I admit that I am a bit skeptical whenever I hear how amazing a product is, how it works for everyone and that you will never find another alternative. I felt like MAC’s Ruby Woo lipstick was one such product that always popped up whenever I went on my mission to find the perfect red lipstick. It felt like every beauty blog, makeup professional and magazine was raving about this color, but I thought there had to be some comparable alternative, right?

Well, after trying many other brands and variations of red, I started to realize that maybe I should give Ruby Woo a chance. The other reds were always lacking in some way–the finish was too shiny or the red was too vibrant or wasn’t vibrant enough. I just couldn’t find one that worked for me. And so after years of avoiding the MAC store like it was a disease (my dermatologist convinced me that MAC makeup was the cause of all of my skin woes), I bought a tube of Ruby Woo.

Now this has become my favorite lipstick.   I love the richness of the red, the matte finish and how it stays on no matter what.  It was everything that I was looking for. While i don’t wear it everyday, Ruby Woo has definitely become the quintessential “pick me up”.

Do you have a favorite red? Or favorite lip color in general?

While I didn’t shop much for clothing this time around, there was plenty of food and  items from other vendors to peruse.  Chicagoans?  If you haven’t been to this market,  definitely try to make it to the next market.  Visitors, this would be a great way to sample some of Chicago’s great local businesses all under one roof.   I only took a few pictures with my cell phone during my journey as I was mostly concerned with…yep, finding the fried chicken!

1.  Lovely pastries everywhere you turned.  2. The eggnog meringue cookies from Lottie+Doof were delicious.  3. Ran into the ever stylish Nikia of ChiTown Fashionista and her gorgeous Celine bag.

1. Browsing the menu while waiting for the Honey Butter Fried Chicken (can you tell it was my highlight?).  2. I ended up buying a few pastries for some people at Truffle Truffle.

Above is a picture of my newest office shoes that I bought at Violette (hopefully more to share about that store later).   I was hesitant to buy them at first because they’re not your typical office shoes with the studs and all.  However, I went ahead and took the plunge to add a smidgen of excitement to work outfits.

I haven’t really invested in a new office wardrobe in a long time since I’m coming off of a long break and my previous job was pretty casual.   I mostly wear what I have now and make it look a bit more polished while slowly adding in an item here and there.  I’ve been trying to see how I can keep elements from my personal style and incorporate them into the office environment (plus, it saves $$$).  So, on my morning walks to work and during my lunch break, I have been comparing my outfits with the other ladies and came up with a few observations:

• Shift dresses = much easier to throw on and look put together in a matter of minutes.

• Leggings as pants?  I’ve seen that a few times and I always thought that leggings were to be worn with a dress or maybe a long sweater?  Are they legit as pants these days (I’m honestly asking).

• I still haven’t warmed up to the idea of  wearing gym shoes to work and then changing into work shoes once I’m there.  I feel like it’s just easier to wear a comfortable pair of shoes that can work throughout the entire day.  No?

• I’m mourning not being able to wear anything with skulls.  This means no Wendy Brandes skull necklace or Alexander McQueen skull scarf.
• Skinny trousers that hit right above the ankle the best.  Always.

• I like to defer to wearing all black, but I’ve found that it can make me look a bit depressed.  I mean, when the guy at Starbucks keeps asking if you’re okay, geez.   So, I’ve compromised with wearing more gray and brown with a pop of color here and there.

• Menswear-like looks are so easy and work so well for the office.  Blazers+trousers+oxfords is the best combo.

So, what’s your professional style like?  I’m still observing and learning how to put my own twist things over here, but I’d love to hear what everyone else thinks!

Not one person has received a scarf in the four years that I learned how to knit.

I keep this stash in hopes that I’ll pick up the needles and knit a simple scarf, hat or blanket, but I haven’t had the time to sit down and concentrate on a pattern long enough.

So I’ll keep the stash here, in an unimposing place in my room that barely gets a second glance unless I’m cleaning.   I’m hoping that someday I’ll get a jolt to pick up the needles again and fall in love with knitting again.

Do you have any hobbies that you have abandoned?  Or any hobbies that you’ve recently rediscovered?

-Fall leaves

-Listening to the new Feist album and the latest Little Dragon album on my walks to work.

-At-home facials (minus extractions).

- This Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Ipad app.  The app is interactive with sound effects, cool little animations and surprises at almost every page turn.  When you have a limited attention span for leisurely reading,  sometimes you have to inject some fun.

- Sally Hansen Salon Effects.  These should have been invented years ago.

-This gorgeous skirt that I ordered after Chandra at More Modern Modesty pinned it on Pinterest.  Can’t wait for this to arrive!

-Exploring this local popular apothecary in Chicago.  Merz’s has been around for nearly 135  years and if you are a beauty fanatic, you will love this store.  It’s not very big, but it’s packed to the brim with all types of natural beauty, hair and health products.  It’s so crowded that you mainly want to get in and out, but go on a weekday and you can peruse (relatively) uninterrupted.  I usually go for different hair oils like these:

-Reading everything I can from welikewelove magazine.

-Finding new home decor tips and tricks.

What have you been up to lately?

This is the little box that was waiting for me last Friday when I visited my parent’s house (I always have my orders sent to them since they’re home).  I decided to subscribe to Birchbox after a friend convinced me to try it out for a few months.

For those who might not know, Birchbox is a deluxe beauty sample subscription service that sends a box full of samples to your home. Once you subscribe, you fill out a beauty profile about your shopping habits, your likes, skin and  hair type, etc.  Once you are done, you receive a box full of deluxe samples once a month.  The cost?  $10 per month.

Not bad, huh?  I didn’t think so, which is why I decided to join.   So the samples that I received this month?  Although I admit that I wish there were more makeup samples than beauty samples, I’m going to wait until next month’s Birchbox before I form a full opinion.  The samples that I am most excited to try out are the Laura Geller Spackle in Bronze and the Juno Transformative Lipid Serum.

I’m so-so on the  Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In since I’ve had mediocre results with those products, but I’ll definitely give them a try.  The Ahava products are sweet, too.

Are you signed up with Birchbox?  What do you think?  Worth it?

I’m still around.   After a summer of doing almost nothing on a daily basis, this fall has been a whirlwind of non-stop activity. The good news is that I’ve found a new job working full time.  The bad news is that with working full time and attending graduate school full time, so there is less time for updating my blog.   I do plan on updating as much as I can and and I don’t plan on another super long hiatus as I’ve done in the past.  The picture of the Converse represent my casual weekend style since I’m not longer able to wear them on weekdays.  One day soon, I need to write a post about casual work wear, because I have plenty of questions on that subject!

While most of my weekends are now consumed with homework, I don’t really have much time for the extracurricular.  However, I did manage to go to the opening of the infamous Magnolia Bakery here in Chicago.   I know that it is a New York staple and it was featured in an episode of Sex and the City.  So you can imagine how packed the opening day was with long lines and deluge of people walking around with Magnolia Bakery bags.   Overall, I really liked the look and feel of the bakery and while it been open for less than a week, already looks like it fits right in within the Chicago landscape.

As far as the cupcakes?  Well, I’ll just say that there are some other shops in the city that are favorites, but since this is right around the corner from my job, I’m sure I’ll be sneaking in periodically for a sugar fix!

Fall is definitely my favorite season.  I’m anxiously waiting for the colorful leaves to drop, the crisp weather and  a chance to throw on the jacket.   I haven’t done much shopping (unemployed student here), so much of my shopping has been in my own closet.  However, I realized that I bought a lot items last fall that will easily carry over.  My one splurge?  That pair of boots above were a “hey, why not?” present to myself that arrived last week.   I’ve been stalking a pair of Rachel Comey boots for the longest time, but I found these on Topshop and decided to order them.  So there you have my black boots for the season.

Below are some of my other favorite picks for wearing this fall.  These are some other items that are not in my regular “rotation” as of yet, but I can’t wait to add them in.

Wide leg jeans that I bought in New York City this spring.   I didn’t have much of a chance to wear them this summer since Chicago was scorching hot and I still have to get them tailored.

Colored denim on weekends when I want to switch it up from my regular blue or black denim.  I bought these pants a couple of years ago and I love pulling them out in the fall for a pop of color.  I’m hoping to add a pair of cobalt blue jeans to the collection soon.

These two fall jackets will be in constant rotation: my lavender trench and my black moto jacket.   I bought the lavender trench earlier this spring, but I think it’ll translate just as well into the fall.

Colorful print dresses like the one above are a great way for me to mix it up instead of the black dresses that I usually wear on outings.

Any particular pieces that you are looking pull out of your closet this fall?

Image from Chance.com

Lately I have been obsessed with finding the perfect boatneck striped tee for fall. While some may consider the striped boatneck more of a summer staple,  I’ve always felt like striped boatnecks work much better for fall weather.   It may seem that finding a simple, boatneck sweater should be easily found at any department store or mid-priced chain,  but I’ve found that it’s not always the case because you want it to fit just right.

So I’ve been stalking this boatneck longsleeve tee from Chance for the longest time.  Chance is a clothing and lifestyle brand founded by  Julia Leach, the former Creative Director for Kate Spade.   Chance focuses is mainly on the classic “staples” such as the perfect striped tee, the button up shirt and the tote bag.

As you can see, I’ll be waiting for some time to buy this boatneck, if I ever do, because it’s currently sold out.  In the meantime, I’ll keep looking elsewhere, but I have a feeling that this just may be the one.

Another year, another birthday has passed.  Although I tell all of my friends and family that I ‘m no longer big on birthdays (true), I can truly say that I am happy to have made it to see another year and I am looking forward to everything that being 28 will bring.

I feel wiser, stronger and optimistic about my goals.   I’ve decided not to do a “bucket list” as I have in the past, because I’m just comfortable with saying that I will get there when I get there.

While there were no big birthday festivities, I did indulge in a cupcake from my favorite bakery, Molly’s.  Later on that evening, a couple of friends and I visited The Bedford, where I allowed myself to have a glass of wine to top the night off.  Overall, not a bad way to spend a 28th birthday. I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of this year will bring.