tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107637072011-11-26T14:28:51.300-06:00Perfecting the art of fine urban living.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.comBlogger2391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-84830738728144934322011-09-26T15:57:00.000-05:002011-09-26T15:57:17.823-05:00

You may always be wondering if I'm on hiatus, since my updates are so sporadic, but I'm telling you right now, I'm officially taking a blog sabbatical until further notice. That further notice may be a new project, it may be the restart of this blog. I just know it doesn't have a spot in my brain right now. So, until I see you again - take care. -Nicole

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-10810569566141905962011-08-16T08:00:00.004-05:002011-08-16T08:00:02.696-05:00

Guys, I'm crazy. I decided to make a rainbow cake. But not just a six layer rainbow cake, a 19 layer rainbow cake. It all started about a year and a half ago, when I saw this image online: (via Darius A Monsef IV) My dear friend Nic had an impending 28th birthday, and I thought this would be super fun to make. Turns out we didn't get around to celebrating his 28th birthday, since he was

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-40670768243700344282011-08-15T16:52:00.000-05:002011-08-15T16:52:23.316-05:00

Personally, I prefer to Bike Fancy. Photo: martha williams/bikefancy.com I've been following Martha Williams' blog since it started in November of 2010. I think my little bike is pretty snazzy, and I'm always just wearing what I wear when I ride (no special gear). I've really hoped to be able to meet Martha and find my way on to her blog since it started. On my way home Friday, I stopped by

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-16605602061520258522011-08-03T16:07:00.000-05:002011-08-03T16:07:07.365-05:00

July ended with a much less shameful garage and back yard. We're making progress... We're searching for a new (used) door. There will be 2 more light fixtures like the one you see in the right hand corner of the garage. I need to paint the window trim green. There are boards waiting to be made into a deck/patio...

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-17816005721401122802011-06-11T23:44:00.000-05:002011-06-11T23:44:39.220-05:00

Summer has arrived in Chicago. Don and I have been working on making the outside of our house a little more livable, too. The sad parkway and front yard were the first to get some attention. (No one wants a house that screams "I was an unloved foreclosure!") They are almost respectable now. In the parkway, we have a wonderful elm tree that provides a ton of shade when the leaves are full. (It

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-65884476943825615002011-06-10T16:06:00.001-05:002011-06-10T16:06:38.617-05:00

 courtesy apartment therapy Is it just me? Does anyone else cringe when they see pallets used as furniture? No, just me, the girl who had a toothpick sized splinter surgically removed from her 4-year-old thigh? I guess it's just not my aesthetic. There's so much on the interwebs right now about this 'green and fun' design trend. Green? Really? Pretty sure those things are just as chemical laden

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-83018006622118666522011-06-09T16:14:00.001-05:002011-06-09T16:15:31.403-05:00

My craft pantry is the most finished room in the house, and I have yet to really use it... I call it the Craft Pantry because not only is it my dedicated sewing/art space, but it also has open shelves that hold cake stands, vases, platters, ingredients, etc. It is my happy little girly space. Here is a progress shot of it, along with the curtain fabric that inspired the color: There are

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-63028520854609960552011-05-19T15:56:00.000-05:002011-05-19T15:56:08.299-05:00

Oh hi guys... I guess I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post! Sorry about that. No excuses, really. Just busy living and not blogging about it. (Also, I temporarily lost the camera cord, so I hadn't uploaded photos or used the mac mini in, like, forever.) Anywho. Did I ever tell you about the S'mores Tart? It's something I sort of invented after I was left with a crapload of

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-14920536711763366582011-03-20T23:00:00.000-05:002011-03-20T23:00:45.821-05:00

My feelings towards you can best be expressed by the words of Irving Berlin's hit song from the 1946 Broadway musical, "Annie Get Your Gun": I made my own Cheez-its. That's right. My very own, whole wheat, homemade, non-hydrolized or hydrogenized or lectin-ed cheese crackers. And they're delicious. As per usual, I was inspired by the amazing Deb of Smitten Kitchen. I swear we share at least

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-21363534631601090112011-02-28T22:06:00.000-06:002011-02-28T22:06:42.652-06:00

Have you heard of Coco Cake? Coco Cake is a boutique cupcake bakery in Vancouver, and I just find their creations so delightful. They make beautifully minimal cupcakes, as well as super fun cakes. I especially like this hamburger cake, which looks like a much tastier version of the hamburger cake that I picked out for my 15th birthday (too much fondant!). So fun! all images via Coco

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-16091966001557304482011-01-25T16:27:00.001-06:002011-01-25T16:34:16.982-06:00

Every time we lay down in bed we have to stare up at this hideous light: These gaudy things are all over our house. Which I guess I wouldn't hate so much if A] I hadn't gone to design school and B] my parents hadn't installed them in our suburban split-level ranch in the 90's... (can't wait for my dad to call me a snob in the comments...) Today, I just ordered a beautiful Artemis

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-57249363512991040982011-01-04T15:05:00.000-06:002011-01-04T15:05:23.440-06:00

Before I post any more photos, I thought I'd post some floor plans to let you get to know the bungalow. Our house has 3 floors in total. The ground, or first floor, is raised up half a story above grade. There's a full basement, as well as an attic. The latter two floors were somewhat finished by the previous owners. I say somewhat, because it was done so poorly and we'll end up ripping most of

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-50445057139043043092011-01-03T13:12:00.001-06:002011-01-03T13:16:01.964-06:00

I hope your holidays were lovely. Ours went a little something like this: Thanksgiving - hosted in our house! This was the big goal pushing us to work so hard throughout October and November, and we pulled it off! Don built a table from two sheets of drywall secured to sawhorses with metal studs. My mother was in town, and 8 of our close friends brought food and chairs to celebrate with us. The

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-24638039787864631692010-11-22T11:47:00.001-06:002010-11-22T11:48:28.696-06:00

Progress has been happening on the house. Don and I have been working our butts off - busy busy all day at work, then go to the house and work until 10, grab some food on the way to the apartment and sleep. Repeat. And weekends have been marathons to get as much done as possible. Despite some minor surprises, and the regular complications that come with renovating, we're still on schedule.

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-70630033326872517112010-11-05T12:39:00.000-05:002010-11-05T12:39:06.211-05:00

I was ecstatic when I saw this post on Apartment Therapy just now. I think every girl needs a radio to match her purse! Oh Orla!

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-23239270908492097322010-11-03T10:26:00.000-05:002010-11-03T10:26:32.609-05:00

Part of the appeal of buying an old house was the potential to discover charming bits of the past. While our bungalow doesn't have any of the unique built-in elements of most Chicago bungalows, it did come complete with its own bit of charm. Here are some things we have discovered: There's a safe in our basement! It's really old and we don't have the combination and I'm dying to know what's

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-49752163091669108082010-10-22T16:53:00.000-05:002010-10-22T16:53:49.687-05:00

We bought a foreclosure. Which is great for a bargain but not so great for our sanity. Lucky for us, this house was in the best condition of any we saw. There's a minimal amount of work to be done. I thought I'd share the 'before' listing photos with you, to bring you up to speed. First, the exterior:Front, which you saw already. I'm pretty excited about those original planter box brackets

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-768238735664352902010-10-21T14:45:00.000-05:002010-10-21T14:45:58.063-05:00

At noon on Tuesday October 19, 2010, Don and I became the official owners of this classic Chicago bungalow. After nearly giving up on what is quite possibly the most incompetent mortgage bank ever, we are so excited and relieved that the loan process is over! I can elaborate on the ins and outs of that later. But for now, we are celebrating and getting down to business. Demolition has begun!

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-69181308089798663422010-09-07T22:27:00.001-05:002010-09-07T22:32:16.888-05:00

I made our first pot of soup for the season on Sunday evening, and it was so delicious. I miss soup during the hot months and it was certainly too warm this summer for soups! Don and I have a typical formula for making soups from almost any veggie in the fall/winter months. It usually involves squash. We also find it is a great way to stretch your CSA ingredients. For this soup, I whipped up a

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-86863677894219712832010-08-30T13:44:00.000-05:002010-08-30T13:44:58.502-05:00

A little glimpse into my current kitchen - it's small and it's a rental, but it's been pretty sufficient for the last 2.5 years. This photo is in the middle of making Dilly Beans - dill pickled green and wax beans. Sooooo tasty. Don says he likes them better than pickles. Maybe you can see my shorthand recipe on the chalkboard - vinegar, pickling salt, dill seed and weed, mustard seeds, snipped

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-87630135736671288572010-08-13T12:05:00.000-05:002010-08-13T12:05:21.244-05:00

I'll be on the duney, sandy shores of Lake Michigan this weekend. Send me a message in a bottle, should you need me.

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-74178409711042540902010-08-12T14:54:00.000-05:002010-08-12T14:54:11.226-05:00

All I can think about right now (and it's all Don's fault) is a glossy white or grey kitchen, with a bright yellow commercial stove, and awesome red accessories.... (courtesy design*sponge) we've already got the lovely Le Crueset pans in red! now all we need is this fun red ceiling fan... (y Lighting) lucky for me, IKEA makes glorious glossy white and grey cabinets! now if I can just get

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-6221743529810405732010-08-10T15:38:00.001-05:002010-08-10T15:40:27.031-05:00

Recent events and the suggestions of a couple of friends have me thinking about a new brand/topic/direction for this blog (or a new one linked to this). As you may have noticed, I write about whatever strikes me - sustainability, clothing, baking, the city, grievances, poking fun at tourists, etc. But I feel like a specific direction would make my blogging better and more interesting. I've been

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-91082266651535459572010-08-10T11:09:00.000-05:002010-08-10T11:09:43.036-05:00

Yeah, I know. I've been pretty scarce around here. I've still been baking all the time. And working. And doing all the household chores because Don had a deadline that kept him at work 7 days a week for 3 weeks. Oh, and I put together 2 different bids for houses. So I've been a little busy. ARE studying has been postponed until Don's project is done in October. I'm hoping to get you some new

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-43070111114787074232010-06-21T15:00:00.000-05:002010-06-21T15:00:23.295-05:00

All I want is to traipse around the city this summer in a cool and comfy romper. But I can't. Because they look 100% stupid on me. Surely I am exaggerating? I assure you I am not. Long torso (like one that requires a long torso sized one-piece swimsuit) plus short legs plus curves equals frumpy looking in a romper. And I have a strict anti-frump policy. Unless I find one with an empire waist,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-31874777461643061642010-05-26T08:09:00.000-05:002010-05-26T08:09:32.748-05:00

Please excuse the crappy lighting in my office - but I DID take this with my phone (5mp!) That's right - cookie dough + cupcakes. I make all the birthday treats for my office. Each of my coworkers gives me a list of things they love and hate in a birthday dessert, and I surprise them. May saw 3 birthdays in our office - carrot cake for the first, Mexican chocolate ice cream with homemade graham

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-65798635063359348532010-05-12T08:04:00.001-05:002010-05-12T08:09:03.704-05:00

Underwhelmed. That's how my clafoutis left me feeling. Despite its composition full of things I love - strawberries, crepe-like batter - it just didn't have much to it. Now, I've never made or eaten a clafoutis, so it's quite possible that I did something incorrectly. Maybe it was underbaked? Maybe I let my batter sit in the food processor too long while I ate dinner? Maybe I was expecting

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-19806817528580769392010-05-12T08:01:00.001-05:002010-05-12T08:01:33.949-05:00

Butter and I are the best of friends. Thus, you can imagine why I like croissants oh so much. Flakey. Buttery. Yes please. Although a bit intimidating at first, I was really excited that The Maiden Metallurgist chose this recipe. I also acquired two new pastry tools, which made this endeavor extra exciting (I love accessories) - a marble pastry board and a new rolling pin. The fabulous Don

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-70225805162399760602010-05-12T07:54:00.000-05:002010-05-12T07:54:18.653-05:00

I love lemon desserts. Of all kinds. 2 years ago, when I went to visit the Lovely Lady Baker, I was on a mission to try something tasty from the legendary Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. I chose the lemon tart. I loved the lemon tart. So you can imagine my thrill when this recipe was posted. You might also be able to imagine my thrill when I realized that I now live some place where one could

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-43747950098680764162010-04-23T14:40:00.001-05:002010-04-23T14:41:28.664-05:00

I was talking to Don about yesterday's post, and I realized I should have prefaced it with this: We've done a lot to green our lives, but most of it has financial savings as well as environmental benefits. Not having a car = cheap. Using less power = cheaper electric bills. Subscribing to a CSA = less grocery store shopping = less impulse purchases & less wasted food (plus I really hate going to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-22282886288622891422010-04-22T13:57:00.001-05:002010-04-22T13:58:13.872-05:00

Today is the 40th Earth Day. Maybe you've heard something about it. Well what am I doing to observe the preservation of our planet today? Same things I do every day. Don and I have spent the last 4 years working on greening our lives. Clearly selling our car was one of the biggest decisions we made in this category. Besides recycling all we can (if you're not doing this even a little, you have no

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-3985222786905673652010-04-20T15:04:00.001-05:002010-04-20T15:10:13.378-05:00

I've been working on a post about my wedding. It's taken me a long time to put the post together. Not because I didn't want to share, or because I'm totally over the wedding thing, or even because there's so much content, but it's taken me a while to really be able to externalize the whole planning and throwing a wedding thing.  It has also taken me a while to decide what I wanted to share about

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-46499733570082557892010-04-12T13:56:00.000-05:002010-04-12T13:56:55.868-05:00

Most cities have a flag, right? Few, if any, are as visually striking as Chicago's. Most Chicagoan's are pretty proud of the flag and its image. I am no exception. I also love dishes (did you know?). Well, the fine folks at Circa Ceramics have combined these two loves in a series of Chicago flag inspired dishware. (Found during a google search after seeing in this Apartment Therapy

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-57010672793518845312010-04-06T13:30:00.000-05:002010-04-06T13:30:17.251-05:00

I have not been sleeping well for the last few nights. Naturally, I am really tired. I even took a sleep aid last night and still managed to have a fitful sleep. I don't get it. Either my subconscious is anxious for something to happen (best friend about to give birth at any second), or I need to settle some chaos. Who knows. I am generally always a busy person - I dont' really like lazing

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-51454987831841056322010-03-25T09:16:00.001-05:002010-03-25T09:30:00.011-05:00

My Dad commented on my last post and suggested that perhaps I need an urban assault vehicle, such as this: Handguns are illegal in Chicago, but I don't know if there's an ordinance against the scooter bazooka...

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-46765400364936665552010-03-23T14:15:00.000-05:002010-03-23T14:15:18.692-05:00

There are 21 shopping days left until my birthday. And I still want a scooter. As per usual, I am offering a helpful shopping list for those of you interested. Like a minty spring cupcake: Like a juicy tomato: Like a blooming violet: All scooter images via powderscooter!!! What can I say - the 60's were a good decade for two-wheeled rides!

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-51607746613574148002010-03-14T23:00:00.001-05:002010-03-15T21:34:51.356-05:00

3 years ago I found this bicycle on Craigslist. It is a 1960's Murray Jetfire, preteen size. I knew a regular adult sized bike would be too big, so it took some dilligent searching to find one that would fit. $65 and a trip for Don to the NW side and that puppy was mine! Needless to say, when we first got her, she was in a bit of bad shape. The rims were crooked, her chrome had started to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-83161039938106882772010-03-04T14:59:00.003-06:002010-03-04T15:13:13.121-06:00

This New York Times article really got me thinking - Just how far can you take your $8000 homebuyer's tax credit? Seems like a really good design challenge! Here's an 'after' photo from the article, which cronicles a first-time condo buyer's journey from mish-mashed college furniture to a real grown-up space: (photo courtesy of Emily Weinstein/The New York Times) A great example of smart shopping

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-63562481749348191682010-03-03T11:30:00.001-06:002010-03-03T11:34:33.196-06:00

Dear Sweet Tourist, Don't go to Navy Pier. I know, I know - those brochures and commercials for Navy Pier - they make it look so fun and interesting. There's a giant Ferris Wheel! And other vomit inducing rides! And they have McDonalds! And Starbucks! And Bubba Gump Shrimp! DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! Here's the facts - Navy Pier is Chicago's best tourist trap. You want to be a generic tourist

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-40792079631140820502010-02-25T16:36:00.000-06:002010-02-25T16:36:46.079-06:00

My trip over to the doctor today (right by the Magnificent Mile) inspired me to start a new series on the blog, called 'Dear Sweet Tourist' wherein I will address the common tourist to Chicago and point out some dos and don'ts. Don and I are fairly experienced travelers and urban dwellers, and I feel there are just some things you need to know about visiting a wonderful and large city like

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-83976456173950133042010-02-24T11:54:00.001-06:002010-02-24T11:58:58.577-06:00

I haven't quite met the daily goal for February. Oh well - I feel I've gotten in a good amount of posts, as compared to my normal frequency. I haven't felt fantastic recently, so the posting has subsided a bit. So in the spirit of feeling yucky, here's a list of things I think are yucky: unmanaged body hair - especially hairy moles, ear hair, back/neck hair, and crazy eyebrows spitting in public/

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-81859960552091435402010-02-19T16:23:00.000-06:002010-02-19T16:23:29.815-06:00

I'd like to introduce you to a new friend of mine. Her name is Amy. Amy makes the most amazing organic and not-full-of extra junk soups! Don and I have been fan's of the Chunky Tomato Bisque for quite some time. Upon a recent trip to the grocery store, I discovered that Amy also makes that staple of Midwestern convenience cooking - condensed Cream of Mushroom soup! Now I can finally make

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-27779452910647002232010-02-19T11:23:00.000-06:002010-02-19T11:23:47.591-06:00

My morning was just made a little more delicious! After my dentist appointment this morning I stopped in to my favorite East Village cafe - Milk & Honey Cafe. When I worked on Division Street, I would go there almost daily. They make almost everything they sell in-house - granola, pastries, sandwiches, soups. They even roast their own roast beef. And they sell Intelligentsia coffee, which is

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-73837754923715284192010-02-17T22:59:00.001-06:002010-02-17T23:00:17.942-06:00

What if I owned this house: [Raised Ranch! 5520 S. Kostner Ave, Chicago] I think I'd hang this light fixture: [the Astron Tri from Rejuvenation]

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-42895055085932100082010-02-16T13:02:00.001-06:002010-02-17T23:03:54.460-06:00

more ladies like this: (Christina Hendricks - Mad Men's Joan with director Matthew Weiner - image via Huffington Post) fewer floozies like this: (ug - i think we all know who this is... image from People.com) My favorite singer of all time said these wise words:"Never compromise yourself - you're all you've got."-Janis Joplin

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-13568165510014175392010-02-14T13:02:00.001-06:002010-02-14T13:04:11.172-06:00

Thanks to {frolic!} I've been lusting over this lovely spring outfit from Harvey Faircloth for the last few days:  I'd also love any of these 3 for a warm summer day: I'd better get to sewin' (or money making...)! Is it Spring yet? {all images courtesy harveyfaircloth.com}

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-56930998333550905422010-02-12T14:52:00.000-06:002010-02-12T14:52:34.076-06:00

I am way behind in my Easy Bake cOven posts. I even made the stuff. Hence the posting every day until the end of the month. Anyway, on with the baking. December presented 2 of my favorite things - cheesy savory bread and sugar cookies. I made the flatbread in December for a tasty weekend brunch. I made the sugar cookies in January in support of 2 college basketball games - Syracuse vs. DePaul

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-5108510141608471662010-02-11T14:08:00.001-06:002010-02-11T22:19:37.989-06:00

I was really busy in November, so I cheated and used my previous 2 months of perpetual pie baking as an excuse to opt out. So I didn’t make the EBcO recipes. But I will instead share this year’s pie contest progress with you. For the past 2 years, I competed in the Bucktown Apple Pie Contest, as you long-time readers may recall. The first year I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-10343341394634414182010-02-10T12:46:00.000-06:002010-02-10T12:46:29.859-06:00

Can I post for each day left in February? I'm going to try!

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-40994457440744715172010-02-10T12:42:00.000-06:002010-02-10T12:42:58.962-06:00

Easy Bake cOven's October recipe - I really love a good, spiced, old-fashioned cookie. Think of a cookie your grandmother would like and I probably do too. Linzer cookies, raspberry streusel bars, pecan sandies, gingerbread, buttered rum meltaways, shortbread...I love them all. Obviously I was excited about October’s recipe for molasses cookies. I was not disappointed – this is a really tasty

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-10780007362461353752010-02-09T21:02:00.001-06:002010-02-09T21:07:59.489-06:00

Have you ever had a no-bake cookie? Chances are, unless you're from Kansas, you probably haven't. In that case - I feel bad for you. No-bake cookies, sometimes called chocolate no-bakes or chocolate peanut butter no-bakes, are delicious treats. The process resembles candy making more than cookie making. I grew up making and eating these cookies. They have a sweet chocolatey flavor, with oatmeal

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-36632592551289555432010-01-15T11:07:00.003-06:002010-01-15T11:35:30.765-06:00

I forgot to tell you about the other HUGE thing I did in 2009. Here goes:Although I consider my self quite the catch (I am the Pie Queen, after all), I've turned a few fellas off when I admitted that I had never seen, nor had the desire to see a single Star Wars movie. Not a one. Not even a clip. (Honestly, if you are willing to pass up pie in the name of Star Wars, there is something wrong with

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-60054720810207433002010-01-05T10:08:00.008-06:002010-01-05T11:29:37.761-06:00

That's right - I'm saying twenty-ten instead of two-thousand ten. I mean, we said nineteen ninety nine, right? I'm also pretending that the last time I updated wasn't 2 months ago....Eeenyway - a little recap of 2009, in a few parts.Part 1_New in Oh-NineStuff I did:Ate at the Publican! (see below)Pretended to have my own floral business (for the wedding, wholesale = awesome)Followed a work-out

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-30290307045391640502009-11-12T12:31:00.004-06:002009-11-12T12:43:27.685-06:00

Someone please throw a party where I can wear this:(via VintageBox1947 on Etsy!)I think it would be amazing and magical with some crazy curly hair!However, I will be wearing this amazing plume to a wedding in Mexico over Thanksgiving:(via stylesmith on Etsy)Along with this hotness: (never fear - the dress is black and simple!)

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-36174946086495762302009-09-30T11:37:00.006-05:002009-09-30T11:54:44.575-05:00

Whoa - didn't realize it was so long since my last post! Yeah - I've been busy - pie contests, sewing gigs, wedding bbq's in Kansas, as well as baking, like, all the time. Well some of it is baking, and some of it is keeping up with our CSA by making soups, canning, ice creams, etc.Anyway - just wanted to take a quick sec to tell you about this other blog I'm contributing to, the Easy Bake cOven

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-57200516779696878142009-08-29T14:30:00.013-05:002009-08-29T15:44:21.382-05:00

The church tower in the center of Ars en ReOur main destination in France was a small island in the Atlantic called the Ile de Re. A scenic train ride took us from Normandy to the Bordeaux region, where we caught a taxi to take us to Ars en Re, the village on the island where we would be staying. You may recall this as being the 'free spa' portion of our honeymoon. Something like that. The

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-87744416472732857842009-08-29T14:07:00.006-05:002009-08-29T15:21:18.293-05:00

When Don and I were in architecture school, our architectural history professor told us about the 8th Wonder of the Western World. Mont St. Michel, a cathedral on a mountain rising out of the ocean on the Normandy coast of France. At certain times of high tide, it is an island, at low tide, you can walk right up to the village. A true geographical and architectural wonder. How cool, we thought,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-34052159418676428532009-07-16T19:38:00.013-05:002009-08-04T19:59:48.594-05:00

Our next stop was Paris. Sweet, lovely, amazing Paris. First, I must plug a product - we never visit any city without an eat.shop guide book (unless it doesn't exist for that city). These books are full of local restaurants and shops - no chains, no tourist traps. Just good honest local business. When I grow up I might want to write for them. We booked a room at the Hotel Verneuil, per suggestion

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-13392232323504096112009-07-08T21:11:00.005-05:002009-07-14T22:58:32.694-05:00

Before I blog about the wedding (which was, by the way, the most magical and delightful event I have ever attended!), I'm going to tell you about our great trip to that continent across the sea, Europe.We started with two days in Dublin, Ireland. Aer Lingus offers cheap, cheap flights from Chicago to Dublin, so we thought we'd take advantage of the opportunity to see a wee bit o' Ireland. (Yes I

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-8823737541507913892009-07-07T23:12:00.003-05:002009-07-07T23:25:33.886-05:00

We're totally married.What do you think...Are we Frieda and Diego?Or American Gothic?More wedding photos and stories soon. And tales of a European honeymoon. Stay tuned...

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-67540140543491787992009-05-15T18:48:00.005-05:002009-05-15T19:11:18.615-05:00

Many of you have asked. Few of you have seen. This is where we live.[our office niche - almost never this clean][our potracks, without which we could not live!][dining table + our beloved tulip chairs, kitchen + tons of storage][yes, that is the flame-throwing gas oven]A few things have changed since I took these pictures almost a year ago. But the gist of it is - we rent the rear, first floor

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-73748749418547617482009-03-26T21:49:00.006-05:002009-03-26T22:02:02.038-05:00

Seriously. We had to drink all this wine and these two beers.I don't think I've mentioned our super sweet living arrangement yet. I've got a few posts planned for that. But, you should know that our landlord is a wholesale wine distributor. Our lease includes free wine. We pretty much have the greatest apartment in Chicago. So naturally, we're buying our wedding booze from our landlord. And he

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-67220531603141082482009-03-22T12:42:00.003-05:002009-03-23T07:42:59.336-05:00

I decided on a wedded name. The whole decision making process for that sort of weirded me out, too. You see, my office is ordering business cards soon. As I just started there around Thanksgiving, I do not yet have printed business cards. Nor did I ever have 'official' printed business cards at my previous gig. So I was naturally pretty excited about this. Then I realized that these would last

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-73378789680178504562009-02-18T19:28:00.004-06:002009-02-18T19:43:15.311-06:00

Hopefully in 3 months I'll be able to pronounce that.* wtf, you say? Welp, we're going to France for our honeymoon! We had high hopes for a beer tour of Belgium, as you may recall. And then the economy got really crappy. And I almost didn't have a job. Plane tickets to Europe in June were twice what I had budgeted. So we were going to settle for a honeymoon in North America (probably NYC and

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-68690971750699054102009-02-05T20:49:00.005-06:002009-02-05T21:25:33.357-06:00

As I mentioned quite some time ago, we decided to live without a TV connected to any outside signal. How have we been getting along without this modern convenience? Famously.And now that our DVD player died, we don't even have a TV displayed at all. It is lovely. We desire to live this way forever now, without a 'boob tube' cluttering up our living room or our lives. [see - nothing but photos,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-71208726580113043052009-01-03T11:55:00.002-06:002009-01-03T12:43:20.606-06:00

I thought I'd give a little recap of 2008. What a year.January - We got engaged! So far 2008 is good.February - Don takes a trip to the ER with the flu.March - Laine comes to Chicago! Wedding dress browsing. This is way fun. My mom comes to visit.April - We take our first real vacation to San Francisco. My mom, Grandma, and Aunt Carmem come to visit for my 25th birthday. May - We decide where to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-81054717644150418512008-12-11T19:18:00.004-06:002008-12-11T19:36:46.744-06:00

The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, and Radiohead. Blech.*Starbucks. evil. support local business - drink local coffee.recession. spend some damn money. stop trading, silly traders.strapless wedding dresses with poufy skirts. Tanning. we all have different skin tones for a reason.K-State athletics. embarrassing.  Store-bought sweets. gross. [that's store, not bakery]big cars. cars in general. i love

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-91344840867112860752008-11-30T12:46:00.005-06:002008-12-01T18:39:17.354-06:00

Well, I have been tagged by my good friend and fellow blogger, Eric, of intern[life] to write 6 random things about myself. I'm pretty random, so this seemed an appropriate task.The rules are:-link to the person who tagged you.-post the rules on your blog.-write 6 random things about yourself.-tag 6 people at the end of your post.-let each person know he/she has been tagged.-let the tagger know

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-20634974996079654862008-11-22T22:40:00.004-06:002008-11-22T22:51:44.118-06:00

IF I were to be so traditional as to put two tiny peoples on top of a wedding confection, I would order these freaking adorable little wooden peoples - custom painted to look like Don and myself from GooseGrease on Etsy. [Or I'd save $35 bucks and paint some myself...] Don was not so much filled with child-like delight when I showed them to him... Clearly something is wrong with him. Or he's not

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-29862518275758534572008-11-10T15:42:00.009-06:002008-11-10T20:28:30.703-06:00

I've been avoiding politics on this blog. So, in lieu of politics, I give you a piece of American history (ok, slightly political). I was in Grant Park to witness one of the most significant moments in American history. I was in Grant Park the night America elected its first African-American President. I was in Grant Park the night MY vote actually helped to elect a president. I was in Grant

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-89933254924414412992008-10-25T11:50:00.007-05:002008-10-25T12:41:42.418-05:00

(although not prize winning pie crust)So, for the second year, I entered the Bucktown Apple Pie Baking Contest. If you'll recall, I did quite well last year. This year did not go as well due to a snafu with our flame-throwing gas oven. But, this year's pie, titled "Butter Love" was deemed tasty by the public. My goal, besides winning, was to greatly improve on my crust technique. I am happy to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-47579619559942241232008-09-30T18:50:00.006-05:002008-09-30T19:06:28.864-05:00

Now that Don and the bike are fully recovered, I thought I would post about said bike. Don inherited this 70's-ish KHS bike from my Dad when we moved to Chicago. First, he bought new wheels, including a flip-flop back hub (for single or fixed gear option). He stripped off the 12 gears so he was left with a single-gear bike. He was riding it a lot after this conversion. Then he crashed. Which led

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-6882575423883108492008-09-15T16:57:00.002-05:002008-09-30T19:15:18.084-05:00

i always enter free give aways on a number of blogs that i frequent. and i never win them. until today! i just found out that i won this.

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-84564704712346966372008-09-07T22:37:00.003-05:002008-09-07T22:44:33.402-05:00

...the brick really does like an arch*the southwest corner of division and damen streets, chicago [click to enlarge and fully experience the splendor that is chicago's victorian brick-work]And if you think of Brick, for instance,and you say to Brick,"What do you want Brick?"And Brick says to you"I like an Arch."And if you say to Brick"Look, arches are expensive,and I can use a concrete lentil

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-83730065773047244142008-08-27T21:43:00.004-05:002008-08-27T22:02:32.025-05:00

Mindy was the only one to guess correctly. Other people emailed or called me instead of posting (problems with instructions, I see). We're drinking beer at our wedding, fools! Our honeymoon is a beer tour of Belgium - no chamy for us! And we're not so traditional. For example, we won't have a stacked wedding cake. They're expensive and not so awesome. We're certainly not interlocking arms while

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-68387929104038252762008-08-22T12:17:00.004-05:002008-08-22T12:38:25.635-05:00

I was thinking about starting a wedding blog, but realized I'm too busy for two blogs. So you, dear, loyal readers, will just have to endure what I'm going to call 'hitchin posts'. Here's number one:Call me a little eager, but I've been trying to get as much wedding stuff out of the way as quickly as possible so I'm not all stressed out at the end. Wouldn't that be a lovely way to start a

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-83611400100859943612008-08-05T17:38:00.006-05:002008-08-22T12:25:37.894-05:00

I'm so over wanting some hipster glasses. My most recent object of lust is the scooter! Ideally, I'd like to snag a vintage Vespa, ala Roman Holiday style (perhaps in pearly white with robin's egg blue accents). As those are a little pricey, my next choice would be the Stella scooter from the Genuine Scooter Company:They make them right here in Chicago!Super cute and super fuel efficient!!!!

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-34885000169111374952008-07-30T14:47:00.003-05:002008-08-22T12:25:37.894-05:00

A belated birthday treat to myself - I finally spent the rest of my birthday money on the Orla Kiely bag and wallet above. They arrived today. Few things are as exciting as a new purse. Especially a new purse with many organization compartments and a matching wallet!I've been carrying the same grey Chilewich bag since my last year of college. While it has been durable and provided ample storage,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-69242964931149993762008-07-05T21:35:00.014-05:002008-09-30T19:16:29.796-05:00

I didn't get my Dad a card or a present for Father's Day this year. I didn't even call him. But that is because I went for a 3 day convertible drive with him, starting in Chicago on Father's Day. We used to go on father-daughter convertible drives all the time when I was in junior high and high school, in my first car, Alfie, a 1983 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce. So when he asked me if I wanted to go,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-29466283967497193032008-07-01T13:14:00.003-05:002008-09-30T19:10:27.898-05:00

this is a primary reason why i have some seriously buff calves:this photo, my friends, was taken at the bottom of the stairs that lead to my office. we are on the third floor. every time i come to work, i climb these stairs. everytime we get a package, i climb these stairs. everytime the door buzzer doesn't work and i have to run down the stairs to let someone in, i climb back up these

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-68350239556610654002008-06-14T18:08:00.002-05:002008-08-22T12:26:01.854-05:00

Life is complete - well it is for Don, anyway. Now that we have our very own patio space, he could finally get a grill of his own. And being from KC and a Semple, where BBQ is a religion, it had to be charcoal. So we Zipcarred over to the Home Depot the week we moved in and got him a Weber One Touch Gold. And some charcoal and a chimney and lighter fluid and woodchips... But what about bbq tools,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-14398467145255458012008-06-02T22:46:00.002-05:002008-08-22T12:26:01.854-05:00

so there really was a plan to make a glorious new post tonight - but life had other plans. i was busy taking care of mr. emergency [don went to the ER this morning for the second time this year - for a broken collar bone!] and making ricotta gnocchi from scratch tonight. it was delicious and i'm tired. so you'll just have to wait to hear all about his fabulous new weber grill.

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-27244458091073584632008-05-29T10:08:00.004-05:002008-09-30T19:10:04.196-05:00

I'm not gonna lie - I've been a major slacker about blogging, but also about blogging 'the right way'. I surmise that only a handful (make that a tiny handful) of people ocassionally peruse this blog. That fact alone leaves little incentive to take the time to craft a great post, as my friend Eric always does. But, in our recent move we have decided to conduct a social experiment on ourselves and

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-86870708362770386462008-05-05T15:50:00.002-05:002008-09-30T19:10:04.197-05:00

April was a busy month. May doesn't look to be much quieter. We had the loveliest of times in San Francisco. The Townsends were excellent hosts and fed us well! I bought material for my wedding dress, bought some clothes, saw lots of art and architecture, and ate lots of delicious food. And I did have a French macaron - thanks to Tanner. It was nice to spend some time in a place that was green

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-53683357359953175642008-04-18T13:06:00.002-05:002008-09-30T19:10:04.197-05:00

i think i've made it pretty obvious on here before how much i like to eat good food. and even kind of good food. tonight don and i are going to see the alvin ailey dance company (life-long wish) at auditorium theatre. to make the ocassion extra special, we've decided to spend too much money on food. so what do i do today - i go to the restaurants website and look at their menu. and i realized

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-86829943910672379722008-04-02T15:37:00.003-05:002008-04-02T16:30:07.674-05:00

Parisian macaron cookies - if you want to be truly authentic, you could find a way to import them from the French pastisserie Lauderee. I think there are also some shops in the states that sell them....[perhaps one in San Francisco that I will try this weekend].Luxurious laundry items from the Laundress.A lovely vintage apron.A set of letterpressed stationery or boxed notes.A big fabulous

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-9603587679627621622008-04-01T12:58:00.005-05:002008-09-30T19:09:31.886-05:00

so march is done. contrary to what my first grade teacher taught us, the saying that march comes in like a lion then out like a lamb and vice versa does not apply in chicago. it is still cold. but - march was indeed productive. i found a wedding dress to copy (good thing i'm not buying it - it's an $8000 dress). and no - you can not see it. i've also got a good idea what my lovely bridesmaids

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-44265395296113275102008-03-13T17:45:00.002-05:002008-09-30T19:10:04.197-05:00

You officially have 1 month until my 25th birthday. Plan accordingly.[wish lists available upon request]

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-36653976713020028252008-03-11T21:30:00.003-05:002008-09-30T19:10:04.198-05:00

Thus far, March has been an extremely productive month. Last week, I got a haircut. What makes this haircut so special? Until now, I haven't found a stylist in Chicago that lives up to the high standards that Carrie of Salon 808 in Topeka has set. I would try out a stylist here - hate the haircut, and then wait months until I went back to Topeka to get a real haircut. I tried random salons that

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-27979475489403835822008-02-27T14:18:00.003-06:002008-09-30T19:10:04.198-05:00

My latest purchase has made me realize that even I fall into certain categories. What is it you ask? A BlackBerry.My old phone was on it's last leg and I was eligible for a discount w/contract renewal. I really love being organized - I write everything in my Outlook calendar at work, keep a list of current addresses, etc. So the cute little BlackBerry Pearl was a perfect option for me. And with

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-18831725798524613402008-01-20T19:48:00.000-06:002008-09-30T19:09:31.887-05:00

Yep, I'm finally engaged! And it only took 5.5 years! Here's the story, with a little necessary background:There is a restaurant and lounge at the 95th and 96th floors of the John Hancock Tower, called the Signature Room, here in Chicago, which offers a spectacular view of the city. The first time I went there was my third year of school when we were in Chicago for a school trip. Ever since that

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-86272155415233913672008-01-11T13:02:00.000-06:002008-09-30T19:10:42.569-05:00

I've got a bone to pick, with several people, regarding the current funding crises for the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). For those of you who aren't up to date on Chicagoland transit news, let me bring you up to speed. Last year, the CTA threatened a couple of 'doomsday' scenarios - meaning they would increase fares and cut service due to a lack of state funding. Apparently the CTA has been

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-6530294591462732292007-11-12T15:05:00.000-06:002008-09-30T19:09:04.965-05:00

i have a hard time getting people to take me seriously, as an architect and as a hipster.i believe there is one solution to this problem.i need hipster glasses. i need them for the street cred.don claims this is ridiculous and unfair. first of all, i have perfect vision. minor detail. and then he continues [while wearing his very hip, two-toned danish designed glasses] that i would be taking any

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-87918106289106562362007-11-05T15:38:00.001-06:002008-09-30T19:09:04.965-05:00

a thighmaster [i planned to use it whenever studying in college. note the word 'planned'.]nad's [that all natural hair removal wax. and i was stupid enough to pay for express shipping. lucky for me there was a money-back guarantee, but only for the product.]that belly dance workout tape.several pairs of shoes, namely those brown and black ones from walmart.the sausage feast at that restaurant in

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-17300286924856027542007-10-18T17:22:00.000-05:002008-09-30T19:15:53.809-05:00

so sunday was the big day - the bucktown apple pie contest! don and i took my freshly baked and piping hot apple pies to the holstein park fieldhouse. this darling gem of a building was even properly decorated for such an activity with vintage tablecloths, banners made from vintage fabric, and plenty of fall accoutrements. we carefully placed my pies on a tray and were assigned the number 33. and

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-17375117296420152942007-10-11T14:01:00.001-05:002008-09-30T19:16:29.796-05:00

maybe you notice a pattern. yes, i am guilty of posting my last few blogs from work. i sit at a computer pretty much all day long - so not much of that activity happens at home. i have many thoughts to share with you. there are about 3 or 4 incomplete postings waiting to be finished and posted. one includes my activities this past summer. i'm sure you'll enjoy it once i have taken the time to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-57271131307063831852007-10-01T10:42:00.000-05:002007-10-01T10:48:18.103-05:00

I won't give you my lecture on the poor decision to buy or build an over sized suburban developer box. Instead, I'll direct you to another blog I frequent, calledPrairieMod. This little piece tells you all about how over-consumption is quickly falling out of style. And I have to tell you, an architect is much more affordable than you may think, and may also save you money in the long run. After

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-12060505200450105992007-09-26T17:15:00.000-05:002008-09-30T19:14:23.400-05:00

i sold my car. after 16 months in the city, i am finally rid of this burden.but nicole, how will you live without a car????? STRESS FREE, that's how.before we moved to chicago, we decided to sell don's truck. no one bought it, so we actually had to give it away. officially a 1-car 'household.' then we decided that it would be too expensive to insure don, and that i would be the only driver.

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-37673855608353293412007-07-31T15:56:00.000-05:002008-09-30T19:11:34.366-05:00

Good news. That new clinical strength deodorant from Secret really does work. Follow along as I reveal too much personal information.I have sweaty armpits. I always have. I think I inherited this trait from my father. Anyway, I've always had a hard time finding an anti-perspirant/deodorant that actually prevents persperation. So I decided to give this $8 clinical strength stuff a try. Not only

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10763707.post-40438891762794615212007-06-19T10:20:00.001-05:002008-09-30T19:11:34.367-05:00

ok, ok, i'm a slacker. and i'm not really making a real post right now. just thought i'd check in to let everyone know i am still alive AND am going to the FEIST concert tonight, about which i am very excited. and i've been cooking alot and traversing around the city and driving and flying to see friends get married, etc. more on that later. ciao, for now!

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03021533905165085758noreply@blogger.com2