Tag Archives: Chicago Blogger Network

Blogger “Swap Shop” Fall 2013

Blogger-Swap-Sweater

Cozy sweater season can now commence. The bigger the better. I might actually just wear a blanket all winter! Like this Anthropologie sweater above…it’s the perfect mix of cozy and cute, and it was one of a handful of items I got at a blogger swap a few weeks ago. It originally came from Lindsay’s closet, of The Garden Apt, our gracious host for the day. Over mimosas, quiche and girl talk, Lindsay, me and about five other Chicago bloggers got together to swap and shop.

BloggerSwapTable

The goods

We all did a fall closet purge and brought a bundle of items – clothes, accessories and even some new beauty products (always in the mix with me!) – to Lindsay’s destined for donation. But before they got shipped off to St. Vincent de Paul, we shopped each other’s stuff. I ended up coming home with a few tops, a dress, sweater and mint clutch. See the aftermath here! Lindsay is my size – just a foot taller, so I ended up with a several tops (including an adorable Joie blouse) that didn’t fall right on her. It was a ton of fun and something I think we’ll make a tradition of a few times each year. Click on over to see what my fellow swappers had to say about the day!

The Garden Apt

A Hop, Skip & Jump

ChiGalLauren

The Kittchen

Loop Looks

Cedar and Rush

Bloomingdale’s Gets a Face Lift

Bloomingdales-Remodel-Mich-Ave

Extreme makeover, Bloomingdale’s North Michigan Avenue edition is now complete. And the big reveal is all sorts of pretty. I finally got to check it out last night with a few of my fellow Chicago blogger gals and strolled every inch of that iconic black and white tile soaking up all of the beauty real estate. It’s like 15 mini boutiques in one. When I’m in the Bobbi Brown space, I feel like I’m in a Bobbi Brown store! There’s LED screens with videos playing, right now it’s all Bobbi + Katie, and spacious counters to give you a little more room to play. Beyond flashy upgrades, there’s also more cosmetic brands, including NARS, Illamasqua—available in about a dozen total Bloomingdale’s stores now— Sisley, SK-II and four fancy private spa rooms, one solely dedicated to Chanel. Oh, and my fav part, the first Space NK apothecary in the Midwest! Space NK carries Rahua, Jin Soon, African Botanics, Tata Harper, Oribe, Lipstick Queen and other brands you don’t see in stores as often.

Chanel-Bloomingdales-Chicago

Gisele greets you upon entry!

Now that everything is fresh and shiny, Bloomingdale’s has a busy social schedule for the coming months. Tonight, The Everygirl is hosting a grand opening bash and the founder of Illamasqua, Julian Kynaston, will be making an appearance and hosting a “beauty crossfire” of sorts. Think ready-to-wear makeup looks vs. creative and colorful works of art. Oh, and….Space NK will have one of their ridiculously amazing gift-with-purchases available. Seriously, I can’t even believe all that is packed in this GWP. The good news? It’s available online if you’re not able to visit a store. The bad news? Quantities are super limited.

Recharge, Relax and Read Blogs

Blog-Friends

Vacations are both a blessing and a curse. I love the reprieve from the crazy schedules and busy days that tend to bog me down. That break from chaos gets me off a routine in a good way…until I’m back. I confess, I’m a hot mess after a week off in Miami. I have yet to get to the gym, I’m not drinking nearly enough water, my to-do list is scattered and my nose got slightly red from the Miami sun despite my best efforts with SPF.

This weekend, I’m going in to recharge mode. Bloggers to the rescue!

  1. Dani from Life’s a Journal created the to-do list of all to-do lists. I stocked up on her Daily Page Notepad at the start of the year and whenever I document my day on this, it’s always a good one. She conveniently sells them in her Etsy shop (she’s so cool!) I vow to plan my Saturday with this and get at least my Monday mapped out in advance.
  2. Editor turned blogger turned skincare founder Beauty Bets is teaming with One Love Organics on a plant-powered skincare line. Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics officially launches March 4! I’ve got a sample tucked away that I plan to put to good use this weekend. My skin wants in on the recharge action, too, and I think the Vitamin C Serum is just the answer.
  3. I met two fabulous and witty ladies at the Chicago Blogger Network Oscar Party at Nellcôte: Lenka of Healthy Fit Goddess and Lindsay of The Garden Apt. Their blogs are super awesome and are inspiring me to be more fit and do cool stuff for my home and closet. I plan to carve out some time this weekend to read through their archives!
  4. Lunch is my biggest weekday struggle. I’m always so hungry, which means if I don’t plan I eat poorly. My colleague Rachel, who covers Chicago eats for My Daily Find, was eating a homemade version of Whole Foods detox salad and though it looked like bird food, it was delicious! She uses a recipe inspired by Oh She Glows (#4 photo credit to Oh She Glows as well) and I plan to make a huge batch for lunch next week!

I’ll be getting in my share of blogger-inspired R&R, for sure. What are your weekend plans?