Posts from — February 2011

| The ornate elevator |

Have you ever passed something on a daily basis without taking much notice of its beauty?  Admittedly, I’ve experienced that exact lackadaisical sentiment while racing to catch the next elevator at my office building each morning.  That is, until today, when I actually stopped for a moment to admire the lovely, ornate detailing and beautiful marble accents that fill our lobby.  It’s not very often that I gush about a building’s interior architecture, but 35 East Wacker Drive is one of the prettiest structures in the city of Chicago.

Originally known as the Jewelers’ Building, it was created for the city’s diamond merchants and employed an unusual security procedure – to reduce the chances that its tenants would be mugged walking between their cars and their offices, the building featured a central auto elevator that could lift vehicles as high as the 22nd floor (allowing jewelers to drive their cars into the elevator and stop directly on their office floor without the worries of outside exposure).  Between the building’s unique history and gorgeous entrance, it’s difficult to be anything less than cheerful as I walk through the lobby each day on my way upstairs.

| Gorgeous ceilings in the lobby |

| The final sips of my festively blue martini |

With both my professional and personal worlds constantly surrounded by event design, I’m always searching for opportunities to sharpen my skills and discover refreshing, new and creative concepts for table settings, live entertainment and menu options.  So when I received an invitation to the Do-Gooders Do-Dah last evening at Mercedes Benz, I couldn’t pass up the chance to throw on my favorite tulle skirt and exchange ideas while mingling among other local event planners.  With visually pleasing hors d’oeuvres, colorful signature cocktails and outstanding vendor displays, my colleague and I enjoyed the festivities and came away with a few innovative additions to each of our upcoming fundraising events.

| Creative cookies from Toffee Break |

| Colorful uplighting to glamorize the showroom |

| Unique butternut squash shots |

| Appetizers courtesy of Wolfgang Puck |

| Upbeat music from the Michael Walters Orchestra |

| Wine glasses suspended in air |

| Symmetrical and modern white leather lounge furniture |

| A sexy $183,000 Mercedes SLS AMG on display |

| Finally visiting after months of planning |

Since I was feeling a little left out during Restaurant Week in Chicago (it’s difficult to find an evening reservation, let alone a prix fixe meal that caters to my dietary restrictions), I decided to create my own foodie experience by paying a final visit to the Earwax Café in Wicker Park before it closes for business on Sunday.  Though my heart was broken when the waiter informed me that the black bean quinoa burger wasn’t gluten-free, I settled for their signature tofu scramble and wasn’t anything less than pleased with my choice.  Though I spent longer than usual waiting for my food, I enjoyed watching the sea of people pay tribute to the restaurant’s 21-year era by enjoying their favorite dish one last time (and the first sip of my mango smoothie made the long lines and extra wait well worth it).

| Yummy tofu scramble |

| Unique wall decor |

| Let the games begin |

When I first moved to Chicago, I was excited to become a member of the NorthShore University Health System’s Associate Board, a group of philanthropic young professionals dedicated to raising funds for the Infant Special Care Unit at Evanston Hospital.  Tonight, we had a blast hosting our first fundraising event of the year (which was aptly named one of Crain’s Business’ “10 Things To Do This Weekend“) at Seven Ten Lounge in Lincoln Park.  Between a constant flow of incoming people and a ton of laughs on the bowling lanes, we not only raised funds to benefit the hospital’s neonatal projects, but also increased community awareness for our most fragile patients in the ISCU.  A big thanks to Gina, our leader extraordinaire, and to everyone who ventured out in the snow to support our worthy cause.

| Setting the stage for a friendly competition |

| One of our sweetest ISCU nurses |

| Practicing my photography skills in capturing movement |

| Dragging the shutter |

| Sneaking in a bite (complete with almond milk) |

If you know me well, you know that I share a rather interesting relationship with chocolate chips.  Despite how avidly appealing they taste to pretty much everyone under the sun, I’ve never actually liked the topping — especially when combined with a cookie (pretty crazy, I know).  But when it comes to my grandfather, you won’t find a bigger fan.  In celebration of his 88th birthday on Sunday, I decided to test out this recipe and surprise him by mailing home a batch of his favorites.  Since they were so easy to whip up, I’m planning to bake another dozen for my friend’s Academy Awards party this weekend (because like my grandfather, it doesn’t get much better than homemade chocolate chip cookies as far as she’s concerned!).

| Adding in a few extra chocolate chips |

| Attempting to perfectly shape the dough |

| Allowing the batch to cool before devouring a sample |

| Andy Warhol |

My mantra of the day (and my life).

I live for making lists (so much so that at times, I’ll even add something I’ve already done just so I can cross it off with red ink).  The endorphins from tonight’s run left me feeling overly productive, so I decided to spend a few hours shopping for groceries, vacuuming my car and cleaning out my closets to make room for my colorful spring wardrobe (although a bit premature, I found a renewed sense of energy in unwrapping all of my summer dresses).  Now that I’ve caught up on my errands, I’m looking forward to enjoying a peaceful evening of relaxation at home, just reading a good book, chatting with my sister and watching the snow fall.  Winter is fun, but only when I can be curled up inside with no plans to leave.

| A late-night view |

Since watching the music video for Savage Garden’s love song, “Truly Madly Deeply,” at age 14, I’ve been forever mesmerized with the city of Paris.  So last summer, when my beau whisked me away for a European rendezvous, I couldn’t wait to spend our days hand-in-hand as we roamed the streets and explored every landmark from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre (plus all of the identifiable locations from the music video).  The trip was sheer utopia and even reminiscing over a few of my cherished photos has me eagerly packing my bags for a return visit.

P.S.  This song single-handedly accounts for the inspiration behind the name of my blog.

| The crowded streets of Montmarte |

 | Enjoying our morning espresso and cappuccino at a quaint café |

| A romantic kiss atop the Eiffel Tower |

| The gorgeous architectural detailing on the Notre Dame Cathedral |

| The man who ignited my love for photography |

| Just playing around on the stairs of the Rue Foyatier |

| The glamorous homes along the Seine River near the Louvre |

| Enjoying the sunshine by the Place du Tertre |

| A quintessential Parisian afternoon beside the Jardin du Luxembourg |

| My satisfied beau with his tasty banana and Nutella crêpe |

| A bit of window shopping along the cobblestone streets |

| Outside of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica overlooking the city |

| Enjoying a taste of summery gelato on the terrace |

| A peek from the Seine’s Right Bank near the Tuileries Garden |

| Exhausted along the Champs-Élysées after a full day of exploring |

Two Christmases ago, my family gifted my mother with a new sewing machine, and since then, she’s taken the fabric store by storm.  Between adorable aprons, comfy pajama bottoms, warm scarves and cute tote bags, I not only admire her dedication in learning a new skill, but also love her eager willingness to attempt a fun hobby that she once found intimidating.  My mother’s hands have been full lately, as she’s been sewing fabric since earlier this year as part of our upcoming project this December — we’ll be delivering handmade pillowcases and fleece blankets to each of the residents living in the nursing home near my apartment.  We’ve been diligently crafting our projects for months, so we’re excited to augment our growing pile of handmade collections and find joy in knowing that our efforts will be donated to a great cause.