Champagne Taste On A Beer Budget

Flashback Friday

2011-12-09T09:02:00.000-06:00

home alone

only the best christmas movie made.

look what you did, you little jerk.

Flashback Friday

2011-11-18T10:32:00.001-06:00

angelina ballerina

just a wittle mouse.

Mmm Have You Heard?

2011-11-17T21:52:00.003-06:00

versace for h&m

too bad it's still nottttttt quite affordable for this chick.

"Dressed in a pink leather dress from the collection, which retails for £199 – about a tenth of the price a leather dress from the Versace mainline might cost – Donatella laid on a celebrity personal appearance as payback for her fans' loyalty."

- the guardian

Evening Commute

2011-11-16T17:56:00.001-06:00

it kind of makes my day when i see the red line violinist at the state and lake stop on my way home from work.

and i'm obviously not the only one who thinks he's awesome.

Words To Live By

2011-11-15T21:48:00.001-06:00

Music Monday

2011-11-07T19:48:00.001-06:00

we found love

Messy Halloween

2011-10-31T19:45:00.004-05:00

i got the best halloween surprise ever.

a bff visitor!!

taryn . chloe . mia . laura

a hood rat + a christmas tree

with harry potter

stay-vennnnnnn. love you, selly kristen.

Music Monday (Tuesday)

2011-10-25T20:35:00.000-05:00

bonfire

Life Lately

2011-10-22T21:56:00.004-05:00

i'm thinking it's about time to spice things up.

but that'll have to wait til tomorrow. tonight, i'm staying in... drained from our wild night out in the burbs last night.

Flashback Friday

2011-10-21T10:04:00.000-05:00

oregon trail

your brother always died of malaria, dysentery, typhoid fever, mumps, a snake...

Fashie

2011-10-20T21:05:00.004-05:00

i am obsessed with the color and texture contrast going on in this outfit.

of course it would be featured in whowhatwear.

Beauty Lovers on a Budget-

2011-10-19T21:14:00.001-05:00

if you haven't checked out pretty city lately, do it immediately.

in honor of breast cancer awareness month, a ton of salons and spas are offering $31 services in october.

i just booked a $31 haircut with emily at salonO65 and two back-to-back "mini highlights" appointments with ashton at blueberry moon aveda salon for $62. hurry and book your appointments because you have to use it before october's up. eeee! totally geeking out about this.

Music Monday

2011-10-17T20:20:00.001-05:00

total eclipse of the heart

i mean... this video is hilarious.

Vintage

2011-10-15T12:46:00.001-05:00

seriously. that outfit.

Flashback Friday

2011-10-14T21:36:00.000-05:00

b*witched

Your daily dose of good news...

2011-10-06T19:59:00.002-05:00

MmMmMm Gimme

2011-10-04T23:00:00.004-05:00

these just may be my next two purchases.

Michael Kors Ladies Tortoise Shell Watch
Kelsi Dagger Jordi Flats

Music Monday

2011-10-03T19:45:00.001-05:00

i love you so

Music Monday

2011-09-26T10:12:00.000-05:00

otis

i seriously love this album.

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-09-25T22:34:00.001-05:00

i'm in the middle of an 11 day cleanse (currently on day 8) and it's actually not bad... well, 65% of the time.

for the majority of the time, you can eat normal (healthy) food - you just have to substitute one to two meals a day with this organic, gluten free protein shake drink. the other 35% of the time is spend on the hardcore back-to-back cleanse days. i have to drink this cleanse powder/water mixture 4 times a day and am only allowed to eat celery and an organic apple. eek. i already did part 1 of the foodless cleanse.. tomorrow and tuesday are the last time i'll have to do it. thank god for that.

i finallyyyy finished love the one you're with.

i really need to make more time for reading. now moving on to chelsea handler's are you there vodka? it's me, chelsea. next in the queue: persuasion by jane austin.

i was super sick this weekend and literally did not go out once.

took of work friday, stayed in the burbs and hung with my seester friday night, was a lazy bum saturday, went back to the burbs today with lisa and her family for some bears vs. packers (ehh) and greek food. one one hand, i kind of feel like i wasted my weekend, not having gone out or really done anything at all. on the other hand, i feel a million times healthier than i did on friday. and i'm not allowed to drink on this cleanse anyway. :)

can't wait for denner at el jardin this week!!

miss my betches.

backtracking to chelsea - did you know they're turning her book into a tv show??

i'll watch it.

Dress Me!

2011-09-21T10:09:00.000-05:00

in nasty gal.

mm. mm. mm. mm. mm.

shredded stripe knit . totally ripped knit . corduroy flare jeans . ribbed crop knit . antler wrap ring . monolit wedge

Something More

2011-09-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

"the universe is always speaking to us... sending us little messages, causing coincidences and serendipities, reminding us to stop, to look around, to believe in something else, something more."

-nancy thayer

Music Monday

2011-09-19T18:28:00.002-05:00

i got you

Flashback Friday

2011-09-16T09:04:00.000-05:00

feather pens

which will always hold a special place in my heart because they of course remind me of clueless, one of my favorite movies of all time. i was actually going to use clueless for my flashback friday, but when i checked the archives, i realized that would make me a flashback repeater - slightly less offensive than an outfit repeater.

Music Monday (Tuesday)

2011-09-13T20:36:00.002-05:00

wow, i suck at blogging.

save me

weekend recap

friday:: a run + jt's trolley bday party. and lots of ridiculousness.

saturday:: a run + jw's bday sushi denner + rockit, free shots and good times.

sunday:: bears game + pizza & an iv drip of gatorade.

That 15K...

2011-09-07T21:40:00.000-05:00

days 3 and 4 of training.

i ran for 45 minutes without stopping or walking once yesterday! this may not sound like a big accomplishment, but i've never gone more than 15 minutes without tossing a little walk in there - bible. so i'm proud!

p.s.

if you run and you have an iphone, you must download the free imapmyrun app. it's seriously amazing.

RZRZRZRZ

2011-09-06T21:38:00.005-05:00

ets backkkkkkk.

love.

-my idol-

speaking of fashion...

no one should ever wear these. ever ever.

{gap}

Sunday (Monday) Night Confessional

2011-09-05T20:11:00.002-05:00

i'm signing up to run the hot chocolate 15k in november.

i've never ran anything over a 5k so i'm kind of scared! but excited because i've been wanting to run a race for a while. lisa's going to help train me. woop!

lisa and i had our fams over for labor day today.

thinking our brothers were going to come, we make a million pounds of chicken tacos in the slow cooker. dad also made chili and tamales. so it sounds like we will be eating leftovers for weeks.

went to church for the first time yesterday in like 4 months.

sorry, god. :(

i have two birthday parties to attend next weekend.

i'll be going to bed at 7pm next sunday.

sadly, that's basicallyyyyy all i have to report on this little recap.

i'll try to make my life a little more interesting for next week.

p.s.

happy music monday

who gon stop me

Stars and Stripes and Labor

2011-09-02T12:32:00.000-05:00

happy labor day weekend!

Flashback Friday

2011-09-02T09:27:00.000-05:00

butterfly hair clips

date night hair, woo!

Music Monday

2011-08-29T09:47:00.000-05:00

rich girl

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-08-28T21:35:00.003-05:00

life is pretty good.

sounds like things at work may be taking a turn for the better.

and of course the weekend was fun. filled with friends, cocktails, rowan and greek town.

BFF

2011-08-24T11:56:00.000-05:00

some overdo pics from our srq reunion two weekends ago.

Weekend Recap

2011-08-23T21:30:00.003-05:00

glo sticks, concerts, dance parties. puppies, haircuts, sleepovers.

Finally.

2011-08-22T23:10:00.000-05:00

dry spell over

Yeesh

2011-08-20T13:25:00.004-05:00

someone had too much fun with steve's going away party all-you-can-drink package.

Ets About Time

2011-08-19T23:16:00.001-05:00

h a p p y w e e k e n d

Music Monday

2011-08-15T20:34:00.000-05:00

orange blossom

Flashback Friday

2011-08-12T09:21:00.000-05:00

are you afraid of the dark?

inspired by this. and natalie.

hello, srq!

Dry Spell

2011-08-10T13:12:00.000-05:00

Can't wait for this...

2011-08-09T22:58:00.002-05:00

florida this weekend!!

Music Monday

2011-08-08T09:07:00.000-05:00

someone like you

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-08-07T23:17:00.003-05:00

sunday sunday.

my aunt was in town from tennessee this weekend, my cousin just got engaged and lisa's dad's bday was last week, so we had a little family party at nicky's on saturday.

dan's pizza, wine, and rowan. it really doesn't get any better.

and then i slept over at my parents' place in the burbs so i got to hang out with margaux and marcel. and woke up to daddy's pancakes. hashtag lifeisgood.

lisa and i took our moms to see peter pan at the threesixty today. too cute!

followed by some forever yogurt, of course. fab sunday. :)

i've been doing lots of boating this summer.

random outing and chicago scene party pics.

liz and i have been coming up with clever ways to outsmart the chicago monsoon weather.

i found out last week that one of my besties got engaged!!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH KICKBALL LOVE!

mmm, and i'm obsessed with summer. that's all.

Let's Get Em.

2011-08-05T18:01:00.003-05:00

new shoes!

Music Monday

2011-08-01T08:54:00.001-05:00

she ain't you

i think i like it better than the chris brown version

I JUST WANNA DANCEEEE

2011-07-27T20:36:00.005-05:00

i'm beyond obsessed with this show.

sytycd

love tadd!!

but this is still my favorite performance of season 8...

BNOs and shet.

2011-07-19T20:51:00.004-05:00

recapppppp

part 4

and went on living my life, doing totally normal things.

had another fab mini girl's denner at las pinatas.

betches love denner.

baked.

and went to the sublime with rome/311 concert at northerly island.

Reg Bev Wil

2011-07-19T20:12:00.008-05:00

recappppppp

part 3

and then i went to el ay.

whit and i were shameless tourists all day friday, hitting up beverly hills, the grove, robertson ave and hollywood blvd. and we got to hang out with/stay with anne!

then we drove to long beach for vetter's weddingggggggg.

Lake Housing

2011-07-19T19:56:00.008-05:00

recappppppp

part 2

4th of july weekend

i went to aaron's lake house in michigan with the boys.

it was really fun. we played catch phrase, went out on the lake and partied on the sandbar.

i said "i don't think i'm ever going to feel better" on saturday night. the first time this year - go me.

then lise and i spent the 4th with our families in the burbs.

we watched the fireworks and walked a million miles to satisfy our dairy queen craving.

HolyOMG

2011-07-19T19:18:00.004-05:00

recappppppp

part 1

let's see.. what's happened in the past almost two months?

i took off work every friday and most mondays in june.

went to a cub's game with taryn and my favorite 19 year olds.

marciny visited chicago.

we partied - and did a pub crawl.

biggie, lisa, aunt vikki and i took rowan to brookfield zoo.

she kissed a goat and we saw the dolphin show.

alyssa, taryn and i gargoyled post-girls' denner and then we met mia and jay tay at burton's place - open til 5am, duh.

Music Monday

2011-07-18T20:05:00.000-05:00

someone to love me

omg i'm terrible. so much to catch you up on!

Flashback Friday

2011-06-10T10:37:00.003-05:00

ghost in the graveyard

my friends and i will be playing a grown up variation of this game - or a game called sardines? - at the bars tomorrow in lincoln park/wrigley.

oh! and marciny is here!!

...

2011-06-08T22:33:00.000-05:00

{we heart it}

Sunday (Wednesday) Night Confessional

2011-06-01T21:02:00.003-05:00

more than a month late.

omg really!? oops.

i haven't taken one day off work since i started at edelman so i have all 10 of my vacation days to use - and at least 5 of them have to be used before july 1st.

so i'll be taking all but one friday off in june + 2 mondays. can't! wait! yaya summer. :)

marciny's coming to visit!

next weekend - friday to sunday. we'll be celebrating at the beach, at the bars, and along michigan avenue, please.

speaking of visitors - i'm accepting them.

and now here are a million pics to recap the past month.

FRENCH TOAST

2011-05-17T14:42:00.000-05:00

Music Monday

2011-05-16T20:01:00.000-05:00

i can see it in your face

i just can't get enough of them pretty lights

Music Monday

2011-05-09T22:18:00.001-05:00

doll parts

Dig It.

2011-05-04T09:26:00.000-05:00

spring 2011 nasty gal faves

coat . top . dress . belt

Sucky Blogger

2011-05-03T21:14:00.001-05:00

i know.

i'm sorry!

Flashback Friday

2011-04-29T10:05:00.000-05:00

air jordans

i know i'm from chicago so my perception of reality is slightly skewed, but did every single boy in the united states own a pair (or seven) of these between 1991 and 1998?? i think yes.

Sweet Dreams

2011-04-28T23:13:00.001-05:00

Love that style

2011-04-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

harley viera-newton at coachella

Music Monday

2011-04-25T19:14:00.002-05:00

turning tables

CelebrateCelebrateFamilyFamilyFamily

2011-04-24T13:01:00.004-05:00

happy easter!

greek easter happened to fall on the same day again this year, so lisa and i hung in the burbs yesterday to cook pitas and pastichio with our yia yia. we'll be celebrating with a big family party today and lots of egg cracking for good luck!

xoxo

Music Monday

2011-04-18T19:46:00.002-05:00

give me everything

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-04-17T22:57:00.006-05:00

omg talk about the worst blogger/friend ever.

sorry!

currently watching abdc.

etsssss backkkkkkkkkk.

jason, the gq model lisa's been talking to, is in chicago and has been staying at our apt for the past week.

totally normal.

taryn, lisa, jason and i went to see scream 4 tonight.

bahahahaha. go see it.

the kanye workout plan starts tomorrow.

bathing suit season is almost here!

can't wait for liz to rejoin the social world next weekend.

gno!

and because i'm so super lazy, here's a photo dump to summarize the past couple weeks.

almost all of which you've already seen if we're fb friends.

Music Monday

2011-04-11T18:23:00.001-05:00

jimi thing

i know, i know. i'm terrible at updating this little guy lately. sorry!

Flashback Friday

2011-04-08T08:25:00.001-05:00

my buddy / kid sister

Music Monday

2011-03-28T09:39:00.000-05:00

look at me now

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-03-27T22:12:00.009-05:00

oh just another amazing weekend to add to the books.

danced the night away at merkle's for taryn's "not" boyfriend's show friday night. :)

yowza.

one of lisa's besties, kristen, had her bday party last night and we did it up big.

dinner at agami, limo, bottle service at crescendo. ashley had a dance off with a stripper... i mean dancer. and then we spent $45 at mcdonalds. normal.

then today lisa and i went to my parent's place (that's so weird to say) to see my new baby cousin!

alyvia reagen. what a muffin!!

oh and i can't leave rowan out. i'm seriously obsessed with my family.

i got an iphone 4 yesterday!

it shouldn't be that big a deal.. i already owned an iphone so it's not like a huge difference... but it is. addicted to technology. nerdddd.

lise and i also bought a tv this weekend!

finally. and now i'm extremely poor.

this is my last week of bootycamp.

so happy about this... and yet the thought of running around in a bikini at the beach is still pretty terrifying. it's almost that time!

i'm trying to coordinate another lake geneva trip for this summer.

shitshow. i mean... best time ever.

i'm ready for another yacht party. "ken's a fag."

i'm also trying (unsuccessfully) to convince my friends to visit me in chicago.

that would be directed at all of my dallas lovuhs. i promise summer in chicago is the bestbestbest!

Flashback Friday

2011-03-25T09:27:00.002-05:00

miss susie had a steamboat

still know every word!

Music Monday

2011-03-21T16:39:00.003-05:00

down on me

Bonjour!

2011-03-16T08:45:00.001-05:00

wishing you a cheery day

Music Monday

2011-03-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

save me

loving this song right now.

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-03-13T21:24:00.007-05:00

omg had the best weekend ever. again.

-friday-

hung out with my fam in the burbs.

sushi and chilling. i like, i like.

-saturday-

it was chicago's big st. patrick's day celebration and it was wildddddd. lisa and i had her bro and his friends over for brunch in the morning, pre-bar hopping.

we made an egg casserole (can't recommend that recipe enough! make it.), bagels, muffins, bloody mary's and mimosas. then we hit some bars with kristen and the guys - mahoney's and callahan's. i met a super hot guy. nothing happened with that. some girl tried to steal my jacket at the one bar (i'm not even kidding). i found it after searching for 20 min. thought about punching her in the face but just ripped my coat off her chair and left instead. then we went over to jay and aaron's where a bunch of my friends were hanging and playing drinking games. fun fun fun. went to bed at 3am - repeat of last year much?

missed you taryn! and liz! and natalie (dude, just move back).

-sunday-

my cousin nicky's bday is today (happy birthday!) so lise and i went to his house in lisle with the rest of our families and spent the day hanging with baby row. after going to church this morning.

we finally tried out holy name cathedral - omg gorgeous! i might love it as much as i loved highland park methodist... and that's a lot.

i'll post pics this to better recap as soon as nicky puts them up on fb.

of course i didn't take any photos of my own. why do i own a camera?

bootcamp again tomorrow. ahhhhh it's hard!

but needed. i'm both excited and dreading it. lets get skenny.

Flashback Friday

2011-03-11T08:10:00.000-06:00

the band

everyone in our middle school was forced to be in the band. i played the flute.

what an embarrassing instrument.

p.s. i chose this pic because of the sweet couch.

Sunday (Monday) Night Confessional

2011-03-07T17:07:00.000-06:00

i had the best birthday weekend!

lisa and i had a bunch of people over on saturday night for a housewarming/bday party. there were probably 20-30 of us. of course i took zero pictures - i need you taryn! - but i can paint a little picture for you...

we finished a full bottle of kirkland vodka (have you seen one of those things??), a bottle of ciroc, a 24 pack of bud light, a six pack of amstel light, a six pack of fat tire, the remaining coors light in my fridge, a bottle of white wine and a bottle of champagne. yikes.com.

yesterday, my family came downtown (and brought marcel! i miss that little munchkin) for my bday dinner.

we went to salpicon right down the street and it was amazing (great margs!). then we came back to my apt for cake and presents. i love bdays. :)

thennnnn things took a turn for terrible and i woke up in the middle of the night with a 103.6 fever. um, what the??

needless to say, i won't be making it to my first bulldog bootcamp class tonight (oh, ps - it's outdoors). i also had to use one of my sick days at work which i was trying to hoard for summer hookie days. and every doctor i called was overbooked so i'm sitting in my apt dying with no access to medical care. meow.

Music Monday

2011-03-07T12:45:00.001-06:00

rolling in the deep

TwentySix

2011-03-06T08:14:00.000-06:00

oh my goodness, oh my goodness!!

PardeePardeePardee

2011-02-28T08:03:00.001-06:00

it's birthday week!!!!!

...& music monday...

white lights

New Digs

2011-02-27T20:43:00.005-06:00

finally settled in the new apartment!!

i love ittttttttttt

the only glass wear we currently have in our apt: 4 margarita glasses and a vegas shot glass

Flashback Friday

2011-02-25T11:29:00.003-06:00

topsy turvy ponytails

gorge.com!

p.s. ...

Dream Space

2011-02-22T22:17:00.004-06:00

i'll take that woolly mammoth chair, the calfskin rug, the silver table, and all of those colorful books, please.

Sunday (Monday) Night Confessional

2011-02-21T22:00:00.004-06:00

i miss my dallas friends!!!

austin has come up in conversation like 5 times in the past month and it just takes me back to river floating, 6th/4th streeting, sunburns and gay bars with "my girls" bahaha.

i am beyond! excited! to move into my new apt.

fridayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy - if all goes as planned. our technical move-in date is tuesday the 1st but the place is vacant so we're seeing about getting the keys early.

i mean this in the least conceited way possible: juggling the men currently in my life is exhausting.

dinners, lunches, parties, bars, friends, work, need sleep ah. more deets on that will just have to be discussed offline, haha.

this weekend was super fun but also extremely.... interesting.

so great. so terrible.

i'm going to start painting and generally reconnecting with my love for art.

and i'm going to start by trying to recreate this little baby for my apt. love!

speaking of - you should probably check out ekaterina koroleva's website. great stuff.

Music Monday

2011-02-21T14:17:00.000-06:00

selly lady

born this way

Happy VDay, Lovebugs

2011-02-14T10:12:00.002-06:00

Music Monday

2011-02-14T09:31:00.000-06:00

look at me now

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-02-13T18:20:00.001-06:00

we have an apartment!!

old town, woop woop. can't. wait.

now that it's official, i can't stop thinking about decorating.

how much do you love these urban outfitters home finds? so much!

i'm absolutely getting those tie-dye bowls. and maybe the glitter pillow too.

i have a date for valentines day!

sad that i have to be excited about this, but it's been a while since i've actually had plans for the holiday, haha. my train boyfriend and i are going out for drinks and dessert. i meannnn, it's only a second date. just sayin.

i also went out on a date (different guy) on friday. what is this!?

talk about breaking the dry spell.

i have to do some work now. and laundry.

peace and love, nukkas.

Flashback Friday

2011-02-11T13:03:00.000-06:00

ninja turtle gum ball ice cream bars

they actually probably still exist, but i haven't eaten one since i was like 10, so they still count as a flashback in my book.

Sunday (Monday) Night Confessional

2011-02-07T20:48:00.006-06:00

i am seriously the worst blogger ever.

sharryyyyy.

lisa and i found the! cutest! apartment on saturday.

it's a condo in old town (our fave location). we made an offer yesterday and are currently in negotiations. so adult. i'm like on pins and needles waiting to hear back from our realtor. i hope we get ittttttt.

dad made jambalaya for the super bowl party last night.

food was delicious. the game was... whatever.

my birthday is in one month from yesterday!

better start the countdown.

i'm supposed to go on date #2 with my train boyfriend tomorrow night.

he's cute and cool but he's like reallyyyyy into it. his texts are kind of freaking me out.

happy birthday katie!!!

loves you.

Music Monday

2011-02-07T09:23:00.001-06:00

waiting for my ruca

Flashback Friday

2011-02-04T09:38:00.000-06:00

no such thing

ahhhhhhh so high school.

SNO.M.G.

2011-02-03T21:06:00.008-06:00

it starts....

the next morning.

marcel bundled up in her sweater and puffer vest.

ice glaciers on lake michigan.

Quote Ho

2011-02-01T11:01:00.000-06:00

{lou, boos and shoes}

Sunday (Monday) Night Confessional

2011-01-31T22:09:00.002-06:00

happy birthday, casey!!!

luh you.

i went out on two dates last week.

one with my train boyfriend, the other with a guy i went to high school with but just met last weekend. both were fun, i'm going out with train boy again on wednesday.

my coat got stolen this weekend.

i went to beaumont with a bunch of peeps on saturday (because it's open til 5am) and put my coat on a chair, along with everyone else's. of course when i went to leave, mine was the only one missing. and to make it more awesome, it was my mom's coat. i borrowed it so now i'll have to buy her a new one. that's cooooooool.

i watched the bach tonight for the first time in like 2 years.

o!m!g! it's awesomely terrible.

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-01-30T22:45:00.001-06:00

omg

i'm the worst blogger e.v.e.r.

but i actually have updates so i'll post a real confessional tomorrow night.

-loves-

Music Monday

2011-01-24T08:13:00.000-06:00

alive

sucks that i missed pearl jam's reunion "tour." also sucks that they only performed at like 4 places in california. you have fans in other parts of the country, pj! let's not discriminate.

Sunday Night Confessional

2011-01-23T18:08:00.000-06:00

happy birthday, yia yia!

(that's grandma in greek)

bearssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?

i can. not. wait. to move downtown.

march 1st!!! just in time for my bdayyyyy!

i want a fringe wall.

{confettisystem}

Draaaama draama draama

2011-01-22T11:02:00.000-06:00

i love these dramatic, statement-making spaces.

when it comes time to decorate my own home, however, one or two high volume rooms will suffice. more than that and my head might explode.

Flashback Friday

2011-01-21T22:44:00.000-06:00

zingleman's

there are literally no photos available via google to show how amazing the comic book restaurant in hinsdale is, so let me just say that their cheese fries and ninja turtle/sesame street cookies as big as your face = my childhood.

my mom took my brother and i there every day after preschool with my bestie anthony and his brother joey. she also used to have large pizza's delivered to us in middle school on a regular basis because she could never remember to pack us lunches. healthy.