My Birthday Week..

For two of my birthday dinners (a birthday should be a week long celebration!) I checked out two newish restaurants in Chicago - Fulton's on the River and del toro. I also went to one great restaurant you can also count on for great food - Wildfire.

Fulton's on the River has a great location - right on the river in downtown Chicago. The menu consists of steak and seafood. Like your typical steakhouse, sides are served a la carte. I think it's location it probably the biggest draw. The food was good but nothing spectular for the price. I think Shaw's or Hugo's are much better. The wait staff was very nice but service was slow and unorganized. Another major con is my boyfriend got sick later that night SO we definitely will not be going back if it's up to us.

del toro is a trendy tapas restaurant located in Bucktown. If you are familiar will Bucktown, you probably have heard of Mod. del toro is in the old Mod space. Very cool interior especially if you get a table in the back of the restaurant. The food was very good but portions are small - which is fine for me and my friends but probably not for guys. Our waitress was great with recommendations and leading us through the menu. The only thing I did not like about the restaurant was they didn't give you an bread which I think is important for tapas-style dining. I would definitely recommend del toro, especially if you live in the Bucktown area.


Thanks to everyone that helped me celebrate my birthday!! On to another great year...

Cute and Cropped..

I love the cropped jackets trend! Perfect for this time a year when it's still a little chilly. They look great over long tank tops so you can begin to wear your summer tops. Available at Nordstrom.

Celebrity Stamps?!

What is this world come to? To help raise money for Sir Elton John's AIDS Charities, Naomi Campbell is getting her own stamp. It's for a good cause but come on?! There are so many other ways to raise money. Naomi could try doing something different than "model" for a stamp!

Happy Birthday to me....

The Perfect Bridal Shower Gift

If you are looking for an cute, inexpensive gift the "Name Change Kit" is perfect for any bride. It contains instructions and all the documents a new bride needs to change her last name. I've given the "Name Change Kit" to several soon-to-be brides and they all loved it and found it extremely helpful.

Trend: Skinny Jeans

The skinny jean trend has definitely caught on amongst celebs like Lindsay Lohan, Ashlee (no that's not Jessica) Simpson and Nicole Richie. It seems that Kate Moss and Sienna have been wearing them for years. I wonder if this trend will become more mainstream? I really like it but a lot of people think they aren't as flattering as a bootcut or flared jean.

Featured Designer: Rachel Roy

Available at Active Endeavors. Love her stuff! Especially the shorts..

Smoother Hair

I have several friends with naturally curly (i.e. frizzy when dryed straight) hair that swear by Phytobrush shampoo. My hair isn't curly but it does have a weird wave to it and gets very dry when I blow dry or straighten it. I found that Phytobrush shampoo does really make difference! It's available at Sephora.

The Wedge Extreme

So cute...but how do you walk in these??!

Bernardo Sandals

Thanks to Daily Candy Deals, you can get Bernardo sandals for 25% off at Shop Intuition! Just enter DAILYCANDY at the checkout. I love Bernardo sandals. Last summer if I wasn't wearing heels, I was wearing my gold, Miami Bernardo sandals.

Cute Clothes From Target?

Yep...that's right. In case you didn't already know, Target has improved the clothing they carry. Shopping for toilet paper suddenly became more fun! They also have cute (and very inexpensive) swim suits.

Featured Brand: Generra

Remember Genera from the 1980's? Hyper-color t-shirts that changed colors with heat or cold. Every girl had to have something Genera. Genera has since reinvented itself and looks better than ever. Here is a Generra top from Active Endeavors.

Share and Share Alike

It looks like Ashlee Simpson borrowed her sister's extensions.

Sticky Situation

Ever wish you could keep that bra strap from showing or keep that wrap dress in place? I found a great solution - Hollywood Fashion Tape. Hollywood Fashion Tape is extra durable, 2-sided tape. It's clear too so no one will notice.
So next time you are at a wedding you can relax and not worry about what your dress is doing!

Your Style Guide for Chicago

StyleChicago.com is a great resource. It has everything from events to spas and of course, local designers and stores. It even has a dining and entertainment section. StyleChicago.com will help you keep up with what's happening in the fashion/beauty arena in Chicago.

Kate & Calvin

Kate Moss is definitely back and bigger than ever. She has been reunited with Calvin Klein. I'm curious to see the ads. I remember when Kate first modeled with CK...she was so young and just starting her career. Calvin Klein truly made her a fashion icon.

Trend: The Bangle

The finishing touch to almost any outfit - the bangle. These are available at Shopbob.com.

Sienna's Locks

Sienna's hair is long again. It seems like yesterday she had the short, pixie-like cut. What I'm wondering is how did she get it to grow so fast? It doesn't look like she has extensions.

Shrug it off

I love shrugs because they are a cute, dressier alternative to cardigans. Whenever I wear a cardigan to dinner or out at night I am somehow reminded of work. That's no fun! Shrugs are great at this time of year because it's still a little too chilly to just wear a sleeveless top. You can dress-up any basic tank top with a shrug and a long necklaced - beaded ones work great. Here's a cute shrug I found at Shop Intuition.

Featured Site: Fashion Net

I stumbled across a great site today - Fashion Net. It is described as "the guide to all things chic." And that it definitely is. I love the layout. It's sleek and modern. It has links to everything from "chic" shopping sites to spas & salons to resorts. They feature some great under-rated fashion magazines as well. It's definitely worth checking out!

Copycat Clothing No More?

According to the NYTimes, high-end designers are fighting for copyright protection so knock-offs can't be produced the second a model walks down the runway wearing a new item. The copyright would last for three years. Retailers like H&M and Zara thrive on designer knock-offs. Other retailers play it safe and just use certain trends or attributes from high-end lines. This has been going on since the 1930's when American department stores would "borrow" designs from Paris haute-couture.
I highly doubt something like this would ever pass. And even knock-offs aren't exactly like the designs you see on a runway or in the window at Saks. So where would they draw the line?? There are so many variables in an item of clothing: color, fabric, cut etc. It would be impossible to lay out guidelines for what was considered a knock-off. If something like this would go through would it force retailers to be create and come up with their own styles??

Spring Finds at Old Navy

Old Navy has a lot of great beaded tanks and tops for less than half the price of anywhere else.

Drench Thirsty Skin

If you are like me some mornings you just don't have time (or are too lazy) to lather up from head to toe with lotion. And then your skin suffers and you have to deal with dry, itchy skin. I recently discovered Skin Drink by Model Co. It's a spray moisturizer - so quick and easy. No need to rub it in. Refreshing too! It's available at Sephora.

Victoria's Secret - More Than Just Bras & Panties

One of my favorite places to buy swimwear is Victoria's Secret. I know you might be hesitant to order a swimsuit from a catalogue or website but check out the size guide and keep in mind you have 90 days to return or exchange. Plus you get to try the the suit on in the comfort of your own home instead of in the glare of those nasty dressing room lights.
Their selection is great - so many different styles and colors of swimsuits. Many are sold as separates so you can buy a different size bikini top and bottom. Many of their swimsuits have matching cover-ups. Here are a few bikinis I really liked. And if bikinis aren't your thing they have plenty of stylish one-pieces and even tankinis.

Trend: Woven Belts

Woven belts compliment the neutral/safari trend nicely. With jeans or a long flowing skirt. They look great belted at the waist or slung low on your hips.













Active Endeavors (Motif and Mari) and Banana Republic.