Kate Spade Cedar Street Elissa Bag

Hi Friends!

So the other day, I was walking to spin class after work, and I saw a girl with a handbag that I had to have.

I was mostly obsessed with the color. I love love LOVE that shade of blue. I googled “Kate Spade blue bags” and immediately saw this come up. However, it was sold out everywhere, and also looked a little too much like my Prada Saffiano Cuir Dome Satchel.

After further googling, I came up with following – only 3 left in stock in the color “Bluebell.”

This is the Cedar Street Elissa Bag.

In addition to the main compartment, the two sides unzip to create extra storage space. I keep my iPad in one of them.

It’s made with cross-hatch stamped leather, making it water and scratch resistant.

Here are some additional pictures from the Kate Spade website.

What color is your current handbag?

~Tia

The Best Eyeliner Ever

I just went a couple of weeks without my favorite eyeliner, the Origins Automagically. The thing is, I thought I’d be ok without it for a bit, while I tried out a few other samples I’d acquired, but I missed it everyday. Haha. So dramatic sounding, I know.

It seriously is amazing though. It goes on smoothly, and you never have to sharpen it. It comes in a variety of different colors. I usually stick to black, but I ordered navy, which just arrived, and I really liked it. It pairs well with my favorite gold-toned/bronze eyeshadow, Stila in Citrine.

What’s your favorite eyeliner? Favorite mascara?

~Tia

Workout Clothes Spree

A few months ago, I wrote about work out clothes, and whether it was better to splurge or save.

It’s true that I’m about 90% more motivated to work out/during my workouts if I like my outfit. (Is that terrible?)

My current conclusion is – splurge on pants/crops, and save on tops. I’ve found that it’s more important to me that pants fit well, and don’t ride/scrunch up. They’re also easier to re-wear.

Here are a few of my recent purchases (from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, prices have since gone up).

(from left to right, top to bottom, Zella, Asics, Nike, Reebok).

I also bought 7 tops from Old Navy for $7 each. Can’t beat that!

Here are a couple of my favorites.

Do you dress differently for different workouts? I always wear capris/crops for yoga and spin. Yoga…too great of a chance for flashing the class if wearing shorts. This happened to my yoga instructor last weekend. Did not need to see that.

As a side note, a big congrats to Tina for getting a big promotion at work! Woohoo – congrats Tina!

~Tia

A Few Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Finds

Hi All!

So another 2 packages came in the mail today…from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. 

I thought I’d share some of my favorite picks (some items were unflattering in person and were returned) if you’d like to see!

Joe’s Mid-Rise Denim Leggings in Lagoon

I wanted to get some colored denim that was still somewhat muted. These fit the bill.

BP. Undercover Hug Me Hoodie in Grey Shale

This is from the Juniors section, but the size seems to run a bit big. It’s so soft and comfortable. I can’t wait to lounge around in this.

The North Face Liana Insulated Jacket in Black

This is completely sold out already, and I could only find the navy blue picture. This coat is incredibly light…seriously, its weight is comparable to that of a shirt. I’m hoping this will make the next Chicago winter slightly more bearable.

I also got a bunch of picture frames. workout capris/leggings, sports bras, and other less exciting pieces.

Most of my items have been shipping separately, so I’ll share more as they arrive.

Anyone else been shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?

~Tia

Marc by Marc Jacobs Ukita Handbag

I found out that Piperlime.com is offering 40% off one item if you sign up for their emails…

So…

Yes, I know I JUST bought another handbag last month.

How many handbags do you own? I have…way too many. I’m still on the hunt for the perfect medium-sized dark gray bag though.

~Tia

Prada Saffiano Cuir Dome Satchel Bag

New purse! This is the Prada Cuir Dome Satchel. Saffiano leather is stamped in a cross-hatch manner, making it scratch-resistant and weatherproof. Perfect for the unpredictable Chicago weather (rain, snow, rain, snow).

I love this size. At 11″H x 13″W x 5″D, it’s not large enough for for my laptop, but great for carrying around essentials and then some. I also like to wear my bags crossbody, and this bag comes with a long strap!

Just hanging out in the kitchen…haha.

CJ is super amused, as you can tell 🙂

Any other handbag aficionados out there? What’s your favorite bag? Are there any colors I should avoid wearing with a green bag? Probably not red, so I don’t look like Christmas.

~ Tia

Packing House and CH Distillery

Last Friday, I went with girlfriends to Packing House, a Randolph Street restaurant bar (used to be called Market). The boys were watching X-men, at a college reunion in Boston, and at a bachelor party in Montreal. Girls nights are so much fun!

We had mixed drinks, white wine, fried zucchini and eggplant with tzatziki, and a cheese plate on their rooftop.

 

 

(The top-left is the Rum Punch, and the bottom-right is the Pear Bear).

My new sunglasses made an appearance as well.

 

Next, we went to CH Distillery, also on Randolph Street. We went to the cocktail bar, but you can also tour the distillery where they make and bottle the spirits.

This is the “Clover Club” and shrimp cocktail.

Now back to my Monday! (Work, gym, grocery store, making dinner, watching 24, and assembling some new furniture).

What did you do on Friday? Go out? Stay in? 

~Tia

Friday Favorites (aka Things Tia Just Bought/Wants to Buy)

Happy Friday! It’s cold, rainy, and dreary today in Chicago, but I couldn’t be more thrilled! A few of my coworkers were at a conference this week, so the rest of us had to cover for everyone. I’m also seeing The Amazing Spiderman tonight -woohoo!

J.Crew was having a 30% off sale earlier this week. I saw this as an opportunity to buy the downtown field jacket in brown. (I currently own it navy blue.) It’s been my go-to jacket lately since I packed up all my winter clothes – MISTAKE.

I also got the Marina mini-wedge espadrilles in gray.

Piperlime was also having a 25% off sale on their sale items. I got this Marc Jacobs phone wallet for free! (I used credit card points).

Lastly, I got a 25% off Coach coupon in the mail. I love these  trench coats, but I’m not sure I could justify the cost.

Have a great Friday!

~Tia

Easter Weekend Highlights

Hi Everyone!

Hope y’all (I’m from Georgia, so I’m allowed to say y’all) had a good weekend!

On Friday, while Tina, Chris, and CJ were ALL off work, I headed into the office, only to be bored for most of the day, and then be hit with a “work emergency” at 3pm. 😛

I was slightly late for a happy hour with my former coworkers at BlackFinn Ameripub, where I’ve been having lunch a lot. 

Michaela and I shared a Margherita Flatbread and Cheese Sticks (They kind of look like eggs rolls in this picture).

CJ made picked up a Red Velvet cake to bring, met me at the bar, and then we left to go to Chris’s for pizza, drinks, and games. 

On Saturday, I started reading Gone Girl. CJ’s coworker lent it to me in January, but I never got around to reading it. It was so good, I got up after I had already gone to bed Saturday night so I could read some more.  I also started watching Orange is the New Black on Netflix. Another addicting show!

Sunday was an amazing 70 degree day in Chicago. CJ and I met Tina and Chris for brunch at Waffles…where we all elected to order…omelettes. This isn’t the most flattering picture, but I got an egg white omelette with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, onions, and goat cheese. They fashioned the hash browns to look like a waffle.

Tina has been storing my bike at her apartment for the past 3 months, so after brunch, I picked it up, and I half rode it/half walked it back home. I am terrified of riding in the street, and I especially didn’t want to die on Easter. Thanks again Tina!

For Easter, my mom sent me a Magic Bullet.  Thanks Mom!

Also, I had a gift card to Neiman Marcus, so I bought new Tory Burch flats.

Two Ts for Tina and Tia? 🙂

Does anyone have a Magic Bullet? What have you made using it? I plan on making smoothies…any other suggestions?

~Tia

 

 

Workout Clothes

For the record, I had no idea Tina was planning a post on Running Gear. Great minds think alike? 😉

Yesterday during my lunch break, I ran over to Old Navy on State Street (Chicago) to grab a few items.

Last Sunday, I started at a new yoga studio, Barefeet Power Yoga, in the West Loop. There’s a $30/month unlimited package for new students so I figured I’d sign up. More on the yoga studio later!

I realized that all my workout clothes were in the laundry hamper/washing machine so I didn’t have anything to wear for my class at 6pm. I’ve done hot yoga in a regular cotton tank and cotton pants before…not recommended.  Shopping time! I also picked up some socks to combat my missing laundry issue. This is the danger of working so close to State Street (and Michigan Avenue).

Question(s) of the Day: Where do you guys get workout clothes from? I usually stick to places like Old Navy and Forever 21 for shirts/tanks/shorts since they have a lot of cheap options now, but all my fleeces are from The North Face.  Are the $60 Lululemon tanks worth it? What do you like to save/splurge on?

~ Tia