crushing on cobalt

heels | book clutch | dress | nail polish | glasses | pillow

If I'm considering a purchase and the item comes in two color options...navy or some other color...I have to force myself to buy the other option. Recently when packing for a trip (and also while cleaning out my closet) I realized that I had a TON of navy options. Shirts, dresses, accessories, you name it...chances are it's navy. So why not be suuuuper adventurous in today's post and pick out some things that aren't navy, but cobalt! Really thinking outside the box here, I know. I'm especially loving the dress and heels! But what do you think, would you rock those cobalt spectacles?

image created with polyvore

City Guide | Chicago: Little Goat

Little Goat

820 W. Randolph St.

Chicago, IL 60607

Bringing back the City Guides, Chicago-style this time! This past weekend was so full of fun activities, starting with the Gilt City Warehouse Sale, immediately followed by brunch at Little Goat. The sister restaurant of hugely popular Girl + the Goat (still on my restaurant bucket-list), Little Goat is a more casual spin-off with a diner-style vibe. Both restaurants were created by Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard. Judging by what we ordered on Saturday, she's a genius!

Brunch waits can always be a little frustrating, everyone is usually hangry and the wait can be painful. But thanks to this adorable photo booth in the front, we had something to entertain us for a bit. I clearly got distracted in that last photo.

I was charmed by little goats everywhere I looked! Attention to detail is one of the most important things to me in terms of decor and atmosphere and Little Goat doesn't miss a beat. The killer bloody mary didn't hurt either. Yum.

breakfast spaghetti

bull's eye french toast

Last but not least...the food was delicious! I had the Breakfast Spaghetti 'n Clams 'n Crab with eggs, parmesan, pork guanciale and bok choy. Something totally out of my comfort zone in terms of breakfast, but it was so tasty and such a unique brunch dish. The table favorite by far though, was the Bull's Eye French Toast. With eggs (in the middle of the toast - eggs in a basket style), crispy chicken, sweet onion brioche and bbq maple syrup, this twist on french toast was amazing. I usually lean toward savory brunch dishes, but I'm making an exception for this deliciousness. 

Needless to say, Little Goat was an amazing way to start a Saturday!

Gilt City Chicago Warehouse Sale

Updated with my thoughts on the sale!

Things are about to get a little crazy, sorry bank account! If you're in the Chicago area, don't miss this! Gilt City is hosting a warehouse sale this weekend, and it's going to be epic. Friday and Saturday morning tickets are already sold out, but there are still some Saturday afternoon spots left, so hurry! For $10 you get admission, complimentary cocktails or wine, mini makeovers + brow waxing from Benefit (one of my all-time favorite beauty brands), and lots of other little perks! The best part? There will be clothes, accessories and home decor for up to 90% off retail price. I can barely contain my excitement!

| Update |

Going to the sale was really fun, I had such a great time with my girlfriends shopping around, enjoying the free drinks and snacks. It was a fun atmosphere and a really cool experience. However, I have to say…I was disappointed with the quality and selection of the merchandise! Maybe I had set my expectations too high, knowing that it is, after all, a warehouse sale and that means that it’s basically damaged or unsold goods. But, I didn’t expect there to be serious holes in the clothes…I picked one dress out of the rack and it was crooked (not the look I’m going for)! The shoes and accessories left me seriously wanting more, minimal selection, not the best quality, etc. Don’t get me wrong, there were some gems tucked away in the sale…but they were scored by warehouse shoppers much more savvy than me, guess I wasn’t quick enough!

What I did love though? The Benefit mini makeover! The ladies from Benefit are pros, and they sweet talked me into several products. (I’m already a huge fan of Benefit, so it wasn’t really a hard sell for them…) I picked up the “Big Easy” BB cream, “Lolli-tint” lip + cheek stain, and “Gimme Brow” brow shaper! I had never used BB cream before, and it's pretty much life-changing. I love the cream to powder finish and the SPF is a nice bonus. I love the fresh, pink color of the lip stain, it's long wear and looks great solo or with some gloss on top! And the brow shaper, I just can't believe I spent so much of my life doing nothing to my eyebrows! (I've also used this Bobbi  Brown one for a while now, both are great products!)

Because I picked up three products, I got a free brow threading. Amazing. I am blessed with pretty low-maintenance brows, so I tweeze here and there but had never had a wax or threading before. But, I think I may now be a threading convert. Sign me up. 

Overall, it was a great experience. I would definitely recommend trying the warehouse sale out, at the very least you get a fun shopping trip with your friends...even if you don't walk away with any purchases!

images via Gilt City

ingrid

broken hearts beat print

Tonight I'll be seeing one of my idols/soul-sisters/spirit-animals, Ingrid Michaelson in concert! I've seen her live before and it was nothing short of amazing, so this is sure to be a great night! Her new album, Lights Out, is incredible. Go listen!

Here's my favorite track from the album:

dainty + gold

lovely necklace | code #2 earrings | layering necklace

scallop cuff | marni midi ring | love knot ring

As much as I love a good statement necklace, some of the best everyday pieces are of the dainty + gold variety! In my opinion, gold goes with everything...brights, neutrals, even silver. I struggled to narrow this post down to my favorite six pieces (I started with about twenty dainty + gold "must haves")! Above are some of my absolute faves, but in particular that scallop cuff by Brandy Pham takes the cake!

image created with polyvore

monogram it: clutches

gigi new york

goyard

clare vivier

If you've been following along on here (or here or here) whatsoever, I'm sure you've gotten the hint that I love monograms. I would put my initials on everything if I could. And why not put them on a clutch? I love the look of gold letters embossed onto a bright (or neutral) color. The inspiration above has me daydreaming about adding some Clare Vivier or Gigi New York to my closet.

Here are some of my faves:

one | two | three | four

P.S. Other great places for monogrammed bags: Madewell, J.Crew + Mark & Graham

images via lows to luxe, pinterest, wishbone + created with polyvore

paris vs. new york

l'obsession

la facade

le cafe

le journal

le pain

Paris vs. New York...this has to be one of my favorite art series of all time. Created by graphic designer Vahram Muratyan, the series depicts a comparison of two of my favorite places, Paris and New York. With a hint of humor, the mirroring of two of the world's most famous cities is so fantastic. Each city has such distinctive characteristics that make it unique, and Muratyan captures the parallels between these two cosmopolitan hubs in such an interesting way. La Facade currently has a post card sized spot on my gallery wall, which I would love to replace with a full sized print!

What's your favorite comparison?

P.S. Shop the entire collection here (Society 6 is a great place to find affordable art)!

decorBase

I have a feeling that decorBase and I are going to become BFF, really quickly. A new interior design site where I can shop, moodboard and more? Yes. I can't wait to explore!

This video explains everything!

Discovered here, via Alaina's lovely blog.

Happy Easter!

pineapple | sprinkle | confetti dipped | ice cream cone

I'm sure you've all seen the thousands of Easter Egg dying + crafting ideas on Pinterest. There are a zillion, some of which are really cool and some of which are...blah. After clicking on a few, I realized that all the ones I loved came from the same blog, Project DIY! A new-to-me source for DIY, Kelly's Easter crafts are amazing. (Bonus: the photography is top notch!) I've always been pretty crafty, so I can't wait to try some projects out. How cute and unique are the Ice Cream Cone Easter Eggs?

Are you planning on doing some non-traditional egg dying this weekend? Do tell!

Have a Happy Easter!!

images via project DIY

Easter Inspired: Pastels

sneakers | dress | boots | maxi | clutch 

Easter is right around the corner and everyone loves some Easter-themed pastels...right?? All of these items can be found in the Shopbop Friends & Family sale (which ends at midnight tonight...hurry!). I took advantage yesterday and scored a pair of navy Superga sneakers! Anyone else take advantage of the 25% off?

image created with polyvore

#becauseitsthecup

pittsburgh

lucie + ruger

lucie is a huge fan of the terrible towel

me + my dad | pens vs. blackhawks

Fun fact: I'm from Pittsburgh, and I take being a Pittsburgh sports fan very seriously, I mean hard core seriously. (Note: I take the Pirates much much less seriously). I get every ounce of this Pittsburgh pride from being raised by my dad. He likes to joke that we're so serious that we have black + gold dogs...Ok, he might not be kidding.

It's my favorite time of year, Stanley Cup Playoffs! Unsurprisingly, I'll be rooting for the Penguins (and the Hawks unless they're facing the Pens). It all starts tonight and I'm especially looking forward to seeing my boyfriend favorite player, Sidney Crosby take the ice. Let's go Pens!

images via instagram

All About Floral

It's finally spring-ish weather in Chicago! Over the weekend it got up to 70, even though it snowed yesterday (I don't want to talk about it...). It's amazing to see the city come out of hiding, people everywhere, outdoor dining, and flowers blooming...finally!

I crossed off a major goal on my 101 in 1001 this weekend by cleaning out and reorganizing my closet. It was so long overdue that I found clothes that I had forgotten about. (Ok, I have minor hoarding tendencies). But now I have so much more space for new additions, and what's better for spring than some statement floral pieces?

Here's what I'm loving:

j.crew | photo floral dress

joie | divitri blouse

kate spade | tanner dress

tory burch | evelyn top

glass + gold

Lately I've been drawn to the simplicity of a gold accent. I feel like I say I'm obsessed with things a little too often...but I'm obsessed with a glass and gold (or brass) shelf, table, etc. I'm dying to try this Ikea hack, to crate my own etagere for a fraction of the cost! Also lusting after this gold flatware...

Here are some of my favorite gold accents:

mirror | etagere | bookends | lamp | side table

P.S. Here is a Target version of the quatrefoil mirror, it's a steal!

Have a great weekend!!

images via little green notebook, instagram, camille styles and created with polyvore

Matchbook Magazine

If you're not reading Matchbook Magazine, drop what you're doing and go read it...now. It's an online lifestyle magazine that features adorable content on everything from traveling and fashion to careers and memoirs. It's my "field guide to a charmed life" that has swoon-worthy content each and every month.

I usually devour each issue as soon as it hits my inbox, so thankfully the ladies at Matchbook keep me entertained between issues with amazing blog posts and supplemental content. There's a boutique where you can shop the products featured in each issue by story or even by color. There are also some adorable checklists for Matchbook Girl essentials.

P.S. The founders, Katie Armour and Jane Lilly Warren, have fantastic blogs, The Neo-Traditionalist and Lox Papers. I'm usually stalking their Instagram accounts (here and here) for some behind the scenes action! Obsessed.

@jane_lilly

@katiearmour

images via Matchbook Magazine

Design Crush: Caitlin Wilson Textiles

Can I decorate my entire apartment with Caitlin Wilson Textiles?? I had to seriously reign myself in when deciding what pictures to include in this post, I love everything. The color combos are perfection, navy + white, navy + pink, and gold + white...yes.

I want absolutely everything, but here are my top picks...thinking all of these would go well mixed with my navy and white Serena & Lily bedding:

one | two | three | four

images via caitlinwilson.com, houzz + created with polyvore