Hungry Z, Grand Overview

So you sit down for dinner and the waiter hands you the wine list, what do you do? You want to pair the right wine with the right dish, but you’re not sure which one. Do you just guess? For those wanting to learn how to pair wines, there are some great wine dinners out there ready to help! Pinstripes in both Northbrook and South Barrington just finished hosting an evening with Terlato wines and have more such events planned for the future.

The beauty of these events is that you not only pair wines but you also hear from the chefs and wine makers themselves. John Terlato and Chef Mark Grimes guided us through a 5 course dinner and left us all a little more wine savvy. Our meal began with a salad consisting of crisp chicken liver, frisse, spring garlic, blood orange gastrique, and cippollini mustard vinaigrette that was paired with a fruit forward Terlato Pinot Grigio.

An elegant and refreshing Rutherford Hill chardonnay was paired with a buttery day boat scallop glazed in raw honey along side a citrus risotto. A complex Sanford Pinot Noir complimented the wonderful black duck and apple smoked bacon chips (yum!). My favorite course was the juniper berry-red wine marinated filet of beef, foie gras, and topped with amazing truffle butter! This was paired with Mazzoni Rosso Toscana and its ripe dark berry flavor.

While most lamb dishes are accompanied by mint, the lamb tonight is served tandori style with a nice level of spice! Read more »

For some reason people think that love is easier for good-looking people, or rich people, or white people, or men. And as a single, black, 30-something, successful woman, everywhere I turn someone is telling me how hard it is for me to find love. Well, I’ve decided that Steve Harvey and Sherri Shepard and Nightline and MSNBC can all kiss me where the sun don’t shine. Because I’ve come to learn that finding love is difficult for most people. It doesn’t have anything to do with your financial status, what color you are or even your sex. Love, real love, is precious and rare and it doesn’t grow on trees. It shouldn’t be too easy to find, because otherwise, why would anyone appreciate it? Observe anyone who is in a relationship where their partner loves and gives more freely than they do and I guarantee you’ll find someone who doesn’t appreciate what they have. It seems so unfair. They seem so undeserving. You can’t help but think, why can’t someone love me like that instead of them.

But I’ve chosen not to focus on them any more than I focus on the legion of naysayers that are trying to convince me that I’m not going to get the love I desire and deserve. And I don’t think you should focus on them either. When it comes to finding love, I’ve decided - and I think that you should decide as well - that I’m going to listen to a real expert: Luther Vandross. Yes, really. Not skinny, sexually questionable Luther, but straggly Jheri curl, jelly-bellied “Lutha”, God rest his soul. In one of his most prolific songs his answer is clear and simple: wait for love.

Like many of you I am tired of waiting. Damn tired. But what else is there to do? If the love you seek hasn’t materialized, there’s very little you can do to make it happen. You can work on yourself and your own issues, get yourself together, think positive and still come up with nada. You can sign up for dating services, ask to be set up, and hit the singles scene and still find yourself alone and longing. You can pray until your knees are rusty but until the divine one feels you are ready to receive that special love you crave, you’re not going to get it. But you will get it eventually, when the time is right. That may not be what you want to hear, but its a hell of a lot better than listening to a “King of Comedy” with 2 divorces behind him. At least it is for me.

Patience is a virtue, and although it isn’t one of mine I’m working on it, because I don’t believe that God operates under chaos or confusion. He knows what He’s doing a whole lot more than I do. By having me wait, He’s teaching me something, and I’m going to be still and quiet and listen until He answers so that I can learn my lesson. And I’m going to try and do it without an attitude.

So who’s with me? If you’re with me, open your window, tell Steve Harvey and ’nem to shove it, then hold your lighters in the air, wave them from side to side, and sing with me : ”I never stopped believing there could one day be, be a chance…for me to get the love, that I’ve been missing, sometimes love takes a long time, but wait for love and you’re gonna get the chance the chance to love, wait for love, wait for love”. Now hold on tight if you think you’re right. It’s coming. I don’t think Lutha would lie to us.

When it comes down to choosing a dress for the most important day of their lives, so many brides are allured by the bridal fashions of Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Reem Acra and Badgley Mischka just to name a few.  So they go in search of this beautiful gown they have seen in a bridal magazine or on the runway, but what they are not prepared for is the sticker shock for their dream gown.  As soon as they see the price tag, their eyes begin to tear up and shoulders begin their descent as they shuffle in search of a “chain bridal store” that may offer a copy cat of the real thing.  This is where White Chicago comes in, located in the River North gallery district.  “With its striking interior, expansive dressing rooms, relaxing lounge and library and signature white runway (watch out Tyra Banks) White Chicago redefines traditional elegance for today’s modern bride.”   It is the brain child of Stacy Senechalle and Ursula Guyer .  This upscale resale boutique adds an entirely different meaning to old bridal adage “Something Borrowed”.  They offer new, sample and once wed designer dresses with out the designer price tag.   Just like you would expect at any other couture salon, each bride is tended to individually and given the upscale bridal salon treatment so they can feel like the princesses that they are.  White Chicago has  just recently launched their online web store and wedding gown listing service www.whiteXchange.comso that now its not just limited to .   Chicago brides but all brides are able to join in on the fabulousness! 

So if you or someone you know has bridal dreams of grandeur without the fairytale budget, Send them (or tag along with them) to White Chicago, they will have white socks waiting on you at the door! 

White Chicago

222 W Huron

Chicago, IL  60654

312-397-1571

www.whitechicago.com

www.whiteXchange.com

info@whitechicago.com

Thanks so much and as always make it an Eventful day!!!

You know, We Chicago folk are pretty lucky.  Yeah we have the dastardly winters and blazing summers and those grey clouds just LOVE them some us!  But we have such a unique and dynamic culture that isn’t found very many places.  One could literally tour dozens of countries and never leave the city limits. For instance,  Merz Apothecary, one of my favorite oasis’s, Founded by a Chicago pharmacist of Swiss decent over 130 years ago.  Merz Apothecary is modeled after the European approach of health and wellness.  Needless to say, Mr. Peter Merz was way ahead of the curve of what we consider the “modern” holistic approach.

Walking through the large wooden doors of the Lincoln Square location I am immediately enveloped in a sense wellness and bliss.  Antique pharmacy jars and solid oak cabinets reassure me that “Yes, all is right in the world.”  The shelves are lined with classic and nearly forgotten herbal remedies, aroma-therapeutic soy candles, essential oils and high quality vitamins.  I buy everything from my skincare down to my toothbrush there.  When cold, flu and allergy season hit, this is my doctors’ office.  When I had my mini meltdown about terrible things the cosmetics industry was doing (from earlier post Only Skin Deep) Merz was there like an old wise Nana with a big hug that said “There, there.  Here’s a nice warm glass of soy milk!”

If you’d like to learn more about the story of Merz Apothecary visit: Read more »

I find that too often people do not and often refuse to work out their legs at the gym. I don’t really understand this to tell you the truth. I don’t understand a compartmental way of looking at the body. I know that legs are tough, tiring, and often painful to work out. This doesn’t mean you can just skip them. One thing I usually hear is “but I run, that’s working out my legs.” Um, no it isn’t. Our legs are so important to keep strong and work out. Our legs carry the entire weight of our body. When we run or jog the forces on our legs are up to 4 times our body weight. The pelvis and spine are moved and stabilized by our legs. When our legs have dysfunction and weakness, this opens the door to compensation and injury. The legs are responsible for holding most of the muscle on the body. This means that our metabolism is very connected to them. Anybody that is trying to lose weight and considering not working the legs is missing an important component. Also, working the legs is key to getting the core and abs strong. The psoas muscle is an important spine stabilizing core muscle that attaches to the spine and the leg. It’s the only muscle to do so. The psoas is a spine stabilizer, but when there is dysfunction the psoas then becomes a mover of the legs. This is not good. It’s a compensation pattern that eventually leads to all kind of problems. Women often think their legs will get big if they train them, not true. Men often believe that since the invention of board shorts, you can’t see their legs so they don’t matter. Good job men, that’s a fresh one. And yes, I have heard that from clients of mine. I feel the legs are one of the most important components of working out that is often missed. So please, start adding these in. It’ll change everything for you.

A staged home makes a great impression on buyers. If you don’t have that decorating touch, then you should seriously consider hiring a home stager.
But not every stager is appropriate for all properties, therefore ask a few questions before hiring.
*Ask to see their portfolio, its not enough to ask a few questions over the phone.
*Do they have a specialty? Many stagers specialize in a specific type of of home and may not be the right fit for your property, or their furniture may not be the right fit.
*What is their training and background? The home staging industry is largely unregulated, find out if they have been trained and what their certification means.
If you have marketing ideas you want to bring to the table, ask the stager if you can work together because if buyers aren’t walking through the door, the staging doesn’t mean much.

Hungry Z, Grand Overview

Pop quiz…what is the most consumed beverage in the world behind water? The answer is tea! If this answer surprises you, it’s because in the U.S. tea ranks behind both coffee and soda pop. Think of it like soccer, all over the world people are crazy for it! In the states it’s less popular than the WNBA. What does this mean? Should we all start sipping tea and kick soccer balls? I say stick to baseball and give this tea thing a try! Read more »

I’d like to share with you an article I read sometime ago about a study that linked attitudes with perceived attractiveness.

In this study, subjects were asked to rate pictures, first by appearance only. The next phase of the study used the same photographs except this time the pictures were assigned negative traits such as selfishness and dishonesty as well as positive traits such as honesty and compassion.  The study showed that people with positive personality traits were perceived as more attractive than people with negative traits.  A thing like that!

Reading this article prompted some self searching. I found that I wanted to challenge myself to take being positive to a new level.  Here are some of the things I challenged myself to do on a daily basis. Read more »

Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, well in the photo-journalistic world of today a picture is worth an entire book… a photo book that is.  I am such a lover of great pictures, I enjoy being wrapped up in a story by looking at the expressions and the details of the photos.  I am a believer that (please don’t tell my videographers I said this, if you do I’ll deny it) you don’t need video to capture a moment a true photographer can do it through photos and Quish Love of L.Love Studios is THAT photographer.  She has a way of “capturing photos that tug your heart“!  Read more »

The extended first time homebuyer deadline to be eligible for the $8500 tax credit is right arouond the corner… April 30! Buyers must have a fully executed contract by the 30th and then close by June 30 to be eligible for the tax credit.

There are plenty of properties out there and we have seen a flurry of activity but if you have not started yet, you need to get going right now, but make sure you have already spoken with your mortgage professional and you know what you can afford.

Still time, but time is ticking away……