I can’t believe it is time to start shopping for the holidays and I wanted to start with the ones that cause the most questions - the men! It only took 3 of the 15 people who told me they have no idea what to get their husbands, brothers, dads, father-in-law, etc. for me to know that this gift guide is the place to start! You’ll find some call outs below based on the relationship and then find all items at the bottom!

YOUR HUSBAND, BOYFRIEND, FIANCÉ, PARTNER

When it comes to our significant others I usually like to purchase the things they won’t buy for themselves. Kollin is soo the person who never spoils themselves or buys something just because he wants it - enter me! I try and get him some practical gifts for Christmas that he won’t buy himself and then some surprises based on what he has talked about wanting each year.

This is usually something that he needs an upgrade in like the joggers he’s worn in from last year or the duffle he takes to the gym which is actually the travel backpack we bought for Italy… lol. This one can be used for weekend trips, the gym or travel. I also love gifting men gifts that make their life more organized and efficient without changing their routine. He plugs in his apple watch and phone each night to charge, but why not clean up the cords with a nice charging stand? While we’re at it let’s upgrade his watch band and give him more outfit options with multiple bands.

FATHER OR FATHER IN LOVE/LAW

I got a ton of requests for in laws and dads! I love the above rule for older men as well, but when it comes to dads you may not know exactly what to get them on the same level as you would your husband or boyfriend. Here are some common items that every guy could use and that work for most personalities and styles! This watch box was a huge hit last year and can be customized for a personal touch! Upgrading their technology is always a good option too! This Echo Show 5 is such a cool gift that they’ll use all the time! If your father or father-in-law is a fisher, hunter, boater or anything outdoorsy, this Yeti cooler is a winner they’ll be sure to love!

STOCKING STUFFERS

These items are items that are great no matter the man you’re shopping for and are some good price points too! I find it always helps to find items that are things they will use a lot and it does the trick in being a success! A reusable water bottle is a great option for any guy and adding their initial adds a thoughtful touch! A nice pair of gloves is something they’ll need, but never ask for or buy themselves. If the guy you’re shopping for is a golfer, this is a unique gift and something they’ll be sure to show off! Is he into cigars? He’ll love this holder and cutter. A good henley is something he’ll love and you’ll approve of outfit wise! Get it in his favorite color or several for multiple options!

I hope this helped some of you shopping for the men in your life! With so many people to shop for and December quickly approaching, I hope you found some things you were looking for! While they might be tough to shop for, they are worth the challenge. Happy shopping y’all!

Are you a shoes or bag girl? I think in my core I’m a bag girl, but I do love my shoes! I sadly just don’t get to wear a ton of them in Chicago once the weather turns colder. Rain, sleet, snow and dirty Chicago streets don’t equate to pulling out the designer shoes unfortunately. But, I have found that there are some styles I consistently reach for every year for Fall that I get a ton of wear in before the colder temps set in and I’ll tell you why!

SAM EDELMAN LORRAINE BIT LOAFER

I first purchased this shoe in 2017 and have been obsessed ever since. I own them in silver, black, white and am looking to get these soon! They are the perfect shoe to run around in and I wear them most often to work. They are so comfortable and add elegance and polish to any look from ripped jeans and sweater to slacks and a button down if you work in corporate. They come in every color imaginable and different materials from suede, leather and patent leather and crocodile (faux). I’m very true to size in Sam Edelman and go with my normal size of 7 - they do stretch out a bit over time, but this only makes them more comfortable and shouldn’t impact sizing. I also get asked a lot if they are the Gucci pair - such a great dupe!

BLOCK HEEL BROWN BOOTIES

For the last few years I’ve been on the search for a pair of brown block heel booties that didn’t break the bank. Unfortunately, two winters ago I was wearing a pair and running to catch the bus (like really running) and the seam of the bootie completely split open when I fell on some ice (as you can imagine IT WAS A DAY). Since then I hadn’t been able to find a pair that weren’t an investment that I loved. While browsing some sites I came across these. I didn’t want true cognac, the heel height had to be right and they needed to be affordable. Well they came in last week and I love them! They are comfortable (took about two days to break in the stiffness) and I love the added height - and they’re 37% off!

STEVE MADDEN GEORGETTE OVER THE KNEE BOOTS

I’m sure y’all are familiar with this style as they’ve been all the range the last few years. I first ordered a pair that had a taller heel and since I’m somewhat tall and long legged I was just getting stripper vibes every time I wore them, which for me was not the goal. I then discovered the Georgette style from Steve Madden and love them! I have them in black and a taupe / grey color and they are easily one of my most worn shoes in Fall and Winter. Pair with skinny jeans, leggings, a long midi dress, skirt and sweater - the options are endless. These are tight enough to stay up on your leg, comfortable and the colors are great.

PERFECT COMFORTABLE PUMPS

I love wearing heels, but not all heels are created equal. The majority of the amazing ones are very uncomfortable and the comfortable ones aren’t the most exciting usually. When I was working in investment banking, I was wearing heels almost everyday and found my go-to pair that are stylish and comfortable. The Sam Edelman Hazel Pump. They come in a ton of colors, suede or leather, are the perfect heel height and very comfortable! I love the suede as they are a bit more formal and great for Fall and Winter, but I own a nude pair in leather and love them too! They come in a leopard brahma that I will be buying myself!

CASUAL SNEAKERS

In today’s trend world, it seems sneakers are here to stay. I’ve been a more athleisure / Nike girl when it comes to sneakers and I wasn’t loving the Golden Goose dirty sneaker vibe that everyone was into. I couldn’t justify spending THAT much on sneakers that looked they had been in the back of your closet for 10 years… so I opted for some dupes that weren’t as distressed and they did not disappoint! I ordered these from SHEIN to give the trend a try and really like them! I pair mine with jeans and even dresses for a more casual look. I’ve added some other styles below, but if you order from SHEIN I would go up a size!

SNAKE SKIN

Leopard is very in this season and so is snake skin! Really any animal print, but one I am loving with neutrals is snake skin. From booties, to slides to pumps, I look the way it adds some edge to your look that is a bit more understated than leopard. I got these Sam Edelman booties last Christmas and love them! Paired with jeans and even shorts if it’s still warm where you are, they are a low heel and pretty comfortable - they are a thick material so breaking in takes a bit. One of my favorite pairs of shoes were a gift from Kollin and he totally surprised me with - you guessed it - snake skin! They are an older style, but are similar to these!

Mules

Similar to the loafers at the top of the post, the mule loafer style was all the rage when Gucci made them in every color, with fur, and multiple designs. While they won’t transition you into winter, they are an easy, on-the-go style that you can wear throughout the Fall season. I love this pair, but have added some cheaper options below too!

BLACK BOOTIES

Always a classic and always chic, black booties will be a closet staple for years for come. I prefer a black heel for comfort, but love a stiletto black bootie too! My favorite pair are shocker, Sam Edeleman Hilty Pointed Toe Bootie, but I’ve linked some other amazing ones too! Pair these wth a pair of skinny black denim or even leather leggings for a date night and wear more casually with a cute sweater and skirt during the day.

SHOP THE LOOK

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If there is one thing that Kollin and I love - it is date night. And not just like “hey, let’s grab something quick,” but a more get dressed up, make a night of it, romantic date night. We’ve lost sight of doing these during wedding planning, but now that the wedding is over we are full steam ahead on getting date nights back on the calendar! I’ve rounded up some of our favorite places (and why) and some that we are hoping to try soon. They range in price, but I would say the majority you could keep the check relatively low without drinks (that’s where they get you in Chi). As a heads up you’ll see a lot of Italian, New Wave American and some Michelin Star Restaurants, but don’t let the Michelin rating scare you from going - many have several affordable options and the experience is something you’ll never forget!

Riccardo Trattoria

• $$-$$$ - Lincoln Park

• Established in 1943 by a family from Milan, this was our go-to nice Italian restaurant for a long time. We’ve been on date night, brought family in and love the intimate, family-oriented vibe. We love the meatballs and calamari to start, gnocchi and the ravioli di vitella alla massaia (veal and pork filled ravioli tossed with meat sauce, Porcini and a touch of cream).

Eataly

• $-$$$ - River North

• What we love about Eataly is that it is what you make it. If you’re in the mood for a panini and gelato or a full three course meal - you can have either here. Designed as an Italian Market, this date night spot is perfect for roaming around and discovering amazing Italian food, drinks and more. Several sit at the counter type restaurants are inside the market and it is so fun to sit and watch as the food is prepared, learn about different Italian specialties and they often hold wine tastings and cooking classes.

Piccolo Sogno

• $$$ - River West

• Ok, last Italian place! But, this one is so great. We took my mom here for her birthday and it was so good! We started with a bottle of rose to share and then opted for the burrata to start, ravioli, papardelle and Kollin got the Ox tail. I would say if you’re looking for a fancy Italian night-on-the-town date night go here rather than Riccardo’s, but if you want a more quiet, intimate spot opt for Riccardo’s.

Bad Hunter

• $$- West Loop - Vegetarian Options!

• Packed into one of the most amazing restaurant areas in the city - W Randolph Street - this little spot is where a girlfriend and I had dinner one night to catch up. She’s a vegetarian and they had so many things to offer in that category. While I’m not a vegetarian, we usually end up sharing everything anyways and it was so delicious! We ordered: sparkling rose, burrata, butter dumplings (I could eat five plates of these and would go back to just order them), Mezze Maniche Pasta for me (it had panchetta). We loved the atmosphere here and it is perfect location wise to walk around post-dinner for drinks or dessert, especially in Summer.

The Loyalist

• $-$$ - Near West Side

• Part of the dual-restaurant establishment, The Smyth and The Loyalist - the later is a downstairs, casual basement-esque bar/lounge that sits below the same owner’s two-star Michelin restuarant, The Smyth. Kollin and I have yet to try The Smyth, but we frequent the Loyalist and have a somewhat controversial stance on their star of the menu: the cheeseburger. If you ask most people in Chi what the best burger in town is, the majority of them will say Au Cheval - and while they aren’t wrong in it being really really good, Kollin and I love the Loyalist burger even more. We ordered the Foie Gras Eclair, Deviled Eggs, Broiled Oysters and each got the “Loyalist” burger (yes, order your own. You will thank me later). We’ve had their special burger and it was also delicious so if you’re with more than 2 people order both and share, but do not skip out on the original!

Boka

• $$$ - Ranch Triangle - One Michelin Star

• Kollin and I took his brother and girlfriend here for a fancy date night and it did not disappoint! It has been awarded a Michelin star for 7 consecutive years and it isn’t hard to understand why as soon as you walk in. Very luxurious, but whimsical we were seated by a plant wall filled with paintings of what appeared to be aristocrats with animal heads. Big cushioned chairs and moody paint palettes add to the fun and eclectic vibe. We each started with a cocktail (very good!) and the ricotta dumplings (insane). I had the roasted chicken and Kollin ordered the short rib. Both were outstanding. They offer an 8-course tasting menu, but we opted to try that when we came back on our own.

Girl and the Goat

• $$$ - West Loop

• Located in that same amazing restaurant area of W Randolph Street, I’m a little bitter about this one… We had been wanting to go here for a long time, but every time we tried it was booked solid. Kollin and his brother stumbled in one night on a whim without a reservation and sat at the bar. Owned by Stephanie Izard, the first female winner of Top Chef, it is one of Chicago’s most popular restaurants and the food (only Kollin and his brother would know…) meets the hype. I don’t know for sure what they ordered (other than pig face (yes, literally) and “the best dessert we’ve ever had - baba au bourbon”), but the crab rangoon squash blossoms, seared scallops and the goat empanadas look tasty to me!

Cantina Laredo

• $$ - River North

• This is where a previous boss would take us to celebrate a big deal win or simply some team bonding over margs and I’ve loved it every time! From the fresh table-side made quac and the quesadillas and ceviche, this place is an easy, casual but still upscale for date night place! It is also in a great night-life neighborhood if you’re looking to make a night on the town happen post dinner!

Copper Fox

• $-$$ - Streeterville

• When Kollin and I lived in Streeterville this place became our “I don’t feel look cooking… date night!” place. It’s up there with one of my favorite burgers in the city and is located in the Marriott hotel. It was usually pretty quiet and gave that perfect close to home, but still special environment. You have to order the baked Gouda mac and cheese, #16 biscuits, and the Fox burger. Kollin and I usually split all this and ordered drinks for the perfect amount of food.

Blackbird

• $$$ - West Loop - One Michelin Star

• Blackbird was Kollin and I’s first Michelin experience in Chicago and it has become our favorite restaurant. We first went here on our 5 year anniversary and then he surprised me again on my 25th birthday and we went back. Each time has been so memorable. From the amazing food, exceptional service and overall experience, the attention to detail is perfect. The first time we went was for Chicago’s Restaurant Week and we did the pre-fixe menu. (This is a great way to experience some higher priced places in Chicago if you are here in Jan-Feb). The second time we visited we ordered a la carte. While the menu changes often, I have not tasted one thing that I did not LOVE here. If I have any advice on Michelin restaurants, always, always have dessert. The best desserts we’ve ever had have been at Michelin places and are so memorable - here we had a mango Popsicle with spice cake and bourbon ice cream that were out of this world.

Tanta

• $$-$$$ - River North

• One of the first Peruvian places we tried in the city, this was another favorite of my former boss. Filled with awesome cocktails, tons of ceviche and traditional Peruvian dishes, it is simply good food. If you aren’t into spicy I would definitely make that known as some dishes have some heat. We haven’t been back in a while because there is so many new places to try, but it is very good!

Sunda

• $$$ - River North

• This new-Asian spot is great for a unique date-night and the food is so good. I first went here with work peeps and then took Kollin back after I brought home left overs and he devoured them. If you go, try the crispy brussels sprout salad - I’m not a big salad girl and don’t like brussels sprouts and loved it if that tells you anything… we also got the lemon grass lollipops, long rib and a few sushi rolls. Can’t really go wrong here!

Summer House Santa Monica

• $$ - Lincoln Park

• A California oasis in the heart of Lincoln Park, this spot is relaxing, fresh and a great vibe. Go for a glass of rose, the crab cakes, and four cheese tortellini. I’m not into nigiri, but Kollin ordered the spicy tuna and said it was great also! It is in a super cute neighborhood so take a walk around after and see the shops and amazing houses near by.

Donkey Table Stick

• $$- Logan Square

• We went here the day we found out Kollin passed the bar and had the best time. A tiny place in Logan Square that seats maybe 30 people, we went for the bourbon selection, but loved everything we had. We started with a glass of rose for me and a celebratory shot of Pappy Van Winkle for Kollin and the potato latkes. I had the CDK burger for dinner and Kollin had the special which I am completely blanking on, but the scallops were a big contender too!

Cabra

• $$ - West Loop

• Located on the roof of the new Hoxton Hotel, this Peruvian cevicheria is the newest restaurant from Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat above). We came here on a double date with Kollin’s brother and girlfriend and it was so good! We ordered so much, but these are our favorites - start with a cocktail - we recommend Golden Hour or Malambo No. 5 - and then order about 4-6 small plates to share. Here’s what we loved - shrimp ceviche, crab causa, Chicharrón del Puerco, Chicken Thigh Anticucho, and the Picarones for dessert. This place has an amazing view of the city and is so gorgeous at sunset.

Duke of Perth

• $$ - Lakeview

• Kollin was on the hunt for good fish and chips in the city and his PT, who is British, told him about this place and how it was the only place she has found in Chicago that is relatively up to par with English fish and chips. We went one night and it was sooo good. I don’t even eat fish and was asking Kollin for more bites. You also have to order the potato soup. It’s bomb. They have a cute back courtyard with lights and music that is dreamy during summer nights.

Duck Duck Goat

• $$$ - West Loop

• Another Stephanie Izard restaurant, and just as delicious as the others. We came here on a double date and then again with a work event and it was delicious. I encourage you to be adventurous as this place as it has a unique menu. Just try it once! We ordered shrimp toast, wood-fired duck heart, Jiaozi (Beef short rib and bone marrow pot stickers), wood-fired ribs, beef slap noodles, the duck fried rice, and the mango coconut cloud for dessert. Needless to say, we were stuffed and it was delicious.

Roister

• $$$ - West Loop - One Michelin Star

• We first came here for dinner and then again the morning of Kollin’s graduation from law school for brunch. I’ll start with dinner - it was just the two of us and we were seated next to these guys who come to find out were traveling for business. As our food starting coming out they kept saying they regretted what they ordered and kept asking what our dishes were. We started chatting more and strangely enough we ended up pushing the tables together and all sharing our plates. It has been a while since we’ve been so the menu has completely changed over, but everything we ordered was outstanding.

• When we went for brunch we had the foie toast (omg so good - Kollin is allergic to strawberries and didn’t care. He couldn’t stop eating it), the fried-chicken sandwich, the chicken and waffles and ended with the milk and cookies.

  • Side note: this restaurant is owned by the same chef of Alinea, the three-star Michelin rated (the highest accolade and only three star in Chicago) restaurant and is currently ranked #21 best restaurant in the world.

Prime and Provisions

• $$$$ - Loop

• When we first moved to the city, this place was our go to for a fancy steak dinner date night. The traditional steak and seafood restaurant was always delicious and always a special spot since we mostly came here for anniversaries. We both love crab cakes and this our favorite we’ve had in the city - it’s lobster and crab and massive and so good. We followed that with the lobster bisque, and usually split a steak with the mac and cheese, charred sweet corn (you have to get this), and the asparagus. For dessert, we were usually always surprised with their s’mores as a celebratory gift from the restaurant for our anniversary and it is such a cool experience. I won’t spoil it, but order it when you go! They also have a cigar menu if you are into that - which obviously Kollin very much was. There is a lounge you can sit in outside and enjoy.

XOCO

• $-$$ - River North

• A restaurant by Rick Bayless, a very prominent and successful chef in Chi - XOCO is a Mexican marketplace type casual spot that offers street food like great sandwiches, soups and empanadas. Kollin and I mostly came here for lunch dates during the work week and loved how delicious it was, but it didn’t break the bank. I usually ordered the Cubana or chicken tinga tacos and Kollin loves their soups. The churros are also really good!

While everything above are places that Kollin and I (or just one of us with friends) have gone, here are some of the places we want to try next that have rave reviews:

Ada Street

Monteverde

Maple & Ash

Le Colonial

Oriole

Momotaro

Alinea

Proxi

Kuma’s Corner

I could go on forever because there are sooo many places and even though we’ve lived here for four years, we feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface. We would love to hear your recommendations too! Be sure to check out my Chicago Guide for great brunch and other eatery options that I wrote a couple years ago. Thanks so much for reading and let me know of any questions you have if you’re planning a trip to Chi! xx

Thank you to SHEIN for the gifted shorts. It is brands like yours that make The Creative Brief possible. All opinions are my own.

Well y’all, we’re married! The past month or so has been such a whirlwind and complete dream. Our wedding and honeymoon exceeded all of our expectations and I’m happy to share as many details or as little details as y’all would like me to regarding the planning, the day of, honeymoon, etc. I seemed to have great feedback from #TheWeddingEdit thus far and was going to continue if only for the reason to give my amazing team of vendors the credit they so deserve.

If there was one part of the process that I was so excited about, but was surprised how it all went down it was my dress. I had been in a few weddings prior to selecting my dress and witnessed brides going through the dress process so I thought I knew what to expect. I was never really the girl who envisioned her wedding from the time she was a little girl, but I had an idea in my mind of what I wanted. Growing up Catholic, many of visions I had of what I would be wearing included a train and long veil at the minimum, both of which I ended up with, but the path there was interesting.

My mom and I started dress shopping in September 2017, a few months after Kollin and I got engaged. We still hadn’t decided to get married in KY or Chicago yet, but since it was easier for us to travel to KY I started the process there. We went to a store on a Saturday morning and y’all - I hated white, I hated Ivory, I was not feeling the bridal fever. To be completely honest, it was discouraging to not like a lot of what I thought I would. What I learned was that just because it looks beautiful on Pinterest with mega editing and a gorgeous model doesn’t mean it will translate well to #RealLife. I initially envisioned myself in sleeves, lace and something with a touch of glam. As y’all now know, I didn’t go that route.

We ended up leaving that first appointment and I “liked” one of the dresses I tried on, but I also had the new found knowledge that I wasn’t loving bridal white. A few months passed and by that time we had decided that the wedding would be in Kentucky. I kept looking at KY bridal boutiques, but they weren’t carrying the designers I was hoping to try on. I also didn’t want to have a dress that so many other brides were getting (this became a thing when we were looking in Kentucky. Thankfully the sales women were very honest with me about that and let me know that some of the dresses I had on had been purchased 12 times that year already…). That’s when we decided to take the adventure to Chicago.

I made appointments at two bridal salons in Chicago the weekend of Kollin’s graduation from law school (eventful weekend lol) so that his mom and my mom could both attend. The first appointment we went to had some amazing dresses and both moms thought we found THE ONE. It was beautiful and pretty much everything I was looking for at that point, but for some reason I wasn’t as excited as they were. I thought maybe it was the nerves or the pressure of feeling like I needed to have their approval, but something was off. I didn’t feel like myself. I knew on your wedding day you looked probably the most “done up” you probably ever will, but the dress wasn’t making ME feel that way and if there was one thing I wanted to feel like on my wedding day, it’s myself. We headed to the next appointment at Bella Bianca Bridal Couture and started pulling dresses. We went through maybe 5-7 dresses, all couture and all gorgeous, but nothing was “the one.” My sales associate mentioned that the appointment was coming to a close and that we could book another appointment to keep looking another weekend. I felt pretty discouraged as we had made a whole weekend out of it and I didn’t find the one. As I was about to make my way back to the dressing room, another sales associate who had been working reception during my appointment (right next to where I was) and had overheard our conversations said, “I have your dress. I know exactly your dress.” So, obviously I said ok let’s try it on!

He said, “it arrived yesterday and hasn’t been tried on by anyone in Chicago yet.” My ears perked up and I couldn’t wait to see it. I went back to the dressing room and waited for them to bring the dress in. Still packed in it’s shipping garment bag, I was immediately intrigued. My sales associate pulled out the most gorgeous, iridescent, blush gown I have ever seen. Considered a ball gown, I was wondering how I would feel in it as I didn’t care for the other ball gowns I had tried on. I put it on, LOVED it, but no tears. This is the closest I felt to the one, but something was a little off. I walked out to the salon hoping my mom and Kollin’s would love it as much as I did. Their faces weren’t exactly faces of “omg that is your dress!” but they said they liked it. Tired from a long day, the price tag didn’t add to the excitement. In my mind, it was time to go home and call it a day.

My amazing sales associate could tell I loved the dress and was talking up all of the points I had mentioned in the dressing room (y’all she was amazing and so helpful). While we all came around to loving it, my mom had concerns about the U-shaped neckline. It was very unique, but didn’t fit my silhouette or style as much as we thought a V-neck would. With even more time running out of our appointment I said we could come back and try it on again another time. My sales associate wasn’t having it. She transitioned her next appointment to another sales girl and brought up alterations to discuss our options (see what I mean about her being awesome?)

After confirming we could change the neckline, I could tell my mom was coming around. My sales associate had one more trick up her sleeve to seal the deal and y’all it was the kicker. She said, “You have to see this dress in natural light and we have to add a veil.” We moved to the front of the store that had a bunch of windows and she put a veil on me. I definitely looked the part, but still no tears. Where are all these #YesToTheDress tear moments and why wasn’t I having one!? Maybe it wasn’t the one…

She slipped away for a minute and came back with a silk bouquet. I thought “wow such a small detail won’t matter.” Boy was I wrong. I took the bouquet and turned around to face the mirror and completely lost it. Like Kim K ugly cry lost it. It was the one. I envisioned myself marrying Kollin in that dress and then Kollin’s mom lost it when I said that so we all cried and knew we found it.

I ended up choosing a Lazaro gown in the color Sherbert. I went home to get ready for Kollin’s graduation party and wanted to show everyone, even Kollin but he wouldn’t let me of course. The more I looked at pictures and videos the more and more I loved the dress. Since Lazaro makes each dress to order, it would take 6-8 months for the dress to arrive in Chicago. With my neckline alterations, which still had to be approved by Lazaro himself (#NoPressure), it could take even longer. By that time we would only be 6 months prior to the wedding.

March 15th was the expected delivery and it came and went. April also came and went and we learned that the first time that the new bodice was completed Lazaro was unhappy with it so the entire thing had to be made again. Enter stress mode. My dress finally arrived from Italy in May and y’all it was a dream. Still too big and needing alterations, the bodice and my small chested frame weren’t getting a long. Everyone reassured me that it would be fine and that they have to order it larger to take it in and it would fit me perfectly after alterations. I wasn’t feeling super confident, but I put it out of my mind and waited until my alterations appointments in August.

If you are still here, bless you we are almost there!

August came and I could not wait to try my dress on again. I slipped it on and it fit much better, but it was still a lot of dress. We shortened it quite a bit, took the bodice in more, added cups and took the straps up again. At my second fitting, my mom tagged a long to see the major changes as she had only seen pictures at this point and the seamstress started pinning for bustling. With the dress still needing shortening and a lot of tulle to account for, the bustle looked kind of a mess to be totally honest. The seamstress reassured us that it was because the length and sizing were still not done and it would look completely different once finished. My mom wasn’t thrilled and realized that she wouldn’t see the dress again until the wedding. We went to dinner and she contemplated booking another flight up prior to the wedding to make sure it was perfect. I told her I could handle it and to just have faith that Bella Bianca would make it amazing. I came back for my final fitting and it was perfect. The bodice fit like a glove, the skirt was the perfect length and the bustle was significantly smaller than at the last appointment. All I needed to do was to have faith in the amazing dress and seamstresses that Bella Bianca provided and know it would work out.

With two weeks until wedding day, Kollin picked up the dress (LOL) - the Bella Bianca team FaceTimed me to show me the dress to ensure it was the same one and walk me through what they had done and then wrapped it so Kollin would have basically had to rip through the Fort Knox version of garment bags to see it. He didn’t even want to though! We left for Kentucky the following weekend and the dress took up basically the entire back of our car haha.

Once I put it all on again on wedding day everything came into place. I felt so much like myself, but the glittery, ball gown, bridal extravaganza version and am so thankful for the amazing experience I had with the Bella Bianca and Lazaro team. I’ll be sure to share more once our pictures come in, but wanted to share the BTS and process portion of finding the perfect dress!

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Dress | Shoes | Sunglasses

Every day is different, but if you look at the most successful entrepreneurs, life coaches and “at peace” individuals, they usually have one thing locked down: their morning routine. I’ll be the first to admit - I am not a morning person. I’ve tried setting my alarm back, opening the blinds, putting my phone across the room, lots of things, but nothing has really helped me and my need of an hour in the morning to wake up.

The more I researched the more I really tried to put a routine in action and I somewhat got there after college when I started working full-time, but I wanted to take it a step further and really see if it helped. During my research I found the five things below that have helped me get to a more mindful, restful place in the morning. While I don’t do all of these every single morning, when done I always felt ready for the day, so here we go!

The Morning Pages

I briefly talked about The Morning Pages in this blog post, but wanted to dive a little deeper and talk about why I find it so useful. As a creative, it can be difficult to always tap into that creativity when I need to and usually is even harder when trying to force it. I was in a creative rut last year and needed something to push myself out of it. I wasn’t feeling inspired to paint, write or even blog - it all just felt unimportant. I was on one of my favorite blogger’s Instagram Stories and she was talking about her morning routine and how it has really changed her days. One of the components of her very specific routine is called Morning Pages.

Growing up I would go through phases where I loved journaling and then I wouldn’t touch said journal for months. What I liked about the Morning Pages was that there wasn’t a structure. You are actually not supposed to think when doing the exercise. So what is it? Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing that you do first thing in the morning for 6 weeks or as long as needed. You just write what is on your mind and can’t edit. There is no erasing, rewriting, grammar police or judging yourself for what you write down.

There are a few rules to this exercise:

1. Do it every day, no matter what. Even if you write “I have no idea what to write” for the entire 3 pages. Just write.

2. You aren’t allowed to re-read it or share it with anyone. These pages are meant just for you. Don’t hinder your process by looking back at what you wrote about previously. Just keep writing.

When I sat down to do this the first morning it was actually very difficult. I was finding myself holding back, thinking, “I shouldn’t write that”, or “ugh that’s stupid.” But that is the entire point of Morning Pages. If you’re feeling those things or doubting yourself you’re actually supposed to dive deeper and write about why you’re thinking that way. Put. It. All. On. The. Page.

The Morning Pages was created by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, a book designed to help blocked creatives get unblocked that includes morning pages as a daily exercise to the overall project. The book has helped millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery, including me! I’ve linked it below if you want to check it out along with my favorite pens & the best notebook ever.

Taking a Walk

This seems like a really simple idea and no-brainer, but I found it helped me get to a good head space before my day. Kollin and I used to switch off in the mornings taking Wrigley out and as much as I dreaded getting up to do it, once I was outside and thinking about something else, I always felt better (minus the polar vortex week in January- no good thoughts there lol). Taking even a few minutes to step outside, breathe in some fresh air and enjoy the quiet morning was very calming. You could use this time to walk and get coffee, grab the mail, enjoy your breakfast outside or even take your morning pages to an outside destination.

Gratitude Journal

We all go through a period or several periods of life where we complain a lot. Typically, this is when we are teenagers and nothing is going right or we didn’t have enough money to go to the movies with friends that weekend and your parents are ruining your life. Sound familiar? Now that most of us are a bit older, this can happen less often, but when it does it can really impact your mental state.

I remember complaining about something at work or even the thought of having nothing to wear and I read a post online that took common “problems” people complain about like laundry, dirty dishes and sitting in traffic. The post flipped the script on looking at those things differently. For example, having piles of laundry to do means you have places to go to wear them and warm clothes in the winter. Dirty dishes means having food to eat and a full family. Sitting in traffic is usually annoying, but you have somewhere to be and usually a job to report to. These are all things to be grateful for and are easily forgotten in the busyness of life. I started writing down what I was grateful for each day during my Morning Pages and it really put into perspective how blessed I am - even on the days when all I want to do is complain.

Inspiring Podcasts

Podcasts are not anything new to most of the population, but Kollin and I just started really listening to them this year. What I love about them is that you are actively listening. When we watch TV or are on our phone we are usually multi-tasking. I personally find that when I’m listening to a podcast, I have a greater pull to what I’m hearing and get more out of the conversation, especially when the topic is thought-provoking or inspiring. Here are some of my favorite current podcasts:

• Living Fully with Mallory Ervin

  • A fellow Kentucky girl, Mallory grew up the oldest of 23 cousins and went on to become Miss Kentucky, runner up in Miss America and a three time contestant and runner up on The Amazing Race with her father. Living by her mantra of Living Fully, she discusses topics such as relationships, her personal journey with health, addiction, being a mom and finding happiness everyday. Truly positive and refreshing I love listening to this podcast when it comes out at the beginning of the week on Mondays as a great way to start the week.

• The Skinny Confidential: Him & Her Podcast

  • The creator behind the blog and brand, The Skinny Confidential, Lauryn Evarts Bosstick and her husband, Michael Bosstick, team up for this funny and honest podcast revolving around wellness, business, beauty and brands. With guests including Jessica Alba, Chriselle Lim, Whitney Port of The Hills, and other lifestyle based guests, they cover a range of topics in a positive and almost brutally honest way. I’m always surprised on how a surface-level topic always dives deeper and they have really thought-provoking conversations.

• Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

  • As it sounds, this weekly podcast covers a range of topics on things that Jonathan is curious about including immigration, How to Find Your Voice, Why Stress is Toxic, The Difference Between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Obviously a wide variety of things to choose from, these episodes take the topics and break them down to a level that is approachable, but also informative.

Positive Affirmations

This is something I started doing in 2018 and have really seen it change my outlook on things. Along with writing what I was grateful for, I would write about things I wanted to happen or things that I just needed to remind myself. When typing that I can see how our internal system of doubt would label this as a insecurity. Who needs to be reminded or told things about themselves? Shouldn’t you just know or feel it? Well, if you do then props to you, but I’d say 99% of us at least doubt ourselves once a day. Affirmations are positive statements that can help you to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. When you repeat them often, and believe in them, you can start to make positive changes. There is a saying about this that goes, “think it into existence, write it into existence, speak it into existence, work it into existence.” Whatever your method of delivery, give it a try. I personally like thinking and writing, but if you’re the kind that likes to look in the mirror for a daily pep talk from yourself, more power to you!

These are just some of the things I’ve been doing to lead a more positive, mindful lifestyle. The more I’ve grown up the more I’ve realized the importance of our mental health and the way we approach life. There are so many more mindful practices out there and I would love to hear from you about yours or ones you want to try! Leave me a comment below letting me know what you’ve been doing or want to do. Thanks so much for reading!

You can shop my dress and other Shein #BackToSchool looks here! Use code BTS281 for 15% off your order!

Thank you to Shein for sponsoring this post. It’s brands like yours that make The Creative Brief possible. All opinions are my own.

If you were to ask me back in 2015 when I started my The Creative Brief if I would talk about my health and CBD, I’d have probably laughed and said no way, this is a fashion blog! And while it still is, I usually get great responses from my more lifestyle based posts. Varying from relationships to faith to travel, TCB readers tend to love the content outside of the clothes too, which is why I eventually felt comfortable sharing this product with y’all!

So, when I was approached by Trust Brothers, I had a bit of a pause at first. Was this something I was passionate about? Would it make sense to my readers and do I even understand the product? Upon doing more research on CBD and watching a great documentary called Weed The People I was a bit more open to learning more. While the documentary focuses on cannabis too, I wanted to be sure that anything I was promoting did not and would not cause any high or reaction that people associate with cannabis. No judgement here, just personally not my thing! After speaking with their team, learning how their CBD contains no THC and trying it out for myself I learned a lot and have had great benefits from using it too. More on that in a bit, but here is some background on why I wanted to try it.

Ever since I was 13-14 years old I have suffered from migraines. If you have had one, you get it, but if you haven’t I’ll try and explain briefly as to why they are so debilitating. I’m sure many of you reading this have had a headache or two before and maybe a Tylenol or Advil helps and you’re good to go. When I had my first migraine I was scared. It was pain I had never felt before and nothing I took made it any better. The scariest part? It isn’t just pain. Many people can have other symptoms like blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound and even vomiting and nausea. Luckily, I have only had 6-8 really bad ones at that level. To put it into perspective, Chronic Migraine patients get 10-15 a month.

My headaches got to the point where my doctor recommended I see a Neurologist for an action plan. She and I started a plan and she wanted me to really understand what the triggers were for my migraines. I kept a journal of what I ate, when I slept, what medicine I was taking, what life events were going on and turned it over to her after two weeks. We learned the following were triggers for me (this is over the course of 4-5 years of this exercise and where I currently have the most triggers):

• Lack of sleep

• Red Wine

• Dehydration

• High level of stress or anxiety

• Lady time of the month

• Weather (barometric pressure was a HUGE one for me - Google it!)

By narrowing it down to these triggers I could usually pinpoint when I’d have a migraine pop up. This became another issue because then the anxiety of waiting for one or thinking I’d get one would be its own problem. But, as I learned more and got older and also got the daith piercing (not a medical recommendation, but was worth a shot to me and improved my symptoms. Always consult professionals as everyone’s symptoms and treatments are different), I was on a pretty good path. I went from having 2-3 a month to maybe 1 per month.

Things started to get bad again when I was working a ton and not taking care of myself. I was having at least one per week and also having cluster headaches. Basically headaches that lasted 3-4 days and would only shift in pain vs. go away. It was time to re-balance. You can read my post here about what I learned that year and what helped. Once my stress levels were down and I had some time off I was chatting with a friend about how she takes CBD for anxiety. She mentioned it was helping her and she suggested I try it for headaches as that is one of the things that people who take it have found relief in. A couple weeks later Trust Brothers reached out and I said why not! I’ve been testing their CBD oil for about two weeks now as I wanted to give the product some time before recommending it to y’all.

While I did not expect it to take away my migraines or even make them better, I did get some benefits that have helped reduce the triggers of my migraines and therefore I haven’t had many since trying it. By taking the recommended dose twice a day (I do this when I wake up with my chai latte and about an hour before I go to sleep), I started noticing that I was more rested, had less stress and anxiety and was overall more calm. Keep in mind that I’m still working 40+ hours a week and planning our wedding so there were plenty of outside triggers as well.

After two days of taking the CBD I started noticing that I was sleeping better, getting to sleep faster, feeling more rested and calm during the day and my stress trigger was a lot harder to reach. I’m a big night owl and am usually most productive at night and my mind can race before bed. CBD helped me calm down before going to sleep so I was actually getting restful sleep and FYI there is no sense of drowsiness or even any feeling at all. The oil is tasteless and I have not had any other side effects or reactions from taking it. So, while it isn’t a cure or even treatment for migraines, it’s a big help in the migraine process for me.

If you’re interested in trying it for yourself or your pet (Wrigley takes it too!) Trust Brothers was so kind to send over a coupon code where you can get the oil free and just pay the cost of shipping. You can visit here and enter my code CREATIVEBRIEF and your email for a free 250mg CBD oil. As always, I hope y’all know and trust that I would never share or promote something that I did not 100% believe in and use myself. So, if you have any questions please let me know, would love to chat with you! Thanks so much for reading xx

Thank you to Trust Brothers for sponsoring this post. It is brands like yours that make The Creative Brief possible. All opinions are my own.

Happy Thursday y’all! It has been a whirlwind summer getting ready for this wedding! Between meetings, planning and a million emails, we’re only 44 days away! I was so excited to head to my bachelorette party in Palm Coast, FL for some much needed relaxation with girlfriends!

My grandma was so kind to let us use their Florida home for the weekend and everything was booked and ready to go! Last week felt so long waiting for Thursday to arrive and when it finally did, bad news hit. My flight was delayed. A girlfriend who was going down a day earlier had been cancelled the night before and there were more storms headed for Chicago that morning, but so far there was only the hour delay. I woke up my friend Emily and we took off to the airport in what would become a pretty crazy storm. We made it to the airport and back to the gate pretty quickly where we waited for another girlfriend, Chelsea, to join us. She arrived about an hour later and we sat and talked about her recent engagement (yay, congrats Chelsea and Rob!), how much fun this weekend was going to be and you know, girl talk.

It was about 30 minutes before we were supposed to board and our plane still hadn’t arrived. All the sudden I start hearing people groan and complain about their flight being cancelled. I prayed it wasn’t our flight and checked my app. Everything was the same and only still delayed and then we heard someone over the intercom announcing that our flight had been cancelled and we needed to proceed to ticketing. We got to the ticketing counter along with about 300 other people and waited in line to try and get on another flight. After about 15 minutes I suppose the flight agents realized we all had the same problem and jumped on the counter to announce that our flight would not be leaving again until Sunday morning - when I was supposed to be flying home from the bachelorette.

I called my Maid of Honor, Lindsey, and told her the news. She arrived a few hours earlier and was already at the house thinking I’d be there in a couple hours. I told her we’d have to find another airline and I’d let her know. With everyone and their friends, moms, dogs, aunts and grandmas trying to get a flight out there was basically nothing left. I seriously started questioning if I was even going to make it down there that weekend without having to pay a million dollars for a flight. But, we ended up finding a flight that left Friday morning and it appeared to only have 6 seats left on the plane. We booked it to the ticketing counter of that airline and we were met with about 150 more people. I instantly became crushed because I knew if we waited in line then there was a chance that flight would sell out. I tried calling and ordering over the phone but the wait time was just as long.

There was a woman helping direct people in line and she came up asking what flight I was on previously. I explained that we hadn’t been on that airline and needed to book an entirely new trip. She looked confused hearing the sadness in my voice and I jumped on a limb and said, “it’s my bachelorette party and I really don’t want to miss it.” She said,” oh my gosh come with me!” and led us to a kiosk computer where she instantly booked us three seats on the Friday flight. I was a total weirdo and gave her the biggest hug and invited her on the trip. Lol she obviously declined, but we left her some great reviews for her amazing customer service!

So, we headed back to my condo, ordered pizza, drank champs and watched Harry Potter for the rest of the night. Bright and early the next day we headed out and finally made it to Florida. I was welcomed with my girlfriends, champagne, the cutest decorations and so much fun! We hung out in the pool the rest of the afternoon, had some dinner and then went out in St. Augustine that night.

I was so excited to wear some bathing suits I had found for the trip. I’ve really been into one pieces with unique touches recently and loved the Shein one I wore on Friday afternoon. Since i knew I would be wearing white all weekend I wanted something a little different and leopard was the perfect touch of boujee I needed.

We woke up bright and early on Saturday and headed out to Daytona to meet our boat captain for a day on the water. We spent the majority of the day driving around, hanging out on the beach and tubing. The company we used, Blue Diamond Boat Rentals, was so great. They were super professional, had the perfect sized boat and I think had just as much fun as we did!

I opted for another two piece for the boat and paired it with a very extra coverup I found on Amazon and a pair of heart shaped glasses. Lindsey got me a captains hat (my one true wish for the weekend, I didn’t even tell her and she killed it - duh), and I was loving every second of it. Full of sun, music and Whiteclaw, we headed back to the house and got ready for dinner. At dinner, everyone was exhausted from our long day and to be totally honest, I was pretty over going out and drinking so we headed back to the house and had the ultimate girls room night staying up late talking and telling stories. It was the perfect last night.

Some of the girls were heading out pretty early the next morning and I awoke to three of them in my room at 7AM looking very freaked out. I rolled over and said, “what’s going on?!” Lindsey then proceeded to tell me that a frog had found its way into her suitcase and she found it while packing. We then spent the next 30 minutes coming up with a plan to capture it and Emily saved the day getting it with a Solo cup and taking it outside. After #FrogFiasco2019, we all packed up, cleaned up and headed to the airport. My favorite part of the trip? All the girls ended up getting along great and becoming friends. It was so cool to see so many different people from different places hit it off and look forward to seeing each other again in September at the wedding. #BachAndBoujee was a total success minus the few mishaps and I couldn’t be more thankful for the best girlfriends ever.

If you made it this far, bless you. I’ve rounded up some other white bathing suits I was shopping and loving below if you’re a bride, love a crisp white look or just want to appear tanner (total plus of wearing white)! Thank you so much for reading and to all the girls who made #NavaSingleAgain happen, #prune.

Hey ya’ll! It’s been a bit since I’ve done a post on this not so little place I call home and wanted to showcase some of Kollin and I’s favorite summertime activities in the city. Chicago truly comes alive in the Summer and reminds everyone who lives here why they just stuck out 9 months of winter! Now on our 4th summer in the city, we’ve come to really love certain annual events and activities. I’ve rounded up 10 fun things to do in Chicago in the summertime below with a little bit on why we love them!

Millennium Park Summer Film Series

Tuesdays at 6:30PM June - August | Free Admission

Every summer, Millennium Park hosts a film series and releases the schedule in June of what movies will be shown each Tuesday at 6:30PM. While the timing of this is not ideal for tourists, it’s a really fun and unique experience if you’re able to make one! Kollin and I usually go right from work and bring a little picnic to snack on while we’re watching. Hosted in the Pritzker Pavillion that features a huge lawn, big screen and amazing sound system, people bring blankets, chairs and all the food and wine. Movies range from comedies, classics, fan-favorite cult movies and even some horror films. So grab a blanket, some vino and snacks and enjoy! You can view the movie schedule here.

Lollapolooza

August 1 -4 | Grant Park | $$-$$$

Opinions on this event vary as the age of attendees seems to be dropping every year and the lineups have been hit or miss the last couple years. While Kollin and I have never been, people flock to the city for this huge music festival that seems to draw some big names in the industry. You can buy tickets for one day of the four day festival or buy packages for all four. See the lineup and tickets here.

Chicago Air & Water Show

August 18-19 | Free Admission

This weekend brings in one of the most crowded times in Chicago summertime. Millions (yes, literally) of people flood to North Avenue Beach and the lake front to watch the air show of fighter jets, planes, and the Blue Angels fly over the city. My best tip for this weekend? If you have friends in the city with a rooftop or your hotel has one, hang out there rather than the beaches. Some of the best views are from several stories up! If you do head to the beach be sure to get there early to get a spot. See more about the show here.

Spend a Day at the Beach

Beaches in Chicago | Free Admission

Offering 26 miles of shoreline, one of the most unique parts of Chicago is how close the beaches are to the city. Whether you’re looking for more of a party vibe on North Avenue Beach at Castaways Bar and Grill or wanting to take your dog to Montrose Beach, there are many to choose from. We love packing a bag and drinks and heading to one of the beaches for the day. While it definitely gets hot here and you’ll want to take a dip in the lake, be sure to check the temperatures as Lake Michigan takes a while to heat up. It’s the middle of July as I’m writing this and the water is still only about 57 degrees so swim if you’re brave!

We love the beaches that are further north so we can escape the large crowds. Foster Avenue Beach and even some beaches up into Evanston are quieter and to be totally honest, a lot cleaner.

Neighborhood Festivals

Various Locations | Free Admission - $$

Sometimes deciding how to spend your time in the city can be hard. There are so many options to choose from every single weekend here. One of the best parts about Chicago is the many different neighborhoods that make up the city. Each neighborhood has it's own vibe, culture and food scene. To celebrate this there are usually anywhere from 3-15 festivals happening a weekend, if not more. Ranging from Taco & Tequila in Lincoln Park to Roscoe Village Burger Fest, there is something for everyone. The majority are food and drink focused, but also include art festivals, culture festivals and block parties. Find the best festival for you here.

Our Favorites:

• Gold Coast Art Fair (June)

• Clark After Dark (August)

• Taste of Randolph (June)

• Taste of Chicago (July)

• Windy City Smokeout (July)

Head to a Museum

Various Locations | Free Admission - $ - $$

Chicago is full of some of the most amazing museums in the world. From world-renowned art at The Art Institute of Chicago, to getting lost in the huge Field Museum of Natural History, you could spend your entire trip in these buildings. While the city does offer a “City Pass” where you can spend $100 and get access to some great tourist options for the entire weekend, we suggest breaking them up unless you want sore feet and exhaustion to hit pretty quickly. A museum can be a great way to escape the heat and if you’re here on some weekends there could be events at them as well.

Our favorite museums:

• The Art Institute of Chicago: the largest and oldest art museum in the United States houses amazing works by Monet, Pollock, Van Gogh, Manet, Georgia O’Keefe, Grant Wood, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and more.

• The Field Museum: Chicago’s museum of natural history is a big one.I personally wouldn’t recommend trying to see the whole thing in one day unless you’ve got some serious time on your hands. But there are some pretty amazing exhibits there including the largest dinosaur ever found, Ancient Egypt, and a hall of gems.

• The Shedd Aquarium: boasting one of the largest tanks in the US, the aquarium is a really fun spot. With tons of wildlife, a range of shows and animal encounters, this is a great way to spend some time especially with kids. If you happen to be here during the week on a Wednesday, check out Jazzin at The Shedd.

• Museum of Science and Industry: I’ve personally never been here, but Kollin and his brother have visited and loved it! Ranging from engineering, physics, manufacturing and space, this museum dives deeper into the space of innovation and invention. Truly one of the most unique museums, you’ll learn a lot here in an interactive space.

See Hamilton

We were a little late to this train, but if you haven’t already, seeing Hamilton in Chicago is a fun experience. Back in the early 20th century, going to the theater was quite the event and it feels like that in the city too. Hosted in the CIBC Theater downtown, the production is magical, funny, sometimes sad and overall fun. Kollin and I saw it back in May and loved it. We saw a matinee show which was not only cheaper, but let out at the perfect time to grab dinner! Find more and tickets here.

See a Cubs Game at Wrigley Field

Wrigleyville | $-$$$

One of the most Chicago things I’ve experienced (and loved) was eating a Chicago dog in Wrigley Field watching the Cubs play. My family has been Cubs fans since I was little so to see the iconic stadium (the second oldest in the US behind Fenway Park) was really cool. It still features its original structure and architecture that brings some real charm to the stadium. Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, visiting the stadium and surrounding neighborhood of Wrigleyville is great. There are fun bars, restaurants, and a definite party scene at night. Since the Cubs won the World Series, ticket prices have gone way up and go quickly for big games so be sure to try and find tickets well in advance.

Have a rooftop drink(s)

One of my favorite things that Chicago offers is the option to drink beverages several stories up. There are so many rooftop bars, cocktail rooms, eateries and even clubs on rooftops. If you haven’t experienced a Chicago rooftop, to drink or not drink, I highly suggest doing so! Some of the best views I’ve seen are from rooftops and it’s not like any other regular bar on ground level. With a variety of options and several neighborhoods to choose from, you’ll be sure to find something! I’ve rounded up some of our favorites:

• Cindy’s

• LH Rooftop in the LondonHouse Hotel

• Cabra

• The J.. Parker at The Lincoln Hotel

• Apogee

• The Signature Room in the John Hancock Building (96 floors up, FYI)

• Upstairs at The Gwen Hotel

• Z Bar at the Peninsula Hotel

• Streeterville Social in the Loews Hotel

Chicago Architecture Tour

Kollin and I did this the first summer we moved here and loved it. We’ve been on one since and it varied slightly so each tour company is going to be different on what they offer and cover. Our first trip we booked through the Chicago Architecture Association and it focused much more on the history and features of the buildings (which we nerded out on and really enjoyed). The second tour we took a few weeks ago was more pop-culture and random facts related than the true Chicago history, but still really enjoyable! In both cases we saw amazing views, great weather and had a memorable time. I think this also definitely depends on your tour guide and their approach to the tour. Either way, we highly recommend as it’s only 1.5 hours and there are several departure times!

Summertime Chi is the best time to visit this bustling city. The temperature is finally above freezing (lol), there are endless events happening, and the city comes alive with energy. I hope this post was helpful, but as always if you are planning a trip to Chicago and want some more details or ideas I’d love to hear from you! Check out my first Chicago Edit: Part One here for some of our favorite restaurants and activities from 2017 (still great options!).

Have a great week everyone and thank you so much for reading!