Giving Thanks

I so hope you all enjoy a most fantastic day and celebrate all you are thankful for!

{image credits: images from eddie ross, martha stewart, gourmet}

Kara’s Current Obsession: Monograms and Crests, Oh My!

Many of us know about the delightful Sarah Drake for her beyond beautiful letterpress and engraved wedding invitations.  In addition to designing your save the dates, your entire wedding suite, programs and menu cards, you can enlist the boutique studio to create a charming monogram for The New You, dream up a custom crest for your growing family or even help with your budding business’ brand identity and logo!  
The fun doesn’t have to stop with the conceptual creations, however…
You can have Sarah help put together a beautiful tablescape…
I am obsessed with monogrammed dinnerware!  Here, for a more casual, everyday use Sarah will work your monogram into rustic stoneware pieces {made locally in Chicago!}.
If urban farmhouse isn’t necessarily your look – choose a more formal china pattern {for fancy dinner parties or to simply dress up Chinese take-out!}
Knobby linen napkins add a casual elegance to any table setting.
Sarah Drake can also work your monograms into bedding!
Yes. Please.
Now…why settle for a mundane monogram when you can have Sarah create a brand new family crest!!  {L.O.V.E the establish date – aka your wedding date!}
Then work your crest into your linens!
For perhaps a more simple idea, have them help with monogrammed hemstitch cocktail napkins {I have heaps of them!  And they also make fabulous hostess gifts!} or a simple, classic handkerchief.
  And the very best news?!  Sarah Drake can set up a custom registry so your family and friends can help you build your fancypants new monogrammed collection!
I’m obsessed.
{image credits} all images taken from Sarah Drake Design

Celebrate!

Although my social calendar of late begs to differ – most people know that I love love love hosting a good party.  Well, this Little Miss has as a bit of a milestone on the horizon:  I maaay turn 28…{again…for the third time?} next month.  This occasion will n.o.t take place at a gritty bar or club – oh gasp!…But is it really so awful to want to host your own birthday party?

While I may have to postpone the festivities until things slow down a bit {not to mention the fact that we were able to take advantage of one of my favorite sale websites: jetsetter.com and are, therefore, sneaking away for the only minute we have to breath in November}…but – if I were to host something:

I would want it fun – surrounded only by people I adore.  I would want it fancy – girls and guys must dress.  I would want it fantastically simple – with thoughtful drinks, delicious bites and dreamy details.
Well…I’m just a bit disappointed that Kevin Sharkey {the fabulous, famed designer that has been working with Martha Stewart Living since 1995} somehow snuck his way into my head and took all of my ideas and inspiration {wink wink} for an incredible home party!!
Anyway – enjoy these gorgeous photos from his glamorous fete – laden with a darling dose of humor:
 Guests were welcomed with a simply and effectively stocked bar cart.  I always always think it is best to offer fewer spot-on creations as opposed to feeling the need to provide copious options.   

What couldn’t make it on the bar cart was stylishly stored in his bathtub mounded with ice, certain to keep the Veuve chilled all evening long.  {What’s all that stacked up in the background, you ask??} 

OH THAT!!  Just a mere gazillion Hermes boxes, hanging out in Kevin’s shower.  So ironically beautiful.

Hooray!  I’m not the only one that loves a dressed up deviled egg!  Delish.

Well, if the eggs are a bit too pedestrian for you – the beautifully displayed caviar station is sure to impress.

And after feasting on a creamy caviar delicacy, fed from a mother-of-pearl spoon…it’s time to dunk!  Love love this Oreo cooke cake.  Must have glasses wide enough to dunk.

And now it’s time to get silly.  A fabulous and fancy lacquered dining table acts as the perfect local for a bit of table tennis.

Obsessed with the custom-monogrammed paddle.

Favors?  Nope…

Score-keeping writing utensils!

I will absolutely recreate this whimsy frame as an unexpected touch in the powder room!

And if the wee hours weren’t apparent enough, perhaps the deflated balloons may remind you what a fabulous….long….night you’ve had!
Happy whatever-you-want-to-celebrate!

{image credits} all images taken from martha stewart

Autumn Amour…

Although I shall never utter a word of criticism for the absolute dreamy warm and sunny Chicago weather we’ve had so far this October, the air has seemed to shift just a bit more seasonally brisk the last couple of days.  I’m officially ready to embrace autumn {a season I truly adore}!
The air smells of freshly fallen leaves, pumpkins and gourds are readily available at nearly all markets and fall-inspired treats are showing up at favorite eateries.  Here are just a few images I’ve taken capturing my whole-hearted acceptance of the season:
This charming streetlamp is just out our back door and I found myself popping back inside, after walking Illie one evening, to grab my camera in order to capture the amber glow of the colored leaves.
I absolutely love the unexpected beauty of odd pumpkins and gourds.  I picked up these lookers from my local Trader Joe’s!
Don’t listen to them…personality does count for something!
These little guys are framed perfectly in the shadowy nook of our bookshelf.
And my latest seasonal craving:  a latte and a pair of pumpkin macarons from the charming bakery, Sarah’s Pastries and Candies on picturesquely perfect Oak Street.
Autumn, the year’s last and loveliest smile.  -William Cullen Bryant

Oh…Henri!

Amidst the hustle and bustle of last week, Renny insisted we make time for ourselves…A lunch date was penned in our diaries and we weren’t going to bail – we promised!  It turned out to be a bit of a celebration, a Beyond Blissful year together! and Renny asked where we should dine.  I had recently heard and read nice things about the new French-American restaurant by the owners and chef of The Gage, called Henri.
We arrived for our late lunch to a packed house – busy with businessmen, locals, foodies, symphony-goers and tourists alike – all taking time out of their schedules for a sophisticated mid-day meal.  
The bright restaurant initially reminded me of a European salon, a beautiful dusty robins egg blue {or nile blue to us industry folk!} and chocolate brown color pairing dressed the walls and the furniture.  The staff was beyond welcoming and friendly…something that most new, hot restaurants seem to care less about.  After a brief moment to freshen up {the luxe restrooms were modestly and handsomely marvelous} we were seated immediately, thanks to our reservation.
After Renny’s insistence of beginning with a coupe of champagne (the glasses were substantially gorgeous – and you know I’m a sucker for a saucer of bubbly!), the polished bus boy offered up a gorgeous mahogany tray of freshly baked french bread.  Our meals were as dreamily delicious as the day’s warm weather and the decor.  I ordered the mussels – I truly argue – the best I’ve had.  They were submerged in the lightest, most delicious fennel broth, paired with a crusty piece of bread, perfect for trying to sop up every last drop of the salty goodness.  Renny ordered the snapper and was as equally impressed as I was.  After summoning all of our willpower, we passed on the dessert and instead ordered cappuccinos.  
I so enjoyed being a lady-who-lunched and so appreciated the company and generosity of my dining companion.  The meal was delish, and I’m already dying to head back…
Oh, Henri…I think I’m fallin’!
{image credits}  restaurant photos taken by steven johnson photography, cappuccino found on flickr by digital gopher

Dreamy Day…

What an unexpectedly wonderful surprise!  No one in their wildest dreams could imagine such a spectacular October Chicago Day…
My fantastic clients and their guests will actually get to enjoy their cocktail hour on the terrace of the Chicago History Museum, overlooking the early changing colors of Lincoln Park!
How absolutely dreamy…
Xx.
{image credi} sunny happy girl taken from mary ruffle on tumblr