Well, at least my toes are pretty

It's exhausting being happy. I've decided at this moment I dont care. I'm too tired to feel any other way, or come to any other course of action. Surely, you can sympathize, or understand? I just want to sit with my bare feet hanging out the car window with the sun on my face.

St. Valentine's Day

I'm not sure if I should spill all my good ideas for a romantic Valentine's Day.... Okay, only because you beg!

1. Camp indoors. I know this sounds silly, after all, it's February, but hear me out. Remember when you were little and you'd turn over the sofa onto the cocktail table (also known as a coffee table - sorry for the formality - blame it on my Interior Design schooling) and then throw a sheet over to create a tent? Pure imagination and whimsy! Why not recreate that feeling but with some romance? Bonus if you have a fireplace!!!

Added suggestions: Make Valentine themed s'mores! Above is a great example.

2. String Christmas lights throughout your room of choice with words written out. This is an alternative to candles and roses. Let's face it, that one is sooo tired.

3. Go to Comedy/Improv Show: Laughing can be really sexy! Sure dinner and a show sounds super romantic, but haven't you done that before? Then tell each other every joke you can remember. If you don't know any there are tons of websites and aps. 

4. Make a vision board: Okay this may be a stretch for some dudes and I get it if you are groaning at the idea. However, vision boards can be a fun project that will bring you closer together. Planning your individual futures shows your confidence and self worth as individuals and a couple. I split mine up into the following sections: Values, Love, New Adventures, Family, Professional Goals, Wealth, Charity, Personal Fulfillment (mind, body and soul).  Then I put it at my bedside table next to special happy things:  pictures of my babies and niece (Tabby, Dora, and Mya), my mom and sister and a candle my mother gave me. 

Here's what you'll need:

Poster boards - I bought mine at the 99cent store

Magazines - to gather images, quotes, etc

Tacks

Scissors

So, these are just out of the box/against the norm ideas of how to spend your VDay. If you think about it, you don't need a guy for 3 of them! Call your friends over and have a tent slumber party while you eat s'mores and make vision boards! 

My Chicago Guide for a Rocking Night Out

I have a few friends who are going to Chicago for a few days and since I can't be there to personally guide them, I did the next best thing! I created this list:

For Dining:

Paris Club - When I went in the summer we sat with the Plain White T's on one side and the Bear's Defensive line on the other. It's a definite "scene". They have an amazing club above the restaurant but requires bottle service. www.parisclubchicago.com

Roka Akor - Went there during my last trip to Chicago. It's new and very trendy/hip.

rokaakor.com/chicago

Sunda - I have been long time friends with the owners of this swank place. They actually own a whole slew of places under the name Rockit Ranch Productions.

www.sundachicago.com

Lounge/Clubbing:

NV Penthouse Lounge - I actually did the space planning and most of design for this place. It's small but fun!  Here's me stroking the furry wall they recently added! 

www.nvpenthouselounge.com

Social 25 - This place kinda reminds me of like 3thirty3 in Newport Beach... kinda. There are two floors with lots of tables. They have live music too! I have a ton of great memories from this place, although it was called Moda during a good portion of those memories. 

socialtwentyfive.com

Moe's Cantina - This place has two locations - Wrigley and River North. Usually lots of pretty people and great share/small plates. There is a definite trend here, because I am also friends with the owners/managers. I guess I like going to places where I know I won't get hassled!!! (NOTE: On this line of thought AVOID Richard's Bar. My sister was just seriously hassled there. Poor Pony) 

www.moescantina.com

Settling into the New Year

I feel like so much of my life and self have been in transition in the last 3 weeks. I have been really thinking about the past, present and future. I have made some big decisions and things are really falling (nicely) into place.

While visiting my younger (little/bigger) brother a week ago, I stumbled across his copy of The Power of Now. The passage that has resonated the deepest with me is about how your mind will always cloud your judgement of the past. If you look back on something, especially something that was a bit negative, you will inevitably not have clear judgement. It will interpret things based on past experiences that may not be related to that individual experience. Basically, you see things in the present based on your past. That's just not fair is it!?!

So, I've decided that the past is in the past. I want to view my life as things happen to me. I also don't want to let my past distort my future. I don't want my past to make my anxious, or worry needlessly about my future. It's a step to living a life without fear and truly learning to live and love each day I get with my beautiful friends and family.

Christmas 2011

My boyfriend got me a sewing machine for my birthday/Christmas!!! So excited.  I'll have to do a how to video of me breaking it in!

I love this picture of me and my sister! I'm the one with the broken leg. I made the collage in Picassa from pics I took in early December. That's my dog! She's beautiful, I know. 

 

Inspiration Board

All project obsessed girls need an inspiration board! How else will you know what project you want to tackle next? So, I decided to make one.

The idea, or inspiration, for this project struck me while I was at the dollar store, which in my neck of the woods is known as 99 cent plus. (That name is kinda funny, see, they have a sign that hangs at each register notifying shoppers that everything is really priced at .9999 cents and therefore will be rounded up to nearest dollar).  I came across these cute display boards that were all framed in different colored plastics. There was a chalk board, a dry erase and a cork board.

Let's be honest, I was at the dollar (err... 99 cent store) so I wasn't sure about the quality of a chalk or dry erase board, so I settled on the cork board. As soon as I had, I realized, hey I can make an inspiration board out of this!

3 Tips for a Holiday Hostess

Tip #1
I like to label what dish will be cooked/served in what dish . Not shown, but equally important, are the accompanying serving utensils.

Tip #2 
If you have the luxury of another refrigerator, no matter the size, take advantage of it!

Tip #3

Keep your chatty guest busy with magazines. It will give them something to do instead of distracting you. Real Simple and People Style Watch are two of my favorites. Or, have a book like the one from the editor of the magazine Ready Made opened (sadly, the magazine is no longer available).