Farmers Market Season | Best of Chicago & the Burbs

Summer is FINALLY on its way, which means it’s time for one of the best seasonal activities: Farmers Markets! I'm so excited, you guys...I look forward to them every year and luckily, they are super kid-friendly so I think it will be a fun experience for the little man too once he arrives. 

Shopping local has a variety of benefits – Not only are you supporting your community but Family farms where people work so hard year round. The markets offer both a healthy lifestyle and an eclectic offering of talent in the area. Vendor categories include everything from fresh fruits and veggies to flowers, homemade bread, jewelry, smoothies, jams, pet accessories and more. 

It's all about the experience. I love everything from the atmosphere to the “hometown feel,” and the live music. I feel like we spend so much of our time walking with our heads down or minds tuned out but the markets are a safe space where you feel happy to connect with others and I always enjoy starting my mornings this way.

I recently stumbled upon a list of Farmers Markets in the Western Suburbs, along with their schedules so I figured I would share that along with a few of my city favorites so you can add a few to your calendar.

• Downers Grove Market: I may be partial because it's my hometown but no matter where you live, it's worth checking out. My cousin and I love getting up early and heading here for breakfast. If you’re hungry, you'll find tons of options on the spot including crepes, sandwiches, donuts, scones, smoothies, lemonade and iced coffee. We rarely make it out of there without two scones (to share, of course) and a bouquet of sunflowers that are almost as tall as we are...no exaggeration! They are unreal and an absolute must for brightening up the house.

• Green City Market - Lincoln Park: This is one of my favorite stops in Chicago! It's the city's largest and first year-round sustainable farmers market which provides a marketplace for purchasing sustainably grown food and connecting farmers and local producers directly to chefs and the greater Chicago community. Green City Market compliments the market with robust educational programs through Edible Gardens, Club Sprouts, and Chef Demos. *TIP - I enjoy doing yoga at the zoo nearby and heading here after for a fruit smoothie and flowers! You can walk here from yoga so it makes for an awesome Sunday morning.

• Highland Park French Market - NEW this year! Highland Park will offer three exciting experiences for food enthusiasts including the Food Truck Market, the Highland Park French Market and the Ravinia Farmers Market. I'm a huge fan of Ravinia (okay, and food trucks) so this news caught my eye right away. My Mom and I love visiting the northern suburbs during the holidays but these new attractions are a great excuse to get out of town and experience the area during a different season.

There are so many great resources to find your favorite Farmers Market this Summer! 

Here are a few more lists that may help you stumble upon something new:

• Midwest French Markets
• 10 Best Farmers Markets in Illinois
• Best Suburban Farmers Markets
• 15 Benefits of Shopping Farmers Markets

What markets are your favorite?

Rent The Runway CHICAGO style!

Imagine a place where you can try on the dresses of your dreams, get style advice from a fashion forward team, while completing your outfit with an endless selection of handbags and jewelry? For fashion bloggers and fashion lovers alike, this kind of experience is something you read about or longingly lust for while watching on E on the couch...for us Chicago gals, it's real life.

Enter Rent the Runway - The Chicago Showroom! We were invited to attend a 45 minute stylist appointment to see how the new process works. We have rented many times but only online which leaves things a little more up to chance without being able to try things on.

Our in-person experience was a night we won't forget, as it made us feel like true princesses. It was the epitome of 2 kids in a candy store by letting the two of us loose around all these gorgeous dresses, jewelry, and bags. The store decor was breath taking...we were stunned from the moment we walked in, as everything was clean, modern, bright, and beautiful. Not to mention, we were the only ones there during our appointment so we felt like we had stumbled upon a world of sequins, tulle and intricate beading that only we knew.

Our stylist, Asia, wrote us beforehand to get an idea of what style dresses work best for us, our sizes and what occasion we were renting for. We are co-hosting a bridal shower this month so we figured that was the perfect place to start.

Our favorite part of the experience was trying on styles that we don't typically wear...Kaitlyn tried on a floral look with a cape while Lisa worked a silver mini dress, both out of our elements, but so fun to mix it up and continue to find out what works best for our body types and personalities. 

Here are some of the styles we had waiting for us in our dressing rooms upon our arrival:

Love the mix of textures here..the dress is made of lurex and is structured but still comfortable. A little out of my box so it was a lot of fun to try on. P.S. I may or may not be standing awkwardly because I was pinching the material behind my back...they didn't have my size in stock but I still wanted to try it on and get an idea of what it would look like if I rented :)

(rent here)

(rent here)

Hello, lover... This was the first dress that I tried on as soon as I arrived. It was like it was meant to be as this is the dress I rented for the bridal show I am co-hosting! Asia picked out some great options and I'm so glad this one had been pulled. I love me a great maxi dress and the colors on this pallete just drew me in. I can't wait to show you how I end up styling it. I rented a stunning bag and statement earrings too for day of... Seriously can't wait. 

(rent here)

Again, this dress is about 3 sizes too big on me but the print caught my eye and I thought it was perfectly delicate for the bridal shower I'm hosting. I didn't end up going with this one, though it was my second runner up...It's great for a summer wedding too! 

(rent here)

Someone please give me an idea of where I can wear this! I LOVE this jumpsuit. It does come in black too, but I love how clean the white was. I feel like need to go on a an extravagant trip to debut this but no matter what, this look IS happening at some point this year! Oh. and it has pockets you guys...pockets! This was the second outfit I tried on and as soon as I was handed a few different necklaces and bags to try I really didn't want to take it off. Ever. 

The store was adorned with mirrors everywhere and Asia surprised us by letting us know that one of them was a SELFIE mirror! Yes, a selfie mirror. You give them your email address and the photos are sent to you right away in a collage with the proper hashtag (search #RTRxChicago for more pics of the store). How amazing is this? Clever marketing done right, my friends ;) Asia told us twice to back up so we weren't cut off but apparently we were too too excited to listen...

If you live in Chicago or one of the cities where RTR operates, we HIGHLY recommend you check it out. We ended up testing looks we wouldn't have chosen just by browsing the website, plus the staff was wonderful (can we be best friends, Asia?), making the entire experience such a pleasant one.

Oh, and did we mention...we walked out of there with epic Estee Lauder gift bags including a full size fragrance that smells like summer and now has a permanent spot in our rotations.THIS is how you do a Tuesday night, ladies  ;)

Stay tuned for what Kaitlyn chose for the shower...it was a hard decision between these 3:

Which one do you think came home with us?

Top 5 Brunch Drink Deals in Chicago

If you're Jim Gaffigan, the word brunch only means one thing: "Whenever I’m at a brunch buffet and they have that big metal tray filled with the four thousand pieces of bacon, I always think, if I was here by myself… I would eat only bacon. I would steal this tray, go lay down, and eat bacon all day." 

We love this famous breakfast staple as much as the next comedian, but let's not forget about all of the other important components of brunch (i.e. bottomless mimosas and bloody marys). Chicago is filled with endless options for #sundayfunday brunch but let's start with our top 5:

Brunch:

One of my favorite places for brunch in Chicago is Brunch. There’s no need to come up with a clever name when the food and décor speaks for itself. Just take the Tower of Power for example: Fresh scrambled eggs with vanilla bean, maple glazed bacon, fried butternut squash, cheddar and tarragon pesto aioli all piled high on a fresh pretzel bun. Oh, and served with golden Brunch potatoes. 

Are you salivating yet? Not to mention the skinny pomegranate blueberry mimosa...it’s skinny which means you can order 3 and still feel good about yourself (or so we'll pretend) - Kaitlyn

Acre:

Acre is located in Andersonville (5308 N Clark St) and not only do they have great brunch and drink deals, but they also support local! All produce and meats are from small family farms in the Midwest, most of their beer, wines, and spirits are from North American producers, & their menu is seasonally focused. They have everything from small plates, to a raw bar, to all of your classic brunch favorites. The Deal: $18 for all-you-can-drink mimosas, Sat-Sun 11am-3pm. - Lisa 

Zella:

Zella's brunch deal is amazing: $28 gets you all-you-can-drink Miller Lite and Coors Light, mimosas, OR Bloody Marys, AND a choice of a brunch entrée. This runs every Sat-Sun from 10:30am-3pm so it’s a great opportunity for those of us that spent too much time with Fireball the night before ;)

As for the ambiance, well, I love any place you can enjoy a mimosa on the patio and theirs is huge, not to mention complete with a full bar. The brunch is typically pretty backed but the service is usually excellent with all staff being on top of their game - Kaitlyn

Jane's:

Jane's is located in Bucktown (1655 W Cortland St). Once a bakery frequented by Chicago’s elite and area steelworkers alike, the dusky blue, brick building, now home to Jane’s, has housed neighborhood businesses for over a hundred years. The brunch features classics like eggs, pancakes, and french toast as well as unique items (like breakfast burritos, roasted pork belly, and even raspberry or apricot scones.

I love the decor as it has a very antique feel to it, but the food is the real star! The Deal: $10 comes with bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas and a $10 specialty burger menu, Fri 11am-3pm. - Lisa 

Flo:

This menu has great variety including everything from a Pulled Pork Frittata to my personal favorite, fruity pebbles French toast. (pictured here). As for drinks, how about a breakfast shot made of housemade Bacon and infused Bourbon, Butterscotch Schnapps, with an O.J. chaser? I think that just sealed the deal - Kaitlyn

What are your favorite brunch spots in the city? 

Any amazing deals we should know about?

5 Chicago Hidden Gems

Over the past few years, we have attended some great blogging events and celebrated some personal milestones at some memorable places throughout the city. Chicago is the BEST city to eat and drink in (not that we're biased) but sometimes it's hard to decide on a place because our options are endless. With that said, we wanted to share with you (and Groupon readers) a few of our favorite "hidden gems," perfect for your next date night:

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1. Adamus Lounge - Located in the Silversmith Hotel in Chicago, I attended a blogger brunch there and the décor is beautiful, elegant, and feels regal (and there is this one chandelier over the main bar that is beyond stunning!) The food was outstanding and not to mention their amazing mimosa bar that was set up for the event which was set up with various different juices and bubbly to choose from. This is perfect for brunch with the girls or a cocktail on date night - Lisa 

2. RM Champagne Salon - I first went here for the CBN's 500 Membership Mark Event back in 2013. The place is unlike anything I'd ever been too. You need to walk down a cobblestone alley tucked away off the street and as soon as you turn the corner you are whisked away to a French garden. The outside is truly beautiful. Then you go inside and it just gets better. The decor is beautiful (think candles everywhere), the drinks are delicious, and the light bites were great too. I've been back a few times and I plan to go again! A great hidden gem for a date night, event, or girls night out! - Lisa



3. Suite Lounge - We attended a bon voyage party for Jessica here a few years back and have talked about going back since. It was slightly hard to locate from the street because the entrance is pretty narrow but once we descended down the winding stairs, our eyes were wide with adoration of the stone walls that resemble an underground cave, lit up with candles and soft white lights. This is just how I imagine date night - a night spent "somewhere only we know" with my husband - Kaitlyn

4. Three Dots and a Dash - This cocktail focused tiki lounge features a craft approach to both classic and modern tiki cocktails with fresh juices made in house daily. The name of the place is Morse Code for “V” standing for Victory. This code was used at the end of World War II when the soldiers were heading home. How cool is that!? Also, this is a LITERAL hidden gem because the entrance is in an alleyway and you'd miss if if you blinked, but that's part of the fun. I think this would be great for a blind date because there would be a lot to talk about and fun drinks to try - Kaitlyn

5. The Vault at The Bedford - My husband took me for my birthday last year and I fell in love with the concept. This place is rich with architectural history, an elegant ambiance and classic Chicago touches. Many original elements from the 1920’s remain intact throughout the space. The unparalleled Vault, with its magnificent copper safety deposit boxes and steel doors, offers a remarkable step back in time. Lastly, if they still serve the salted caramel marshmallow...do NOT think twice! - Kaitlyn

What are some of your favorite hidden gems in the city?

We love trying new places! 

Fifty Shades of Fall

This is a special time of year because Fall is very brief in Chicago so we must take advantage of it's perks while we can. It has been 60's and sunny during the day, dropping to fireplace worthy temperatures at night, making for perfect days.. days where a sweater dress and booties feel just right, the leaves are the colors of candy corn and lighting a seasonal candle to read by on the couch feels absolutely necessary on a Friday night. 

I love this marled sweater dress from Target -- it works with bare legs for a casual fall look but will also be fun to pair with tights, booties and a top knot come cooler months and the holidays.

Dress: Target (similar) // Booties: Forever 21 (similar) // Bag: Aldo // Sunnies: Old Navy // Necklace: LOFT 

Watch: T+J Designs

What do you enjoy most about the season?

In the Summertime...

The 4^th of July has come and gone which is just CRAZY and oh, do we miss the weekend already…(stay tuned for some patriotic outfit posts later this week!) With the summer flying by, we wanted to document some of our must-do activities for this season, as they’re already showing back to school commercials on TV (don’t even get us started on the lunacy of that!) 

3 months is much too short to do everything a Chicago summer has to offer so we decided to set a goal of 10 things each. With a few items already crossed off, we are well on our way…

What is on your summer list?

Lucky Girls Confusion

Saturday night we attended the Lucky Boys Confusion concert at House of Blues. I have been in the same situation countless times in my life -- an all access opera box at one of the most amazing music venues in Chicago to see my talented brother and for this, I am so lucky. It doesn't matter how many times I go back, I can never get enough. 

We started the night with a delicious dinner at Crossroads where we listened to a great blues band and dined on cornbread that was straight out of the south. Followed by drinks (and a few memorable moments with Fireball), we sang at the top of our lungs with great family and friends. As always, the guys played an amazing show -- one full album with no stops and a crowd whose hands were permanently in the air.  

Top: Apricot Lane // Jeans: LOFT (similar) // Clutch: Just Fab // Shoes: Old Navy (similar) 

Earrings: Francesca's (similar)  // Bracelets: It's a Bling Thing, Target 

As for my #OOTN, I chose a top from one of my new favorite stores -- Apricot Lane is a boutique with many locations and ours has a wonderful buyer with great taste. The first time I walked in to check it out, I knew they had a made a forever customer out of me -- All the pieces are unique and on trend without being overkill…oh, and they constantly upload photos of new items to their Facebook page which is HIGHLY distracting to my productivity and savings ;) 

Do you have a favorite boutique? 

Let us know in the comments, we love learning about new stores!