living – In Good Taste

Six Household DIY Projects I’ll Probably Never Do

Maris Callahan — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 19:06:47 +0000

This month, Brad and I moved from our respective homes into the rear apartment in a big, beautiful old house in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Before this, I lived in a convertible studio in a downtown high rise (translation: beautiful apartment, minimal space) and Brad in a smaller apartment in a different big beautiful old house with his roommate of the better part of the last decade. Suffice to say, we have more space than we do stuff, so we don’t know what to do with a lot of the extra square footage. What we do know, is that both of us are filled with grandiose DIY ideas for how we’d like to fill said space. I love to buy pretty things and Brad loves woodworking and is excited about all of the different projects we’ve been scheming. It’s pretty much perfect. The thing is, we have some limitations. And I’m going to be blunt here: I’m one of those limitations. My creative ability and vision is decent, but my executional abilities are, well, lacking. As we’ve been crawling every corner of the web to look for ideas and inspiration, I keep finding things that, well, we’ll just never do. Now, I know, […]

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A Conversation With Nicole Birmingham-Moersch of Round Barn Winery

Maris Callahan — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 21:07:25 +0000

It’s every woman’s dream to work at a winery, right? (Especially, one as beautiful as Round Barn Winery). Well, maybe that’s just me. Nicole “Cole” Birmingham-Moersch, however, is living out that very dream in Baroda, MI. As the Marketing Director for Round Barn Winery, Distillery & Brewery, Round Barn Public House and Free Run Cellars, this Michigan-native mother of two is always on the go and throughout it, manages to never stop smiling. We chatted with Nicole to learn more about Round Barn, what it’s like to work in a family business and of course, how she makes time to fit in that evening glass of wine. Now, has anyone seen my corkscrew? What was your first job out of college? When I declared I was going to be a Communications major there was some speculation about what kind of job that would actually lead to. I wasn’t sure myself but I knew I could sell myself and I’d find something I was passionate about. Upon graduation, I proudly landed a job as an Admissions Counselor for a community college briefly before doing the same thing for my Alma Mater, Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. I loved it…the energy and diversity! There’s […]

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An Essay, Or Something, About Love and Acceptance

Maris Callahan — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 01:00:33 +0000

I haven’t articulated any thoughts or opinions about what happened in Orlando this past weekend because really truly, the only word that I can think to describe it is horrific. What I am going to comment on though is number of posts and memes I’ve seen over the past few days drawing lines between mental illness and gun violence. One in particular suggested that “mental illness + gun = mass shooting.” There’s no question the Orlando shooter was a hate-filled maniac, but I’m not entirely comfortable painting all mental illnesses — I’m going to call them mental health disorders — with one broad brush. Putting my personal experiences aside, there is no question that gun violence is out of control in our country, but I don’t think that any one of us has the solution right now (I would even be willing to bet that there are plenty of responsible gun owners with mental health issues who manage not to commit violent acts). As someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression since college, I can tell you that not every mental health disorder drives you to murder 50 innocent people. More than 40 million adults in the U.S. alone […]

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Thanksgiving Inspired Gold Pumpkin Table Settings

Maris Callahan — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 06:27:56 +0000

Long before you sit down to dinner, your Thanksgiving dinner table will make a first impression with your guests. Even if you’re starting out in your first home or haven’t yet acquired all of the home goods that couples tend to acquire from a wedding registry, you can look to rustic materials with a few embellishments to make a memorable Thanksgiving tablescape. Pumpkins, which are inexpensive and available at farms, grocery stores and pretty much any place that sells seasonal decor, also have the added benefit of being versatile. Turn miniature pumpkins into gold place card holders or even just elegant accents to place on each table setting. Buy larger pumpkins, gourds or squash and make beautiful vases to hold flowers or create a beautiful, organic centerpiece. Today though, we’re talking gilded pumpkins, because isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about? Oh, right. Buy the Supplies: Gold pumpkins look elegant and sophisticated, but they are one of the easiest accents you can make for your table. Miniature pumpkins only cost a couple of dollars each, but you;’ll also need a couple of other craft supplies to pull your project together. Miniature white or orange pumpkins Base coat paint Metallic gold spray Paint the Base Coat: Anytime you’re […]

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Multitasking: Beauty Products that Pull Double Duty

Maris Callahan — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 20:59:40 +0000

It’s not easy to find the time for career, hobbies, friends and family, let alone look amazing while doing it all. For today’s busy gal on the go, your beauty products need to work just as hard (sometimes, even harder) than you do. So we found a round-up of beauty products that pull double duty. Each one of these must-haves manages to help your hair, skin and nails glow and keep you feeling pulled together 24/7. Elta MD Facial Sunscreens Uses: Sunscreen, BB Cream, Tinted Moisturizer EltaMD is a line of skincare and sun care products to assist in the maintenance of healthy skin. EltaMD Facial Sunscreen helps calm and protect sensitive skin types prone to breakouts, rosacea and discoloration. Opt for EltaMD UV ClearBroad-Spectrum SPF 46, which contains niacinamide (vitamin B3), hyaluronic acid and lactic acid, ingredients that promote the appearance of healthy-looking skin. Very lightweight and silky, it may be worn with makeup or alone. Opt for the tinted version to replace your BB cream or tinted moisturizer, as the formula also contains zinc-oxide and antioxidants to help absorb free radicals ($24, 1.7 ounces). Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser Uses: Makeup Remover, Moisturizer, Facial Cleanser Unlike ordinary cleansers, Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser is actually 50% moisturizer. […]

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