Low Key

The celebration wouldn't have been complete without a few pints

It must be a sign that we are getting older—this year, we didn’t make it down to Chicago to see the dying of the river or overindulge in green beverages. Though we didn’t get as rowdy as in years past, there is something to be said for taking it easy and enjoying some of the simpler nods to St. Patrick’s Day, all of which certainly made us look forward to our upcoming trip to Ireland. 

The fact that the beer wasn't green didn't stop me from busting out my holiday socks

The perfect breakfast treat: fresh Irish Soda Bread

Quick-blooming signs of spring in vases throughout the condo

A hearty Irish stew that bubbled in the slow cooker all day long

Spring Showers

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Our recent hallway cleaning frenzy led me to unearth my beloved trench coat, which I packed away far too many months ago. I also managed to dig out my well-worn Hunter boots for the first time in forever, which resulted in a simple, classic pairing that I lived in all rainy weekend long. Though it's not even April, these pictures have me hoping that the showers bring about early May flowers. 

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Multiples

Complementary fortunes from Chinese take-out on Friday night

The snow has given way to rain, and the recent time change promises that spring is right around the corner. We used the slow-but-sure seasonal shift as an impetus for an active weekend centered on the house, where the motto certainly seemed to be: the more, the better.   

Transitioning into a warmer weather scent via my ever-growing collection of Diptyque fragrances

Shelf decorating inspiration at Anthropologie

Taking advantage of the sale at Oberweis and stocking up on some favorite ice cream flavors

Spontaneously cleaning out the hallway closets to install our new organizers

Shortcut Pot Pies

This never-ending cold spell recently put us in the mood for chicken pot pies. Although I wish I could say that I promptly whipped out my food processor and got to work on some pastry, I admittedly cut some corners and adapted this recipe to use what I had on hand.  Luckily, it didn’t matter because the filling is so incredible that store-bought rotisserie chicken and thawed fillo dough did nothing to detract from this comforting creation.  Leave it to Ina. 

Festive Fiesta

The attention-getting suede sombrero that my Dad was forced to wear during dessert

We headed back to Cincinnati this weekend for a surprise party to celebrate my Dad’s 60^th birthday. It was nice to get away and spend time with family and, as usual, the time flew by way too quickly. 

Face's Chili Flake: the perfect shade for the occasion 

The prettiest packaging, containing a divine strawberry cake from the best bakery in Cincinnati

Outfitting Flossy with her new Oscar De La Renta collar and leash

A quick shot of downtown Chicago on our way back into town