Comments

The Soldier Field 10 Miler will be held on Saturday, May 28th and is a chance to “finish on the 50”.  The race ends on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field and I don’t know about you but this race is most likely going to be my only shot at doing anything on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field, given the fact that my hand eye coordination is far too lacking to land a spot with the Bears (although from what I’ve seen from Jay Cutler, the Bears might actually have room for me.  But I digress).

Word on the street is that this race sells out early so I signed up today! Chicago’s running community is amazing and growing every year.  I, for one, love that races sell out- that means that even in these frigid temps, people are sweating it out on the pavement or on their treadmills, gearing up for warmer weather and running season.  Powerful stuff, that community.

Can’t wait to “finish at the 50”!

(photo via Fleet Feet Chicag0)

Cold Weather Weekending

adminCHicago winter, cold, cooking, Country Strong, Gwyneth Paltrow, movies, pasta, Seafood Linguine, Uncategorized, Williams Sonoma, Winter%s Comments

I was craving two things this weekend: cooking and movies.  With temperatures in Chicago not rising above 20 degrees, satisfying my cravings was an easy feat because they both involved staying inside and being warm.

On the menu?  Linguine with shrimp and crab in a clam sauce and crusty sourdough bread perfect for sauce dipping.

Sidebar: I popped in Williams Sonoma on my way home from work on Friday.  Lo and behold, the universe rewarded me for my stressful (but successful) work week with the serving dish and salad plates I had been eying that matches the pasta bowls I got for Christmas…ON SALE.  Like, seriously on sale.  As in, I got the serving dish, salad plates, a sauce and pink cupcakes holders all for the original price of the serving dish. AND it happened to be pay day too!  A Friday Miracle, I say!

FYI:  Life’s too short to use garlic that comes from a jar.

After chopping, sautee’ing, and simmering tomatoes, onion, fresh parsley, fresh basil, clams and Prosecco, then tossing in shrimp and crab, Ryan and I feasted on this:

I didn’t overcook the shrimp (which usually happens), the pasta was perfectly al dente, and we got to spend the evening together.  It was exactly the date night we needed AND exactly what I needed to give me my cooking fix.  Cooking makes me feel like myself; it’s another way to be creative and productive and do something for people I love.  Plus, I love wine and jazz and cooking usually ends up involving both when I’m at the helm.

The movie portion of the weekend?  Country Strong.  I’m not a huge country music fan and I really, really enjoyed it.  Gwyneth Paltrow was fantastic and the music is great.  Totally worth seeing.

 

 

Wonderful Words

adminJack Kerouac, quotes, Uncategorized%s Comments

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding.

Jack Kerouac

High Five Thursday

adminHigh Five Thursday, Splenda, tea, tea lover, Trader Joe's, Uncategorized, Vanilla and Cinnamon%s Comments

Obsessed with this tea.

I’m on my 3rd box of Trader Joe’s Vanilla & Cinnamon Black Tea.  No lie.  It’s “limited edition” and I love it so much that I have been picking up a few boxes every time I go to the store because I’m worried that they’re going to run out.

I like it with a half packlet of Splenda and a splash of soy milk, although it’s delightful on it’s own.  It kinda of tastes like hot chocolate but with way, way less sugar and calories.  Win!

Methinks it’s time for another cup.

 

‘Tis The Season, Right?

admin2011, goals, gumption, New Year, online grocery shopping, resolutions, the year of awesomeness, Uncategorized%s Comments

I said a few days ago that I thought 2011 was going to be the year I simplify the things that don’t matter so I could put more emphasis on the things that do.

That thought, that resolution, that goal may have started with Pea Pod but it has grown over the past few days into more.

2010 was my year for working hard, being positive and seeing where the chips fell.  It was a good year.

But in 2011, I want to be more purposeful.  Knowing what I want and going after it.  On purpose.  Maybe even with a little bit of gumption.

I think that matters.

Heck, and now that I have online grocery shopping figured out, I should be able to conquer the world, right?!

2011, bring it because I sure know I am taking you on!

 

Marhar Snowboards

adminGrand Rapids Press, Marhar, Marhar Snowboards, Michigan Snowboarding, Uncategorized, young entrepreneurs%s Comments

Marhar is a company owned by 2 of my very entrepreneurial buddies, Nate and Josh.  Michigan’s premiere snowboarding company, Marhar Snowboards are 100% designed and manufactured  within the company AND stay pretty darn green (and flexible!) by using bamboo on the cores of each board.  Aside from it being so freakin’ cool that these guys are making an outstanding product, started a business AND are living their dream, they were written up in The Grand Rapids Press today!  If you’re a snowboarder, it’s worth a read.  If you’re a business-person, it’s worth a read.  If you like me and think you might like my friends, it’s worth a read.

Congrats, guys!