Birthday Outfit

Dress: A very rare mall purchase! Divided by H&M, $20

Sweater: "Vintage Brooke", pushing ten years in my wardrobe! At this point, I'm calling it "free"

Necklace:  Statement necklace bought from 1st Class Finds, $4.00

Stockings: Gifted by Jake's mom, who has never seen me wear pants, free

Shoes: Grey pumps, not shown and bought new for a job interview, $15.00

Handsome Fella: Wearing all vintage (except the tasseled loafers, a gift from my mom) and constantly complaining about needing a hair cut, free but lookin' like a million bucks

Approximate Total: $39.00 (Whew! that's pricey in my book!)

As I've mentioned, I had a birthday last week. Among many really special gifts, I received The Boss's first ever piece of art (a lovely abstract, finger paint on canvas) and a couple of pitch-perfect vintage scarves from my boo. 

After a day at work, I was escorted by the handsome man above to play unlimited free pinball at Logan Hardware, have some whiskey at the dive-y Bob Inn, and indulge in amazing tapas at The Girl and the Goat, run by Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard. He sure knows how to treat me well. 

The whole night was sponsored by Templeton Rye, made in Iowa and oh-so delicious.

Birthday Party!

 My handsome roommate/perma-boo, Jake, turned 30 last week. It makes for good "you're old!" fodder, because he's more than three years my senior, but honestly he looks younger now than he did five years ago.

Here in Chicago, I pampered him with a hot lather shave at a barber shop. In his words it was, "neat but terrifying and a little painful." Afterward, I surprised him with a sushi dinner under the "stars" at home. We drank champagne from my Long Island trip out of my Great Aunt Dot and Uncle Bill's wedding flutes from 1956.

Over the weekend, we made the pilgrimage back to Iowa to visit my family and our family of friends. We were fortunate enough to go play at our old coffee stomping grounds. Jake made me a delicious macchiato, and I reminded myself how much I love making drinks. I made the latte above--I still got it!

For dinner, we joined about thirty of our closest friends at the Tic Toc for our favorite fried foods, stiff drinks, and Katie's homemade cupcakes topped with mini Jakes. We finished the night by cashing in a free keg party at our regular bar. Seen above, we all celebrated our love for him by wearing our best Jake ensembles--mostly western or plaid shirts tucked into jeans, with a big belt buckles. Cory, on the left, made an homage to the hospital employed Jake of yore.

Friends, I am in love with you! And the birthday boy seemed to have a perfect time.

Long Island: Places

The past long weekend was spent re-exploring family on my maternal side. Over four days, I saw almost the entirety of Long Island. Those who know my lack of sophistication may be surprised to see what I come from.

1. O'Hare to La Guardia    2. My Aunt Dot's in Baldwin, NY

3. Jewelry belonging to my Aunt Dot and Great Grandma (GG) Emme    4. Aunt Dot's bedroom

5. Nautical Mile in Freeport, NY    6. Visiting GG in the East Quogue Cemetary

7. GG's home in Hampton Point, where I visited twice a year when I was a tot

8. Private beach at the bay by GG's home, so many shells and horseshoe crabs collected here years ago

9. & 10. The roaring Atlantic at West Hampton Beach

11. Mussel demolition--how can you not when it's this fresh!?   12. Paper cranes at the Southampton boutiques

13. & 14. Vineyards along the North Folk Wine Trail in Patchogue and Catchogue, NY

15. Claudio's in Greenport, my Great Grandfather's favorite town watering hole   16. View from dinner at Claudio's

Museum of Science and Industry

 

  

Fall Date

Like most of my Midwestern friends, I set out with my beau to enjoy some of fall's sights and smells over the weekend. I was itching to get out of the city and see some actual grass between buildings, so we had a little suburb date. Out to Ikea (my first time!), thrifting, a forest preserve, and a terrible comedy dinner at TGI Fridays (my last time!).

1. Tall couple.

2. The Eagle Scout identifying different leaves. Here, he says, "red oak."

3. Enjoying a good stump.

4. Always willing to carry my too big bags.

5. Dressed the same, like we always accidentally are.

6.-8. Nature made a leaf pile for us. No raking required.

9. Cliched suburban self protrait.

Water Folk

 Like many places this week, the weather has gifted Chicago a last hurrah of enjoyable warmth and sunshine. An extra treat, though, because it has been under the backdrop of fire colored trees who know it is October despite the 80 degrees.

Jake and I celebrated the warm sun by spending our afternoon off together--the first in almost a month-- at the Montrose Harbor on Lake Michigan. It's hard to believe that all of this is only a 15 minute bike ride from where I live. These Iowa Girl thoughts come to me often, I can't believe I live 5 minutes from Wrigley Field! Who ever thought I'd work four blocks from the Sears Tower?

I've always lived in river towns, and the Atlantic and I were very familiar growing up. While being IN water is only so thrilling to me, being near it is what I will embarrassingly describe as soul releasing. It just feels good. While I'd like to get back to my Iowa life in a couple of years, it will be hard to say good-bye to all of this.