Memorial Weekend! Part Two

The Sunday during Memorial Weekend my friend was throwing a BBQ at her new house.  They had purchased their building the summer before, so it was interesting to see what new renovations have come along.  Luckily, they pulled out a tree from their yard in time for the BBQ.  They found out the tree was the culprit behind some problems in their basement, plus they felt it used up a lot of space in general. 

That day in particular happened to be very hot indeed.  The temperature reached up to the low 90s.  I wore a tissue thin tee along with my crop shorts.  As I’m getting older sometimes I feel silly wearing short shorts but when it’s that hot outside, you don’t really care what people think. 

It was nice seeing my friends.  They were also very supportive about the incident that occurred in Rome.  I hate that I have to second-guess myself but that’s what Life does to you.  You try to do your best and when situations make you question everything you end up taking a step back to reflect.  As they say, sometimes things happen for a reason, and I want to be able to learn from this.  Have you learned any life lessons along the way?  I’m always curious to see what other people have figured out in this crazy game called Life...

Memorial Weekend BBQ

Chicago lucked out with the weather the next day as well.  I was invited to two BBQs but opted to go to my friend’s farewell party.  She just found out she is moving to Miami!  Lucky!!  I made my way over there early in the evening and managed to catch up with her before the commotion.  Once the others arrived it got a little crazy.  We had a great time! 

Memorial Day BBQ!

Sunday on Memorial Day weekend my friends decided to throw a BBQ.  Who could pass up an invitation like that??  Me and my friends made our way to Skokie for some backyard fun.  The weather was HOT and the food was delish!  It was nice catching up with everyone.  So many things are coming up for the summer; it's getting harder to figure out how to plan for some of it.
Number one for me has always been:  what to wear.  I am NOT a dress person.  Yes, I've worked in retail over the years, and I know how important it is for women to find a flattering dress for these summer occasions.  And it's not easy.  I've been shopping online for the past 4 years and have completely ruled out shopping at the mall.  I've been the same dress size for years so trying something on has never been a problem for me.  It's more of scrambling through tons of dresses that drive me crazy.  Not to mention, I'm pretty much always on a budget.  If the sky was the limit, then yes, life would be much easier.  But I'm not wealthy so I have learned how to shop for myself over the years.
What I have learned:
Let's face it.  You're not a little girl anymore.  You pretty much know what looks good on you by now.  When it comes to certain occasions, look for what has worked for you in the past.  You know your silhouette.  If  you have a great pair of legs, then don't wear a maxi dress.  Show them off!  If you have a tiny waist, don't wear an empire dress.  Stick to dresses that accentuate your body and not hide them because of whatever trends are happening this season.  For the most part, up to this point in your life, it's been trial and error.  But you'll never forget those times when people have come up to you to tell you how great you look!  Those are unforgettable moments!
What's your color??  I have a friend that always wears black because she feels it looks best on her.  She feels more confident because it slims her down and she doesn't feel so exposed.  I have another friend that wears rich colors like magenta and royal blue well.  It looks great on her skin tone.  Everyone has a color! 
Do you have a favorite brand or shop that has always been your go-to for shopping?  I have 5 brands; shops that have worked for me in the past.  I usually luck out when I shop there.  I usually start there before branching out to other stores. 
Now that you're "aware" of what has worked for you in the past, it's time to know what occasion you are shopping for.  I have a couple of baby showers and baptisms coming up, as well as a work function.  For the most part I know I will be looking at day dresses and work dresses.  It narrows down your search tremendously when you know what you're looking for.
I have yet to find my dresses.  Over the years, I have managed to look for good deals online and out and about.  There have been times when I've bought a dress because of how well it fits, despite knowing where I would wear it to.  My rule of thumb has always been to get the dress.  You never know when something pops up.   

Rooftop Action!

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Weekend!!  I've been M.I.A posting because I've been a little busy.  Plus, it's summertime in the city so you know how that goes.  Time to have some fun in the sun!  lol.  Let's recap:
After my weekend with my friend's holy communion for her daughter and the twins'  Hello Kitty birthday party, softball season officially started.  We finally had no rain!  We made our way out to Grant Park for our first game.  We lost, but by 2 runs.  It was a good time to see how well we played with one another now that there's some new faces.  We will resume playing next week for the rest of the month with a couple of double headers to make up for the two games that got cancelled out.  Can't wait to play ball!
The following weekend I stayed in and did some spring cleaning.  My friend from Italy was making her way to Chicago, so I wanted to run some errands before she got in.  I missed her so much!  We made plans to meet up on Monday after she spent time with some family.  I had no idea we were going to experience a mini heat wave that was coming for us right after!  My friend asked me why didn't I warn her about the heat but I had no idea.  That's the problem with Chicago weather.  Summer hits you out of no where. 
We met up in downtown late afternoon and decided to hit up some roof top bars before the rush hour sets in.  We figured we could get a head start.  The last time my friend was in Chicago was two years ago and a lot has changed since then.  Rooftops were not a thing for us back in the day.  With more opening this summer, it's definitely an added bonus for people to enjoy the outdoors.  We made our way to Loews hotel but unfortunately, the rooftop was set to open Memorial Weekend.  We missed it by a few days.  Oh well.  A worker there suggested we hit up the Sky Terrace at the Ivy boutique hotel by Streeterville.  We made our way up to the 16th floor and checked it out.  We had paid for two hours of parking at a meter, so we wanted to squeeze out as many places as we could before we met up with a friend for dinner.

Catching some rays at the Sky Terrace...

Our next stop was Cerise at the Virgin Hotel.  We walked all the way over there by the river walk and settled in there for a bit.  At that time, a rush of people walked in since it was close to 5pm.  It was nice catching up with my friend.  So much has happened since I last saw her in Italy last summer.  We obviously lost track of time and had to run out of there to get the car.
By now we were hungry and found our friends on State Street once they got off of work.  We decided to eat at Bar Takito in West Loop for dinner for a change of scenery.  It is patio season after all.  Our friends are getting married and it was interesting to hear how the wedding was coming along.  They are going to be super busy since it's a few months away.  Me and my friend finished up and headed back north to my place.

I ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon at Cerise on top of the Virgin Hotel...

Bar Takito's coconut shrimp and octopus ceviche...

 

Fish tacos!!

Pork belly tacos...

Bar Takito is located in the West Loop off  the Morgan stop on the Green Line...

Good times with the lucky couple!!  I wish them well on their upcoming wedding nuptials...

We freshened up and decided to head out since I requested the following day off.  I wanted to spend more time with my friend.  We headed towards Logan to Masada.  They had a rooftop as well.  It was a beautiful night and we had so much fun.  I miss her right now.  I hope to see her again soon...



Masada's rooftop is so pretty!!!

Memorial Day!

On Memorial Day Monday my friend hosted a small gathering at her new condo.  She wanted people to bring champagne while she took care of the grill.  I thought that was a splendid way to spend the holiday!  Girl talk and enjoying the hot weather.  It was officially HOT so I busted out the shorts.  The funny thing about switching seasons is looking through your summer stash of clothes.  I got rid of 2 bags full of out-dated clothes and gave them away to friends and family.  As we're now in the middles of August I'll be doing the same thing again for fall/winter clothes.  I've been trying to be more thoughtful on my spending as well.  I worked in retail for over 10 years and accumulated a huge wardrobe over the years.  I've also learned a thing or two on what to invest in and what to be thrifty with.
First of all, summer clothes basically consist of shorts, tees, and tanks.  And here in Chicago, the humidity is what makes it feel scorching.  I try to wear breathable materials such as cotton because it helps dealing with sweat.  If I wear a pricey silk item, I'm consciously aware that that sweat won't absorb as well.  The last thing you want is to wear a sweaty silk top trying to look cute.  Polyester tops work better only if they're sleeveless (since it's not a natural fabric).  In this end, it's best to go "cheap" for summer clothes in natural cotton and skip out wearing the pricier silk items since they do not work well in humidity.
Dresses,  Dresses are a sensitive subject for me because I'm not a dress girl.  I have friends, though, that ONLY wear dresses in their wardrobe, so I understand how dresses have an impact when it comes to shopping.   I do although have a rule of thumb when it comes to dresses.  If a dress fits you perfectly, and you absolutely love it, no matter what the occasion the dress is for (cocktail, day dress, clubbing, etc.), BUY IT.  There were times in my life that I did buy a dress for just that reason alone, and it has worked for me over the years.  I have a beautiful white wrap dress that I bought 10 years ago and I still get compliments on where I got it from.  I've worn it a bunch of times and it hasn't failed me once.  In this factor, price does not matter.  Whether it's high end, or from forever 21, I still take extra care of my dresses regardless, mostly because I want to have multiple wears out of it.  If I do buy a dress, it's because I absolutely am in love with it, plain and simple.  Occasions will arise out of no where and you'll be glad you can rock your beautiful dress.  Patience is the key.
I've had my share of impulse buying and that has never worked for me, mostly because you're buying something for the sake of buying.  You just want to walk out with something in your hand and that's crazy because you're not even sure if you like what you just bought.  Try to purchase items you're in love with and you won't go wrong. 
Shoes are definitely an investment item, so there you might spend a pretty penny.  It has been my experience that my pricier shoes have lasted longer over the years AND bottom line, they are more comfortable than my cheaper shoes.  They are simply made better so it's best that you invest in shoes and get your money's worth.
The following weekend I went to a country concert at Joe's on Weed Street with my friend who had an extra ticket.  I rarely do country outings but I had a good time watching the show.  Joe's reminds me of the spots I visited in Nashville, so if you want to do the live-country music-scene, go to Joe's.   

Memorial Day BBQ with champagne and these lovely ladies!

Checking out Cadillac3 at Joe's on Weed Street!

They rocked!