Summer 2011: Looking Back
Can you believe that we’re already nearing the end of August already? I know we have a little less than two weeks left, but I feel like fall is pushing its way in very quickly.
I’ve enjoyed this summer much more than previous summers, especially when I compare it to last summer. Last summer, I was pretty stressed out and really didn’t get the chance to do much at all. I mostly attribute that to my decision to return to graduate school, worrying about money, figuring out which graduate school I was going to attend, worrying about money and then turning down a great opportunity for…a not so great one.
This summer? I’m still on my summer break, I’m pretty broke (no shopping splurges here) and I’m more unsure than ever about my future. What I can say is that I am happy, a bit more stress-free and taking in as much as possible before Chicago goes into hibernation mode. To share what I’ve been up to this summer, I decided to share some of the pictures I’ve taken through Instagram:
From Top Left: 1. Taking the train into the city. 2. Road trip to Wisconsin in July. 3. An exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art 4. Cool motorcycles in front of a restaurant.
All of these photos are from Chicago’s Dose Market in July. It was my first time there and I just loved visiting some of my favorite Chicago businesses as well as being introduced to new businesses. Definitely a must-go each month.
From Top Left: 1. The crowd from above at Dose Market. 2. A signature cocktail from the guys at Aviary, Grant Achatz’s bar. 3. A yummy gelato cone from Black Dog gelato. 4. I tried to sneak a picture of Grant Achatz and the guys from The Aviary. They were very focused!
From Top Left: 1. I’ve been stalking this Mason Pearson brush for about a month now. 2. Went to see Blonde Redhead in July in the sweltering heat. I didn’t care because the concert was FREE. 3. Summerfest in Milwaukee. As a first timer, we saw Kanye West put on a wonderful show. 4. On my lunch hour, I’d walk over to Nordstrom and look at the pretty clothes. I’ d only look, though.
How has your summer been? Also, if you’re on Instagram, let me know! You can find me here.
Summer Playlist
Call me crazy, but this unbearable heat really makes me miss Chicago’s snowy winters. Don’t get me wrong, I am enjoying the short summer season, but the heat can be a bit too much. In any event, I do love a good summer playlist. A few days ago I signed up for Spotify, whose US launch I have been anxiously awaiting, and began working on an ideal summer playlist.
While I’m still getting used to the service and the features, I am loving the ease and availability of my favorite artists and songs right at my finger tips. I call this my summer playlist, but I love these songs during any season. A good mix of genres and a couple of dance tunes, I tried to keep it as light as possible. If you download, I hope you enjoy!
Track List:
- Paradise Circus–Massive Attack
- Little Bit–Lykke Li
- Why–Donna Regina
- Elephant Woman–Blonde Redhead
- 20 Dollar–M.I.A.
- I Wanna Be Your Lover–Prince
- Dark Fantasy–Kanye West
- Electric Feel–MGMT
- Since I Left You–The Avalanches
- Satin Chic–Goldfrapp
- Karma Police–Rockabye Baby!
- I Don’t Know Why–Stevie Wonder
- Sinnerman–Nina Simone
- How I Got Over–The Roots
- Oh Yeah–Daft Punk
- Summertime–Nina Simone
- Teachers–Daft Punk
- MoneyGrabber–Fitz and the Tantrums
- Breathe Me (Four Tet Remix)–Sia
Download my 2011 Summer Playlist
Still looking for a Spotify invite? I still have three invitations left! Send me an email or comment and let me know if you would like one!
Summertime, And the Livin’ is Easy
Image via We Heart It
I always find dressing during the summer to be difficult. I’m used to layering and I continue to pile layers on top of layers of shirts on, even in 90+ degree weather. Inspiration also fades during the summer as I don’t put as much thought into color schemes and teaming outfits up. Instead, I dress pretty plainly and comfortably, but not very “fashionably”.
I wore this outfit yesterday and it was the first time I’ve worn jeans in about a week. The jeans are from American Eagle Outfitters and I bought them after seeing the shredded version on Vogue.com. I went to the website where they were on sale for $29.99. I snagged them at the store for $24.99 Hey, you can do a lot with an extra $5.00 these days! In this “getting comfortable” phase, I really don’t want to spend much on jeans, so this pair was perfect. Plus, I really like the more relaxed fit to offset the constant skinny jeans.
How is your summer coming along? What’s your summer style currently like?
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