cardamom carrot cake/artisanal salts by Nosh/the display/an adorable mural

About a year ago, I wrote a preview of BakeHouse, a local bakery that was in the works but already promoting its products through events and markets. Well, they finally opened! I’ve followed the progress of this shop since that first preview and have kept in touch with the owners/bakers, Lindsay Morse and Niall Cooper. Knowing how kind they are and how passionate they feel about their new business, I couldn’t be more excited for them.

The shop just opened last Wednesday, and I swung by a few nights later with a friend to see the finished product. The white-washed walls and simple, modern decor look sleek, but there are simple touches that make the space inviting. Morse and Cooper hired a local artist to create a mural on their “chalkboard” wall, which is visible when you first walk in. The food and baking motif gives customers a sense of how pleasant the atmosphere is of the place.

As for the wares, BakeHouse is more than the baked goods that I first sampled last year – they offer breakfast foods, sandwiches, salads, coffee and espresso drinks, candies and even products from local artisans like cards, maple syrup, and salts (made by Emily, a friend of mine who has a supper club!). I tried the cardamom carrot cake, which was filled with sweet, shredded carrot and had a moist, dense cake base. I could taste a subtle twinge of spice toward the end of each bite. The cream cheese frosting was sprinkled with coconut, which I thought added a little extra something.

I brought home a few truffle tarts to share with the fiancé, and enjoyed those as well. They’re little pastry cups filled with ganache mixed with different flavors, like pistachio. These were perfect for settling those little sweet tooth cravings, when a cupcake or brownie is a little too much.

While the 14th street area is booming with new shops and restaurants these days, I think BakeHouse has already managed to stand out, not only with it’s cool-but-welcoming vibe, but with its food as well. Plus, it has long hours (7am-9am on weekdays, 7/8am-11am on weekends), so it’s a great spot for anything from early morning coffee and breakfast sandwiches to post-dinner dessert cravings.

*This post was not solicited by BakeHouse or anyone else. It was written on my own accord because I enjoy the goods that much and want to support friends and local businesses.

I’m usually taken by videos that provide some sort of great cinematic experience, or have a beautiful message behind it. But sometimes I find videos that are just simple and straightforward, and in that sense, they’re effective. Case in point: the makeup tutorials by Lisa Eldridge, a UK-based makeup artist who’s worked with stars like Kate Winslet and Eva Green.

My sister introduced me to these videos, and I assume that many of the ladies out there have either seen these videos or have watched makeup tutorials by someone else. I don’t normally take much time to do my makeup daily (liner, mascara, concealer and that’s it), but I love to play with it for when I’m going out or attending a special occasion. I’m fairly good at doing it, but I tend to stick with one or two similar looks. So that’s where videos like Lisa’s come in – she has looks for just about every occasion, and she uses a wide range of models to show how her tips and tricks can work on anyone.

The videos themselves look very clean and polished – there’s only a white background and Lisa herself (or Lisa and her model if she uses one). And they are always perfectly, brightly lit so that the viewer can see every detail. If the looks weren’t flawless, you’d be able to tell, but the setup helps show just how good she is at her job.

Most recently, I found her tutorial on acne/blemish covering make up to be really helpful and informative. I’ve been dealing with an annoying little bout of acne in the past 2 weeks and this was exactly what I needed to watch. Even if you’re not dealing with skin woes like mine, you’ll probably find a tutorial that is useful for you.

Wedding dress shopping was one of the main reasons why I visited Chicago two weeks ago, and while I can’t post much about the dresses I tried on (my fiancé is seriously adamant about not hearing or seeing A THING about dresses), I also can’t help but gush over one of the stores I visited, Bhldn. It’s the kind of wedding store that I’d visit even if I wasn’t engaged; it’s just filled with so many beautiful things that are calling to be scooped up and taken home to wear to any occasion you can think of.

On the first floor of the shop, you’re greeted by party and bridesmaids dresses. I was loving so many of them, not just for my own bridesmaids, but for myself! Since I’m going to 4 weddings this year, I felt tempted to pull a few that I could possibly wear to those weddings. (I have enough dresses at home, so I stopped myself).

The second floor is separated by rooms holding jewelry and accessories, decor and paper products, lingerie, and of course, wedding dresses. The dresses at Bhldn are the kind that I wouldn’t describe as “typically bridal” – no stiff bodices or 6-foot long trains. They’re each unique and give off an airy, ethereal vibe in their own ways. Some have a little sparkle and bling, some have lace, and they were all absolutely beautiful. I feel like there’s a Bhldn dress for every personality. The selection isn’t huge, but any bride is bound to find at least one that really fits her style. I actually found two that I loved, one of which would be fantastic as a reception dress.

Oh, and the jewelry. Again, very one-of-a-kind pieces, many of which have a very vintage feel while still evoking plenty of glam. I looked at some bracelets and hair pieces and totally fell in love. While I’m not yet sure how I’m going to style my hair on the big day, I’m almost 100% positive I want a bit of Bhldn bling in my updo. Their shoes are also fantastic. I haven’t yet decided on the dress, I’m seriously tempted to buy this pair of nude heels dotted with sparkle.

Although most of the details are still up in the air, my experience at Bhldn was fantastic, and gave me plenty of options to consider for my wedding day. And even if you’re not a bride-to-be, if you’re in Chicago (or Houston), it’s definitely a store to put on your “To Visit” list.

 kohralbi salad/pan roasted halibut/budino/goat empanadas/crisp pork shank/wood oven roasted pig face/fried pickles

During the last weekend of April, my sister and I flew out to Chicago, where we joined our parents for a short family trip. One of the big purposes of the weekend was actually to go wedding dress shopping(!!!). But if you know me, while I love shopping, one of the easiest and fastest ways to my heart is with good food. Chicago definitely has plenty of that. My sister planned way ahead of time and managed to snag us a reservation at the famous Girl and Goat, from “Top Chef” winner Stephanie Izard.

Our group consisted of my parents, my sister, my sister’s boyfriend, and myself. One of the perks of dining at Girl and the Goat in Chicago with a mid-to-large size group is that you’ll get to try a lot of dishes. Because really, you’ll want to. Also, the perk of going to Girl and the Goat with your parents is that you won’t have to foot the bill.

While some people are tired of the “small plates” concept in many restaurants these days, as someone incredibly indecisive, I don’t mind it at all. I get to eat a little of everything without risking regretting what I ordered for myself. Don’t you hate that feeling? When you take your time to pick something and you’re possibly following a gut feeling, but when you try the dish you immediately think, “I should’ve gotten the other dish.”? I like how that’s avoidable with shared small plates.

Anyways, this post would turn into a 50-page essay if I wrote about each dish. There’s actually 1 photo missing – ironically, of my favorite dish of the night – because the photos I took of it were kind of horrible. The dish was escargot ravioli. Yes, snail ravioli. I don’t mind snails at all in the first place, but this ravioli was superb. It was largely about the soft snail in the perfectly cooked ravioli, but the tamarind-miso sauce really made the dish come together.

I was also a fan of the goat empanadas. The pastry was thick and perfectly fried without being crisp, and the goat filling was nicely seasoned and a bit spicy. The wood oven roasted pig face was also a favorite a mine. I tried not to picture the actual pig’s face as I ate it. If you can get past that reality as I did, it’s a very flavorful dish. The meat is topped with a fried egg and mixed with potato sticks. Our server cut into the egg to get some good runny yolk action, and then mixed everything to meld the flavors together. It was savory and a tad sour; there was also tamarind in this dish, which was probably part of the reason why I enjoyed it so much. My dad splurged on ordering the crisp pork shank – he was curious to find out whether it would be cooked properly, which he said people often fail to do. Well, he was impressed! The pork had a good char on the skin with succulent, tender meat on the inside. It didn’t even need the naan bread and condiments (kimchee, buttermilk dressing, hot sauce) that came on the side.

By the end of the night, we were all so full after so many dishes that we split one small dessert: a budino, or an Italian version of custard or pudding. It was light, airy, creamy and very subtly sweet, which I needed after a heavy meal. Again, my dad was impressed by the dessert, and he usually isn’t impressed by food. He’s an eat-to-live, not live-to-eat kind of guy.

So props to you, Girl and the Goat, for not only impressing me, but impressing my dad as well.

While I normally post awesome/inspirational/beautifully produced videos on Fridays, I couldn’t wait a few days to post this one. It’s a moving story basically about one man’s inner strength and willpower. This man basically faced very difficult and unexpected circumstances, but was able to continue his life’s calling despite those circumstances. The video itself is incredibly well done; the creator did a fantastic job of evoking a very serene atmosphere amidst a tragic story. Towards the end, the way the film shows the young man’s progression is – I thought – genius. And yes, this definitely made me tear up a bit.

Juggle & Cut from Caleb Slain on Vimeo.