Party Planning

Will you come to my party?  I'm planning one.  Before the holidays are upon us, and before I go into Winter hibernation-mode (wait a minute, it's still September for gosh sakes!), I still have a few good get-togethers left in me.  But I can't decide.  Brunch with my girlfriends . . .

movie night with neighbors . . .

wine and cheese with my book club . . .

beer and pizza over football . . .

or how about a great homemade pasta dinner with some friends?  I found these adorable postcard invites by girl*in*gear studio and I just can't decide which one I like the most!!  They are the fabulous designs of Stacie Humphery's, a Boise, Idaho, engineer and graphic designer.  Stacie designs cards and other paper products (think jar and bottle labels, banners, cupcake toppers, and place cards, not to mention any custom idea you can think of) with what she calls a simple, smart-aleck, humorous slant.  I just call them brilliant!!  And these invites have a cute little backside that looks like this . . .

Check out her Etsy shop and see for yourself.  You won't be able to decide either. 


So will you come to my party, whatever I'm serving up?  If so, you will make me very happy if you leave me a little something courtesy of girl*in*gear that looks like this . . .

Oh, Kichaa, you shouldn't have!

XOXO

The Cupcake Trifecta!

Cupcakes cupcakes cupcakes!  Everyone is thinkin' cupcakes!  I know the East Coast and West Coast have been on this cake walk for a while.  It's taken us a little longer to ease into the thought of a $4 cupcake.  I know Chicagoans are a little behind this new craze, but we're all over it now!!   Chicago has a cupcake shop to fit every personality.  When Crumbs Bake Shop opened a couple weeks ago right outside my office in downtown Chicago, the line was around the block -- for days.  And why not?  The cupcakes here are massive show-stoppers.  The Peanut Butter Cup was enough for lunch (peanut butter is protein, right?).
Image here.

Image here

Next up, Sprinkles Cupcakes.  A little more modern, subdued and sophisticated.  But for all of you with a hidden naughty side, check out the frosting shots.

Image here.

Last, but never ever least, is Magnolia Bakery.  Sorry Chicago, but I still think you can't beat the original New York shop made famous by Sex in the City.  But this newcomer to Chicago still sports the same light-hearted, pretty, vintage vibe as the original.  The traditional Vanilla with Vanilla Buttercream and the Red Velvet cupcakes are worth waiting for.

So we've finally got a few new sweet neighbors!  Indulge Chicago!!

Couture and Cocktails and a Lofty Evening!

Happy Monday Kichaas!  I hope your weekend was fabulous!  Mine was full of fashion, dance and music.  It started Friday night when I attended the very fashionable "Couture and Cocktails" fundraising event for the Joffery Ballet.  Fall fashions by the talented David Meister were on stage and the designer himself was in attendance.  The evening was held in the edgy, new event space, The Hudson, which just opened in Chicago.  Friends of the Joffrey came out on a rainy night to lend support -- it was a great event!

Next stop was Music in the Loft on Saturday.  For those of you in Chicago who haven't heard of it, you have to check it out.  Fredda Hyman founded this annual chamber music series and opens up her real-life loft apartment in Chicago to young musicians and music lovers of all ages.  What a great idea!  It started with a love of music and desire to invite friends to her home to hear it.  It's an intimate space and a wonderful way to hear new talent and beautiful music.  Fredda always ends the evening with a wine and cheese reception for everyone to mingle and meet the musicians.

So not a bad weekend at all!  How did you spend it?  Recharging your batteries, relaxing with friends?  I hope it was good!  Enjoy the week!!

XOXO

Guess What Today Is?

How beautifully leaves grow old.  

How full of light and color are their last days. 

 ~John Burroughs

Today officially is the first day of Fall, Kichaas!     Enjoy the season . . . and the weekend!

XOXO

Images by me

Kichaa Dreams in Technicolor

I think the fashions gliding down the Oscar de la Renta runway during his 2012 Spring show were some of the dreamiest!   And I'm in the mood for some wonderful, colorful, full blown technicolor dreams.  Aaahh Kichaas,  live the life of  your dreams . . . and dress for it, too!  Oscar, take me away!

Images kurnazli.com

Open Your Eyes: Views of Mass MoCA

Your life reflects your own little (or big!) vision of the world.  It's not often that I get to really experience  someone else's vision.  When I do, it's always an eye-opener.


Recently, I took in the views at Mass MoCA and I was really glad I did.  The museum itself is housed in 19th-century factory buildings that only add to the view.  And whether or not you are a fan of contemporary art, the exhibits make you open your eyes to take in a different message and a different vision.  Sometimes that vision hits you pretty hard, sometimes it is more subtle.  Sometimes it takes a lot of looking to begin to appreciate the view.  But that's what art is all about!  


So take a moment on this Monday to open your eyes and check out some of the views I saw.  Enjoy a different vision of the week ahead!


XOXO

Weekend Paddling

Here's what I'm doing this weekend -- paddling for a good cause!  Floatin' down the Chicago River for charity.  Friends of the Chicago River is having its annual Flatwater Classic Paddle and Peddle this weekend and I'll be joining in the fun taking a scenic tour of the North Branch and raising money to clean and preserve this beautiful, historic waterway.  What a good way to paddle away the last bits of Summer!


Kichaas, what are you doing this weekend??


XOXO

Here's the Story

 


I had the pleasure of meeting two visionary storytellers at Brimfield last week.  Let me introduce them to you.  They are Jan and Rosalind, the friends, artists, and co-conspirators behind Story 2011, an absolutely fabulous Irish design firm.  Together Jan and Rosalind have started telling their story, which is a truly unique, classic tale.  Check out the beautiful style, artwork and furniture designs that I found under their tent.  Pairing vintage with modern, mixing and matching vintage clothing with comfy old sofas and chairs, and making art out of the everyday.   They have a great eye for style and design, don't you think? 

May the Story go on and on and on . . . .

Until next time Kichaas!

XOXO

Tribute to Miss Jane

"I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."
Pride and Prejudice
Darcy to Elizabeth on having fallen in love with her, Chapter 60.


Aahh, Jane Austen.  Lizzy and Darcy.  Pride and Prejudice has got to be one of my favorite novels of all time (actually, anything by Jane Austen is an all time favorite of mine).  Love is in the air.  That's a happy way to start the week, don't you think?  So I just have to share the wonderful artwork of Nan Lawson.  Nan is an extremely talented illustrator/photographer/blogger (I'm sure you will agree!) living in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles.  She draws cute and quirky things and characters inspired by hipsters, coffee, flea markets, and, of course, the fabulous Miss Jane.  I just love all of her designs and her unique take on the world.  Check out all of her fabulous illustrations at her Etsy shop.


What's your favorite Jane Austen novel?   

Remember

Image here

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!

By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.

                                                                                    -John Dickinson

Home . . .

I am enjoying "nesting" a little bit this weekend and taking stock of my space, my stuff, and what home means to me.  I like this new homey book by Fifi O'Neill (the oh-so-lovely photos in the book were taken by Mark Lohman).  It's a charming tour of American prairie homes.  Rustic yet elegant at the same time.  Each has its own way of saying "home."

"Home, the spot of earth supremely blest. A dearer, sweeter spot than all rest."

-Robert Montgomery

These photos say "welcome" to me with prairie flare.

Images here

What does home mean to you?  Enjoy the weekend!

XOXO

Some Lovely Odds-and-Ends

Some parting photos of lovely little finds at Brimfield. More a little later. I'm off to Toronto for a little bit of business . . . Reality hits!!!!

XOXO