Christmas 2014

IMG_46392014 will always go down in history in my life story because it’s the year I married Dan. So many of my favorite memories are wrapped up in 2014: wedding (and all the festivities that go with it), honeymoon, launching The Whaling Club catering, new “Margot & Marie” episodes and two original live shows, exciting photography clients and collaborations, shooting a small pilot role, and lots of travel to see family and friends. One of my favorite parts of the new year is taking a moment to reflect. Dan and I spent a relaxing week celebrating Christmas in Lake Bluff, IL, and I returned to LA feeling recharged for January 2015. This year I aim to continue to be actively creative and my motto is “if you can dream it, you can do it.” Dan and I also had these black-eyed peas for the New Year’s good fortune and prosperity, and if that’s not a sure thing then I don’t know what is.IMG_4642^^Annual Christmas dinner (before Christmas) at The University Club of Chicago. One of my favorite traditions!IMG_4644 IMG_4645 IMG_4646 IMG_4647 IMG_4648IMG_4656^^Christmas dinner at home.IMG_4658 IMG_4660^^Dan made his Grandma Prior’s famous cream pie with a graham cracker crust and meringue on top.IMG_4662^^And my Dad made a Yuletide Log. These two are such pastry chefs! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Cheers to 2015!

lately

IMG_6150^^A few of my best girlfriends and their boys celebrating at the wedding of our dear friends, Kristi and Henry!IMG_6153^^Glamorous centerpieces in Cathedral Hall at The University Club of Chicago.IMG_6151^^The table numbers were a nod to London, where Kristi and Henry are moving at the end of the summer.IMG_6161^^While in Chicago for the wedding, I got to spend a day with this amazing girl. She’s studying at The School at Steppenwolf this summer and I’m so proud and excited for her!IMG_6764^^And someone (hint: fiance) got a very special birthday present followed by a delicious celebration dinner at Sotto. We’ve been craving the Diavolina pizza every day since!

university club

IMG_4434Attending a Christmas dinner at The University Club of Chicago has become a favored family tradition. The building is a classic; collegiate and festive. The main dining hall always has an impressively huge, decked out tree–almost as impressive as the number of oysters I consume in one evening. Seriously, the guy serving said “back again?” on what was only my second out of three trips to the raw bar. What am I? An amateur?!oystersIMG_0123double-photoHope you’re all having a lovely day, celebrating Christmas or enjoying a “day off”. I’m still in my pajamas and plan on wearing them to the dinner table if I can get away with it. (And yes, The University Club is totally Hogwarts! Or so I’m told.)