Friday Fun

Hey there! It's Friday. The most glorious day of the week! I've been a little MIA this week but I feel like I've just been so BUSY. Today is the day. I am going to Iowa for the weekend. I double checked my tickets. I'm booked for the right day. My bags are packed. I even made Nick food to eat for the weekend with out me. I AM PREPARED! Nothing is going to stop me now! Unless TSA decides so throw out a bunch of my products and make me choose which shampoo and lotions I like more than the others. It's really hard to decide. It's happened. My poor, poor self tanner just tossed away in front of me at the Dallas airport. Heartbreaking.

My outfit pictures are from yesterday. I know, I'm totally cheating. I just didn't have time to post yesterday. We had a flip-cup party for one of my bosses at work. Yes, flip cup at work. Needless to say I was a wee bit rusty. One Flip Nelson was having some issues. Maybe because I'm not a Nelson anymore? Still, we had a great time. After that Nick and I went out for a little date since I would be gone for the weekend. We hit up Big Star. It's a taco joint in Wicker Park and my goodness it's tasty. We came home to find out Loki really likes footwear. My favorite cat slippers were demolished. Yes, I can see the irony in that. He also somehow managed to slip off his collar and chew that apart. The dog is a chewer. So a new collar is needed for Loki and I am in desperate need of new cat slippers.

My Nunu! She snaps some of my blog photos. Also, bun buddies!

Sweater: Madewell 

Tank: Forever 21 

Jeans: LOFT 

Boots: DSW (on sale!) 

Necklace: Forever 21- Similar here 

Watch: Michael Kors

Birthday

Guess whose birthday it was yesterday?! MINE!!! I had such a lovely birthday weekend! And I'm still celebrating with drinks after work with my work gals! Woot!

My weekend kicked off with a double date with one of Nick's friends and his lady friend on Friday night. We started the night off at the Boarding House for drinks. It was beautiful! The whole ceiling of the first floor is a wine glass chandelier. So pretty. The drinks were great too. Then we headed to the Paris Club for dinner. As always it was delish. And Nick even ate escargot! If you know Nick you know this is a BIG deal. We ended the night at a neighborhood bar but didn't stay out too late because I had to be up early for Dance Marathon! What an experience! I'm so glad I was able to do this. It was physically and emotionally draining but it was so worth it. I will definitely be back next year. My parents came back from Aruba and on Sunday we had brunch at Nellcote. This place was also beautiful and the food was amazing. After brunch we went shopping (my favorite) and then came back home and had Whole Foods pizza and cake. All in all it was a marvelous weekend! Here are some highlights!

Brunch mimosa, birthday pizza, The Boarding House, CAKE, Dance Marathon with ChrissyBru!

Back to the grind after all the birthday fun. At least I have something new to wear everyday this week thanks to my shopping spree with mom and dad! I'm so spoiled. At least I know it. That makes it kind of ok right? And holy cow. I need a some sun! Anyone want to A. Buy be a tropical vacation or B. recommend a good sunless tanning lotion? Both would be much appreciated!

Fringe!

Top: LOFT 
Cardi: Forever 21-Similar here 
Pants: Zara -Similar here 
Boots: DSW (on sale!) 
Necklace: Forever 21- Similar here 
Watch: Michael Kors

Puppy Problems

Hump day, hump day! So excited to get over the hump! Today has been a bit of a trying day. New puppy problems. Loki does NOT like to be in his crate. So much that he makes escape attempts. He got his head stuck last night. It was terrifying. Today I came home on my lunch break to make sure he didn't do THAT again and thank goodness he didn't but he DID take out a giant piece of the plastic tray that lines the bottom of the crate. This dog is strong and stubborn. In his crate. Then he gets out of it and he is just a big ol' goofy cuddle bug! We are going on a Petco trip tonight to let him pick out a GIANT bone that might occupy his time spent in the crate.

Since I am a little worn out today my outfit pictures kind of reflect it. We took a ton and I am making weird faces in all of them. Except these three. And two  out of the three don't have my face in them. Sigh. I tried to do my hair today like one of my fav bloggers Signeroo. She is seriously the cutest. And since I don't have her amazing, voluminous brown hair it didn't turn out as cute. Worth a try though! Maybe I'll give it another shot when the Chicago winter isn't making my curls go away. My outfit is pretty basic. If you can qualify this sweater as basic. And check out my necklace! It was a gift from my sweet  friend Annie. She knows all too well my love for Audrey. It also opens up and has a clock in it! So I didn't have to tag my Michael Kors watch for the bagillionth time. You're welcome for the break.

Sweater: H&M-Similar here 
Tee: Forever 21-Similar here 
Jeans: JCrew (on sale!) 
Boots: Express-Similar here 
Necklace: Gift-Found here

Puppies and Polkas

Puppies?! Yes, that's right! NICK AND I GOT A PUPPY!!!!!!!! Well, he is kind of a puppy. He's a one year old Shepherd/Husky mix. And my goodness he is adorable! We have been contemplating getting a dog for quite some time now and decided to go to the shelter PAWS Chicago on Saturday. We went and met a nice dog but I just didn't feel the connection to him like I thought I would. On Monday I decided to check their website again just to see if they had any new pups and then I saw him. I was in love with his sweet face right away. I kept his picture up in a tab on my computer at work and looked at him all day. I called Nick and said "WE ARE MEETING HIM!" The info on the website didn't give us much since he was so new to the shelter so we didn't really know what to expect besides his cute face. And then we saw him in person and he was basically everything Nick and I have ever wanted in a dog. See, we are partial to Huskies but they tend to be not very good with small animals.(Like my beloved cats) So we decided to go more towards the Shepherd route. And we got the best of both worlds! He is just the sweetest dog. He is so calm and I think he already feels at home. He is so soft and fluffy and cuddly. I really just love him so much already. So here he is. My new fur baby! Loki!

Just look at him!

Ok, ok. I'm done gushing about my dog. But, can you blame me?! So onto polkas. I totally forgot I had this dress. Which kind of stinks because I could have been wearing it for the past couple months! I just love the polka dot trend. Just imagine if this dress didn't have dots and was just plain old gray. BORING. Polka dots are so fun and can liven up an outfit in a subtle way or in a big way. This dress being a pretty big way.

Dress: Old Navy (on sale!!)
Tights: American Apparel (in Midnight Blue)
Belt: H&M-Similar here 
Socks: H&M-Similar here 
Boots: ALDO-Similar here 
Watch: Michael Kors 
Necklace: Forever 21-Similar here

Spring Thinking

Hi friends! Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Sorry for being so MIA. I wore my hair in a bun three days in a row last week. That should tell you how into my appearance I was. But I'm back! With clean hair and a new perspective. My weekend was great and too short. Had a wonderful time at "quad date." And the little bit of time I got with my Ally Cat was much needed! Can't wait for her to come back. Nick and I went on a little adventure Sunday afternoon and went for a walk on the train tracks behind my apartment. I know, sounds super safe right? Well these tracks aren't in use during the weekend so we were just fine. We actually stumbled upon a little urban garden area. Can't wait to make friends with you ever is gardening in the summer.

Have I told you recently I want it to warm up? Cause I do. In a bad way. Spring cannot come soon enough. My mind set right now is if I dress like spring, it will come. Did I just make a "Field of Dreams" reference? Anywho. White pants, neon top, and a splash of coral sounds pretty springy right? Right?!

Top: LOFT-Similar here 
Cardi: LOFT-Similar here 
Pants: Forever 21 
Boots: American Eagle 
Necklace: Forever 21-Similar here 
Watch: Michael Kors 
Lipstick: Revlon (in Backstage)

Tights

Wednesday! The week is pretty much half over. I feel like It barely even started! That is not complaining, I promise. Today has been a pretty good day. Haven't been TOO busy and made weekend plans! On Friday Nick and I are going on a quadruple date. Four couples! Kind of intense, I know. But I really can't wait to see everyone, eat burgers, and drink great beer. Saturday my long, lost friend Ally is coming into town. She moved to Boston last fall and I miss her dearly. On top of all that my parents are going to be staying with us for a bit before they go on their trip to Aruba. So many fantastic people all at once, my heart might explode!

So, I'm over tights. Like really over them. There is a point in September when it is still hot out and I'm saying "Ugh, I just want to wear tights and sweaters and be cozy." Well right now I'm the opposite of that. Have you shopped online recently?! There are legs everywhere! Bare ones! In outfits I'm dying to wear! Not to mention all the blog gals that I follow live in Texas or some other warm climate where they can flaunt their bare legs all year long. Sigh. Ok, that was much too long to go on about tights. And the fact that I am wearing them today doesn't really make it seem that believable. But, I HAVE to wear them. I don't WANT to. There is a difference.

Dress: H&M-Similar here 
Vest: Express-Similar here 
Tights: H&M-Similar here 
Boots: Express-Similar here 
Necklace: Presence-Similar here 
Watch: Michael Kors

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Long Weekend

Hi there, I'm back. Hope everyone had a great weekend! I was lucky enough to have Monday off for President's Day but alas, I'm a sleepy Katie today. 

My weekend was just delightful. Started off with our Valentine's date at Piccolo Sogno. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. The experience and the company was the best part. Saturday Nick and I stayed in most of the day because it was so cold. We had a friend's birthday party that night and played Whirly Ball. This is a strange game that you are on teams and ride a round in basically a bumper car with a lacrosse stick looking thing. The goal is to try to put a whiffle ball through a hole on what is kind of like a basketball hoop, but not. I know, you totally can't picture right? Needless to  say this game can get pretty aggressive and you might come out of it with a bruise or two. Or in my case five. I bruised my hip bones. Don't ask me how but it happened. Sunday was recovery day and then Monday Nick and I went to the Museum of Science and Industry. This wasn't the greatest idea because apparently Chicago schools had the day off too. So many small creatures with runny noses touching everything in sight. Yikes. Nick does get free admission through work though so that was nice. Here are a few highlights from the weekend.

Sweet street art, my hunny, hunny the astronaut, whirlyball, hipster Thor. 

Today I am sleepy. And you can tell. Sorry! This outfit was pulled straight from the LOFT catalog. No joke, exact styling. I'm not creative on sleepy days so I just rely on magazines to be creative for me. I promise I'll buck up for the rest of the week! Yay!

Sleepy hysterics

Shirt: LOFT
Sweater: LOFT 
Jeans: Levi's 
Boots: American Eagle 
Necklace: JCrew Factory