Have a Great (Green) Weekend

Happy St. Patrick's Day weekend! Throw on some green and grab yourself a Guinness at an Irish pub ... or avoid the early revelers and enjoy a pint at home (and decorate with this adorable shamrock garland).

Also this weekend ...

• One of my favorite holiday treats is Irish soda bread (which I love with salted butter). This recipe worked well for me last year.

• Okay if bread sounds a little boring, these rich Guinness Stout cupcakes should do the trick!

• Instead of green beer this weekend, check out all the pretty paper at Chicago Zine Fest. This event showcases small and DIY publishers – basically a design-lover's paper paradise.

Have a fab weekend!

Photo courtesy of TWO restaurant

Going Green

If you're an old lady like me, you're over the 8am wake-up call to drink green beer on St. Patricks Day. But that doesn't mean I don't want to partake – I wouldn't mind sporting some green and grabbing a late afternoon pint of Guinness. Below are some great green items that are perfect for the holiday, and also for the emerald trend well into spring and summer ...    

Clockwise from top:  skinny jeans  //  cropped top (great with a high waisted skirt or jeans)  //  tank dress (perfect with tights and a leather jacket)  //  quilted jacket (a great spring jacket)  //  the perfect green blouse

Have a Fun Holiday Weekend!

Perhaps you've seen this fun little video about the fashionable icon, the Chanel jacket. I love hearing Coco speak about creating movement and comfort in women's clothing (... though pretty much anything spoken in French sounds better). Merci madame Chanel for creating not only this classic, but an empire of enviable, dreamy pieces.

Looking forward to this weekend ...

• Celebrate St. Pat's with some delicious Irish treats. My faves include a tasty stout beer (Guinness is good, but I love Young's Double Chocolate Stout ... which, between you and me, is actually English), and I'd love to pick up some of this Guinness Bread mix!

• Through Sunday, get 30% off your entire purchase at Gap (and online with code GAPFRIENDS). Now's the perfect time to stock up on spring staples like this trench, this minty green clutch, or this go-to chambray shirt (I can't get enough, though Steve thinks my chambray collection is just about complete).

• As if the West Loop could get any better – restaurant-wise – the guys behind the Gage and Henri took over the Orange space at Grand and Halsted and are in the process of transforming into what is sure to be another hot West Loop spot (complete with a nice, big patio).

• DailyCandy Deals is offering up to 60% off Gorjana & Griffin accessories. I've been a long time fan of these simple, cool designs. My fave pieces I own are this ring and this necklace.

Have a great weekend!

Photo from Pinterest

Irish Indulgences

St. Patrick's day is this weekend and that means serving some of my favorite traditional treats. I plan to make a fresh loaf of Irish Soda bread with this easy to follow recipe and pair it with some salted Irish butter and some delicious preserves (local brand Rare Bird Preserves, offers amazing flavors like Pear Vanilla Pinot Blanc, pictured above). No spread – or meal, in my opinion – is complete without a wedge of cheese, so I grabbed this Kerrygold Vintage Dubliner. To wash it all down, a creamy double-chocolate stout (a fairly recent discovery for me and new favorite treat!).

I may not be 100% Irish, but my appetite may argue otherwise.


And wouldn't these make the perfect St. Patty's dessert?

Speaking of Irish, check out this travel post from This is Glamorous ... after seeing this, Steve and I may need to seriously consider a honeymoon in Dublin!