Chicago Haul: Clothes

I didn't buy too much because my closet is way too small and I don't want to stuff everything inside. Finding things to wear is hard enough when everything is organized... I'm still dreaming of the IKEA Pax systems but I won't buy it until I move out of my apartment...

Anyway... Here's what I bought.

1. Forever 21 - necklace (~3$) and top (15$)
2. Old Navy - T-shirts (5$ each)
3. Urban Outfitters - dress (~25$)
4. Payless - nude peeptoes (~20$)

I want to wear the dress to my friend's civil wedding. Is it too light? It's not white though! I think I might pair it with these nude peeptoes or maybe with my other white peeptoes but it's still a long time until August. Maybe I'll find something else until then.

But first of all, I need another dress for my other friend's church wedding!!!

Chicago Haul: Beauty Products

As I mentioned earlier, I have been dying to buy make-up in the States. There are still a couple more things, I wanted but they were apparently discontinued.

Sephora stopped selling the Shu Uemara lash curler last year. The guy at the counter was dazzled by my non-existing knowledge... Anyways, Sephora is totally overrated. I didn't buy anything at all, though I was tempted to buy the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Maybe next time...

So let's get back to the stuff I bought.

• Cosmetics:

1. Revlon Colorburst - Raspberry (9.99$)
2. Revlon Super Lucious - Primrose (9.49$)
3. Revlon Super Lucious - Wink for Pink (9.49$)
4. Revlon Lipbutter - Peach Parfait (3.89$)
5. Maybelline Color Sensational - Warm Me Up (8.99$)
6. Maybelline Color Sensational - Pink Please (8.99$)
7. L'oreal Color Riche Lipcolour - 800 Fairest Nude (10.99$)
8. Mac - Russian Red (14.50$)
9. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush - 05 Fresh Pink (7.99$)
10. Wet 'n' Wild - 832E Heather Silk (3.49$)
11. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush - 70 Hot Tamale (7.99$)
12. Milani Liquif'Eye - black (4.49$)

I'm a big fan of all the products that I've bought.

The lipsticks are all very moisturizing. My favorite right now is #3 Revlon Wink for Pink because I wear a lot of coral colors lately. Except of #1 Revlon's Raspberry and #8 Mac's Russian Red, they are more on the neutral side and can be worn all day long. I only wear strong colored lipsticks, when I go out, for pictures, and on stage. Otherwise, I prefer softer colors for my daily life.

Here are some swatches

The Bouncy Blushes are cool for traveling because I don't need any brushes, just my fingers. The Fresh Pink is my natural blush color. It's more for a very natural make-up. But since I'm more into brighter colors, I love Hot Tamale more. It's a lot more pigmented but it still blends very well. If I want it to last very long, I put Manhattan's Oktoberfest LE Wiesn Fever on top. The colors match quite well. I just think, I need another bronzer now...

The Wet 'n' Wild Blush is very silky, smooth and pigmented but unfortunately I can't travel with it because, it's dusting like no other - there was blush all over the place, when I got back... I cleaned it up more or less but now it rests in my make-up drawer. I use it whenever I wear only white or navy blue. That's also when my light pink lipsticks are used ˆ.ˆ like #2 and #6...

• Other things:

1. Victoria's Secret - Bombshell (49$)
2. Eucerin Daily Protection - Moisturizing Face Lotion SPF 30 (11.49$)

I've never thought that I would love a parfume from Victoria's Secret because the scents are mostly too sweet and heavy for me. I prefer lighter scents that are fresh. Who would have thought that a parfume named Bombshell could be fresh and fruity! It's supposed to smell like purple passion fruit, Shangry-la yellow peony (whatever that it?!) and vanilla orchid... It's my new favorite parfume. Unfortunately, it doesn't last the whole day but I still smell it after a couple hours. I love love love it!!!

I have been looking out for an affordable non-greasy face cream with high SPF for the longest time. So far I've tried all kinds of suncreens from Nivea, Garnier, cheap no name products. None of them were even half as good as Eucerin. And Eucerin is freaking expensive in Germany - it's sold in pharmacies whose products are always on the pricier side. I'm hooked... I should have bought a back-up!!!

Chicago: Food

I love to go to restaurants and eat. Especially do I love things that are too troublesome to make myself.
There are a couple Chicago Style dishes that I had to try. One is the famous Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. I got mine from Pizzeria Uno. At first I was disappointed because it looked so small but since it's a deep dish (2cm, about 1inch), it was plenty for me... Haha... I took the smallest size of tomato, mozzarella cheese and pesto :) my favorite combination for pizza. It's a good idea to come during lunch because there are special lunch deals...

The other thing is Chicago Style Popcorn. It's caramel and cheese flavored popcorn which you need to eat at once. I know, it sounds gross but it's like peanutbutter and jelly. If you like that, you probably also like this kind of popcorn... In my first hostel, I met a popcorn seller and he introduced me to this. I told him, we only have sweet popcorn in Germany and he barely believed me :)

One of my favorite places in the US is the Cheesecake Factory. Unfortunately, the Luau Salad wasn't as good as I remember from 6 years ago, when I first went to the place. But the Red Velvet Cheesecake was incredible. In the end, that's what they're famous for...

I went to Del Seoul for Korean fusion food. I had Sesame-Chili Shrimp BBQ Taco and Seoul Style Street Dumplings. It was so great, I came back to eat lunch before I went back to Germany.

Another favorite food of mine is Sushi. Hot Wok & Cold Sushi was very close to my conference hotel. I read some good comments in yelp, so I tested the restaurant and had to go twice as well. Delicious... I love eel and also the egg makis.

Chicago

Chicago has been great. The conference was interesting, too. Since I haven't been to the States for about 4 years, I could not wait to buy and eat some things...

The Silver Bean of course...

I bought lots of cosmetics. Since I watch a lot of US youtubers like Hollyannaeree, frmheadtotoe or Xteeener, etc. I have been dying to buy some of their favorite products. They've got so much more variety in the US, it's so unfair... I'll write about those beauty products in a separate blog post.

I went to a free Jazz concert of the Chicago College of Performing Arts of the University of Roosevelt. The guys were amazing. I wasn't allowed to tape it on video but I enjoyed a great 2h concert of two ensembles of jazz and latin jazz.

I'm not sure if it actually is what it looks like... an automatic parking tower.

The North Side is full of beautiful old houses... Of course it's also the most expensive and safest area.

The squirrels are so cute.

Here's my lunch from the Cheesecake Factory. Seriously incredibly delicious.

Also a very nice but nevertheless touristic area is the Navy Pier. I went there on the most beautiful day, when it was so warm, I didn't even need a jacket.