SOLO LUNCH AT THE BEAN

A few weeks ago while running some errands downtown, I happened upon the bean. I seldomly carry my digital camera with me (which I hope to change) and happen to have it that day so I played tourist  and took some photos along my way around our beautiful city.

This Winter has left me feeling a bit spiteful towards Chicago. Winter was just SOOO long, and even though I've lived here for 7 years the Floridian in me comes out around Spring and yearns for that sun and heat! My little trip downtown with my camera rejuvenated my love for our windy city.

XO
azuree

XO CHICAGO // BOW TRUSS

After a little Winter hiatus, I'm excited to be back at it over at XO Chicago! If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, it's a little blog where my two girlfriend and I explore all the awesome eateries and coffee shops Chicago has to offer. Is this really just an excuse to get together, eat good food, take fun pictures of our food and chat? Absolutely!

Do you have a favorite place in Chicago we haven't visited yet?! We're always looking for recommendations!!

XO

PS
How gorgeous is our logo! I love it so much- big ups to the ladies at Hello Gem for making it for us!

WORDS TO SHOOT BY // COFFEE

I am so happy that Words To Shoot By is back in action. If you aren't familiar with it, a collective of photographers are given a word to shoot every other week. The words are usually open to interpretation. I love seeing how different everyone shoots each word. I also love participating because it keeps me shooting through times where I lack inspiration. 

Take a peek at the latest, coffee! 

XO

IMPOSSIBLE INSTANT LAB // GIVEAWAY

As soon as I saw the Kickstarter for the Instant Lab by the Impossible Project, I funded it right away! This magical box transforms your iPhone photos into tangible Instant Prints on Impossible Project's lovely array of films. I LOVED this! There are so many times I take a picture with my phone where I wish I would have had my Polaroid camera with me. The Instant Lab makes it so that you can have all those moments, in your hands, on film!

Here is an example of a digital photo that I used the lab to make a few instant prints with to send off to a client:

If you'd like to see a step by step of how the lab works, take a peek at this post which explains it.

The folks over at Impossible are super rad and have given me an Instant Lab and a pack of Impossible Color Frame film (my very favorite of their films right now, each frame is a different color!) to give away to one lucky person in the U S of A! 

Entering is a piece of cake, two easy steps:

1. Follow me on Instagram @xoazuree

2. Post an iPhone photo you'd like to print with the lab and tag it #xoinstantlab

Don't forget to use the hashtag so I can track your entry. One lucky winner will be announced Wednesday, April 23rd! 

If you can't wait to get your hands on a lab, you can grab one here! The price on the lab recently dropped! Be inspired by all the rad stuff you can do with your lab by taking a peek at this recent Impossible newsletter. Doesn't that panoramic photo look awesome?! I want to try that next.

I can't wait to see some fun entries!! Good luck!

XO

FLORIDA // MARCH 2014

Christopher and I recently went down South to Florida to shoot a gorgeous backyard wedding that I can't wait to share on here. We had so much fun working and playing together. It was my best friends birthday and we celebrated all week. We hit up some delicious restaurants, some fun bars, some classic Florida dives, some favorite places from when I used to live in Winter Park and hung out with friends who came down from Georgia and New York.

One of my favorite things we did was take a long drive to DeLand to The Old Spanish Sugar Mill where you make your own pancakes out of different batters with different toppings on a griddle that is built into your table. This was really fun and was right next to a pretty spring. I couldn't stop admiring all the spanish moss and all the pretty greenery that I took for granted for so long when I lived in Florida!

It's funny how when you move away, you start to appreciate all those things you took for granted for so long. I love living in Chicago, "city life" suites me but there is definitely something to be said about the laid back southern life that I miss too.

I loved seeing all the Spanish Moss everywhere and all the pretty greenery, walking around my old stomping grounds with Christopher and our friends, filling our bellies with the best southern foods and just getting a break from the Chicago cold! Not to mention how AMAZING thrift stores are in Florida. Here in the city it seems like every thrift store is so picked over.

It was so fun to see the Wes Anderson theme at Stardust, a coffee shop / bar / hang out that I have been going to since I was in high school.

Another highlight was visiting the Rifle Paper Co store. It is amazing to see how far Anna and her team have come, we used to work at a small magazine together! She is brilliant and sweet and I'm so proud of everything she's accomplished. It's always fun to visit the store and see old friends.

This trip to Florida was just what we needed, a break from the Chicago cold (it snowed the day we left!), time spent with great friends, all the southern foods and of course a wonderful wedding to start the year off with!

I hope you enjoyed these photos, all taken with a little point n shoot film camera, one of my favorites at the moment the almighty Contax T2!

XO
azuree