I knew it was time to address this topic when wedding photos started popping up in my Facebook newsfeed again.  The further we get into our 20′s, the more wedding invitations find their way into our mailboxes. That means, of course, the more outfits you must carefully prepare!  And eternal love, blah blah blah.

I’ve seen some wildly inappropriate selections at the 9 weddings I’ve been to in recent years.  I’ve also seen some great choices.  I’m going to give a few tips on what works and what doesn’t – not that you need it…but someone you know might.

Consult the invitation

I just got an invite for a wedding this summer and “black tie” was written in very small font on the very bottom of the card.  It goes to show you should pay attention and read very carefully.  Another detail to observe is the style of the invitation.  Is it very formal in design or is it quite simple?  What are the main colors?  You can often derive the tone of the wedding (fancy or laid back) as well as color schemes from these cues.  Use this to structure your attire. We don’t want to show up looking like bridesmaids, now do we?

Tone it down a bit

I’m not suggesting you look boring.  I’m merely reminding you that there will be older generations and religious figures involved.  Give yourself a serious once over and make sure you aren’t showing too much. Try and avoid overly bright colors and/or anything you would wear to a club.  This includes extreme shoes as well.

Take your mom shopping

Unless your mom is more Dina Lohan than Charlotte York, bring her along to pick out a dress.  Chances are she’ll gravitate more towards a classic style and will have been to enough weddings to know what will fit in.

I said DRESS

It’s the simplest way to get fancy enough.  Base the style of dress on what you learned above.

Do I really need to spell this out?

Unfortunately, yes.  I’ve seen multiple women show up wearing white.  Once I even saw a LONG, WHITE DRESS.  I’m not going to say this again – only the bride gets to wear a white dress.  The End.

Where do I go?

I’ve found some really excellent dresses at The Limited for small prices.  Try your luck at H&M but proceed with caution  -quality can be an issue sometimes.  Any department store dress section will offer a wide variety in many price points as well.

The moral of the story is, the bride and groom are looking the best they ever have in their lives.  Shouldn’t you honor them by putting some effort into your look?  Be appropriate, and really think about your styling.  Cheers!

photo is property of Whitney Middleton

When I first moved to the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, I decided to check out the area. While strolling down Milwaukee Avenue, I noticed a store called the Boring Store. With a bright orange awning, and an illustration of a private detective with a shopping cart—I was intrigued. I walked into the Boring Store, not having any idea what I would find. Would it really be boring, like the name boasted, or the exact opposite of the word?

Upon entering, I was immediately caught up in all the novelty items for sale, like mustache disguises, Pepsi cans that double as a safe, cameras that squirt water, pencils that are actually pens, and every other gadget an aspiring spy would need to successfully go undercover. After being told that The Boring Store sells things that are “not what they seem,” the confused look on my face promptly caused the volunteer working the cash register to laugh and take pity on me and tell me what the Boring Store really is.

Yes, it’s a spy supply store—but it’s also a “cover” for a writing and tutoring center for kids ages 6-18. Take a photo tour of the Boring Store here.

826CHI, part of 826 National—an organization started by author Dave Eggers—is a place where kids are given the resources, one-on-one tutoring, and encouragement to learn creative and expository writing. They offer drop-in tutoring, class field trips, writing workshops, and in-schools programs. And the best part is, all of their services are FREE!

Wait, that’s only one of the best parts. Another best part is that you can buy books written by the students of 826CHI right at the Boring Store. Have you ever read a book of short stories by a group of elementary students? If you haven’t, I can tell you one thing—it will make you wish you were 8 again.

And yet ANOTHER best part is that the people at 826CHI don’t take themselves terribly seriously. They take what they DO seriously, but will you find them hosting a gala with $900 tickets to raise money for their organization? If they are, they’re doing that undercover, too.

826CHI makes contributing attainable for volunteers of various age and income with events like the Moustache-a-thon, where participants find people to sponsor them as they dare to attempt a feat that’s equally as impressive as running 26.2 miles—growing facial hair! Even the baby-faced can participate by competing in mustache-related challenges, like writing a song about a mustache, or making a mustache related craft. This is an event that doesn’t cost you any money to participate—a little dignity, maybe—but it allows you to give a lot.

And, if you’re feeling nostalgic about your high school days, or you finally have your braces off and would like a second chance at attending prom, you’re in luck. Each year, 826CHI hosts a themed prom where you can dress up, drink, dance and pretend like you’re 17 again. This year’s prom is titled Prom Hanks, and partygoers are encouraged to dress like a character from any Tom Hanks movie. Money raised from this, and other events, goes towards keeping 826Chi’s programs completely FREE. Buy your tickets here before they sell out!

Event details:
April 24th, 2010 at 8pm
Pulaski Park Field house (Wicker Park)
Tickets are $35 and (according to their site) include: refillable cup for hooch, food, silent auction, not silent music, and dancing, dancing, dancing

I was lucky enough to get Patrick Shaffner, the Lead Spy in Residence at 826CHI, to answer a couple of questions for me about the organization. Basically, he owed me for using a picture of me with an onion ring mustache in a Moustache-a-thon newsletter without telling me!

How do you come up with the ideas for your events? Mustache-a-thon, Prom Hanks, Scrabble for Cheaters, etc…?
After eating a seven-course meal, heavy on pasta and candy, I sit on the Idea Throne. Once on the Throne, a volunteer shouts, “What shall the event be?” And then, inspiration strikes and I am able to declare the new event. In other words, there is no method, per se, for developing events.

I’m fortunate to work with amazing volunteers and staff members and friends and family that are eager to brainstorm.  826CHI is also fortunate to have a few brother and sister 826 chapters in other cities that we bounce ideas off of or steal ideas from!

What’s one thing you want our readers to know about 826chi?
Come to Prom Hanks. Come and volunteer. Stop on by the Boring Store. Buy our students’ books.

Maybe, if you stop in, Patrick will let you sit on his idea throne. Or maybe, you’ll just end up making an impact on some kids’ lives. Either way, YOU WIN!

Hopefully you’re all sticking to your health goals in 2010.  If your workout routine needs a boost, however, I’ve got some great tips courtesy of Core Fitness Chicago trainer Nicole Krakora.  She’s giving you the 4-1-1 on how to get rockin’ abs – in ways you may not have expected.

Have you spent countless hours doing crunches and ab machines but haven’t seen much results. Try these suggestions for 6 weeks.  What have you have to lose besides your gut?

Front Squats

Rest the bar on your shoulders and keep your elbows high and tight. Tighten your abs and make sure to go to the full depth of the squat. Use a 4 0 1 0  tempo (4 seconds down 1 second up, no pauses top or bottom)  for 5 sets of 10 reps.

Chins

When doing chins make sure your legs hang straight down or slightly forward. Brace your abs.  Make sure to bring the collarbones to the  bar.  If you cannot do full range chins work on holding yourself at the top, middle, and bottom of the movement. You may also stand on a high box or step to boost yourself up.  Use a 4 0 1 0  tempo.

Dead Lifts

Start in a neutral position holding a weighted bar.  Knees should be soft, not locked. Bend at the waist keeping your back flat and the bar close to your body. Bend to where the bar is at about shin level and return to neutral. You want to stabilize through your hips and use your hamstrings and glutes to pull you back to neutral. Do 5 sets of 10 reps.  Use a 4 0 1 0  tempo.

For more information or to schedule your own session, email Nicole at nicole@corefitnesschicago.com

All photos taken by Whitney Middleton

This is the first installment of my “Confessions …” series where I’m going to take you through the various ways I keep myself busy while awaiting Chicago spring (never coming) and the 2010 triathlon season … hope you enjoy!

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As a triathlete many times over, I have become a fitness junkie and am always intrigued by different work out techniques. When I first heard about the Yamuna Body Rolling class that was only offered in Chicago at the Trump Tower, I was eager to test it out for myself.

While my workouts generally consist of pushing my heart rate well past zone three and generating so much sweat that my preplanned Whole Foods stop is foiled because I can’t risk seeing my Whole Foods crush in my current state, my dance background appreciates the slower paced class that focuses on balance and strength.

Upon arrival, I truly didn’t know what to expect. Mary, our instructor, unpacked her bag and out rolled various balls ranging in 4 to 9 inch sizes. She promptly assigned us balls according to our size (smaller balls for smaller people) and began to demonstrate the Yamuna technique. I would try to describe it but I would assuredly lose you. Instead, I offer a quick tutorial from instructor Mary.

While farther along the “strange” spectrum, my abs, neck and legs were very sore the next day. My body felt loose, as if I’d released toxins and renewed my joints. I can’t scientifically link the two but I’d wager they are connected.

What I do know are the three main benefits of the Yamuna technique:

1. Strengthening weight-baring stretch

2. Stimulating bone.

3. Creating space in the body.

… intriguing, huh?

Yamuna is the name of the technique’s founder who has a rich history in yoga and is now an internationally acclaimed Educator, Bodyworker, Herbalist and Aromatherapist.

If you get a chance, go check it out. Details here.

What do you do to pass the winter-caged-in-gym-but-I-have-to-keep-moving time?

Please tell me! Also,let me know about any interesting techniques you’ve heard of and I’ll attempt to test them out!

I am going to come out and say it, I am a dog lover. But the last time that I had a puppy in my life was when I was nine years old and technically she was the family dog, not mine and we put that dog down a few weeks after my 21^st birthday.

So when I brought my two-pound Silky Terrier puppy home a few months ago, I had no idea that just a few years off the rink would have such an impact on the way in which one shops for their dog.

In the quest to find something that my picky puppy would eat, I discovered a world where designer dog bowls and rhinestone collars rule. A world where posh dog boutiques stay open longer than clothing boutiques.

In just these past few months, I have discovered that these places are not just all over the city; they are all over the western suburbs too.

Specializing primarily in holistic and pure food for even the pickiest eater, each boutique that I have found has one goal in mind: the health of your dog.

In the spirit of the holidays, here are five places in the western suburbs that a 20 something could have fun at while shopping for their pup.

Keep in mind that your pooch is welcome at all of these places and bringing them is actually encouraged. This rings especially true when you are attempting to find something they will eat.

Wet Nose- With two locations including Geneva and Oak Brook (Oak Brook being the location visited), Wet Nose is all the food. They have a medium selection of holistic food, healthy treats, baked goods as well as clothing, beds, collars and toys. They also feature a large selection of unique dog bowls that have been hand designed.

Two Bostons- With two locations, the Springbrook location being the more spacious and comfortable of the two, this Naperville boutique is the most well known on this list. They focus primarily on retail including toys, clothing, collars and beds.

Their Springbrook location has a spacious bakery section, which includes everything you may need to throw a birthday party for your pooch along with other goodies. They also have a smaller selection of holistic dog foods and treats.

The Modern Dog- Run by a young staff, this Clarendon Hills boutique is located in the town’s downtown area. The front of the store is all retail, including clothing and plenty of toys. The rear of the store has food including a freezer for those on a raw diet.

Zoey’s Eatz & Treatz- Located in Burr Ridge, Zoey’s Eatz & Treatz primarily specializes in pure food for your dog. They do have a small retail section with some freshly baked goods and a freezer filled with frozen foods for your pet.

Happy Dog Barkery- Located in Downers Grove, Happy Dog Barkery has been around since 2004. They specialize in baking treats as well as healthy meals for dogs on site. In addition to their sprawling bakery section, they have a large retail space where they sell everything from dog frames to beds and collars.

Looking for some great gift options or even just an affordable shopping fix? Buy Choice consignment shop is the way to go!

Buy Choice has gently used items for sale including all types of women’s clothing and shoes, and brand new accessories too. I saw an amazing dress, perfect for New Years, and a gorgeous winter white leather jacket for sale last time I stopped by. Katji, one of the owners, has a great eye for choosing versatile and stylish items.

Pictured is a bib necklace I bought for $24 and a Chanel-esque pin for $5.

Now through January 1, Buy Choice is having a Buy 2 Items, Get 1 Free sale on all merchandise! You can’t beat that.

Buy Choice  – 3860 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL

773-296-4525

Hi, I’m Nicole and I love changing my hair color. Ever since I got my first highlights at age 12, I decided that my real hair color was not allowed to be a part of my life. You know, that mousy color that isn’t quite brown or blond? Yeah…

I love changing my look, and have had the whole spectrum of colors from a dark brown when my favorite celeb was Eva Longoria, to a whitish blond from my days of wishing I was on Nick and Jessica’s Newlywed’s show (um yeah, that didn’t work out well for them OR for me).

Fast forward to my move to Chicago- a huge city with so many salons to choose from. A city in which you could easily go broke on that starting salary over trying to fix your roots (especially when you have ridiculously thick and wavy hair like mine). After spending most of college with the same stylist, a stylist who knew (and hesitantly accepted) that I’d want a dramatic change every few times I went in, I had to find someone who could embrace my spontenaity when it came to hair.

So I started trying to find a new go-to person in Chicago. I tried a fancy salon in Streeterville, where I had two people painting my hair for 5 hours. $350 later, my hair looked no different and I almost had a heart attack over the bill. I tried ULTA in hopes of being thrifty. Let’s just say, it didn’t work for me! I even drove out to my hometown in the far west suburbs for Saturday morning appointments only to realize that I was always late and crabby when I got there. Then there was the stylist who complained about her co-workers and bosses the whole appointment-”NEXT!” Or the one who took being risky too far and bleached my whole head with foils and made it look orange-ew. You get the idea.

Two years after moving here, I finally met Daniel- every girl’s dream stylist. My best friend emailed me a coupon for a $30 hair cut at her salon, ASHA, so I went and fell in love.

My stylist, Daniel Sabry, works at ASHA Salon Spa, an Aveda salon in Gold Coast. Not only is Daniel a VERY talented stylist (I’m sure I’ll lose him to Hollywood some day) who can practically read my mind, he is somewhat of a “hairapist” and a comedian all in one. He listens to me, but knows how to talk me out of a dark brown bottom and blond top (yes, I really wanted this look-and thanked him later for not letting me do it). He’s not afraid of doing something different with my hair, but only if it’s done with taste and class. For example, right when I thought my blonde days were over, he gave me these unbelievable Jennifer Anniston highlights that I couldn’t live without.

After I leave an appointment with Daniel, my boyfriend will always say, “Aren’t YOU slap happy!? What the heck made you so giddy?!” And I tell him in a dreamy voice while bouncing my blown out hair, “I just had a hair appointment with Daniel!”

Daniel knows how to pump me up. I can tell him everything that’s going on in my life and he listens and gives me valuable feedback. He throws in hilarious comments- his favorite one being “Get it girl!” He makes you feel and look like a celebrity when you leave.

If you’re looking to find a long-term, mega-talented, funny and friendly stylist in Chicago who won’t do you wrong, I highly suggest making an appointment with Daniel Sabry. Asha always has monthly specials, coupons, and referral discounts too. If you can’t make it to the Gold Coast location, consider trying one of Asha’s other locations like Lombard, Schaumburg or Bucktown.

I haven’t owned a car since high school. I haven’t needed one. It’s been nice, because the combined cost of gas and insurance would render me much poorer than I had previously imagined.

In college, my campus had an awesome public transportation system, and everything you ever needed to do was within a mile of where you were so if there wasn’t a bus coming within the next five minutes, you could always walk and get there in the same amount of time.

In Chicago – we have the CTA, with eight train lines and over a hundred bus routes. And if you’re coming in from the ‘burbs, there are a number of Metra lines that will get you into the Loop. I’ve lived in Chicago Proper since 2007 and have never owned a car during that time. But sometimes…I need a car.

Sometimes, I need to pick someone up from Midway at a time later than the Orange Line runs. If I want to take my weird little dog to the beach – I can’t walk her there – it’s much too far away. And it’s not unheard of for me to buy more groceries than can fit in my hands. There’s no way I’m going to go to Petco on the bus and carry a 40lb bag of dog food home in my hands. And sometimes I need to go to Target and blow through my entire paycheck in items that are larger than I can personally carry on the Addison bus – like a new floor rug.

Don’t judge me.

For instances like these – I depend on ZipCar. And my roommate is a huge fan of its more eco-friendly (and local non-profit business) counterpart, I-Go. Both are hourly car rental companies that allow their members to reserve a car for a few hours, or a whole day. They have a variety of membership plans that vary in cost based on how much driving an individual plans to do, and include basic insurance for all drivers. Also included? – gas. And that little i- thinger that lets you drive on the tollway without having to search for $3.50 in change or however much it costs to drive on the Kennedy these days.

My friend and I rented a Honda Element from I-Go last year to move his furniture and it was huge enough to hold a couch, relatively inexpensive, and when we realized we’d need the car for more time than we had reserved it, all it took was a phone call to the office and we bought ourselves more time with it.

As I mentioned earlier, I-Go is a local, not-for-profit organization that stocks its fleet with environmentally friendly cars that get amazing gas mileage or are hybrid. They’re placed all over the city and are well-maintained and generally inexpensive.

I’ve been using ZipCar since November of 2008 and have had exactly zero problems with renting a car or with any of the cars I’ve rented. Nicer still, ZipCar is a national organization – so if I ever find myself in Philly or Atlanta, I can sign up to rent a car THERE too at a much cheaper rate than if I called a more traditional rental company. Also, ZipCar stocks a much larger variety of cars – which is kind of nice if you had intended to go out and purchase a particular car back in the day when you actually had disposable income – instead of having legit payments on this car that you wanted to own in the first place, you can just borrow it when you need it and never have to pay for its gas.

Also, here’s an anecdote about how ZipCar saved me from my own idiocy this weekend:

I rented a car to go play in the suburbs and run errands, and when I returned it to its designated spot, I left my house keys inside the damn car and failed to realize this until arriving at my house. And then I had a stroke because that’s what I do when it’s 30 degrees out and I’m locked out of my house because I should probably have all the important things in my life stapled to my person and I have failed to do so.

So I got on the phone to ZipCar and they informed me that the car I had just left had been rented out, but that the current renter of the car had found my keys and left them in the glovebox.

Long story short, the representatives at ZipCar were sympathetic to my idiocy and entirely willing to help me get into the car so that I could then get into my house. And I was and am thankful, because it was later on a Sunday, and I could have easily been out of luck in a big way. So…thanks for saving my butt, ZipCar. I owe you one.

So. To live in Chicago, you don’t need a car. There is absolutely no reason for you to own a vehicle and have to pay for plates, city stickers, parking permits, gas, and insurance in this city. Especially with the wealth of public transportation we have here. But in the event that you need to borrow a car, you’ve got options. And that’s awesome.

It’s no secret to anyone that I’m a big supporter of indie designers and all things handmade. And it’s widely known that I have a tiny bit of an Etsy addiction. I’m not creative in the slightest and probably don’t have the patience to be either. Knitting and purling would probably make me lose my mind, I’d burn myself with the glue gun and give myself paper cuts trying to make stationary.

This is where Renegade Handmade comes in.

I’m sure everyone has heard about or even been to Renegade Craft Fair. To be honest, it’s pretty hard to miss. This past summer it was massive and boasted over 300 artists up and down Division Street in Wicker Park. Last weekend, Renegade took over Pulaski Park’s field house for a Holiday sale. Just in time to get all your Christmas shopping done.

But did you know that Renegade Handmade has a standing year round store?

Just off the Division / Ashland / Milwaukee intersection sits the store where you can buy and sell handmade all year round. No more saving up your pennies for one big splurge twice a year. Maybe you forgot about your best friend’s birthday and need to pick up something? Stop in an pick up a cute necklace and a letterpress card.  Or maybe you walk on a whim only to realize that your life will not be complete until you own an angry toast plush. Hey, it happens to the best of us!

I buy handmade because I want to support indie artists. The quality, the time and dedication put into their items make each and every piece unique. You definitely can’t buy this kind of stuff at your local big box store.

Besides their two big fairs, Renegade Handmade hosts workshops for the crafty and uncrafty alike. You can also buy from Renegade online. And make sure you check out the newest in their Spotlight Series: The In Stitches Showcase. Catch it before it leaves December 15th!

Renegade Handmade is located at 1924 W. Division or at www.renegadehandmade.com.

Photo credit: back_garage

Where do you find this exceptional deal? Your closet, of course! If you’ve got the “closet full of clothes, nothing to wear” feeling, don’t jump to spend on something new before you’ve really tried to make something work from what you have. Want to know how?

Follow these 5 steps: