Three to Go Check Out

c's pick

pearl tavern

s's pick

lululemon lab at 900 shops

k's pick

pure barre

xx,

k, s, & c

Lessons from Love

i am turning 29 in a few weeks and of course birthdays always get me thinking about life and in this instance...love (i am sure you're not surprised;). in the last decade, since i was 19, I have had some amazing loves...

first there was my college boyfriend. he was my best friend. he was my spanish buddy.  grabbing dinner after spanish class one night led to “studying” together (yes i am using quotes on that :), which led to a friendship/relationship that spanned off and on all throughout college. he was laid back, incredibly thoughtful, and had a ‘hug’ that made everything better….but as time went on, life changed him and changed me, and by senior year, things were different.

then there was andrew. he had me the moment we met. he was charming, the life of the party and we had this undeniable connection…knew me better than anyone else and was “the love of my life.” he was a six-year rollercoaster ride of emotions. the highs were high and the lows were low.  years of compromises, understanding, and patience took a toll on me. led me to question, “why is this so hard?” hurt like hell and it had been hurting for too long. it consistently felt like I was trying to fit into his life and trying to carve out a place for me and for us. it was exhausting. after six years, it was over.

and then came charlie...he was unexpected but was everything i needed at a time when i needed it. he had a way of looking me in the eyes that was as my gf called it “my kryptonite”… he made me laugh, and our chemistry was out. of. control. :) a night of tequila turned into a dance party for two and the rest is now officially history. a year and a half later, long distance got the best of us and i was left wondering, “what happened?”

i do think of myself as an open book but there are some things that i hold close to my chest. these relationships, these people, are some of those things. but i share these stories now, love had, past relationships, to remind you, “hey, we have all been there.” when you are falling for someone, you don’t go into it thinking it's not going to work out or you are going to feel horrible heartbreak.  so when you do, when it doesn’t work out…make sure you walk away taking the memories with you but more importantly, with lessons learned.

i am so grateful to have had the experiences i have had with the people i have (doesn’t mean it hasn’t been hard or i still don’t find myself thinking of these three guys from time to time) but i have walked away with a clearer sense of who i am, the relationship i'm looking for, and let’s face it, some memories that i would rather not forget ;) (would be crazy to even try).

so here are my lessons from love...

1). don’t have regrets. own your decisions, learn from them.

2). one person does not dictate your happiness, only you can. choose happiness.

3). be strong enough to let go and wise enough to fight for what you deserve.  

4). family is everything, find a future mother-in-law that appreciates you. 
5). love isn't easy but it shouldn't be that hard.
6). timing is everything
7). love does not conquer all but the right love with the right person does, don't settle.
8). laughter, a good hug, or the right song can tame any argument
9). actions speak louder than words, how someone loves you is equally if not more important as saying i love you

10). the right one who is deserving of you will never walk away (or in my case, never miss his flight). 

xx,

s

(picture via s's insta)

First Bites Bash

one of our favorite times of year is just two days away… with nearly 300 restaurants to choose from and only 14 days to get in as many meals as possible… we have some tough decisions to make, mainly, where to eat first??

for a preview (and to help us decide where to make reservations), we’ll be checking out first bites bash tomorrow night at union station. first bites bash is the official kick-off event for chicago restaurant week where we’ll be sampling and sipping our way through tastings from more than 60 of chicago’s best restaurants, wine from terlato (yes!) and beer from goose island (love us some sofie!). executive chef paul kahan (blackbird, avec, publican, big star and most recently nico osteria) will be hosting the event, and we can’t wait to see what big star is cooking up! no doubt it will be delish.

if you're interested in checking out this event with us... tickets are still available until noon tomorrow ($125 via www.firstbitesbash.com). check back this weekend to see where we'll be making our restaurant week reservations. bon appetit!

 

xx,

k, s, & c

(photos taken by adam alexander photography)

Lululemon Lab

we don't know if you're familiar with the lululemon lab but it's basically a conceptual design and retail space in vancouver (where lulu is hq'd). it is a hub for innovation and functional fashion. some of the most coveted articles of clothing made of luon come out of this shop and clients can ONLY buy those items in vancouver. they have an in-house design team and they draw inspiration from local & international trends.

we see why these pieces are coveted because not only are they perfect for the studio, but they are also very transitional to wear out for drinks + dinner. like this look. well besides absolutely loving all these pieces and wanted oh so many... we have something exciting to share with you tomorrow! without revealing too many details yet- be sure to keep up with us on insta. we will be sharing some fun lulu surprises tomorrow night... stay tuned ;)

xx,
k, s, & c

(pictures via lululemon lab)

Our Loeffler Sale Picks

Dara Platform Bootie

Blaise Flat Moccasin

Alba Demi Platform Pump

Blaise Flat Moccasin

Erika Ankle Strap Flat

one can never have too many shoes (or so we believe)...

when we see a shoe sale- the world stops spinning on its axis and time stands still (ha! ok not really but you get the picture) but a good shoe sale definitely entices us to take a break from emails and the daily grind to peruse. especially when it's a loeffler randall sale...

although their price point is a little on the more expensive side, they are truly worth every penny when you factor in the quality and cost per wear (the sale is just the deal breaker to add to cart!). we think they do a great job at covering the timeless, classics (like the matilde flat boot) but also fun styles like the loafer tiger painted watersnake ones above.

happy shoe perusing!!

xx,

k, s, & c

(pictures via loeffler randall)

Strolling Through Boston

four days and yet only forty-five minutes to explore the wonderful city of boston. seriously, it's just not fair. but that's the case when you're traveling for work. with the limited amount of time i had, i asked the concierge for a map and to point me the right direction to reach beacon hill - one of my favorite spots in this beautiful city! a walk down newbury street, taking in the views from the public gardens and finally window shopping down charles street was just what i needed! here are a few snapshots i captured before heading to the airport...

next time (with my hubby)... we'll be spending some serious time in the north end (love that area!) and we'll swing into figs (42 charles street) for some pizza and vino. i'm sure there will be a lobster roll (or two) as well. see you again soon, boston!

xx, 

k

(photos taken by k)

Something To Warm You Up

something to warm you up on this ten degree day...

xx,
k, s, & c

(pictures via town & country)