Sugar Rush

Last Thursday night I ventured out in the snow and cold for a really great non-profit called Spark. They create apprenticeships for 7th and 8th graders in Chicago to drive interest in their futures and the needed education to get them there. It's a really great organization and I was happy to add my contributions, especially with the treats their event had in store.

Sugar Rush includes some of Chicago's top chefs and their inspired desserts, a carefully curated collection of silent auction items, and a lovely mix of people to mingle with. We made it around to all the tables and my favorite dessert ended up being a goat cheese cheesecake from Blackbird. It was heavenly.

This is turning into quite the food blog. I swear I do more than just eat! But let me show you some more great food...

First off, It was pretty gross out.

But gorgeous inside. The event was at Hotel Allegro downtown.

This was the most stunning table display. Mountains of salt, branches and rosemary created a beautiful winter scape for Popcorn and Rosemary Bon Bons. You heard me right and yes there were delicious with a liquid bursting center. Compliments of Chef Thomas Raquel at Acadia.

Here's Grace enjoying every drop of it.

This was a beautiful huckleberry pop tart with tangerine sorbet from mK The Restaurant. The sorbet was pretty great.

Here's the goat cheese cheesecake with avocado and burnt grapefruit. Sounds weird, tastes decadent.

I did have a favorite dish of the night. An out of this world Potato Gnocchi from The Florentine. It brought be right back to my time in Italy.

Restaurant Week Fail

Maybe that's a little harsh. The third course was amazing and the space was beautiful.

A few girlfriends and I went to Balena in Lincoln Park known for its Italian food and wine.

First up, prosciutto-like pork. Meh. Followed by a perfectly acceptable but not too exciting tuna bruschetta. The third course of chicken thighs was divine, but the chocolate dessert was a let down. Either way it was a fun night with friends. Until next time!

DC Dining

I flew in to DC this afternoon for work. It was a great excuse to meet up with a few co-workers and try a Belgium restaurant I never made it to when I lived here. If you like mussels or fried brownies, get to Brasserie Beck stat.


The mussels were amazing, but photographed too dark. I went with the Mediterranean option and a mind blowing shallot and onion soup to start.

 A sparkling prickly pear cocktail was slightly strong, but went down smooth.

The dessert! Totally demolished. We split some fried brownies with rasberry and vanilla dipping sauce. I highly recommend this ending!

 Aaaaand what do you know, another stunning bathroom. I feel in love with the wall paper here. Reminds me of my old wallpaper in DC! See here and here.

Up tomorrow is Ray's the Third. I am going to be stuffed when I head back to Chicago!

Ruxbin Ladies Night

I am LOVING Chicago. Minus the winter weather it's an amazing city. That's where I've been the last 6 months; exploring Chi-town.

Tonight was a lovely evening with three of my friends. We went to Ruxbin, a phenomenal little hole in the wall in the Ukrainian Village. It's Michelin star quality at a great price. Oh, and it's BYOB. Very nice touch.

Up first, our cute little Pancake white wine BYOB. Sorry for the iPhone pics.

For apps, we had garlic fries (addicting) with Chipotle Aioli and a delicious flatbread with prosciutto, goat cheese and pear slices.

Here we all are with our entrees. It took some time to for the kitchen to get these all out, so the servers treated us to a tasty apple & plum salad that I forgot to take a picture of. Grace and Maureen both got the Short Ribs with ramen risotto. I stole a bite and it was heaven.

My entree: I couldn't pass up the Shrimp and Grits with mussels, sausage, polenta cake and everything else glutinous.

 My roomie made the brilliant decision to sample the vegetarian dish; tomato and eggplant parm. I had a sample and my taste buds exploded. It was that good.

And for dessert, the Rocky Road option was my favorite. Brownies, cherries, juniper ice cream, creme fraiche caramel, and cotton candy on top. I was a little greedy with my portions. :)

The other dessert we tried was the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Not my favorite, but the coconut sorbet was unforgettable.

 Also unforgettable, the crazy bathroom. It was top notch. A crazy swivel door was how you got in, posters lined the walls and utensils made up the frames. I also had a little photo shoot.

Until next time, Ruxbin. You were great.

Minty

Slowly I've found my closet being taken over by a lovely shade of mint green. Tops, shoes, jewelry, I just keep being drawn to it. I've had my eye on this Anthropologie watch for a while. Might have to scoop this up soon.

Into the Grey

I'm in Chicago and finally have internet! It's warm and sunny here so I'm happy. My first order of business was to update the master bedroom to give it my own flair.

Here's the before. Darker walls but great inceiling lighting.

We painted over the walls in pure white and my Dad being the engineer that he is, marked off the walls for 12 inch grey stripes.

 Here's the final product! Grey striped bedroom walls that I love. Now just waiting for some furniture to finally arrive sometime today.

I know this picture is a little blurry, but the walk-in closet is amazing! Big step up from my DC shoebox.

Here's the kitchen/living room from the entrance. I picked up some stools and a TV last weekend, but still am in need of a couch. I'm thinking about a chocolate one.

Here's a view of the living room/entrance from the opposite view. Stairs to downstairs are on the left.

 And here's a nice view of the little patio area outside. I've probably spent more time sitting out here then inside. I'm thinking about upgrading the seating area though :)



Fringe Ride

It's that time again. Summer is here and I need a bathing suit (for Lake Michigan this year). I LOVE L*Space fringe bathing suits. It's actually one of the first posts I created on this blog. I finally bit the bullet and ordered one for this summer. Black bottoms and two tops (coral and black). Can't wait to try them on!

Summer Dip

I know I've been MIA for a while. So busy with my move to Chicago. I finally found a place! Anyway, here's a quick update on a shoe that I think everyone should get for summer. $40 at Target and adorable. Get them while they're around! I went with the pink ones. From Target's Collaboration with The Webster.

Aint' that the Truth

Truer words were never drawn. Hope you guys have a great weekend!

 

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Puckered

I'm starting to get ready for Chicago! First thing I've been dying to do for ages is update my duvet cover to something more fun and grown up. I found this one at West Elm and fell in love with it! Don't you just love that store?

Toe Caps are so Hot Right now

Everywhere I turn this season I keep seeing adorable cap toed shoes. Heels, flats it doesn't matter, they are both joining the ranks of colored and metal capped toes. I loved them so much I even took a crack at them myself with this DIY project. If you haven't grabbed a pair for spring, do it.

I picked up these gorgeous rose gold suede ballerina flats at Zara in Chicago this weekend.

Also at Zara are these yellow metal capped heels.

And love these colorful caps I found on Pinterest.

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