Juicy Communications

Life Changes Lead to Blog Changes

2011-12-30T18:12:00.002-06:00

Hey there reader! I'm shutting down JuicyKate in 2012 and moving over to www.kcseiferth.com. I hope you visit me there soon!

Namaste xOxO

Kate

Monday Night Football at Market Bar with FabFitFun Chicago

2011-11-06T14:08:00.003-06:00

Join FabFitFun Chicago for Monday Night Football at Market Bar Chicago tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 7 to cheer on the Chicago Bears!

Bear down for some complimentary skinny vodka cocktails (thanks to Market and 4 Rebels Vodka) starting at 7:30pm. Enjoy tasty and healthy appetizers courtesy of Market's fabulous chef!

Everyone is welcome! Can't wait to meet you all there!

xoxo

Juicy's Fall Obsessions and Scents of the Season

2011-10-29T09:09:00.017-05:00

I love shopping for fall goodies. I first spotted these Juicy Couture handwarmers while shopping in San Diego on vacation early this month. It took all my energy not to leave with them. I mean, what do people that live in San Diego need gloves for anywho? But, I finally broke down and ordered a pair in gray online today. Check it...

These handwarmers are adorbs and available in a myriad of colors on Juicy Couture's website. You can order the black ones from Shopbop. I'll probably grab a pair of black before they are gone and the blue are pretty stellar too. These finger-less handwarmers are perfect for city dwellers who walk everywhere and are constantly on iPhone apps, texting or digging in their handbag to find lipstick, debit card, etc.

Then when we hit the shops in Las Vegas, I took the chance to visit the Michael Kors handbag I had been coveting online in person. It was even more amazeballs in person. So soft and dimensional with the two-toned color.

E was the sweet man that he is and bought it for me for my birthday (the big 3-3 is coming up in November). So I arrived fresh off the plane in Chicago with my best friends Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors on my arm.

While at the MK store, I feel in love with the original MK perfume scent. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy, perfect for fall! I'm adding that to my perfume collection along side the Chloe scent, which is everything I ever wanted in a perfume! If you love peonies, you have to get the Chloe perfume.

Sephora has a great range of Chloe perfume online.

Happy Saturday online shopping ladies! XOXO

One last thing, don't forget to help FabFitFun support Bright Pink during the last weekend of October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Juicy's Shoe Obsession: Pink Platforms

2011-09-11T10:54:00.006-05:00

So I received this email from Bergdorf Goodman this morning with these super hot pink calf hair pumps by Brian Atwood. And I thought to myself, that looks a lot like Sole Society's Ashley pump that was just delivered to my closet on Friday for a fraction of the price. Granted the Ashley is not calf hair, but really, I don't need hair on my feet anyways. Okay, well maybe sometimes I do like the calf hair, just not when it costs more than my Jeep payment.

Here is the Brian Atwood pump (price $770):

Here is Sole Society's Ashley pump (price $49.95):

What do you think?

One of my favorite bloggers, Blah Blah Blonde, also found a steal on some leopard wedges, check it here.

Celebrating 4,000 Twitter followers!

2011-09-05T16:51:00.012-05:00

I'm celebrating my 4,000 ah-mazing Twitter followers by giving away 4 of my favorite things. Here is how it works. Four of those who have fabulously given me a RT in the past week will be up to win one of the following 4 juicy-loved items:

WON by Kelly Funkhouser @funkkelli [$40 Zappos e-gift certificate (because I love me some shoes!)]
WON by Amanda @amandag517 [YSL juicy grapefruit glossy lip balm (enough said)]
WON by Sheila @SheilaW9 [$20 Starbucks gift card to buy 4 of my favorite, Pumpkin Spice Latte!]
WON Stephanie @AvasAvenue ["I Do, Now What? Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-in-Love Couple" by Giuliana and Bill Rancic in celebration of my upcoming wedding in March 2012!]

So every day this week, Tuesday - Friday, I will pick one of the "retweeters" to pick one of the 4 prizes until all 4 prizes have been picked. Winners and prizes chosen will be updated daily on this blog. Prizes will be mailed to confirmed winners the following week.

Thanks again for supporting me in all my juicy ramblings! xoxo

Addicted to Online Shopping Clubs: Now Up, WINE!

2011-08-03T06:20:00.011-05:00

The question on your mind, I know! How many pairs of shoes did JuicyKate order from Sole Society this week? That would be four. It's a long story. Short story, I love shoes!

I woke up earlier than usual on Monday, Aug. 1 to peruse my JewelMint, StyleMint and Sole Society closets before the masses and put my orders in! I'm addicted to and loving these monthly fashion clubs. Why?

Well number one, I'm a busy girl. That doesn't mean I don't love fashion. But I don't have the time I did as a teenager or 20-something to go from store to store hunting for pieces to add to my collection. Any spare time I have to gawk at fashion I can't afford on my nonprofit salary is spent hearting things on ShopBop. Then when ShopBop sends me the "Your hearts are on sale!" email, I decide if I can shell out my hard earned cash for a $500 dress now marked down to $250.

Second, it is an affordable way to have a online personal shopper infuse some fun into your monthly wardrobe. I mean Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are picking out my T-shirts and Kate Bosworth is supplying my monthly jewelry fix. So cool right? An effortless way to rotate new tees, jewelry and shoes into your day to day fashions without spending precious hours fighting tourists on Michigan Avenue.

But wait, I'm not finished! My all-time favorite new online club is the Lettuce Wine Cellars monthly wine discovery packages hand-picked by Alpana Singh. It is currently in Illinois delivery mode only so sorry my ladies in other states. This is fabulous for throwing a all-girl's monthly wine soiree at your house to show off your new shipments from your online shopping clubs! Check it!

Feel free to send me an invite to your wine tasting or Italian Dinner Party...I sadly missed the first Lettuce Wine Cellars event in July but I plan on attending the next one so see you there!

New Fabulous Adventure: FabFitFun Chicago Presented By Giuliana Rancic

2011-07-10T09:10:00.008-05:00

I am super excited to start a fabulous new adventure as a Chicago Ambassador for Giuliana Rancic's FabFitFun! It seems like just yesterday I was following Giuliana and Bill around the Taste of Chicago as they filmed their reality show. Now, I'm a party of her FabFitFun army!

FabFitFun gives readers everything a woman needs to feel good from the inside out. In partnership with E! News host, reality star and author Giuliana Rancic, FFF provides readers with smart, simple steps to becoming your most fabulous self.

Our free daily emails are filled with the latest and greatest in beauty, fitness, diet and wellness. It’s a daily dose of insider beauty tips, effective workouts, Hollywood diet secrets, nutritious recipes, confidence boosting fun, honest relationship advice and head to toe well-being.

I'm part of the team writing the Chicago edition of FabFitFun that comes out Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sign up now at www.fabfitfun.com to receive the national, daily emails as well as the twice a week Chicago emails. You can also follow us on Twitter, @FabFitFun and @FabFitFunChi, and on Facebook.

I blame it all on Susan Lucci: Juicy's Summer Vegetable Base recipe

2011-05-15T08:00:00.015-05:00

I recently started neglecting quite a few things in my life that are important to me i.e. working out, eating healthy, cooking, blogging... and I blame it all on Susan Lucci, ABC and AMC. Once I found out that my beloved soap opera, All My Children, from my teenage years was going to be canceled this year, I became obsessed with watching it every day. As if, my new dedication to the series would revive the genre from its "The Real Housewife..." inflicted doomsday.

I watch way too much TV. And let me be honest... it was not just Erika Kane and her intoxicating drama that sucked me in and promoted this embarrassing realization, I also find myself obsessed with dramas for teenagers, i.e. Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, 90210...and the entire BRAVO lineup including "The Real Housewives..." shows and now my latest addiction, Rosie Pope and her rich baby mamas.

Before I knew it, I was watching four hours of what I embarrassingly deemed must-see television a night.

Well, I am ready to stop this nonsense. So goodbye Greenlee, Ryan, Madison's unborn baby, J.R., Tamra, Bethenny, WaaaaHooo Vicki, Blair, Serena, Lonely Boy, Elena, Damon, etc. I am taking back control of my life, one delete of the DVR button at a time. I will no longer spend countless hours with you each week this summer. I will eschew all personal choices for television watching (getting the man of the house to not watch TV is not going to happen, so it will still be playing in the background of my life but will consist mainly of ESPN) and throw myself into productive activities instead. The jury is out on True Blood though...a Sunday night Sookie fix may need to happen starting in June.

I already successfully completed 24 hours of no TV! And, in that time, I came up with a new recipe. Enjoy my new found productivity Juicy friends!

Juicy's Summer Vegetable Base Recipe

What you need:
Your favorite Olive Oil
Your favorite type of onion, medium (I prefer sweet onions)
Peeled garlic cloves, chopped or sliced to your preferred size
Your favorite summer veggies (I bought about 2 cups of pre-cut summer squash and zucchini from the Whole Foods Market produce section)
Salt and pepper to taste
Orange Juice
Pine Nuts, optional

Directions:
1. Chop or slice onion to desired size, give a large frying pan two turns of the pan of olive oil and saute the onions for about 8 - 10 minutes
2. Add in the sliced/chopped garlic towards the end of the onion sauteing cycle
3. Add in summer veggies and just enough orange juice (and more olive oil if desired) so that the veggies are resting in a pool of juiciness, not drowning
4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste
5. Cook until veggies are desired consistency, 8 - 10 minutes (honestly, I tend to overcook veggies because I like mine well-done)
6. Towards the end of the cooking cycle, I added in about 1/4 cup of Pine Nuts that had been wasting away in my cabinet from a forgotten pasta dish weeks ago. Pine Nuts are expensive so only add them if you are rich like a "Real Housewife" or if you happen to have some laying around.

We enjoyed our juicy veggie base on the side of some grilled Sockeye Salmon from Whole Foods. I will also use this veggie base over pasta this summer (maybe by adding some sauteed cherry tomatoes to the mix) and over baked chicken to make it extra juicy. You could basically mix this up with just about anything. Trade the OJ for lemon juice, drain most of the sauce and put over a bowl of baby spinach (the uncooked, lettuce type) for an easy, meatless summer supper!

Serve along side a tall, chilled glass of Skinnygirl Margarita (I mean, I could not kick the housewives to the curb entirely) and cheers to a productive summer of healthy eating!

xoxo

Melanie Notkin's "Savvy Auntie" is the Perfect Book for Women Who Love Other People's Children

2011-04-17T16:36:00.018-05:00

I'm a PANK. Let me translate: Professional Aunt No Kids (unless you count those of the four-legged varietal).

I'm an ABC (Auntie by Choice) to my BFF's daughter, Aidyn.

I've been an ABR (Auntie by Relation) since I was in 8th grade. My oldest nephew, Max, will graduate from high school in May 2011. Where did the time go!?!? I also am an ABR to Morgan, Kalie, Mason, Patrick and Benjamin.

I'm an Auntie to the World in my job as a communications director for a social service organization that works to protect children and strengthen families---serving more than 15,000 children and families each year.

And gosh do I wish somebody had given me this book way back when! Melanie Notkin's "Savvy Auntie" is the PANK's guide to life with children. I've never seen a book that so clearly defines life with children for those who don't fit the American mold of as Melanie says "two-kids-one-husband-two-car-garage..."

Even though I don't have kids, doesn't mean I don't love kids. And it definitely means that I need to know what to do with them! I know nothing about babies even with five nephews and a niece. I was never on the front line for any of their births and for the most part I'm a long-distance auntie. "Savvy Auntie" has everything you need to know about helping a pregnant friend or family member through their journey to a parent and everything you need to know about becoming a savvy auntie!

If you are an expectant mom with a few newbie savvy aunties in your life, this book is a perfect welcome to aunthood gift! And, if you are a cosmopolitan working woman struggling with how to build a relationship with your BFF's new baby, this book is the best place to start.

To support her mission to get the Savvy Auntie book on the New York Times Bestsellers list (Print: Advice, How-To, Miscellaneous), Melanie will personally donate $1 for every book sold between now and April 27, 2011, to EpicChange.org, the non-profit organization led by Stacey Monk, a Savvy Auntie herself, that supports children in need all over the world, in honor of you, the Savvy Auntourage.

So what are you waiting for savvy auntie? Head over to Amazon and pre-order this fabulous book and spread some auntie magic in the world!

About the Author Melanie Notkin

Melanie Notkin is America's premier Savvy Auntie, empowering the nearly 50% of American women who are not moms to celebrate all they do for the children in their lives, while living their own lives to the fullest. She launched SavvyAuntie.com, the first online community for aunts and godmothers, in the summer of 2008 to wide-acclaim. The website includes expert content designed specifically for aunts, activities, community and trendy gift ideas. Read more.

Shoe Shopping Saturday: Loving the Choos, Buying the Camutos

2011-04-09T11:32:00.016-05:00

Today, I'm dreaming about owning the Jimmy Choo Multimedia Cork Wedge Sandal ($1,095) to wear with my new Twenty8Twelve frock this summer. But let us be real for a moment, the only way that sandal is ever gracing these feet is if it ends up on HauteLook or Rue La La for $100. Never...going...to...happen. And, I could buy a hotel room for a homeless person for a week with that kind of cash.

Instead, I ordered this more realistic for my lifestyle, flat leopard-y and jeweled sandal I've been eying from Vince Camuto but I ordered from Zappos because they had my size.

These flat sandals are a tad obnoxious with the leopard and the jewels but perfect to dress up a laid-back boho look this summer a la Sienna Miller.

Now, I'm on the hunt for a summer handbag...

Namaste Shoe Shoppers...commence Saturday foot enjoyment!

Savory Saturday: Nutella Makes My World Go Round!

2011-04-09T09:21:00.009-05:00

I love food. I love food so much, I can't fit into my jeans anymore. Not my skinny jeans either, I'm having a hard time staying in my fat jeans these days. I'm not talking McDonald's food either. I'm talking all this delicious Chicago food that seems to explode like a batch of Gremlins on a daily basis (have you seen the food trucks?). Growing up in a small town in Indiana, we didn't have anything like this. But I will admit, my friend and I used to steal quarters from my dad's change bucket to order steak hoagies after school (maybe that is when my love for food started, no? but we also skipped school to do the Cindy Crawford workout video---best workout video of all time). Now, there is food all around. I can walk to work and eat at a different breakfast spot every day of the month, and it shows.

So in February, I decided to get back on the road to health by joining the Tone It Up! team. The problem? I'm a savory eater. I eat everything in the salad except the lettuce. I like taste. So the journey on the Tone It Up! plan has been just that, a journey. I'm learning to make healthy foods but in a way that is suitable for a part-time foodie like me.

One of my favorite ways to alter the recipes to fit my needs is with the protein shake. I make Giada De Laurentiis proud by swapping out the almond butter with Nutella in my shake.

Juicy's Savory Nutella Protein Shake
1 scoop chocolate whey protein
5 ice cubes
1-2 t. Nutella (Costco in Lincoln Park currently has 2 large jars for under $10!!!)
About 1/2 cup skim milk or almond milk if you have it! I use what I have at the moment.
To amp up the health factor, add 1/2 banana.

This week was particularly challenging, when I stumbled across the April mystery shake at M Burger Chicago. Can you guess what it is?

NUTELLA

Now, I can't go to M Burger without ordering the Trifecta: MALT or SHAKE, single M BURGER and FRIES. Trust me, you have to eat them all. Just one does not work to get the whole M Burger experience. So of course, I veered off my Tone It Up path for a M Burger cheat meal. I have to give a shout out here to the Fresh and Foodie blog for alerting me to the delectable shake of the month. It hit the spot, but I will only allow myself one this month because I'll be enjoying my Nutella protein shake from now on (K&K would be proud!). Note: M Burger doesn't put the secret shake each month on the menu so you need to get Internet savvy and start following some foodies like Fresh and Foodie on Twitter to find out what it is!

In other news, Burrito Beach launched egg whites recently, which also makes me extremely happy. Burrito Beach's breakfast tacos are the perfect pick-me-up on a dreary Chicago day. If I'm feeling naughty I get the egg and chorizo tacos but on my healthy days, I get the egg white and veggie tacos.

So if you are feeling savory, get thee to M Burger Chicago and try a Nutella shake, or if you are trying to find your healthy lifestyle balance, check out my Nutella protein shake recipe.

Namaste XOXO

Techie Tuesday: I'm in Love with my Belkin Mini Surge

2011-04-05T19:53:00.004-05:00

If you follow my Appolicious stories, you know I write iPhone/iPod Touch reviews and Android reviews. So yes, I have quite a few gadgets. At any point, I'm charging my HP notebook, iPod Touch and my Motorola Droid X. Not to mention Eric's iPhone too.

So imagine my rejoice when I stumbled across this handy little Belkin surge protector at Home Depot this past weekend. It is my new best friend, and it will travel nicely. Love!

If you haven't checked out my stories, here are a couple of my latest iPhone and Android app recommendations on Appolicious:
Slim, Calm and Sexy iPhone apps
Android app for a contemporary interior design fan

Miracle Monday: A Baby Giraffe Enters the World at the Cincinnati Zoo

2011-04-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

My dream as a little girl was to be just like Jack Hanna when I grew up. I simply adored animals, and my favorite thing to do was go to the zoo. I loved it so much that in high school, I was a volunteer ambassador at the Cincinnati Zoo and even worked the concessions stands during a summer break in college. It was sad to leave my beloved zoo behind when moving to Chicago. Until I realized we have two zoos in Chicago---SCORE!

Yet over the weekend, I missed my first love, the Cinncinnati Zoo, when news broke that a baby giraffe was born. How cute is this guy?

Want to see how a giraffe is born? Watch the video below, but I warn you, it is life changing...

I constantly find myself showing my love for animals through fashion: faux fur coats, leopard bras, zebra pillows and more. So in this moment of baby giraffe glory, it got me thinking about how we can showcase our giraffe-love through fashion. A recent high fashion moment involved Demi Moore posing in crazy heels with a giraffe for the cover of Harper's Bazaar last year, which some of you might have seen on the "The Rachel Zoe Project." Giraffes don't eat bananas...do they?

Or checkout a more recent designer fashion photo of Ginnifer Goodwin at the opening of Tom Ford Beverly Hills in a giraffe jacket.

While I probably won't rock a giraffe jacket anytime soon, I am interested in showcasing my giraffe love with a new Michele watch band this summer. If you are looking for a giraffe sweater, haircalf moccasins, a clutch or DVF giraffe-inspired scarf, then you are in luck---check out the giraffe selection at ShopBop.

And, who doesn't want tiny giraffe kisses after seeing this commercial...is the tiny giraffe the next designer pet?

And I beg of you, if you haven't been to the Cincinnati Zoo, you have to add it to your bucket list. Not only to see the new baby giraffe but to check out Gibbon Island---by far my favorite place on earth!

Spring Fashion Alert: New Twenty8Twelve at ShopBop and Sole Society

2011-04-03T16:55:00.006-05:00

Sienna Miller is my favorite fashion icon so it only made sense that my first big purchase of the spring season would be from her fashion line, Twenty8Twelve. I immediately fell in love with this striped Marigold dress the moment I got the email from ShopBop.com featuring the spring line. It was an instantaneous purchase. I didn't even think twice. I can dress it down with flats and minimal jewelry for lunch with the girls or make it prefect for date night paired with sky high heels and sexy hair.

I'm now looking forward to the spring weather in Chicago when I can find multiple ways to wear this baby! I'm debating on pairing it with black tights, brown knee-high boots and a black cardigan this week during the icky in between weather.

On a shoe note, I am loving HauteLook's new sole sister, Sole Society. I haven't bought anything yet but I'm thinking this pair from my closet will go nicely with my Marigold dress.

GINGER13's special collection benefits Red Cross efforts in Japan

2011-03-23T13:11:00.005-05:00

A few years ago, I stumbled upon GINGER13 and bought a couple of her super chic island girl necklaces. To this day, I still get compliments on the fabulous necklaces I wear from GINGER13 around Chicago. You have to check this jewelry line out and it is super affordable! I just purchased the bracelet with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Red Cross effort in Japan. I also picked up another bracelet because I just can't resist this stuff...check it out, trust me!

Email from the designer herself:
"GINGER13 designed a limited edition collection dedicated to JAPAN. They need our HELP and SUPPORT! So... why not treat yourself or give someone special a gift. All proceeds from this collection will be donated to The American Red Cross. Fun jewelry for a great cause. I like the sound of that."

Chicago Networking Event to Benefit One Hope United: Wednesday, March 30

2011-03-18T13:56:00.002-05:00

Maven, the connections agency behind many Chicago networking events has teamed up with River North hotspot Bull and Bear to present SUIT UP from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30. This monthly business networking event features industry leaders in finance, real estate, law, marketing, entertainment and more.

In addition to fostering wonderful business connections, the SUIT UP hosts and guests will collectively raise money for a featured charity of the month—One Hope United! Admission is $5 per person and 100% of the proceeds will go to OHU.

RSVP to sarah@maven-chicago.com

Bull and Bear, 431 N. Wells St., Chicago, hosts the monthly Maven cocktail networking event held on the last Wednesday of each month. The first hour will kick off with a VIP cocktail party sponsored by Absolut including passed appetizers. Drink specials will be offered throughout the night. Guests will be able to enjoy complimentary services from select sponsors.

My Tone It Up Journey Begins :: Check out Katrina and Karena's Valentine's Day Treat Video

2011-02-06T16:40:00.009-06:00

This week, I'm starting the Tone It Up! diet plan. I'll soon be posting updates about my Tone It Up journey, in the meantime check out these crazy fit girls of Tone It Up!, Katrina Hodgson and Karena Dawn.

Namaste, XOXO!

Support two stellar causes in Chicago this week for under $50

2011-01-31T08:57:00.011-06:00

Did you make a New Year's resolution to volunteer or support a charity? Now is your chance!

Recently, a local start-up called BunchBite launched online. It is similar to GroupOn, but it benefits local charities at the same time. This week's deal benefits One Hope United, a multi-faceted nonprofit human service agency that helps abused and neglected children as well as helps foster children find their forever homes. And that isn't all they do! Check out One Hope United's website to learn more.

In the meantime, purchase this week's BunchBite to Paddy O'Splaines in Chicago. You get $40 worth of food and drinks for only 20 bucks and it is perfect for Irish loving Chicago folks just in time for St. Patrick's Day! So look at that, you get $40 worth of delicious corned beef and beer and One Hope United gets to help children in need---win, win!

A Chicago Thing

Also this week, Billy Dec hosts a social media anniversary party to benefit the Chicago Food Depository. The event takes place at Billy's Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard in Chicago's River North neighborhood on Thursday, Feb. 3 from 7 - 9 p.m. Tickets are available in advance online for $20 or it is $40 at the door. Become a VIP Supporter for $100! 100 percent of ticket sales benefit the Chicago Food Depository.

Check out the clever video Billy made to promote the event:

I rocked in a fabulous New Year's Eve at Rockit River North! If you haven't been, this is a great chance to check out Rockit while supporting one of Chicago's finest nonprofits, helping feed Chicago's hungry. Guests will nosh on signature dishes from Rockit and Sunda as well as creative cocktails by Underground and Grey Goose. Tweet me if you are going and we can meet up at Rockit to benefit a great cause on Thursday!

So let's go over your action items one more time:

1. Purchase a BunchBite for Paddy O'Splaines and support One Hope United at the same time. You get $40 worth of Irish grub and spirits, OHU gets a portion of the proceeds and overall, you have a fun and charitable time!

2. Purchase a ticket to Billy Dec's A Chicago Thing party benefiting Chicago Food Depository. You get to try fabulous cocktails and food from Dec's hot, hot, hot restaurants and CFD keeps feeding Chicago's hungry children and families.

Namaste Chicago foodies and nonprofit supporters!

Surviving the harsh Chicago winter

2011-01-30T13:41:00.008-06:00

After a long night of harmless debauchery at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, this Chicago girl is huddled up in bed counting the days until the condominium's rooftop pool opens again. I'm swilling water like it is going out of style tomorrow (like my beloved Ugg boots) because boy do those Indiana folks like to smoke. I once was a chain smoking, tanning bed loving Indiana girl. But these days, I'm a SPF smothering, water chugging, yoga doing, wannabe health nut looking for the next great lotion or potion to slow down the aging process and reverse the sun damage my mother once encouraged me not get.

Here are my top skin loving items to survive this harsh Chicago winter:

1. During the winter, I cleanse my delicate and very dry face with nothing other than Burt's Bees Lemon Poppy Seed Facial Cleanser. It smells like a juicy lemon bar from Bleeding Heart Bakery (and doesn't have any calories!) and leaves my face feeling polished, moisturized and completely clean like a baby's freshly scrubbed bottom. I buy mine at Whole Foods Market, but Burt's Bees is widely available these days, even at Target, Walgreen's or online.

2. Good old Vaseline is my trusty friend year-round. I use Vaseline daily as a lip balm and at night as an eye cream (and as an eye makeup remover: put a little on the end of a Q-Tip and wipe away stubborn mascara smears.)

3. After I clean my face and Vaseline up my lips and eyes (if I'm hanging out at home for the rest of the day writing), I use Jojoba oil on my face, being careful not to get it in my eyes (why the Vaseline helps). I'm prematurely aging on my chest from sun damage so I slather the oil down my neck and across my chest as well. I prefer to use NOW 100% Jojoba Oil available at Whole Foods Market. Other uses for this oil include smoothing wild hair frizz, an overnight hair mask and bath oil in a pinch (but don't use it to shave...ick).

4. There is nothing better than a quality piece of chocolate. Now, you can bring your chocolate loving habit into the bath. I die for Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub with Crushed Cocoa Beans. It warms as you rub the scrub into skin making it almost a hot chocolate treat for your external self. I pick mine up, again, at Whole Foods but you can purchase online here.

5. After my bath, I replenish the lost moisture with Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream that also contains Jojoba Oil, but doesn't stick to your clothes or sheets as would the real oil. This product can be found at most drugstores and Target.

DIY Tips

If you are stuck in a pinch and don't have these items available, use two cups of milk (yes, the milk from your fridge) to take a quick exfoliating soak in the bath followed by your favorite lotion. For your hair, massage a little extra virgin olive oil (yes, the kind from your kitchen cabinet) into your hair from scalp to tips and loosely place in a bun on top of your head overnight or while you bathe before rinsing out.

Namaste skin lovers! In February, I will be bringing you a Valentine's Day surprise as well as preview coverage of the nation's largest auto show---the Chicago Auto Show.

Another stellar stocking stuffer for the fashionable techie in your life!

2010-12-07T07:19:00.011-06:00

So I sat through the freezing weather in Cincinnati over the weekend, cheering on my boy Drew Brees and his New Orleans Saints, constantly taking my gloves on and off so I could check Twitter and/or play a little Angry Birds while the action was a little boring.

My uber shopper mom was sitting next to me the whole time watching me freeze my fingertips off. Then, after the game, we exchanged Christmas gifts (yes, a little early but I have no willpower).

What did my shopaholic mom get me?

These Echo Solid Touchscreen Compatible Gloves from Macy 's (in grey of course to match my new Andrew Marc pea-coat but these orange ones are awesome too and perfect for Chicago Bears or Cincinnati Bengals fans).

I write iPhone and Android app reviews for a living, and I didn't even know these existed. Thank God for smart moms (and smart-phones)! What would we do without them?

No really...what would we do?

(I also use these gloves with my Droid X so you can purchase these for Android owners in addition to iPhone users.)

The purr-fect stocking stuffer for Angry Bird addicts

2010-11-28T16:27:00.009-06:00

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I definitely want one of these in my stocking. If you read my tweets or follow my stories on Appolicious, you know I have a serious Angry Birds addiction (along with the majority of iPhone and Android owners).

If you are looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for you favorite techie this holiday season, check out these super cute Angry Bird plush toys. These would also be great for Secret Santa at work (as they are the right size for chucking at your office door when your boss is retreating after asking you to work the full day before Christmas).

Heharahehar evil pig.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for the Christmas version of Angry Birds hitting soon!

Plush Angry Birds are $14.99 and available in limited quantities at shop.angrybirds.com.

November: It's my birthday month!

2010-11-07T07:43:00.017-06:00

November is my favorite month of the year---not just because it is my birthday. It is when retailers go hog wild with incentives to entice us to shop in store and online. So not only are my birthday incentives rolling in, but the holiday and Black Friday deals are coming down the pipeline as well.

So far, Tory Burch wins for the best birthday gift from a retailer. That fabulous and super stylish lady, who's favorite colors seems to be the same as mine (orange and purple), sent me $50 off a purchase for my birthday! Making Victoria's Secret's $10 gift seem lame and DSW's $5 gift seem even sadder (I mean what can I get with that, one flip flop on the 70% clearance because nobody wanted it during the summer months?).

Honorable mention to Starbucks for the free drink of my choice.

Lesson here: Sign up for Tory Burch e-mails and include your date of birth. And if you like coffee, start using a Starbucks gift card for purchases and register it online to earn incentives. If you don't, you are literally losing money every time you buy a latte.

Right now in my deal queue I have mailers for $25 off $150 at Bebe, $30 off $75 at Express through November, $40 off $100 at Express the week of Black Friday, 20% off a purchase at Ulta this week plus several other online Ulta deals and a free panty/free goodie stuffed bag at Victoria's Secret on Black Friday.

The difficult thing to remember during this time of year is to keep your head on straight when presented with a plethora of perfect sounding deals. Most of the time, you are SPENDING money before you are SAVING money. Make a list and prioritize your needs and wants before you wander through the shops with your deal cards. Use an old fashioned pen and mini-notebook to carry your list with you at all times or download one of the myriad of iPhone and Android apps that let you create customized shopping lists. My favorites: ListMonger for iPhone and ColorNote for Android.

And remember, you can buy 10 cheap sweaters or one quality pair of shoes. Always and only buy what you love. Quality in life is much better than quantity. That goes for age as well. I may be another year older, but I only have one life to live. I've learned a lot this year, and I look forward to what the next 32 years will bring (shoes included)!

Like Tory says: Trust your instincts.

Happy birthday to all my fellow Scorpios!

Famous Scorpios: Pablo Picasso, Hillary Clinton, Emily Post, Sylvia Plath, Sally Field, Maria Shriver, Kurt Vonnegaut, Grace Kelly, Prince Charles, Goldie Hawn, Rachel McAdams, Katy Perry, Anne Hathaway

I almost missed one: Happy birthday to my favorite author and fellow Purdue alumna, Jen Lancaster!

Miracle Monday in the form of a free Kooba handbag

2010-10-05T17:41:00.010-05:00

A miracle happened yesterday.

I received an e-mail from Alex over at StyleSpot that I was the winner of the fashion website's first week of Kooba handbag giveaways!

My love affair with Kooba started around five years ago when they named a bag after my favorite fashionista---can you guess? The one and only Sienna Miller. I saved up $50 here and there, week after week, until I had enough to order the Sienna bag.

Telling E, my significant other, that it was a fake from eBay so that he wouldn't kick me out of the house for spending a car payment on a purse.

I justified to my friends that I would use it for years to come, and I still rock my Sienna from time to time!

So now, not only did I win a Kooba, but I also got to go the brand's website and pick out whichever bag I wanted, in whatever color I wanted. Now that is a fabulous giveaway!

A Monday miracle in the form of the most luscious leather handbag I had ever seen. Granted, I didn't choose another Sienna...

I picked the Maggie in black...so pretty.

While I wait for my new best friend Maggie to arrive, you should head over to http://www.StyleSpot.com for your chance to win. Simply sign up for their newsletter here!

And don't forget to like StyleSpot on Facebook and follow them on Twitter (handle is @stylespotter). StyleSpot has all the latest celebrity looks including budget versions for us real folks!

My October Reading List:

I'm trying out Tracy Anderson's "30-day Method." Tracy says it's the weight-loss kick-start that makes perfection possible and it is endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow. Look for a review coming soon.
I'm currently a Democrat, but I just downloaded Meghan McCain's memoir, "Dirty Sexy Politics" on my Nook app for Android. I love her good/bad girl mentality.

Android Apps I'm Rocking on my Motorola Droid X:

Check out my latest iPhone app recommendations on Appolicious.com:

Happy October! I'm averaging one blog post a month, which I hope to change soon.

Thanks for reading.

Chocolate deodorant and other Chicago happenings

2010-09-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

So after spending all summer buying super expensive, supposedly super strong Secret deodorant that busted my budget, I decided I had, had enough this weekend. I was spending $12 for deodorant and still smelling like the dirty Chicago EL by the time I walked a mile and a half to the office (without stepping foot on the EL, mind you).

When alas, my man says to me, "You should try my deodorant, it smells like chocolate."

Huh? How did I not notice that his glorious armpits smelled like chocolate? Because, the sent is so subtle, only you notice it.

Cue me sitting in my office all morning inhaling my armpits. Was that TMI?

Okay, so I'm not quite sure how I missed this over the past couple of years because I'm a total pop culture enthusiast. But I did. I even watched the silly commercials (Google "Axe chocolate commercial") by Axe suggesting that women find men that smell like chocolate irresistible, yet somehow, the offensiveness of the advertising led me astray---instead of realizing, hey, great concept, I want some.

Genius! The Axe marketing folks missed a key point here. While we woman (that was a shout out to you ex-Housewife of New Jersey) love our chocolate and like our men, we would much rather enjoy smelling chocolate on us all day than say smelling it on him after a round at the gym (I still find Axe body spray and over-powering body wash highly off-putting).

Buy some, you'll like it.

In other Chicago news, Jennifer Aniston's yogi, Mandy Ingber, is offering a Yoga Retreat Weekend at the sophisticated Elysian Hotel (that is if you have around $1,500 to shell out for a couple night's stay) this weekend, Sept. 10 - 12, 2010. I don't have that kind of cash so I'll be traveling to Indiana for my nephews' football game instead and using the affordable iPhone app featuring Tara Stiles for my weekend yoga practice. I am, however, looking forward to my birthday dinner at the Elysian come November.

In other news this week, I'm stoked to start tutoring again this year, but this time for a new program, Cabrini Connections. I'll be tutoring the same student that I've had through Cabrini-Green Tutoring Program from 3rd - 6th grade, only through this program that takes students from 7th - 12th grade. If you are interested in making a difference, check out the tutoring program's website.

I can't wait to introduce my student to Random House and Stardoll's new "Mortal Kiss" collaboration. It's basically an interactive young adult vampire themed book online. I can't think of a more fantastic way to get young girls to read. Last year, I bought her the first "Vampire Diaries" book, and I'm pretty sure it is still sitting in her room unread (or she bartered it for her favorite snack of hot Cheetos).

Until next week's tutoring session, I have the season premiere of Vampire Diaries to tide me over! Like vampires too? Check out my list of vampire-loving iPhone apps on Appolicious.

I should be writing more now that the sun is leaving Chicago for the fall and winter, and the pool in my building is closing for the season. I promise to entertain you all winter long! And good news, I'm working with Ellingsen Design on a new website, coming soon to the Internet near you!

Richer Smarter Happier's 95 1/2 Blog Topics

2010-08-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

I've been a blog-slacker, oh yes I have! And, I thought this would be perfect to share with you all as I take the tips into consideration myself. Happy blogging! I'll be back soon!

95½ Blog Topics to Keep You Writing Until the End of the Year
From - http://richersmarterhappier.com/blog/95-blog-topics-writing-year/

Small business marketing consultants, Angelique Rewers, ABC, APR and Dr. Toni Cascio, teach women how to start, grow and market profitable businesses that are a part of a life they love™. Get their FREE weekly tips and advice at www.RicherSmarterHappier.com.

It’s official. We only have five weeks until the end of summer (gulp) and 19 weeks until this exciting, action-packed year comes to a close. Of course, by this time, many devoted bloggers out there are scratching their heads, wondering what new and engrossing topics they can pull out of their sleeves to entertain their loyal following. After all, there are only so many times you can write about the importance of having a blog before it gets a teensy bit old.

So here are 95 ½ blog topics – that’s 5 for every week left in 2010 – for you to steal (ahem, borrow ). And don’t be surprised if you see one or two popping up on this blog in the next few months either.

What I did on my summer vacation and how you can apply that to your business
Top 10 books of the year from your industry
Creative uses for Facebook
How to have that conversation you’ve been putting off
7 ways to make your customers/clients feel special
Your best out-of-the-box business secrets from your niche
Your best business investment this year
How to write an e-book
How to write a special report
How to write a press release
How to juggle (your life, your kids and your career… or tennis balls, bowling pins and swords)
Can’t miss branding ideas
Dealing with criticism
Dealing with difficult vendors, colleagues and other people you have to be around
Creating unique and captivating business cards
Developing a success mindset
How NOT to deal with the media, compliments of the latest celebrity scandal
Who is the greatest person living today and why
The greatest asset of my community
National Chocolate Day (or cupcake day or pet lover’s day or whatever holiday today happens to be – take a look here for more ideas http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm)
Answers to FAQs that you get from your clients
A review of the latest, greatest info product, book or podcast in your specialty area
Your top 5 marketing tips that take less than 10 minutes (each – let’s not go crazy here, people )
The best industry advice you’re not following
The top 10 YouTube videos in your niche
The Zen of ….. (you fill in the blank)
10 steps to painless networking for the shy entrepreneur
How to win over with clients who are on the fence
Carving out honest-to-goodness personal time for the mompreneur
Simple tips to increased productivity
Help! This client is driving me crazy!
How to get past a dry spell
Getting the most out of an upcoming conference
Work-life balance for the solopreneur (there really is such a thing!)
Staying motivated in a sluggish economy
Using images on your website effectively
The day I knew I wanted to become an entrepreneur
What my greatest success taught me
What my greatest failure taught me
Exercises for creativity and joy
How to write an attention-getting LinkedIn profile
Everything you wanted to know about Twitter but were afraid to ask
Making the most out of online networking
Making the most out of offline networking
How to build trust with your clients and customers
How to be supportive of fellow entrepreneurs
How to develop an entrepreneurial mindset
Overcoming a setback
Shedding the negative influences in your life
The most important industry topic you may have missed
Top 10 websites to help you grow your business
Funky, chic or nothing-but-business: how to understand YOUR market’s mindset
The elusive world of SEO optimization
Common mistakes to avoid when starting your small business
But I’m not a salesman! Easy tips for learning to sell yourself
Clients, complaints and customer service – oh my!
Self-care for the overwhelmed entrepreneur
How to be fearless and fabulous
Small business resources you may not have heard about
My all-time favorite entrepreneurial advice (from me and other smart folks!)
Daily habits for successful entrepreneurs
How NOT to deal with an irate customer
The ONE book every entrepreneur should read
Why I’m a solopreneur and loving it
How to NOT give yourself and your time away for free
How I harnessed the Law of Attraction in my business
How my mentor changed my life
How my patience paid off
How my fearlessness paid off
How my hard work paid off
How my faith in myself/product/service paid off
What I know for sure about being an entrepreneur
Marketing on a shoe string
Publishing on a shoe string
Easy ways to green your business for the solopreneur
Ten things I wish I knew when I started my business
Trusting your intuition and the universe
An interview with a successful solopreneur
How I overcame my greatest business challenge
My top 20 inspirational quotes for a low-energy day
Easy ways to becoming a more efficient writer
Easy ways to promote your business offline
Easy ways to generate positive word-of-mouth
What Martha Stewart (or any other famous entrepreneur) has taught me
Kissing writer’s block goodbye
Links to the best entrepreneurial blogs on the web (Don’t forget to include the Richer. Smarter. Happier. blog! )
Creative ways to fund a small business
Trends in online marketing
Creating a positive online image
Comparing vendors and getting the best deal
Strategies to whip up interest in your product
A “getting started” checklist for would-be solopreneurs
Advertising ideas with the most bang for your buck
Creating a great home office in a small space
Upcoming events for solopreneurs

And you had to know this was coming:
95 ½. You can write a list of 95 blog topics for other solopreneurs.

Let's make a deal Chicago!

2010-07-24T14:14:00.007-05:00

No, I'm not talking about the super fabulous game show. I'm talking about the new Daily Deal Chicago launching on Sunday, Aug. 1.

I mean, at least, while we are on the subject though, Wayne Brady is no Monty Hall.

So back to the point, when you wake up next Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010, put on your leopard Snuggie (because even though it's 90 degrees in Chi-town, you know you have the AC blasting), pour yourself a freshly brewed cup of coffee (bonus points if it is Intelligentsia), pick up your iPad, iPhone or whatever your poison and go to www.dailydealchicago.com.

Daily Deal Chicago promises to plug in loyal Chicagoans to the best and brightest deals for dinners, shows, entertainment and all the trendiest to-dos around this sparkling town. Unlike other sites, each deal is your deal no matter if anybody else buys in or not.

Go to the site now to sign up early and enter to win a $100 Apple gift card. Find the deals at twitter.com/ddealchicago and facebook.com/dealchicago.

I can't wait to get my Chicago deals on!

Juicy does upscale chicken and waffles: Nana Organic

2010-07-24T13:26:00.004-05:00

If I told you I had a healthy helping of chicken and waffles for breakfast this morning, would you believe me?

Check this out:

I ate vegetables for breakfast. And, I loved it.

We are blessed to live around the block from South Loop breakfast staples Bongo Room and Yolk. However, if you live in the area, you know that if you wake up after 9 a.m., forgetaboutit. So even after we blindly turned the corner saying a silent prayer that maybe, just maybe, nobody would be waiting outside of Yolk this morning---forgetaboutit.

So, we hopped in the car and headed down south on Halsted to check out Nana, which Steve Dolinsky recently plugged as one of his top five breakfast spots in the city. We have driven past this spot at least a dozen times on our way to Wings & Rings and never even noticed it. Note to Nana: New signage needed on the northeast side, please.

What a neighborhood gem! This place is absolutely delightful.

Nana is a family-owned, organic restaurant featuring sustainable foods from local farmers. The freshly farmed ingredients shined in my chicken and waffle special. The Nana chicken and waffle dish is the Cadillac of all chicken and waffles, especially compared to my chicken and waffle dish from the Taste of Chicago, which was more like the Honda Odyssey of the genre. The Nana version is all about the details.

Nicely seasoned, fried to perfection chicken strips on top of a melt in your mouth yet fluffy waffle. Next to it was a bed of super juicy pink grapefruit slices with what I think was a version of sugar snap peas (that looked like lima beans) and string beans with flavorful and juicy tomatoes. It's definitely the foodie/upscale version of the typical south side chicken and waffle fare.

My breakfast-mate ordered the Nanadict with pupupas, which we had to ask the waiter what a pupupa was...basically a thick corn tortilla (almost like an English muffin). I took one heavenly bite and almost ordered one for myself.

We will definitely be back. If they moved this place 20 blocks north, we would never be able to get in the door.

One more time:

Juicy segments: 4 out of 4

juicy does the taste: the last meal

2010-07-04T17:01:00.006-05:00

I saved the best for last, and it was E's first visit to the taste this year (fresh off the plane from Germany). So we did it up right!

We'll take two Puerto-Rican steak sandwiches please (nine tickets each for whopping total of 18 tickets)! This is our favorite treat at the taste (from Sabor Latino). The key to enjoying this sandwich is taking small bites. The meat isn't the best quality, but when you get a perfect portion taste of the meat, sauce, onions and fresh bread in one bite, it's like a little slice of heaven. I was over zealous at first, and took a big bite, and promptly regretted it. Nothing ruins this sandwich like a big bite of chewy meat. But after my first mistake, I learned my lesson to proper Puerto-Rican steak sandwich eating etiquette. E assures me these sandwiches are plentiful in Puerto Rico, and I can't wait to visit there and find out for myself! Juicy segments: 3.8 out of 4

After our annual Puerto-Rican steak devouring, I introduced E to the crab rangoon that I tasted earlier in the week from The Noodle Vietnamese Cuisine booth. E agreed, delicious!

NEXT! Why not wash down a steak sandwich with some mouth watering ribs from Robinson's (12 tickets)? We are not shy. The Robinson's booth wins my award for best outfits and booth layout. Nice presentation! The ribs were super meaty and the sauce was the right level of spicy and sweet. We shared, we loved, we will conquer these again soon! Juicy segments: 4 out of 4

And, for the final piece de resistance, the lobster tail from Oak St. Beach Cafe (12 tickets). It was as buttery and grilled to perfection as I remembered it. Juicy segments: 3.9 out of 4

So sad to say goodbye. We had a good run taste of Chicago. Look here soon for a roundup of my top five tastes at the taste. See you next year!

I leave you with this oh-so ironic photo of E wearing a Tofutti T-shirt while eating a steak sandwich at the taste. Until next year...

juicy does the taste: the beginning of the end

2010-07-04T15:57:00.016-05:00

On Wednesday (the last day of June), I headed to the taste with Amanda after a day by the pool and an afternoon screening of Eclipse. We actually ate lunch at Jimmy Green's first, more to come on that later, and caught up on our "All My Children" before heading out for an evening at the taste.

I started off with the chorizo and yuca (casava fries) for eight tickets from Las Tablas Columbian Steakhouse. The yuca/casava fries were deliciouis, a little bit more bland than a sweet potato fry but generally the same texture in your mouth. The chorizo was stuffed with fresh herbs and fresh chorizo meat, none of that greasy Mexican restaurant stuff (don't get me wrong, I love that greasy Mexican restaurant stuff!). But, I couldn't get over the randomness of the chorizo meat (I'm very fickle about gristle parts in my meat) and ended up throwing out half the sausage. Juicy segments: 2.5 out of 4 (the yuca being the redeeming quality)

Amanda, on a strict ticket budget of one strip (12 tickets), started with a stuffed mozzerala breadstick from Home Run Inn. At first she didn't approve, but she admitted it got better the more she ate (I'm guessing there was more cheese in the middle!).

Next up for me was the mustard-fried catfish taster portion for a few tickets at BJ's Market and Bakery. As you can see from the photos, it was oh-so yummy fried goodness especially with the tangy sweet honey mustard sauce provided at the booth. The photos to follow are not flattering, but I realize I look like a catfish in one, so I'm going with it... Juicy segments: 3 out of 4

After the catfish, I yearned for something slightly healthy to round out my greasy fried diet and promptly spotted the gazpacho being hocked at The Grill on the Alley. Perfectly spiced and everything nice, the gazpacho featured avocado and chopped chives---and hit the spot! Juicy segments: 3.5 out of 4

Now, if you know Amanda and I very well, you know nothing gets between us and our cupcakes. So despite my rule of only eating things at the taste that stay at the taste, I decided to induct Amanda into the Goddess and the Grocer red velvet cupcake loving club. But, I got sidetracked by an Ina's decadent brownie for only two tickets! Two tickets! It might as well have been free! Now that was a brownie. Juicy segments for the brownie: 3.9 out of 4 (and so much better than the molten chocolate lava cake!)

Needless to say, I had no room for my five ticket red velvet cupcake after my brownie indulgence. But no need to worry, I put it in the fridge and the next night, let it sit out at room temperature for about half an hour before indulging in my prize. Juicy segments for the red velvet cupcake: 3.5 out of 4 (not nearly as yummy as the brownie but still oh-so delicious!)

Well, by the time Friday rolled around, I had my fill of the taste. I just couldn't bring myself to go back and ingest the fried goodness. I did make it back for the last day, so watch for "the last meal" blog post coming soon...

juicy does the taste of chicago: so do bill and giuliana rancic

2010-06-29T19:24:00.008-05:00

So Bill and Giuliana didn't answer my tweets to them this morning about what time they were going to be at the taste, but low and behold, we showed up at the same time! I didn't talk to them, but I was strolling along next to them as they were walking around with their film crew.

So by now, if you've been keeping up, you know I like to start with dessert. For meal three, I started with the paczki (jelly filled bismarck) for two tickets from the Bobak Sausage Company. Pronounced POONCH-kee, the paczki is a basically a Polish donut, this one being jelly filled. The dough was fried golden brown and properly dusted with powdered sugar. The jelly however, was tasteless. But overall, a great value at only two tickets! Juicy segments: 2 out of 4

I finished off my solo and quick visit to the taste (walked through on my way home) with a massive helping of potato pancakes and apple sauce from Kasia's Deli for seven tickets. The portion size was unreal and definitely to share! So guess what? I brought a whole one home for Fredo and Sammy. Juicy segments: 3.5 out of 4

I'm looking forward to a day off work tomorrow, hanging by the pool with Amanda and going to see Eclipse. Hopefully we will make it to the taste for at least one meal to post...stay tuned. I wonder what Giuliana ate at the taste...

juicy does the taste of chicago: is a churro really dinner?

2010-06-28T20:04:00.008-05:00

So for meal three I tagged along with an office mate, Denail, and her friend Chris (sorry if I'm spelling your name wrong buddy!) to the taste so we could experience the almighty churro for the first time, together. Plus, I figured you were getting sick of photos of me eating fried food.

It smells like a churro...

Tastes like a churro...

Denail likes the churro!

Denail went for the taster portion of the plain mini-churros (4) for four tickets, and I went for the full-size churro filled with chocolate (hells bells I got the chocolate) for five tickets from The Churro Factory. Mine was warm, thick, cinnamon & sugary and all things amusement park nice! I loved it! And the answer to the question is, yes, if you eat two meals a day at the taste, a churro does make dinner!

But of course, I didn't stop there. Because my favorite blog reader (L!!!) dared me to eat the pork filled banana dumpling for four tickets from Sabor Latino (of which I will be back because their Puerto-Rican Steak Sandwich is one of my top favorites at the taste). For a taster portion, it is huge! It was like a delightful pork filled donut with a slight taste of banana. Sound weird? It kind of was, but in a delicious way. Juicy segments: 3 out of 4

Nice pick L! Cheers to walking home from work and discovering new tastes! See you tomorrow! What's for dinner?

juicy does the taste of chicago: how day 2 turned into meal 2

2010-06-28T18:55:00.009-05:00

The path of good intentions...was diverted by a bachelorette party, so ten days of the taste is officially now ten meals at the taste.

Meal two started at lunch today with my gracious coworker Amanda joining me to take photos with her iPhone. Amanda had a great idea to pick random booths before we got to the taste: however, I already knew I wanted the molten chocolate lava cake today and no coworker with good intentions was getting between me and my chocolate cake.

So coming in from the north, we went to the second booth on the right, which was Iyanze. Definitely not a place I would have stopped at by my own choosing. I went for the taster portion of the jerk chicken for four tickets. The rice was tender and the beans were tasty. The chicken, well I spit it out upon first bite because it was mostly bone and gristle. What meat I was able to get off the bone was tasty spicy and sweet with the jerk seasoning and the substance that the gentleman drizzled over it before handing to me. However, I wouldn't reco this dish. Juicy segments: 1 out of 4

For the second taste, we picked the third booth on the left. We improvised slightly when we realized there weren't any booths on the left side when you come in from the north, so we picked the third booth at the first left turn, which was The Noodle Vietnamese Cuisine. I went for the taster portion of the crab rangoon for four tickets. First impression, wow, they gave me two large crab rangoons! They were freshly fried golden and crispy to the bite. Now maybe it's because I always get my crab rangoon delivered, but these rangoons seemed extra fresh! Definitely a great deal for four tickets! Juicy segments: 3 out of 4

(PS I didn't fix my hair today, bite me (crab rangoon)!)

I finished up with the chocolate molten lava cake with ice cream from JR Dessert Bakery for nine tickets that I had a yen for since day one. The portion was huge and definitely worth nine tickets! The chocolate lava wasn't as warm as I had hoped or it was so hot outside that it seemed room temperature. The cake seemed a little dense in the heat of 80 something degrees but overall the chocolate was delicious. I ate what I could and passed the end on to Amanda, who agreed it was tasty but a little too much. Juicy segments: 2.5 out of 4

Then, I went back to my desk for the afternoon and dreamed about the churro coming up for dinner.

juicy does the taste of chicago: day 1

2010-06-25T18:30:00.011-05:00

I went all in the first day and started off on the right foot with dessert, the taster portion of the upside down caramel cupcake from Abundance Bakery for four tickets to be exact. The caramel was mouth watering and delicious, the cake not so much---a little dry and tasted of the Little Debbie variety. You definitely don't need anymore of this sweet confection than the taster allows, so steer clear of the full portion. Juicy segments: 1.5 out of 4

That does not mean I did not enjoy it though, exhibit A below:

Next up, chicken and waffles (waffle to be exact) at Lagniappe-Creole Cajun Joynt for eight tickets. The chicken was nicely seasoned and fried to crispy perfection and stood up nicely to the fluffiness of the waffle and silkiness of the syrup. And, bonus points for the lovely lady working there that had the sense to give my a stack of napkins instead of a fork (napkins at the taste are like water in the desert). I like my food messy. It was like breakfast, lunch and dessert all in one sitting. Juicy segments: 3.5 out of 4

Oh, and I didn't stop there. I decided to wash down my upside down caramel cupcake and chicken and waffles with a taster portion of fried ravioli marinara from Tutto Italiano for four tickets. I've lived in the South Loop of Chicago for almost five years now, and I've never made it over to Tutto for dinner so I felt I owed it to them to give them a taste at the taste. The marinara was delightfully spicy and the ravioli was stuffed to the brim with cheese. Juicy segments: 3 out of 4

Now, my delightful friend Laura, who graciously photographed my tastes of the day, tried the taster portion of toasted cheese ravioli from Harry Carey's and some juicy looking cheese fries from Joe's Chicago. I'm not going to rate them, since I didn't try them, but Laura definitely approved. See below...

All in all, it was a successful first day of the taste and crowded to boot!

I'm craving the lobster from Oak Street Beach Cafe so that is on the agenda for tomorrow (day 2). And, I know you are jealous of my Chiquita banana hat. But, don't worry, you too can go to the taste and not only get a free banana hat, but dress up like a banana and get your photo taken (yeah, L and I didn't do that).

the blog diet: the taste of chicago

2010-06-23T14:21:00.005-05:00

It was a whirlwind couple of months. I was planning on having a lazy summer by the pool, contemplating going back to school and writing ferociously for my blog. The next thing I know, my boss is moving out of town, and I'm stepping up at my day job.

Then, I was going to go on a food diet and the next thing I know, I haven't blogged in months! Let's call it the blog diet, and we must remedy this problem.

So my answer to this problem is to blog through the Taste of Chicago. For all ten days of "the taste" (what the locals who aren't disgusted by it, call it), I will eat at least one meal at the Taste of Chicago and share it here for you all to see. Ten delightful days of food blogging and fried food galore! So get ready folks, the fried fun starts right here on Friday!

Have something you want to dare me to eat? Or live far far away from Chicago and want to live vicariously through me? Leave me a comment and I'll do my best to do your fried bidding.

Happy tasting!

Join me at the Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty March 28 in Chicago

2010-03-21T17:25:00.003-05:00

CRAVE Chicago announces the “Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty,” a fresh beauty and wellness event hosted by CRAVE Chicago and sponsored by Beauty on Call, Glossed & Found, lululemon athletica and Vitamin Water. This vibrant day of rejuvenation will take place on March 28th (1-6PM) at Architectural Artifacts (4325 N. Ravenswood, in Chicago). A CRAVEparty is an exclusive, glam-gal gathering for fun, entertainment, networking, personal pampering, relaxinʼ and feelin’ good.

The Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty will offer Chicagolandʼs ladies one destination for a fun, beauty and wellness filled afternoon. Upon registering, guests will choose four 30-minute fitness classes to try, from eight options, on March 28th. Options will include a 30-minute session with The Dailey Method or Harmony Mind Body Fitness, for example. Each fitness class will be spaced by 30-minute free-time sessions that will inspire party-goers to indulge in mini-spa services, shop in lululemon athletica’s pop-up store, relax in the CRAVE Cooldown Lounge, engage & learn from a nutritionist, pep-up their wardrobe with a style coach, try delicious & healthy snacks from Starfruit and others… and more!

“This event is planned for the woman that is trying to find the perfect fitness regimen for her body type. With Spring right around the corner, we all want to feel & look amazing; this event was planned to help each woman accomplish these goals,” says Michele Kravetz, CRAVE Chicago Coordinator.

Tickets are available for $25 at http://thecravecompany.com/chicago/events/bloom-tone-craveparty/ and will not be sold at the door. All guests will receive a complimentary goody bag brimming with goodies and sponsored by lululemon athletica.

Storied City Meat Market reopens in Naperville with new gourmand leadership

2010-03-13T10:22:00.005-06:00

Photos by Miles Boone Photography

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (March 12, 2010)---Continuing more than a century of serving fresh food lovers in the greater Naperville area, the City Meat Market, now featuring Umami’s Kitchen, opens its doors to the foodie community once again under new culinary leadership.

The market has planned a grand opening celebration for the community starting Friday, March 19 through Sunday, March 21 (the specialty store quietly opened on Feb. 24) featuring prizes, huge discounts and food sampling. City Meat Market is conveniently located off of Ogden Avenue at 790 Royal St. George, Ste. 127, Naperville, Ill. 60563, and is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday.

General Manger Brad Hudetz and Supervisor Dylan Carlson are the new culinary visionaries of the storied City Meat Market. Hudetz holds a degree from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona and has worked extensively in the Chicago area for four-star restaurants including Les Nomades, Les Francais, Alinea, Spiaggi and Courtrights in Willow Springs, where he served as the de facto executive chef. Carlson holds a culinary degree from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC) and has extensive fine dining experience in the Chicago area. Both worked at industry leading Whole Foods Market learning the retail business in the prepared foods and meat departments.

Hudetz's passion for food and cooking led to the opening of the Naperville store, which promises to offer delicious ready to serve and oven-ready items of the highest quality.

“Why grab fast food when you can have meal prepared with fresh, quality ingredients that will not only fill your home with wonderful smells, but also delight your palate?” said Chef Hudetz. “With the reopening of the City Meat Market, Dylan and I see an opportunity to provide the greater Naperville area home-style prepared meals without breaking a family's budget.”

City Meat Market has served the Naperville area since 1890, a legacy and tradition of excellence that the new owners will continue while adding their own gourmet twist. The market itself has always represented great quality, value-added meats, sausages, etc. and will now add high quality, to-go style foods from Umami’s Kitchen.

You may be wondering what Umami’s Kitchen means as it is prominently featured in the City Meat Market logo alongside the market's serving chef. Hudetz explains, “Umami (pronounced oo-ma-mee) is a Japanese loanword, widely known in culinary circles as the fifth sense of taste after sweet, sour, salty and bitter. Umami roughly translates into: savory, meaty, fresh or brothy. The name, Umami's Kitchen, represents the great tastes that come out of our kitchen with a chef at its core. And, in a tongue and cheek way, the food that comes out of our kitchen is fresh wholesome food "you(r) mommy" would be happy to see you enjoy.”

The philosophy of the market is to provide fresh, high-quality ingredients from value-added meats to prepared foods, and all at a fair price. When it comes to the meat, if there is something you don’t see that you would like, just ask and City Meat Market will gladly order it fresh, especially for you. Chef Hudetz’s brother Nick serves as the front-of-the-house host ready to assist in making your shopping experience a pleasure. The market offers succulent steaks and a countless beef offerings, along with a full lineup of pork and chicken products to prepare at your home. Additionally, you will find cheese/marinara lasagna, stuffed chicken breasts and pork chops, rolled round steak, meat loafs, double baked potatoes, fresh salads, chicken Parmesan and much more depending on the day you visit. For a decadent desert, there is to-die-for moon mountain torte, apple galettes, coffeeholic cheesecake, carrot cake, and more with selections changing daily.

For more information, please call City Meat Market at 630.355.0440, and a Web site is coming soon at www.citymeatmarket.us.

Social City Meat Market:
www.facebook.com/citymeatmarket
www.twitter.com/citymeatmarket

JuicyKate's Top Five Oscar Looks

2010-03-07T19:37:00.010-06:00

Oh what a night! Here are my picks for the top five best dressed actresses at the Oscars...even if they don't take home a coveted golden statute, these ladies get a fashion Juicy Oscar in my blog.

#5 Kristen Stewart does it up in a similar black dress to the one she posed in with Robert Pattinson on the cover of Harper's Bazaar last year.

#4 Diane Kruger, better known in my world as the woman who snagged Pacey from Dawson's Creek, looks girly chic in a delectable Chanel confection of a dress. This bastard has curves!

#3 Carrie Bradshaw, I mean SJP, I mean the lady who married Ferris, looks uber-fashionista in a Chanel. Only SJP could carry off this piece of couture...

#2 I love Rachel McAdams as a blondie, and in this watercolor of a dress, she looks fabulous! Is it a green frock Miss McAdams?

#1 And, my number one pick goes to a woman who is usually on my worst dressed list, Maggie Gyllenhaal knocked it out of the Oscar ballpark with this on-trend abstract floral dress! The hair and makeup are simple, and I'm loving Maggie's complete package. While the dress is a little wrinkled, I'm so excited that Maggie looks so complete and uber-chic that I have to give her my Juicy Oscar for best dressed! You go girl!

This weekend, I'm craving spring!

2010-03-07T16:24:00.008-06:00

This weekend was absolutely to die for in Chicago! Two long semi-sunny walks by Lake Michigan with the dogs, it just doesn't get any better than that! Plus, it was a perfect spring Saturday for my friend's wedding at Bird Haven Greenhouse in Joliet. We also stopped off at the Country House in Clarendon Hills for a lovely Saturday meat and beer dinner with a side of peanuts.

On Sunday, we finished off the weekend, which felt like the first sign of spring, with some requisite spring cleaning. I feel like a new woman after purging and scrubbing galore!

So, I'm really looking forward to summer in the city, and I've got my eye on some new DKNY Smoothies to spice up my spring and summer wardrobe. If you are like me ladies, with vivacious thighs that even copious amounts of lunges will not slim, it is hard to wear skirts and shorts in the summer. Thighs rubbing together is not summer sexy! Check out DKNY's latest shape wear that is meant to be seen... genius I say! Click here to buy DKNY Smoothies online at Nordstrom.

Well, the weekend always comes to an end. I'm closing out the weekend with some laundry, The Oscars and reading some more of Lauren Groff's "Delicate Edible Birds and other Stories."

If you are watching The Oscars, slip over to Appolicious and check out my iPhone app red carpet fever story. And, keep a look out for my reviews of The Official Kim Kardashian and Tiger Text apps coming this week to Appolicious.

Happy almost spring!

I fell in love over the weekend...

2010-03-01T18:38:00.003-06:00

With this pair of Tory Burch patent Liv pumps... I'm dreaming in reddish orange and counting my pennies so that one day, these will live in my closet and grace my polished tootsies for special events.

Dreaming of shoes? Check out my review of Bergdorf Goodman's The Shoe Salon app on Appolicious.com.

I'm (trying to be) a Skinny Bitch

2010-02-14T08:26:00.004-06:00

Wow, it has been a while, and I've been busy! In most immediate news, I've been trying out the "Skinny Bitch" eating plan. The book has been sitting on my bookshelf for the past three years. I read it, but I just couldn't bring myself to give up the bad things that I love so much.

I was a real trooper the first few days eating through the plan. I ate fruit only for breakfast. I've been off coffee since Monday! Considering I've drank approximately a pot of coffee every day for the last ten years, this is a huge accomplishment! I also hadn't eaten any meat that was up until yesterday. It was Saturday, and the chicken wings at The Fifty/50 were calling my name! I swear they were! At least the wings are hormone free!

I decided to start the "Skinny Bitch" because while I have worked out more frequently with yoga and visits to LA Fitness this year, my body still feels some what unhealthy. So for 30 days, I'm attempting to rid it of toxins ala the "Skinny Bitch." So it is organic green tea for me!

One week down, three more to go...

In other news, I'm addicted to this Skee Ball app for my iPod touch. So nostalgic of my Chuck E'Cheese birthday parties!

And, I'm absolutely in love with the humor of and books by Jen Lancaster. Check out her super hilarious Blog, Jennsylvania, and I'll post a book review here soon!

Workout DVD Review: Dance with Julianne Cardio Ballroom

2010-01-31T08:57:00.007-06:00

If only I too could look like Julianne in those teeny tiny Lululemon shorts! Well according to the video, I can "get a lean, toned dancer's physique doing the Cha Cha, Jive & Paso Doble--no partner needed!"

So let me be honest with you, I've done this workout video once. I really wanted to do it more! But, I'm not a natural to say the least when it comes to choreographed dancing. It will take me a lot of work to catch up with Julianne on this video. While she offers an introduction to the major steps before you do the workout, it definitely went too fast for me to get the hang of it. Although, I was able to amuse my coworker with the basic steps of the Cha Cha workout at work the next day.

I will say, I definitely felt muscles I haven't felt since I was 16 when I did the Cha Cha. Then, I only made it the beginning of the Jive...

This cardio ballroom workout is a lot of fun, and Julianne's upbeat attitude keeps you going. However, it goes a little to fast for beginning dancers so it will probably take a few times through the DVD to get the hang of it. Overall, it is just a fun alternative to going to the gym! I'll definitely keep it in my workout rotation.

I bought my copy of Dance with Julianne Cardio Ballroom for $10 at Target, but click on the DVD image above to order from Amazon for $7.99.

Happy dancing!

Book Review: The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

2010-01-31T08:32:00.004-06:00

Before Christmas, I was walking around the DePaul Barnes & Nobles in the Loop in search of a holiday read. I totally judged this book by its cover figuring it had to be a multi-faceted read with a cover this intricate.

I've also been stewing at Stephen King since I heard he called Stephanie Meyer, author of the Twilight Saga, a bad writer. And, Mr. King happens to reco this book with a quote on the back cover saying "Lauren Groff's debut novel, The Monsters of Templeton, is everything a reader might have expected from this gifted writer, and more...There are monsters, murders, bastards, and ne'er-do-wells almost without number. I was sorry to see this rich and wonderful novel come to an end."

The book is so multi-faceted, I could barely keep track of what was going on from one night to the next. It definitely isn't a book to read yourself to sleep. Not, like going to bed with Edward and Jacob. You need hard core brain power to keep up with this one.

I read the New York Times book review after I was almost finished with the book, and I have to say it was spot on.

Overall, it took me way to long to read this book that wasn't at all reader friendly. It's a great story development from a first time writer, but next time, don't make it so hard for us to enjoy. I would have liked to see Willie stay in Templeton and build more of a relationship with her father, and Zeke.

I think I'll keep The Monsters of Templeton on my book shelf and pick it up again this summer for a day on Oak Street Beach. Nothing like reading about a huge dead monster in a lake to perk up a day at the beach!

On to the next read...any suggestions?

Golden Globes 2010: I want these dresses!

2010-01-18T07:54:00.006-06:00

I managed to tweet my way through the whole Golden Globes ceremony last night. It was actually pretty watchable. Dexter is the best show on television. They were robbed! While I love Mad Men, Dexter's plot lines are SO totally better. "Hello, Dexter Morgan." At least the best actor and supporting actor went home with the serial killers. My that sounds wrong!

So let's get to the point, the dresses I want in my closet from last night are, drum roll please, Miss Emily Blunt, of Devil Wears Prada assistant fame and nominated for her work in some period piece I will probably never watch, looked downright heavenly with a slight golden glow and flowing pink dress:

Not that I don't like period pieces, but I'm over it right now.

And, Anna Paquin, aka Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood, looked fit to be a vampire's date in this gold concoction that I would die for! Don't get blood on it Sookie! And thankfully, unlike Mariah Carey, Anna left something to be desired. Very tasteful!

Book Review: The Skinnygirl Dish by Bethenny Frankel

2010-01-17T09:14:00.005-06:00

I remember the day vividly, walking through the Mall of America while visiting a college friend in Minnesota. We ran into a punk teenage girl wearing a New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees jersey in the elevator, which we found oddly weird since we went to college with Drew at Purdue.

I then walked into the Barnes & Nobles in search of "Naturally Thin." Of course, at the time (spring 2009), I was thoroughly addicted to the antics of The Real Housewives of NYC. So I was on a hunt for Bethenny's book. Only, for the life of me, I couldn't remember her last name. It must have taken the nice lady a half hour of searching before she gave up helping me on my skinnygirl quest. My Type A bestie though would not be deterred. We walked through that bookstore until I found it. Sweet success!

I read the book on the plane home to Chicago and was immediately transformed into a skinnygirl mindset. However, it didn't last long. Living with a man, with an overly healthy appetite, is horrid on a woman's figure.

Fast forward to today, where I walk into Target and "The Skinnygirl Dish" is staring me right in the face. Reminding me of my 2009 failure to deliver on the skinnygirl mentality. Should I try again, I asked myself. Why not, said what was left of the skinnygirl inside me.

In Naturally Thin, Bethenny taught us the fundamentals of living a skinnygirl lifestyle, which can basically be summed up in her clever phrase, "Taste everything, eat nothing." Which, is great for rich people, but us folks who barely squeak by in this already tough economy, it is really hard to throw away a plate of food. So that really sums up why I failed the first time around.

Enter, Skinnygirl Dish. This book actually helps you grocery shop the right way, which Bethenny likens to creating your ultimate wardrobe. Now this is a concept I can get behind. I'm totally the girl with the basic black foundation and the accessories to freshen up the look.

She even suggests the right tools for your kitchen, making this book a great gift for new homeowners, newly weds and college students. And, she doesn't recommend expensive products, just ones that really work. Do you absolutely need that latest stainless steel Viking range to be healthy? I think not.

I bookmarked the page with measuring conversions. How handy is that!

And the recipes are fantastic, each with its own variation suggestions so you can use what you have on hand.

Overall, the book is a great buy. I would like to see more photos with recipes in the future, but I understand they editors are trying to stay away from making it look too much like a cookbook. It would also be great to see a Skinnygirl, Hungryman version, for all us coupled up people who need to change up a recipe for him and for her.

And Bethenny, please make an iPhone app soon that can keep me up on daily reminders of being a skinnygirl! Love it!

Mid-January resolution update: It's freaking cold in Chicago!

2010-01-17T08:26:00.007-06:00

Okay, okay, so I spent more time this week playing Lego Star Wars on the Xbox 360 than doing yoga. It's quality time with the man, and well, I just like it.

The first step is admitting it. But still, between my daily walks to and from work, I managed to squeak out my daily sweat sessions so I'm not totally AWOL on my resolutions.

I'm getting really bored with working out in the office gym at lunch. Frankly, the thought of going into the locker room gives me a case of the icks. I hate locker rooms. I didn't grow up in a naked house, and I don't want to visit your naked house either.

So anyways, the plan to keep me on track this week is yoga first thing upon waking. Because we all know, it is about finding the right workout and workout time that works for you. If you are struggling to, switch it up, throw in some variety and find out what works for you. Then after work, a visit to the elliptical at LA Fitness on Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday is tutoring and Friday, well, that is a drinking day so there will be no visits to the gym that day. I just rejoined LA because they offered me a deal I couldn't refuse. However, I can't stand the way the personal trainers call my cell phone over and over again trying to sell themselves to me. They are like hawks circling for fresh meat at the gym. Headphones are required for working out there and keeping the hawks at bay.

My other resolutions are in the works. I will post my review of "The Skinnygirl Dish" later today. So that said, this week's inspiration will be the author herself, Bethenny Frankel.

Here she is, the queen of "Taste everything, eat nothing!"

To learn more about the natural foods chef and star of The Real Housewives of NYC, visit www.bethenny.com. I'm checking out "The Skinnygirls Rules" audio book next.

On the app front, I had a lot of fun curating some app lists over at Appolicious. Check out this cool new feature! I'm still addicted to the free Words with Friends app, but I'm sure I'll have a new app love by later this week.

I'm liking FourSquare more and more, but it sucks if you go to a place without Wi-Fi because I have to check in later with my Touch. One more reason for me to upgrade to the iPhone soon, I guess!

Twenty-ten resolution progress

2010-01-07T20:38:00.008-06:00

I'm making some progress on my resolutions, pretty good if I do say so myself for the first week of twenty-ten... I've worked up a sweat at least once a day between walking to work in the snow, an Oxygen magazine workout, cardio in the office gym at lunch and daily yoga practices. Okay, okay, to be brutally honest I totally forgot to do yoga on Tuesday (I was busy at tutoring that evening). But, my Hot Body Yoga app by Women's Health is keeping track of my yoga practices, and I plan on making the tally reach at least two hours for this week.

I took a semi-break today. I walked to work and back in the snow storm, so I took the day off of lunch break cardio. I need to catch up on my Oxygen weight circuits but I'm still so sore from the first one, I'm giving myself a little rest time before trying it again---most likely tomorrow. Overall, the week has been successful with three, count them three, lunch time workouts so far this week. I still have Friday left to make it four!

My must-have lists so far for twenty-ten go as follows...

What I'm working out with:
Dance with Julianne Cardio Ballroom DVD - I picked this up at Target more than a week ago and have yet to do it. But, I just know I'm going to love it if it makes me look like Miss Hough.

Women's Health Hot Body Yoga app: Using this app to make time for daily yoga practices and keep track of my workouts.

Oxygen magazine's Collector's Issue: Fat Loss, Winter 2010 is on newsstands now. Check out the ultimate home workout, I promise your thighs will burn for days!

What I'm reading in Jan. 2010 (reviews to come soon):
"The Monsters of Templeton" by Lauren Groff
"The Skinnygirl Dish" by Bethenny Frankel

Apps I'm addicted to:
Words with Friends
Plushed

And, my inspiration this week is Ashley Greene. I'm been digging Kombucha since I read about it in Bethenny Frankel's first book, and who can resist the colorful sleek bottles of the stuff on the shelves at Whole Foods Market. So I was stoked to see that Miss Greene also enjoys a good daily dose of Kombucha.

However, I'm not sure that good folks at SoBe Lifewater will be to happy with Ashley being photographed with another drink since she is promoting SoBe in the upcoming Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Check out the scales on that vampire! That is enough to make me go to the gym tomorrow! And, try some Lifewater...

2010 New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-01T19:02:00.003-06:00

So my first resolution of 2010 was to write a blog post about my resolutions. Check!

1. Write a blog post about my New Year's resolutions.
2. Taking a cue from Lululemon, I will sweat every day. Taking it a step further, I will do yoga every day to see how my body and spirit will transform over the course of 365 days. No before pictures just yet, I really need to get my hair done. This is also taking me a step closer to my ultimate goal of becoming a yoga instructor within the next three years. You have to practice what you preach.
3. Read at least one book a month and review it here, on my blog.
4. Identify another volunteer opportunity beyond my current status of tutor during the school year.
5. Take a girl's trip! I'm always neglecting my girls.
6. Makeover my gym bag and beauty routine.
7. Show my blog and freelance opportunities some much needed attention.
8. Create an independent fundraiser for the nonprofit I work for in order to contribute in a financial capacity that I can't afford on my own.
9. Get a passport. And use it! Okay, the actually using it may be hard in 2010 but at least have a plan to use it in place before the end of the year.
10. Have fun and enjoy the ride! Every day is a blessing and every minute counts.

Mommas bring it to the fashion mags

2009-12-02T17:45:00.004-06:00

I haven't drooled over the anticipation of a magazine release since last month's Harper's Bazaar Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson Cover. This month Glamour mag is bringing new momma of twins, SJP, to their cover.

Check out this sneak peek of the obviously Sex and the City inspired spread. One of these super cute pics is already gracing the wallpaper of my work computer.

And, Harper's Bazaar is spot on once again this month bringing October's sporty IT girl, Kate Hudson to their cover. Hudson's spread is playfully her! Love it! All it's missing is a Yankee's hat...

I'll be stalking the news stands once again this month on the hunt for these mags!

A November to remember: brush with design greatness

2009-11-15T10:41:00.006-06:00

Guest #2 @ my Table 4 Ten

The day I discovered Kelly Wearstler, I was perusing a Barnes & Nobles, one of the activities I find truly therapeutic. It's inspiring, to stand their among the accomplishments of such great people. Modern Glamour seemed so dangerous, yet so right at the same time. I instantly had a girl crush on this innovative interior designer after a few flips of the pages.

A little more research on the design diva, showed that we were partners in crime, both Scorpios. My birthday falling tomorrow, Nov. 16 and Kelly's just before the end of Scorpio's rein on Nov. 21. So I thought it perfectly kismet when a trip to Miami for work fell in November. So, I took this chance to visit one of Kelly's design inspirations, live and in living color.

My fabulous Miami-based colleague, Anabel, and her just as fabulous husband, Mike, we're kind enough to make my dream come true and shuttle us over to The Tides, South Beach for my first glimpse of a Kelly design in person, and it did not disappoint. Here are a few outtakes:

I also took this chance to check out the former home of Gianni Versace. If anybody reading this knew me freshman year of college, I was obsessed with Versace. It started when I discovered the Versace store at the Dallas Galleria when I was visiting my brother and turned into a full blown year of speech class speeches on the topic of the late designer. If I had a table for ten including ghosts, he would certainly be included. Eerily enough, his former address is my birthday...

And for the cherry on top of the sundae, Kelly gave me the perfect birthday present, a brand new book entitled Hue, just released today, Nov. 15.

If you need me, I'll be at Barnes & Nobles picking up my copy of Hue.

Edward, Bella and Sienna, I die!

2009-11-03T21:13:00.003-06:00

Sienna, oh Sienna, where have you been? Gracing the headlines with Jude and Balthazar in one week's time. Thanks for coming back and that jacket, I die!

Edward and Bella, oh my! PopSugar.com has a slideshow from Harper's Bazaar, I die!

Help protect children and strengthen families this holiday season

2009-11-03T14:30:00.005-06:00

The holidays make us all feel like kids again—the smell of holiday cookies baking, the sparkle of candles and lights, the jingle of bells and the overall anticipation of holiday fun! So many happy family memories are made during the holidays. But, what about the children without the support of a loving family or a happy, stable home, every day of the year?

Kids Hope United is dedicated to making a difference in the life of each child and family they serve. Here, three staff members share stories exemplifying their commitment to the organization’s mission:

“A youth came to us at 17½ after her parents passed away. We couldn’t arrange permanent guardianship because she was only eligible for less than six months in the child welfare system. We could not offer independent living—it wasn’t an option because she hadn’t been in foster care. We were afraid there were no services to help her. But with the help of the adoption unit, she was adopted the week before her 18th birthday. Now she qualifies for services that will assist her in going to college and best of all, she has a safe, nurturing home.”

“Our work is often about the little things that can change the lives of these kids and families, such as helping them get their heat turned on and finding suitable housing—removing some of the stress from parents who are really trying.”

“I am always touched by extraordinary efforts made by our staff who regularly provide care for clients beyond our contractual obligations. Through the years, I have observed staff help children obtain financial aid for college, help a family recover from a fire in their home, and find gifts for children removed from their home late on Christmas Eve—just to name a few. One staff member was even able to facilitate the transfer of a used handicap equipped van to one of our foster families—a remarkable gift from the donor and a small miracle for the family receiving the van.”

For more stories from staff members, board members and corporate donors, visit www.kidshopeunited.org/whyigive.

Without the help of generous donors, these special memories and success stories would not be possible. Help Kids Hope United wrap up this year and make this a holiday the children and families in their care won’t forget. Please visit www.kidshopeunited.org and make as generous donation as possible, be it $50, $100 or $1,000—every dollar makes a difference in the lives of the children and families supported by Kids Hope United allowing them to flourish year-round.

This holiday season, the Kids Hope United team wishes you a merry holiday to live, laugh, love and most of all … hope. Kids Hope United has just one hope for the holidays, a safe home for every child.

Martha, Martha, Martha: The ABCs of Martha Stewart

2009-10-23T08:37:00.000-05:00

A is for: Apprentice

B is for: Baker, check out Martha's cookie of the day!

C is for: Master Crafter

D is for: Dreamer

E is for: Entertainer i.e. the hostess with the mostess

F is for: Foodie

G is for: grandinroad

H is for: Homebuilder

I is for: Inspirational

J is for: Jailbird

K is for: Kids

L is for: Whole and healthy living

M is for: Model

N is for: Newsletters

O is for: Organizer

P is for: Painter

Q is for: Quick!

R is for: Rugs

S is for: Shopping

T is for: TV Host

U is for: Ultimate pet lover!

V is for: Vibrant Verbenas

W is for: Wedding Planner

X is for: XM Radio

Y is for: Yellow Cake with Lemon Filling

Z is for: Zucchini Fritters

Crave Chicago Winter Wonderland Party

2009-10-22T19:33:00.004-05:00

Do you want to venture down Michigan Avenue in this? I think not! Crave Chicago is making shopping for your holiday party attire super fabulous this year! Get your ticket now for the Winter Wonderland CRAVEparty! Details below...

What: Join your girlfriends for a captivating evening of opulence and magical events!
Where: The Historic Stan Mansion at 2408 N Kedzie in Chicago
When: Wednesday, December 9th, 7-10pm

FASHION & SIPS
Take advantage of the exclusive opportunity to pre-order the season’s chicest fashions from Chicagoland’s favorite boutiques, while enjoying gratis treats & cocktails!

SPA & SOOTHE
Indulge in complimentary mini-spa services to soothe your holiday-time stresses!

GIFTS GALORE
Don’t be greedy! Shop for something fabulous that those special people in your life will love!

AND MORE…

Find fabulous treasures on the catwalk as you watch fashion shows featuring local boutiques.
Be dazzled by the most gorgeous jewelry this city’s designers have to offer!
Bring your girlfriends to this one-of-a-kind event and we’ll see you off in high spirits… with a great goody bag in tow!
Find yourself sipping a cocktail, getting a mini-manicure, and shopping for your glamorous holidaytime ensemble, all while viewing a fabulous fashion show and other entertaining acts!
Become enthralled with the endless holiday gift options you’ll discover at various booths!
Throughout the night, we will have great raffles including gift certificates to Osteria via Stato and Park 52!
More details to come!

Let’s see how many tweets we can create; please use the hashtag #craveparty when tweeting about this event. Thank you!

Table 4 Ten

2009-10-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

Wow, is it just me or is 2009 flying by?

Another school year has started, which for me means back to tutoring. This year, my tutoree named me to her hero's list, after her mom and before Beyonce, and I got to thinking about how Beyonce might never know what a difference she is making in some young girl's lives---or perhaps she does and that is why she keeps it classy and confident (sing it with me: all the single ladies!).

So, who are those women who inspire me to be all that I can be...keeping it classy, confident and always moving along in life.

In honor of the tenth month of 2009, I've compiled my table 4 ten, which is made up of the ten most intriguing woman I would invite to my dream dinner party. Here are my mentors, heroes, role models (whatever you want to call them) from afar.

My dream reservation would include these fabulous ladies:

Martha Stewart, from a 15-feet long hot dog to the best ways to scrub a toilet, from farming trends to a respite in jail, the woman has it nailed down;

Nigella Lawson, a goddess in the kitchen and normal-sized to boot;

Grace Coddington, the redheaded right-hand of Anna Wintour and secret to Vogue's success;

Kelly Wearstler, from playmate to designer extraordinaire;

Sienna Miller, from boho fashion plate to Broadway goddess, she is the "it" girl;

Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar-winning yoga-loving mom and the one Brad Pitt let get away;

Deana Carter, because I'm a little bit country;

Anna Paquin aka Sookie Stackhouse and Kristen Stewart aka Bella Swan Cullen, so they could share their rocking on screen (and off?) vampiric love lives with the rest of the ladies;

And me, of course!

Keep an eye on Juicy Communications during the next ten days as I post my story about why each of these ladies would be invited to my dream table. Up first: Martha, Martha, Martha!

Tell me, who would be @ your table for ten?

Almost Home Foundation: The Loving and Loyal Black Lab

2009-09-01T18:40:00.000-05:00

Labrador retrievers, nicknamed lovingly as labs, are commonly considered the most popular breed of dogs in the world. Labs are also the most popular breed of assistance dog in the United States. And rightly so, thanks to the breed’s intelligence, energy and good nature.

Labs make for the perfect family pet. Their laidback, fun-loving attitudes provide the patience needed with small children, while their high energy level makes them the perfect mate for a rambunctious family. This breed loves company—the more the merrier! They do well with other pets in the home.

These dogs love to please and are easily trained with praise and food techniques. Labs are extremely adaptable, so there are no problems with an older dog fitting into your existing family dynamic.

These smart, easygoing pups are no stranger to the spotlight. A chocolate lab named Buddy once called the White House home under the leadership of former President Clinton. More recently, Marley the yellow lab made his debut on the big screen in “Marley & Me.”

Chocolate, black, and yellow are the three main colors of labs, according to the American Kennel Club. Almost Home Foundation finds that the black labs are often overlooked for adoption over their yellow and chocolate counterparts, even though all three colors share the same loving, intelligent personalities.

Interested? Check them out—there are currently several black labs available for adoption through Almost Home Foundation.

Juicy Recommends: Appolicious

2009-09-01T18:29:00.000-05:00

The secret project I've been writing for launched today! Check out Appolicious for all your iPhone or iPod Touch app needs. Have an app you would like me to review? Leave a comment and I'll check it out.

Read all my Appolicious reviews by clicking the link in the right hand column of my blog.

Check out what Kara Swisher has to say about Appolicious over at All Things Digital!

Lottery subscription...best idea ever!

2009-08-30T11:21:00.000-05:00

How had I not heard of this? Did you know you can subscribe to play the lottery in Illinois? Shut up. I'm serious! Leave it to the CFO of the nonprofit I work for to mention this...those CFOs have their money secrets.

So basically you go here, fill out your subscription form, mail it in and wait for your winnings to accumulate. This just made gambling a whole lot easier.

Sign me up Gov. Quinn, let's have a ball!

My favorite vintage drama starts again real soon!

2009-08-24T19:26:00.001-05:00

Oh the memories that these three bring to mind! I was always ahead of my age when it came to TV choices. Melrose Place was by far my fav over 90210. I couldn't be more pleased that the drama is coming back to the MP!

And, Ashlee Simpson, new comer to Melrose Place, is really rocking her red hair and post-baby body. You go girl! Looks like this Simpson sister has truly fond her groove. Jenna Dewan also looks super cute in this pale yellow and gray bandage dress--love it!

Doesn't this photo look like a Bebe advertisement? I love the zebra carpet and the way it goes up the wall, where can I order it from? Hot!

I'm super excited to see what trouble Mrs. Wentz is going to stir up on my favorite vintage drama.

New Moon trailer

2009-08-19T07:28:00.001-05:00

OMG I can't wait for this! There is just something about this cast that is so hot! I feel like I'm 15 again.

Sienna steps into Carrie's NYC tutu

2009-08-18T19:04:00.000-05:00

Sienna Miller arrived in NYC yesterday to start rehearsals for her Broadway show, After Miss Julie. I'm seriously bummed that I won't be able to make the trip to see her in the show. But, this photo of Sienna brushing into the big apple with a very Carrie Bradshaw-esque outfit certainly cheered me up!

What do you think? Is Sienna the next coming of SJP? I certainly see the resemblance.

Sienna photo from the uber fabulous popsugar.com!

Sienna for Hugo Boss Orange

2009-08-17T19:26:00.000-05:00

Love Hugo! Love Sienna! Love it!

Fancying Naperville after a few years away

2009-08-11T18:13:00.000-05:00

We were in our old 'burb Naperville over the weekend with my mom and sister for the annual Petco chihuahua races. I'm sorry to report that Fredo didn't make it past the finish line at the race, but the experience in itself was well worth the drive out to this snazzy 'burb.

After the race, we headed to downtown Naperville to find a pet-friendly restaurant for breakfast. I couldn't remember any being there during the time we lived close by (four years since we left). But, low and behold we stumbled upon a new breakfast place called Tangerine.

Photo from Daily Herald

The menu was filled with many scrumptious sounding delights! I finally decided on the french toast with Nutella and strawberries with a side of bacon for the pups. I had my eye on the omelet with asparagus, prosciutto and brie and plan on going back soon to try it! Everyone in my party was more than pleased with the al fresco dining experience. So pleased in fact that we even told the waitress when she didn't charge us for the bacon we ordered for the pups so she could add it on the bill. She was noticeably startled when we brought it to her attention.

Anyways, if you are in the area, check out Tangerine and tell them Juicy sent you.

Afterwards, we decided to walk around and check out the Saturday morning shopping scene. First stop, Baubles by Maclyn. My mom and sister spent at least 45 minutes in this store painstakingly looking at each bauble to create their personal bauble necklaces complete with each ladies first initial.

Next up, Two Bostons. We frequented this store for the doggie baked goods before we moved away. Apparently, we just missed the annual dog walking event that morning, so they shared some leftover pieces of cake with us---for the dogs of course! I'd been searching for a new harness and the super nice salesgirl helped my chihuahua, Fredo, try on some options. We ran into another chihuahua racer in the store who signed off with, "See you next year!"

I thought I'd died and gone to cowboy boot heaven when we got around the corner and found a pair of leopard cowgirl boots at Renegade Cowgirl.

We finished our trip with a stop at Hot Mama, which I totally didn't even realize was a store for moms. The clothes were not mom-like at all! In fact, I was really impressed with the selection and it appeared to be a lone boutique and not a chain store. The woman working that day was very welcoming, and I would definitely shop there even though I'm not a mom. I'm going to go ahead and recommend they change the name of the chain to Hot Housewife. With the popularity of the housewives shows, I'm sure it would take off like Bethenny's Skinnygirl Cocktails.

So long story short, Naperville, Illinois, is worth a visit especially if you haven't been in a while. I'll be headed back soon for an omelet and some leopard cowgirl boots...fancy that!

SJP, JS and MP

2009-08-02T19:47:00.000-05:00

How cute are they? Seriously, I love the retro/modern, I'm to cool for you, style that the Brodericks have going on in this picture. Carrie Bradshaw would be proud!

Today, I was cleaning out our cabinets and found an authographed picture of Jessica Simpson. Why do I have it you ask?

I actually bought it at a charity silent auction so it was for the good of mankind. '-)

I was intrigued later on in the day when I saw a magazine cover stating that our sweet JS had lost 10 pounds in 10 days...she is looking pretty good! You go girl! I'll be heading to the gym this week with a little Jess'piration.

One step behind and little sis Ash hasn't been looking so bad herself lately. I'm digging the straight as nails, red vamp hair on the younger Simpson sister. And, man can I not wait for Melrose Place to make its second debut! I always loved it more than its zip code sibling show. I'm so hankering for a good cat fight and some scandalous love making in the pool. We can only wish for a Bree showing up one day talking to herself in the rearview mirror...

Catalog spotlights from the Barn and the Barrel

2009-08-02T19:35:00.000-05:00

While I love the Ikea catalog, I don't so much love the plethora of Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel catalogs that arrive in my mailbox on what seems like a daily basis. I know I should call and tell them to quit sending to me for green's sake. I just can't seem to give up on them.

This week, I'm loving this Crate and Barrel Korba vase. The swirly design and the combination of the blue and yellow strike my fancy. I've got it on my potential list to make an appearance in our bathroom...hopefully once it hits the CB outlet store shelves.

I'm also digging this wine bottle chandelier from Pottery Barn. At $399 a pop, I don't think I'll be buying one anytime soon, but I am still digging the concept.

I'm betting a crafty motivated person can make a pretty cool one of these as a DIY project. It would look pretty stellar hanging on an indoor patio as well. Not to mention a green project when you reuse the bottles and the old chandelier you fix up! Go for it! If you do, e-mail me a photo.

My bad habit: THE Ikea catalog

2009-08-01T09:18:00.000-05:00

When I hear that it is time again, my nerves start to flare and my shoulders become tense. I wonder, when will mine come? Will I even get mine? Last season, it never showed and I was forced to flip through online. Which nasty neighbor accidently got mine and is flipping through it unrespectifully with sticky fingers at this very moment...

There is just something about the Ikea catalog for me. It's my candy. It's my vice. It's my bad habit.

E hates Ikea. He's an engineer. He likes things built to last. Not affordable things, built to last a little.

A couple year's ago, I begged E to buy me a table from Ikea to use as a desk. It was shiny metal with pretty detailed legs. I feel in love with it in the catalog. The room was a lilac color and showed as if a clothing showroom. To me, it was a little slice of heaveon. The room I would someday have in a beautiful house in the country, once my debut novel hits the New York Times best seller list.

Once the table was in my condo, the dream exploded. E was fuming when he had to drill new holes in the tabletop so that the legs I chose would adhere. He's attitude immediately burst my small happiness bubble.

Then, the tabletop started to scratch at the slightest wrong movement of the laptop or an errant iPod thrown casually over the surface. Now, my little piece of dream furniture is covered with dust and showing signs of premature wear.

Would I do it again? Heck yeah! What Ikea offers is a little dream for those on a budget. A piece of the modern design world on a peanut butter and jelly budget.

My desk was a Valentine's Day gift from E. And I'll keep it forever as if it was a Tiffany diamond. Because, my guess is that getting a man to buy you a diamond is much easier than getting an engineer to buy you Ikea.

Brunettes, tiger stripes, butterflies, oh my!

2009-07-15T21:03:00.000-05:00

The only thing I love more than Sopranos is Jamie Lynn Sigler in this fabulous tiger stripped DKNY dress! Roar Meadow!

I just love Nicky Hilton's style. This week I'm admiring this number...

The other night I was catching up on my Apartment Therapy reading and found these great pictures from a Missoni store. God I would have died for these butterfly schemes back in college.

Erin Lucas Is Leaving The City to Be a Gypsy -- The Cut: New York Magazine's Fashion Blog

2009-07-12T09:02:00.000-05:00

That sucks! I'll miss you gypsy Erin!

Erin Lucas Is Leaving The City to Be a Gypsy -- The Cut: New York Magazine's Fashion Blog: "Erin Lucas Is Leaving The City to Be a Gypsy
7/9/09 at 6:00 PMComment 12Comment 12Comments
Photo: Getty ImagesWhitney Port's City sidekick, Erin Lucas, announced last week she won't be part of the second season of the reality series. 'I decided to do something different,' she told us this week at the launch party for Alizé's online reality series, Concrete and Cashmere (on which Lucas is a guest judge). 'I have a project in the mix, but I want to get into more hosting. That's really what I love.' She also admitted she hasn't spoken to Port in months, though she claims there's no hard feelings and she'd give Port a big hug if she ever saw her again. 'We were [close], but things change,' she said. 'There was a falling out' — reality-TV gold. However, we spotted The City crew filming at a Gen-Art benefit two weeks ago, which Erin attended along with Whitney. And you know what? There was no hugging. 'I wasn't filming [that night], I was just there,' Lucas tried to explain. She said running into the old camera crews and co-stars was awkward. 'But Sammy's still one of my best friends.' So why'd she give it up? 'It was just hard,' she said. 'It was a chapter in my life and it was nothing but positive. I'm glad I did it, but on to the next thing. I'm kind of a gypsy. I released a statement a couple of days ago, but this is the first interview with people asking me about it, so I don't know what to say.' Life is hard when no one gives you a script."

Healthy happy you. | FitSugar - Fitness, Health & Well-being

2009-06-30T07:33:00.000-05:00

Healthy happy you. | FitSugar - Fitness, Health & Well-being: "Our friends over at the Exhale Spa have done it again. First they brought you their Pilates Plus and Body Sculpt Core Fusion DVDs, and they've just come out with a new one to target your lower body. Core Fusion — Thighs & Glutes ($15)."

Review: Men in kilts on Wabash Avenue, Chicago!

2009-06-28T08:18:00.000-05:00

So, I gave the ole' Tilted Kilt another try this weekend to watch the Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox. For those of you not familiar, the Tilted Kilt is a new Irish spin on Hooters. The cool element of this particular one, it is located on the second floor of a building in Jewelers' Row, so it has an El (elevated train) view!

Now, don't get me wrong, the more than a dozen large flat screens on the bar alone and the El view are really the best things this place has going for it. A big plus for the ladies, not many women in sight! Looking for a new place to pick up a new man? I think you many have found it. Just beware, we are talking lady-loving men here so don't be bamboozled by a smooth talker. The only women in sight are those clad in the Britney Spears kilt outfits. So if your confident enough to let your man ogle some pretty young things but you yourself can do without the white tablecloth and glass of wine then make your way over to the Tilted Kilt on Wabash. Just don't be in a hurry because those outfits painfully slow down the servers!

The onion rings are the only actual food I've tried, juicy and melt in my mouth! And I've pretty much stuck to Miller Lite. However the menu, both drink and meal, is pretty extensive and fairly cheap for city bar food.

Did I mention the men wear kilts too? Not as scandalous of course, there is something under it, but woot woot for the men in kilts! The male bartender was always around the corner when my Lite went light.

And the bar was empty enough that we played three games of darts while watching the game. Most bars in Chi-town you'd be lucky to get one stool let alone play darts too.

And last but not least, my most favorite part...ready? The woman's bathroom is pristine! I tend to judge a restaurant by it's ladies room. Is that fair? I think it is; it shows the overall dedication to cleanliness in the restaurant and the odds that I will spend the evening in my own. When I first stepped in it smelled of fresh grapefruit! The floor tiles were immaculate and the toilet seat pristine. Not a random drop in site. There was plastic still on the stall hardware, a little weird, but I'm a little OCD so others probably didn't notice.

Find out more at www.tiltedkilt.com

Score: Atmosphere A, Food B (onion rings only), Drinks B+ (+ for having Miller Lite on draft and bottled), Bathroom A+, Service C (A for the quick, manly bartender)

Priorities are straight: Reading break and family!

2009-06-24T20:25:00.000-05:00

Sienna took a reading break in Italy...wonder what she's reading?

How cute is Heidi Klum's family? The little girl's bikini is adorable! And those little boys are so cute!

Something about Balthazar and those New Jersey Housewives...

2009-06-23T18:27:00.001-05:00

So Miss Miller was spotted with Mr. Getty again...woot! I'm so excited. I would love to see her settle down with Balthazar. I just watched the season finale of Brothers & Sisters online the other night---love it! I was so happy to see Balthazar's character back. He makes the show for me!

Sienna picked a nice, distinguished man this time who hopefully won't diddle the nanny. They just seem so peaceful together, which has to be hard to do when you are followed by paps all the time!

Do I look fabulous with my new buhh-bees? LMAO

I can't help but love the New Jersey housewives. I'm totally rewatching episodes right now waiting for the reunion show. WHOOOOO#$!

emily giffin | official website

2009-06-19T22:09:00.000-05:00

emily giffin | official website: "The New York Times bestselling author of SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE, and BABY PROOF delivers another captivating, straight-from-the heart novel. This is a story for everyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I'm with, when I can't forget the one who got away?"

I love Emily's books! "Love the one you're with" is the next one on my to-read list!

15 MINUTE WORKOUT | Women's Health Magazine

2009-06-19T22:05:00.000-05:00

15 MINUTE WORKOUT | Women's Health Magazine: "Why wait in line at the gym when you can get the same results at home? This total-body dumbbell workout from Mike Mejia, C.S.C.S., a personal trainer on Long Island, New York, hits several major muscle groups, and if you do one move after the other without rest, you'll torch serious calories."

This is my workout of the month!

Sienna launches Hugo Boss Orange and spends the day in Paris with her girls

2009-06-19T21:49:00.001-05:00

Oh to spend the day in Paris with your friends...a girl can dream!

Happy as a clam!

I absolutely loved Calvin Klein Contradiction, which disappeared in the early 2000s. I'm hoping that Hugo Boss Orange will be similar and take its place on my bureau. After all orange is my favorite color!

If I were a rich girl...I'd move to London and buy Sienna's flat.

2009-06-19T20:22:00.000-05:00

Miss Miller put her London home up for sale. Anybody want to buy it for me? I've been contemplating leaving the states for some time...

Do you think she'd leave me the hat collection?

Check out that dainty fireplace...and those gypsy chandeliers. I die...

Can you imagine the parties that took place in this room? Can you imagine the parties we could have in this room? This is by far one of the funniest rooms I've ever seen in a home!

Super Sassy Sienna Miller

2009-06-19T20:11:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in quite a while, and it is only fitting that my first post is a super sassy Sienna Miller post. It's no secret that I admire Miss Miller's style very much. I've been collecting her cover magazines for years now and have acquired quite a collection. I was stoked to find out she graces the July issue of Vogue and quickly added it to the library.

Sienna takes on a new modern look in these photos---are little boho princess is growing up!

Sienna is about to embark on a worldwide tour for the unveiling of the motion picture GI Joe. Hear more below straight from the horses mouth...

I love Reese's pool style!

2009-04-20T20:48:00.000-05:00

This is what I will be doing next Tuesday - Thursday at The Mirage in Las Vegas. Sitting poolside with a margarita (or two, or three!). Love your style Reese!

Reese was also a Coachella Cutie over the weekend...I love her laid-back style.

E and I are going to an Oceanside Glasstile party on Wednesday night at the River East Art Center. The theme is bright colors to highlight the new glasstile collection. I'm wearing my bright orange dress and I'm on the hunt for a shirt for E. I struck out at Nordstrom tonight but I'm going to try again tomorrow night in Lincoln Park after tutoring.

Did I mention it's an open bar? Look out! Wednesday night is going to rock. Oh, I guess I'll take some photos of the glasstile as well.

Anyways, I'm loving Julia Louis-Dreyfus rocking this orange frock and clutch.

Last but not least, SJP pulling a Carrie Bradshaw in these pink Loubs...I die!

This time next week, I'll be leaving the Windy City and landing in Sin City!

My favorite hockey fan...

2009-04-19T12:29:00.001-05:00

Vince Vaughn returned to Chicago this weekend to see the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And I must say he was looking mighty fine. That fiance of his needs to crack a smile though. I mean she was sitting right by the ice looking like she was ready to pull her hair out. Cheer up girl, you've got a fine man and the best seats in town!

Sorry to see you leave Vince, come back soon!

Books in interior design...

2009-04-19T12:25:00.000-05:00

Like a good book cover to add to your design scheme but don't want to look pretentious displaying books you've never read? Penguin to the rescue!

Next month Penguin is set to release the classics in these fresh styles! Love it!

I'll def pick up Great Expectations and prob a few others...read on with your design-self.

What I'm reading...

2009-04-19T12:16:00.000-05:00

I picked up the 2008 copy of The Best American Nonrequired Reading at Borders last week.

I've only made it to page 16 so far but I have to say it's a great book to have in your handbag for those moments you are caught with nothing to do. The Best American Facebook Groups article made me laugh out loud!

I'm definitely going to make a trip to the Chicago Public Library this week to pick up a new mystery novel. I need something more engaging...I think I'll go for another Patricia Cornwell novel because I really dug Scarpetta. In fact, if I get adventurous maybe I'll go out in the rain today for a good read.

Cheerio!

A Miller Mother's Day

2009-04-19T12:07:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day is coming up...and it got me to thinking. I really don't understand the hatred some women have towards Ms. Sienna Miller. Sure she has gone through her fair share of men, but the lady is a mamma's girl at heart.

Here she is out walking the dogs with her mum and kissing up to her former step-mother. If that isn't love, I don't know what is.

It's Super Sienna Sunday and I'm catching you up on some of my recent fave photos of my style icon. She can take a plan outfit and really make it chic.

My favorite color is orange and I'm always buying special occasion dresses in the bright hue. Here Sienna shows off her bright side and tops it off with a chic black jacket - which looks Chanel but not sure that it is.

Cheers to a chic and stylish early Mother's Day!

Interior Inspiraton

2009-04-07T21:24:00.000-05:00

I've been collecting some images that inspire me and I'm at the point to share!

I love, love, love the interior design on The City. I miss their apartments so much! They make the show for me. Erin's eclectic girly mix is great! The photos behind her couch remind me of a collage I crafted in college out of Sex and the City clippings. Aeropostale was changing up its decor when I worked at The Limited and they gave me this big old picture. So I framed my collage and displayed it in my bathroom. Anybody remember that? I think it is in the closet at my parent's house. I need to dig that treasure up!

And Whit's apartment is to die for...I love her entertainment console but was unable to find any good images of it online. Watch the show and check it out! I miss you The City!

This one is a shot of Diane Keaton's library in a house she is selling in Beverly Hills. I love the laid back look. It's my dream to have a library someday.

This was another above the couch art display that I found intriguing. I've been wanting to create one of these on my own but haven't found the time to search for the perfect pieces of art yet. Someday...someday!

Well, I'm off to see the wizard and dream about those ruby loubs some more!

Ruby Loubs and more

2009-04-06T21:32:00.000-05:00

Wow! I kind of went through an uninspired phase over the past couple weeks. I took a trip to Minnesota to visit a friend (Mall of America and Minnesota Zoo, oh my!) and then the family came for a visit (Bulls game, Outlet Mall, Lou Malnati's, Hackney's, oh my!). And then a dinner at Carmichael's and Blackhawk's game with E's mom. Lots of fun and little down time for surfing the Internet. Anyways, I'm back!

Here are a couple things that sparked my interest today:

Sparkly Red Loubs(as in Christian Louboutin stilettos)! Woot! (That was for Eric who recently has been breaking into my Facebook and constantly making fun of me for using the term - woot!)

And Ethan Allen is attempting to get their groove back with a new line of modern furniture. I'm kind of lovin' it. If I had a need for furniture (as if we could get anything else in our 700 sq. ft. condo) I would totally splurge for this stuff! Then again, I am a sucker for orange and animal print! It's kind of rock star meets traditionalist...

So I'm back on my fitness bandwagon. I choked down some fat free Greek yogurt today. Yum-O, Not-O! LOL

I'm on day 3 of working out for 24 days straight. My eye is on the prize. E is going to buy me a new bikini for our Vegas trip if I work out every day until we leave. I'm on it! And I have my eye on a white Burberry bikini I've wanted since last year! Woot! (That was for E again)

And I'll leave you with a little Anna inspiration...

Baby got back

2009-03-17T18:24:00.000-05:00

By Gosh, I think Reggie Bush's tush is actually larger in scale than his girlfriend's (Kim K.). Here is the pair strutting their hot bods in GQ magazine.

That is a fine pair if I do say so myself.

Who knew? Vampy Kristen Stewart was also hiding a taut tushy from us. Here she is in a sweet orange and black number at the premiere of her new movie Adventureland.

I love Kristen's eclectic style.

J Love does it right

2009-03-16T19:02:00.000-05:00

My kind of lady! Trade in that diamond for a Bentley and a funny man. You go J Love!

Work it girl!

Olivia Wilde's 5 Favorite Books

2009-03-14T09:46:00.000-05:00

As promised a while ago, here is the list of Olivia Wilde's favorite books as published in Women's Health magazine.

Kurt Vonnegut's "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater"

Oliver Sacks' "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat"

John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces"

Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged"

Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love"

I personally love Kurt Vonnegut's writing, plus he's an Indiana native like myself. I highly encourage you to pick up some of his works.

Olivia's picks will be on my summer, lazy days by the pool, reading list! Here I come Harold Washington Library. I love flexing my Chicago Public Library card.

coco chanel movie in french first

2009-03-14T09:41:00.001-05:00

Coco Chanel has such an inspiring story. Her story should be read to all young girls, in my opinion. Much more realistic than Cinderella--ugh.

And you really don't mind paying so much for a piece of Chanel after you hear her story. I could sit through this whole movie in French and love every minute of it even though I don't speak the language.

Coco will forever be an inspiration to me!

The movie will be coming to the U.S. soon.

Black and white and smokin' hot all over!

2009-03-12T18:54:00.001-05:00

I'm speechless. And will be picking up a copy of the April GQ to keep on my nightstand. '- )

Sweet dreams Edward Cullen.

WHOA Katie Holmes is h-o-t!

2009-03-12T18:40:00.001-05:00

The hair! The dress! The pockets on the dress! The shoes! OMG

I can't get over it. Is this really Katie Holmes?

I bow to you Katie Holmes.

OMG I Loves! I WANT those shoes!

2009-03-12T18:28:00.000-05:00

Britney never ceases to amaze. I love the whole American as Apple Pie in her mind drama. You go girlfriend!

Jessica "Rabbit" Timberlake is funny!

2009-03-09T16:51:00.000-05:00

Doing my part to boost the economy...

2009-03-08T10:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday E and I went shopping to pick up some basketball shoes for him. He enticed me by promising to go to Juicy on Oak St. so of course I didn't resist! I did pick up a couple things but nothing at Juicy. I found the cutest casual dress with pockets at anthropologie however I couldn't find a pic of it on their Web site. I'll have to post one wearing it later. I can't resist a dress with pockets!

To go with it I found this super funky sequin ballerinas at Puma. E actually picked them out much to my chagrin, but then he proceeded to mock them today as my Dorothy Shoes. LMAO

After our shopping trip we stopped into Dublin's Bar & Grill. One of my favorite places to eat in the city. I had a fabulous blackened chicken and shrimp salad. The seasoning they use is out of this world! Sweet and spicy at the same time. We usually both eat the strip steak and share the mushroom appetizer but went for new lighter items yesterday. If you've never been to Dublin's, I urge you to try it. BUT it is more of an old school Chicago joint. There isn't a lot of flare or overly friendly staffers. Not for the faint of heart.

Okay, so next up at Target for Go International...Tracy Feith...here is what I have my eye on...

Recognize her above? It's Whitney's friend from The City!

I love the girly ruffles on this bikini bottom! Cutsie!

Moody rainy day in Chicago inspiration...

2009-03-07T10:27:00.000-06:00

I'm lovin' the latest pics of Sienna. What a moody rock star of an ensemble. She never ceases to amaze me with her clever uses of muted colors. Perfect for a rainy moody day in Chicago.

I would wear the same thing but with these fantastic Moov Boots from Australia. They are simply perfect for Chicago weather. I rain boot on the outside, and warm merino sheepskin on the inside. And this Rococo pattern is to die for...Rococo was a period of design that was seen as frivolous or merely fashion according to the Moov Web site--which by the way is fabulously designed.

This is not merely fashion people. This is an exquisite rain boot. AND you can get 30% off your order with the code DCMOOV thanks to Daily Candy!

I'm hankering for some design changes this weekend. I would love to put up an over-sized vintage black and white Las Vegas piece above the couch in my condo and bring in the black and white theme with this funky rug from Ikea. Let's see if I can talk the man into it...

My favorite glam fashion designer has announced a small but fine home line coming in April with SFERRA. I'm digging this bed set...it doesn't quite go with my moody post today but it is blue and I couldn't resist! There's just something about Kelly's designs that are so glam but everyday at the same time. Love, love, love!

It's raining today in Chi-town...blah. Time to start reading a new book, "Scarpetta" by Patricia Cornwell. I'm reading it for my gym's book club. I've got until the 19th to read 500 pages. Better get started!

I was also disappointed today when I couldn't get to the HelloAgentProvcateur blog. I've been reading that the lingerie line's blog is very witty and even started following it on Twitter.com/msprovocateur. Hopefully it comes back online soon!

Stay dry today and try to make a stranger smile! Woot!

Spoiler Alert!

2009-03-05T19:14:00.000-06:00

The Ghost Whisperer is preggers! Oh my!

ISLA-UV your sweater! Cute outfit shopaholic!

Charlize joins the gray suede shoe brigade!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad LC wore this shirt today? That was bad. No clever sayings here on this one. I just really love LC's shirt.

Peace out.

Let me be Blunt

2009-03-04T19:05:00.000-06:00

Emily Blunt's stylist rocks! And if she is dressing herself, double props!

Strolling, just strolling....

2009-03-04T18:17:00.000-06:00

As promised...

Step by step stroll... calling NKOTB...

The smile stroll... as modeled by the new happy couple Rachel McAdams and Josh Lucas.

The sexy stroll... as modeled by Transformers actress Megan Fox.

The sunglasses stroll... by Twilight actress Kristen Stewart.

The get away from me you crazy cougar stroll... by Edward Cullen (Rob Pattinson).

Strolling, just strolling,
In the cool of the evening air,
I don't envy the rich in their automobiles,
For a motor car is phoney.
I'd rather have Shanks's pony,
When I'm strolling, just strolling,
With the light of the moon above,
Ev'ry night I go out strolling,
And I know my luck is rolling,
When I'm strolling with the one I love.

Strolling, just strolling,
In the cool of the evening air,
Ev'ry man and his dog keeps on walking for miles
And we don't care who tramps most,
But they can never pass one lamp post,
When they're strolling, just strolling,
In the light of the moon above
Though we might think we're good planners,
But the blighters won't learn manners,
Though they're strolling with the ones they love.

By Flanagan & Allen

So excited! It looks like Sienna's Edge of Love is set to release in limited theaters this month in the U.S. I'm pumped to see her acting chops up next to a veteran like Kiera. Hopefully she'll get some props in the U.S. from this role!

Time to eat pancakes for dinner. Yum-O!

What a circus!

2009-03-03T20:20:00.000-06:00

Argh, I'm exhausted after a long tutoring session. This will be brief...

Sneak peak of Britney's concert...can you say WHOA! Brit looks hot!

And great gossip of the day...drum roll please...Rachel McAdams and Josh Lucas were caught strolling around her hometown and making out! WOOT! I love this new couple. Josh Lucas is a hot foodie man and she is a hot earth friendly smart cookie, great pairing!

Good night! XOXO

Shag Sunday

2009-03-01T19:38:00.000-06:00

Today I finally the bought the coffee colored shag rug I've been wanting at Target. Get your minds out of the gutter people! '- )

I bought the 4 x 6 size for the bedroom to cover up dog stains and to create a comfy area to lay down with lots of pillows and watch the tube. When I got home I noticed you can order the rug online at Target right now and get free shipping and 10% off! So if you are in need of a shag, go for it! I love mine.

I also finally bought the Nike iPod plug-in device for my iPod. I'm really excited to try it out tomorrow a.m. at the gym. Speaking of, I figured out if I turn off the TV on the treadmill (my gym has individual TVs on each machine) I run faster and longer. Just a fun tip! And I have to give a shout out to my gym, Fitness Formula Clubs South Loop, for being voted cleanest gym in Chi-town! Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

I also spent too much money on workout clothes but if I'm going to spend more time in the gym, I might as well look good doing it! So here is today's Anna inspiration. To look like Anna, you must get up off the couch and take your fine behinds to the gym ladies.

But by now you probably know me well enough to know that Sunday didn't pass without some guilty food pleasures. After devouring a Boston Blackie's Burger at where else, Boston Blackie's, we stopped by Panozzo's Italian Market in our hood and picked up some homemade vodka sauce and pappardelle for dinner. People, I'm telling you, this is the best vodka sauce I have ever had, and at $4.99 it is a steal! And if you've never checked out Blackie's over on Grand in downtown Chicago, it is a must see! The place hasn't been touched since like the 50s, it's old school straight up Chicago gangster style.

Okay, time to watch Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Interested? E and I are hooked. Watch free episodes at Hulu.

Big bad Jude, is that you?

2009-02-28T10:51:00.000-06:00

"Is that you up there, Big Bad Wolf?" So it looks like Sienna is so distressed over losing the part of Maid Marian that she decided to go for a part in Little Red Riding Hood. Not a bad idea, not a bad idea. Who would play the three little pigs? The Jonas Brothers?

TWILIGHT goes to Tokyo

I love this dramatic photo of Jacob, Belle and Edward. Did you hear that Drew Barrymore might direct Eclipse? I die!

And I LOVE Kristen Stewart's dress in this pic. But I do have to say, Rob needs a new stylist.

So the suede gray shoe thing was big with celebs this week. See pic of Aniston below. I'm also digging Paltrow's purple purse. I've been dying to add a bright purse to my collection. I had my eye on a yellow one at Bebe but it's already sold out and my freakin' coupon expired. Send me a new one Bebe!

So today starts Operation Anna Kournikova! I'm kicking my fitness routine back into gear. I'm going to try to keep up with my blogs, but I'll be spending way more time in the gym. I'll be posting inspirational photos of Anna and fitness tips on my blog as well. Goal: Attain similar bum to Anna by December '09.

2 more Thursday goodies!

2009-02-26T18:31:00.000-06:00

So I thought I was done posting for the day and then I ran across some snazzy stuff!

First, finally a reason to watch Dancing with the Stars! I don't know if it is because she is from Downers Grove (where Eric's dad lives) or if it was her reality show last year, but I can't get enough of Denise Richards! She is simply delightful! I can't wait to watch her on the new season starting in March.

Then, I came across this photo. This is the cutest outfit I have ever seen on Aniston! So fashionable for her. She usually sticks to the neutrals. Maybe it is the love she has found with Mayer that is giving her a brave new fashion face! Whatever it is, I want those shoes!