west lake market

Posted on June 15, 2018 by tandem in love

i’ll try to make a long story short.

one day, while i was in the kids section at barnes and noble, i ran into a lady with her two boys. we started chatting and definitely clicked. we went on and on about random stuff, exchanged instagram handles {@tandeminlove}, and went on our merry way. we continued to connect on the ‘gram {@chicagomomgoesuburban} and we’ve been avid positive supporters of one another.

michelle is a writer for chicago parent magazine, a photographer, a blogger, and a mom to three boys! she’s multitalented, fun, and most importantly – super sweet. our paths were meant to cross! recently, she invited me to a fashion event at west lake market. it’s kick off was this past sunday. this event happens every second tuesday of the month for the summer and i was excited to go!

i invited olivia to join me; i can always use some girl time. she met me at my car {i scored a parking spot} and we walked in together. at first we had no idea where the entrance was but a kind gentleman showed us the way.

as we were walking inside, we ran right into michelle! i forgot how tiny she is! we chatted a bit and she showed us the way upstairs to the vip event that just ended {we needed to nab our goody bags and pour ourselves some champagne}. we explored the the area. it was so cool! a perfect place for a bridal shower, a baby shower, or any sort of event!

we headed back downstairs to the market and perused the shops. there were so many cute things! it was also kid friendly, they had face painting and mr. dave – a fun guitarist who sang kiddie songs! i was eyeing a resale shop full of chanels and louis, there was a fun handmade, local candle shop, beautiful ceramics, and clothing boutiques! i purchased the cutest romper {long story but i have to say – thanks michelle for forfeiting the piece} from a shop call sanem, and a candle. plus, our goody bag was full of {ahem} good stuff!

once we were done shopping, olivia and i contemplated a few restaurants for brunch but we decided to stay and eat at eden. michelle had let us know that she was going to eden for a small bite and coffee. once inside, we said hello to her again and we met her sister in law kristen!

we nabbed a table and enjoyed a delicious brunch and lots of coffee. it was a wonderful time with my girl olivia. i love our chats…the conversations and connection i have with her makes my heart full. i love my friends. there’s never any judgement, there isn’t a tally list of who does what. it’s about enriching our lives with each other when we can.

cheers to good friends.

[me and olivia]

[champagne and berries]

[isn’t this a cool place?! it can be rented for special events!]

[after the event, we had brunch at eden]

[isn’t she beautiful?]

[avocado eggs benedict and salmon]

xoxo

summer wear

Posted on May 19, 2017 by tandem in love

i went through a long dry spell around clothes the last several years. i never purchased anything for myself. like neverrrrrr. once i was pregnant with olive, that was it. one – i obviously didn’t buy clothes for myself being so pregnant and big. two – as soon as olive was born, my world, my money, my everything revolved around her! so new clothes for me? pshhhhhh! i didn’t bother. plus, the baby weight had me in leggings all day errrrrvyday.

now, after having ellie, i find that i have renewed interest in clothes, style, and expression. i’m really anti the mom look. yeah, y’all know that mom look. the undone hair, the undone face, and work out gear or sweats are your best friends. not i said the cat! i have always been a pretty casual kind of gal. my casual always consisted of make up, tees, jewelry, leggings, and comfort. that was my typical every day look and when i dressed up, i added in extra make up, heels, and dangly earrings. i know most peeps wouldn’t consider that casual but i sure do! i’m a faaaaaaaancy casual mommy.

i am loving the modern preppy look right now but i love all sorts of trends and style. i definitely can’t label myself because one day i will be a bit hipster, one day i will be preppy, and one day i will be trendy. it all depends on my mood and what lies ahead of me for the day. maybe i want to be comfortable and functional or pretty and feminine, and i will select pieces that best fits my persona for the day. sometimes i have a shoe in mind that i will coordinate an outfit around or a statement necklace i want to wear and that will be my focal piece.

i found a cute little shop called tobi and i am loving all the fun clothes they offer! i had fun styling three items from their collections, check it out down below! i felt like these dresses and romper were perfect summer wear that you could dress up, down, or wear alone on those hot summer nights {bonus…these articles of clothing are very inexpensive!}! click on the links below to find out where you can purchase the clothes!

happy shopping!

[shoes: target romper: tobi jacket: H&M]

[shoes: ann taylor dress: tobi jacket: j crew]

[shoes: tori burch dress: tobi earrings: ann taylor hat: gigipip]

xoxo

current obsessie

Posted on July 5, 2014 by tandem in love

i’m totes obsessed with these headbands for olive. they are from em and ko. they are made with a super soft fabric, so easy to adjust, and come in many, many fun prints. i know there is a lot of competition out there when it comes to this style of product. i researched different brands and prices, i ended up really loving these headbands.

[looking chic]

[aren’t these prints so fun?! i love the soft colors]

i’m a fan of dressing miss olive in darling little outfits. it honestly didn’t get fun until she was about four months old. prior to that, it was just sleepers for the little bugger. momma was too tired, the winter was too rough, and there was no energy to dress the little babes up. once she was more active and we were more active {thank you warmer weather!}…it turned into something very fun for me! who doesn’t love dressing a cute baby girl?

i am always looking out for something new and fun to drape little miss olive in! i mean, c’mon, she will only let me do this for so long… 🙂

xoxo

rifle paper obsessed

Posted on March 10, 2014 by tandem in love

i love my iPhone cover. i received this as a gift from my lovely brother, dan. it’s so fabulous. i have been rifle paper obsessed for years now. i can’t get enough of their products. i love their cards, accessories, and all the knick knacks that they offer through their line. so much so, i ordered another phone case just to have. crazy, i know, but i will definitely use it!

having new iPhone cases is an addiction; like having new shoes or buying a new lipstick color! they always say you can never have too many!

[isn’t it so fun and whimsical?! tres chic, non?]

[my back up case ;)]

[my back up, back up case. hehe]

so fun, non?! their products are so whimsical, cute, and darling!

xoxo

he said/she said

Posted on May 7, 2013 by tandem in love

oh em gee!!!

our one year anniversary photos are featured in utterly engaged magazine {page 82}! how exciting!!!!

it’s a feature called he said/she said! the editor of the magazine asked us to answer the questions separately, honestly, and privately to really have some fun around comparing answers! we did, i promise! no cheating on our replies!

it’s so much fun to read our individual answers. i’m quite succinct and hubby charming was very verbose! it makes me smile to read our responses and feel the connection through our words. of course, jen huang did an amazing job capturing our love through the photos we took in central park this past fall. i’m so happy with how they designed the spread and so ecstatic to share our story with the world!

[photos by jen huang]

i hope this happy article helps brighten your day!

enjoy!

xoxo

style love

Posted on March 22, 2013 by tandem in love

miranda kerr.

i just love her. i just love her style. she is one of my favorite models. besides, candice swanepoel…another sassy gal. i have yet to meet miranda. i get to meet a majority of the models but not yet miranda! obviously, they are extremely tall {and tend to wear 5 inch heels, making most of them 6’3″ tall!}, extremely skinny, not busty {hello padding!}, and gorgeous in person {duh!}.

miranda makes my list because she’s got style. she makes it look so effortless to look so fabulous. i love following her approach and getting inspired by her choices. she loves to mix and match. she makes sneakers look chic. she makes mixing patterns look easy for the most pulled together outfit for an afternoon stroll. she’s never over accessorized but is thoughtful in the choices she puts on. she makes herself standout and fashionable by choosing fabrics and patterns to make her accoutrements pop.

i think the best accessory she carries is that cutie pie son of hers! those chubby cheeks of his! so adorbs!

[photos popsugar.com]

doesn’t she always look marvelous?!

xoxo

op

Posted on March 5, 2013 by tandem in love

olivia palermo.

love.her.style.

i die over every look she puts together. so chic. so stylish. so unique. she wears it well.

her look is never conventional or vapid. always stunning and alluring.

don’t hate her because she’s skinny, has the shiniest hair, perfect porcelain skin, and the most delicate facial features. hate her because she effortlessly puts together a flawless outfit time and time again. uptown + downtown chic never looked so good. every outfit is decadent. divine. devastatingly detailed.

{photos popsugar.com}

style is very visceral. just go with it. create, combine, mix, and represent who you are {ask yourself: how do you want to shine today?} whether it’s rocker, preppy, sexy, or feminine. i believe everyone has a signature look that can be played up and altered to really embody your genre.

my staples? color. comfort. accessories. textures. patterns. feminine. polished make-up + hair [curly or straight].

fashion week in the city of lights. love.

sip + spend

Posted on March 1, 2013 by tandem in love

the new anthropologie in lincoln park just opened up!

i was very excited to attend the grand opening ce soir [i mean, who doesn’t just love that store?!]. drinks, appetizers, music, and shopping…a perfect combination! we sipped cocktails {signature drink – moscow mule: vodka, ginger beer, + lime juice!}, ooh’d and ahh’d over the merchandise, did a lot of people watching, and some folks in our group spent some moolah {not me! *wink* to hubby charming}.

my favorites? rifle paper goods, the best candle ever: volcano, every necklace, every set of earrings, ag denim, and pretty much every dress they sell 🙂

soeurs

cheers!

planters

dana, thuy, + leyla

paper flowers

i heart green glass

ombre fringe bag

i see you

love!

art installation (spoons!)

all shopped out!

seriously, i could buy every ceramic piece in that store! all the textiles, paper goods, and accessories {love the accessories!!} are to die for!

such a dreamy place, right? until next time my lovies.

a walk down memory lane

Posted on February 27, 2013 by tandem in love

i want to take you back down memory lane.

we are going to visit our first new year’s together {hold on to your horses!}. i’m taking you back to 2008…whoa! well, really the end of 2008 because this was new year’s eve. i can’t believe that was many a years ago, time sure flies by! it’s amusing to think that we were only together for, barely, a few months in these photos {wow}!

we started out the evening imbibing and noshing at leyla’s {old} condo in river north. a little kookiness, a little goofiness, and a lot of fun. when you’re with this bunch, it gets cray!

the girls…meow!

appetizers

the boys

after some jovial moments with our friends + famille, we went on our merry way to broadway cellars {it’s been ages since we’ve been back and seeing this makes me want to go again!}. we had reservations for two! after many courses, after many wine pairings, and desserts, we were dunzo {i mean, how much can one consume without bursting? i really don’t want to find out!}. we gladly rang in the new year with all the wonderful folks in the restaurant, it was so jubilant! we were happily stuffed, happily in love, and happy it was 2009!

celebrate!

should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne!

for auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne.
we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

decadent details

Posted on February 26, 2013 by tandem in love

hello there again.

so, today i want to show you some of my favorite [i die] hairstyles, make up, and accessories from the oscars! i love glamour, make-up, sparkles, and i love fashion…the oscars encompasses all those wonderful loves, so watching the red carpet pre-show is so splendid! hang on lovies, here comes the eye catching fun details!