Ask Amy

Ask and you shall receive! In today’s post I’m answering your questions in my first ever Ask Amy post. I’ve seen an influx of specific questions from you guys as well as requests to share more personal information. I’ve compiled all the questions into one post for you.

I love hearing from readers and followers! You can always reach out to me via email at latereverafter@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram and Facebook. While we are on a social media kick did you know I have a Pinterest page too? Head over there to get even more content.

So here we go…

How old are you?

38 for a few more months, but half the time I forget and think I’m 32 🙂

Last thing you splurged on?

I recently bought the Jenni Saddle Bag from Gigi. I’ve been eyeing it for a while and saving for it. I finally had enough in my envelope so I purchased! It was totally worth the wait too. You can read about how wonderful it is here.

How did you meet your husband?

I met Mike the old fashion way, online at Match.com. We exchanged a few emails and then decided to meet up. Funny story, he actually asked me to to meet up first, but I wasn’t ready and wrote back that I’d love to meet up after he answered a series of questions I had. He wrote back a beautiful thoughtful response and asked me several questions in return. I thought responding back would be pointless and told him I would answer all his questions in person. Yes, I was a bit of an ass, but we laugh about it now! I actually wrote a full post about it, you can find it here.

How long have you lived in Chicago?

I’ve been living in downtown Chicago for 14 years and I love it! I moved downtown when I was 25 and into my brand new condo! Buying a home was very important to me and doing so at a young age was one of my greatest achievements.

How would you describe your style?

My style is classic and effortless. I try to always be put together because I believe the way you dress is related to the success you have in life. If you are put together then your life will be put together. I also just enjoy being fully dressed every day. Don’t get me wrong, there are Sunday’s where I don’t wear makeup and walk around in my athleisure, but I truly try to limit those days.

Favorite TV Show?

I love a good Chicago-themed TV show, so Chicago PD, Chicago Fire and Chicago Med are top of the list. I’m also really into Manifest and a Million Little Things. And I’m currently binge watching Younger! Do you guys watch it? It’s about a 40 year old pretending to be 26 just to get a job in the field she likes.

Favorite item in your closet?

To many to pick, so I’ll give you two. My faux fur vest, I get so excited to bust that thing out every October! And my Masha Dress , its my favorite work dress and I feel like a million bucks in it!

Most worn item in your closet?

My Sara Dress . I can literally wear this dress anywhere. I can wear it to work alone or with a Jardigan and I can also wear it on the weekend to dinner or brunch. Did I mention it was machine washable and wrinkle resistant? It’s a girls best friend!

I’m planning a summer vacation to Italy, any places we must visit?

I’ve visited several cities in Italy. While I think you should go to Rome and see everything there I do think its worth the effort to go to Positano. It can be a little hard to get to, but it is worth the travel. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. It’s like living in a postcard. I can’t get over seeing those tiny colorful buildings on the cliff, it was unreal.

I’m planning a girls weekend in Chicago, any suggestions for brunch spots?

YES! My favorite brunch spot is 3 Arts Cafe at Restoration Hardware, the food and decor are out of this world. I would suggest arriving early as they don’t take reservations. If you do have to wait for a table I recommend you grab a glass of wine and shop around the store for style inspiration. If having a reservation is more your thing you can check out my top places for breakfast/brunch in this post.

Looking to do a weekend away with my husband and we are torn on East Coast or West Coast, which is better for a trip?

I’ve actually been to New York and California several times, for work and vacation. I think it depends on the time of year you are going. In the winter I would say California so you can escape to a warmer climate. However I also love New York at Christmas, it’s so fun and festive there. I also love it in the summer because Central Park is amazing!

Any book recommendations?

Yes! I actually just finished “If You Knew Her” by Emily Edgar. It’s a quick read that will leave you guessing who did it till the end. I also just finished “Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media” by Brittany Hennessy. I read this book in two days! It’s the bible for social media. I’m now starting “The Last Mrs. Parish“, have any of you read it yet?

Favorite bar and restaurant in Chicago?

There are so many to choose from so it’s hard to narrow it down. My all time favorite restaurant is Nico Osteria, the food is out of this world! When I eat here I prefer to sit at the kitchen bar and watch them make the food because it’s so interesting. A close second is Sepia and rounding out third is Ema. My favorite Chicago Steakhouse is Chicago Cut and my top pick for a casual meal is Doc B’s.

What’s your current playlist look like?

I typically listen to current music, usually Top 40 tunes that are currently being played on the radio. I tend to lean toward country music and sometimes get hooked on a favorite movie soundtrack. Right now it’s the Greatest Showman soundtrack. I can’t get enough of it, it’s such uplifting, catchy music.

What is your favorite cocktail?

Sazerac. It took me a long time to find my classic cocktail. I believe everyone should have a go-to cocktail that they love. You should also know how to make your go-to cocktail. You don’t want to be out somewhere and the bartender asks you what is in your drink and you don’t know. That’s not very classic, now is it?

What’s your perfect night out in Chicago?

In the Summer my ideal night out is a concert at Millenium Park. Arriving about an hour before the concert starts and setting up our picnic and taking in the people and the city. After the concert we walk home and see the city at night and get home by 10pm. In the Winter my ideal night is drinks before dinner at a hotel lobby bar like at the Langham or Ritz Carlton. We follow that up with dinner somewhere close and head home by 10pm. I’m getting older and kind of like being in my house!

What’s your go-to outfit?

Dark skinny jeans (I’m obsessed with my Everlane pair, they are high waisted and under $70!), a cream top (this is my go to cream top and it comes in multiple colors!) and heels. Nothing screams sophisticated than a cream top. It’s classic and you always looked polished. I dress it up with my clutch and jewelry, depending on the season. It’s a great outfit for a night out or brunch with the girls.

White wine or red wine?

Right now I’m a white wine gal. I used to be a hard core red wine drinker, but switched after our honeymoon in Greece. I fell in love with Assyrtiko and then on another trip we spent a night in the Loire Valley and got hooked on Vouvray. So right now, I almost strictly drink white wine.

Go-to beauty product?

I’m obsessed with the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel. My face feels so smooth and fresh after I use it.

Starbucks Order?

I try to only drink Starbucks on Fridays, it’s part of my budget , but when I do its a Venti Chai Tea Latte. It tastes like pumpkin pie!

Do you have a makeup tutorial?

No, but I am working on a post right now, stay tuned!

City or Suburbs to raise a baby?

This is such a hot topic with readers and my first piece of advice is you need to do what works best for you. I personally grew up in the western suburbs and had an awesome childhood. I loved every second of it and wouldn’t change it for anything. However, I love living in the city. For Mike and I, the city works best for us. We love the energy of the city and the convenience it offers. You can walk anywhere!

We also love condo living (see how I feel about our new home for 6 months now in this post)! While space is limited in the city, we love living in a condo with everything on the same level. The baby’s room is a stone’s throw from our bedroom and the living room and I like that close proximity. We also both work in the city so being able to get home and to our baby quickly is very important to us. I know I’m giving up things like a backyard, but I have a park outside my door that I can walk to and play with my child (when she is old enough) and that’s enough for me!