Challenge Accepted!

- Near a mill in Hinsdale -

A friend of mine recently nominated me for the Positive Things challenge (I'm not sure if that's what it is called), which asks to list out three positive things about my day for a week. I have accepted the challenge and thought I would document the positive vibes on here versus Facebook. I will, subsequently, be nominating three more friends!

Day 1:

1. Starting the shortened week on a Tuesday after Labor Day weekend
2. Having leftovers from Kuma's Corner - known for their epic burgers
3. Working out with some squats and leg lifts

Day 2:

1. Having 2 more days to the work week
2. Having my home-made sandwich for lunch (doesn't happen often)
3. Fixing my iPhones' unresponsive home button by myself

Day 3:

1. Enjoying the beautiful weather
2. Eating Nutella from the jar
3. Attending a Happy Hour with some co-workers

Day 4:

1. Sleeping in
2. Dinner with my mom and a friend
3. Staying in on a Friday night and watching an Indian movie with my mom

Day 5:

1. Experiencing Eataly at the restaurant La Pizza - La Pasta and the Nutella bar
2. Strolling down Michigan Ave with a friend
3. Having a second dinner at Gino's East and trying out a sweet "Birthday Cake" shot (no birthdays were happening)

Day 6:

1. Afternoon at Nordstrom
2. Watching NYFW and re-runs of Friends simultaneously
3. Lemonade from Auntie Ann's

Day 7:

1. Eating hot and spice Ramen Noodles for dinner
2. Finalizing a video I created for my mom's 50th birthday (check it out here)
3. Catching-up on some magazine reading

Thank you, Natalia for this challenge! xo

Pretty Pleasures

- Baha'i House of Worship in Evanston, IL -

It's been a while since I have shared some pretty pleasures so, I have added a bit more pictures than the usual. Although Labor Day is just around the corner, it just started feeling like summer here in Chicago and I'm saddened to celebrate the Holiday thinking it is the last hurrah of warm weather. Unlike those who are embracing the early arrival of the pumpkin latte at Starbucks, I am holding onto every bit of the season there is left. Here are some bits and pieces of my past few months. Enjoy!

- A blurry glimpse of a $5M carousel at the House on the Rock in WI - it was breathtaking -

- One of my favorite desserts - creme brûlée - at the Coast Guard Festival in MI -

- July 4th at the Lurie Garden in Chicago-

- Interesting decor in the entryway to 3 Dots and a Dash -

- Snapped this while on an architectural boat tour on the Chicago River -

- Finally got around to trying the acclaimed Girl & the Goat restaurant (it was amazing) -

Lavender Look

ASOS Dress, Christian Louboutin Heels, Ray Ban Wayfarers 

It's been a while and hopefully it has been worth the wait! Although this summer in Chicago has not been one of the finest, my skin has a tendency to absorb every single ray that gets emitted and fry me up as if I'm intentionally trying to get tan. That's the great thing about this dress - the lavender complements my darker skin tone without making me look too bronzed. The lightweight fabric allows it to be breathable and body-forming. This is an ideal dress for afternoon tea or summer weddings. 

Skincare Secrets

Unlike most people my age, I don't have my skincare regime sorted out. For someone who deals with a lot of facial skin problems, it's quite alarming that I'm still testing products out, rather than having some staple items handy. However, I have come to know that this testing-phase is something that will perpetuate as your skin and body changes. As I'm taking my stab at identifying products that are suitable to my skin type and texture, thought I would share them here as it may benefit someone else on the same boat.

1. To exfoliate - Arbonne Exfoliating New Cell ($30)

2. To repair - Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair ($62)

3. To spot-treat - Kate Somerville EradiKate ($24)

4. To clean - Cetaphil ($10.79)

5. To remove - Lush "Let the Good Times Roll" ($12.95)

6. To pucker - FRESH Sugar Advanced Therapy ($25)

7. To moisturize - Aveeno Daily Moisturizer ($9.71)

P.S. Obviously none of this will really be effective without the frequent consumption of water!