Filed In: life
traveling before baby
In April, we had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles for a family wedding but we declined to go because I was pregnant. I never pass up a trip, but nausea and exhaustion kept me from doing a lot of things we wanted to do when we were in New Orleans, and I didn’t want to travel across country just to end up laying in bed all day again. Even though I wanted to, we never took a babymoon, and we just stayed local for a few weekend getaways. I wish I would have known before getting pregnant that our week-long road trip through California last year was our last adventure, just the two of us, before we started a family. So lately, as we wait for our little one’s arrival, I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of travel and the importance of doing it before you have kids. Read More
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I like books and I love to read. There are countless stacks around my home. Cookbooks, coffee table books, novels, books on pregnancy, parenting, wellness, DIY, art and design – the list goes on. And I swear I add a few to my Amazon wish list every day.
I’m a little ashamed of how little I read this year. Lately I really haven’t had much time to curl up with a good book in between my pregnancy, renovating our home, working full time and running my creative business, updating this space somewhat regularly and keeping up with my marriage, my family, my friends and more. That being said, one of my goals while I’m on maternity leave is to be intentional about making time to read. I hope to find brief moments throughout the day to squeeze in a chapter here and there – reading with my coffee in the morning, reading while the baby naps, while breastfeeding and reading before bed. Have any good book recommendations to share? Here’s my list. Care to read along with me? It could lead to a good discussion and might be fun!
Conde Nast Traveler: 25 Years of Photography | Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs | CVJ: Nicknames of Maitre D’s & Other Excerpts from Life | Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear | Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life | The Nest | Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting | Greenterior: Plant Loving Creatives and Their Homes | Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Houses: Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu | Modern Romance | The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids | The Girls | Rising Strong | Selldorf Architects: Portfolio and Projects | Travel | Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are
weekend plans + 12 great chicago bars and restaurants for date night
At 37 weeks pregnant, Mini Z could make his or her arrival any day now so Marc and I have been squeezing in as many date nights as we can. On Tuesday, we went to Rick Bayless’ newest Chicago venture, seafood-oriented Leña Brava, for dinner. The food was ridiculously good. Everything is cooked on an open hearth, wood-burning oven or prepared at their raw bar. Must try dishes from their “fire and ice” menu – the wood oven roasted chicken a la leña, the black cod al pastor and the grill roasted pineapple.
This weekend we have a double date night planned with some of our good friends. We will be going to Stefanie Izard’s latest addition to her Goat empire, Chinese-inspired Duck Duck Goat. I’ve written about Girl and the Goat and Little Goat Diner here. The Duck Duck Goat menu features things like wood fired duck heart dim sum, goat belly lo mein and crispy frog legs. I’m looking forward to an evening of great food and great conversation!
When it comes to the city of Chicago, you’ve got plenty of bar and restaurant options. I’ve rounded up 12 of my favorites for date night below. Whether you’re looking for a rooftop bar in the heart of the city, an intimate French restaurant with a trendy atmosphere or a BYOB Lakeview hotspot, these restaurants offer a perfect balance between good food and good vibes. Check it out – Read More
wells street art festival recap + thoughts on the future of kate zitzer art
Thank you so very much to everyone who came out to Chicago’s Wells Street Art Festival on June 11th and 12th. As usual, I was completely blown away by the positive response I received. Your enthusiasm for my art means the world to me, and I truly appreciate your support! If you’re reading this after seeing my booth at the fest, hello I’m so happy you’re here! Feel free to order from my Etsy shop, and I’m also available for custom paintings or local pick up so just shoot me an email or comment below if you’re interested. Read More
interior inspiration | nursery
I’m back today with an update on and inspiration for the nursery! We’ve had some major changes in this room in the last few months. We pulled up the old hardwood floors, installed carpet, replaced old baseboards and trim, installed a new window and painted the walls a creamy, neutral white called Frost by Behr. We were originally planning on painting this room a soft minty green but made a swap at the last minute. We’ve gotten some of the other big to-do’s taken care of too – purchased the dresser and changing table, put together the crib, ordered blackout shades and installed a closet organizer. It’s pretty close to being done! I can’t wait to show you the finished product in a month or so.
As far as decor, I love a mix of white, wood, grey and blue as you can see in these photos. I knew that would be the base for the room as well as a lot of natural materials in their raw state (unfinished wood shelving and handwoven baskets). I wanted the room to flow and match the rest of the house which was my main goal. From there, I searched for mint green/teal accents to make the room more gender neutral. I wanted items that would work with future babies too, regardless of their sex. We also spent a lot of time debating the whole rocker verse glider thing. Hey moms, what’s your preference?
For months I’ve been on the lookout for beautiful prints that can add some bright pops of color and inspiration to our little one’s nursery. I’m sticking with a primarily light and white palette in the room but I want to bring in some pops of color and a bit of boho with the artwork and accessories. Here are a few of my favorites – I really can’t stop going back to Olivia Raufman’s Goodnight World print and Britt Bass’ Honey Calcite print! I may need to paint a few things as well!
crayons | penguin | artist | abstract | goodnight | numbers
