Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

I am beyond excited to be home for the next four days to spend with family and friends.  As mentioned before in my previous post, the boy and I created a December bucket list.  During the past couple weeks we were able to cross off even more from the list: Christkindlmarket and putting up the tree/decorating for christmas. 

* Put up the tree/Christmas decorations

* Christmas Shopping

* Ice skating/ look at the Zoo lights

* Christkindlmarket - mulled wine and pretzels

A couple weeks ago we picked up the christmas tree for his apartment.  No need for a real tree for my apartment.  :) My 3-foot artificial tree from when I was little, is the perfect Christmas tree for the amount of space that I have.  So for the boy's tree we decorated it on a budget.  One string of lights and some dollar store ornaments complete with candy canes and tinsel were all we needed.  

The boy's apt before

The boy's tree after

My Apartment

One night after work, the boy and I went to the Daley Plaza to check out the mulled wine at the Christkindlmarket.  He was excited to take a picture with the Christkindle Queen.

The mulled wine was delicious!!!!!  

Christkindlemarket

Now, I am home from Chicago for the holidays! I'm excited to spend Christmas eve and Christmas day relaxing with the family.  SO excited to see the boy on Christmas day... as he opens gifts with my family. 

Happy holidays everyone!

For now, 

Blair...

The Weekend Update: Vintage Christmas

Yesterday my church celebrated Christmas with our Christmas program, but instead of doing a traditional Mary & Joseph Christmas program, we decided to switch things up City Church Style and host a Vintage Christmas.  The stage was decorated with antique furniture, an exposed vintage piano, and each one of the band members/vocalists wore vintage inspired clothing.  Needless to say there were lots of suspenders and plaid shirts. 

For now, 

Blair

The Holiday Train

So in Chicago, every year during the Christmas season, the Chicago Transit Authority organizes a holiday train.  The schedule is online or you can catch it by surprise like I did.  Basically it's a train car that is decorated with holiday themed-everything.  The cars are completely decked out with Christmas lights, Santa and his reindeer, and elves to greet you as you board the train.

The other day, I was so lucky and was leaving work and overheard the CTA attendant tell a mother that the holiday train was the next train into the station. I was SO EXCITED!!!!

Santa!!!

The Weekend Update: Ugly Sweater Style

This past Friday, my friends hosted an ugly sweater party!!! It has become a trend amongst my friends to have an ugly sweater party each year at Christmas.  Every year I go through the same dilemma of trying to find an ugly sweater.  However this year, I decided to just take the initiative to purchase a sweater so that in the years to come I won't have to deal with this ordeal on an annual basis.  :)

I found my sweater on Amazon and only had to pay $30 for it.  I was so excited because I could not only wear it this year to the ugly sweater christmas party, but I could wear it in the years to come.  

The night was perfect with tacky sweaters and white elephant christmas gifts.  I ended up with an H&M gift card which I thought, was not too shabby. 

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Season's Greetings...

Blair

'Tis the Season

Happy Holidays, readers! 

The past couple weeks have been so fun! I have absolutely LOVED living in Chicago over the holiday season with activities such as: the Zoo Lights in Lincoln Park, the Chriskindlmarket in Daley Plaza, riding the Holiday Train, the Mag Mile Tree Lights, and the hustle and bustle on Michigan Avenue.  

For the month of December, the boy and I created our own little bucket list to experience all that Chicago offered.  

* Fireplace bars

* Watch White Christmas

* Put up the tree/Christmas decorations

* Christmas Shopping

* Ice skating/ look at the Zoo lights

* Christkindlmarket - mulled wine and pretzels

Friday evening the boy surprised me with the perfect spot for date night: Scofflaw.  A gin/whiskey fireplace bar located in Logan Square, Scofflaw, has by far, moved to the top of my list of top bars in Chicago.  When we arrived, there was a small line outside and it was a freezing night, while waiting in line, we were given cups of hot chocolate.  Upon entering the bar, we sat down by one of the two fireplaces, on an antique couch and because the clock had just struck midnight we were given fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.  Also, in addition to being great in every other area, everything on the menu is $8.  It was the PERFECT date spot.  

Take Care, 

Love, Blair

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!! 

After two friendsgivings it is finally time to go home for the actual holiday! This year I will be bringing the boy with me to meet the parents.  We are all super excited as this is one of the first (hopefully only) ones that I have had them meet.  We will drive to IN on Wednesday night for a steak dinner with my parents and then he will drive to his parents house for the remainder of the holiday.  It has been a couple of months since I had the pleasure of seeing my parents and close to 6 months since I have seen my brother, so needless to say I am ready for some quality time with the family.   

Happy Holidays!

For now...take care, 

love Blair

Date night

This week, for date night, I chose to wear my black and white leather dress.  I purchased the dress at Forever 21 last year and thought I might get one or two wears out of it.  Little did I know that this dress would become one of my staples for the black and white/leather trend that has emerged this fall.  Paired with a leather jacket I accessorized the dress with black tights, black heeled booties, and black and pink earrings.

My lipstick and makeup choices for this outfit were a smokey eye combined with a magenta pink lipstick.  Straightend-teased hair was the final addition.

The boy and I chose to go to Au Chauval in the West Loop.  Sooo good.  If you ever have the chance to stop by, be sure to get the burger or the duck hash gravy. 

Following dinner we went to a bar in Humbolt Park for an after dinner nightcap.

Needless to say it was a GREAT date.  

For now, 

Blair

Black and White

Well fall is now upon us and one of the many trends I am absolutely loving is the popularity of black and white.  This trend has been just as, if not more, popular than the highlighter/neon trend last year.  I mean, who doesn't own a great black top or a must have pair of white jeans??

I recently took a trip to the big apple and while in NYC, to reminisce my time living there, I went to one of my favorite spots in the city: The windows on 5th Avenue.  I have blogged about these windows before.  They are the display windows at Bergdorf Goodman's and the other high-end designer stores located on 57th & 5th.  I noticed that almost every store had a black and white display.  It was great to see the variety of textures, prints, and styles that were presented amongst each designer.  

Bergdorf Goodman's

Bergdorf Goodman's 

Bergdorf Goodman's

Chanel 

Chanel

These looks are so classic and timeless.  If you are looking to update your wardrobe now is the time to shop!  Black and white are both considered basic colors.  For example: when a clothing company releases a new collection there are fashion colors and basic colors that are produced.  The usual standard that buyers use when buying for a department store is two basic colors and one fashion color per style.  If you have a crew neck t-shirt: the buyer might buy a black, a white, and a red.  The black and white are considered basic and the red would be the fashion color.  

Because black and white are so basic, the fashion is going to be in the details... pay attention to fabric choices; some great options are: leather paired with a knit, ribbed- particularly in pants creating a more slimming look, and lace.  Printed pants are huge right now, as well.  Tribal prints and floral motifs, polka dots, and leather, leather, leather!!!! 

I now leave you with a couple of my favorite pieces for fall:

Black and white by burkholder-blair 

Take care,

love, Blair

Hello again...

So I've noticed that my writing hiatus time frame continues to exceed the previous time span. I think this post is going on 10 months later! Apologies in advance for my next hiatus... unfortunately, when life throws me crazy curve balls I hibernate from writing.

With that said, it's GREAT to be back!

Currently playing: "Anything Could Happen" by Ellie Goulding. That woman knows what she is doing when it comes to music.

Currently reading: Nothing at the moment; Wanting to pick up Malcom Gladwell's newest book: "David and Goliath"

Currently wearing: All FALL trends; bought my first pair of motorcycle boots complete with too many holes for the laces, exposed zippers, and hidden studs!

Currently loving: all things pumpkin; Starbuck's PSL (pumpkin spiced latte), pumpkin pie, pumpkin candles, pumpkin carving (on the October bucket list), etc.

Without exposing all craziness the past 10 months have been like nothing I have ever experienced.  I have overcome trials and seasons that have been harder than anything presented before me, but in the end have become an incredible, stronger, faith-filled woman!!!

For now...

Take care, love Blair

My Life from The Gram

With the Instagram craze I thought I would update the blog with pictures that I have taken recently.  As some of you don't have Instagram (ahem, Mom!) and might not get to see the beauty of my life through filters. :)

The coffee table & media center: This has been a long time coming, but with my birthday money from last year and my Christmas money this year, I was able to go out and purchase a matching coffee table and media center.  Thank you to the papa for the new TV!!! Loving the fact that I can now decorate with the new living room setup. :)

Jeremiah 29:11; "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:7; "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

**Basically, I realized that I am to stay in Chicago a while longer. :) **

Excited to enter a new season (per the post below) and move on into Spring, in the Windy City...

At just the right time, my friend Mindy came to town and placed herself in the Stylemax Trade Show at The Merchandise Mart in January.  I had the fortunate ability to help her out each day.  What an experience? I have worked trade shows before, but to see a friend's passion come to fruition and have the ability to help her to drive sales for her product was something I have NEVER experienced before.  I felt like a proud mother each time we would open the booklet to write an order. Congrats again Mindy!!! 

In addition to my already expensive coffee budget, one of my new friends has gotten me hooked on Intelligentsia coffee.  SMH.... such a good espresso!!!!

Sock buns and glasses have been my style lately.  Loving the uniqueness of my Warby Parkers and any way that I can place my hair on the top of my head...I'm in! :)

Happy reading...

Blair

Seasonal Changes

Photo courtesy of K. Babcock and her pick-me-up pics

Well, based on the date of my last post we can all see that some time has passed.  Let's just say that the past 3-4 months were not my favorite time of the year. However, isn't it amazing in what we learn through each trial? We grow within ourselves.  The hurdles that we have to jump over outline how far we can go until we reach our limits.  They show us that no matter what comes our way we can be strong individuals/women and fight against the storm!

As I was talking to a new friend that has come my way, she started explaining that these hard times are almost like seasons.  She kept referring to her life as, "in this season," "in that season", etc... It really made me start to think...we really do have seasons in our lives.  This was a great way to look at things. It brought more light at the end of my tunnel. 

If you look at the calendar year, there are 4 distinct seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.  As I started to think about the calendar seasons and our own personal seasons, I came to the conclusion that some seasons may be longer than others or shorter than others.  They may be in conjunction with the calendar seasons or they can be set in their own timing.  For myself: October-Jan Wk 2 was it's own season, one in which I am glad is now over. I am currently entering a new season.  I just recently had some major changes with work and my faith and am solely relying on the grace of God to get me through right now.  With that said...

It's so refreshing to know that with the end of one season comes the beginning of another new season.  Allowing us to leave the hardships aside and focus on the greater things that are to come. 

So, if you're starting to feel confused or you are going through a hard time right now... just look at it as another season and, "This too shall pass."  There really is light at the end of the tunnel and in due time... things will get better. For now, have faith and know that THE BEST IS YET TO COME! 

Glad to be back into writing...

For now...

Take care, Love Blair