Anyway, I am a subscriber to Lucky magazine and that is how I came across the blog Cupcakes and Cashmere.  Emily, the creator, is obviously way cooler than I am and I am in awe.  She gets items and trips gifted to her so that she will review them.  She created a bag for Coach.  I mean, seriously people.  Her style is sometimes way too out there for me.  In my ripe old age of 29 I’ve realized I’m mostly preppy and not that edgy.  It’s sometimes a bit disappointing but why not stick with what works right??  Her style is ecclectic and there are many looks she rocks that I could never hope to pull off.  For example: http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/studies-in-sequins/  I would just look ridiculous if I tried to wear that to the elementary school I worked in.  She makes it look effortless and cool.  Sigh. 

Other than taking really cool photos of her really cool outfits she also posts recipes, (where I came across the chocolate chocolate chip cookies) and she gives hair and make up tips.  My favorite of all-time is the smoky eye how-to.   I was clueless how to achieve a not-trying-too-hard smoky eye until I found her easy to follow instructions.  I’ve definitely worked that a time or two when going out on the town.  It’s just an awesome site and gives me a little inspiration to maybe throw on an extra accessory or something when normally I’d skip it.  Or put a little braid in my hair rather than just a plain pony-tail.  Come on, it’s rough sometimes being a working mom!  I bet she’d cut me a little slack.    Hope you enjoy cruising the site as much as I do.

I came across this recipe for Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies and I knew it was calling to me. This recipe was really quick and easy.  I have to say I replaced the semi-sweet chocolate chips with milk chocolate chips because they are sweeter and taste better to me!!  Also, I only have Kosher salt and sea salt in the house so I reduced the amount of salt by a bit because that seems to leave a stronger taste than regular salt.  Also, I OBVIOUSLY did not put in walnuts because that would only detract from my chocolate experience.

Here goes:

Where do I even begin with this place?  You seriously can’t go wrong with whatever you order.  I’ve had the artichoke frittata, the sauteed veggie skillet, pancakes, more omelets than I can name… everything but lunch.  I’m always on the prowl for breakfast food so even though I’ve seen some people order delicious-looking lunches I just can’t seem to bring myself to give up the breakfast.  Most everything comes with delicious red potatoes and fruit.  They also have these unbelievable homemade marmalades and you are given two for your toast.  You are going to want to buy some jars to take home; we almost always leave with two jars.  I especially love the carrot!  Here is my turkey scrambler with a side of pancakes.  These pancakes are so freaking good you have to get some on the side no matter what you order.  One time I was in the middle of stuffing my face and I said to David, “This place is like… magical!”

I do have to add that the service is less than spectacular.  The hosts are unbelievably nice but the service is just a bit slow and you may have to really advocate for yourself if you want your coffee refilled.  Despite that, it’s not going to detract from your enjoyment of your meal.  The other downer is: It’s ALWAYS packed.  I jogged by on Saturday around 9:30 a.m. and counted 12 people standing outside (in addition to whoever was waiting inside.)  If you can go during the week that’s best or sometimes we go at the crack of dawn on weekends and then we never have to wait.  I guess that’s one positive to having a toddler who loves to get up at 6:05 a.m.    He loves Meli too.

Back to Jamie Oliver and his 20 minute meals.  It’s an app that I can’t live without on my trusty iPhone.  I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “How did I ever survive without my iPhone?”  Not only does it tell me where I’m going, what restaurants are by me, etc. etc…. with Jamie Oliver 20 minute meals it also helps me serve up a delicious home-cooked dinner for my family.
I first heard about Jamie Oliver’s show Food Revolution and then decided to sign his petition.  I am a school social worker and I definitely agree with him that we would have a healthier nation if we start serving our kids freshly prepared foods at school.  Anyway, so I found out he had this iPhone app and I raced to download it.  At the time I think I paid $4.99 but I think the price has since gone up.  Regardless, it was worth it to me.  Plus I normally spend $15 or more on cookbooks so to me this was a bargain.  The app is so ridiculously user friendly.  You get to search through recipes which come with step by step photos.  You can easily click “shopping list” on each recipe you like and it will add the ingredients to your list.  Then, as you go through the supermarket you just click on the item once you have it in your basket and it removes it from your list– counting down for you so that you don’t forget anything.  Believe it or not I forget stuff that I have written on my list all the time.
I have been telling all my friends about this app and at a recent wedding shower had to restrain myself from pulling out my phone and demonstrating right then and there.  The food I’ve made I have loved and it really is quick.  I don’t think I’ve ever accomplished one of the meals in 20 minutes like he claims but, to be fair, Jamie Oliver probably doesn’t have a toddler swiping his pots and pans and pushing on his leg every five minutes.  It probably takes me 30ish minutes at least but I still think it’s speedy.  Here is the Rigatoni arrabiatta I made:

I’ve also made lemon and herb chicken with mash (mash was a neat combo of new potatoes and corn,) asparagus and pesto risotto,  and sausage and zucchini carbonara.  I’m no expert chef by any means and even I could follow these no-brainer instructions and we were all happy with the results.  If you don’t have an iPhone or iPad at least check out his website:  http://www.jamieoliver.com  He has daily recipes on there as well.

You know how your mommy friends tell you too much stuff when you’re pregnant with your first child and it freaks you out?  I am one of those people now.  Sorry friends.  This happened to me once a few weeks before Graham was born when one of my childhood friends sent me a message on Facebook saying that motherhood brought with it cracked and bleeding nipples but also a lot of joy.  Um, too much information childhood friend.  Sheesh.  I do have to thank her, I suppose, because that made me determined not to suffer such excruciating pain (I’m wincing right now even thinking of that.)  I immediately put the handy dandy internet to use and found this Mambino cream.

http://www.mambinoorganics.com/products/p_20090022.htm

I don’t know if it’s because I started using it before nursing but I seriously have never suffered a cracked or dry nipple many nursing moms complain of.  This is just good stuff.  Organic is good because you don’t have to wipe it off prior to nursing.  The jar says put it on after every feeding but who has time for that??

My husband was dubious about a post devoted to nipple cream but this stuff really helps.  Breastfeeding did not come easy to me at first and I called several friends in tears those first few days.  Every mother has a choice but when I chose to breastfeed it was so nice to have the support of people who knew exactly what I was going through.  So if this nipple cream helps a nursing mom out there then in some small way I have offered support in an area where I once needed it.  I have to say that as proud as I am I nursed Graham 11 months… I don’t miss it one bit.  It’s a hell of a lot easier to give him an organic cereal bar when he’s cranky now.    Also have to give a special shout out to my friend Alison on her new baby girl!  Glad you liked the Elemis Oil and are stretch-mark free.

So I’ve started ramping up my reading on what makes extraordinary companies what they are.  My goal by the end of this year is to make my company the absolute best place on the planet to work. It’s lofty, I know, but definitely possible.

I went and saw and met the CEO of Zappos, Tony Hsieh (pic below), who has also tried (and many would say, has succeeded) to do the same thing.  I’ve read books like “The Science of Happiness” (I’m still trying to get my wife to waste a couple of days and read this).  And I’ve been tooling around trying to find stories about other companies.  And then I found the motherload.

Peak: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow

I’ve just finished reading a truly inspiration book by Chip Conley, named Peak.  Chip Conley is the founder and CEO of Joie de Vivre Hotel group, and I’m proud to say is one of my Linkedin connections.

The book is about apply decades old psychology ideas to today’s business world, where things have changed in such a way that everyone is working harder and longer than before.  And because we’re spending our time working, we are looking for more meaning in our workplace.  This book is for the leaders of that workplace to create an environment for realizing what Conley calls “Peak” experiences, or those that transcend our normal desires, and even those that seem better than normal.

Maslow is the psychologist Conley models his ideas from.  Conley explains Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which identifies a person’s the lowest level need as that by which their basic needs (food, water, shelter, comfort) are met.  The second level on the hierarchy is achieved by exceeding expectations.  And the the last, the peak of the pyramid, is transformational, resulting in a transcendental, almost nirvana-like, experience.

The book is split into several parts, identifying the areas in business where the hierarchy can and should be applied, namely the workplace (managing employees and dealing with co-workers), in customer relationships, and investor relationships.  It’s fascinating to see how he has applied this to all facets of his business.

I’ve started implementing many of his suggestions, but am a far way off from success.  Wish me luck!

Peak: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow

One of my favorite things about living in Chicago is that I am often surrounded by these people.  I can be driving downtown and see someone with the coolest punk hair, scarf, jacket, perfectly torn jeans.  Rocker chic.  Not my style but cool.  Then the next person has sleek long hair, impeccable jeans, long-ish cardigan, gorgeous bag, and the perfect boots.  Kind of urban preppy.  Then there’s the person in the killer pencil skirt, jewel-tone printed blouse, gorgeous, classic-y heels.  Office-appropriate hot.   I take mental notes while observing these stylish folks wherever I may be.  I scour magazines and yes, am a die-hard fan of What Not to Wear.  I have to study up to practice style.  It doesn’t come effortlessly!

That was quite the lengthy intro to my new favorite dress.  Probably my favorite aspect of the dress is that it’s so easy (one piece!) but makes me look like I put thought into it.  I hope.   I love pretty much anything BCBG but especially this new dress.  David and I were going out to dinner at a great spot in our neighborhood (potential future post) where many cool Chicago-ans congregate.  It’s not stuffy but more like eclectic and I feel way too preppy sometimes to go there.   I don’t have any tattoos.  I’m not artsy, you know- that type of place.  The food is freaking delicious though so it is worth my few moments of anxiety about what I’m going to wear.  Thankfully the dress I had just ordered from Bloomingdale’s came two days prior and POOF- I had the perfect outfit.

I like the coverage on top because strapless is not a good look for me!!  The belt is also attached so, seriously,  this is a no-brainer outfit.  The waist was a little more empire on me than appears in the picture and I liked that a lot.   I threw on some flats since I felt the hot open-toe black booties I have were a little aggressive for the venue and I was ready to go out the door.   It’s on clearance right now at www.bloomingdales.com (I had been eye-ing it since it first came out and bonus that I got it at such a good deal.)  Or they have some similar ones at www.bcbg.com I had a great date night with my hubby, an amazing meal, and the perfect outfit.  Man do I love weekends in Chicago when it’s warm.

picture courtesy of http://www.lasplash.com/publish/FoodAndBeverage/cat_index_chicago_food/Chez_Joel_Restaurant_Review.php

Anyway, it’s off the beaten path located at 1119 W. Taylor and is an intimate, cozy place to go for lunch or dinner.  Their website said they do brunch now too so I’m totally going to have to check that out.  I had rabbit the last time I went served with potatoes and carrots.  Truly delicious and I have had rabbit in France.  David had chicken (kind of bizarre choice for my meat eating husband) but it was also amazingly juicy, tasty, everything you could hope for.  I have to mention that everything is beautifully presented and portions are not “chic small” but not disgustingly big either.  Pretty perfect I have to say.  So come on over to my neck of the woods and give it a go.  David and I are happy to join you if you want company… as long as you let us know at least a week in advance so we can arrange for a babysitter!!

P.S. DEFINITELY get dessert.  They always have something chocolate and amazing on the menu (my favorite) and they have light, fluffy, delectable creme brulee– David’s favorite.

http://www.centerstagechicago.com/restaurants/sweet-mandy-bs.html

Here are some pics: (you may want to get a napkin to wipe the drool)

p.s. all three of these cakes were designed to coordinate with the event’s invitations.  This is one talented staff!!

My expectations were high for Erase Paste!  True Benefit style- cute little jar, cute little box.  Put it under my eyes and WOAH!  Instantly brighter, skin tone looking very even.  Unfortunately, by the end of the day it was caked up into my crinkles [word David came up with for me, how kind, to describe a crease/ wrinkle.]  I was like, “Geeze, people!!”  I guess no one at work is really my friend or they would have told me I had make up creases all over.   I considered taking back my Erase Paste until….

Powderflage!  Yes, comes packaged in a cute little camouflage box.  It’s a light, shimmery highlighting powder that you can apply on it’s own or to set your concealer.  When I brushed a little of that stuff on top of the Erase Paste…  HEAVEN.  The girl at the shop was even kind enough to point out that I can use Powderflage to diminish some of the lines around my mouth.  Thank you girl.  Did not realize those lines were significant until you kindly pointed them out to me.  You can bet your ass I’m highlighting them away now.  

I was going to do a before and after picture but I got a little scared.  You would be scared by the before.  Let’s just post some cute pics courtesy of Benefit.  http://www.benefitcosmetics.com

P.S. tried the Stay Don’t Stray (their new product) and sorry Benefit, but was VERY disappointed.  Just FYI b/c the sales clerks will have you try that first thing!!