Vaca Recap ~ The Windy City

Chicago is an amazing city and one that is near and dear to my heart. When David and I first met he was working and attending grad school in Chicago. We were long distance and spent many many weekends dating there. In fact, we even got engaged on the rooftop of his apartment on Lake Shore Drive! 

Whenever we have the chance to go back, we love exploring the city and everything Chicago has to offer. It’s such a quick plane ride from NJ so it makes the perfect getaway, and Southwest usually has awesome deals from Newark to Midway. 

Our view as we were landing at Midway

We love staying at the Drake Hotel. It’s a gorgeous Hilton property and so rich in history. It’s also perfectly located on Michigan Avenue so it's a quick walk to everything we like to do while we're in town. 

Our room-we had an executive suite on the 8th floor with great lake views!

The beds here are always super comfy too!

Not the largest bathroom, but big enough to get the job done. ;-)

The gorgeous view from the executive lounge on the 10th floor

Stunning flower arrangement in the lobby

David surprised me with an exquisite arrangement from the hotel florist!

I always check out the Red Door Spa when I’m in town and this time I had a hydrating manicure and I highly recommend it. The spa is exceptionally clean and I always receive the very best service. I also feel $28 is a bargain for a spa manicure and the polish always lasts a full week. 

Essie "Birthday Girl"

I also did a bit of window shopping as well. Michigan Avenue is an absolute paradise to me with all the best stores in one place. I love checking out Water Tower Place as well as the Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. FYI if you’re a hotel guest in the area you can show your room key at the Visitor Center at Bloomie’s for an extra percentage off during your stay!

And what’s a trip to Chicago with out some seriously good eats? No stay in Chi-Town would be complete for me without some deep dish pizza. Giordano’s is our favorite! They also sell frozen pies that are packaged for airplane travel so we like picking some up for an easy dinner at home. 

We also try to make a stop at the Red Apple, an authentic Polish buffet that ranks in the top 5 buffets in the country. It’s not fussy but it’s immaculate and the service and food are always exceptional. Make sure to have a shot of vodka with your meal, it helps digestion!

The cleanest buffet you will ever see

David enjoying the Red Apple!

Have to start off with some chicken soup. 

Traditional Polish cuisine such as cabbage rolls, sauerkraut, and schnitzel

We also enjoyed a fancy date night and had dinner at RL, Ralph Lauren’s restaurant. The decor is stunning and lush and very cozy. Luxe leather chairs, sterling silver vases with fresh flowers on every table, and lots of equestrian artwork on the walls. It’s upscale American food and everything we try there is always amazing. 

We had such a cozy date night in the corner booth

We had such a nice time and I’m already counting down to our next visit there!

Elevator selfie :)

Do you love Chicago as much as I do? What’s your favorite thing to in town? Let me know down below, I’d love to hear from you. 

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous day! :)

My Everyday Makeup ~ May 2019

Although I am very into makeup, I don’t keep tons of it laying around. Instead I keep a cosmetic case with my everyday look and I don’t purchase more until I run out. I feel like once you open and start using makeup on your face bacteria can grow. That’s why I also stay away from makeup blenders and brushes. 

Here’s what’s currently in my cosmetic case:

Face-
Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in shade C2-
Ever since I learned about his product in flight attendant training it has been the only thing I use on my face. It easily lasts 12 hours and isn’t heavy in the slightest. It creates a smooth, matte finish and I love that you can buy refills for the sponge that comes with it, it’s actually very good quality. I also use MAC Studio Finish, a creamy concealer, in shade NC15 when I need to cover a blemish.

Makeup Revolution Jelly Highlighter in shade Prestigious-
I purchased this from Ulta back in January and I have been using it ever since. The texture of jelly glides on so smooth and stays put all day. It is the prettiest rose gold shimmer and isnt full of glitter so it’s perfect for daytime. 

Eyes-
Too Faced Pretty Puppy Eyeshadow Palette-
I’ve done a review of this palette in a previous post and I absolutely love it! Aside from being cute as a button it’s full of 6 super versatile shades that apply beautifully and last all day without creasing. 

Jordana Retractable Eyeliner in shade Eggplant-
These are super inexpensive and work great! No sharpening needed and I find them at my local Walgreens for only a few dollars. I love this deep purple shade to bring out the green in my eyes. They also sell a great range of other colors. 

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara in shade Excessive Black-
I am currently using a sample of this mascara and I love it. (I love getting 3 free samples with cosmetic purchases at Nordstrom). I love the curved shape of the wand to get all the little lashes in the corners of my eyes and I love how dark the shade is. It never clumps and it agrees with my contact lenses. 

Lips-
Too Faced Rich & Dazzling Sparkling Lip Gloss in shade All the Stars-
While I love playing up my eyes, I tend to only use a sparkly nude gloss on my lips. This one is so sparkly with a faint pale pink shimmer and smells like vanilla. It isn’t sticky and the packaging is so cute. 

Honorable Mentions-
I keep a few extra things in my cosmetic case (I've used this Cuyana one that I had monogrammed for a few years now and it still looks brand new. I am so pleased with the quality) such as tweezers for my brows, a Burberry gold shimmer lipstick for nighttime (I purchased it at Sephora in Poland-I can’t find a link for it), and a sample of Dior lash primer that I have been loving when I want to condition my lashes or give them some extra oomph.  

Voilà! Here's the finished product, my daily, everyday look. 

Do you have any favorite cosmetics you use daily? Let me know down below, I love trying new things!

Taking some time this long Memorial Day weekend to remember in my thoughts and prayers those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country and their families. Thank you. 

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous day. :)