In Theory

I love this Theory dress and the best part is that I got it for the fraction of the cost at TJ Maxx! I get compliments on the dress, but moreso that it was a great find at TJ's for only $40!


Dress: Theory (from TJ Maxx), Shirt: H&M, Sandals: Steve Madden, Bracelets: Urban Outfitters, Necklace: Nordstroms

And The Winner Is.....

Thanks to those who entered the BB Dakota Dress Giveaway!!! I'm very excited to announce that the winner of the contest is (drums please).....Silverhartgirl. Congratulations on winning the adorable BB Dakota Mickayla dress from Chickdowntown.com. Please email directly with your contact information on where to send the dress.

On another note for you SoCal girls, Tom's is having a sample sale this weekend. Do a good deed by buying a pair of shoes...on sale no less.



Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Tomboy Much?

Shirt: BCBG, Shorts: T-Bags, Shoes & Rope Bracelets: Urban Outfitters, Wood Bracelet: Gifted

This is very out of my element to A) be wearing something other than a dress or skirt, but B) they're shorts - something my body type is not meant to wear. This is one of four pairs of shorts I own that are non-work out apparel. As you can tell we dress down quite a bit at work during the summer time and I heart it. :)

If you haven't already, it's not too late to enter my
BB Dakota Dress Giveaway! Good luck!!!!

It's Like Riding a Bike

You know that saying, "It's like riding a bike"....well it's so true - I haven't ridden a bike since I was probably 8 years old and yesterday I did it. I rode a bike and did pretty well if I might add. Since I live across the street from the lake where there is a bike path, bike rentals are VERY accessible so Matt and I rented bike's for half the day and rode along the lake.



Excuse the outfit however because there is a story behind it. So do you remember that movie Wedding Crashers where Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson go on the bike ride with their beach cruisers to the beach? Well if you don't let me refresh your memory - she was in a dress and espadrilles. So naturally, as someone who likes to wear dresses I was amazed that she was so eloquently riding her bike in such an outfit and I decided to test out a similar outfit...just a dress and some flat sandals. Well when we got to the bike rental place I asked them, "Do you have bikes for little people?", and he said no we're giving you these ones which obviously were for beanpoles and not short stuff like me. So here I was in my dress trying to get onto this bike that was made for the 5'6" and above folk, then I realized that's it, this is business and I had to put fashion aside (gasp!). Luckily the bike rental place is downstairs from where we live and I ran up to change in to the outfit pictured above. Trust me it was not cute, but it was functional and it helped me realize that I want to brush up on my biking skills and do it more often.

It's freakishly hot today which led me to wear this dress. I usually don't do sleeveless at the office, but walking to work and 2 flight of long stairs is kicking my ass so I needed something to keep my breezy.


Dress: Tricky Thread, Pearls: Nordstrom, Bracelets: Gifted, Shoes: Nine West

Don't be fooled by the heels. My ankle hasn't fully recovered and I ended up wearing flat sandals. :(

Post Independence Day and Giveaway!

I LOVED the fact that most of our friends were out of town or had plans on the fourth because that meant that I could have a low key night in. I had a pretty rambunctious Thursday and Friday night so it was good that I had a chance to take a break from the late night crawl home. So instead of BBQing it up, Matt and I went to go see a movie called Moon starring Sam Rockwell and personally I thought it was way too sci-fi for me, but Matt loved it - as I thought he would. We also caught some fireworks at Navy Pier, but honestly wouldn't have gone to see them if it weren't for the fact that they were going off right across the street from us.

Since it was raining yesterday I decided to wear pants and it was funny because Matt even made the comment, "I haven't seen you wear pants in a long time." I do jeans often, but anything else I don't usually wear. He thought my outfit didn't go together and since we don't have a full-length mirror I couldn't exactly see what was wrong with it, but after taking these pictures I didn't think there was anything wrong with my outfit....Thoughts?


Shirt: Old Navy, Pants and Belt: Gap, Shoes: Urban Outfitters, Necklace: Nordies, Watch: Michael Kors

On another note I have a GREAT opportunity for you readers of mine. Thanks to my new friends at Chickdowntown.com, one lucky reader will win this Mickayla dress by BB Dakota! For those who don't know, Chickdowntown.com is a great online destination to find all the hottest trends like Mystique Sandals and Yumi Kim dresses...some of my fave designers for the season!




TO ENTER IS EASY: Just post a comment....it's as easy as that! While you're at I would love to hear feedback on what you want to read more of...outfit posts, local designers, local events, etc. I'm trying to improve my blog so any of your thoughts would be much appreciated. All posts must be received by Tuesday, July 7th at 11:59 EST to be entered and a winner will be selected at random! The winner will be announced by Thursday, July 9th. For more chances to win great stuff from Chickdowntown.com, follow owner Amy on via Facebook or Twitter.

Good Luck and have a great rest of the weekend!!!!

Room to Breathe

Saying that last week was crazy would be a little bit of an understatement....it was insane! I had to travel for work Tuesday - Wednesday, then Matt and I moved into our AMAZING new apartment on Friday. So long story short it was a packed week.

So interesting story behind my work trip. I had to make a trip to Atlanta for a commercial shoot we were doing and every time I do a shoot I try to take a group picture with the crew, talent, etc. Well our shoot was featuring kids age 10 - 14 hence the 4 tweens in the picture below. So there we are taking the picture and one of the moms that was there with an extra asks the producer, "Who's that cute girl in the white dress? Is she one of the extras?". I just about died! I understand that I look young, but to be mistaken for 14 years old is pure comedy...I mean that's half my age - LITERALLY! Good jeans I guess.



On another note, our new apartment is AMAZING. Below is just a taste of what I wake up to every morning, but needless to say I'm really enjoying our new neighborhood. I can't wait to take pictures of the fun finds around us. I also love that at approximately 7pm (like clockwork) there's a pan-handler that plays his sax on the corner of the street and it sounds so amazing every night. Can't wait to share more pics...we literally are across the street from the beach, the river, great food, etc. I feel so blessed.



Anyways I'm catching up and now have time to focus on more important things ie: fashion and my blog. Thanks for being patient with me and look forward to something fun for my readers in the upcoming weeks!

Not to be so GG, but XOXO!

Temporarily Vegetarian

Matt and I saw Food, Inc. this afternoon and after seeing that movie I've decided to temporarily go vegetarian and have decided that I'm fully going organic. After the movie we decided that regardless of price we're going to spend the extra $$ on organic and natural foods. That movie seriously made me re-consider what I'm eating.

Although my priority has been packing this week I managed to sneak in a few street festivals and a night out with one of my closest friends here. However, packing has lead me to find some random stuff that I either forgot about or never knew I had. Case and point I found these orange sunglasses and knit hat that I've never worn before. I thought it would be a good opp. to play dress up and put them to good use. It gave me a good excuse to take a break.




Today's outfit was perfect for the humid weather we're having. You can tell that humidity is getting to me cause my hair is turning into a giant Chia Pet. I can't wait to see how my hair holds up in the ATL this week. :)


Dress: American Eagle, Belt: Gap, Flip Flops: Havainas, Bracelets and hair clip: Gifted

Let the Sun Shine!!!

Ahhh crazy week ahead - traveling for work, moving and guest coming into town. It's a little hectic but I won't let that stop me from enjoying some of our 80 degree weather this weekend.

Hope everyone is having great weather too...and an awesome weekend!


Dress: Urban Outfitters, Belt: F21, Watch: Michael Kors, Flippy Flops: Havaianas

Sunny Visitor

The weather in Chicago has been extremely ridiculous. I'm talking weather that should be considered March or April weather...not June. This past week has been 60s and raining with a chance of sunshine. We did luck out yesterday though when I met up with some girlfriends for Chicago's infamous Old Town Art Festival. Blocks and blocks of vendors, street food, amazing art, drinks and music. It's very much a see and be seen event, but fun no less. I started my day there at 2pm and lasted until about 9pm, when I couldn't stand using the port-a-potties anymore and had to eat something other than gyros, fries or a hot dog. I'm surprised I didn't take many pictures, but here's one attempt at a picture that ended up being recorded as video instead.



We ended up taking the actual picture but it took us awhile to realize that the camera was on video. Way to go us!

Today is another sunny day before the storm, literally. I have so many dresses I want to wear and have to choose wisely, but hopefully soon enough the weather will be more consistent. Off to go pack up more stuff for our new place. :)

Have a great weekend everyone!


Dress: Vertigo Paris, Dress underneath: Target, Necklace: MBMB, Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelet Cynthia H, Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Right Where I Should Be

I know, I know....I haven't been great about updating, but that just means that life is good and I'm right where I should be. Do you remember when you were in high school and you used to say, "In 10 years I..." and you fill in the blank? Well lately I've been thinking about that saying, thinking to myself - 10 years ago I foresaw myself exactly where I am right now. Not so much city specific, career specific, but more so overall in life I'm right where I thought I would be. Married, successful, happy and very blessed in many ways. I know that doesn't mean too much in terms of why I haven't been updating the blog, but truth be told I've been busy and being busy in today's world is a good thing.

So let's see some new updates. First and foremost I have new shiny toy. I was having a really really bad day last week and my amazing husband bought me something that truly brightened my day.....



Very unexpected and unneccessary but very much appreciated. He did such a great job picking it out. In fact, I went back to the Michael Kors store a few days after he bought the watch to get it re-sized and the girls at the counter said they remembered my husband because he was asking their opinion on which watch to buy me. It was between the one he got me or a white and gold chonograph watch, which I also loved, but I think there was too much gold. This has definitely grabbed a lot of attention and I truly love it.

Second exciting news is that we're moving. Not cities, just another part of downtown Chicago. In fact it's a very sought out part of the city in an area called Streeterville, literally right on the lake - our dogs are going to be "jogging" dogs as we'll be strolling along lakeside all summer long. It literally is not more than a mile from where we live now. I'm a little sad that we're moving cause I do love our neighborhood right now. We've lived here for 2 years now and have come to love everything about it. My barista at Peet's coffee knows me by name, the folks at my gym know me by name, we've come to be close to our neighbors dogs (note that I said neighbors' dogs and not our neighbors), but this move is a good one. Which means....decorating. :) I have so many ideas it's not even funny. I just need to gather my thoughts and organize them.

Other than that the summer festivities and weekends have been packed with enjoying fun, friends and the weather. Sorry I haven't been good at keep this updated, but as I mentioned life is good and busy.

Take care everyone and thanks again for always following, reading and posting comments! XO!