Shivery Shopping

Decorated rafters at the Pulaski Field House

My boyfriend Mike is definitely not a shopper, but he’s always willing to indulge me one weekend a year, when we make a day of it and go to the Renegade Craft Fair (last year’s visit depicted here) and somewhere new for lunch. Usually, I can even talk him into making a few extra stops to help round out some of the gifts that I’m slowly starting to put together for family and friends. While out, we hit zero degrees with the wind chill, so by the time we finished up the last errand, I was happy to head home and settle in to watch the snow fall and the (digital) fire crackle from the comfort of my couch. 

Chalk art wall at Hoosier Mama Pie Co.

Browsing at the Spice House in anticipation of holiday baking....more on that tomorrow

Quick peek through the blinds at one of the first real snows of the season

Pretending our TV is a fireplace with the crackling "Yule Log" recording

Up For Air

Mini-pontooning the Chain with my sister (pictured) and parents

Hi!

Remember me?

I know. It’s been awhile. Please forgive me. I can tell that my life has spiraled out a bit by the mounting stacks of unopened mail, DVR that’s 98% full of unwatched Jubilee celebration specials and episodes of Kardashians and Housewives (New Jersey, O.C., and now New York? How can a girl possibly be expected to keep up?), and the facts that I haven’t picked up my routine morning edition of the RedEye in nearly two weeks, couldn’t tell you what the hot topics are on Twitter right now, and I can barely button my jeans because I’ve been incessantly eating out and frequently finding reasons to skip the gym.

That’s not to say that life has been unfulfilling as of late, though. As I previously mentioned, I’ve had family popping in and out of town for the last few weeks and I’ve been happily entertaining and taking in some of life’s simpler pleasures, like drinking plenty of these, boating, beach combing, planting my community garden plot, dusting off balcony furniture, indulging in multiple manicures, attending my favorite annual street festival, and absolutely ripping through a certain risqué book that is currently captivating women across the country. And now, I’m slowing down long enough to take a mid-week breather and steel myself for a few more days of work before a relaxing, lounge-on-the-couch kind of weekend. 

Chasing daylight on my newly planted balcony

Turning the style up at brunch with glitter shorts and my new favorite nail combo: Essie's Topless & Barefoot with Shine of the Times at the tips

A sweet little chess pie from Hoosier Mama that's perfect for a beachside picnic

Prepping space for a lazy weekend with a comfy Etsy find

Cinco de Derby

Despite the wet weather, I got up early on Saturday and headed down to the surprisingly desolate City for a misty walk through Lincoln Park.  The equine-themed landscape was a fitting segue into an afternoon spent watching the Kentucky Derby, which was followed by an indulgent late night Cinco de Mayo fiesta.