Uglydolls!

I saw these today in a little gift shop in Leadville, Colorado. The only problem is that my dog would think it was for him and cry until he could destroy it (so I didn't buy one).

This is my favorite... meet Uglyworm:

High vs. Low

Kettle with bird whistle designed by Michael Graves: (alessi.com)

$159.00

Spinning whistle tea kettle at Target: (also designed my Michael Graves)

$25.00

Yo-Yo Quilting

My Grandma is teaching me how to make a yo-yo quilt during our vacation. (All I have done so far is watch her) So when I get home, I am going to get a little wheel and try to make a black and white quilt for my bedroom. Wish me luck!

Summer tote

This wallet /clutch turns into... this bag:
foldable tote from Tory Burch

Quandary Peak

Today we (my brother, sister, and sister-in-law) woke up at 5am and climbed Quandary Peak (the East Ridge). I didn't plan on hiking at all in Colorado because I don't really enjoy it ... until my sister talked me into it (and I feel guilty because I have nothing physically wrong to prevent me from hiking) ... and I found a used Camelbak for $20.00, a bladder for the Camelbak, and a hat with UPF. It took us 3 and a half hours to climb up the peak (14,265 feet) and another 2 and a half to come down. At the end, my legs were shaking so badly that I thought I would fall down. (like after running a marathon) And just in case you want to know what a mountain is like at the top (above the tree line) look at photo#23 because it is all rocks. We hiked over little rocks, big rocks, snow covered rocks, muddy rocks, loose rocks....for most of the hike. We crossed snow fields and it hailed! In the end, I am glad that I climbed a 14er, but I have no desire to do it again... I rather read a book on the deck and look out at the mountains.

(photos from 14ers.com) I will post some when I get back to Chicago!

2459 calories!

This is the calories I burned on my hike (according to self.com's fitness calculator)

Breckenridge, Colorado

My family and I are in Colorado this week for a relaxing vacation. We just got back from a 5 hour hike and now my legs hurt... time to eat lunch and head into town.

Quiet Moments Cardigan

Check out this sweater here. (black is available in August)

love love love

White watches

here are a few I found at nordstrom.com: (the first one is infused with a vanilla scent?!)

PS: I was just looking at qvc.com and anything that you purchase today can be put on 5 payments. (take your total and divide by 5 and that is how much you pay each month for 5 months) Also, check out the TSV supersmile toothpaste! (I have used it for almost 4 years and it is great at whiting teeth!)

back in stock:

carton vase now in at cb2

On my radar...

I am really liking this desk from crate and barrel. (and it is on sale)

Time for summer sales!

After waking up and watching Regis and Kelly and The View, I decided to go shopping to get a few things for my trip to Colorado next week. My main goal was to make it to City Hall to buy my parking sticker... but I never made it. Instead, I got sucked into all of the sales going on at Anthropologie, Jcrew, Express, Crate and Barrel, Victoria's Secret, Old Navy, TJMaxx, Pottery Barn (which is closing on Michigan ave.) Gap, and Banana Republic. I spent 6 hours shopping! (Yikes! - well...I did walk all the way to State St. Macy's and back home and I stopped and ate lunch and went to Starbucks and had my wedding ring cleaned)

Here is a break down of GREAT deals:

JCrew: I got a sweater/jacket reg. price $148.00 (I almost bought if for full price 2 months ago) for $22.50! I found the sale in the store was better than online.

Banana Republic: great flat shoes are on sale for $19.99

Express: $9.99 for shirts (I picked up two V-neck T shirts for $14.99 each)

VS: panties starting at $3.99 and very cute pajamas are all on sale

Crate and Barrel: sea urchin vase for $3.95 (was $7.95)

Anthropologie: I found this sweater (not on sale) and also picked up a glass for my swap buddy.

Old Navy: basic tank tops 2 for $15.00 ( Jcrew are 2 for $30.00) I picked up 2 white, 2 brown, and 2 black. They also have cute denim capri pants for $20.00.

Movie Review:

I just got around to seeing the movie Lars and the Real Girl a few weeks ago and I have been telling everyone to see it. I loved it!! This movie was on my mind as I was organizing all of my DVDs today because it presents mental illness very differently from other movies. (let's just say it is not like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) Another great movie on my mind: Waitress with Keri Russell.

3 more reasons why I love Old Town...

If you have been reading my blog, you probably picked up on the fact that I love living near Old Town in Chicago. (it will be very hard for me to consider leaving this area) Here are a few more reasons:

1. the fresh lemonade at Fresh Choice is the BEST!!! (and they have great smoothies too)

2. The Spice House has every kind of spice you can think of (I just picked up some lavender to put in lemonade and a meat rub) - maybe I will try to make lavender ice cream with the recipe found here (lavender lemonade recipe here)

3. Twisted Sister is a new bakery that has great cookies and even better cupcakes! I tried the banana chocolate cupcake and licked up every crumb from the box....

New artists found:

I found this artist at the Old Town Art Fair on Sunday that I love. Check out his work at wmichaelmeyer.com.

I also bought a christmas ornament from dulyaz.com.

Reminder:

The Wells Street Art Fair and the Old Town Art Fair are this weekend.

Summer to do list:

1. Finish organizing my photo albums and adding in my honeymoon pictures
2. Organize my dvds in the discgear container below (from target)
3. Hang the Marimekko pear from cb2 in my living room
(and it just went on sale - 2 days after I bought it)
4. Read more books
5. Do a swap with isuwannee

Found!! studded belt from sex and the city

I finally found a belt similar to the one Carrie wore at shop intuition....the problem is the price

$250.00! Yikes!

Whiting and Davis snake bracelet

I have been monitoring this gold tone snake bracelet on ebay for the past few months. I can add it to my collection of other vintage whiting and davis. (maybe someday soon I will start to bid)

Sephora, here I come

Can you tell I got my new lucky magazine? It has some great ideas and also makes me remember what I need to pick up from Sephora.

Here is my list:

Ojon Shine and Protecting mist

Ojon Shine & Protect kit ($50.00 at Sephora and $30.00 at QVC)

Benefit Benetint (I have used the original and loved it)

Stila Sheer Color(recommended by Kate Hudson)

Dry sunscreen

I have seen this Peter Thomas Roth mineral spf 30 powder featured in a few magazines and I think I might try it this summer. I always hate the way my face feels when I put sunscreen on (even if they say it is oil free) and I hope this will feel better. It is also available on QVC and includes another tube of sunscreen for an extra $9.00. (item #83676) Great deal!!

baby gift idea:

I saw this baby kimono from Lucky Wang via

the scoop. This is adorable!

The Red Leather Diary

I was reading the free magazine Chicago Social yesterday and found this book. The author found an old diary about a young woman growing up in NYC... sounds very interesting!

Check out this article. And the author, Lily Koppel, will be at the printers row book fair this weekend. (which is free)

HOT HOT HOT

This week has been HOT at work (no AC) and I need more clothing for the warm summer ahead. I ordered this dress from Rogan's organic line at target last night. (I used my AAA membership to save 10% and got free shipping)

Note: the dress is knee length (not like the picture)

I also found these yellow jelly shoes at old navy...

they would be cute with a pedicure and red nail polish!

Future home ideas:

I love this chair for a living room from Ikea

some sort of zebra rug / cowhide (fake, of course) this one is from west elm (for the family room)

this end table from Victoria Hagan's line at target for the living room

World wall map from urban outfitters for a basement game room or for child's room

baby bathtub from garnethill to fill with flowers (on my front porch)

Also: petrie couch from crate and barrel for the living room

Book Review:

I love this book! I just finished reading it with my students. This time that I read the book, I picked up on the part when Scout puts herself in Boo's shoes and says, "Summer, and he watched his children's heart break." (p. 279) (I didn't remember this specific phrase from before) Reason #547 of why I love to read - I can read a book for the 8th time and find something new and amazing.

Having read Emily Giffen's other books, I bought this the day it came out. Although is was entertaining, the main character made me mad at times - so I stopped reading it for a week. I did end up finishing it and I do appreciate the way in which this author pulls me into the story. The author provides characters who are not perfect and predictable and this is what keeps me coming back to her books.

The author of this book (a rogue sociologist) follows a Chicago gang for 10 years and studies how the poor live. Having looked to buy a Condo in a mixed-income housing development in Chicago, I started to look into the CHA and the Plan for Transformation (incorporating market-rate homes in with section-8 housing). Sudhir Venkatesh had done extensive research into this new housing plan and I think I might read his book Off the Books. (check out this article)

Up next:

The Boleyn Inheritance

Eat, Pray, Love

Carrie's new apartment

New apartment:

As much as I loved the make over of Carrie's apartment in the Sex and the City movie, I miss the old apartment.

Looks from Sex and the City: the movie

Kenneth Jay Lane pearl necklace (36 inches)

studded belts

Gucci belt bag

floral print dresses from jcrew

black and white dress (all dresses found on Nordstrom.com)

Dolce and Gabbana Sateen Bustier
Eliza J Ruffle Dress

Eiffel Tower purse (available at shopintuition)

Botkier Isis Clutch (all clutches found at bloomingdales.com)
Lambertson Truex Rivington flash day clutch

L.A.M.B clutch

from Chie Mihara

Gladiator heels from Nordstrom
L.AM.B. shoes