events

The Beachwaver’s Make Waves Launch Party

June 19, 2019

The Beachwaver’s Make Waves Launch Party

The Beachwaver has a new hair care line and I am all about it. The Make Waves Collection is women owned, cruelty-free, smells like a tropical vacation, and is for all hair types. Hallelujah. I was able to view the Make Waves collection first hand at The Beachwaver’s recent launch event, hosted at The J Parker rooftop bar in Lincoln Park. Talk about a party with a view! The event featured a Beachwaver-themed cocktail menu, a female-focused panel, cute photo ops, light bites, and the most AMAZING gift bags.

The New Make Waves Collection

You may know The Beachwaver brand for their hair styling tools, however their new Make Waves collection is worth trying! I love the smell of suntan lotion, palm trees, and coconuts – so the signature scent of the hair care products was something that stood out to me right away. Think instant beach getaway. With a great tan. And coconut oil.

My Favorite Products

I was most interested to try the Make Waves Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, as I was looking to help tame my recent hair dryness. Made with coconut milk, they both did the trick! I tried the products the day after the event and loved them. My hair felt silky smooth and smelled like a coconut haven. I also really liked their Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray, which is great for right after you curl your hair!

View me curling my hair using the 1” Beachwaver and Great Barrier Heat Protective Hairspray HERE!

Market For Makers Chicago

April 7, 2019

Market for Makers Chicago

Market for Makers has graced the city with a two-day event! The event featured different vendors showcasing their products and work. Some included bath salts, apparel, jewelry, candles, and prints. Read below to get your questions about the event answered and to see which parts of Market for Makers Chicago was my favorite!

General vs. VIP Tickets

There are two ticket options offered for Market for Makers Chicago: General Admission and VIP. GA tickets are $7 online and $10 at the door. VIP tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door. Aside from price, there are a few other differences between the two. General Admission includes a free Market for Makers tote bag (it’s really cute!), flower crown making, and access to view all of the event’s Makers (vendors). VIP includes the same perks of General Admission plus early admission (11am), one drink ticket (there is a bar on the first floor by the photo ops), extra flowers for flower crown making (4 flower choices instead of 2), and the choice of a VIP tote bag or a ‘Selfmade’ mug. I went with the mug!

My Favorite Vendors

All of the Makers at the event were top notch. They did a great job of choosing what companies were there! The space was packed, so we tried to view all of the booths that we could. I liked them all! There were a few, however, that I LOVED. They included Earth Based Body, The Tipsy Gardener, XO Marshmallow, Cago Supply Co., Bohemian Reves, Harper + Ari, and Bloomwolf Studio. Most booths took card, but I would bring cash just in case.

DIY Flower Crown Station

The best perk of this event, whether General Admission or VIP, was making your own flower crown. I thought this was a really cute idea and it defiantly made the event unique! Instead of just browsing the different booths, eating, and going home, the DIY flower crown station created an experience to partake in. A+ for Market for Makers. There are a few things, however, to note for this area. The flower crown station is on the second floor towards the back. There were not a lot of tables to create your crown on, so some – like ourselves – found a window sill to work on. General Admission get their choice of two different flowers, four for VIP. Flower tape and wires are provided to create your crown and can be found at the tables. I recommend sticking with the daisies, the carnations did not stay very well!

The Photo Ops

Market for Makers Chicago good vibes only

There were some great photo backdrops on the first floor of the event space. All of them were fairly close to one another and didn’t have too long of a wait. Each had a ring light where you could take your own photo and send it to yourself via email or phone number. Make sure it sends! I would have someone take your picture on your phone just in case!

The Food

Market for Makers Chicago 5411 Empanadas

Like any good event, food is involved. All of the vendors, photo ops, and the bar were located inside. However, outside held three food trucks for dining options. 5411 Empanadas – one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago – Da Pizza Dude, and Mexi Tacos were all in attendance. They took cash and card. Seating and high tables were limited, but thankfully the sun was shining and the weather was great to stand!

What I Bought

While there were a lot of cute items, I chose only a couple to take home with me. These goodies included a sample size of Detox bath soak from Earth Based Body and Rose Gold Rosé marshmallows from XO Marshmallow. Read below to learn more about each!

XO Marshmallow

I first had a taste of XO Marshmallow’s deliciousness back in December at the Maëlle Beauty’s Holiday Soirée. They literally have the best marshmallows around. Their booth at Market for Makers Chicago showcased a variety of signature and newer flavors. Because I can’t resist rosé or sparkles, I bought a box of their Rose Gold Rosé marshmallows. It has edible rose gold glitter on top!

Earth Based Body

Earth Based Body, an unknown company to me before this event, had an aesthetically pleasing array of bath salt soaks, body cream, and more. I’m a huge fan of bath salt and use hot baths as a form of relaxation every week, so I was all about their bath soaks. There were a handful of great choices, but I went with a sample size of the Detox soak (full size found online here) containing black lava salt, activated charcoal, sea salts, and an arrangement of herbs and roots.

My Thoughts

Overall, the event was awesome! I absolutely loved it and would go again. Unless you really want a special tote or mug, no need to splurge on the VIP ticket. I promise you’ll have just as much fun with GA since the flower crown station – the best perk of the event – is included with both. Every good event has solid photo ops, so I was pleased that this one had a few to show off your flower crown. Although there wasn’t really anywhere left to sit, I really liked that there were food truck options. Shopping makes me hungry! All of the Makers had eye-catching products and I’m really happy with my take-home purchases.

Things to Do in Chicago this October

October 10, 2018

*This post has been updated to feature October 2019 events.

Things To Do In Chicago This October

It’s time to get spooky in Chicago! There are so many great events occurring in October this year. Find a roundup of them below – and a roundup of Halloween specific events HERE.

Go to a Halloween Pop-Up

The pop-up trend continues, Fall style. Jack’s Pumpkin Nights is a fun set up located in Goose Island. Cheers to festive beverages and wander through a corn maze, all while finding fun photo ops along the way. My favorite spots for unique Fall photos last year were the pumpkin house near the entrance, the witch’s gazebo within the corn maze, and the lit up sunflower/pumpkin backdrop on the edge of the corn maze! New to the Chicago pop-up scene this October is the House of Beetle Pop-Up. Located at BASSLINE near Chinatown, this pop-up is all things BeetleJuice, including festive drinks and photo ops!

Yoga for a Cause

Many Chicago fitness studios are participating in giving back to breast cancer awareness this month through different yoga events. If you’re going to be working on your ‘om’ anyway, might as well have it go towards a good cause! Bloomingdale’s in Gold Coast is pairing with Corepower on October 5th and Under Amour Chicago is hosting a women’s focused yoga event on October 12th.

Do a Halloween Bar Crawl

I am a big fan of the River North Halloween Crawl that happens every year (and going again this year!). There are many crawls and events happening around the city on Saturday, October 26 to choose from, however make sure to get your ticket before they sell out or prices go up! Ones that look like the perfect mix of party & spooky are Nightmare at Navy Pier and the Haunted Halloween Ball at The Congress Hotel.

Adults Night Out: Lincoln Park Zoo

This 18+ event is set in one of my favorite Chicago spots, the Lincoln Park Zoo! This event is for those who want a lighter take on this spooky holiday. Play glow in the dark mini-golf, booze it up with cash bars, enjoy free rides on the zoo’s carousal, and feel festive with a featured pumpkin patch. Tickets are only $15! Perfect for a Fall date.

Adult Pumpkin Carving

There’s a few bars offering pumpkin carving during the month of October. First come, first serve for pumpkin carving at Sheffield’s Beer and Wine Garden. Bring your imagination and a thirst for seasonal craft beers and cocktails! Lincoln Station will be celebrating their 10th annual pumpkin carving event, complete with two drink tickets and pumpkin beer, and pizza!

What are you most looking forward to this October?

Chicago’s Best Festivals & Events: Summer 2018

July 10, 2018

My favorite time of year is finally here! The city thrives on events all year round, but really brings their A-game come June-September. With events happening almost every day of the week, with many overlapping, it is best to plan out which ones are worth going to ahead of time. Below are my top recommendations for upcoming festivals and events this summer!