New Year Link Love

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Wrigley building

{image taken New Years Day evening}

12 days into the New Year and the only assessment I have is that it’s a whole lot colder in 2016 than in 2015- where did this sub-20 degree and snow business that eluded us all of December come from?! I’m freezing. I rarely go into January 1st with a list of resolutions but I do usually feel a sense of nostalgia over the year past combined with a clean-slate sort of feeling regarding the calendar changing.

This year? Not so much. And I’m okay with that. Despite all of the “New Year, New You” noise, to me the new year simply means more time to do my best and love my people and create things that matter.

Some things on my radar lately:

New restaurants opening in Chicago this Winter. I super love La Sirena Clandestina so El Che Bar has my attention…and it’s not like anything from Grant Achatz will suck so I’m excited for Roister too.

When I am spinning my wheels trying to [fill in the blank], I need to remember I just need to do the thing I have been created to do and be something that I already am. This post from Shauna Niequist over at Proverbs31.org felt like a big, reassuring hug.

I have been obsessively learning about the things I am interested in lately so this article listing 9 things to learn in Chicago in 2016 was timely.  Just reading about the adult drop-in classes at the Joffrey Ballet gave me butterflies…will report back if I get the nerve to take a class.

Speaking of things I love learning about, The Music Box Theatre is showing “Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict” right now. I spent an oddly long time discussing art with a colleague of my husband’s at their holiday party and he raved about the film so I am excited to check it out and learn more about the woman who seriously owned one of those insane palazzos in Venice and stuffed it full of even more insane art.

Double speaking of things I love learning about…wine. I finally watched Somm on Netflix and I was a nervous wreck waiting for them to find out of they passed their Master Sommelier examination. I can’t wait for Somm: Into The Bottle to come out on February 3rd.

Puppies. More specifically, should we get a puppy?

Happy (very belated) 2016, friends… and stay warm out there! xo

 

Link Love

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December Mornings

As I read about this act of true generosity, I was so happy this happened anywhere given the current state of our world but was especially happy to see it happened in an airport near the small town I grew up in.

There is no better way to communicate that you think you are better and that your time is more valuable than others than by being late. This Forbes article tells it like it is and I hope it gets sent around every office and to every functioning human being on the planet. (Favorite line: “Being late is about power. It’s showing the other person, or people that you’re a “big deal” and have the upper-hand in the relationship. It’s also called being a dick.”)

My husband and I caught this commercial a few seconds in and were just captivated…and when we found out it was an ad for Barbie, we were floored. Well done, Barbie. Well done.

Can you believe that Home Alone is 25 years old? Chicago Magazine did such a cool piece on it with a ton of things I never knew like that New Trier High School housed a lot of the sets and that Chris Farley auditioned for the role of Santa Clause but was in such bad shape from the night before that he didn’t get the part.

There’s going to be full moon on Christmas!

I was actually listening to the soundtrack when I saw the news break on Twitter: Hamilton is coming to CHICAGO in SEPTEMBER!!!!

{image c/o last Sunday’s Instagram post}

Link Love

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West Loop Street Art

{street art in the West Loop}

Bon Appetit Magazine got it absolutely right- listen to your elders when it comes to hosting Thanksgiving. The old lady who said her kitchen has vibes made me laugh!

I am super into podcasts- here are 7 local podcasts you should be listening to right now. I have already downloaded Curious City and can’t wait to find out what Chicago would be like had the Great Fire never happened…

Hosting dinner parties is one of my favorite things in the world. This compilation of tips and anecdotes is really fun and timely for the upcoming holiday season.

You guys. Hamilton. I am not kidding when I say I could barely sleep last night because I was so excited after having listened to both 1st and 2nd acts over the course of my evening. A musical that tells the story of the creation of our country as set to hip hop. It is amazing.

Link Love

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(loving this new wall at YogaView)

The 10 coziest restaurants in Chicago – I love The Tortoise Club and Bavette’s for their cozy factor so this list is great. And perfectly timed for this arctic blast/polar vortex we are allegedly getting.

With Friendsgivings and the holidays upon us, it is most certainly time for big batch cocktails. The Hard Cider Sangria is likely happening very soon in our house.

Super interesting read: Why I Left My Job at Google. Living authentically trumps everything, I agree.

Also in the job realm, I could not agree more with Malcolm Gladwell’s article about what makes a great job. These factors have been at the top of my conversations and thoughts about career lately.

In a rookie mistake last year, I didn’t get my tickets for the Music Box Theatre’s showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” before they sold out. Don’t be me and miss out- they’re on sale now.

In funniest texts you can get from your Dad news, “How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you” came across my iPhone screen this morning. After laughing for a full minute, I went to this link…and laughed some more. Luna Bell is definitely plotting to kill us.

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I do not have neutral feelings about The Langham– I am obsessed with their food, drink, decor, people, everything. I want to live there, like an almost 30 year old Eloise.

Being “hangry” is actually a scientific thing, not just that point before I think I am going to murder someone if I don’t eat something rightnow.

I am attending my first Passover dinner this weekend (SO excited) and in addition to hunting down Kosher wine, I am preparing by learning what it’s all about.

Mizuno’s new running campaign is outstanding. They nailed it.

These views of cities from above make me feel wanderlusty. #29 in Poland- I have got to see that.

Speaking of travel, these images of Venice if it were to freeze over are incredible.

Link Love

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Luna Bell and I are very committed to yoga this week, trying to shake off this mercury in retrograde business.

I loved this article about a sweet woman, her love of running and living (and leaving) life her way.

I vowed to not make pies for Thanksgiving this year but maybe I could try these salted caramel hand pies…

Strong piece by Chicago Magazine on the death of Charlie Trotter.

How cozy (and not frumpy) do these pj’s look?

I love chandeliers and am eyeing this print for our bedroom. Chandeliers and champagne bottles is a design aesthetic, right?

Link Love

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Grahamwich was so great when it opened…and then it sucked. Such a bummer but not surprised it closed yesterday.

I’m not a fan of prison but there’s always been something I’ve admired about Martha Stewart. This article identified that something- Martha gives zeros fucks.

I met this chick recently and I’ve got to say, she’s pretty rad. So rad (and stylish and funny) that I totally ordered the monogram necklace from her BaubleBar collection.

Do you subscribe to Urban Daddy? I love it. It loops me in to new restaurants and bars and with subject lines like “This Used To Be a Brothel“, it’s not like I’m not going to check it out.

Now that I’m done playing on the RedFin app every night, I’m all about Houzz.com. I am all ears if you guys have any design sites you love- I feel like this is going to be my new jam.

Hope everyone’s week is off to a good start!