Lately 8/22

A little bit of good news/bad news for you all. The good news is, Stile.Foto.Cibo has some awesome changes in the works! We’re moving to a self-hosted platform and, with that, will come an amazing new look and so much more. Unfortunately, that means new content is on the back burner while we figure out all of this other amazing stuff. I promise, I’ll be back with new content and exciting stuff soon. There’s a TON in the works and it’s all incredibly exciting. We just need some down time to get everything ready. So stay tuned for awesome changes!

Fountainhead, Ravenswood

Oh do I love a good rooftop dining experience, especially in Chicago during the summer. It might be my favorite way to experience Chicago summers, actually. Good food, great weather and views, cool drinks, good company. It’s such a relaxed way to unwind.

So when my cousin came in to visit, I had to wow her with a dining experience like no other. We headed to Fountainhead, a German-inspired restaurant in Ravenswood with a killer rooftop and am awesome sounding menu of snacks to munch the evening away.

Drinks

We started with sonme drinks at the bar while they prepped our table upstairs. Since Jessie’s under 21, she stuck with a diet coke but I got more adventurous and tried their rosé sangria. Oh my goodness was it sweet. But actually really good! It was crisp and refreshing even if my molars were wondering why I’d done this to them. I don’t know that I would order it again but it was good for a start.

Sarah ordered a rhubarb cider that I thought was awful but she loved. Rhubarb is super not my jam, though, so I knew I was in for disappointment with that one.

Atmosphere

With our table ready, we headed upstairs and were seated. The vibe of the rooftop is so chill. Disposable cups and dishes, umbrellas, TVs, an open grill. It was great and exactly what we were looking for, even if we couldn’t really get any good views from where we were.

Food

The main event! This was where Fountainhead really won me over. Between the three of us, we tried a good chunk of the rooftop menu (which is different from the menu downstairs in the main restaurant). Tacos, german pub bites, and so much more. This stuff was gooooood. Keep scrolling for details on the food we ordered and more photos form this amazing evening.

Sangria and cider

Elotes, Fountainhead style! This dish is inspired by the traditional hispanic version. Corn, cheese, butter, chile powder, cilantro, and lime. So delicious.

Chicken taco. Looked good, smelled good. Pretty traditional and got a thumbs up from Jessie!

Pretzel with dipping mustard. That mustard was teeming with horseradish. Definitely not for the faint of heart but really tasty nonetheless.

Pork taco. Also really tasty.

Pub cheese, which is exactly what it looks like. A tub of cheese and a pretzel roll for spreading. Spicy with horseradish and so yummy.

I highly recommend checking our Fountainhead for an awesome rooftop experience. Their extensive drink menu will have something to satisfy everyone and their food is wonderful! They do not take reservations so prepare to wait a little while if you want to sit up top, even on weekdays!

Curls and Color with Hair Loft West Loop

It’s been a good long while since I did anything new with my hair, and that includes cuts! I tend to neglect my hair between sessions in a salon and the result is usually lots of dead and split ends, sad curls, and just an unhappy time for everyone.

My experience with HAIR LOFT West Loop, however, was phenomenal! I worked with Christian on recommendation of the owner, Ben, and couldn’t be more pleased to report that he did an amazing job with the color, the cut, and the styling. I’m so so happy with my hair now and actually feel confident no matter how it’s styled thanks to a killer cut and a fresh new color look.

We sat down and just chatted hair for a little bit. Christian asked about my general routine, how I style, my last cut, and more of the usual. I showed him some photos to use as inspiration for both color and style and then basically told him “Have fun!” And oh boy did he.

We went over to the color bar where we talked specific shades for me and he mixed my color. We went with a dark chocolate-y brown around the roots which fades to a very light blonde for the middle and ends of my hair.

I love that the color bar is separate from the rest of the salon. That means that if you’re just in for a blowout, you’re not getting suffocated by the smells of color in the next chair over. And there are no mirrors in the color bar so you can’t get nervous as color is being applied. It requires a new level of trust for your stylist but it’s definitely for the better. It makes seeing your color for the first time feel like a big reveal!

Everyone’s least favorite part is waiting for color to set. But with a table full of magazines, tea and coffee, and actually comfy chairs, it’s not the worst experience ever.

Over to the washing station which is equally as beautiful (this whole space is beautiful, let’s be real) to get the color out and then back to the color bar to tone that lightener. This is another point where I was super glad there weren’t any mirrors in the color bar. Just-bleaches hair looks and feels gross so not being able to see it actually kept me way calmer than seeing it in a mirror. Putting that trust in Christian again!

After a little bit more waiting around and a trip to the washing station for shampoo and conditioner, it was finally over to the styling stations where Christian began his masterful work. Cutting layers everywhere, getting my less than happy ends gone, and really giving my hair some wonderful attention while still keeping it long, the way I love it.

A little blow drying and a little bit of curling followed. Christian talked me through some awesome tips for curling my hair which I was able to [sort of] replicate later on my own. I think a big part of it is going to be practice but that’s half the fun sometimes, right?

But now, for the magic:

I absolutely LOVE it! I love the way he styled the curls, I love how the color came out, I love the layers and the length. Absolutely all of it is just perfection. Christian did a truly wonderful job with my mane and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Want to work with Christian as well? Here’s his hours:

Tue West Loop 11a – 7p

Wed River North 1p – 9p

Thu River North 1p – 9p

Fri West Loop 11a – 7p

Sat West Loop 9a – 5p

The River North location can be found at 217 W Huron and the West Loop is at 33 N Carpenter.

Many thanks again to Ben and Christian of Hair Loft for the amazing new look as well as to Sarah of Levine-Moore Photography for the photos!

Lately

It’s been a while since I just rambled on about life on here. If that’s not the kind of post you’re looking for, click away because I’m about to talk (write?) your ear off for a bit. If you’re down, pour a cuppa and get cozy. We’re about to have a little chat.

Mental Health

I spent the better part of the first few months this year focusing REALLY HARD on my mental health and was trying to be pretty honest with it here on the blog for you guys. That was going well. I set goals for myself every month and actually accomplished them. Then summer rolled around and I’ve kind of stopped with the goals and stuff but have been maintaining what I started. I’m still drinking tons of water and making my bed and doing some self care for me once in a while. By and large things are going really well. And I’m feeling so much better.

One Floppy Ear

I started another blog! I realised that I have lots and lots of things to say about dogs and rescue dogs and my work volunteering with shelters and all these things that it just made sense to have a separate blog for it. It’s called One Floppy Ear, after everyone’s favorite feature of Zoe, and it’s been a blast so far. We’re featuring rescue dogs who are friends or ours, working with doggy brands in Chicago, and so much more. It’s bound to be a wild ride form start to finish and I can’t wait for what it has in store. Check it out!

Moving

We’re moving at the end of the month! Finally getting away from this less than stellar apartment and moving somewhere in which we can really feel at home and begin our married life. It’s a garden unit in one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city, a short walk from the Southport shopping district, and just perfect. There’s a second bedroom so I can finally have a dedicated office for blogging. I’m already dreaming of all the decor options and so I’ve started a Pinterest board (and eventually an Insta tag) called Stile.Foto.HOME. You can follow the board here to see all my inspo. I’m sure I’ll do a series of posts once the place starts coming together as well. Keep an eye out!

Wedding

I haven’t done a wedding update in so long that I don’t know if you guys have heard anything! We have so much ready and finalized and we’re mostly working on the little details at this point. Everything is coming together so beautifully and I’m so excited to see the final product. It’s going to be an autumnal dream with deep purples, bright orange, eucalyptus everywhere, and fairy lights for days. I can’t wait to share the photos with you all after the fact!

Overall, things are actually pretty great and I can’t complain at all. Thanks for coming along with me for this crazy ride and thanks so much for all your support through everything.

Rideshare, the all-too-real Web Series

You’re a stranger, so who are you going to tell?

We’ve all got amusing stories of city life from weird encounters with drunk folks, to that particularly terrifying late night train ride, to experiences with ride share services like Lyft and Uber. They’re all worth a laugh after the fact but, during the moment, can cause a whole different range of emotions.

RideShare follows the stories of one driver and the eclectic passengers with whom he shares the ride. Created by real-life driver Jeff Irlbeck and real-life frequent ride sharing passenger Katie Hunter, each episode is completely improvised. With the help of writer Ian Michael Smith, the character and stories were conceived and distributed to the talented cast of actors who portray them. From funny to disturbing, each of RideShare’s six episodes reveals what happens when people choose to share.

Still from Episode 4 of RideShare | The Webseries by Spacecamp Productions. Featuring Katie Hunter and Jeff Irlbeck

Guys, these episodes are FUNNY! Though they’re definitely funny in the “this is not going to end well” kind of way. They’re absolutely ridiculous while at the same time being way too real for words. Because we’ve definitely been around when people choose to share and, oof, that can get real weird real quick.

Still from Episode 3 of RideShare | The Web Series by Spacecamp Productions. Featuring Ford Beckley and Jeff Irlbeck.

If you ever use ride share programs, you’ll definitely find some good hilarity in this series. Check them out here!

Still from Episode 3 of Rideshare | The Web Series by Spacecamp Productions. Featuring Alec Robbins.

You can also get $20 off your first LYFT ride with code “JEFF613” which is pretty awesome. I, for one, vastly prefer Lyft over Uber so I highly recommend them!

Self Care with Hair Lab @ Hair Loft

Taking time to care for oneself is so so important and definitely a thing we don’t do nearly enough. But it might not be for time, it might be for lack of inspiration in self care. We think of these activities as being things like baths, massages, or other kinds of relaxation-based activities. But what if self care was doing other things for yourself like taking the time to learn how to do your hair really nicely? Taking the time to practice and eventually be able to do something well and quickly. Sometimes, simply looking your best and having done it yourself is a great way to boost confidence and mood.

That’s the idea with LAB at Hair Loft. This complimentary evening allows  group of 10-15 people to come together and learn how to do their hair three different ways to make styling easy and fun! Through a class and then one-on-one styling time, our group of bloggers left with the ability to achieve whatever look we want quickly and easily. It certainly takes time and practice but the end result is totally worth it!

We focused on three styling techniques:

Round Brushing: This one is your basic blowout. Using the heat of the dryer and the motion of the round brush to get a smooth look with some natural wave and bounce.

Curling: Every kind of curl from Shirley Temple all the way to Adriana Lima on the Victoria’s Secret runway can be achieved with the right tool and a little patience!

Smoothing: Got a flat iron? You can make stick-straight locks or even Jacey Duprie chunky waves with the right technique!

I hosted the event with two of my blogger gals, Allie of Allie’s Fashion Alley and Allison of The Snotty Little Bitch. We has a great time with our blogger friends with some sips and snacks, embracing the ability to look silly while we tried to figure out how to do our hair, and so much more. Want to host your own? Check out the LAB page to learn how.

Allison of The Snotty Little Bitch gets her short pixie round brushed

Volunteer the curly kid for curling.

Showcasing different kinds of curls.

Showing smoothing on Erin of BeBuddha Jewelry

Hands-on sessions with a little help. Erin working on curling.

Allison working on some more technique. How to get that kinky look with a flat iron.

Concentrating super hard on making Victoria’s Secret curls. Apparently I stick my tongue out when I do that.

La Toya of The Fat Girl of Fashion, looking on and providing her sage advice. She’s a hair magician, I swear.

AHHHH! (seriously, what are these faces?)

Nikki of 30s and Chic taking a turn at the styling stations.

Smile! Hair styling is way more fun when you have the pros teaching you. Natalie of Hair Loft is amazing!

 

Swimsuit Summer Style

Words cannot accurately describe how much I absolutely love this bikini. It’s gorgeous, it’s unique, it actually makes me feel confident in something that isn’t boy shorts, and it makes me look more tan than I actually am. Basically, it hits on all the important points and I’m OBSESSED. It’s certainly going to make for some interesting tan lines on our honeymoon this October but I don’t even care. I feel amazing in this bikini (something that hasn’t happened… ever) and I love that.

Though, admittedly, it probably helps to have your fiancee taking the photos. That’s quite the confidence boost, I must say.

Bikini Top | Forever 21
Bikini Top | Forever 21
Bangles | ALEX AND ANI

Photos by Levine-Moore Photo

Summer Style in a Wrap Skirt & Statement Earrings

A good outfit that works for the office and for going out is like a Holy Grail that I work so hard to find. So when this skirt was on sale at J.Crew Factory for damn near 50% off and I got these earrings in from ILYMIX, I knew I was set. This look is perfect to wear to work and then take straight out to drinks with friends!

The earrings might be my favorite part, too. Remember those posts back in Feb & March about ILYMIX and getting 20% off your order? That code still works. So go to http://www.ilymix.com and use code “stile20” at checkout and you get 20% off! I can solidly say, having a ton of their stuff, that it’s all wonderful!

I’m also just obsessed with this skirt right now. It’s a faux wrap skirt, so I don’t actually have to wrap it. It zips up the back! But the knot detail on the side and the whole pattern is just stunning. I love it so much!

Skirt | J.Crew Factory
Earrings | c/o ILYMIX (Use code “stile20” to get 20% off your order!)
Chambray | GAP
Flats | Steve Madden

Photos by Levine Moore Photography

Firmoo Sunglasses

One question I get all the time is “Have you tried contacts?” or some variant of that. Admittedly, I ask for it. I constantly complain about my glasses for one reason or another. Be it sun blinding me, nose pads irritating me, or any other myriad of issues, that always seems to be the solution. Get contacts. Unfortunately, my allergies cause some serious itchy eye and contacts would NOT get along with that at all.

Firmoo Optical has presented the best solution ever to at least one of my glasses woes — brightness. They do prescription sunglasses for around $40 + shipping.

I know what you’re thinking: “prescription sunglasses have been a thing for ages! Welcome to the club?”

But have you ever seen how EXPENSIVE prescription sunglasses are? Woof.

These are super affordable and all you need is your prescription handy to order them. I absolutely love the style I got, despite them not being available anymore. But they have so many amazing pairs to choose from!

They take slightly longer to ship when purchasing prescription but the way was definitely worth it! Now I’ve got a stellar pair of adorable sunglasses that I can actually see out of. Consider my world rocked.

Cost-effective prescription sunglasses you say? Do tell!

Photos by Levine-Moore Photography

Public Hotel & Pump Room Summer Cocktail Launch

To kick off the best season in Chicago and show off their new seasonal cocktails, Public Hotel hosted a party for influencers in Chicago. A rooftop party. With cocktails. Literally the most signature Chicago thing you can do in the summer. Needless to say, we FLOCKED there in droves. I saw so many of my favorite blogger babes including Rachel of Wayfaring Rachel, Maddy of Chicago Cheap-Ass, Katie of Dining at my Desk, and Chrissy of The Hungary Buddha! It was an amazing chance for us to all catch up, unwind, and share a drink in this picturesque location.

Now, I’m in lust with the Gold Coast already. The whole neighborhood is STUNNING and I’m just a little bit obsessed. So getting a chance to party there might have made my entire week. And on the rooftop with those gorgeous views of the skyline? Yep, I was sold.

The cocktail menu featured the new seasonal selections for each of the Public Hotel’s various restaurants and lounges. This includes the Pump Room and the Library & Coffee Lounge (which is going to probably become a regular haunt for me in the very near future). I sampled four of the cocktails on feature and am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed all of them.

The Niña Fuerte features a Yerba-Mate tea infused Milagro Reposado Tequila alongside Luxardo Marachino, lime, pineapple, and mint. I happened to be nearby when this one was being mixed up and got to watch its creator, Ben Pavlichek, at work. It was mesmerizing watching the expert cocktail creation!

Among other drinks sampled were the Strawberry Royale, a sparkling rose with strawberry syrup (just a bit sweet for my taste); the Gold Coast, La Colombe cold-brew with barrel-aged gin, non-dairy milk, simple syrup, and a kiss of cinnamon (so delicious!); and, the surprise of the evening, the Coffee Stout, sparkling cold-brew coffee with whiskey, vanilla simple syrup, and a touch of lemon zest. It was so refreshing!

I highly recommend checking out Public Hotel for their many different dining and lounge options and trying all the summery cocktails available.

The Strawberry Royale alongside the menu of drinks for the evening.

The making of the La Niña Fuerte

Finished product!

Gorgeous views to accompany the evening.

Romper | LOFT (similar here, here, and here)
Shoes | Topshop (similar here, here, and here)