Finally: Embeya

I am so pleased to say I have finally been to Embeya, recently named Esquire’s best new Chicago restaurant, and I was blown away by my experience. After hearing wonderful feedback, I met one of my good friends for a leisurely lunch during restaurant week; accompanied with a glass of wine, a well- recommended Cabernet Franc, I was fortunate enough to sample several dishes from both the restaurant week menu and the traditional lunch menu. Each and every plate was impeccably dressed and tasted better than the previous. Among the sampled fare were the following stand-outs: green papaya salad, shrimp wraps, rice noodle salad, chicken roulade (pictured) and the fried banana dessert (I’ll take four more). I’m sure if I’d have sampled every item on the menu, this blog post would’ve looked more like a mouth-watering dissertation, but I digress; every employee was perfectly hospitable and a brief conversation with Attila Gyulai, himself, left me with nothing more than a desire to dine at Embeya every day. Thank you to everyone who made our lunch a pleasant one; I hope to return very soon and would encourage all looking for a new restaurant experience to give it a visit. 

Work it Out

With January coming to a close, I am guessing most people have either abandoned their New Year’s resolutions or have started to experience the “why, oh why, did I decide this was a good idea” moment. I, myself, have started to experience the whyyyy-moment and have thus decided to renew my goals and energy by posting about cute workout clothes/equipment. Maybe if I think about my upcoming trip to Mexico I will want to work out; however, if that fails, I’m sure to want to work out if I have this cute workout bag and new tennis shoes, right? Eh. Keep trucking. I am nearing the two-year-mark with my gym shoes so purchasing a new pair is far from an impulse buy; pink is cheerful enough. Here are a few new-found picks along with some of my favorite stand-bys:

1.      Aveda “Foot Relief” Foot Cream $9

2.      Lulu Lemon “Cool Racerback” Tank $42

3.      LuluLemon “Patience Pant” $98

4.      Manduka “Be Long” Body Roller $32

5.      Manduka Towel $16

6.      Nike Running Shoe $100

7.      Sun Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion $16

8.      S’well Water Bottle $40

9.      Under Armour “Perfect Flow” Duffel Bag $135

10.  Yurbud Earbuds $30

11.  Zella “Double the Fun” headband $10

Cinnamon Baked Donuts

Cinnamon Baked Donuts. How could I not try this recipe within the first month of getting Ina’s new cookbook?! I know I should be sticking to the healthy, resolution state-of-mind, but again, how could I NOT make these. We had all of the ingredients in the kitchen and nothing to do during the second wave of polar vortex air. Before the first batch was fully flipped onto the cooling rack, Dan had eaten a donut; in fact, half of them were gone before I could melt the butter for dipping the donuts in cinnamon sugar. Not ashamed. These donuts are delicious and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are all gone within 24 hours. Tip: I'd recommend only sugaring one side of the donut as the batter itself is fairly sweet. 

Le Petit Prince

When I was in middle school, I was introduced to Le Petit Prince in French class and there was no going back once I read the first chapter. I’ve been studying French for over a decade and can honestly say that I’ve read Le Petit Prince more than I’ve read Harry Potter, which is a lot. I was not thinking clearly in college when I sold my copy back to the bookstore; if anyone is EVER looking for a present, birthday or otherwise, a French copy of Le Petit Prince would trump all others. I was recently reconnected with a high school friend who agreed to create a canvas incorporating my favorite quote into my favorite drawing from the children’s novel. Picking the quote was difficult and picking the drawing was agony; there are so many wonderful illustrations, but I decided on this one and I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I will eventually frame this canvas in a black, vintage frame; however, I couldn’t wait to get it up in my French-inspired dining room. The frame will have to come later (hint: maybe with a copy of the book? Two present bonus points!). Thank you, Eileen! 

“Adieu, dit le renard. Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"Goodbye," said the fox, "Here is my secret. It's very simple. We only see clearly with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes." –Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Confessions of a Spoiled Dog

It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted about Payton and I am happy to report that she is still the cutest dog on the face of the planet. I may be a bit biased, but it keeps me tolerable among friends to just agree. Given that I think she is the best, I can also say that she is one of the craziest dogs I’ve ever met. One minute she will be sitting on my lap and the next she will jump on my head and bark until I play with her. I guess I created a monster and I love her unconditionally, especially when she…

-         Wants to play fetch without dropping the toy.

-         Makes you fight her and chase her to grab the toy after a game of fetch goes awry.

-         Goes to the bathroom 1 million times a day

-         Barks whenever I give another human attention

-         Barks whenever I don’t give her attention

-         Eats my shoes

-          Jumps into the shower

-         Eats dirty laundry…and clean laundry

-         Eats pens and pencils

-         Has severe separation anxiety whenever either of us leave—if we leave at the same time our neighbors get concerned

She does have redeeming qualities, too…

-         She sleeps on my lap while I’m working or studying

-         She sleeps under the covers at night; sometimes her head is on the pillow

-         She has developed a love for popcorn and will give high-fives to get a piece

-         She eats carrots like a bunny, and hops like one, too

-         Whenever I’m sad, she licks my tears away and sits on my shoulders like a parrot puppy.

-         She helps cook and unload the dishwasher

-         She drags her blanket around the apartment

I couldn’t have asked for a better dog, right, Dan? 

Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe

Dan and I made this pasta recipe right after Christmas because I wanted to get a kick start on recipes from my new Ina Garten cookbook. As per usual, her recipe didn’t disappoint; since then, we’ve made it once more and have started to hone in on our version of the recipe by tweaking small things here and there. Given my love affair with red wine, we decided to add a splash to our second batch of sauce to enhance the bite of the broccoli rabe—good choice. The dish is surprisingly light, despite the sausage and pasta mixture, and would be perfect for entertaining groups of 4-8 people. Doubling the recipe would be no problem and a small serving goes a long way, especially when served with a salad and garlic bread.

Jackson Pollock

As mentioned here, I am a major scarf person and given the weather this season I am extremely happy scarves are one of my choice accessories. I bought this Jackson-Pollock-inspired scarf back in college after I did particularly poorly on an exam-the expression retail therapy trumped saving my money for groceries and gas. Though it was not the most well-thought-out purchase, I am so glad I scooped it up, as I have never seen another scarf like it. Paired with an eye-popping teal clutch, my otherwise androgynous look is appropriate for work, brunch or a casual night out.   

 J.Crew shirt // rag + bone pants // Frye boots // borrowed necklace  // J. Crew jacket // Tiffany sunglasses // Loft earrings // J. Crew clutch // Tolani scarf // Essie’s smokin’ hot nails

Top Knot-ch Hair

Top knots have been part of my daily “beauty” repertoire for at least 5 years now- it is a mere coincidence (read: miracle) that they are also considered stylish. It may be a learned habit from my twenty-plus years of dancing, but I feel so much more put together with my hair up and out of my face. With the exception of a misfortunate, elementary school bob, I have always had long hair; I love it and I would be sad without it, but after three hours of wearing my hair long, I put it up. I’m sure those of you who know me think three hours is a generous amount of time, but I digress. On a typical day, I let my hair air-dry and immediately toss it up into something resembling a bun. If I am seeing another human, I go for the structured top knot instead of the usual unkempt bird’s nest top knot, but sometimes there is no difference. 

Part of my love for the top-knot is the ease.  It takes 45 seconds and can be secured using bobby pins, a hair tie or a clip. With straight, newly washed hair, I usually secure it with a hair tie or a clip to avoid bobby pins slipping. If I’ve curled it, used hair spray, or am working with day-old hair, I secure the top knot with bobby pins to give it the more polished look.

Finally

Today is a very monumental day because I am venturing out of my neighborhood to get dressed up like a flapper and attend Second City Food, Wine + Social Club’s Speakeasy Soiree event! I am ending my hibernation and finally leaving Streeterville, an event that has been non-existent since fall. It’s no secret that I am a homebody; my normal amount of excitement usually parallels excitement felt by going to the grocery store. Sidenote: in the midst of all this record-breaking, cold weather, it’s been a challenge to get me out the door to even go to the aforementioned grocery store! Because my neighborhood offers everything I need to function and maintain a small shred of a social life, I truly have not left since before the holidays. Instead, Dan and I have found comfort in the bars, restaurants and lounges located just a couple of blocks away. Below I’ve listed a few of our favorites and I guarantee if you frequent any of our spots, you will run into us. After tonight, we will probably remain rooted in Streeterville until I can wear shorts, but tonight, I’m FINALLY leaving.

Streeterville Picks:

Local Root

Gyu-Kaku

Emilio’s Tapas

Eno

Coco Pazzo

Quay

NoMi

Bar Toma

Allium

Timothy O’Tooles

10 Closet Cleaning Tips

1.      If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it.

2.      Use the same hangers to make the closet feel more put together. Small change, but it makes a huge difference.

3.      If your clothes don’t fit…get rid of it! Too bad if it’s a $300 blouse!

4.      Sort clothes into three piles: toss, donate and keep. If it’s been worn through, make sure it’s a toss.

5.      Color-coordinate your clothes—I use the ROYGBIVB mnemonic.

6.      Allocate different areas of your closet for different clothes. Use the long hang for dresses, pants and skirts; use the short hang for tops etc.

7.      Add personal touches to your closet-a candle, a picture or a piece of artwork, however small, will go a long way.

8.      Sort your shoes and the same rule applies: if you haven’t worn them in a year, toss them.

9.      Organize your accessories. Keep handbags, clutches and all jewelry in designated areas.

10.  Do laundry and keep clothes folded. Once your closet is clean and organized, you will want to keep it that way. Try to do laundry at least once a week and fold clothes immediately afterwards. Apply the just-get-her-done mentality.

With a new year, a new list (101 in 1,001) and spring (hopefully) around the corner, get a head start on cleaning that closet! I am a bit of a neat freak (as previously stated here) and it makes such a large difference being able to start my day walking into something organized and clean. I saw the above photo on pinterest, I’ve been on a huge pinterest kick lately, and the first thing I thought was: “Girl, clean your closet.” This coming weekend I'll be going through the same steps to re-clean mine! 

  

101 in 1,001

   

  After I saw a similar list floating around on Pinterest, I thought it would be a perfect kick-start to my "Finally" series. I am also in the process of a few major business and life decisions. Having a to-do list packed with both business and pleasure will make it more fun to accomplish some of the less glamorous tasks. Here's to a New Year and 1,001 days of making life happen my way. Started 1/14/2014- Ends 10/11/2016. Over the course of the 2.75 years, I will be sure to update the list! What are some things you are hoping to accomplish over the next 1,001 days? Let me know!

1.      Make my own 101 list

2.      Take a trip to Napa Valley, California

3.      Read 15 new books

4.      Invest in a leather jacket

5.      Get accepted to dental school

6.      Launch website redesign

7.      Establish LLC once #6 occurs

8.      Try waterskiing

9.      Go skydiving

10.  Buy two floor lamps for the living room

11.  Invest in a pair of designer shoes

12.  Become an active supporter of a charity I admire

13.  Be featured on a blog I admire

14.  Design business cards

15.  Go camping under the southwestern stars

16.  Become a member at Museum of Science and Industry

17.  Go to Disney World

18.  Finally make it to Las Vegas

19.  Incorporate yoga into my routine every day for a week

20.  Take a cooking class

21.  Go without eating pasta for two weeks  

22.  Get up without hitting snooze button for a week straight

23.  Watch the sunrise at Olive Park

24.  Collaborate with a designer

25.  Bake every dessert in the Beekman Heirloom Cookbook

26.  Volunteer at a food pantry

27.  Buy a stranger coffee

28.  Reconnect with two old friends

29.  Send an old fashioned letter to someone once a month

30.  Send Christmas cards two weeks before Christmas

31.  Organize personal documents and implement filing system

32.  Buy a new Duvet cover with matching shams

33.  Finish the dining room’s DIY bar

34.  Host a game night once every other month

35.  Meet Graham Elliot

36.  Get certified to teach kickboxing

37.  Watch all the old James Bond movies

38.  Go to a vineyard in Bordeaux

39.  Ride the Ferris Wheel on Navy Pier

40.  Party on a boat on Lake Michigan

41.  Take a road trip up the west coast

42.  Kiss on a balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower

43.  Wear my DDS white coat to a bar

44.  Run three 5ks

45.  Be featured in a popular magazine

46.  Go one week without social media or my phone

47.  Frame our antique Chicago Tribune

48.  Drink a margarita on the beach

49.  Buy new bedside tables

50.  Install a media display in the dining room

51.  Hire a photographer for a week

52.  Design a product

53.  Fill a cavity for someone in need

54.  Go to Ravinia once a week, all summer

55.  Give someone a present just because

56.  Go to a Bears vs. Packers game at Soldier Field

57.  Sit in the bleachers at Wrigley

58.  Get engaged

59.  Take another Goose Island brewery tour

60.  Buy Christmas stockings

61.  Go to the Eye Doctor for new glasses

62.  Go to the Chicago Botanic Gardens during June

63.  Visit Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo

64.  Drink only water for one week

65.  Donate 1/3 of my wardrobe to charity

66.  Spend a weekend with my mom and my sister

67.  Go golfing with my dad

68.  Read an hour before bed for one week

69.  Host a mimosa bar brunch

70.  Take a spontaneous weekend trip

71.  Paint an abstract on canvas just for fun

72.  Take an archery class

73.  Ride in a hot air balloon

74.  Get lost in the mazes at Versailles

75.  Sit in a French café for 5 hours

76.  Hike the Jim Thompson Trail in Sedona

77.  Light a firework

78.  Get a manicure once a week for a month

79.  Make homemade ice cream

80.  Invest savings in a low-risk fund

81.  Invest in a high-quality jewelry box

82.  Maintain my long-distance friendships

83.  Write down something I am happy about once a day for a year

84.  Make a snowman

85.  Complete a 500 piece puzzle in a weekend

86.  Eat 2-3 servings of vegetables per day for a week

87.  Do 100 squats a day for a week

88.  Eat a maple bacon donut with coffee

89.  Take Payton for a long walk every day for a week

90.  Play a game of football on the beach

91.  Take an AIR aerial fitness class

92.  Get a new retainer

93.  Do 30 outfit posts in one year

94.  Invest in a new car

95.  Do as the Romans do while in Rome

96.  Swim in the Mediterranean Sea

97.  Write an ebook

98.  Purchase a kegerator

99.  Dance like crazy at two weddings

100.  Drive a pick-up truck

101. Inspire someone else to make a list