Layered Looks I'm Loving

 To stay warm during the winter months in Chicago, you have to bundle up and layer. The problem with this is that my fail safe is cardigans, and I'm just so DARN sick of wearing cardigans.

Thankfully, these stylish ladies have given me a lot of inspirtation looks to layer without the dreaded cardi.

A Merry Monday

What is about vacation that makes the 2 weeks before take-off absolutely beyond chaotic?

Since we leave next Friday, I have this pressure to fit everything in beforehand and I can feel myself getting pretty close to bursting.

 

Right after work on Friday I went and got a manicure. I was well overdue and it was such a nice way to end the week. My nail girl always gives me a neck massage before she applies the polish, and I literally almost fell asleep during the 3 minute rub down.

I went with an army green – a little outside the box – but very festive and fun!

After the salon I met up with 3 girlfriends for sushi and a comedy show. I was just enjoying my time and so I didn’t get a chance to snap up any pictures.

On Saturday morning, at the ripe time of 6:45am, I got a call that the TV I had won was going to be delivered around 9. I was all sorts of excited, so I got out of bed and pretty much waited until I heard a truck pull up.

The TV I won is absolutely huge and gorgeous, and we are seriously loving it. I had to do a few re-decorating touches to make it work in our living room (like raise that mirror), but we are so happy and lucky to have this beauty!

After we got the TV set up, Joel and I like a bunch of idiots, took on Michigan Ave. Boy was that a mistake. Every store and sidewalk was like a madhouse of people and shopping bags. The Crate’n’Barrel was borderline breaking fire code.

Luckily we were able to cross a lot of people off of our list and I’m really happy with all of the gifts I will be giving this year.

After 5 hours of shopping, we went home and got ready for a holiday party at our friends house. We did a wine exchange where everyone brings a wrapped bottle of wine – then everyone gets a chance to unwrap a bottle or steal a bottle. It was a really fun activity, and I’m going to steal the idea for the ornament/cookie exchange that I am going to be hosting on Thursday.

Hannah, from A Big Little Life, was at the party too, and was dressed supppper cute.

Sunday I hit up the grocery store and did some cleaning, then was treated to a trip to the movie theatres. We had lunch there (1 large popcorn to share) and saw New Years Eve. I wasn’t too crazy about the movie, but I did develop a slight crush for Mr. Efron.

This week I have a few more presents to pick up, an orientation for the secret restaurant group, a cookie exchange, and a night at the Lincoln Park Zoo to see all of the Christmas lights. Should be nothing short of…….chaotic!

Ello, Darling!

Today is the first snow Chicago has seen yet! I’m actually a fan of 4 seasons, so I’m welcoming the cold and the snow with open arms.

Plus, with 4 seasons, you do start to accumulate a very versatile wardrobe...

I didn't wear this with the TOMs, but I did commute in them. Switched to Reva's at work.



Getting through a full week of work can so sometimes feel like such a victory come Friday morning So, with any good victory, rewards should follow.


Tonight is girls night. After work I’m going to get a manicure and then meet up with 3 girlfriends for sushi and a comedy show. We are going to “Bye, Bye Liver” which is a series of sketches, all centered around the booze. But to really get into the swing of things, the show is filled with drinking games for the audience. Should be like a college flashback!

Tomorrow Joel and I are going to take Michigan Avenue by the horns and tackle the rest of our Christmas list. Since we will be celebrating Christmas early (the 17th) I really need to get everyone’s gifts and get them wrapped this weekend.

Saturday night my friends are having a holiday party/wine exchange. Everyone is bringing 1 wrapped bottle of wine and in the tag describing what type of wine it is; region, flavors, vineyard, etc. We then will do a little white elephant exchange where you can steal someone’s bottle.

My mom got me this dress from Nordstrom’s, and since I won’t be celebrating NYE in Chicago, this is my once chance to wear it! It looks to be sold out at Macys and Nordstrom’s, but I was able to find it at Zappos. The best part of the dress is the swoop back.

On Sunday, I may even drag Joel to the movies.

Hope you have a good weekend lined up, too!

Detox Check In #1

December is flying by at records pace. If you read here I’m leaving for Mexico for the Christmas holiday. My family has a vacation home in Punta Mita, so it’s not weird for me to not be “home” on Christmas morning. What is weird for me, is throwing on a bathing suit in the middle of December.

I’ll be boarding my flight for paradise in 15 days from today.

Last Monday, I started to slim down what I’m putting in my mouth in hopes that I, too, would slim down. With a 20 day diet, I didn’t think miracles were going to happen, but I’ll take what I can get.

I weighed in on Monday, after 1 week and I was down -2.2 pounds. I’m hoping to take off 5 more in the next 15 days.

The most radical thing I’m doing right now is writing down everything I’m eating. Every morsel that goes in, ends up on the paper. And I’m trying to stay under 1,900 calories. I’m reducing alcohol and restaurants and trying to keep my exercise the same.

I’m keeping the water intake high, trying to reduce snacks between meals, and being okay with feeling uncomfortable sometimes!

This weekend is packed full of holiday parties and activities, but I’m hoping I can stay on the right path.

And for added motivation....

WILW: Update on the week

• I’m loving that I had my 2nd book club last night. I feel like a true grown up when I tell people “I’ve got book club tonight”. Not sure when I turned into my mom.

• I’m loving that this week is flying by. Work is busy, so my days just zip on by.

• I’m loving that Joel and I were selected to be a part of a Restaurant Groups secret raters program. I’ll have more info on this next week because we have orientation on the 13th, but what I do know is that for the next 14 weeks we will be getting paid to try out restaurants in Chicago and rate them.

• I’m loving that I have a jam packed weekend. Comedy show, Christmas shopping, and Holiday party!

• I’m loving that I tried a new recipe last night, pizza rolls (here), and it turned out successfully! I was in a mega rush so I don’t have any pictures. I did however realize that I don’t own a rolling pin, so I had to get creative and use a wine bottle.



Not my picture


• I’m loving that Mexico is right around the corner

• I’m loving that the sun has been out this week

• I’m loving the book that I am reading. It’s called Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter. It’s not as fuzzy as it sounds. It’s a book about women and the trap so many of us fall into. It’s a page turner that has kept me up past my bedtime for the last several nights. I highly recommend it.

• I am loving that my agenda tonight is to put some Christmas music on, cook a healthy dinner, wrap some presents, and catch up on my dvr.

What's a better name for a Bucket List?

Bucket List just sounds too grim for me to use that on a monthly basis, so I need to come up with a better term.

For the fall, I came up with a list of the things I wanted to knock out, and I'm happy to say I was pretty successful. Putting goals in writing is one of the best ways to achieve them and I really don't have a better platform than right here.

Here is how I did for the Fall:

Put a personal touch on some pumpkins and decorate with them  

Go to a pumpkin patch : 

Host a book club meeting : 

Upgrade my fall wardrobe:

Invest in good boots 

Bake fall goodies for my co-workers: 

Bake fall treats and bring them to friends and family in the neighborhood: 

Meet my new baby cousins and prepare a treat for their whole family 

Cook dinner with new recipes 

Try navy blue for an upcoming manicure 

Give a Pumpkin Spiced Latte a shot

Order new magazine subscriptions 

Run a race

10 out of 13 - which is not too bad.

and now...

 My new, winter to-do

• Volunteer something. My time, my money, my things...whatever it is, I want to give back somehow before I leave for Mexico.

• Fully relax while I'm in vacation. I plan to unplug and work on being my best self while I am there

• Bake Christmas cookies

Bring treats in for work

• Buy thoughtful gifts for Christmas without going overboard

• Try forest green for a manicure

• Wear my new, sparkly dress

• Get a hot chocolate - with all the good toppings

• Play in the snow

• Go on a drive through a less-visited neighborhood to check out the Christmas lights

• Watch Elf and Santa Claus

• Send out Christmas cards

• Go Ice Skating

• Check out the Christmas windows at Macy's on Michigan Ave

• Make a new soup recipe 

• Make a gingerbread house

• Keep a positive attitude for the next 3 weeks of work. Everyday, show up as my best self.

• Host a cookie exchange/ornament exchange party for my girlfriends.

All to be completed by 2/1/12

Me, A to Z

I am borrowing this from All You Need Is Love and thought it would be fun. Let me know if you do one on your blog, too! :)

A. Age – 23

B. Bed size –Full. We are still using my bed frame/mattress from College and it desperately needs to be changes.

C. Chore that you hate – Putting away clothes (which I have to do) and taking the garbage out (which Joel does)

D. Dogs – I'm biased by my cockapoo, but I'm a big fan of Mini-Goldendoodles, and any rescue dog.

E. Essential start to your day –Breakfast. I literally can't leave my house without eating breakfast. My normal meal is greek yogurt, a banana, granola, OJ, and a cup of coffee.

F. Favorite color –Gray

G. Gold or silver – Whoa...WAY TO HARD! Totally depends.

H. Height – 5'7

I. Instruments you play – Dear Lord, none.

J. Job title – Team Lead

K. Kids – I die for pretty much any and all.

L. Live –Chicago, IL

M. Mother’s name – Connie

N. Nicknames –Tessie, T-Bags, and TessT. Classy - I know.

O. Overnight hospital stays – Thankfully never.

P. Pet peeves – Velvet

Q. Quote from a movie – I would have to Google this...

R. Right or left handed –Right

S. Siblings – Two younger sisters; Hannah (21) and Nellie (18)

T. Time it takes you to get ready – Not including a shower 20-25 minutes.

U. Underwear – I love Gap Body.

V. Vegetable you hate – Cabbage. 

W. What makes you run late – Picking my outfit, changing it thirteen times, and going back to the first dang thing I had on....but to be honest, I'm rarely late. That's another pet peeve.

X. X-rays you’ve had – My Jaw....I'm a TMJ kinda girl.

Y. Yummy food you make – This is still a work in progress, but recently I made some delish cookie bars, Joel loves my homemade pizza and soups, and I love any and all dips!

   Z. Zoo animal – Penguins.


Do you feel like you know a whole different side of me?! Haha, have a wonderful Saturday. 

All good things

This week was one of the best weeks I've had in a long time. Besides the fact that I have a sinus infection, and had to stay home from work on Monday - after that fact, it just got better and better.

I was feeling well enough around 3, to pop into Francesca's on Southport to pick up this dress and blouse.

Tuesday was my mom's birthday and she and my dad came in from the suburbs for dinner here in the city. After work Joel and I met for a glass of wine at The Purple Pig on Michigan Ave. From there, we walked down to Spiaggia and met up with my parents, and my mom's best friend. Each course got better and better. The food was just out of this world.

On Wednesday, I took my team at work out to bowling for lunch. Lucky Strike has a deal during work hours where you get a great lunch and game of bowling for $7. 7 Dollars! I am lucky to get out of Starbucks for 7 dollars - so not only did we have a blast - it was cheap!

After workI met up with my bestie (since 2nd grade) for a girls night out. About 8 weeks ago, we purchased a GiltCity event at Benefit Cosmetics for GNO. It was $50, and it was a 2 hour event with cocktails, treats, an eyebrow wax, makeover, AND $40 credit on makeup.

$85 dollars later, I'm pretty much stocked up.

Thursday I had a luncheon for work so I didn't have to go into the office. At the luncheon they had 3 raffle prizes. When you sat down at the table, everyone received a ticket. My ticket number was 100. I told everyone at my table, that #100 had to be lucky, so I signed my name and told everyone I was going to win.

The first prize was a 42"in, Panasonic Flat Screen.

Guess who won?

Ha...yes, I did. A $1,200 TV just landed under the tree!

And...today is Friday enough said! Tonight Joel and I are taking it easy. There is a Christmas parade in our neighborhood on Southport that we are going to check out. All of the stores open their doors and serve cookies and hot chocolate and Santa comes riding down on his sleigh. Should be a fabulous time.