Lush | Just a Chi Town Girl

If it’s good enough for Oprah, it’s good enough for me.

This morning, the Queen of Chicago announced her “2010 Ultimate Favorite Things”, her biggest show of the year which gifts her entire studio audience with everything The Big O deems amazing.

While I won’t be dishing out these goodies (O and I do NOT share the same bank account), in the spirit of Chicago Women divulging their favorite things, I wanted to give you Just a Chi Town Girl’s 2010 Favorite Things. Some are Chicago-centric, some are just fabulous but all are things I love. And hope you will too.

Have Joy.

1. Lush’s Love Lettuce Mask

A nice little pick-me-up, mini-spa-at-home treat. It smells like lavendar, uses crushed almonds to exfoliate and has seaweed in it to get your skin nice, clean and green. Oh and if you return 5 empty pots to Lush, you get a mask for free. Positively Lush-ious.

2. Kiehl’s Coconut Lip Balm #1

A little shine, a lotta moisture and the coconut adds a taste of summer year round. Perfect stocking stuffer (hint, hint, Mom.)

3. K. Amato Jewelry

I first found K. Amato when I lived in Lincoln Park- she has a little storefront that is by-appointment only but my roommate and I attended her 3x a year open houses religiously. The Wabash necklace was my Christmas gift from Ryan last year (in a gorgeous smokey quartz), a statement piece I love! Her designs are sophisticated, unique and affordable. Plus, Kristen is a Chicago girl- gotta show her the Chicago love!

4. Aspen Bay’s Capri Blue Candle– #6

I fell in love with this candle years ago at Anthropologie. The flame looks beautiful through the blue glass and the smell is just to-die-for. I change candles seasonally in my kitchen but this is my standard, spa smell that I just can’t live without.

5. lululemon athletica Groove Pants

Oprah and I share one thing: our love of lululemon and our belief that their pants make your rear end look new and improved. My favorite are the Groove Pants; wearing them as I type, in fact!

6. More Cupcakes

More Cupcakes are the best cupcakes in Chicago. Hands down. Visit their Delaware Street boutique on any given Saturday and the line is out the door. Perfect ratio of cake to frosting is hard to find but More has nailed it. Try the Black and White- it’s my favorite!

6. Goose Island’s Sofie

I am a diehard 312 fan (I live in Chicago, how can I not be?) but Goose Island has a new kid on the block: Sofie. Sofie is a tart, dry sparkling ale that has the citrus taste we know and love from 312 but there’s a smooth, vanilla aftertaste business to Sofie. Reminds me a bit of champagne, a bit of beer…aka, the perfect holiday drink!

7. Garrett’s Popcorn

If you have ever been walking down Michigan Avenue and smelled Garrett’s Popcorn wafting it’s way toward you from down the block, you know what I’m talking about. There’s really no way you can’t give in the that smell. The cheese-caramel popcorn mix. Enough said.

8. Burberry Cashmere Scarf

Burberry is definitely not a Chicago brand but sometimes, you just have to go across the pond for some luxe. I know this is not an original add to my Favorite Things List but this scarf is snuggled against my neck from November to March. There’s something about Burberry to me that just signals the holidays. Maybe it’s the classic plaid.

9. Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist

A beautifully woven collection of essays, author Shauna Niequist‘s first book had me at “celebrate”. Cold Tangerines explores the idea of celebrating (gasp!) the everyday, ordinary parts of our lives because guest what? The things we constantly overlook are exactly the things that are take-your-breath-away amazing. Shauna is a Chicago author and person that I just adore– I look forward to her books just like I do a great meal. And I devour them immediately.

I know I didn’t send anyone on a cruise but I do have a giveaway, my VERY FIRST giveaway, coming up next week. Stay tuned and get excited- it IS definitely one of my favorite things!

More often than not, whenever I don’t know what it is that I need, yoga fits the bill.

I’ve been practicing yoga exactly 6 months today, a fact I realized after a really fulfilling practice at Core Power Yoga. I hadn’t practiced in awhile and was feeling a little off kilter all day. Make that the last few days. Ok, fine–the last week. I’ve been really trying to reconnect with myself (how anyone gets disconnected from themselves beats me), figure out why I’m so off balance, come up with an action plan…and nada. Couldn’t come up with anything. But after work today, my body was just crying “Do yoga. Do yoga. Go get sweaty and twisty. Do yoga.” So I did yoga. I brought all the excess noise of life to my mat.

And you know what?

I feel better. I didn’t solve global warming (what is up with it snowing today, btw?) or anything other huge issue but an hour and fifteen minutes of focus on only my breath and my postures…wow. I always underestimate how amazing it makes me feel and how back down to earth it brings me. It’s not that I’m “good” at yoga–it’s that it’s a practice. It’s called a yoga practice, not a yoga show so there’s never any pressure to do it perfectly (at least for me–forgive me if I’m wrong, yogis). My “utkanasana” was not pretty today but I held crow for 10 seconds! There was not a snowball’s chance in hell that I was getting up into birds of paradise today but I was a super good frog. It’s just all about wherever I happen to be that day. How many things can you say that for? “Sorry, boss–this sub-par performance is just where I’m at today” or “Sorry, kids–this lame meal and picking you up from school 4 hours late is just where I am today.” Not so much. But with yoga, you just show up and that’s a beautiful practice in and of itself. Not everything can be like that, I get it but I think that my relationships and my yoga should be. Just showing up and being you.

High Five of the Day: The “bb seaweed” masque I picked up from Lush. Lush is a fresh, handmade cosmetic company and I am in love with their masques. Everything made from fresh, organic fruits and veggies so you could eat it if you wanted to. Imagine that–putting something REAL on your skin instead of chemicals. I usually get the Love Lettuce one that has crushed almonds in it to get rid of yucky winter dry skin but I was pleased with bb Seaweed and even had a few pieces of seaweed on my face. Lovely. Oh and because it is handmade and only lasts 3 weeks, there is a sticker at the bottom with a picture and the name of the person who made it! So, thanks Joanne–you made my night.

Just A Chi Town Girl’s Favorite Things

Ommmmmmm.

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