simple.

i am loving the ease and simplicity of this leather tote from zara. the color and size are elegant, and the lack of adornment is so refreshing.

a modern classic.

i watched edward scissorhands this past weekend while baking muffins. i almost forgot how wonderful this movie is, and how visually amazing. tim burton is so much better without all those fancy computer graphics.

the astronaut's birthday

friday night paul and i headed down to the MCA to see a show called "The Astronaut's Birthday" which was put on by Redmoon Theater. It was one of the most unique viewing experiences i've ever had. We all sat outside the main pavilion of the museum, and the front windows were used like a huge screen. the theater group used a mix of old school projectors (think middle school science class), puppets, and actors to for the visuals, and there was a story-teller who was providing the dialogue. i know i am not explaining this very well, but trust me when i tell you it was amazing. i forgot my camera (of course) so all these pictures are from the chicago stage review.

great wall.

i was walking down the street today on my lunch break, making a quick run to whole foods, when i passed this lovely wall on wells street. i was in a rush and didn't have time to get a great photo, but i sure do like it.

autumnal.

i think i need these for my vintage short sleeved coat. so adorable.

outlier.

as the cooler weather approaches, i begin to think about gearing up for winter bike rides. i try to ride my bike as much as i can during the colder months. my cut off point is usually at about 25 degrees, sometimes a bit colder. the thing that really gets me is when it's all wet and slushy, that is just not all that fun. these outlier daily riding pants, however, could make those days a bit easier to handle. they are water resistant and super practical, but still handsome and wearable. i'm not sure if they are 100% necessary, but i do think they would be quite nice.

dress dream.

i love the elegance and simplicity of this dress my loeffler randall. it also looks like maybe something i could re-create with a little nip and tuck of a sheer blouse as well. project!

a natural wonder.

niagra falls may not technically be one of the seven natural wonders of the world (victoria falls in africa takes that prize), but it was absolutely mind-blowingly amazing. we went to niagra on our last day in canada, and it was as cool an experience as you could hope for. whenever i go somewhere that everyone says is amazing i am a bit skeptical - i always think there is no way it can live up to the hype. but there is something undeniable about being around such an awesome feat of nature.

fall shoes.

i'm on a buying strike right now - no new clothes, shoes, or accessories until 2011! i know, crazy, and it's starting to get hard now that the season are changing. the good thing is, however, that it is helping me really think about what pieces i will want to add once the strike is over. these are the shoes that are tugging at heart strings for fall...



rachel comey pen pal booties. these are #1 on my list. sooo perfect for everyday, jeans or skirts. i just can't decide which color i like better.


gentle souls opportunity platform. i've tried these on before and they were super comfy and easy to walk in. i love heels but i walk so much i can't wear them too often. these would be a good compromise for me.


loeffler randall knit trim boot. much too expensive for such a casual boot, but this is exactly what i am looking out for in the thrift stores.


miss albright clogs. these would look so sweet with tights, and seem to be good all season shoes. i have had the worst luck with clogs (swedish hasbeens, why can't you fit my feet??) but these looks like they just might work.

toronto.

woah this is late. oh well, what can you do? sometimes i don't like being on my computer. since our trip i have spent a lot of my free time cooking, baking, biking, and doing yoga. all awesome things, but i have neglected this blog a bit. sorry bloggy!

over the long labor day weekend paul and i drove to the beautiful city of toronto. we had such an amazing time! it's a great place - super multicultural (50% of the city's residents were born outside canada!) and incredibly vibrant. it felt similar to chicago, but with a touch of new york. here are a few highlights.


this is a plaza that was right across the street from our hotel. on our first day there we sat down with coffee and just did some people watching. it was awesome how torontonians (?) seemed to really engage with their public spaces. so often in american cities people just pass through parks and plazas, but in canada all different types of people were spending their time in their public spaces.



there were phone booths everywhere! it was one of the first things we noticed. for a while we were confused, but then we realized that with such a large international population there are probably a lot of people who use phone cards. we had fun playing around with them though.


chinatown in toronto is jam packed and super cool. we were walking around this part of the city when it was super early so we didn't really get a chance to try any food, but there were still a lot of sights to see.


meat on a truck.


a store front in kensigton market early in the morning.


(pretty much) the national dish of canada - poutine. fries + gravy + cheese curds. how is this not in chicago? that is a hearty midwestern dish if i've ever seen one.


exploring a city greenhouse.



a beautiful cemetery we spent an hour or so strolling around.


a kick-ass mural on an otherwise nondescript street.


the distillery district - a foot traffic only little neighborhood that is full of markets, boutiques, food, and theater. a touch touristy and odd because of that, but still really cool to see.


one of the first ever flat iron buildings.


a touching aids memorial.


an ever so perfectly canadian traffic sign. so polite!

tomorrow... niagra falls.

adventure.

tomorrow morning, super early, paul and i set out for a bit of a vacation. we are driving to toronto (about 9 hours from chicago) for an extra long labor day weekend. neither of us have ever been to toronto (or canada in general) and i can't wait to explore a new place! we are also going to go to niagra falls for a day. so excited! i am going to try to take a lot of pictures and eat a lot of delicious food.

go bananas.

chiquita banana is running a design contest for a collection of new produce stickers. they aren't accepting any new submissions, but i am loving looking through the different designs. i can't wait to stumble across these at the supermarket...what a great way to put a smile on someone's face!