Read It
Why is it that throwing a party always sounds like a fun idea—until you’ve sent the invitations and the stress kicks in? Luckily, HGTV design guru and Highland Park resident Monica Pedersen has come to the rescue with her new book, Make It Beautiful: Designs and Ideas for Entertaining at Home (Agate Midway, May 8, 2012). Pedersen, a seasoned hostess and self-admitted non-cook, shows us how to create beautiful, innovative parties without ever having to pull out a pot or pan. The secret is all in the styling, says Pedersen, who approaches parties just as she would a design job, offering ideas for flowers, colors, fabrics, and décor that will make any party unforgettable. — KK
Blog It
We almost don’t want to tell you about this site, because in doing so, we’re giving away the source of most our dinner party recipes (apart from smittenkitchen.com, which is where you’ll most likely find everything we’ve ever cooked). But what the heck—we’re all friends here, right? So we should tell you that chezpim.com is one of the best foodie websites out there. Pim is currently teaching a multitude of cooking classes at Love Apple Farms in California (and, seriously, we may go out there if she offers another pad thai class—join us?), so she hasn’t updated in a while, but the archives alone will send you into torrents of culinary delights and ambition. The photography is beautiful, the step-by-step instructions are perfect, and the food choices themselves are second to none. Macaroons, anyone? — KA
Do It
After our 1920s shoot (page 68), we simply can’t wait to don a flapper dress and toast to Ragdale House this month. The roaring reopening event features dinner, dancing and a tour of the Howard Van Doren Shaw summer residence, which has been painstakingly restored to its full 1920s splendor. One of the largest interdisciplinary artists’ communities in the country, Ragdale has hosted such notable writers as Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler’s Wife), Heidi W. Durrow (The Girl Who Fell from the Sky), Alex Kotlowitz (There Are No Children Here), and Nancy Horan (Loving Frank). For tickets to “A Toast to Ragdale,” May 5 at 6:30 p.m. (with a VIP preview at 5:30 p.m.), call 847-234-1063, or visit ragdale.org. — KK
Work It
Let’s face it—we all want to hit the beach this year showing off our cute new swimsuit…and, of course, a strong, lean body! We’re big fans of any effective, time-saving methods, especially when it comes to fitness. We’ve found the ultimate fat-blasting workout, MetCon3, now offered at Equinox in Highland Park. This high-energy, high-intensity class draws on the latest research in endocrinology, exercise science, and strength-building. Using brief, intense bursts of exercise (making use of kettlebells and body bars to steps and weights) MetCon3 will keep you burning fat for hours after leaving the class. No special skill sets are required for this 45-minute workout—just make sure you bring a towel! Equinox is located at 799 Central Avenue in Highland Park. For class information, call 847-681-7777, or visit equinox.com. — MM
