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!

20x200.

Nonsensical Infographic #2 by Chad Hagen


Winter Flags (East Village, New York) by Youngna Park



Gosling Lake by Kurt Tong


Kite Hill by Paul Octavious


Flying, Shipping and Selling by Carrie Marill


some of my favorite prints currently offered at 20x200.

silky.

this silk cargo shirt from madewell is equal parts casual safari and classy lady. and it is the perfect color for the fall. why is there not a madewell in chicago again?? i actually emailed madewell asking them to open up a store here. doesn't hurt to try, does it?

hats off.

the fall is rainy here in chicago, but not so rainy that you need to carry an umbrella. i find that a felt or wool hat is a good option. it keeps your hair dry on those misty days and adds a bit of class to whatever you're wearing. i had a fedora style last year, but this year i have my eye on this little lady from goorin brothers. it's part menswear, part lady-like, so i could wear it with all different kinds of ensembles. now it's just a matter of fall getting here. it also comes in gray and brown, either of which color i think i would be more drawn to than the black.
all options are lovely though.

crop it.

i'm growing my hair out right now, but when i'm ready for a chop i think i might do something like this.
thank you, scarlett, for the inspiration.

image via the huffington post

recently.

i've been missing my little blog. three weeks ago i started a new job, right at the craziest time of the year. you see, the new job is in magazine publishing and we have been working on getting the september issues together. i am working in the advertising department, and as it is incredibly different from anything i have ever done before, my schedule has been a bit thrown. i have been getting in early and leaving late, but these days will soon be over! as soon as these issues wrap up, my life and schedule will calm down a bit, giving me more time to work on this little guy.

so stay tuned, and know that this interruption will not continue! my plan is to have normal posting back this week.

the image above is from design*sponge's series of desktop wallpapers. it is by camilla engman, and i think it is just lovely. it is now the background of my fancy work computer, and the first change i have made to my new desk. i want to make my desk really my own (a cute vintage lamp, perhaps?) so i figured this was a good first step.

delicioso.

one of my number one favorite summertime treats? mexican coke. it's made with delicious cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, and it's just plain tastier. and everyone knows soda always tastes better from a bottle.

taking it with me.

one of the other amazing birthday presents i received was this lunch box from a dutch company called oots, which is quite possibly one of the cutest things i have ever seen in my life. i really want to try too bring my lunch to work as much as possible, and this makes it fun to pack. it even has small tupperware inside for easy packing. adorable!

pasta pasta.

pauly got me a pasta machine for my birthday! i have wanted one for a very long time and i am very excited for its arrival. we made pasta last night and for a first run it turned out pretty well! i promise to post photos of our next run...

carry-on.

as i was biking to the farmer's market the other day i saw an adorable girl on an adorable bike with adorable panniers. she was super sweet as well, and while we couldn't chat much as we were only peddling in the same direction for a moment, she was kind enough to divulge where she had found such beauties. they are from the bicycle muse, a london based company. their website is full of other great bags and accessories for biking
(their blog is pretty addictive as well).