Upcoming Blog Excitement!

Happy Friday! What a great day in Chicago; the sun is shining and it is 45 degrees. I am not being sarcastic about that temperature; after all this polar vortex business this weather feels like a blessing!

I wanted to make an impromptu post today to announce some exciting blog news. First of all, tomorrow will be my first ever Chicago Food Bloggers event along with my great friend Christine of apartmentpants. We’ll be hitting up Public House to try their sweet and savory brunch menu. As a lover of food I am ecstatic to learn and share experiences with these amazing bloggers! Check out Chicago Food Bloggers here and get in on all the tasty fun!

Secondly, I am honored to now be a part of Windy City Bloggers. I stumbled upon their website during the early stages of my blog (I was doing a google search to make sure my blog name wasn’t taken). This organization was founded by five awesome ladies and offers a bevy of blog resources. They sponsor events around the city and have such a positive attitude that inspires me to keep going with my blogging. I cannot wait to learn from them and grow Windy City Living! Check them out here. 

Speaking of growing my blog, I’d like to open up my comments to your suggestions. What are things you’d like to read about on Windy City Living? I’d also love to hear thoughts and advice on the look of this space. What do you like about reading a blog? What features can I improve to make this an exciting spot to visit? 

Thank you in advance and I’m really excited for what’s to come!

Prime Time

When I was in high school I was convinced there was something wrong with my face. It seemed like no matter what makeup I used, by the end of the day you couldn’t even tell I had applied it in the morning! 

Fast forward a couple years and I had finally discovered a solution: primers. These little gems provide a magical layer over your skin, creating a smooth and ready canvas for your makeup.

I use a handful of primers every day before I apply makeup. Here are some of my absolute favorites! 

For your face:

I’ve sampled primers that feel (and smell) like glue. Yuck! But not these ones. 

 1. Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier: this balm clears breakouts and controls shine, while smoothing any lines or uneven texture. I love the way this feels; I apply it after my morning moisturizer and before my foundation.

2. Clinique Primer: this is from Clinique's great new line of superprimers. These products conquer common skin complaints from redness to discolorations. The one I've been using is to correct dullness. With this never ending winter I felt my skin needed a little extra boost and this delivers! Again, it goes on post-moisturizer and pre-foundation.

For your eyes:

You need only the smallest swipe on each eyelid to prevent your eyeshadow from creasing and you liner from running. I seriously swear by these!

3. Urban Decay Primer Potion: I've tried a few of the shades and prefer the original.

4. Benefit Stay Don't Stray: I especially love the smaller sized ones that come with a lot of the Benefit kits. Great for travel!

For your lips:

I LOVE love love a bold lip color and have learned that the key to the perfect pout is prepping your lips. Exfoliate with a gentle primer, apply a coat of lipstick, blot and dust some transparent powder over your lips, then apply another coat. Done!

5. Fresh Sugar Lip Polish: This is magic. It’s a tad pricy but you only need a teeny dab. It smells and tastes like brown sugar! 

Do you use primers? What are your favorites?

Novel Ideas

I haven't had time for much fun lately, but I have been pushing forward on my resolution to read 52 books in 2014! Here are a few of my latest recommendations for you:

1. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

 

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 This is such a lovely novel. The main character is Don Tilliman, a genetics professor with Asperger’s, and how his very practical approach to life is altered once he meets a bartender/student named Rosie. A very quick read with an already promised sequel, you are guaranteed to fall in love with this story. By far my favorite read so far this year.

2. The Cuckoo's Calling by "Robert Galbraith" (aka J.K. Rowling)

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Fantastic! I love mysteries, and Ms. Rowling creates an exciting plot with rich character personalities as she tells the story of detective Cormoron Strike and his investigation of the death of legendary supermodel Lula Landry. This also has a sequel, The Silkworm, due out in June.

3. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman 

 

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 This was our most recent book club pick. I like books that bring up ethical questions and really force you to think what you would do in a similar situation. The story begins on Janus Rock, where an isolated lighthouse keeper Tom and his wife Isabel discover a washed up boat with a dead man and a living baby. It is a fast paced, enjoyable read about two good people and the effects of a tragic decision on their lives.

4. The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan

 

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I picked out this book of loosely connected vignettes in honor of Valentine's Day and really enjoyed the stories. This novel intertwines a handful of tales of marriage across the decades and conveys that love definitely does not come in one shape and size. This is a good book to read at your leisure; the novel switches back and forth between the stories and the chapters stand up well on their own.

Happy reading! Tell me, what books have you been enjoying lately?