Katie Is Keen On...

I'm Back and DIY Nightstand

2015-08-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

After a little hiatus, ok a year and a half may have been too long, I have been feeling very inspired to share again. A lot has transpired - mostly good! A new baby, a new house, and new inspiration. Being in a new home has breathed life into my creative side (ie. the side I should have probably pursued instead of that business degree. I digress.)

Over the past year, I've slowly been decorating my new and much bigger home. We sized up times 3 in space. I say this not to brag but to provide you with an idea of the tiny space we came from. Hence we had a lot of furniture shopping to do, and in this household that job lays squarely and thankfully and happily in my lap. There were easy decisions and additions to make like upgrading to a King bed and getting a big screen TV (ahem) or two (thanks Black Friday online deals). But then there were the grey area purchases which I will call, "I love it but". These are the hem and haw decisions that keep you up at night because the stars are not perfectly aligned - 4 out of 5 items are but one isn't. Enter the nightstands below. Perfect in shape, storage space, price and vintage style, but what a truly awful color for my vision of a white, cream, and serene bedroom.

Before

So I bought them at Nadeau Furniture (great value import place) because everything was perfect except for the color, and truthfully I was sick of reaching to the floor for my water bottle, my ipad, my phone, a tissue, etc. It took another 6 months for the clashing color to disturb me sufficiently enough to do something about it when lo and behold, I stumbled across chalk paint. No priming, no sanding, no prepping. It sounded like my kind of diy shortcut. And it was!

After 1st coat

Now diy purists will probably steer you toward the holy grail of chalk paint - Annie Sloan, however I found it hard to find. I went to Lowe's and bought Valspar's equivalent chalky finish paint and waxes. I selected the color "Woolen Stockings" which will shock no one who has seen my very grey house. Separately I purchased an inexpensive stencil bristle brush on Amazon because that's what all the YouTube demonstrations used. (Fyi: this is not the greatest brush in the world as some bristles did break off, but I felt better about brushing those off than paying another $20 for a professional brush.) After the 1st coat above, you can still see some of the salmon showing through, so I did end up doing a 2nd coat (below).


After 2nd coat

Then I waxed. There are two wax options. The clear soft wax deepens the color and seals the paint; the dark wax highlights the wood grains and creates an antiqued look. I chose to bypass the sealing wax for the antiquing wax because I wouldn't be putting a cold glass of water on the nightstand ever, and well sometimes I'm a cheapskate. If a paint brush could whisper, I put that amount on the brush and then still dabbed some onto my towel before putting the lightest layer down. Use the towel to wipe off any areas that get too heavily painted. Tip: try the wax on the furniture's back first. On my first swipe, I put way too much wax on my brush and couldn't wipe enough wax off with my towel for it to look good. Thankfully no one will ever see the back.

Items for waxing

Super light layer of the antiquing wax

Here is the finished look! I am so happy with the outcome. I wish I would have done it sooner because it really was very easy. Chalk paint people! It will transform your furniture without breaking your back or the bank. My room now truly evokes serenity and peace.

After

Peanut Butter!

2014-02-24T14:46:00.000-06:00

I am having an all-out, adult love affair with peanut butter! Oddly enough, I couldn't say I was this passionate about it as a child when PB&J sandwiches were plentiful and commonplace. No matter the reason, I love peanut butter now. Although, I'm more into its iterations than the spoon out of the jar kind of thing. Without further ado, here are three spectacular variations that I have personally vetted for you in Chicago!

Molly's Cupcakes
Peanut Butter Nutella Cupcake

This will knock your socks off! It has the chewy texture of a real peanut butter cookie and it's filled with nutella (um, yum!). I...seriously...need an intervention every week to hold me back from running over to Clark & Diversey to gorge on this. I find new friends to take here, I go by myself, I bring this cupcake to gatherings, I have my husband illegally park while I run in.
It's my favorite cupcake...EVER. It's a problem. I admit it.

Pierrot Gourmet

Giant Peanut Butter & Jelly Macaron

I love this macaron so much I've returned a couple times, just for this, even though the rest of the menu at this casual, European eatery is quite good too.

Firecakes Donuts
Peanut Butter Cup Donut

I wish there was a little more peanut butter in here, but overall this is a great little piece of peanut butter and chocolate heaven. And you don't need to feel so guilty, it is actually quite a petite donut.

Do you have a favorite peanut butter-oriented food in Chicago? Please do share!

Cozy Winter Reads

2014-01-27T17:35:00.001-06:00

The polar vortex may have you hibernating inside a little more this winter. Well, I can't imagine anything more cozy than reading a good book. Under a blanket. Drinking tea. In my PJs. Since I have had the pleasure of reading a lot this past year, I thought I'd share my top twelve reads of 2013! Hope this saves you time in finding a good book when you need one but more importantly I wish you the enjoyment of being transported to another place and time for a few hours. This was one of my favorite reasons for reading when I was a child and still is today.

Also let me give a shout out to the website goodreads.com where I log all the books I've "read", am "currently-reading" and want "to read." I don't know about you but my memory (these days) can't possibly keep track of all these books. And a tangible written list inevitably gets lost. This online site along with its iPhone/iPad app is perfect for keeping me on top of what I want to borrow from the library or buy next and also allows me to connect with friends for more book suggestions and their personal ratings.

1. Book Thief - riveting - Just when you didn't think there could be another original WWII novel, this one written from a German child's perspective (movie adaptation in 2014)

2. People of the Book - mesmerizing - Inspired by true events, a richly weaved story of the life of the Sarajevo Haggadah as it survived cultures, wars, and time

3. Little Bee - engrossing - Little Bee and Sarah, from wildly different worlds, meet on a Nigerian beach and reconnect years later revealing an unpredictable shared history and twist of events to follow

4. Street Sweeper - redemptive - An intersection of 3 diverse characters and storylines: a history professor, ex-con janitor, and Auschwitz survivor

5. And The Mountains Echoed - gripping - Khaled creates rich, cultural stories wherein his characters are faced with gut-wrenching decisions which have complex, multi-generational repercussions

6. The Fault In Our Stars - fresh - Hazel and Augustus meet at a Cancer Kid Support Group (movie adaptation in 2014)

7. Love Does - inspiring - Bob Goff has lived an unimaginable life by simply loving in big, unconventional ways

8. Burial Rites - intriguing - A highly-praised debut historical fiction novel who writes about Iceland's last woman put to death in the 1800s

9. Half Broke Horses - colorful - Wild, inspiring stories of author Jeannette Wall's gutsy grandmother who was a true western, trailblazing kind of woman

10. Bittersweet - authentic - Short stories from a self-deprecating woman navigating through life's bitter and sweet moments, all through the lens of how God is working in and through her, on one page you are chuckling and on another you will be weeping

11. Cuckoo's Calling - solid - J.K. Rowling's first crime novel...enough said

12. Divergent/Insurgent/Allegiant - captivating - Hunger Games-esque but different and original in its own way (movie adaptation in 2014)

I always love recommendations, so what are your favorite read(s) of 2013? Post in the comments below :)

Gifts in a Pinch: Under $30

2013-12-19T09:48:00.001-06:00

Running out of BOTH time and money? No need to sweat it, attack your Gift List with this quick roundup of fun finds...only pressure felt should be deciding which parties to attend this festive season. After all, isn't it better to spread Joy to the World of family and friends? Happy Holidaze!

*Excludes tax and shipping

Gift for the Tasteful Wife

Gift for the Single Girl

Gift for the Make-up Lover

Gift for the Hostess with the Mostest

Gift for the Gal that has Everything

Gift for the Best Friend

Gift for the Hip Husband

Gift for the "Bachelor "

Gift for the Favorite Brother

Gift for the Family Dog

Writer's Bio:

A Life"style" Junkie (or professionally, a Freelancer) writing about my likes, I cover both Chicago and New York markets. My claim to fame is NOT a trend expert, just someone expressing what catches my eyes and thoughts. All inquiries and comments most welcome: roserube@gmail.com

Healthy Thanksgiving : Roasted Mushrooms and Pearl Onions with Rosemary

2013-11-26T19:57:00.000-06:00

Here's the last installment of my Healthy Thanksgiving series : Roasted Mushrooms and Pearl Onions with Rosemary. I realize it is the day before Thanksgiving but no matter how prepared you are, you are most likely, like me, hitting the grocery store today anyway. So throw in some crimini mushrooms and a bag of frozen pearl onions. I adapted this recipe from the culinary goddess herself Martha Stewart and added rosemary as a finishing touch because I felt it would pair well with the earthiness of the mushrooms and onions. It does! This is so delicious, you'll love eating the leftovers. And you will have your guests thinking you slaved over this very easy and classy recipe!

Roasted Mushrooms and Pearl Onions with Rosemary
yields small side dish; double for bigger side dish

2 - 8 oz. packages of whole crimini (baby portabella) mushrooms
1 - 8 oz. package of frozen pearl onions
few pinches of fresh rosemary or dried rosemary
extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt
ground pepper

Let pearl onions thaw, then strain, and finally soak up any liquid by wrapping in paper towel
Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel; cut in half if some are too large
Scatter onions and mushrooms on a sheet pan
Drizzle olive oil across the mixture
Sprinkle kosher salt & ground pepper on top
Sprinkle a few pinches of fresh minced rosemary or dried rosemary
Toss everything with your hands
Bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes
Toss at 15 minute mark

HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY THANKSGIVING!

Healthy Thanksgiving : Roasted Veggies

2013-11-22T11:40:00.000-06:00

This is another attempt at convincing you that Thanksgiving does not have to be smothered in butter! Today I bring you possibly the easiest and tastiest Healthy Thanksgiving recipe ever. It can be made as a side dish, as an appetizer, or paired with a cheese and cracker platter. These roasted veggies are nuggets of caramelized deliciousness, ridiculously easy to make, and can be served at room temperature (no worries about cramming your oven the last hour before dinner). I've made it a million times (slight exaggeration) and every time it's a complete revelation (not an exaggeration) to my guests when I tell them the plain and simple truth.

Roasted Cauliflower & Broccoli

1 head of cauliflower
2 heads of broccoli
extra virgin olive oil (the good oil, the one that doesn't clog your arteries!)
kosher salt
ground pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Cut cauliflower and broccoli. Cut cauliflower into smaller pieces as it takes longer to cook.
Line two sheet pans with tin foil for easy clean-up.
Put cauliflower in one pan and broccoli in the other.
Drizzle with oil olive and sprinkle with salt & ground pepper.
Toss.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. I check them at the 15 minute mark and determine if they need tossing and a few more minutes of cooking. I like one side really caramelized so often I do not toss them at all.

Notes: using pre-cut broccoli & cauliflower can save more time. I make this weekly so I always have cooked veggies on hand for any meal :)

Healthy Thanksgiving : Pears, Sage & Proscuitto

2013-11-18T21:46:00.000-06:00

A healthy Thanksgiving dinner sounds like a paradox because it is. Traditionally. But it doesn't have to be! Over the next few weeks, I would like to introduce you to a couple turkey sidekicks that will keep all your guests happy and healthy. So set aside your green bean almondine with its crispy onion topping (not easy I realize!) and venture into a non-gluttonous holiday that won't have you regretting and hitting the treadmill hard afterwards.

Pears, Sage & Proscuitto

3 bosc pears unripened
1 pkg of proscuitto
1 pkg of fresh sage leaves

Cut bosc pears in half and then into thirds (each pear will yield 6 pieces)
Cut out any seeds and stems
Cut the proscuitto in half length-wise so you have two stacks of long pieces
Put a small sage leaf or half of a large sage leaf against a pear piece
Wrap a proscuitto piece around each pear piece

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes on 350 degrees

Sweet and savory, this recipe is paleo, and gluten & dairy free!

Winter Getaway: The American Club Resort

2013-11-01T20:04:00.003-05:00

Do you need a winter getaway but the Caribbean isn't a viable option? The American Club Resort in Kohler, Wisconsin is just your ticket! Five-Star Resort. Five-Star Spa. Four Diamond Restaurant. Quaint Shops. Tennis Center. Kohler Design Center and Factory Tours (Kohler sound familiar? Look at your bathtub, faucet or sink). World-class golf courses (um, summer only). Only two and half hours from Chicago!

A couple years ago, my husband and I were looking for a little winter getaway. We pleasantly found perfection in The American Club. We selected the Discover Kohler package which included 2 nights at The American Club, breakfast in the Wisconsin Room and a three-course dinner at Cucina. Do pick a package; they are worth it!

Upon arriving, we fell in love with the old world meets new world charm. The history of this place is palpable, especially when you visit the Horse & Plow restaurant where there is a pictorial history of the immigrant workers who once lived here and worked for Kohler Company. If this history interests you and you want to learn more about how your bathroom faucets and sinks are made, then take in the Kohler Design Center with its museum downstairs and/or the Kohler Factory Tour.

If you're a little more into pampering (ahem, like me), do take in a spa treatment or two at Kohler Waters Spa. This is a Five-Star Spa after all. Across two visits, I have had the luxury of partaking in a Kohler massage (great), Sea Lime Sigh (okay), Cranial Sacral massage (different, good) and Lavender Rain Bath (heaven). All I can say is the Vichy Shower during the lavender rain bath is amazing! But having a treatment is just part of the fun because you also get access before and/or after to all the spaces within the spa...this includes the steam room, sauna and whirlpools, the top floor lounge area with fireplace and whirlpool, small workout room, and complimentary drinks and snacks. My favorite place to curl up is in a lounger in front of the fireplace on the top floor. One tip: you must book your spa treatments more than a couple days in advance. They get fully booked especially between Christmas and New Years, which is when we typically visit. Second tip: stay in your robe and have lunch on the 1st floor.

On our second visit to The American Club, we upped the ante by enjoying a five-course meal at The Immigrant Restaurant, a four diamond restaurant. The evening was impeccable, from the service to the food, everything was special and delectable. The restaurant is divided into several small rooms which lends to privacy and intimacy. Our main waiter introduced us to special touches and menu switches that could be made. The gnocchi with zucchini and zucchini bread crumbs was a delightful standout. Also the sommelier swung by to help with suggestions; my only complaint is that the red wine was served at room temperature. I normally wouldn't care, but when you order really good red wine, it does taste better at the proper chilled red temperature of 65 degrees. Wine snob?

On our second stay, we booked the Red Carpet Retreat package at the Inn at Woodlake which is a sister property to The American Club. It is attached to the Shops at Woodlake and contemporary in feel, like a Westin Hotel. Our package included a movie both nights as well as the cute little snack pack above. The second night, the hotel gave us regular popcorn, but my ever so resourceful husband called and requested the caramel corn. He knows the way to my heart! While we enjoyed our stay at the Inn at Woodlake, I would probably hasten back to The American Club next time where the rooms are more traditional and cozier albeit smaller, and where breakfast in the Wisconsin Room is a real feast for the eyes and tummy. Or I have always wanted to stay at the Carriage House which also houses the spa. Just imagine never changing out of your robe!

With your leftover time, enjoy the Shops at Woodlake which are just a shuttle drive away. Actually everything is accessible by shuttle so no need to get your car out. The Craverie Chocolatier Cafe is a must visit, if not to taste some succulent chocolate, then to eat lunch in their cute cafe. The Woodlake Market is also a must-hit for wine, beer and snacks. Or like us, you could buy a bottle of wine and made-to-order french dips at the sandwich counter and eat lunch there. And after all the pampering and eating, there are ways to exercise off the indulgences with Yoga on the Lake, ice skating, cross-country skiing, tennis, etc. Really this place has it all! And there's a lot I'm leaving out, so you'll just have to visit to discover for yourself.

Perfect holiday card photo-op!

While I'm sure The American Club is fabulous in summer, I only know this place as it is decorated sumptuously for the holidays.

Twinkling with lights. Draped in snow. Oozing with coziness.

I love it, and you will too. You'll nearly forget that you aren't in some warmer tropical locale.

Guest Blogger: Summer Lovin': Accessories

2013-08-05T10:46:00.003-05:00

'Tis my favorite season, what's not to love? Days are the longest...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Weather is the warmest...HOT, HOT, HOT! Should you choose a vacation or staycation, all arrows point to the same summer destination...FUN, FUN, FUN!

Lips Crossbody Bag (Rose Gold), Diane Von Furstenberg

No need to plump up this pucker, lighten up your summer load with this coy crossbody by DVF! The queen of fashion royalty, this dicey metallic number is just the right amount of wrong. Also this shiny neutral {a far pout from boring} combination of rose gold leather with silver hardware is sure to kiss and makeup with everything it is lucky to hold!

Wristlet (Navy), Jonathan Adler

Feeling a bit "SQUIRRELY"? Easy to associate Jonathan Adler with all things home decor and design, now welcome his foray into accessories! I personally extend a warm embrace with open arms, possible because the attachable strap can be worn hands free. Wristlet is roomy enough for all summer essentials: phone, lipgloss, mints and ID. What more do you need? Perfect for the park stroll. You know the fellow squirrels will be discussing this conversation piece all summer long...

Mix Hair Brush, Mason Pearson

Want to eliminate bad hair days FOREVER? There is always a price (manageable hair=priceless), but this iconic tool will not only tame flyaways but renew your whole head. Will relay the secret: 50/50 combination of nylon and boar bristles evenly distributes natural oils, while the rubber base soothingly massages a healthy scalp. A recipe your hair always dreamed of made entirely possible! Every professional salon stylist swears by it, so forget stock (unless it is shares of Mason Pearson), this is THE lifelong investment.

Penny 2 Twist Turban Headband, Eugenia Kim

Not that twisted enough for a luxury 3 digit manufacturer's suggested retail price hair brush? Try this twisted turban headband instead, much more within the average girl's beauty budget. No need to go to combat with unruly hair caused by heat and humidity, this bold accessory with its killer looks will fool everyone into believing you are having the THE-BEST-HAIR-DAY-EVER! Eugenia Kim is a savvy designer who started her business creating a hat for her own bad hair cut day...and the rest is "hairs"tory.

Lip Balm (Strawberry), Rosebud Perfume Co.*

Summer fruits are a classic, but the strawberry stands out most of all (maybe the real interpretation: most all farm stands show classic strawberries?)! Don't pick this lip balm over, it is one for keeps long after berry season is over. An alternative to the original Rosebud Salve's floral scent but with the same emollient qualities. Breathe easy, as it is summer! So instead of taking time to smell the roses, make time to create Katie's Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, a completely different satisfaction.**

*Writer's Picked and Owned
**Shameless plug on this hostess with the mostess' blog. Crisp is amazing!

Resin Foil Bangle Set, Amrita Singh

Summer season, are all days clear? CRYSTAL (at least the resin is)...foiled again! Not by sunburn, but by summer's consistent need for arm statement jewelry (aka the bracelet). ALWAYS step up to the challenge, match high temperatures with high style! Resin is the appropriate showoff. It is an easy and relaxed look laced with gold and silver toned foil. Pick a bangle, any bangle, as Amrita's set gives options for all your summer outfits and occasions!

Writer's Bio:
A Life"style" Junkie (or professionally, a Freelancer) writing about my likes, I cover both Chicago and New York markets. My claim to fame is NOT a trend expert, just someone expressing what catches my eyes and thoughts. All inquiries and comments most welcome: roserube@gmail.com

Banff = Beautiful

2013-07-15T23:58:00.001-05:00

Lake Peyto, Banff National Park

Ten years ago hiking sounded...well...HARD. Enjoying a Chicago summer festival fit my world better. But years do change us. What I wanted ten years ago isn't the same today. So I find myself, while still loving the hustle and bustle of the city, equally pining for the serenity of wide open spaces, countryside, and mountains.

Camino de Santiago, Spain

It all started last summer when I got a grandiose dose of nature by walking the last 125 miles of Spain's Camino de Santiago (pictured above). The personal peace I found while walking sometimes 8-12 hours a day was indescribable. I soaked it all in and luxuriated in it like a warm, bubble bath with a good book to read. The smell of the trees, flowers, and manure! The sound of the babbling brook. The feel of the early morning fog lifting. The beauty of the magic hour as the sun rises. Heaven!

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park

In the words of John Burroughs, "I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." Nature has a profound way of instilling peace and helping to put life into proper perspective. All of a sudden, obstacles that are hard in everyday life, really become small and trivial. The important themes in life resound.

Lake Moraine, Banff National Park

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." Henry David Thoreau

Oh Henry! You say it best. I do yearn to learn while in these reflective places and apply these lessons for a more meaningful life. These messages are always along the lines of enjoy the present, don't worry about the future, slow down A LOT more, love others, have faith, be grateful. The trick is not letting these go by the wayside once one returns to everyday life.

Valley of the Ten Peaks, hike up from Lake Moraine

And when I am here in these places, I am thankful. The gratitude pours out of me. Thank you God for my husband, home, dogs, family, and friends. Let me not forget to thank you for my nifty bike, farmers markets, lazy weekends, and Stanley's Fruit Market that sustains my juicing regimen.

Lake Agnes Teahouse Hike, backside of the lake

I cannot stop and the thankfulness reaches a whole new level of the quirky and sublime. Thank you God for the Walgreens on the corner that saves me in a cooking pinch (case in point, just this last week, instant oats). Thank you for my bike that helps me get to my favorite peanut butter & nutella cupcake obsession at Molly's Cupcakes on Clark Street. Thank you for all the free books and e-books from Chicago Public Library and the kind but odd librarian who always checks me out.

I love this quote by by e.e. cummings which encapsulates my point ever so much more eloquently, "I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."

Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park

Johnston Canyon, Banff National Park

So nature beckoned this year again. Mike and I set our sights on Banff National Park because of all of the awe-inspiring, almost fake-like pictures we had seen. We wondered if it really was that beautiful. {It was! As evidenced by all the pictures in this post.} Banff is the oldest national park in Canada. It is part of the Canadian Rockies and is connected to several adjacent national parks like Jasper National Park, Yoho National Park and Kootenay National Park. There is so much to see, you could spend one week, two weeks or even three weeks here.

Lake Agnes Teahouse Hike started from Lake Louise in Banff National Park

We spent 5 glorious days here in this wonderland of nature. We hiked, tackling a number of moderate hikes which led us on a new journey (spiritually, emotionally & physically) every day. Every direction, every view, every hike, every drive was inspiring. Even on the last day I was still in awe of the beauty surrounding us. And I did not want to leave - a true sign of a great place.

Bow Lake, Banff National Park

View from Tunnel Mountain, Banff the Town

Bow Lake, Banff National Park

Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park

Go to the woods!

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

2013-07-09T09:43:00.001-05:00

When you are from Wisconsin and your grandma lovingly gives you some of her home-grown rhubarb, as a dutiful granddaughter you MUST make a strawberry rhubarb dessert. Duh! The tartness of this misunderstood, celery-like rhubarb needs the sweetness of the strawberry to create the perfect dessert balance. Add a crisp to the top. And a dollop of vanilla ice cream. And hello summer!

If you must know, I sacrificed my waistline and gluten and dairy-free lifestyle to bring you this delectable post. I was forced to make it two times and spent weeks eating the leftovers because throwing it out would be - horrifyingly wasteful. Inner glee emerged when the first strawberry rhubarb crisp failed - too much liquid and not enough crisp - because it meant a second crisp was in the near future. My waistline was thankful when the second crisp came out perfect. However my taste buds' hopes were a bit dashed as it yearned for a third iteration.

Here are my baking notes. I combined two recipes together - one from Ina Garten for the fruit portion and one crisp topping from allrecipes. The error in Ina's recipe is that is calls for far too much orange juice and not enough cornstarch, so my first crisp was incredibly soupy. Reducing the orange juice and doubling the cornstarch was the perfect fix. By the way, if you're wondering if you can get away without the orange juice and orange zest, you are mistaken. It adds an incredible layer of flavor.

When it comes to a crisp topping, I am as picky as they come. My biggest issue is when they are too crispy or hard. Who wants a hockey puck crisp? Additionally, more often than not, the crisp is not sweet enough for me. {Have I ever mentioned that I didn't have sugar as a child? I'm making up for it as an adult.} What I discovered after many years of experimentation, all my crisp woes are solved when white sugar is eliminated and only brown sugar is utilized. This is my perfect crisp recipe. Well. Almost. The glutton in me needs more crisp to fruit ratio, so I made 1.5 times the recipe. Is this indulgence necessary? I swear it is! Now I can finally exclaim...crisp perfection!

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
adapted from Ina Garten and allrecipes
8 servings

Ingredients
4 cups rhubarb (4-5 big stalks)
4 cups strawberries (cut in half if big)
1 1/4 cups of white sugar
1 1/2 tsp of orange zest (from 1 large orange)
2 tbs cornstarch
1/3 cup orange juice (from your 1 orange)
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
heaping 1/4 tsp baking soda
heaping 1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup butter, melted (1.5 sticks)
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

1. Clean the rhubarb and strawberries. Cut the strawberries in half (if they are big) and cut the rhubarb into 1 inch pieces. If the rhubarb is large, you may have to cut the stick in half vertically before cutting into 1 inch pieces. Add and mix sugar and orange zest to the strawberries and rhubarb.

2. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch to the orange juice and stir to blend. Then add to the strawberries and rhubarb mixture.

3. For the crisp, combine the following ingredients (oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, melted butter & cinnamon) in a medium bowl and mix well to combine.

4. In a 9"x13" pan, layer the strawberry and rhubarb mixture on the bottom and crumble the crisp mixture on top.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes to 1 hour until top is golden brown. Let it rest for 30 minutes. It will still be warm after this time. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy this summer scrumptiousness!

Guest Blogger: Shine on, summer!

2013-06-26T08:21:00.000-05:00

Please welcome my makeup guest blogger and real-life writing aficionada, Suzanne Cohen! She is mad over makeup, especially lipsticks and glosses. This season, she is sure to motivate you to try a new color, help you reminisce over long-lost favorites of the past and show you how to keep your current line-up in your makeup bag (long after it has left the shelf) with her trade secrets. If you like makeup, she's a good friend to have! :)

Hallelujah - it's lipgloss season.

Dear readers, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a young girl who fell smack dab in love with Maybelline Kissing Potion and (almost) never recovered. In liquid form with rollerball applicators, this gloss came in the most delicious flavors: cherry smash, juicy watermelon, bubble gum, orange squeeze and more.

To refresh your memory, here's a vintage ad featuring Kim Basinger:

I've been enamored with lip color since my first purchase of the now-discontinued Clinique Mauve Crystal, a slightly shimmery frosty clear color tinged with mauve. Half my junior high classmates begged their parents to let them buy it or asked for it as a gift. I felt like a princess when I swiveled the silver-ridged lipstick tube and applied my favorite color. I wore it for a couple years, before I graduated to pinks and purples and more grown-up colors. Recently, on a regular sweep through Sephora - nirvana for makeup addicts like myself - I felt a pang of regret for my adolescence when the sparkly mauve crystal was absent from the shelf.

Fast forward to my teenage through adult years, during which mascara, eye shadow, eyeliner and blush made their appearance. Still, lip products remain my favorite. With one swipe of a magic wand, lip color can change a mood, alter a color when layered, add glamour or innocence.

And now, for my favorite "adult" lipglosses and lip sheers. Drum roll, please...

Chanel Sensuelle Glossimer

a fantastic layer-over-lipstick color or perfect on its own

Chantecaille Heirloom Lip Chic

dreamy texture, non-stop shine

Delux Beauty Norris

the perfect subtle color, also nice to layer over a lipstick such as Mac "O"

T. LeClerc Rose Paillettes

creamy texture, subtle sparkle and vanilla scent; looks better layered

Alas, Sensuelle and Norris are discontinued. But never fear, I have stalked the Web, not altogether in vain. Although dwindling, my supply remains intact.

My pet peeve is when my favorite colors, in any cosmetic product, are discontinued, usually without advance notice. What's a lass to do? To the rescue: Three Custom Color Specialists. They'll produce discontinued shades for lips, cheeks, eyes and face or help you create your own. You can search their archives for a no-longer-made shade (they'll even keep the replacement formula on file), send a dime-sized sample of your color for them to copy or create your own shade from scratch. I tried the service when I lived in NYC, where they're based. I was able to choose a scent for my lip color. The process was costly, and while the result came pretty close to my original beloved Delux Norris gloss, it was not an exact match. {Alternatively, you may wish to scour eBay, StrawberryNET or Good Deal Beauty.}

Color me beautiful

If your skin color darkens in the summer or you prefer a more natural lip look, you may wish to dab on a neutral color. As a fair-skinned, dark-haired girl, I look too washed out to venture into neutral territory. However, I can offer a few trusty recommendations if you gravitate toward these. Please keep in mind that your skin's undertone and lip pigmentation determine which nudes will work best for you. The colors look less intense on your lips than they do here. Some crowd favorites include:

MAC Twig

also called "your lips but better" color

Maybelline Color Sensational in Warm Me Up

Rimmel London's Nude Delight Moisture Renew Lipstick

works well on medium-toned skin

How do you feel when you find a new color? Does it break you out of your routine or the doldrums? We've love to hear what your favorite colors are!

Kiss kiss, darlings.

-------------------

Writer's Bio
I've rarely met a word I didn't like. A lifestyle and corporate writer who specializes in snappy copy and interviewing people, I'm passionate about writing, social media, health and wellness, tennis and exploring the world and our fair city. After a decade in the Big Apple, I'm excited to be back in Chicago. Please feel free to ping me!

Thank you, Katie, for indulging my need to share beauty secrets on your blog. I love to read your cooking, entertaining and travel tips!

A Signature Drink: Fresh Limeade

2013-05-24T13:27:00.000-05:00

Katie's Memorial Day BBQ is NEVER complete without a signature drink. The first big hit was Blueberry Ginger Mojitos, thanks Tyler Florence. I drank a few too many of those and promptly fell asleep on my guests - enter in embarrassment on both counts. The signature drink tradition has stayed. My antics {thankfully} have matured.

Lately my taste buds have been veering toward the lime family. Slightly tart and so refreshing! Ironically, a decade ago, you could not have bribed me to eat key lime pie or anything tasting of lime for that matter. Dare I say that my taste buds have also matured? I suppose so because now I am all over this wonderful citrus fruit.

Fresh Limeade
Serves 8-12

Simple syrup
2 cups water
2 cups sugar

Drink
20 limes (yields 2 cups)
3/4 oz. pkg. mint
2-3 quarts of sparkling water (to taste)
simple syrup (from above)
4-5 lime rinds (optional for visual effect)
3-4 cups rum (optional and to taste; reduce sparkling water accordingly)

Notes: Play with the ratios of all the ingredients together because I've found making drinks is particular to taste. My advice is to always err on the lighter side of each ingredient because you can always add but can't take away! :)

Directions
Make simple syrup by boiling 2 cups of water. Then add 2 cups of sugar and lightly stir until sugar dissolves. Cool and set aside.

Roll 20 limes to release their juice and then cut them in half. Use a juicer to extract the juices. Add juice to a pitcher.

Tear mint into smaller pieces (this releases the flavor) and add to the pitcher. Finally add in simple syrup and sparkling water to taste.

Option 1: add rum to spike the drink but then reduce sparkling water (start with the 3 cups of rum and add the sparkling water to balance it out)

Option 2: add lime rinds to the pitcher to make it look more festive

Note: This recipe will fill the pitcher at the top of the post. At the point in which the picture was taken, my friends and I had already enjoyed half of the pitcher :)

Adapted from:
http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/view?recipeID=174
http://www.marthastewart.com/332254/limeade

My Feet's Best Friend

2013-05-21T10:17:00.000-05:00

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I ventured out into our optimistic summer-like days of the past few weeks. The sun reflected off my ray-bans. The rays felt warm on my face. My arms were bare - good-bye cardigans! I was luxuriating in events like walking to my bank, local library, patisserie and dry cleaner. Are you feeling that everything was pristine and perfect in my world? Well everything...

Except for my FEET!

My flats were killing me. That slow death where the rubbing on the sides of my toes or heel {or both} eventually gets so bad that a blister forms. I can hear your head nodding. Or maybe the blister doesn't fully form, but it hurts like the dickens. So I gimp around, but not because I sprained anything. Commiserating with me ladies? So why do we hurt ourselves so? Let's just say, it's a girl's prerogative and answering the question isn't really relevant. {Or in all transparency, it's because our rationalization wouldn't appear rational.} So what does a girl do? Not wear your beloved shoes? Not buy those irresistible pumps? Well, that is just not a proper solution, says the shoe-loving part of my brain {the pedi lobe, if you will}.

This is where my feet's best friend comes into play - Band-Aid Friction Block.

Rubbing this heaven-sent product on, rescues my toes and heels and keeps me fashionably in my favorite spring and summer shoes. Sans pain. An illustration if you please. My adorable, Banana Republic flats tear up my feet so badly that I can barely traverse two blocks before wanting to rip them off. With my secret product, I spent an entire morning downtown on Michigan Avenue. Friction block is my feet's new best friend (and a constant fixture in my purse) and can be yours too!

Go buy it. Today. Prepare to be amazed and hooked!

Notes: Your local drugstore carries Band-Aid Friction Block. Vaseline also works but it's oilier.

Guest Blogger: Spring Fever

2013-05-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

Please welcome my first guest blogger, Rosette! She is hopelessly in love with fashion and scours print and the web for finds, so who is better than this self-proclaimed life"style" junkie to help us ladies round out our spring looks? Just try to resist her picks below...sigh...I have no willpower...the thomaspaul scarf is already in my shopping cart!

Just when we all have had enough cabin fever, Mother Nature grants our wish for longer days! Hay fever season is upon us: why not use allergies that cloud our congestion, as an excuse to also cloud our better judgment? Whether your guilty pleasures be one too many Spring splurges or perhaps the start of earlier Al Fresco happy hours (time indoors can always be made up in Winter, refer back to intro), embrace the transition. Armed and dangerous with these necessaccessories [necessary accessories] - here's toasting to an Eternal Spring!

Clubmaster Havana Orange, Ray-Ban

What better way for a socialite to be incognito than by wearing some color-blocked sunnies! Classic tortoise frames are updated with a two tone look, available in green and my personal favorite violet. These protective shades instill old Hollywood glamour, good thing since you will be running in heels from those pesky paparazzi!

Love-O-Meter Heart Spinner Necklace, Me & Zena

Ok to admit: believing in LIKE at first sight! This ornamental pendant is a girl's traveling Magic 8 Ball. Bonus that it has every color, no need to keep up with colors of any season! It frees the mind to wander and obsess on real important matters: Like (again, acceptable feeling) is HE your happily ever after, or happily never ever? Just spin to your heart's content, or your heart's "?"

Elephant Voile Scarf, thomaspaul *

Choose your own Spring adventure: City Safari anyone? Lions and tigers and bears (in this shopping case, rhinos), oh my! Metropolitan living often feels like our habitat is an urban jungle, with all those unpredictable office drafts and over air conditioning on public transportation, lucky we don't opt for last season's fur shawl (not the intention to scare the animals). Just wrap one around your neck, and voila (material speaking, voile), instant fabric art.

*Writer's Pick (own rhino, gifted tiger)

M.A.B Mini Natural, Rebecca Minkoff

M.A.B. Mini Green, Rebecca Minkoff

Seasonal change, perception IS reality--do keep everything stylishly together in this versatile carrier! The M.A.B Mini will carry you, at least your stuff, through upcoming seasons, one Spring break away from Summer Lovin'. Rebecca Minkoff's wittily named bags along with her whimsical interiors are her creative signature, i.e. Moonstruck Hobo or Knocked Up Baby Bag. Remember, just as Spring's unpredictable weather changes at a moment's notice, at any moment's notice a gal has the right to change her handbag too!

Lavender nail lacquer remover, Deborah Lippmann

An award winning nail polish remover in an individually wrapped finger mitt, makes it so easy to toss into your bag. Of course the name alone states, or rather bares, all. Now you can change your Deborah Lippman polishes frequently--one Stripper cleans all ten fingers. On to the next product rave, when a Spring go-go girl has to go, she has got to go, go, go...

Crayon Intense Eyeliner, Dolce & Gabbana

Spring Flings are usually intense-why not match those feelings with your make-up? Dolce & Gabbana has got your lyin' (or LION, should you prefer big animal type) eyes, so ditch the black and opt for some new color. April showers bring May flowers and in the interim brings the almighty rainbow--and we know what is at the end... These pencil liners are not a pot of gold, but they are gold with a ROY-G-BIV spectrum range. Warning: seeing the whole palette induces experimenting away--isn't that what Spring is all about!?!

Writer's Bio:
A Life"style" Junkie (or professionally, a Freelancer) writing about my likes, I cover both Chicago and New York markets. My claim to fame is NOT a trend expert, just someone expressing what catches my eyes and thoughts. All inquiries and comments most welcome: roserube@gmail.com

Spring Cleaning in the Closet

2013-03-27T10:32:00.000-05:00

This post might make you hate me...IF you are too hasty. You may think I am an overachiever. You may feel inferior. But rest assured, the reason for this post is because in the organization department, chances are I am just as hopeless as you. Let's be honest, we all want to have organized lives. It looks nice and makes us feel better. But what gets into the way? Busy lives. Limited space. Laziness. Reality TV! These were all my excuses until recently when an honest friend looked inside my closet and without reserve said, "Oh honey...you really need some help. Start with all the same Costco hangers." Thank you blunt friend. I was a mess. And I needed the honesty.

Game on! I settled on a three-fold goal for my closet reinvention:
      ONE - uniform hangers
      TWO - pictures on shoe boxes
      THREE - re-use/recycle hangers & clothes

GOAL ONE - change to one uniform hanger. This has been a lifelong goal in that anal part of my head. Rows of the same hanger have always dazzled my eyes but seemed only right for the Kim Kardashians of the world with closets bigger than my bedroom. My practicality always said this was a waste of money. Problem solved when someone gifts them to you. Thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law :)

before - mishmash of a closet

My gifter purchased sets of 35 No-Slip Hangers from Costco at $9.99 each. You can't even buy 35 plastic hangers for this! First, I love that my clothes look orderly (heaven), and secondly, they do not slip off the hangers anymore. But I will warn you that it does take a little longer to get clothes on and off these no-slip hangers. This actually has made me more judicious in taking things off, and on a positive note I've been creating less mess. Some hangers have also broken (sigh), but at this price, I can afford to replace them.

I took this all a step further by hanging my clothes by color. Nice, huh? The organized part of my brain does a happy dance with every visit.

GOAL TWO - affix pictures to my shoeboxes. I have a lot of shoes. A lot. Too many perhaps. For the most part, I've kept all my shoeboxes over the years - one score in the organization category for Katie! However I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I've accumulated so many shoes that my memory cannot match the shoebox with the shoe anymore. As a result, I spend too much time opening boxes to find the right shoe. And since most of my shoeboxes are high up in my closet, I have to get on a step stool to reach them. Juggling shoeboxes on a step stool = dangerous!

before

It did occur to me that I could go out and buy those nifty see-through shoeboxes but my thriftiness won out. My compromise was to print out color pictures of my shoes and tape them to the boxes. I did this by using my iphone (a camera is just as easy) and took pictures of all my shoes. Then, I went to the nearest drugstore and connected my USB cord to their photo kiosk to have them printed out.

Once the pictures were printed, I cut them to size and taped them on all my boxes. Alternatively, you can print these pictures on your color printer (if you have one.) Love that I can now see where all my shoes are at a glance! And no more juggling shoeboxes on the step stool anymore!


after - with pictures

GOAL THREE - reuse/reycle hangers & clothes. I could have been really lazy and thrown that huge jumble of hangers in the trash. But I believe it's my responsibility as a good citizen to reduce my carbon footprint and be aware of how I dispose of things. Did you know that dry cleaners recycle hangers? I love that mine does. By the way, I heart CD One Price Cleaners! $2.49 to dry clean any item is a steal! ($1.49 for laundered items like men's button down shirts). Anyway, I did recycle the majority of my hangers and donated all my colored plastic hangers to the Salvation Army. The rest I am re-using in my coat closet. Yes, I had to lug around hangers to two different places, but I felt good about doing the right thing.

Next on my list was to purge clothing. This is hard for someone who did not have a nice wardrobe when it mattered, like in high school. Consequently, I tend to cling to clothes. But I was resolute and let go of all my size 2s that I always hoped that I would fit back into someday. "Size 2 is never happening, again," said my reality harshly. True that. Also hard to say goodbye to were those worn but beloved pieces. The ones that I saved my clothing budget to buy and served me well. I looked fondly at my first sweater coat that kept me warm every day when I used to work in advertising. Despite the nostalgia, these items were no longer in the 20% of my closet that I wear 80% of the time. You know this rule...so helpful in clearing out the clutter. Off my clothes went to my size 2 friend and the Salvation Army.

Tips:
- Use the 80/20 rule to get rid of the bulk in your closet. Keep the 20% of your clothes that you wear 80% of the time.
- If it's hard to give away once beloved clothes - give them to a friend.
- Leave extra space in every part of your closet - this will help keep the clutter away.
- Do tackle one area at a time - it can be overwhelming to do the whole closet at once.
- If you are a homeowner, do fill out that tax return sheet when you drop off your donations to Salvation Army or Goodwill and claim them on your taxes. For my household, they add up to a few hundred dollars every year. Yeah tax return!

This is the end of my spring cleaning closet saga. It took me quite a few days (um...weeks) to pull this off, but I can most assuredly say that my closet is now a delightful place. It is not only satisfying to look at but I can actually find things - what a concept!

Spring is here, despite the low temps and blasted snow flurries that tell us otherwise. It brings renewal and that is just what happened in my closet :) Where will you find renewal this spring?

Summer Coming Sooner Than Later

2013-03-14T12:40:00.000-05:00

Summer seems so close, but yet so far away. I keep thinking of all the things that I can't wait to do once it gets warmer. Ride my bike everywhere, al fresco dining, leisurely walking...and weekend getaways. Last summer, I was fortunate enough to be invited to my friends' family cottage on Lake Huron (only a hop, skip and a jump to Mackinac Island.) We spent a wonderfully relaxing day at the beach where I serendipitously took these shots. I have a DSLR and decided to play around with my manual settings - monochrome, ISO, and plus 1 or 2 exposure. Some of the pictures turned out...dare I say...stunning...which I attribute less to skill and more to my sweet subjects, their body language, and the backdrop. Coming across these pictures again, I am ready for summer and Lake Huron. I hope to be invited back this year!

Picture Gallery Walls

2013-03-04T08:51:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you but I absolutely ADORE picture gallery walls and have been forever pining for one and pinning them on Pinterest. While visually...very... appealing, there is something awfully INTIMIDATING about arranging the perfect combination of colors, styles, and pictures. You know what I mean - a well done one looks like a work of art. Case in point below.

{futuredomesticgoddess blog} {Escape blog}

For months I have pondered, "Am I worthy enough and do I possess the chops to tackle such a hallowed design project?" My head spun with the multitude of options. Do I do black and white? Vintage? Contemporary? Vibrant colors? All white? Ultimately indecision prompted me to simply stall for 5 months before I finally began. Have you had that before? Plain paralysis because you are unsure how to initiate? Yep - me.

My inspiration was finally sparked due to procrastination. If procrastination was an art form, I would be Picasso (and yes, that is a Picasso print in the picture above. It's called "Face of Peace," and it reminds me of the serenity I found in Spain last summer on the El Camino de Santiago.) When I'm trying to not do something I should be, I suddenly find other things I "HAVE" to do. The gallery wall became that thing a few weeks ago. And despite the fact I was rather dubious that I could pull it off, luckily I was only doing a "small vertical wall." This gave me courage! If I screwed up, I only had a small space to patch and repaint.

I started by pulling out all my currently unused frames and one vintage mirror that I found at an antique mall this past fall. Then I spent an afternoon hitting Target (Nate Berkus has a new home line there), HomeGoods (always inexpensive), and JoAnn Fabrics (40-50% sale) to purchase any and all frames, regardless of style, that piqued my interest. I lined up the frames and sat with them for a couple days. No, I didn't sit and stare at them for hours [silly]! What I mean is that I looked at them periodically, and every so often I'd play around with different layouts. I recommend this because I eventually pinpointed the ones I just had to keep and others I could do without.

INSPIRATION

Simultaneously I have been redecorating my guest bedroom (another post for another day) and that is turning out veritably vintage. So to mix things up, I decided to stray away from 100% vintage and landed on eclectic mix - fusing contemporary, vintage, and classic - inspired by Genevieve Gorder, designer and host of "Dear Genevieve" on HGTV. (Fyi: Her show is fabulous; she brilliantly and seamlessly mixes styles, if you're into that). See picture above.

Of course I wanted pictures in my gallery wall, so I selected a couple wedding photos and a picture from one of my favorite places in the world: Cinque Terre, Italy. However, I wanted to vary the frame contents, just like Genevieve. So where did I go for inspiration? Pinterest strikes again! I found three DIY projects to incorporate into my wall - treasured bible verse in continuous cursive, surname initial stenciled on burlap, and Paper Source fine paper in a frame. I did all of these in a day! I suppose it helped that I already had burlap, acrylic paint and stencils in my craftwagon :) From there, it was all a cinch. And finally here is the output of all my efforts.

BEFORE (boring)

AFTER (inspired!)

Have I inspired you? I hope so. Pull out that project that has been collecting dusty cobwebs in the creative part of your brain. Stop thinking and just do it! The metamorphosis will be worth it and transformation will breathe new life into your space. Procrastination begone, let inspiration begin!

After The Wine

2013-02-09T09:27:00.002-06:00

I love flowers just as much as the next person, but it can get pricey keeping fresh flowers all the time. So what is a girl to do when entertaining and she has already spent all her money on food for the scrumptious meal? Well, the picture gives it all away. Yes! Re-use your wine bottles as a centerpiece (that one you polished off last night) and reduce your carbon footprint in the process. It's stylish, elegant and you can say you made it - guests are very impressed by that :)

This works best if you use varying colored wine bottles with slightly different shapes. I imagine it won't be very hard to ~~down~~ amass a few bottles in the name of this crafty cause, but in the event you are not an oenophile, be a problem solver and get some from your wine friends or buy some "three buck chuck" at Trader Joe's ('cuz it doesn't get cheaper than that).

Directions: Remove the labels by submerging the bottles in hot water for a little while; they come off pretty easily after that. Purchase some candle tapers - the thinner, the better (at JoAnns or Hobby Lobby - don't proceed without a 40% off online coupon, BB&Beyond - don't proceed without your ubiquitous 20% off coupon mailer). I found a pack of 6 candles from JoAnns that fit perfectly into each bottle, but in the event your candlesticks are a little too thick to stick in the bottle directly, take a sharp, chef's knife and shave off the bottom inch (all the way around) each taper so it fits into the bottle opening. Press it down into the opening so it's secure and won't topple out. Add some votives around your bottles, light all the candles, and you will have created a lovely ambiance for your evening.

If this project is too daunting, you can always use your leftover wine bottles to hold water. I've seen restaurants do this. About an hour before your guests arrive, put the wine bottle filled with water in the refrigerator to cool down. I actually have a magnum-sized wine bottle that I utilize (can't seem to place where I got it from and therein probably lies the answer) which doesn't require as much refilling.

So after you drink your wine, just as happily re-use your bottles!

Naveen's Cuisine

2013-02-05T09:17:00.000-06:00

Ordinarily I love celebrating my birthday, however lately I've been getting a little more uncomfortable with the ever-increasing number. So to combat these adverse feelings, this year I decided my birthday needed a little reboot. Birthday dinners in the past have involved places that are amiable to big groups such as Japonais, Andies Restaurant, Jin Jiu, Folklore or Greek Islands (now just seeing the ethnic food pattern). We always have a fabulous time, but the one thing that I've always disliked is the long table and inability to "really" talk with everyone. Connecting with people is really what this life is all about. After all, how could we get through the highs and lows without our people who surround and support us? But getting to those people, squished against the wall and 20 feet away from you, can create an obstacle toward intimacy.

Naveen's Cuisine on North Avenue helped solve this problem and combined three of my loves on this day - family, friends and cooking. Instead of booking a reservation at a restaurant, I booked a private Indian cooking demonstration at Naveen's. A cooking demonstration is where a chef shows you the ins and outs of making certain dishes - in our case 4 courses: Veggie Tikka Masala, Daal Makhani (lentils), Chicken Boti and salad. (This was not a hands-on cooking class where you make the dishes yourself.)

This is how it went down. Naveen made everything, we watched in rapt attention, he gave lots of tips, we asked lots of questions and then we ate all the delicious food - every last morsel. Some of his tips were to juice limes or lemons against a sharp knife (see picture above), use a pressure cooker (this is so on my birthday list for next year) to cook the lentils in 25 minutes versus 1 hour plus in a regular pot, employ a dough scraper to scoop up large piles of chopped veggies to transfer them into a bowl or pot instead of the side of a knife (I've totally starting doing this and it is so much more efficient and safer.) Additionally Naveen extended knife cutting techniques and acquainted us with Indian spices. Who knew that I could make my own garam masala and that all the required spices were already in my cabinet?

More pluses to our night. We had plenty of space to mingle and we were not confined to one big long table (as there were several highboy tables throughout the room). It was BYO...cheers! The price was competitive with a normal sit-down dinner and included 4 courses. We came away with all the recipes to attempt at home (made the chicken boti last month and it rocked). But the real gem is Naveen. He was so funny and cracked jokes the entire time. He kept everyone engaged with his great anecdotes and gregarious personality. Everyone kept exclaiming that he should be on TV and how the Food Network should be knocking on his door!

So how do you book your next cooking adventure at Naveen's? Simply go to his website and look at his calendar to see regularly scheduled cooking classes or demonstrations. He often offers Thai classes in addition to Indian. So grab a couple friends and make a night at Naveen's - bring an appetite because there will be plenty of food :) If you want a private personal or business event, contact him separately. Naveen also does Grab 'n Go meals too.

Birthday = success! It was great in so many ways from the educational and entertaining cooking demo in a relaxing venue to time spent with family and friends. And to top it off, we had fudge chocolate cake from Bittersweet Pastry. Should you ever have it, and I do encourage you to have it, you will never want another cake but this one again. You can and will thank me later. (As an aside, I had a sample of this cake many years ago on their sampler platter. It blew me away. I couldn't stop thinking about it. However, it took me a couple years of trying different chocolate cakes before I found "the one" because they seriously have like 12 different chocolate cakes.)

A Handmade Wreath

2012-12-05T21:44:00.000-06:00

As much as I consider myself a crafty person, the last few Christmases due to time constraints, I have found myself buying the typical store wreath. It is always nice, for sure, and of course smells good, but there's nothing like making something yourself. I'm just a few days in with my new handmade coffee filter wreath (thanks Abby for the inspiration), but I can validate how happy I am to come home every day and see this puffy, fluffy, white, elegant albeit inexpensive wreath. It seriously puts the biggest smile on my face :) If you're ready to get your craft on, follow these easy directions to make one yourself.

Materials (crafts from Michaels, JoAnns, Hobby Lobby and coffee filters from a grocery store)
    Small circle - $2.99 (with 40% coupon)
    Coffee Filters (100) - $.79
    Ribbon - $3.50 (in-store sale)
    Total $7.28

If you don't already have these, you'll need:
    Mini glue gun & sticks - approx $5

1. Crumple up one coffee filter. Make sure the tops are even.

2. Glue a good-sized dot on the outside of your circle

3. Press the bottom of the crumpled filter on top of the glue dot. Be sure to put pressure on for 10-20 seconds. Also be careful that you don't burn yourself, too much; unfortunately I couldn't seem to avoid this once in a while.

4. After gluing coffee filters around the outside. Glue two more layers until the wreath is finished (the picture shows only two layers). Be sure to leave a one inch space in the same place in each layer; this is where the ribbon will go.

5. Affix to your door. Enjoy! Handmade Happy Holidays!

Extra tips:
- Do buy the smallest circle. Remember the wreath will grow 4-6 inches beyond the circle.
- I made this with the flat styrofoam circle (shown above) as well as with a green circle usually bought in the floral department. Works the same, still 3 layers.
- Pop in a movie and settle in for a little while. While easy in steps, it is something that takes time to make.

The Flying Trapeze

2012-12-01T11:16:00.000-06:00

So for those of you who do not already know, I decided to run off and join the circus. For the night, that is :) With my LivingSocial deal in hand, my good pal "C" and I ventured to the Trapeze School New York (TSNY) in Chicago for a fun night of "Trapeze Flying + Dinner + Drinks". Yes, in that order, not the reverse!

The evening began with a few simple aerial silks exercises. This consisted of nothing complicated. Then we proceeded to partner balancing exercises which were fun, and required good balance & trust.

Eventually the thrilling part came - trapeze flying! Come on, admit it, you have always been fascinated by the thought of flying through the air too. But nonetheless, a whole host of worries entered my head. Will I be able to hold onto the bar? Am I strong enough? (Perhaps I should have kept doing that weight training). Am I flexible enough to get my legs up on the bar? (I haven't done that since elementary school on the monkey bars!) The head guy, Steve, gave several directions for the flying trapeze in rapid-fire succession. Will I remember what I'm supposed to do? Oh yeah, he said that he'd call out the instructions and all I have to do is listen and follow. "Ready...hep" (signals to get ready and then jump) and I flew through the air like a bird, so free and weightless. And really, it was just that easy. I got to try the trapeze three times and on the third time I did an arm catch! See the video below! :) So fun and easier than I anticipated. Honestly, the scariest part was climbing the ladder up to the 23 foot platform.

If you're looking for a little adventure in your life and something unique to do in Chicago - whether a resident, suburbanite or visitor, check out the Flying Trapeze website or LivingSocial deal going on right now (see links below). The LivingSocial deal makes for a great, full night because you go to Broadway Cellars restaurant across the street afterwards for dinner and a drink. Additionally, if you happen to like it, the Flying Trapeze school has several classes so you can keep learning more. They offered the third class free, if you signed up for a second class. The school also teaches aerial silks, trampoline, acrobatics, etc.

In the wintertime, the school is at Broadway Armory Park in Edgewater, and in the summertime, you can do it outside at Belmont Harbor!

All shapes, sizes and athletic ability were clearly welcome. I watched a 60 year old man do this! So ....when are you going to put some thrill in your week and join the circus...for the day/night?

https://www.livingsocial.com/events/519370-flying-trapeze-dinner-drinks
http://chicago.trapezeschool.com/index.php

Chef Andrew!

2012-11-26T13:46:00.000-06:00

What do you get for your best friend's wedding? You want the gift to be thoughtful, memorable and special, right?

For a couple that already has their home fully stocked, another knife or household gadget doesn't seem appropriate. When my husband's best college friend got married, these were the thoughts that flooded our heads. We wrestled with different ideas for such a LONG time, unfortunately, our gift was given well after the wedding (I dare say well over the acceptable amount of time), but judging from our friends' reactions, I think the wait was worth it.

We settled on an in-home private chef experience where you can interact with the chef, find out how he makes the food, watch him make it, ask questions, etc. It's interactive, it's personal, it's a shared experience, you don't have to shop, prep or clean up - it's brilliant!

I still didn't pull the plug though. I got cold feet (I'm not even the bride!) after reading 5 star after 5 star review of Chicago in-home chefs. How could every chef be so amazing? I started questioning the reviewers' taste palates. Then some friends (thanks VanWagners) raved about their recent private chef dinner which led me to Chef Andrew of the Crying Onion.

Chef Andrew helped us create a Bordeaux-inspired, 5-course meal plus starter to imbibe our friends' annual trip to Bordeaux, France. The event was all a big surprise. The bride's sister slyly investigated our friends' favorite Bordeaux meals to help with the menu planning; I spent some time looking up Bordeaux menus online. On the big night, our friends thought we were taking them out, but we arrived with the menu chalkboard in hand (first picture of the post) and Chef Andrew in tow.

Charcuterie & Fromage Plates

We began with cheese and charcuterie platters. Two of the charcuterie Chef Andrew made himself - a smoked duck and cajun-spiced pork shoulder. He explained how each took several days to make which was fascinating. I think I sense a winter project!

Wild Mushroom Soup

The first course was a wild mushroom soup with a little truffle oil, cream and garnish on top. This was absolutely delicious and beyond my expectation! The flavors all melded together beautifully and the texture was perfection. My husband deemed it the best course of the whole dinner.

Beet, Arugula, Parmesan Salad with Fried Shallots and Citrus Vinaigrette

The second course was a beet, arugula and parmesan salad. The citrus vinaigrette was bright and really woke up the salad. The fried shallots (in the foreground) were such a surprise and a nice accompaniment.

Duck Confit on a Puff Pastry topped with Fried Oregano Sprig with Haricots Verts in a Pomegranate Reduction Sauce

The third course consisted of duck confit with green beans and a pomegranate sauce. The twist here is that Chef Andrew put the duck on a puff pastry and topped it all with a fried oregano sprig. The pomegranate sauce, he explained, was reduced down from a simple bottle of sparkling pomegranate juice.

Petite Filet with Duck Fat Fries

The sensational meal continued with the fourth course of a filet mignon, duck fat fries and compound butter. The steak was succulent, tender and perfectly cooked. The compound butter melted over the top was to die for. It had so much flavor! Chef Andrew explained how easy it is to make. Check out this recipe or Alton Brown's recipe. The duck fat fries were pretty scrumptious too. When it comes to eating, all I need to hear is "duck fat", you can stop there, I'm in. Fyi: you can usually buy rendered duck fat at your local butcher should you want to make them at home.

Chocolate Souffle with Creme Anglaise and Mixed Berries

Not to be outdone, Chef Andrew topped off the meal with a chocolate souffle with creme anglaise and fresh berries. Oh heaven! Had I not been so full, I would have gone back for seconds and thirds of this. The chocolate souffle was light, airy and delectable (another definite thing to make on my winter to-do list). Chef Andrew mentioned he hadn't made chocolate souffle in a long time, but no one would have been the wiser. Also, we could not get over the deliciousness of the creme anglaise; sans guilt, a few of us put our spoons directly into the container just to eat that over and over again.

At this point, we all headed into the kitchen to wash the dishes and clean the stovetop. Just kidding! Chef Andrew did all that too! So we continued our lovely evening with some more of our 1988 Chateau Leoville Las Cases Bordeaux wine.

There are so many reasons to hire Chef Andrew. He is professional, amiable, easy to work with, creative, reasonably-priced...oh yeah...and he makes amazing food! The list goes on. Now I understand why he has a 5 star rating on Yelp. So if you're looking to give a special, experiential kind of gift for a birthday, anniversary, or wedding or need a caterer for a party or want to have a dinner party with friends without all the work, look no further than the Crying Onion. And if you don't live in the Chicagoland area, look up a private chef in your city :) It is a delightful experience!

http://www.cryingonion.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/crying-onion-chicago-2

Door County

2012-10-29T11:36:00.000-05:00

Sunrise as viewed from our room at Gordon Lodge in Bailey's Harbor

I've been going to Door County since childhood. We used to visit family friends in Sister Bay and nothing was more fun (and still is) than to see the goats grazing on the grass-thatched roof of Al Johnson's restaurant and to eat some Swedish crepes with lingonberries inside. I took my husband to Door County this past Spring for his first time, and this Fall as we made our way back up, the first thing he mentioned was the goats. See! They (the goats) captivate both the young and the old.

It takes exactly four hours to get to Renard's Cheese which feels like the gateway to the Door County Peninsula and all its bays and charming small towns. Renard's just built a new store next to their old one which includes a cheese tasting (yum!) and little cafe. Let's talk cheese! I cannot contain my joy for REAL string cheese. I detest that so-called string cheese in stores that doesn't really "string" so you eat it in chunks...bleh. This stuff is sweet, salty and strings! They also have cheese curds which is another of my cheese favorites. They are fresh when they make a squeaky noise as they rub against your teeth as you eat them. If you ever find them refrigerated, let them get to room temperature and this will wake them up to squeaky status. And then any proper Wisconsinite knows that you leave cheese curds out on the counter for a couple days. Yes, I mean no refrigeration.

The next stop was Schartner's. This is a farm stand that sells an array of farm fresh vegetables and fruit, canned jams & fruit fillings, and my weakness - homemade pies.

We couldn't pass up this "pee wee" apple pie. It was the perfect snack size and so irresistible that the moment we got into the car, we eagerly dug in with our plastic fork and a knife.

Egg Harbor was our next major stop after passing Sturgeon Bay. It is home to a plethora of shops. A decade ago, I used to frequent The Patricia Shoppe every time I was in Door County. I admired the shop owner who was in her mid-twenties, at the time, and making her dream come true. I also enjoyed her youthful, tasteful point of view. So many shops in Door County are kitschy and slightly skewed toward an older demographic, but here was a boutique that catered to me. A decade later, it is still charming and full of jewelry, accessories, handbags and now clothing. It was the end of the season, the last weekend in October, so I happily came away with a cute new pair of discounted boots and continued to live up to my husband's observed theory that for women, there seems to be a boot for every occasion :)

*Patricia Shoppe has a sister shop in Whitefish Bay, a suburb directly just north of Milwaukee. I recently discovered it is owned and operated by a former high school classmate of mine! :)

My dessert life is really not complete without some Wisconsin frozen custard. For those who know me, it makes me positively giddy! If you've never had it, frozen custard is smoother in texture than ice cream, hence less ice; thicker and creamier than soft-serve; tastier than its counterparts; divine. Not Licked Yet in Fish Creek makes a beyond delicious, premium frozen custard in my opinion. In the picture above, that is a single cone! It intrigued me to see how'd they get a double on that same cone - that curiosity to be sated next visit. (In Chicago, I get my frozen custard fix at Scooter's Frozen Custard on Belmont and Paulina. It's open seasonally so get your fix before November 30, 2012 otherwise you'll have to wait until March 2013.)

You've probably had cider beer before, but have you ever tried hard cider? Island Orchard Cider in Ellison Bay was such a treat. All their apples are grown and sourced locally from Washington Island or on the peninsula. The tasting is comprised of 4-5 versions of hard cider; a few have extra flavor profiles such as cherry and peach. This hard cider is likened to champagne - dry, bright and slightly effervescent. Very good and different - I think it would be even better paired with food. We came away with one bottle for $12. Additionally, you can re-use the bottle as a water bottle, as it has an old-fashioned pop-off top which I love.

Walking along Gordon Lodge's waterfront

We ended our wonderful one-night trip at Gordon Lodge in Bailey's Harbor which is on the east side of the peninsula. It's less-populated over here and so calm, serene, and idyllic. There is a main lodge, along with many cottages for bigger families. They have a pool, tennis courts, trails, and bikes; at no charge, they provide rackets and bikes. We had a nice dinner at their restaurant Top Deck which had a lovely view of the lake as the sun set. While the true sunset is on the other side of the peninsula, the sky still changes colors and is a beautiful sight. And did you see the lovely sunrise that greeted me the next morning? (Check out the picture at the top of this post). Ordinarily I'm not an oceanview, lakeview, scenic room view kind of traveler, but on this occasion, I kind of yearned for it, got it and thoroughly enjoyed it! I literally watched the sky change for an entire hour from my bed. And there's more! Breakfast, included in the price of our stay, was delightful and featured a regular buffet in addition to made-to-order blueberry pancakes and eggs/omelettes. This made my husband - a true buffet hater - very content. We stayed here at the recommendation of some friends (thanks VanWagners!) who equated it to a modern-day version of the Dirty Dancing lodge. Minus Patrick Swayze, so true! We didn't really want to leave - a sign of a great place.

While the season is ending (many places were shuttering down this last weekend in October), I hope I have enticed you to make the 4+ hour drive (from Chicago) to this great weekend getaway next spring/summer/fall :) There is something for everyone - singles, couples, families, and retirees. You will not be disappointed.

Fall Creations

2012-10-03T10:57:00.002-05:00

Chicago's summer is so short-lived and while I'm so sad to see it go, there is something completely inspiring and delicious about a new season. This Fall, I find myself wanting to create and make things. Here are three very simple ways to embrace the season through decorating, corresponding and eating!

This year, I thought I would jazz up my fall decorating a little bit from the usual dumping of gourds into a bowl. I visited my local farmers' markets (Green City Market and Lincoln Park) - one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning - to find some gourds and a nice bunch flowers. I also walked to both thereby getting a little exercise and enjoying the pleasant weather while it lasts. Directions: First, make sure you pick gourds that can stand upright. Next, cut off the tops with a serrated bread knife. Then, scoop out the seeds with a small spoon. Finally, add a little water and some small flowers. This table arrangement seriously makes me smile every time I enter the room. I hope it brings you some of the same joy!

Making Halloween cards for friends, nieces, nephews, godchildren, or as seasonal birthday or thank you cards, is SPOOKTACULAR! I err on the side of simplicity, in design and tools. To make this boo-tiful card, you will need only these 3 things.

1. Notecards and envelopes (Paper Source for a variety of colors or Joann Fabrics, Michael's or Hobby Lobby for white sets)
2. Glue pen
3. Glitter

Directions: Use the glue pen to write text (go over your work twice), dust the glitter on top, and tap or blow off the excess glitter. Notes: the glue pen will go on blue by dry clear. Put a creased piece of paper underneath the card to collect the excess glitter, then use the crease to let the glitter slide back into the container. By the way, I am totally digging this glue pen, and I think you will too!

For this batty card, you only need these three things: 1. Notecards and envelopes (Paper Source for a variety of colors or Joann Fabrics, Michael's or Hobby Lobby for white sets) 2. Halloween stamp 3. Stamp pad

My husband and I were hosting some friends for dinner and needed something carb-free due to some dietary restrictions. Well, since warm, hearty soups are synonymous with cooler weather - at least to me anyways - we steered our menu that way and stumbled upon a great chili recipe on Allrecipes.com. It was a stovetop recipe that I had a brilliant idea to make into a CROCKPOT recipe! You ask, "Why is this significant?" If you're unsure, that's because you don't own a crockpot. Please let me convince you to get one :) Instead of slaving over the stove for 2 hours stirring in each new ingredient, I did 20 minutes worth of prep work, dumped it all into the crockpot, and five hours later, we had a delicious meal on the table. Oh, and in that 5 hours, I was able to entertain a friend who was in town, read and take a nap! You get now why the crockpot can be a life- and time-saver :)

Before you tackle this recipe and its long list of ingredients, substituting, eliminating and adding is what it's all about. I like spicy foods so I upped the spicy dial. If you don't like spicy, don't use the serrano chiles and buy chili beans that are mild. If you want to add 1/2 cup of beer or 1/2 chicken broth instead of 1/2 cup water, do it! Or if you have cayenne pepper and not paprika, maybe put in two teaspoons of cayenne pepper and no paprika. Or substitute ground turkey for the beef for a healthier version. You are the chef! It's your creation!

This recipe is adapted from Allrecipes.com

Crockpot Chili (12 servings)
2 pounds ground beef chuck

3 (15 ounce) cans chili beans (regular, mild, medium or spicy - I used 3 medium)

1 (15 ounce) can chili beans in spicy sauce

2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 large yellow onion, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

2 serrano peppers, seeded and chopped

4 cubes beef bouillon

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup chili powder

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon minced garlic or garlic powder

1 tablespoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™)

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon white sugar

Directions

Heat a large pan on the stove and cook the ground beef until it's in brown crumbles. Drain leftover grease. Multi-task and while this is cooking, dice and chop the onion, celery and serrano peppers.
Pour the cooked ground beef into the crockpot. Add in all 4 cans of the chili beans, diced tomatoes and tomato paste (for ease, don't drain). Also add the onion, celery and serrano peppers. Next add in the bouillon cubes and water. Spice up the mixture with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, dried oregano, ground cumin, hot pepper sauce, dried basil, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, and sugar.
Stir to blend and set crockpot on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 8+ hours if you're working all day. If you like, after 2 hours, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. Serve immediately or bring to room temperature and refrigerate or freeze.