Life | Recently

There have been lots of changes going on in my life recently--some good, some not so much--and they've all made me realize one thing, nothing is forever.  It sounds so pessimistic but I mean it in the best way possible.  I started working from home two months ago and in that time I've had a lot of time to focus on what it is that I really want and my priorities.  A year ago I thought I had my whole life figured out--I was living in my dream apartment with the love of my life and working towards quitting a job that I was less than thrilled to go to everyday--and now I feel like I'm back at square one.  It's scary but this sense of unknown has forced me to break out of my sometimes shy shell and do things I never would have done before.  I'm working toward a new normal and it's quite exciting...I've been spending more time with friends, reaching out to other bloggers and small business owners and trying new things (like working out).  Some highlights include painting my office, chopping off my hair (new me, new look...I call this the Rose Byrne), client work and exploring Chicago.  Everyday has been different and that scares the crap out of me but that's what makes life exciting, right?

It's all so very exciting and I truly appreciate everyone's kind words of encouragement on the Kristin Kerr Interiors post that I shared last month!  I have some exciting things in the works...including my big apartment reveal, so stay tuned! 

What have you been up to recently?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  The last few weeks of December were jam-packed with celebrations, decorations, and tasty treats!  A few festive highlights – finding thoughtful gifts for my family and making sure the wrapping was as perfect as the present inside, baking sweet treats like tree-shaped coconut macaroons and peppermint bark, setting the table and making the floral arrangements for my family's Christmas dinner table, inheriting a few more pieces of silver service ware from my great aunt, having a Margot Tenenbaum moment for a night out on the town with my love, Paulie, and so much more.  The month flew by and I can hardly believe it's already 2013.  Here's to a new year and the adventures ahead!

My Weekend in Pictures

This illustrations where commission by Hair Stylist Guido Palau, to illustrate his designs for the mannequin heads at the Schiaparelli & Prada, Impossible Coversations, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York.  Ten of the designs were turned into postcards under the advice of Anna Wintour.  I purchased my print and postcards when I visited the exhibit back in June and just now got around to framing it.  Slowly but surely I'm checking things off my apartment to-do list.  Now on to buy a Christmas tree...I feel so behind!  What do you have planned for the week ahead?

(Images by Kristin Kerr for Simply Smitten)

My Weekend in Pictures

I was thrilled to see these Lulie Wallace paintings hanging in Anthroplogie! I had seen Lulie's work online but now after seeing it in person I can say I'm completely obsessed. From the vibrant color palettes to the bold brush­strokes and geomet­ric forms, they are just perfection!

I have not taken off these Gap loafers since I bought them.  I love the way they look with my Cabernet toothpick cords.  Can you say Fall uniform?

My vintage credenza was finally delivered!  I can't find a good "before" picture but image a very unattractive brown wood.  I had the piece stripped then stained ebony--I wanted it to have a Jacques Adnet feel so I added some blinging brass ring pulls in the center of the doors.

Business on the outside and party on the inside!  The interior was painted a shocking citron yellow.  Oh and have I mentioned that I'm a magazine hoarder?

I took this picture of the Chicago Botanic Gardens when I was a junior in high school...10 years later I finally framed it and hung it up next to my new credenza.

And on Sunday I celebrated Thanksgiving with all of my best friends.  I am so very lucky to have such a close knit group of friends here in Chicago.  We have been celebrating Thanksgiving every year since we graduated college and although people have moved away and relationships have changed it's the once day a year we all make an concerted effort to attend and catch up.  I love it.  Thanks for hosting Lynch!  Oh and that's just a small glimpse at her fabulous apartment!

How was your weekend?  I feel like I have so much to do before Thanksgiving on Thursday but I like to think I work better under pressure!  What do you have planned for this short holiday week?

My Weekend in Pictures

I started down a new path in my life last week and set up shop at my dining room table.  There are check lists galore going on over here.

A new path means establishing new spending habit but I just had to treat myself to one last splurge.  This YSL clutch has been on my lust list for quite some time and I can finally say it's mine.

I set a new personal record and was fifth in line at the Jayson Home warehouse sale!  It was crazy crowded but there were incredible deals to be had.

I didn't purchase anything for myself but I did find this gorgeous settee and vintage pillow for my sister.

I spotted this Elizabeth Peyton book at J.Crew and was instantly drawn to the rich colors on the cover.

Paul and I went to dinner at Silver Palm.  Anthony Bourdain declared their Three Little Pigs Sandwich the "greatest sandwich in America" and I couldn't agree more!

On Sunday we went to the Bears game.  All fashion rules get thrown out the door when you tailgate in the pouring rain for two hours.  The Bears lost but I still had an absolute blast!

How was your weekend?

My Week(end) in Pictures

Miss me?  I Honestly wasn't planning on staying away from the blog for so long but the last week of October was a real doozy filled with lots of life changes and unknowns.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything so for now I'll just share the fun stuff...

. A night with Nate Berkus Jayson Home hosted a book signing for Nate Berkus' new book, The Things That Matter.  A fun night in celebration of a great book--If you haven't picked up a copy yet, do so now!  I started reading the book the night before the event and let me tell you, It's a design book you'll actually want to read.  Yup, that's right, I'm not ashamed to admit that I usually just look at the beautiful pictures in design books.

. A trip to DC I left for Washington on Friday, October 26th and, thanks to super storm Sandy, didn't end up leaving until Saturday, November 3rd.  Pictured above are just a few of the highlights from my week in our nation's capital: dinner at Granville Moore's, drinks at Masa 14, beautiful patterns and exteriors around Georgetown, sparkly chandeliers at The Brass Knob, and hours spent at Capital Hill Books (a death trap filled with loads of used books).  I got a true taste of DC and had an absolute blast roaming around the city by myself.

So tell me, what did I miss while I was gone?  I'm going to spend the rest of the day catching up on work but plan to be back with posts the rest of the week!  Missed you! xo

Design Hunter | Winnetka Antiques + Modernism

This weekend I drove up to the North Shore to attend the Winnetka Antiques + Modernism show.  This was my second year attending (check out my pictures from last year's show here).  Although I didn't purchase much, I did walk away with loads of inspiration.  I go to these shows knowing very well that I can't afford 99.9% of the items but I love the hunt, talking to the dealers and learning about the history of the pieces that catch my eye.  Above are just a few of the items that struck my heart strings.

.Laslo for Mikasa Prisma flatware. Gold, silver, lucite, need I say more?  The Delux NY booth was hands down my favorite.  They had a great mix of vintage jewelry, accessories and furniture.

.I love the idea of displaying unusual objects as art.  This mounted necklace was just one of the many interesting pieces available at the Cunha St. John booth.  They also had a beautiful collection of vintage automobile lens displayed of custom iron stands.

.Sedge Meadow Antiques had an interesting collection of non traditional antique items. I found the  link detail on these 19th century steel elevator doors to be particularly inspiring.  One day I will have steel windows and doors in my home, one day!

.I always gravitate to the vintage jewelry booths at antique shows and I could have spent hours combing through Loana Marina Purrazzo's collection. These 1970s Trifari earrings reminded me of the items I shared in my Optical Illusion post last week.  I sent Paul a picture of them asking if he's buy them for me for Sweetest Day but he didn't respond. Ha!

.When I spotted this Curtis Jeré raindrops mirror in the Lee's Antiques booth I literally gasp at it's beauty and it's price tag. This mirror has been added to my Ultimate Wish List.

How was your weekend?  What do you have planned for the week ahead?