summer

Despite the current heat wave and 100 degree weather, summer in Chicago is full of awe-inspiring moments. While I continue my sabbatical away from blogging, follow me on instagram @mviamontes

mad men

I have been delinquent on my postings, so I appoligize for the tardiness of this post. Last month we hosted a dinner for the finale of Mad Men. If you haven't seen the show, you have a few months to catch up before season 6 returns to AMC. Our friends joined us in their vintage attire and we served up a homecooked meal inspired by the 60's including meatloaf, potatoes, mac n' cheese and a jell-o mold.

A free mask download is available here.

i'll have another

This weekend I attended my first Kentucky Derby party and, I must say, this party has set the standards for all future derby parties. It was a fantastic way to kick off summer and celebrate in style. Here are a few must-haves for next year's derby day.

1. Derby Attire: Ladies and gents, it is time to take your fashion seriously and break out your finest in spring attire. Pastels, seersucker, frilly dresses and hats galore. Dress to impress. For fashion tips and pointers make sure to reference the official derby attire website.

2. Red Carpet: Your guests have gone to the effort to dress their best. Now let them strut their stuff down the red carpet (complete with derby background).

3. Mint Juleps: The official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1938 is made from mint leaf, bourbon, sugar and water.


4. Ice Sculpture: Guests can stay cool standing next to this monolithic ice block -- guaranteed to last longer than the derby.

5. Photo Booth (complete with derby themed props): The photo booth is a great place for guests to sneak away with their stallion. 

6. Caricature Artist: Lighten the mood by hiring a caricature artist. I prefer my ponies to have pink polka dots.

7. Amazing View: If you can't make it to Churchill Downs to see the race then you might as well enjoy it from a penthouse apartment with spectacular city views.

monogram place cards

I love my Slice cordless cutter.  I am constantly finding ways to use this handy little tool. This weekend we hosted a Mad Men premiere party and I quickly crafted monogram place cards for each of our guests. Betty Draper would be proud.

easter eggs

March is quickly coming to an end and spring is in full gear. With Easter only a couple weeks away, it is the perfect time to bring a little spring color to your tabletop. These are photos from last year's Easter eggs. I plan to try this again this year using Kool-Aid instead of food coloring. After a lot of experimentation dying coffee filters, (see here) I determined that Kool-Aid produces brighter more vibrant colors than food coloring.

I allowed the hard-boiled eggs to cool and then applied sticky-back letters and numbers to the eggs. We were having a dinner party the following night, so I decorated an egg for each guest and used them as place holders.

Mix 2 teaspoon white vinegar with 1 cup boiling water and about 20-30 drops of food coloring. I used mason jars for each color. I experimented with the length of time the eggs remained in the dye and double dyed some eggs to achieve a brown color with orange and blue undertones.

 Allow the eggs to dry before carefully removing the sticky-back.

 I found this lovely egg plate at Crate & Barrel.

After a couple days, the eggs were re-purposed into deviled eggs. These are a twist on my husband's grandmother's recipe. We piped the filling into the eggs for a modern presentation and topped with paprika for added color.

cat and mouse

Using the body of a felted sweater -- see post below -- I created this adorable mouse for my favorite furry friend.

Start with the body of a felted sweater. This one has been through the washer and dryer twice and has a thick, stiff texture that doesn't unravel when cut.

Each mouse has two sides, a bottom and a tail. The tail was cut from the seam of the sweater which was thicker than the body of the sweater.  I waited to cut the bottom until after I sewed the two sides together.

I used a matching gray yarn to sew the sides together, but you could also do this with a contrasting yarn. After the sides were together, I traced out the bottom piece. The tail was inserted 1/2" into the seam and reinforced with extra stitches.

 

Before closing up the bottom, stuff your mouse with wool scraps and catnip.

 The finished mouse is ready for playtime.

re-purposed sweater

One of my wool sweaters accidentally found itself in the dirty clothes basket and took a trip through the washer and dryer. It came out of the dryer beautifully felted and child-sized. I used this as an opportunity to re-purpose the material into a couple felted projects. You could very easily re-purpose an old, unworn sweater the same way. I made a pair of cute fingerless gloves using the arms of the sweater and saved the body of the sweater for my second project -- a toy for my furry friend.

To make these gloves, first felt your old sweater by washing it in warm water and drying it completely. Carefully cut the arms off the felted sweater, making sure that both gloves are equal in the length. Cut a 1" long slit in the upper portion of the glove for the thumb. I used a contrasting pink yarn to reinforce the thumb hole. Re-wash and dry the gloves. This will re-felt the material and ensure that the gloves do not unravel along the edge.

bathroom sparkle

Among all Sunday chores, cleaning the bathroom is by far my least favorite. Thanks to Martha Stewart, I have discovered the ultimate (green) cleaning formula for keeping my shower clean. To mix up this simple recipe, combine 1 part baking soda, 1 part dish soap (I love Mrs. Meyer) and 1 part water. Mix into a creamy white paste and apply to shower, tub and tile with a wet dish cloth. You will be amazed by how easily the soap scum and gross tub gunk just wipes away (no elbow grease needed). Just make sure to wash down all of the surfaces after you are finished or the baking soda will leave behind a white powdery residue. I dare you to try this for yourself!

And to keep your shower clean between cleanings, we spray down the walls daily (after showering) with pure white vinegar (kept in a spray bottle in our shower).

the making of an Angel

Next weekend, I will be modeling a dress I designed for the Venetian Carnival themed fashion show at the For the Love of Chocolate Gala. The design and fabrication of this dress has pretty much consumed my being over the last two months. But what else is one to do in the dead of Chicago winter? I've always been a believer that if you are going to do something, you should give it your all. This included a photo shoot at Intelligentsia Coffee Roasting Works and the design and creation of this website.

photos by Timothy Breen (Intelligentsia). Hair/Makeup by Alyson Lyon (www.alysonheartsfaces.com)

national margarita day

Did you know that National Margarita Day is February 22nd? Grab some friends and boost your winter mood by providing your body with a healthy dose of vitamin C. We got off to an early start by hosting a taco party last weekend and kicked off this weekend with margarita night on Friday. I recommend 1 part fresh squeezed juice (1/2 lime 1/2 orange), 1 part tequila (ours was infused with jalapeno overnight) and 1 part triple sec. The leftover juice was frozen in ice cube trays and the same mixture was added to the blender for a frothy Friday night treat.

a week of dinners

This week, Chicago reminded us it is still very much winter outside. The cold temps make me want to burrow down and spend my time in doors. It also makes me crave hearty, home cooked meals. Here's some photos from the week and a preview from tonight's taco party.

vegetarian lentil soup

 grilled cheese with arugula pesto

 lentil soup and grilled cheese

 homemade falafel and pita bread

 taco party

 fresh squeezed lime marinade with roasted garlic and peppers (see below)