The Five Ws and H

I guess you can call this my version of a “Life Lately” post, but with a journalistic spin. (You can take the girl out of the newsroom, but you can’t take the newsroom…) So here are my Five Ws and H – Who, What Where, When, Why and How – to catch you up to speed on what I’ve been up to and share some important *breaking news* that you’re not going to want to miss. Read to the end for that one!

Whose Makeup I’m Wearing

I’m currently obsessed with products from two beauty brands: Esqido and Mojo Spa. I’ve featured them both on this blog before because they put out such great products. And now, the Esqido gel eyeliner and Mojo Spa Unicorn Magic Holographic Face & Body Balm are a part of my daily beauty routine. The eyeliner delivers such an easy, thick line that really makes my eyes pop. (Use my discount code jennies to receive 20% off.) The face balm is a beautiful highlighter that I apply on my cheekbones and in the corner of my eyes to help me glow. Not only are they good for everyday, both can be applied more liberally on weekends or nights out for an extra special oomph in your routine.

What I’m Noshing On

You may be thinking it’s too cold for ice cream, but I’m here to tell you that’s never true! And the limited edition Hudsonville Pistachio is the perfect flavor for the season. Hudsonville is made in Michigan and truly tastes creamy and homemade, despite the fact it’s distributed all over! I was first introduced to it actually by my employer in Chicago, who purchased classic Michigan flavors like Grand Traverse Bay Cherry Fudge Ice Cream for us to celebrate summer. I was so excited when the brand sent me some other flavors to try out and share with friends. If you’re a Chicago local, you can find the brand at Mariano’s, but the pistachio flavor is only sold at Fresh Thyme stores. Visit here to find out where else it’s sold in your area.

When Chicago’s Farmers Markets Close

This is a PSA that Chicago’s city markets are almost finished for the year. I have two favorite ones that I hope to visit before they end this month: Lincoln Park City Market and City Market at Daley Plaza. The market at Daley Plaza is most convenient for me to pop over to when I can get some time away from work, which is really close by. Even if I go later in the day (the market runs til 3 p.m.) I find there’s still plenty of the produce or flowers I’m interested in. I bought this bunch of blooms last week and they were an absolute beautiful pop of color to add to our apartment!

Where I’m Traveling

We recently went to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (or the UP) for my high school friend’s wedding. It was a seven hour drive that went by so quickly because of the beautiful sights! And once we were there it was even better to hike among the changing leaves. I’m definitely considering this area for future vacations, and the rest of the Midwest should, too. Even People.com dubbed it one of the best places to see fall foliage in the country.

Why I’m Roasting Everything in Sight

I’m so into root vegetables and squashes right now, all of which taste delicious roasted with olive oil and spices. I found a great recipe for a roasted butternut squash salad, and adapted it to my tastes. I tossed greens, pecans, dried cranberries, Parmesan cheese and roasted butternut squash, onions and garlic together. It was like fall in a bowl!

How I’m Treating Myself

And now we’re to the breaking news. This week is Spa Week, which offers a wide range of fall-inspired $50 services at top spas across the country! I’ve done my research, and in Chicagoland services include traditional offerings like massages and the season’s hottest trends like reiki, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and more. I like that on the site you can search for services by your zip code and read people’s reviews of the spas. I also went another step and searched the spas on Yelp to ensure it would have the environment perfect for me. With only a few days left in the week, be sure to visit the website now to reserve your appointment.