Best of 2013

Happy almost 2014!! I decided with the new year, this little bloggy deserved a new look ;)  Here are some of my favorite outfits looking back on 2013:

                     

Today I'm going to a blowout bar for a little pampering and then heading to a party.  I hope you have a very happy New Year's!  

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This weekend...

This weekend I...

...Came home to find my Christmas present in the living room - it's a craft table that's basically an IKEA hack the boyfriend put together.  I can't wait to set up my workspace!
...Picked up my brother and his wifey from the airport, they're home from Korea for the next week!
...Cooked a Moroccan feast on Friday night for a couple of friends and finally got to put the spices and good saffron we picked up in Morocco to use.  The house smelled so.damn.good.
...Watched many home videos with the fam, including a play my brother wrote and I starred in at age five about not giving in to peer pressure.  I appeared to only agree to participate if I was allowed to wear my Barbie roller skates.
...Went out to Gyu-Kaku again, because who doesn't like gorging themselves on kobe beef?
...Got to hang out with "Club Sheridan," my neighborhood friends growing up (we all lived on Sheridan Road) and somehow stayed out till three in the morning, a feat I have not accomplished in years.
...Tried to play a Korean version of jacks, and immediately lost all of the pieces under our couch.
...Felt terrible all day on Friday after staying out too late at a Christmas party the night before that my personal trainer also happened to be attending.  Turns out he's a pusher both inside and outside of the gym.
...Had a delish chocolate martini, topped with (a little more than) a dusting of cocoa powder, cause we're classy like that.
...Tried to release a bunch of sky lanterns, but couldn't because of the rain.  Sooooo, now I have a bunch of sky lanterns just waiting for a sunny day ;)
...Woke up to a ton of snow at my parent's house on Sunday, but sadly there was no snow on the ground when we got back to our place.

I hope you had a good one!  I'm going to take off for a couple of days for lots of family time, I hope you have a very happy holiday season!! Don't worry, you should still be able to catch me on Instagram and Twitter ;)



P.S. Don't forget, there's still two more days to enter the Rebecca Minkoff giveaway!!

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Christmas Morning Essentials

This year, for the first time ever, I won't be waking up in my parent's house on Christmas morning.  That's right, the boy tricked me into spending Christmas morning with his family.  Which means I have to actually put some thought into what I'm going to bring for Christmas morning, and have to actually wear a bra.  I know, right? It sounds like a lot of his family's traditions are similar to ours except for one - they eat oyster stew in the morning!  Apparently it's a British thing.  I'll report back on whether or not it's a tradition I enjoy ;)

Here are a few of my Christmas morning essentials:

• Warm sweatshirt - Old Navy
• Cute mug - Kate Spade 
• Cute slippers - Target 
• Cozy blanket - Target
• Glasses - Warby Parker
• Festive pajamas - JCrew

Am I forgetting anything?  What are your must-haves for Christmas morning?




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NYE Dresses on a Budget

I always want to buy a new fancy dress for New Year's Eve, but after all of the Christmas shopping (ahem, and shopping for me, the sales are just too good!) it seems silly to spend a lot on a dress I'm probably only going to wear once or twice.  I've pulled together some cute dresses for NYE that are under $25, under $50, and under $100.

1 - A'GACI - $22.50

2 - H&M - $24.95

3 - Macy's - $22.99

1 - Forever 21 - $27.80

2 - H&M - $34.95

3 - Nordstrom Rack - $39.97

1 - Piperlime - $69.00

2 - Express - $58.80

3 - Macy's - $52.99

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Black & White & Snow

I can't decide if I'm a snow person or not.  Half the time when it snows I despise it, the other half I'm super excited.  It probably depends on how much time I actually have to spend outdoors, and whether or not it inhibits my shoe selections.  This past weekend I spent a lot of time indoors under piles of blankets so I was pretty excited about the snow.  Until I went outside in the freezing cold and tried to take pictures.  Apparently when I'm really cold I turn a ghostly shade of pale.  Or maybe I'm actually turning into a ghost...

Shirt - Apt 9 / Pants - Gap (old, similar) / Boots - Enzo Angiolini (old, similar) / Necklace - YuniKelley (similar) / Bracelet - Michael Kors

Linking up:

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This weekend...

This weekend I...

... Watched a snowstorm roll through Chicago while cozy in my p.j.'s.

... Wrapped all of the Christmas presents that have showed up on my doorstep so far, and then spent an inordinate amount of time worrying the rest of the things I ordered wouldn't show up in time.

... Traipsed through the snow for some yummy bison and elk burgers at Burger Bar.

... Finally went to Bye Bye Liver for a friend's birthday, luckily my liver decided to stick around.

... Tried Enso Sushi, where one of the rolls included pork belly and fried pickles.  I had to point out the obvious, in that most of the things on their menu barely resembled sushi.  But, you know, in a delicious way.

... Went to our first white elephant of the season, where I walked away with the World's Longest Beard.  Super classy.  

I hope you had a good one!




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All I want for Christmas...

... is to see my whole family!  All of the parties and seeing everyone is definitely my favorite part of the season.  I'm especially excited because my brother and his wife found some super cheap tickets from Korea so they can be here for Christmas.

There are a few things on my Christmas list though, here are some of the things I'm wishing for:

1. Rebecca Minkoff Bag / 2. Crystal Feather Bib Necklace / 3. 2014 Calendar / 4. Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook / 5. Double-zip Sweater / 6. Kate Spade Keychain / 7. Naked3 Palette

What's on your wishlist?

P.S. I'm being featured on Simple Easy Style today, check it out!

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Coated + Flannel

Remember how I said not to tell my sister I was wearing flannel?  Well, I showed up to our annual family "Christmas Walk" (aka four hour lunch the day after Thanksgiving) wearing this and she was so mad.  Or at least feigned being mad.  Hard to say for sure.

I knew I would be eating a big lunch (I was not exaggerating when I said it was four hours long) so I went for something loose and comfy.  The loose/comfy factor came in handy too while demonstrating my trainer's dance moves.  Ahem.  Is my hair different in that video?  Yeah, maaaaaybe I've worn this outfit multiple times in the past couple of weeks... like also to Friendsgiving... and my company holiday party...

Shirt and Jeans - Old Navy / Flats - Target / Bracelet - Stella & Dot

In other news, my coated skinnies are still holding up well!  Of course, I've also been trying not to wash them too much (is that a TMI?), and when I do, I turn them inside out.

Don't forget to enter the Rebecca Minkoff giveaway!




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How to Cover Under-Eye Circles

If there's one beauty issue I definitely hate, it's under-eye circles.  They're basically the bane of my existence.  Mine are of the especially dark and purple-y variety that basically make me look like a zombie when left uncovered.  I would think it's one of those beauty things only I notice, but I know it isn't because every time I skip concealer, Jeff asks me if I'm sick.  Every. Time.

I've been on the hunt for a good under-eye concealer since I hit puberty, but they're always too cakey or don't offer enough coverage or run off of my face immediately when the wind makes my eyes tear (ahem, every time I go outside). I think I finally found a way to cover them for good:

Perfekt Skin Perfection Conceal / Smashbox 'Photo Op' Under-Eye Brightener / L'Oreal True Match Powder 

The combo does what one product alone cannot - covers, brightens, and seals.  The concealer is really pigmented and covers well, plus is water resistant, so it actually stays on my face when I shed a tear or two.  The brightener is technically supposed to go on before the concealer, but I prefer it on top so it can reflect a lot of light.  The powder sets it so it lasts and doesn't crease.  Now I can actually look in the mirrors in the scary unflattering elevator light at work instead of adverting my eyes.  And Jeff rarely asks if I'm a zombie.  Win win.

Do you hate under-eye circles too?  Have any tricks for covering them up?




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Holiday Party Look

I always wish I had some fancy holiday parties to dress up for, but all of my events every year are pretty casual.  Instead of going for jeans and sweaters though, I'm dressing up a tiny bit with some fancy skirts and metallic accessories.  I've never had any winter white items before, but this skirt is definitely my new favorite - the creamy white feels so luxe.

Tee - JCrew Factory / Skirt - Banana Republic (sold out online, similar) / Necklace - NY&Co (old, similar) / Flats - Payless / Bracelets - Baublebar & Michael Kors

When I wore this look, I had laid out my clothes before I did my hair and makeup.  When I came back to put them on, I found Jeff wearing a burgundy sweater, white shirt, and black pants.  Coincidence?  I think not!  Made me think of this.  Except both of us refused to change ;)



P.S. Don't forget to enter the Rebecca Minkoff giveaway!

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This Weekend...

This weekend I...

... Played Whirleyball at my work holiday party, and spent the rest of the weekend finding bruises all over my body.
... Finally got around to decorating our Christmas tree - it's only two and a half weeks away!
... Discovered that I managed to kill our aloe plant.  I didn't even know that was possible.
... Got quite a few packages in the mail, some presents, and some just for me ;)
... Went to a wine tasting party, where we did a double-blind tasting and then voted on which we liked the best.  It mostly turned into the battle of red versus white.
... Used my new Jose Eber curling wand and loooooove it!
... Went to the new Giordanos in our neighborhood and ate about a pound and a half of cheese.  It was glorious.
... Played Cards Against Humanity again, I don't think I have a dark enough soul to win ;)
... Met up with my old roommate for some delicious pork shanks at Dusek's.

Hope you had a good one!




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