Feeling Giltey

Are you a member of the Gilt Groupe? No? Why not? Maybe you like paying full price for Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney? Ok, good for you.

If you are like me and you really like (ok, LOVE) fashion and other fabulous things but you aren't quite raking in a six-figure salary to be able to pay full price, you should really become a member of the Gilt Groupe.

What is the Gilt Groupe, you ask? It's an invite-only (ok, that makes me sound pretentious. Trust me, I'm not that cool) on-line shop that sells luxury brand items at a ridiculous price (like 70% off!). BUT - the sales only last for 36 hours so you have to be quick before your coveted items sells out!

Here are my picks for sales ending very soon.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

 Voile Stripe Ruffle Top ($228 Retail/$88 Gilt)

 

Aurora Matte Jersey Dress ($358 Retail/$148 Gilt) 

Sheila Fajl Jewelry

  

Green Drop Earrings ($185 Retail/$80 Gilt)

Tumi

  

French Wallet ($148 Retail/$69 Gilt)

Trovata

Soma Cotton Knit Dress ($319 Retail/$129 Gilt)

Ali Silk Crepe Dress ($330 Retail/$139 Gilt)

 

Del Mar Classic Cardigan ($185 Retail/$69 Gilt)

Donna Karan Home Collection

Corinthian Duvet Cover ($576 Retail/$239 Gilt)

Safavieh 

 

 

Soho Rug ($ 1,100 Retail/$460 Gilt)

Soho Rug ($1,100 Retail/$460 Gilt) 

 

Last, but certainly not least, a getaway to the Post Ranch Inn - Big Sur, CA

 

  

 

 (All images via the Gilt Groupe)

It's Here. Almost.

Today. Was. Gorgeous. Though the snow is still around there are glimpses of spring. I love it. It couldn't come soon enough.

Soon flowers will be blooming and the lake will reveal itself from the cover of ice and snow. It's already starting to smell like spring. Yippeee!

 (Images via polaroidmandy, juju_84, silentmellow, mocassina & frangrit)

Hello, Lover

I am in love with Lover.

 

  

 

(All images via the lovely refinery29.com)

Slooow Fooood

Underground Food Collective and Hapa Kitchen teamed up in Madison last night for an event for Slow Food UW and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat a great meal made by these great local food enthusiasts.

For those of you unfamiliar with Slow Food UW, they are a group of students interested in "good, clean, and fair food." Every Monday they host Family Dinner Night, where a different chef joins the group and cooks an amazing meal. All for only $5! It's no frills but that's what is great about it. People show up strictly because they love good food grown and produced in their community.

The dinner last night was attended by over 150 people eager to see what UFC and Hapa would cook up and to hear Cathy Erway talk about her recently published book The Art of Eating In.

 (Image via theartofeatingin.com)

We were not disappointed. Every event I have ever attended that involves Underground Food Collective is amazing and last night was no exception. The added influence of Erway made it even better. But enough about them. Let's talk about the food!

Here's what we ate: 

Korean Pancakes with scallions and shredded winter veggies

A simple take on the classic Korean pancake, with fresh vegetables of any kind. 

"Dirty fried rice"

This is an East-West twist on two classics: Chinese fried rice with scrambled eggs and bits of meat like Chinese sausages, and Cajun/Southern dirty rice with giblets and bacon. 

Hoisin-chipotle baked beans

Sweet baked beans with a spicy, smoky kick and plenty of ginger.  

Three-cup chicken with roasted turnip mash.

The most famous Taiwanese dish, three-cup chicken, is also an easy one to make at home: a braise with equal parts rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil, and loads of fresh ginger, garlic and Thai basil.

Good, good stuff.  

Step Into My Office, Baby

Cute office supplies = more productivity. It's a fact. I'm sure of it.

A cool leather portfolio to carry when I attend events. Or just for when I walk down the hall.

 

Bold, bright notebooks that won't get lost in the various piles (organized piles, might I add) currently taking over on my desk. 

  

And because I literally have about 15 different notebooks at one time, I probably need one of these as well. 

 

I talk to a lot of people and need to keep everyone organized. Hello lil' Black Book!

(Images above via russellandhazel.com)

Organization is my middle name. And, when in doubt, throw it in a file folder. Preferably graphic ones like these.

 

Or these 

 

You can't have an office without a lil' bit of Anne Taintor humor. Meet the mouse pad that is currently in my office.

 

(Images via amazon.com)

Speakers count as office supplies, right? How on earth do people work without music?

 

 

(Image via theofficestylist.com) 

And the most important thing? A large coffee cup (filled with strong coffee).

 

  

(Images above via bodumusa.com) 

 

 

 

(Images via toxel.com)

It's Bob Time!

What is Bob Time, you ask? Well, Bob Time is when I bust out the tried-and-true Bob Marley Legends album and play it non-stop to remind me that soon, yes very soon, the warmer weather will arrive. Bob Time usually occurs right around the end of February when it seems that winter will never, ever end.

Why do I call this Bob Time? Every spring during college, just as the weather was getting nicer (thank goodness, there really IS an end in sight!), people would be out on their porches blasting Bob Marley. I loved it. It was a sign that the end of the semester was approaching and, more importantly, summer just around the corner.

How should one celebrate Bob Time, you ask? Easy.

Play some Bob Marley. There is nothing like Is This Love to get me feeling happy and stress free.

(Image source) 

Drink some tasty beverages, like a mojito.

(Image via flickr) 

Or sangria. MMMM, tasty.

(Image source)

And relax. Preferably with friends. It's that simple.

Cool Cats & Dashing Dogs

I love the colors of these and the vintage style. And, of course, the last one is my fave ;)

 

 

 

 (Images via Gemini Art Studio Chicago)