H&M: A great shopping destination.

It was when I first moved to Chicago for graduate school is when I discovered H&M-a fashion retail store that hails from Sweden. This store has locations all over the world and features fashion that has a global sense to them as well. I went to school just right across the street from this store and usually after class I would just step on over and shop for outfits that I would plan out for the weekends in the city. As I said before,I was a grad student so that meant I couldn't exactly shop at its fellow neighbor Chanel or Gucci or any of those high end stores you would find on Michigan Ave.

H&M always rotates their storefronts and their layouts of the store as well,giving it a fresh new look each time. Some designers even have sold some of their items here such as Roberto Cavalli,Madonna,and now Parisian Sonia Rykiel,which just started featuring her clothing line today. The store on Michigan Ave. here in Chicago is three stories high,and has clothes for Men,Women,and children as well. Accessories can be found here ranging from costume jewlry to scarves to purses. I especially love their "Divided" line which provides comfortable,affordable,and stylish items.  And yes, the clothes are of good quality and last.

One thing I should forewarn people should they ever decide to come to this store:Saturdays are crazy busy because of all the tourists that come for the shopping on Michigan Ave. The best time to come here to shop is on a Sunday or even during the week. I don't know about you but I hate crowds when I go shopping. I like to take my time and stroll through,looking at different pieces in a relaxed atmosphere without being bumped into or wait in long lines at the fitting rooms.

I have to say ever since I moved to Chicago I also gained a great interest and appreciation for fashion. Where I come from,people don't dress as individuals but more like cookie cutter so they can blend in. No one takes risks and if you did it would just be thought of as odd or off the wall. But here,I noticed that fashion is taken on another level-it may not be Paris or NYC but Chicago definitely has style here. The numerous boutiques that are available at your fingertips is great and the shopping is extraordinary. Another reason why I love living here.

Sick of Starbucks? Try Bridgeport Coffeehouse.

 

 This past weekend,Tim and I headed out for my early Valentine's Day gift in Lincoln Park. Afterwards,we then gave a buddy a lift to the West Loop. Of course,my husband,being the spontaneous one as all Europeans are,decided to take a trip down memory lane as we head on over to Bridgeport Coffeehouse for a cup of java on the southside.As we gave our friend a tour of the first neighborhood he lived in when he moved from Jersey, Bridgeport, which is the home of the White Sox,we finally arrived and instantly the coffee-bartender(slightly pictured), Mike, greeted us with open arms as if it was yesterday. When Tim and I first started dating, he lived in Bridgeport and I read one day in Chicago Magazine that this was a pretty neat place to go for coffee,hangout,etc. Tim did not even know this place existed and it was right in his backyard. Instantly,we became a regular and after awhile all the employees there got to know us.

Bridgeport Coffeehouse was created when the owner saw an empty storefront one day and thought since the neighborhood didn't have really anywhere to go as far as coffee,it would be an ideal spot. And he was right. Everything on the menu is pretty good,but I have to say their coffee of the day is always a hit no matter what. Coffees from South America can be found here. They also blend and roast their own coffees daily.You can take some home to brew for your liking. 

The ambiance has that homey,cozy feeling where everyone knows your name. Free Wifi is a plus as regulars come and surf the net or  or type that 10 page college paper. Pictures and paintings of local artists are also featured on the walls. On Sundays,different musicians come and entertain the coffee dwellers. We have also come here in the middle of the week where musicians held small venues as well. 

I now live on the Northside,but no matter what we will never forget Bridgeport Coffeehouse,it's definitely worth the trip. Why go to corporate chain owned Starbucks when you got great local coffeeshops in your own backyard? Those are the best places to hit up in my opinion because they are unique and have that great neighborhood feel to them. And that's what makes them so special. 

Bridgeport Coffehouse is located at  3101 S Morgan St in Chicago.

Attention: El train riders.

Lately I have been reading incidences regarding theft on the Red Line train. This isn't meant as a scare tactic but just thought I'd post some tips:

If you need to ride the El to run errands try to do it during daytime hours.
Now I know you must be thinking: things happen in the daytime also. Very true,but your risk of something happening goes up at night,especially if you are riding alone. There is usually more people in the daytime as well.

Please,if you can,do not take your purse,and take only credit cards.

If there is any way you can take a small coin purse or just put your credit card in your pocket,you are better off. Buy a CTA pass if you can so that you don't have to carry that much cash. Especially with the times right now,more women(as well as men) are getting pick pocketed. Again,things still can happen no matter how careful you are but at least with credit cards you can dispute the charges and cancel it all together if someone ends up stealing it. Lot of city people know this but for those who have recently transplanted from a small town or come down to the city from the 'burbs they tend to be too comfortable and are the ones that end up having this happen to them the most.

Use the buddy system
Especially if you are going to be riding late at night coming back from the bars.

Lastly,if you see something suspicious,get off and go inside to the nearest building.
Immediately call the police if you can.

If you can,carry Mace with you,it's good to have on your keychain in case you need to use it.

The El train system is a wonderful source of transportation that can help us avoid paying 30 dollar parking fees,but at the same time you are going with a number different kinds of people so it is always a good idea to take precaution.

Get fit with Body By Gilad!

It's getting towards the end of the month and I am still focusing on working out and eating healthy. If you want to get really fit with fast results,may I suggest "Body by Gilad" workout programs. I have been utilizing his exercise as far back as high school so I know it works. I have tried all sorts of exercises but find that I get bored real easily. With Gilad's programs,you will never be bored. He mixes it up with a combination of cardio,weight lifting,squats,abs,you name it. And they work! Choose from a variety of dvds that target all types of body parts and you will be strutting North Ave Beach in no time.

Check out  Body by Gilad for further ordering information,or tune in to your local listings on Fit Tv.

Doodleganza at the Museum of Contemporary Art

Just found a neat event that is held  the first Tuesday of each month at the Museum of Contemporary Art. "Doodleganza" is basically a free event where people can come and experience some hands on art while they feature different artist to guide the participants into making it. It's not quite an art class,but more of an "art party" that does not require any expertise of art whatsoever.

This event occurs the first Tuesday of every month and starts at 6pm. A great "happy hour" event where you can relieve some of that stress from work. It can be very therapeutic if I say so myself.

Check out different free events every Tuesday by checking out MCA's site.

Healthy Eating in 2010!

I vowed myself after New Year's that I was going to eat more healthy. So far so good!

After much reading,I learned that fruits and vegetables,not carbs,should make up the majority of your diet. I have also incorporated a trail mix of nuts and raisins so I can snack on in a healthy way between breakfast and lunch to curb my appetite. As far as proteins,egg whites,chicken breast,and lean turkey meat are some of the things I have included as well.

Stay tuned as I blog about my exercise regime with Body by Gilad.

Material Posessions or Having "fun"?

I have been debating on this forum on this particular topic and most people got the question. The question I posted was" would you rather spend your money on material things like nice house,car,etc or,would you rather spend your money on vacations,eating out/having drinks,etc. Most of the people on there got it but one particular person has not gotten the concept,she believes you can do both.

Really both? Are you well-to-do?Living at home? Then ok,I can see the point there. But for the average Joe,some take priority of having a nice place to live and spend money towards that than to splurge on eating out at fancy restaurants 3-4 times a week. Some prefer to enjoy life more and are perfectly fine living in a shack and not drive a car.

I honestly think this girl still lives at home with her parents and don't know quite yet how it is to live in the real world.

It really is about where your priorities are in life. I also believe you can have a great blend of both lifestyles,as long as you don't go one extreme to another,unless you want to be among the millions that are in great credit card debt that can't seem to pay off their bills.

I think that this is the reason why the economy is in the state that it is right now-I am hearing countless stories of people that have not seemed to "learn their lesson" and continue to just not care.

I had an interesting conversation with someone the other day. She hails from a poor country and have always had a low standard of living. So when the economy went downhill in the US she pointed out that she was able to cope with it because she has been living this way for a long time out there. My husband says this to me also. People that have been put in this situation before tend to be more resilient than those that are not used to it.

Maybe this concept will now be coming to the US,we don't know for sure if the state of the economy is going to recover completely to where it was during the Clinton years. Perhaps people will start living like the people in France for instance,small housing establishments and taking public transportation,or just own one car instead of 4.