Heritage Bicycles General Store

Heritage Bicycles General Store has it all. Locally handcrafted bicycles, gear, apparel, coffee and more. Trust me, you want to go to there. Furthermore, not that I'm biased but the Director of Arts and Crafts is named Melissa Salvatore, and from my experience people named Melissa are pretty awesome.


Open Daily from 7-8
2959 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL  60657
Call or Text 773.245.3005
http://www.heritagebicycles.com/

RE Store Trash Fashion

Designer: Trashy Designs aka Kristi Boyd

Title: Netty

RE Store Trash Fashion Show Seattle 2011 http://www.re-store.org 

A Unicycle... it's like 1/3 of a Bike. Way to reduce your carbon footprint Kids.

In Seattle the kids don't just ride bikes up hill both ways to school, they ride Unicycles.

Dapper Dogs in Logan Square

If you live in the Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood you've most likely noticed the seasonally stylish canines in the area. Thanks to the supporters of The Logan Square Dog Park handcrafted locally designed Collar Covers and Bandanas are now available. For information and events please visit www.logansquaredogpark.com

Living Peeps: Dyeing baby chicks in Doha, Qatar

At first glance the vibrant colored chicks available in Doha, Qatar look like living marshmallow peeps, and then you wonder how and why would anyone dip an animal in dye. Although, many claim the dye is only harmful if ingested and toxic further information was scarce. This practice only brings up questions such as, are we to believe that everyone participating in this practice uses non-toxic dye and carefully monitors the behavior of the animals? Furthermore, what are the long term effects to the children and adults that view these vibrant novelty animals as normal? Will people become further disconnected from our natural areas, and will preserving biodiversity become even less of a priority? Considering the lack of outrage among locals and tourists alike there is a possibility that future generations will hold no regard for animals in their natural state, and therefore have no need for natural areas. Thus wondering if future generations will ultimately prefer to live in a fabricated virtual world.

Spring Mix

My first day in Chicago I was introduced to Stanley's Fruit & Vegetables in the Noble Square neighborhood and it immediately reminded me of my Seattle favorite MacPherson's Fruit & Produce.  Both places offer a great selection of fruit and vegetables at an amazing price with many organic offerings. Also parking can be challenging for both places but don't let that keep you from either establishment. I absolutely loved MacPherson's and look forward to loving Stanley's.

Stanley's Fruit and Vegetable                      

1558 N Elston Ave
(between Le Moyne St & North Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622

MacPherson's Fruit and Produce

4500 15th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108
Neighborhood: Beacon Hil

Twig Cosmetics loving the lip stain

Twig Cosmetics created by Seattle based Cara Hellings offers eco chic foundations, powders, and lip stains. I'm absolutely in love with the lip stain Zinnia.  A little Zinnia lip stain goes a long way in creating the dramatic look perfect for a day or night. For more info visit www.twigcosmetics.com

Wolfbait and B-girls- local fashion in Logan Square

Wolfbait and B-girls offering local artisan apparel, accessories, and one-of-a-kind must haves located in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. A female owned and operated business boasting over 170 local artisans providing the understated elegance you've been missing. See something you like but can't make it to the boutique? No worries, give them a call because they take phone orders (312) 698-8685, and all apparel is 20% off this month!! http://wolfbaitchicago.com/

wolfbaitchicago@yahoo.com
see something you like?
call us to order by phone monday–saturday 10–7 sunday 10–4
3131 w. logan blvd. chicago, illinois 60647

So long Seattle

After nearly seven years I have returned to my sweet home Chicago!! Seattle it was a fun adventure and I thank you.

Seattle Fashion Blogger VueSociety Beyond the Blog

Fashionable founder Rachel Kim announces the launch of her e-commerce website www.vuesociety.com

Notable local fashion blogger Rachel Kim takes her love of fashion to the next level by converting her popular blog into what is sure to be a popular online retail store.

Currently offering clients; dresses, tops, jackets, bottoms, and accessories priced from $25-$300 with the plan to expand into menswear in the future. VueSociety is a carefully curated selection of limited unique pieces.

 "THE VUESOCIETY WOMAN KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS. SHE DRESSES CONSERVATIVELY AND IS LABELED A TRENDSETTER."

With five percent of all sales going to local non-profit Washington Women In Need (WWIN) VueSociety offers fashion with a higher purpose.

Say hello to Sassy Pants

For many in Seattle one of the perks or draw backs (depends on how you look at it) of living in a Seattle share house is that inevitably one of your roommates has a pet. Since I live in a pet free rental home, you could imagine my surprise when I happened upon a pet living in our basement. A random act of kindness led to the discovery of the secret fifth roommate that lives in our basement.

A few roommates ago someone had a pet, and they decided that they needed to move on and away from Seattle, but there was no room in their new plan for this pet. So a current roommate assumed the responsibility and has been maintaining the pet in our basement. I like animals, and since this animal lives in our house I offered to help care for the now not so secret pet.

The first thing that needed to be done was re-branding. Since, this animal was moving on to a new chapter in life it was out with the old name and in with the new. Also , the previous owner incorrectly assumed it was male. So we have done away with the name Morty and renamed our Ball Python Sassy Pants. Since Sassy Pants is not enjoying a life in Africa there is no reason she can't enjoy a life in Seattle like every other house pet.

*added notes- I do not support or promote owning exotic pets.

The Chocolate Shoebox- Vegan Shoes and Chocolates in Seattle

How does a former Wildland Firefighter turned luxury merchandiser manage to stay fashionable in Seattle. The Chocolate Shoebox in Greenwood of course! How lucky to have found The Chocolate Shoebox, not only carrying vegan shoes for men and women but also chocolate. Owner Sadaf Hussain offers  not only fantastic vegan shoes, but also CHOCOLATE. The added bonus is that all three of the styles I purchased were each under $20, great when you have a modest budget. Now for those of you  that equate money with and style there are of course pricier options.

If you have not visited this gem of a shop, I recommend you do so immediately. Even if they don't have the perfect shoe for you (that is not really possible, you will find a must have shoe), you can still leave with some chocolate making every visit to The Chocolate Shoe Box a success.

Dear Milan, I miss you. Enjoy fashion week.xoxo

If you can't be in Milan for Fashion Week than make a point to visit in the near future. In Milan you will find the Turin Bull Crest in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. You'll need to spin on your right heel for good luck.  Of course, I did it, I figured if I have kissed the Blarney Stone then spinning on bull "attributes" is no big deal. Plus you then get to enjoy the rest of the day enjoying the cuisine, history, and luxury of a place originally designed in 1861 and built between 1865-1877. While we in the U.S. enjoy our shopping malls the people of Milan enjoy La Dolce Vita.

What to wear when visiting a PUMPKIN PATCH

It is that time of year again when the leaves start to turn, the air is cool and brisk, and you begin to think about the really important things in life. For instance, what to be for Halloween... sexy pirate or sexy super hero? However, before we can even think about that you first have to get into the spirit of the season and visit the PUMPKIN PATCH! When suddenly you realize you have no idea how to dress for the occasion.

The first thing to remember is that you will be surrounded by animals, crops, dirt, hay and mud. A Pumpkin Patch is just not an ideal place for heels. This is not to say you can't have a fashion moment. A Pumpkin Patch is the perfect place to accessorize. A large handbag is not only functional but fashionable.

A large handbag can accommodate all those supplies you will need for your day of fun. A  large handbag can easily carry the water, snacks, first aid kit, flash light, and GPS you will need to complete the corn maze. After all, a corn maze can be very challenging and you'll want to be prepared. Also, a large handbag provides a protective barrier between you and those unruly goats and sheep you may encounter in the petting zoo. If you must, you can even carry your pumpkin home in your handbag. Although, I do not recommend carrying a pumpkin home because the inside of a pumpkin is disgusting.

Happy Fall Everyone!

Football, are you ready Seattle?

One thing about Seattle that has always bummed me out a little is the Football and I don't mean the Team. What I've never felt in Seattle is the fan dedication, you have a few face painters and season ticket holders but overall you just don't seem into the Seahawks.

My first Pro Season in Seattle I was excited to see my new city and second team (the Bears will always be my number one) enjoy a 13-3 season taking them to the Super Bowl for their first appearance in the teams 30 year history. Now maybe it's because I lived through the dark times with the Chicago Bears from 1993-2003, when he who shall not be named (Michael McCaskey) seemed to single handedly suck all of the happiness and joy out of our city and lives. I was happy to be in a city with a winning team, and not only winning but going to the Super Bowl against an 11-5 wild card team. I remember the pre game pep rally and that is when I noticed something was off. The papers reported an great turn out of  between 150-175 fans. Ok, I know I was guilty of to wanting relive the magic of the 1984-1985 Chicago Bears Season, and I'm not saying I need a Seahawks Shuffle, but 175 fans! 

Football teams alone do not win games nor do they make seasons or eras. It's the cities and fans that create the legend and keep it alive. Football is not about just wearing face paint and colored mardi gras beads. Football is about creating a legacy and tradition. I knew that when I watched the Bears in 1984-1985 I was part of a Football renaissance that Chicago had not seen since the Monsters of the Midway. So Seattle I would like to see a little more Football spirit, Sounders fans keep up the good work. 

Sacsayhuaman/Sexy Woman

One thing I've noticed about Seattle is that everyone I've met loves to travel.  I don't mean travel as in the typical midwest Florida spring break travel,  I mean South America travel.

I was lucky enough to spend a month backpacking around Peru including the Inca Trail. Upon arrival, I immediately discovered Peru is not an all inclusive resort in Mexico. I quickly learned that the spanish I had picked up while watching Sesame Street as a child would not suffice. When I left Peru I felt accomplished, and amazed at my ability to overcome significant sickness and language deficiencies.  What I discovered after moving to Seattle is that pretty much everyone has been to Peru. That's right my amazing journey was the equivalent of a morning coffee run in Seattle.

If you are new to Seattle or have lived here your entire life and have not visited Peru please do so as soon as possible. Having met so many people that have visited Peru in one city I can only hypothesize that it is a requirement for residency. Don't let anyone know you've never been to Peru for fear you will be asked to leave. Please purchase a Lonely Planet, dust off your passport, and book your flight to Peru.

Replica Handbags in Seattle, you're all grown up!

When I first moved to Seattle I considered it to be a big town and not a city. Forgive me, but I'm from Chicago, and it's a little bigger. Now before all the natives get their knickers in knots, I am happy to profess I have since changed my position on the subject. Congratulations Seattle, you have now been upgraded from big town to city.

What pushed Seattle to the next level raising it's status in my eyes? Was it the arts, business, culture, or cuisine, no! Although, Seattle has plenty of noteworthy entries in each category mentioned, it was the one deciding factor that says, hey you've made it to the big time. Yes, you guessed it, Replica Handbags.

What?! Replica Handbags you say, that's right. The fact that Seattle in all it's fleeced glory is now declaring that fashion is not only important, but so important residents are willing to engage in and promote corruption for a knockoff.  Now, I don't want you to feel bad about yourself Seattle. Crime is a part of growing up, and I've seen boutiques in Bellevue brazenly sell knockoffs to the uninformed consumer. It was on the waterfront behind the market, so if you have to tell yourself that only tourists are buying fakes to sleep better at night go ahead.

*special note: I could only take one photo before I was chased away and the man selling the fake luxury bags tried to grab my camera.

Box of Poetry

The Poetry drop box near my house. Yep, a box full of poetry. Who made the box? I have no idea. What happens to the poems left in the box? Again, totally clueless. Do more of these boxes exist around town? I couldn't tell you. In fact those could be empty papers rolled up, nothing more than simple props. I like to think some clever people had something to share.  I won't be contributing to the drop box, no one wants to read my Poe"try" because I'm not a Poet and I know it.

Zombies are not my favorite.

Another fun fact about Seattle that you may not have known is that Seattle loves Zombies. No, I don't mean they love Zombies like they love their Sketchers (because we all know you only love your Sketchers when you don't have a Prada Backpack), they really love Zombies. This was a bit hard for me to understand, if you have to love something supernatural wouldn't you naturally choose Vampire, Witch or Werewolf. Think about it Vampires always have great fashion sense, always have money, and are well travelled. Witches are great problem solvers, and Werewolves are very athletic(yes they do have that excessive body hair problem but with the advancements in laser hair removal this shouldn't be as much of a problem). I couldn't see the fascination with a walking corpse; no sense of humor (Zombies can't speak), no regard for fashion or style (you always see Zombies wearing rags), and Zombies never die but literally continue to decay. Aging forever and wearing horrid apparel is my worst fear. However, I decided to see what Zombies had to offer.

This year I participated in the Zombie Walk - Red, White, and Dead 2011. The Zombie Walk is an event were seemingly normal people of sound mind come together to pretend to be Zombies, and walk around a neighborhood in an attempt to break a Guinness World record because apparently people do this in other cities. I dressed up because it was another opportunity to wear my tutu, and you should always find or create opportunities to wear a tutu. I've included my two favorite pictures because when it comes to being a Zombie these participants really got into character. 

C-H-I-C-K-E-N That's the way you spell (clap) Chicken.

If you didn't already know or you couldn't figure it out, Seattle loves chickens. Yep, you heard me, we love chickens. I'm sure everyone in the city has a friend or coworker who owns chickens. I have 2 friends that own chickens, and I've listed some reasons why you might consider owning chickens.

 Backyard chickens provide; fresher,  healthier, tastier eggs than factory farmed eggs. Backyard chickens also provide natural insect control, and the scratching for bugs and droppings are great for the soil. Can you say that about your house cat or lap dog?  Of course we can't forget chickens are fun and interesting, and the owners swear that each chicken has a unique personality.  As a child I loved collecting eggs from my Grandmother's chickens in North Carolina. I've included a song below that a childhood friend taught me way back in the day, and maybe you'll want backyard chickens.

Well C - that's the way it begins,
And H - that's the next letter in,
And I - that's the middle of the word,
And C - that you've already heard,
And K - that's the name of the hen,
And E - now we're nearing the N
C-H-I-C-K-E-N

That's the way you spell (clap) Chicken.