industrious emily endeavors

Funfetti Fun

2013-02-15T08:52:00.001-06:00

Not quite so guilty Valentine's Day treats. These funfetti cupcakes are actually made with the boxed mix and a 12-ounce can of Diet 7-Up. No eggs, no oil - just soda! Bake a few minutes less than the usual cupcakes in my experience. They're delightful.

To live on job alone?

2013-02-06T10:25:00.003-06:00

I love my job. I have the privilege and honor to work with amazing clients, brands that truly want to positively impact their customers and communities, and colleagues that go above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. So why do I want to blog again? Because no one can live a truly happy life focused solely on the job. While I feed on positive results, relationship-building and helping my team grow in experience and wisdom, outside the office – away from my laptop – I have simply felt that there hasn't been much to write on lately.

I’m not going to lay down the excuses here. I have plenty to be thankful for in my life and plenty to share. In fact, I’ll be the first to admit I live a blessed existence – I not only have a job I love and make a comfortable living doing so, I have a loving and caring support system of friends and family, the best dog ever, a beautiful home that I chip away the payments on each and every month, and live in quite possibly one of the most exciting cities in the world. Sure, my heart longs for more, so I tend to focus on my job because I feel the most control there, but also on what I'm lacing in my personal life… instead of what I do have, which sure is a lot.

It’s too late for a New Year’s resolution or even a birthday resolution, but those never work anyways. I am publicly challenging myself, however, to share at least weekly an industrious endeavor or a blessing in my life through this blog that is NOT work-related. I hope you’ll follow along and I can touch your life in some way – through a recipe, a photograph, a snippet of scripture or a story. (I ride public transit – trust me, I have good stories.)

About Arlo

2013-02-05T17:33:00.002-06:00

Sunday Snapshots - Birthday Edition!

2012-01-08T20:02:00.002-06:00

What's a birthday weekend without some cake? Each layer is a different texture and makes a different sound. It's supposed to work on puppy's patience and problem-solving skills. I think as a marketer I should know the people who write the packages are making that up, but, I become a sucker the second I walk into the pet shop and buy my dog a present to celebrate my own birthday.

Arlo's Sunday Snapshots - Week 1

2012-01-02T20:13:00.002-06:00

Meet Arlo, a Malshi puppy, half Maltese, half Shihtzu. We've been back in Chicago together for a week. I already cannot imagine my life without him. This furry little guy has stolen my heart and has made himself at home in the Windy City.

He's nine weeks old. Potty training is hit or miss, but nothing we can't solve. He's so smart he'll get the hang of it! While the #1's may still land on the rugs instead of the potty pads, he has no doubt mastered fetch with his ball. His online dating profile would read "I love rawhide chew sticks and bones and my favorite toy is Aunt Sophie's squirrel. I sleep a lot, love to lick and chew on loved ones. I don't care for snow, but love long walks in the neighborhood."

I'm Getting a Puppy!!!

2011-12-18T15:23:00.002-06:00

The countdown is almost over! Little Arlo comes home on Thursday. I cannot wait!

It’s Getting Hot in Here

2011-10-03T11:02:00.002-05:00

It’s fixed!!! My oven is finally fixed!!! I celebrated right away with a frozen pizza.

Now it’s time to catch up on all the baking I haven’t been able to do. Where to begin? Well, for starters, I started with this recipe from Pinterest:

Source: brandysbaking.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Now these are currently in the fridge at work, awaiting a hungry lunch crowd!

New Neighbor

2011-10-02T19:17:00.000-05:00

This weekend was the annual “Design Harvest” event featuring all the great interior design and art stores on Grand Avenue in Chicago. It was a fun event… and a critter followed me home!

A Letter to My Broken Oven & Favorite Fall Recipes

2011-09-22T08:54:00.001-05:00

Dear Oven,

I miss you. While not baking for two months has proven to be beneficial to my waistline, I miss you immensely. Please let the new part sitting on the countertop fix you, so I can make these:

Mini Apple-Cheddar Turkey Meatloaves from Southern Living - With a muffin pan, you get automatic portion-control!

Monkey Bread from Cooking Light - Can you think of a better way to kick off game day?? You know I love Big Ten football!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting via Real Simple - Yep, they're easy, and cute and totally yummy. (Oh, and people will think they're way more complicated than they are!)

Love,

Emily

p.s. While I wait for the repairman to come back to fix you, I guess I'll have to find those slow-cooker recipes... or try these favorites from the Queen of Southern Cooking, the Great Paula Deen:

Apple-stuffed Pork Loin Roast (altered to go in the Crock Pot instead of the oven.)
Skillet-fried Apple Pie

Did I Start a Trend?

2011-09-13T08:51:00.001-05:00

So, little known fact. I hate checking my mail.... the physical, paper mail. Rarely is there anything good in there - bills, more bills, catalogs, junk mail for insurance companies, did I mention bills? If someone dropped it on my kitchen counter, I'd look at it every day, but opening up the box and carrying it inside is just a hassle to be reminded I owe someone money. I actually enjoy checking my mail for about six weeks between December 1 and early January - holiday and birthday cards!! Anyways, I digress.

Last night I got my mail on the way home and... yippee! There was something fun. The new fall West Elm catalog! I took a peek and low and behold - who else thinks a navy wall is hot in the bedroom?? They totally stole my idea. (wink wink)

Pardon the bad pic, but you get the idea:

This is a great excuse to show off the wall styled with my collection of white frames:

Cheap & Non-Committal: A Perfect Kitchen Chalkboard

2011-09-12T23:08:00.001-05:00

Just a small container of chalkboard paint, an inexpensive canvas from the craft store and a few coats of paint on a Sunday afternoon, and.... (drum roll, please!)

A kitchen chalkboard!

First of all, it's functional. The raised canvas makes it easy to cover the ugly extra cable/phone outlet and the FIFTH kitchen electrical outlet! (Note: did the developer think I was going to have a Crock Pot convention in there???) Best of all, it's fun. I've got a cool space to leave messages for guests, cheer myself up with goofy quotes, and switch things up from time to time. I can only imagine what my guests will write when left alone with a little bubbly and chalk! Maybe it's almost time for a party to find out!

I had considered painting the actual wall or buying a chalkboard vinyl thingy to adhere to the wall, but this was by far the easiest option - and totally non-committal. Perfect, right? (No comments from the funny farm, please.)

If you needed a reminder, this little kitchen nook looked like this before.

Sneak Peak!!

2011-09-10T10:27:00.000-05:00

The second phase of my condo painting is complete!!! You might remember this winter I painted the guest room white. This time, I hired a little help to do the master and main living space. I'll do the bathroom myself this fall.

I don't have much back on the walls and haven't had a chance to do much decorating, so these are just a little teaser. More soon!

In the Navy

2011-09-08T08:15:00.001-05:00

You may have noticed in the previous post a navy wall. Yep, one of my walls is being enlisted in the navy when the others go crisp white... momentarily! Which one? That's a surprise, but I will show you the fabrics I purchased on etsy.com to freshen up coordinating throw pillows!

1. Japanese Floral Print, etsy.com

2. Premier Prints, etsy.com

3. Japanese Diagonal Stripe, etsy.com

Well, what do you think? I always get nervous purchasing fabrics I haven't seen in person online. The colors are never perfect, but I'm hoping they all work together and play off my soon-to-be navy wall!

Pinpointing Projects

2011-09-07T09:05:00.002-05:00

Like everyone who loves design of all kinds, I've fallen in LOVE with Pinterest. Even if the idea comes from another source, there are always a host of images on Pinterest to inspire by typing in a few search terms. As a value add for bloggers, the site makes it super easy to properly attribute images to their rightful owner.... fantastic news for someone who doesn't have time to take her own photographs, yet still wants to blog. (No clue who that may be....) When I do find a few extra hours in the day, here's a sneak peek and a few hints of upcoming projects.

... chalkboard paint!

Source: vi.sualize.us via Emily on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Emily on Pinterest

... an accent wall!

Source: laurawinslowphotography.com via Emily on Pinterest

... fun with color, white-on-white and words!

Source: easymakesmehappy.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Wishing on a Budget

2011-09-06T09:04:00.000-05:00

1. Pair of Traditional Ghost Chairs, $310 or less?
2. West Elm Tripod Table in Chocolate, $199
3. FLOR carpet tiles in Sophistikat, Barley, $12.99/tile

Once my place is painted, there are just a few more finishing touches to the furnishings I'd like to make before the year ends. I'll be scouting for deals, sales and may seek out a few paying photo gigs for extra cash to make these purchases sooner rather than later. (And, if all else fails, Santa, are you reading this?)

It's actually a short list and all items I've been dreaming of for quite some time. First of all, I've had a crush on these chairs for years, and am currently stalking them on Craigslist for a good deal. I've noticed them super-reduced before, so I am confident I can find them at a steal.... eventually! Several of the furniture stores in my neighborhood have fantastic acrylic ones, but they're WAY out of my budget.

Next, I love my dining room table, but it just doesn't work in the space. I've rearranged furniture for hours... and it's just wrong for the condo and too big for my day-to-day life. Sad, but true. This little puppy pairs nicely with my dream chairs and would open up the south end of the house, nod to the dark woods and modern look in the kitchen, and just tie the whole space together. I've had my issues with West Elm quality before, but I think this is a "go."

Finally, I tried to make my sisal rug work in the living room, but it's just the wrong shape. I tried to sell it online, and that didn't work either. Now it's in the bedroom - and it actually looks FANTASTIC! But, when winter comes I'm going to need a rug in the living room as well to keep my feet warm. I've loved this pattern from FLOR since they debuted it earlier this year, but I didn't start obsessing over it until I visited it in store. In fact, if they stocked their store, I probably would have walked out carrying it. (Yep, I'm a sucker. It's why I window shop at aforementioned neighborhood furniture stores without a wallet.) Paired with white walls and dark floors (like the picture), it will look great in the space.

Let's see how smart I can be with my money so these babies can find their way home to my house!

Time for a White Out!

2011-09-05T09:59:00.001-05:00

I picked a color! I picked a color! I learned my lesson after grueling all weekend in the guest room earlier this spring just to learn I didn't like "Snow White." This time, I bought a tester. Guess what? Everything I've read in magazines and across the blogosphere was right - Benjamin Moore White Dove IS the perfect white! I'm so excited to finally have the house painted the way I want it.

Stay tuned for results... it's going to be a process!!

A Big Day for a Little Sis

2011-08-15T17:56:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was a momentous occasion in the life of this little sis. I may be 30, but part of me will always be the kid sister clamoring for her big brother's attention and approval.... and after almost eight years as a Chicagoan, my brother Ben FINALLY came to visit me in the Windy City. With just a few hours on the interstates of Indiana and a few wrong turns on Chicagoland tollways, my brother gave me a precious gift - he allowed me to show him and his whole family what my life is like - the home I own, how I get to work, the crazies on the CTA, all the good and the bad of my little life in the big city. It was a short trip, but a BIG deal.

It was an awesome weekend. The kids had a few meltdowns, there were tears, there was some whining, there were two emergency trips to KMart, but, there was also....

Animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo

Aunt Emmy's Favorite Pizza at Pizano's

The Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier (Ben, your secret's safe with me)

Dippin' Dots and Family Fun at Navy Pier

American Girl

The LEGOS store

And... the CTA bus!

P.S. A few great quotes from the kids:

Zoe (while walking into my place): "Aunt Emmy, is this a hotel?"
AJ (while on the bus): "Aun Em-eh, you are so pretty. I love you."
Zoe (as we're leaving my place): "Aunt Emmy, that's your pink pepper spray. You spray the bad guys with that.... in the FACE!!!"
Zoe (after being told she can't eat in my bed): "Aunt Emmy, why are there so many special rules at your house?"

THANK YOU Big Brother!!! I love you!

One Morning Can Change Everything!

2011-08-13T13:26:00.000-05:00

Last week I was planning a post about which dining chairs to purchase.

And then, I got a knock on the door. We had sewage in our basement. Thousands and thousands of dollars later, I'm now more worried about insurance coverage and special condo assessments than chairs. This is what my basement looks like now:

Funny how one little thing can change everything, right? The chairs will have to wait. No big deal. The mold is gone and I don't feel like death anymore, so all will be fine. I'd still like your opinion on the chairs though!

Minor Improvements

2011-08-03T18:22:00.001-05:00

I haven't had time to tackle any large-scale projects lately. But, I have to admit two simple projects my parents helped me with have been bringing some much-needed joy to my everyday life:

Look! The hose doesn't hang out of the faucet anymore, thanks to a new weight installed underneath, courtesy of a sweet old man at The Home Depot and my daddy.

Mom contributed by helping me turn my inexpensive roller shade (purchased from the previous owner's tenant with all the other window shades) into a black-out shade. For just $12 at the fabric store and less than an hour of labor, the security light outside no longer keeps me up at night. HOORAY! This little improvement also opens the door to my next little project....

Who wants to paint?

2011-07-28T20:11:00.000-05:00

If it wasn't obvious from the previous post, my dresser is now in the living room. And I'll admit to the fact that this little move involved more than my little green rug trick. I had to reorganize and purge my entire closet so my underwear wasn't also in the living room.

Why did I make the switch? I hated the proportion of the small cabinet with the components under the large TV. The cord also was distracting to me, but most importantly, cold air from my bedroom vent wasn't circulating like I had wanted with my bed against the wall in my master bedroom. To move it meant moving the dresser out.

Once again, the following room arrangement cost $0 in new furniture. (Although I did switch out my box spring for IKEA's wooden slats - around $30.

Next up? A paint job and a pair of light, bright, white curtains to better flow with the living room.

Living Room 3.0 - A Closer Look

2011-07-28T19:58:00.000-05:00

I'm still loving the third reincarnation of the living room space. Here's a closer look at how I've transformed the space for $0:

Organic and modern, old and new... and now the TV cords are hidden!

Candles in the glassware - fresh, simple, and helpful when the power goes out!

Switching Things Around...

2011-07-12T22:18:00.000-05:00

Some may call rearranging furniture an obsession, others a disease. Me? A fun way of spending a Sunday night.

Now That's a Deal

2011-06-13T10:37:00.001-05:00

Have you jumped into the daily deals trend?? I’ve found them to be a great way to try out new workout classes and fitness experiences here in Chicago, but every now and then there’s a deal on One King’s Lane, Joss & Main or Foundry that I just cannot pass up. Usually their high-end deals are too expensive for my budget even at half off, but I still like to look.

Recently my favorite Kate Spade china pattern was HALF OFF!! While I think my friends and family would commit me to a mental institution for putting eight place settings of china and silver on a credit card, I did consider it. Who says you have to be married to have fine china??? But, not only would that deem me totally crazy to most, I also just don’t have the storage right now.

Instead I bought something I could afford, without using credit, that doesn’t need seven brothers and sisters to be a complete set. What do you think of my new, classy frame? I heart her.

Catching Up

2011-06-12T22:42:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry for once again going silent. It's the never-ending migraine battle and long hours at the office slowing draining the life out of me. I've made some little changes here and there at the condo and have a few more in my head... stay tuned!

My Shiny New Toy

2011-05-04T09:45:00.000-05:00

Isn't she lovely??? My very own Moroccan pouf was delivered to the office last week, but due to a business trip to the "D" (aka Detroit) and quite a few late nights at the office, I haven't had a chance to enjoy her much yet.

The online reviews were only so-so, but I don't believe the other reviewers know what a Moroccan pouf is supposed to be. This one is fabulous, and it brings a little Nate into my life. (It's from the Nate Berkus line at HSN.) She goes well with a glass of Layer Cake Malbec and HGTV on the DVR around 11 p.m.... that I do know.