New blog...new idea

Check out this DIY idea from ikeahacker. You can take any picture and print it out into a large poster at blockposters.com. Great idea!!!

Spotted....in the movie "Iron Man"

I spotted my Eames lounge chair in Tony Stark's (the main character) house in the movie Iron Man. (which is a very good movie!)

Restaurant Review: Margie's Candies

After hearing about this place from foxxychica and semi-hipster homeowner, my husband and I finally tried out Margie's Candies. (I was hoping that it would be Chicago's version of NYC's Serendipity 3.) The decor was very old and brown (although, I like that they have not changed it over the years) and the Tiffany style lamps reminded me of Serendipity 3.

I ordered a chocolate malt and it was good (not as good as Oberweis) - my husband ordered a waffle cone with mint chocolate chip and cookies and cream ice cream. The homemade ice cream was AMAZING and the next time I go back, this is what I will be ordering.

Do I really need these??

I found these shoes from Old Navy via isuwannee.

Cute Dress

I love this dress by Amanda Uprichard in black. available at winknyc.com.
I saw a dress similar to this in SJP's Bitten line at Steve and Barry's. (and it is $8.98)

Tomato Success Kit

Maybe with this kit I can grow tomatoes on my balcony this year!

Organic Cotton

Target's new Go International line will be featuring Rogan starting March 18th. I saw a cute linen dress from this line in the May 2008 issue of Real Simple. (I can't find a picture of the dress online, but here is a sneak peek of the rest.

American Apparel also has organic cotton clothing available here.

I love this balcony

My husband and I looked at a new condo a few weeks ago just to check out new condo construction in Old Town. I fell in love with this balcony! And it looks east, west, and south over the city of Chicago.

Obsessed!

(From P.O.S.H.)

I am obsessed with bedside carafes. I always pick them up in the store and set it back down because I realize I don't need one.....yet. ( I live in a one bedroom condo)

Future Guest Room

I was looking through the Crate and Barrel Summer 2008 Best Buys and saw this vintage Marimekko print bed linens. I can see it now: light blue walls, white furniture, my blue bottle collection on the window, and bright blue floral bedding.

Go Green!

My local farmers markets are open:

Green City Market and Near North Market (May 31st)

Also check out this idea of a nonprofit Organic School Project.

Love the one you're with

I have read all of Emily Giffin's books (Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof) and loved them! This new one is out today and I will be stopping by Target to pick it up.

Yummy....Table 52 + Cupcakes

After walking by this place 100 times, I checked out BomBon Americano last week and tried a chocolate cupcake. It was very good (not as good as Crumb's bakery in NYC) and the free water (with fruit in it) was the best! I will be making these cupcakes by the Barefoot Contessa tonight and I can't wait to try them! Also, I will be enjoying Art Smith's mac and cheese tonight at Table 52!! I hope to get a signed copy of this cookbook.

Sale at Jcrew

Check out the sale at Jcrew!

Chalk board paint

The one thing I know that I want in my future home is chalkboard paint in the kitchen/eating area. I even asked for a chalkboard for Christmas when I was 5. (and I used is to play school) To fill the void, I think I will be hanging this chalkboard from Ikea in my kitchen.

I think I found a new pair of shoes:

I have been looking for a pair of gladiator sandals and I love these! (Steven by Steve Madden)

(Check out more at Nordstrom.com)

DIY: My first real experience with a drill

I starting installing pulls on our kitchen cabinets this week after discovering my husband can't drill straight! Our handles are from target and look like the one below. (they were only $5.99 each versus $8.00 at Home Depot) I found the orange template below at Ikea to help me measure out the holes before drilling.

In order to fix my husband's mistake, he found online to fill in the hole with a toothpick and wood glue. Then, you fill in the entire hole with putty, wait for it to dry, and then drill again. I hope this works!!

Spotted: Ikea vases and cool poster

I love the four Ikea vases and the poster "We are so good together." Check it out here.

My Little Apartment

I found a new blog today via isuwannee called mylittleapartment. I love the picture of the all white bed (my favorite) with the #5 pillow. I think it may be made from recycled sails available here. Check out both of these blogs!

a few items from MOMA:

Inside out martini glass
plant frame (Maybe I won't kill this)
I need this today (it's raining in Chicago)
Eames lounge chair - for when I win the lottery!

Bring back Men In Trees!!

ABC had canceled my favorite show "Men in Trees!" Did anyone else watch the show?? I love it!!

Primp Hoodies

sailboats...


whales....

I love these hoodies! So does Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Katherine Heigl.

24th Annual Printers Row Book Fair

Just a reminder that the book fair is coming up on June 7th and 8th on Dearborn and Polk. More info here. (I think I might go on Sunday.)

Also, there is yoga every Saturday at 8am in Millennium Park throughout the summer and it is free.

These are cute....

new cutting boards!

Jonathan Adler + Ikea

Jonathan Adler's medium bird bowl
+ 4 of Ikea's white vases

=

great looking pottery on my book shelves!

On another note, I dropped by the Jonathan Adler store on Wabash yesterday on my way to Trader Joe's and saw these:

You can have these custom made!
And, I love this candle.

Neil Diamond!!

Neil Diamond is coming to the United Center in Chicago this summer... we already have our tickets! I want to hear Shiloh and Kentucky Woman, but I will be okay with Sweet Caroline.

Etsy in my bathroom

I am thinking of getting this vintage picture to hang in my bathroom. (the color scheme of my bathroom = black marble counter, white shower and toilet, black and white shower curtain with circles, small black clock) What do you think?

Finger tip gloves?

What is the point of these?

Kenneth Jay Lane

I love these necklaces from Kenneth Jay Lane! (Paris Hilton wore the strawberry last summer in every magazine.)

I have the elephant bracelet seen here that was worn my Hillary Duff and I saw Robin wearing it on Girlicious. LOVE IT!

What I learned at the Kentucky Derby:

1. bring cash ($40.00 to get into the infield)

2. The bigger the hat, the better ( I didn't wear one - maybe next year?!)

3. I don't like mint juleps (I could only take 6 sips)

4. Wager on the horse with the best odds ( I won $17.00 on the winning horse!)

"$5.00 win on #20"

5. The infield was full of drunk people (and I went to Michigan State where I am used to seeing this, but I was still surprise at what I saw)

6. Be careful of broken glass

7. Bring antibacterial hand wipes

Summer has arrived

Every spring, I look forward to seeing Target come out with a new line of summer stuff (towels, dishes, coolers, picnic supplies, etc) because it marks the beginning summer. In Chicago, this means going to Oak Street beach, eating outside, art fairs, grilling, street fairs, concerts in Millennium Park and the list goes on......

My husband does all of the grilling on our 17th floor balcony, but each year I want to buy this:

I don't buy it because I don't really need it, but I love to look at it! (for some odd reason)

Cute lunch box!

Available at shopintuition.com!

TGIF and Play Review:

I saw a preview of "The Ballad of Emmett Till" last night at the Goodman Theatre and Robert Falls was in the audience. (Tony award winning director) The play was amazing, but the story does not leave you with a good feeling, like "Wicked" or "A Trip to Bountiful." Tickets are selling fast, so get yours now! (Target is offering $20.00 tickets here.)