What’s Your Signature “Look”?

An “expert” on the Today Show this morning (hawking a new book, of course) talked about how important it is to define your “personal brand.” It’s a concept I’ve heard before, but onto which I haven’t really put a great deal of energy.  Who are you (or who do you want to be) to the outside world and what is the one thing you want to be known for?  

Coming up with an endless supply of ideas? Do you have boundless enthusiasm and energy? Are you uber-organized? Detail specific? The best B.S.-er on the block?  An intense listener?  Can you pull from a well of useless knowledge at the drop of a hat?   

Unless you are hyper self-aware, it may not be something you can point to instantaneously, but I think it does warrant some consideration.  Obviously we are all much more than this one thing, but it does bring up a good point that in order to be memorable, it’s wise to identify that leading characteristic and nurture it.

Building upon this idea, he talked about pinpointing a signature style as a way to increase your chances of being memorable.  I think about Simon Cowell’s wardrobe of plain dark t-shirts … Sarah Palin’s glasses … A former coworker who had an enviable collection of gorgeous antique broaches … Even my mom and her shocking cropped red hair. 

Maybe you have one but just haven’t formally named it such.  Maybe, like me, you’re still in the discovery phase.  A few signature items in my consideration bin are: Cardigans (I love them, but total snooze-fest?); The color yellow (I don’t own much in yellow, but what I do have, I wear … a lot); Chunky bracelets (though they often fall into the headband category and never last long because of the annoyance factor).

Have you cultivated your own “one thing” or signature style element? What is it? Or what are you considering?

Chi-Nnatti’s Pizza

Skip the Bruchetta, Go for Happy Hour, Stick with the Deep Dish.

As I spent a few years living in Chicago post-college, when splurging meant ordering pizza delivered, I fancy myself somewhat of a pizza connoisseur – and I do know my way around a deep dish. But don’t get me wrong – I don’t discriminate – I enjoy folding a good slice of New York-style pizza or cracking a crispy thin crust any day of the week. Those however, are more easily found around these parts. A true Chicago-style deep dish outside of Uno’s, I had yet to find. 

The Crystal and Fine China Debate

While I swore up and down when creating my wedding registry more than five years ago that I had no need or desire for crystal or fine china, I may have had a shortsighted view. Recently having broken the seventh of my 12 off-the-registry basic Pottery Barn wine glasses, I decided it was time to invest in some sturdier glassware.

Conveniently, Christmas was right around the corner, and I was thrilled to receive four Waterford red wine glasses. Large, heavy and thick cut crystal, I couldn’t wait to start guzzling my Valley Vineyards DeChaunac from my new pimp cup … I mean, wine glasses.

Urban Active: Shame on You!

Dear Urban Active,

We used to be the best of friends. You live nearby and I actually enjoyed visiting you, using your equipment and taking your classes. You made me feel good about myself and made it easy to like you.

But then things changed.

POTW: Spray Painting a Mirror Frame

A recent pull from The Task Basket rendered something I actually looked forward to doing, and because it involved spray paint, was best done outdoors before the weather turned. We had replaced the flat standard sheet mirror in our downstairs powder room with an ornately framed mirror. The frame had previously been painted off-white, but after spending who knows how many years in my parents’ basement, there were a few little nicks and areas where the paint had chipped. To match the white painted cabinets, I decided to spray paint the frame white. There are a few ways you can do this, but I employed my standard spray-painting method:

1. Cover the mirror with painter’s tape and plastic shopping bags.

Storage Tips for Your Off-Season Clothing

Given the change of the seasons and everyone’s perennial complaint of lack of storage, maybe you have a pile of stuff that’s been sitting in your closet so long that it no longer seems out of place. For me, it’s maternity clothes. Six months post-partum and I still haven’t properly stored them away.

Don’t get me wrong, I am more than ready to see them disappear for a while … but I definitely want to be able to wear them again when the time comes, keeping them in good condition in the meantime.

The first step is to wash EVERYTHING. Even if you think it’s probably clean. Seriously, just do it.

POTW Update: Revamping the Vanity

Okay … so … who are we kidding here? This “project of the week” was more like “project of the month.” It was not so much in that the project was so labor intensive that it took days and days of dedicated time to complete, but rather, it came together in parts and pieces. (Plus, throw in a Halloween weekend, and give a girl a break …)

So, you’ll recall the “before”:

Guest Vanity Cabinet: Before

A Tasty Way to Eat Your Veggies: Roasted

There’s something about seeing the rows and rows of squash varietals at the supermarket and in bushels at roadside stands that just screams fall to me. Aren’t these roasted butternut squash just gorgeous?

Roasted Butternut Squash

I made them today with the intentions of a roasted butternut squash and garlic lasagna tomorrow. I LURVE roasted vegetables, and they couldn’t be easier. I heard someone once say that roasting vegetables in the fall and winter is what grilling vegetables is to the spring and summer. The perfect preparation to bring you into season.

My Can’t-Live-Without Cooking Tool

Mini Spatula Set

Last night I was making a big (honestly, enormous) batch of vegetarian chili, and after washing it for the n-teenth time, realized just how much I rely on my mini silicone spatula. I know, it seems so bizarre that something so small could be so endlessly useful, but it truly is good for so many things. Maybe it’s because my hands are small and I have a lot of control with it.

I’m still using one I received from my Williams-Sonoma wedding registry more than five years ago, and have since added another to the arsenal. (I think it was a thoughtful stocking-stuffer from my husband a few years back.)

Backstage Cafe

As we wandered around The Madison Theater last night before the Guster concert, we spotted several establishments (Covington Chili, Rima’s Diner …) that appeared to be open only for lunch hours. Situated directly next to the theater, Backstage Cafe was a more than convenient spot to grab a seat, a beer, and a quick bite before the show.