Float on

I was sitting inside at work today, gazing out the window at the hot city, and could not stop thinking about going for a swim in my rooftop pool this evening. So I threw on my suit almost the minute I walked in the door and jumped in. Ok, it was more like my boyfriend who I dragged out to the roof with me pushed me in, but I managed to get my dress off first. The hour in the pool was fantastic; there is something so wonderful about floating in a pool in the middle of the city with buildings rising up around you. It's almost as if you are slowly suspended in the commotion of the urban scene itself. Though my rooftop is garden-like and pretty, it is nothing compared to these amazing pools.

This aquarium-like beauty extends into a deep forest. A mirrored ceiling also gives the illusion that the swimmer is always submerged in water.

With over 2,000 fiber optic star lights, you're diving into the atmosphere.

This Costa Rican house is almost floating.

Get a massage while lounging at this Thai pool.

This pool is the deepest indoor pool in the world, at a frightening 33 meters deep.

It's pure serenity at this candlelit indoor spa.

Live on the edge.

Amazing hotel pools.

World gems.

Ultimate pools.

It's the weekend kittens

It's Friday woooo! Although actually I only work away from home Monday through Wednesday so really it's like I'm beginning my second weekend. But anyway, I'm planning on being a true Chicago girl this weekend and going to Taste of Lincoln Avenue tomorrow followed by Venetian night! Venetian night is really pretty kitschy and a nightmare for agoraphobics (fear of crowds, fyi), but still tons of fun. When I was little my best friend and I would always come up to Chicago on her dad's boat, though we never could convince him to cover his boat in Christmas lights and palm trees and play loud music to join the fun. Anyway, then on Sunday I have tenth row seats behind home plate at the Cubs game! I'm really bad at spotting balls though so I hope that one doesn't fly our way.

Here is some Friday fun to enjoy!

Did you ever try to spot different shapes in the clouds? Try to skyplay.

Going out to eat this weekend?

I just want to cover my walls with these and live jungle-style.

I think I'll take a trip to LA just for this.

What did you see today?

How many people can you be?

Something pretty.

For Monday morning.

With this ring...

Last night I had a dream about one of my best friend's wedding, which will be happening next July. She will be the first of my closest friends to be married, and therefore I am ecstatic to be a part of it. Within the first couple weeks, I asked her how things had changed between her and her fiancee since they had become engaged. She talked about a newfound sense of closeness between the two, among other aspects, and oddly I think that she has shared this closeness with her friends and myself, something I am grateful for. She and I have not lived in the same state in six years, and often we have gone a month or two without hearing from one another, but have the sort of relationship that fosters an ongoing, lifelong conversation between two best friends. Since the engagement though, I am now fortunate enough to hear from her nearly on a weekly basis. We don't converse of typical topics such as the wedding (something I actually know very little about currently), but just send small messages to make each other smile.

[On a side note, when I told my friend that in my dream we wore ugly green bridesmaid dresses and carried dandelions (apparently a quaint, farm-themed wedding), she said that she was thinking of having us wear green but is now considering a champagne dress similar to one of my high school prom dresses. I am secretly thrilled but would never tell anyone that my prom dress has served as inspiration for her wedding.]

My dream got me started thinking about weddings, particularly the size and guest list. I would like a small, very personal wedding, and I am perhaps so adamant about this that I would leave certain family members off the guest list (something I'm sure has my mom worried about already). I think that the decisions one makes about a wedding guest list reflects what one thinks a wedding is, certainly with no belief wrong or better than another. Some view weddings as way to celebrate and ensure the strong start to a marriage. These weddings tend to have large guest lists, and thus many gifts. Others see weddings as a sort of cultural celebration and lifetime hallmark. These weddings also tend to have larger guest lists, perhaps inviting many whose weddings they have attended, in a sort of reciprocal fashion. To me, a wedding is a celebration of a relationship, of a marriage. Therefore, the only people who should attend the wedding are those who have somehow supported or nurtured the relationship. It could include friends or family who have been in long, loving relationships of which I admire. It could be a friend who listened to me talk about the massive crush I had on my boyfriend when he was missing my hints and before he knew that he really did like me too. And it could include family who has welcome my boyfriend with open arms.

No matter the event, a wedding is a beautiful day reserved for a couple (certainly not "her" day, "the day she has been dreaming about her whole life")- when a he and a she become a we.

Some of my favorite weddings and those who post pretty things...

kiss the groom.

Style Me Pretty.

green wedding shoes.

peaches by plums.

Reason to Celebrate

I'm not quite sure what got me thinking about bizarre holidays, perhaps it was a desire to justify eating a lot of barbecue food like I did over the weekend or wanting to feel guilt-free for a day when indulging in ice cream/M&Ms/Skittles/ect., but I came across several special days that are coming up.

July is...

National Blueberry Month

National Hot Dog Month

National Ice Cream Month

1 Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day

3 Compliment Your Mirror Day

4 Independence Day

6 National Fried Chicken Day

7 National Chocolate Day

7 National Strawberry Sundaw Day

9 National Sugar Cookie Day

10 Teddy Bear Picnic Day

14 Bastille Day

14 National Nude Day1

15 Cow Appreciate Day

16 National Ice Cream Day (actually, this is every day)

20 Moon Day

21 National Junk Food Day

22 Hammock Day

26 All or Nothing Day

27 Take Your Pants for a Walk Day

30 National Cheesecake Day

To be truly a "National" day, Congress first has to pass an act declaring that day a National day. Anyone can create one, though it would probably take a connection to a Congressman, a crafty proposal, and a lot of work and waiting. Many days are simply created by companies (aka card companies), special interest groups, and local governments.

If I were to create a day it would be National No-Driving Day, and anyone caught driving (except for in emergencies I guess) would get a ticket. I hate driving and walk everywhere in the city, and I think a lot of people, and the Earth, would benefit and enjoy it. Also, you would have to be eating ice cream while you walked.

Stars and stripes

Happy Fourth of July! I hope everyone's weekends are full of sun, barbecues, and lots of sparklers.

C is for Cookie...

I dedicated an entire post a couple weeks ago to my ultimate cookie making failure, so I thought it only appropriate to dedicate this entire post to celebrate my FIRST SUCCESSFUL HOMEMADE COOKIES EVER!! I won't bore everyone with the details of how they are the perfect size- 4 inches across- a lovely golden color, crispy around the edges and slightly unbaked chewy in the middle, and filled with the perfect amount of melty M&Ms. But I will share the recipe. Enjoy!

M&Ms Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups of all purpose flour (note: I only used 1 1/2 cups since my cookies always turn out way to dry and cakey)

1 1/4 teaspoons of baking soda

1/4 teaspoon of salt

3/4 cup of butter at room temperature

2/3 cup of granulated white sugar

2/3 cup of firmly packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract

As many M&Ms as your little heart desires

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium size bowl.

Beat the butter and sugars until they are creamy, light, and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes- do not over beat).

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg and egg yolk, beating until well mixed.

Beat in the vanilla extract.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat just until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Now, you can either mix the M&Ms into the dough (the superior choice because then the whole cookie is chocolatey and melty) or place them on top of the cookie once formed on the baking sheet.

Form balls of dough as big as you can handle, leaving plenty of space between them on the cookie sheet. Nobody likes a siamese cookie.

Put some more M&Ms on top of the cookies for good measure.

Put in the oven and bake for about 6-7 minutes, then turn the sheet on the baking rack so that the cookies bake evenly.

Bake for another 6-7 minutes or until perfectly golden brown but still soft.

Take out of the oven and eat them while they're hot, the only acceptable way to enjoy a cookie!

Makes about 12 large cookies, plus a little extra cookie dough to snack on while they bake.