Grateful | March 31, 2014.

I am Grateful.  

That Louisville is such a fantastic city.  C and I can't wait to visit again!

Pictures of the Week.

{We met the Doctor at Wizard World! And Amy Pond! This is very exciting, I promise.  And I'm over smiling, of course.}

{TARDIS things}

{Avengers Assemble!}

{Bourbon bar!}

{I actually don't like bourbon, but I tried!}

{More than once}

 {Breakfast at Please & Thank You on Market Street}

{Favorite house on our "Old Louisville" drive}

 {Trying bourbon once more at Maker Mark's Bourbon House}

{Remember this project?  Here's our Kentucky entry!}

Links Worth Sharing.

Liked This Book? Read this Book.  Thanks to Go Book Yourself.

A Clean-Eating Guide for Brides to Be? Yes, Please!  via Style Me Pretty.

Similarly, here's 15 Ways to Help Detox this Spring, also from Style Me Pretty.

The Everygirl has the Facts on Gluten-Free Eating.

How are we feeling about coconut oil?  Here's 10 Ways to Use It from Henry Happened.

Have a wonderful week.

xo. di.    

*images property of Diane Crary

Spring Forward | All of Time and Space.

This week, amirite guys?  It hasn't been a smooth one for me (#workproblems), and spring still isn't sure it wants to commit to an appearance in Chicago (we woke up to snow and/or rain and 30 degree weather most of the days this week), but all of that makes me even more excited for the getaway road trip C and I have planned for this weekend.  We're headed down to Louisville, KY after work today through Sunday, where it will be warmer and greener and filled with Southern Hospitality!  

We will also be nerding-it-up (technical term) at the Wizard World comic con convention in Louisville, where we will actually be meeting Matt Smith and Karen Gillan from Doctor Who.  Yes, fellow Whovians, you read that right :)  Everybody else: you probably don't know who they are.  That's ok, just know they're fabulous.  I'm already nervous.  C and I JUST finished catching up on all 7 seasons of "NuWho" this week (it took us almost a year!), so we are extra excited.    

Have a wonderful weekend.

xo. di.

*image by Evans Adventures

Grateful | March 24, 2014.

I am Grateful.  

For such a productive wedding planning weekend at home (!) with lots of family time.

Pictures of the Week.

{Hyacinths smell so divine}

{St. Pat's china; Dani Moz on The Voice!  C's brother's girlfriend!}

{My mom gave me some very old Martha's.  She's always had great hair, hasn't she?}

{Wedding rental searching; Inspiration}

{Pretty flowers at home; Registry accomplishments}

Links Worth Sharing.

Henry Happened is a new-to-me blog with tons of amazing DIY ideas for a healthy, more sustainable home.  I'm going to start by putting her ideas for Secret Headache Weapons to good use.

I love the Chicago Top 10 List Sequins & Stripes put together for her collaboration with LOFT. See it as a slideshow here.

We get to see Oh Joy!'s colorful collection for Target in action in this Garden Party.

This book may become my new go-to house warming gift.  via Design*Sponge.

This is a few weeks old, but 50 Healthy Habits Every Girl Should Have by Stylecaster is a worthwhile read.

At Home Mani/Pedi Tips from The Everygirl!

Have a wonderful week.

xo. di.    

*images property of Diane Crary

Spring Forward | Multi-Color.

Happy Spring!  I can feel it!  And I shall celebrate it with a trip home to Michigan this weekend for both wedding planning purposes and general family time (including a viewing of Frozen with my mom and sis, obvs).

Have a wonderful weekend.

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary

5 Questions With | Tara of Trunk Club.

Welcome back to the 5 Questions With series, a way to introduce you to my favorite bloggers and businesses who may not be on your radar yet - but should be :) 

Please welcome today:  Tara Little, Stylist for Trunk Club.

(1) Tell us everything we need to know about Trunk Club and what it means to be a stylist for them.

Trunk Club was created to eliminate the hassle of shopping for Men! Sure we have a ton of guys who like to shop, but do they really have time to rifle through racks and try on numerous pants and shirts to find out none of them fit? Whether he is looking for an updated wardrobe, has an event he's attending or needs just a new fresh look in his wardrobe, we at Trunk Club make it as easy as possible. 

There are three avenues to our business, the in house experience where our guys can come into our loft space in downtown Chicago, have a drink at our bar and try outfits on their stylist pulls for them; we have a custom team that can create suits, shirts, pants, etc.; and the third avenue are the Trunks we send out. After a quick chat on the phone, the stylist ships out a Trunk to him that suits their lifestyle! He only pays for the clothes he keeps - which are similarly priced to Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. There is no membership fee or upfront cost, shipping and handling is on us too! Trunk Club is truly hassle free.

I'm one of those annoying people who loves their job and can't help talking about it! Being a stylist is so much more than just picking clothes out, we are creating a confidence in guys that is so exciting to watch grow. We understand men's clothing, we know what sizes, colors and brands will look best on each guy. It is so rewarding when you have a guy in house who leaves knowing he looks like a million bucks. Or when you're picking out an outfit your guy is wearing on a first date or proposing to his girlfriend in, it's so exciting to be a part of that process!

(2) If we're not in Chicago, can we (or rather, our significant others!) still use the service?  

Absolutely! We have so many girlfriends, wives and moms contact us to create a Trunk for him! A lot of them just want to surprise him with a special gift.

(3) Your current favorite trend in menswear?  

I'm obsessed with sport coats. I think a sport coat is not only a very practical outerwear piece as we transition into Spring, but I love how they can be dressed up and dressed down, it is such a versatile piece. We have these LBM jackets that look amazing with jeans and chinos, how perfect for a casual Friday in the office yet sexy enough for dinner out that night!

(4) Do you have a motto or favorite piece of advice you tell clients about choosing clothing?

It doesn't matter who you're wearing, as long as your clothes fit you, you'll look great!

(5) Lightning Round:

- Favorite Disney Movie? The Lion King

- Dawson or Pacey? Pacey

- Red or White Wine? Red in Winter and White in Summer

- Favorite Dessert? Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream

- Mani or Pedi? Both, a girl can't have one without the other!

Where can we find you on social media? 

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Sign-Up for Trunk Club with Tara

Thanks, Tara!

If you'd like to be a part of the 5 Questions With series, send me an email at aspotofwhimsy@gmail.com.

xo. di.

*images via Tara Little and Trunk Club 

Grateful | March 17, 2014.

I am Grateful.  

Happy St. Paddy's Day!  In between seriously stressful work weeks, I just had a great little weekend around Chicago.  

Pictures of the Week.

{More new tulips; I am powerless to resist such color}

{Hopefully our last winter wonderland of the year}

 {Beautiful-looking movie, with strange tonal issues I'm afraid} 

 {Gloriously-pink ranunculus}

{Slainte!}

{My St. Pat's gear}

Links Worth Sharing.

An Elegant St. Patrick's Day Party via The Sweetest Occasion.

Have you seen the new Mad Men Season 7 Promo Pics?  Tom and Lorenzo had some wise words to share about overanalyzing smart shows.  Remember when we though Megan Draper was going to be murdered last season?!

A Winter ONEderland Party for a 1st Birthday: Adorable - via Style Me Pretty

The Muppets + Paper Fashion's always fantastic illustrations is quite the match made in heaven!

Ann Street Studio attended the School of American Ballet's Winter Ball, and we get to see the eye candy.

New York Times' Writer Ron Suskind wrote a compelling piece on Reaching His Autistic Son through Disney Movies.  Oh my goodness, this story.

Have a wonderful week.

xo. di.    

*images property of Diane Crary

Spring Forward | Tulips With Personality.

I do not even care that it's technically not spring yet - I can't stand to write "winter beauty" one more time, even if the snow storm we got on Tuesday night led to the most beautiful ice and snow we've seen all season.  The clocks sprung ahead and so I am too :)  And what do you think these tulips are called?  They are Quirky, capital Q.  

It's St. Patrick's Day weekend here in Chicago!  Slainte!

Have a wonderful weekend.

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary

One Life.

"The trick of it, she told herself, is to be courageous and bold and make a difference. Not change the world exactly, just the bit around you. Go out there with your double-first, your passion and your new Smith Corona electric typewriter and work hard at … something. Change lives through art maybe. Write beautifully. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved if at all possible."

- One Day, David Nicholls

I read One Day about a year ago.  The novel stuck with me for many reasons (no spoilers!), but in particular because of the above quote, which kind of serves as a beautiful life mantra.  Figurative hands up if the slow move into spring each year makes you a little more reflective about your role in the world.  Can't just be me, right?  ;)

xo. di.

*image via

Grateful | March 10, 2014.

I am Grateful.  

We celebrated the s*** out of my lovely Laurenita's 30th AND Bachelorette festivities.  We drank tropical drinks.  Watched burlesque ladies.  Ice skated around Millennium Park.  Outwitted a zombie (with under a minute remaining!).  Had a Whitney Houston and Frozen singalong in the middle of a pajama party.  What a fun weekend.

Pictures of the Week.

{Friday night at Three Dots and a Dash}

{I have quite the extraordinary bruise from the above fall :P}

{Dirty 30!}

{Lovely Ladies}

{Games and Whimsy}

{With the bachelorette/birthday girl of honor - we had a pajama party on Saturday night}

 {My favorite restorative scent}

{How my knee-surgery-recovering-fiance has been spending his time :)}

Links Worth Sharing.

Beautiful behind the scenes pictures of the National Ballet of Canada preparing for Swan Lake via Fieldguided (and I missed her backstage photos of Giselle from December - gorgeous!)

Adorable DIY Shamrock Straw Toppers by The Sweetest Occasion. 

Style Me Pretty gives us what to look for When Buying Flowers.

Here's the story behind Mad Men's Season 7 Poster Design, just released on Friday via The New York Times.

10 Closet Organizing Tips from Style Me Pretty.

Have a wonderful week.

xo. di.    

*images property of Diane Crary

Winter Beauty | Spring Light.

Hello, above-freezing temps and the beginning of daylight savings time.  You are very welcome here, especially for this weekend of double-festivities for a best friend who is both turning 30 and celebrating her dwindling bachelorette-hood here in Chicago!  

Have a wonderful weekend.

xo. di.

P.S. I chose this gorgeous crown picture because of my continued obsession with the TV show Reign.  Last night's episode was so bat-shit crazy/awesome, ugh, just so much fun.  Also, crowns are always a good idea, especially for bachelorettes :) 

*image via Man Repeller by way of Harper's Bazaar UK

The Oscars, On Paper.

By now we've all seen the best and worst of this year's Oscars Red Carpet at least a dozen times, right?  So instead of reposting them here, I thought I'd spotlight the gorgeous work Katie Rodgers of Paper Fashion created of her favorite looks during the show (how can they be this good and made that quickly?!), which she posted to her Instagram and Facebook page.

Like Lupita in Prada (golden statue in hand!), Cate in Armani Prive, Charlize in Dior, and Pink during her performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  Katie even managed to improve JLaw's Christian Dior, which was lovely but a little boring (and Emma Thompson wants her hair back!).

Other favorites: Jennifer in Oscar de la Renta (she's just getting better with age, isn't she?!). Amy Adams in Gucci - what a striking column of navy!  And wasn't it nice to see Angie (in Elie Saab Couture) in something other than black, and with both legs properly placed under her skirt?

I didn't have any dresses I loathed this year, just some underwhelming ones.  Though I was really surprised that Anne Hathaway showed up in the exact same silhouette as her much-lambasted Prada dress from last year.  This year's Gucci was certainly an improvement, but why remind us of The Nipple Dress (TM) so soon?

What looks did you love (or hate)?

xo. di.

*all images by Katie Rodgers of Paper Fashion

Grateful | March 3, 2014.

I am Grateful.  

It's March!  That means it's almost spring :)

And did you guys see this picture of Lupita's dress?!  Total Disney Princess moment.

P.S. The McConnaissance is complete!

Pictures of the Week.

{Spring?!}

 {Saturday Brunch at Chicago Q and Wedding Dress Shopping with a Girlfriend}

{Saturday dinner in a snow storm}

{It's March!}

{Oscar night}

Links Worth Sharing.

If you have not seen this Adorable 4-Year-Old and her Gorgeous Paper Dresses, do so now via Huffington Post

How to Contour & Highlight by Once Wed

Calligraphy Lovers: did you read Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls Interview (Part 1 and Part 2) with Tristan of Besotted this week?  Gorgeous photography by Elizabeth Messina too.

Camille Styles gives us tips on How to Photograph Little Ones.

A Sip & See Party to meet a new baby is such an adorable idea!  via Style Me Pretty

Style Me Pretty also gave us a lovely Floral Pop-Up Shop, with Awesome Floral Arranging Tips 

The Olympics, Frame by Frame is amazing - via The New York Times

Have a wonderful week.

xo. di.    

*images property of Diane Crary