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City Guide October 28, 2014

Chicago City Guide

I have only been to Chicago a handful of times, yet I love it so much. Given my lack of experience with traveling around the Windy City, I’m handing over the city guide ownership to my good friend, Mara, who writes one of my favorite blogs – Hook, Thread & Tinker. Mara lives in Chicago with her husband, James, and their newborn son, Simon, who is two days younger than Isla (and the cutest boy ever!). Her style is très similar to mine, so naturally I think she’s super cool (ha). She has written a detailed city guide, which I’m sharing with you today! First, I’ll give you my abbreviated, yet sound, list of Chicago must-do’s.

My Chicago Recommendations

Eat brunch at 2 Sparrows (where I tasted my first St-Germain cocktail)
Get coffee at La Colombe (I’m not an iced coffee person, but I am here)
Eat lunch at Tavern on Rush (sit outside and people watch)
Drink Bloody Mary’s at Mike Ditka’s Restaurant (nice and spicy)
Devour dinner at Purple Pig (I literally dream about their shaved Brussels sprouts!)
Get drinks at Pops for Champagne (I believe Heaven will have a champagne bar too)
Take a ‘selfie’ using The Bean in Millenium Park (major tourist attraction, but I love it)
Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier (okay, also very touristy)
Shop on The Magnificent Mile (there is no H&M near us in Houston!)
Laugh until you cry at Second City (book well ahead of time)

For the full Chicago City Guide on Hook, Thread & Tinker, click here. It’s literally the best city guide ever made – it includes separate posts for breakfast and brunch, lunch and dinner, pizza, snacks and dessert, daytime activities, drinks and nightlife – as well as a detailed 48 hour itinerary. Happy reading (and hopefully, planning!).

Click here to see a complete list of my travel guides.

Decor September 25, 2014

My Favorite Artists

I absolutely love art, and I was so excited when Sasha and I finally agreed upon a Teil Duncan Bull painting recently (see here), which my aunts kindly bought for us. I Sasha that he likes Renoir-style paintings, which couldn’t be further from my taste. I love modern art. Not the minimalistic white canvas style, but bright, bold colors and interesting shapes. I have been bookmarking some of my favorites for ages, and hope to slowly win Sasha over to more and more paintings by Teil, Lulie, Britt, etc. I’ve put together some of my favorites below!

I am dying to know of other artists with similar styles. Do you know of any? Aren’t these six ladies exceptionally talented?

Update: Glitter Guide posted 12 Artists You Need to Know – amazing round up!

Teil Duncan

Michelle Armas

Britt Bass Turner

Lulie Wallace

Blair Culwell

Claire Desjardins

Personal September 16, 2014

Welcome to the New Snapshots & My Thoughts

As you can see, Snapshots & My Thoughts has undergone a facelift! I changed the host of the blog, which involved getting a new theme. I chose to use Blogzilla to perform the transfer.

In addition to a new look, Snapshots & My Thoughts will have slightly different editorial calendar. In order to become a more targeted lifestyle blog, I will be posting on similar topics every week.

On Mondays, you can expect personal topics, such as life updates or the Isla Loves series.
On Tuesdays, you will find posts about travel or food. These will include city guides, international travel discussions and restaurant reviews.
On Wednesdays, I will post about events, such as weddings and baby showers (and everything related to these!).
On Thursdays, you can expect posts about decor, like home inspiration or examples of pretty baby nurseries.
Finally, on Fridays, you will find beauty and fashion posts, like My Favorite Looks of the Week.

If there are any other topics you would like to read about here, please feel free to leave a comment below or email me.

Another addition which I’m excited about is that you are now able to shop some of my favorite items – some of which I currently own, others which I’m lusting after!

Lastly, since the blog was under construction last Wednesday, which was the deadline to enter the Isla Loves: A Little Lady Shop giveaway, I’m extending it through tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17 at midnight.

Thanks, as always, for following along!

Food September 9, 2014

St-Germain French 75 Cocktail Recipe

It is no secret that I love St-Germain liqueur. It was the ‘her’ drink at our wedding (see menu below), and I missed it a lot during my pregnancy. Now that I’m breastfeeding, I can only have it in small amounts, which is why I made this delicious French 75 recipe in a champagne flute-proportion (also because it’s pretty with the garnish!). If you’re also breastfeeding, I highly recommend these Milkscreen Alcohol Detection Strips!

McKenzie and I used to go to my favorite bar in Houston, Anvil, when we lived together and always ordered French 75s. They were amazing (and strong!). It was made with champagne, lemon juice, simple syrup and gin. Instead of using simple syrup to sweeten it, I decided to use lemon flavored La Croix, as there is no sugar in the drink (healthy perk!). I decided to mix a little St-Germain into the recipe and ohmygosh, yes. It works. It’s delicious, and I highly recommend that you try it.

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Prosecco, Brut champagne, or dry sparkling wine
1 1/2 ounces St-Germain
2 ounces Lemon La Croix
1/2 ounce gin (I recommend Hendrick’s Gin)
Lemon twist, for garnish
Ice cubes (if you like it cold)

Isla Loves September 8, 2014

Isla Loves: A Little Lady Shop (Giveaway)

Everything is bigger in Texas, including their hair bows. I must admit it, I am not a huge fan of the over-the-top-floofy flower headbands that take up 70% of a newborn baby’s head. However, I do love cute bows that are appropriately sized for baby girls’ heads (I am a bow fanatic after all). When I discovered A Little Lady Shop, I fell in love. They have the best – I mean, best– bow selection for little girls of all ages. Marie, owner of A Little Lady Shop, kindly sent me three adorable bows – Felt Bow in Teal on Alligator Clip, Pink Leather Bow on Alligator Clip, and Felt Tails Bow in Navy on Alligator Clip. I love them all so much! The bows are all available in a wide range of colors and the option to be put on an elastic band for a headband or an alligator clip. With Isla’s fluffy hair, I opted for alligator clip. It stays in her hair better than any of the other bows we’ve tried. The bows are available in such a wide range of colors, you could literally have a bow that matched every single outfit (yes, I dream of this).

Not only are their bows adorable, but also they have the sweetest fabric wraps and crown headbands. I am so upset that I did not find these products before Isla was born – I wish she was wearing these in her newborn photos.

These bows are the perfect gift for anyone you know who has a girl or is expecting one. If you fit this bill, then you need them too!

I’m excited to be teaming up with A Little Lady Shop to give away a free bow or headband (of your choice) to one lucky individual! In order to enter the giveaway, you must do the following:

Reply to this post, including your name and which bow or headband you would like to win
You will get an extra entry by being or becoming a follower of my blog, Snapshots and My Thoughts (see ‘Follow’ button at the bottom righthand corner on desktop version of the blog)
You will get an extra entry by posting the giveaway’s URL to your Twitter or Facebook account (please tag @ailee_petrovic on Twitter or mention Snapshots and My Thoughts on Facebook)
You will get an extra entry by re-posting my Instagram post about the giveaway and tagging me @SnapshotsAndMyThoughts

One winner will be drawn at random. The more entries you have, the higher the chance you’ll win! The giveaway ends at midnight on Wednesday, September 10. I will announce the winner by Friday. I look forward to reading your responses.

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Felt Bow in Teal on Alligator Clip