Weekend Treat

If you have not been on SoYeahDuh, especially if you are a Chicagoan, you are in for the best Friday of your life. Well at least one at your desk. I cried laughing at this hysterical blog written by Lisa Frame, a digital strategist, who quite possibly might be the funniest girl in the city, maybe the world. Try not spending an hour on it today and laughing your ass off. Enjoy your weekend and in honor of SoYeahDuh...


This weekend there should be a little of this...



And sometimes this is the look I get...



But then...



So I'm set. 
Happy Weekend! 


xo
Erin

Outdoor Decor

With the interior of the house in a state that I like (for now) and the fact that I have put off decorating until I settle in more, I decided the patio needed a little love. We have a large space to entertain and enjoy and the privacy we have now is fantastic. We moved a patio set that we had at our previous place  and I used a few things I had along with some new items to set up two areas where we can sit, relax, eat, drink, and enjoy the summer. 

I wish I could say I planted those flowers, but picking them up from the local nursery (thanks Mom!) was just as satisfying. The teak bench was a wedding present from our dear friends with a plaque engraved with our wedding date. 

The black set was from our previous house, as well as the umbrella. I found all the fun blue and white cushions from World Market. 

I am obsessed with these outdoor ottomans. Perfect as a place to rest your legs, a tray for drinks and candles, or another seat. Also from World Market. 

Did you know you can bring in (sad) pots you already own to your local nursery and they will plant them for you? I did it with the blue pot on the right and had them plant all my favorite herbs. The rosemary tree smells amazing. Need some bigger planters for this entry, but figure this will be great for this summer. 

Now if the temperature can go below ninety-five, I can enjoy it  during the day again. It will be fun to have a party soon and take advantage of the space. 

xo

Erin 

Get the Look: Emma Stone

Don't you just want to be friends with Emma Stone? She seems like one of those girls that would be the fun, sarcastic girlfriend that always knows how to have a good time. 

And on top of that, the girl loves to risk it on the red carpet. Hit or miss, you have to respect that. 

This, I would say, is a huge hit...

Love it. And when it comes to jumpsuits, it can be a little tough to pull it off. 

I think we could pull one off though, don't you think? Let's stick with all black in flattering cuts that would be perfect for a night out with lots of cocktails involved. Everyone is going to want to hang out with you, just like Emma, when you are wearing a jumpsuit. 

From top right to left: 

5.1 Phillip Lim $556

Rag & Bone $459

Alexander Wang $419

Vince Camuto $150

State & Lake $92

Rachel Zoe $316

DKNY $345 

Hugo Boss $695

xo

Erin 

Weekend Wish: Fancy Flowers

What girl does not love fresh flowers? Either delivered from your love, picked fresh from the garden and arranged, or picked up at the local farmer's market, they make every girl happy. Arranging flowers is so much harder than you would think. Throwing them in a vase just does not look as great as if a professional did it. And while we would all love to live like a Waldorf and have fresh flowers strewn all over, perfectly arranged, it just does not seem attainable for reality.


Or is it??


H.Bloom is a subscription flower service that delivers gorgeous arrangements to you as often as you want based on your style. It is also very affordable with arrangements starting at $35. By the time you buy your favorite flowers at Whole Foods and get them in a vase, you probably spent much of that and do not love the result.

They do not deliver everywhere yet, but check out the site and see if it would work for you. How amazing would this be as a wedding gift or for a new mom? Now we can all get a little fantasy into our homes. 

xo

Erin 

NEAT New House

Moving is a real bitch. 

And though the results are always great after the boxes have been put away and the glasses tucked into a cabinet, the moments before that are a nightmare. Even for the most organized of people (sometimes me). 

Our move has gone off without too many hitches and I am happy to say that I am actually enjoying the space instead of obsessing over it. There is plenty of time to decorate, rearrange the vases, and shop online for rugs. 

But you at least want the spaces that you use everyday to be in working order. I was lucky enough to live close by to our new house and move a ton of items myself. Not having to box every kitchen utensil was a godsend. I was even able to set up the kitchen before the movers even showed up. The nursery was next since even though I could sleep on a couch, the baby needs an actual bed.  

Then there was our room/closet/bathroom. The clothes were shoved into the closet directly from wardrobes and toiletries dropped into drawers. And I kept telling myself....

"I will get around to that."

"I will totally organize all this to fit the new space."

"I will absolutely have the time and patience to organize it all."

Lies. All Lies. 

Because though I am a decent organizer, I am one of those eighty percent organizers. I do a great job up until about twenty percent is left and then hurriedly finish the job. The results are a solid B. 

I really wanted to start off on the right foot for this house and calling in the girls from NEAT Method was the best idea I have had since the move. 

They completely transformed the closet to a place that actually holds all of our clothes and makes sense. Every bottle and brush in our bathroom has a place. It is glorious. 

They transferred all of our clothes onto slim, no-slip hangers and categorized. Shoes are all in a perfect row. Clutches have their very own shelf. 

Jewelry is easily seen and browsed in clear, stackable boxes. Bracelets hang from an easy to see display. 

 I can actually see what is in those normally messy drawers. 

Products have a place that looks great and is functional. 

I highly recommend NEAT for any organizing you need done in your home. They assess what you need, tackle the leg work, and bring all the supplies. 

Plus, they are a ton of fun. Check out their blog, too. 

xo

Erin 

Baby Registry Faves

Registering for your new baby can be so daunting. There are so many products, opinions, and "essentials" that there is no way to know what you are doing or if what you are picking out is really going to work for you. Kind of sounds like the way early motherhood is actually, so kind of a good first step.


Even though I have a baby, I would never classify myself as an expert on what to register for. What works for me could be the opposite of what works for you. That said, I am going to share what has been the most useful for me and what my baby has loved. You are going to receive so much from so many generous people, but really it comes down to what makes your life easier and what makes your baby comfortable.


I used myregistry.com to consolidate my items into one site. That way you can register items in many different stores, but people will only have to visit one site. 


Baby On the Go


Strollers are a very personal choice. My only advice is to go and get hands-on with them and see what you like best. I went with the UppaBaby Vista. It is light, easy to manage, and comes with so much to grow with you and your family. It has a bassinet included, which I used with this Bassinet Stand in the house (turns into a hamper after done using). I got two stands and kept one in my room and one in our family room so I could transport him without waking him. I also loved that you could add a second seat later. The Organizer, Infant Snugseat,  and Car seat adapter are the accessories I actually ended up using most. 


The JJ Cole Bundle Me is perfect for the car seat or stroller when it is chilly outside. 


Diaper bags can be so ugly and not cute. I really love my Marc Jacobs diaper bag. It is functional, holds a ton of stuff, and I like that it could easily not be a diaper bag later on. 


Everyone seemed to love the Chicco KeyFit Car seat and I am glad I went with it. Easy to install, click the seat in, or even carry the baby in the seat itself. 


I am all about easy set up and the Aprica pack and play took about ten minutes. Plus, it takes even less time to pack it back up. 


You can't go wrong with the classic Baby Bjorn carrier. 


Video monitors are great for spying on your kid who does the cutest stuff when you are not around. Not the easiest things to set  up, but we use the MobiCam. 


Play and Lounge


The Mamaroo looks like a baby spaceship. Essentially it is a bouncer that plugs in and has a bunch of settings to take your baby for a ride. My baby did not love this right away, but others do. He liked it much better after a couple months in. 


He loves the Baby Bjorn bouncer. Easy seat to sit him in while cooking dinner or folding laundry as it is light and easy to move around. Also packs up flat to throw in the car. Only down side is that you have to bounce it for them. 


The Nap Nanny is fantastic. Great for babies that have reflux or just those that want to hang out in something soft and comfortable. 


Things you convince yourself will get your baby to sleep through the night


While nothing really helps right away, there are certainly things that make babies more comfortable and more apt to do so. Swaddling is universally the go-to trick. I used a few different kinds. At first these Swaddling blankets from Giggle worked best because they were soft and stretchy. I also loved how soft and light these Aiden + Anais bamboo swaddles were. I still use those.


If your baby busts out of swaddles there is a straight jacket in your future. Looks crazy when putting it on your baby, but the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle is the best. I used these for months. 


The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD is magic. Watch it before the baby arrives. 


Babies love white noise and a noise machine of any kind works great. I got the Graco sound machine and I like all the different sounds as well as the iPod jack to play music. 


Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Weissbluth from Children's Memorial in Chicago is a great sleep book with legit science behind the methods. If you do not have time to read it page for page, there are some fast references for bleary eyed parents. So far, it has worked great for us. 


Some babies do not even take pacifiers. Mine did from the get go and uses it for soothing. Get a bunch of different kinds, because he will have a preference. We landed on Avent Soothie and that is all he likes. 


Hungry Baby


It is amazing how a breast pump quickly becomes the most important appliance in your life. I used the Medela Free Style and was strapped to this thing for months. I loved the bustier bra so I could go hands free, which is the funniest thing for your husband to come home to. The freezer bags are great and I loved the sanitizing bags for quick cleaning bottles and pump parts. 


There are a ton of brands that make nursing pillows, I got the bare naked pillow with the organic cover. It also made a great little seat for him to hang in the nursery. 


Aiden + Anais burp clothes are cute and super soft after washing. Get a ton, they work as bibs when the drool starts and for feeding. 


Babies also dictate what they want to use when it comes to bottles. I tried a few and had success with Dr. Brown's bottles. The parts are annoying, but I have a few sets and then throw everything in the dishwasher to sanitize. That way I only have to do that once a day. 


Diapering, Bath, Etc. 


Though babies can survive without it, a 

wip

e warmer makes for a happy baby. 

A diaper pail with a lid works for any nursery. The Diaper Dekor has been successful in that the nursery does not have a whiff of dirty diapers. 

Everyone loves the smell of a baby and I worship Noodle & Boo for lotion and bath items. They smell amazing. I also love 

Muestela which cleans really well and the bubble bath is fun. 

  

Wrapping your little guy up in hooded towels after baths keeps them cozy. 

This Safety First Deluxe Health Kit has everything to get you started health wise. Including a pair of finger nail clippers that will be the hardest thing you do as a new mom. Just make to make anyone else feel better, I have drawn blood on a few occasions. 

Clothes


When we got back from the hospital I pretty much dressed him in Snap t shirts, diapers, and a good swaddle to keep him warm. Then we moved onto kimono onesies, which are easy to get on and off. Hanna Anderson sleepers are super cute and great for bedtime. So are these sleep gowns since they make changing a diaper a lot easier at 2am. 


Another great book I want to share is The Best Birth. It has a ton of information on what to expect for your delivery, things that no one tells you, and a great approach of doing what is best for you and your baby. It is great for all moms because it covers delivery for those going all natural, to those who want drugs the second they walk in the hospital door, and everything in between. 


I hope this list is helpful for those expecting and if you have any questions, just email me Erin@ImperfectPolish.com. 


xo
Erin 

Balsamic Caprese Chicken

This is a super easy way to dress up those chicken breasts sitting in your fridge. Just a few steps to wonderful and the flavors are perfect for the coming summer months.   











Balsamic Caprese Chicken
Forks & Amusement 2012
serves 4


four good sized chicken breasts
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
couple good glugs of olive oil
salt and pepper
eight slices of fresh mozzarella
one tomato sliced
four large basil leaves
more balsamic to drizzle


Place chicken breasts in plastic bag with vinegar and olive oil. Close bag and massage into the chicken. Marinate for 30 minutes or up to overnight. 


Heat grill or grill pan. Remove chicken from marinade, season generously with salt and pepper. Place on grill and cook, turning once until cooked through. About 10-15 minutes. 


Place a couple of slices of mozzarella on each chicken breast for the last five minutes of grilling. 


Place cooked chicken on serving plate, top with slices of fresh tomato, a basil leaf, and drizzle with more balsamic. 


Serve warm or room temperature (great to make ahead for a party). 


xo
Erin 

Coming Home

I have a few quiet moments from the craziness of the last couple weeks to share a peek at what has kept me so busy. I have come full circle and have made the move back to my hometown with my family. It all happened pretty fast and I have hardly even had a chance to enjoy it and breath, until today. I have stopped unpacking boxes, obsessing about the washer that does not work, and the foot printed floors, to just relax and take it in. There is a still a ton to do and I am going to take my time with decorating, but I wanted to share a few glimpses of my favorite things to far. 

Freshly painted shutters

Contrasting Staircase

Vintage looking French fixtures

Dining room set and fixture fit perfectly

Total privacy, so blinds can always be open

Huge storage closet off kitchen for stock, gadgets, linens, cookbooks... 

Wood burning fireplace in the kitchen

Sunny utility room 

Tub with a view

There will be a few big projects to share (refinishing the basement), a ton of decorating, and the rearranging of furniture to fit the new space. I am going to take my time this time around and not make any hurried decisions (super hard to not want to finish everything right away, so type A!) and I promise to share all the steps along the way. 


The girls from NEAT Method are coming today to get after my closet, which needs serious help. Can't wait to share with you what they do with the space. 


xo
Erin