Total page views: 847,067
Published Content: 466
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On AC since: 08.31.06
Bio:
Sophia is a freelance writer from Chicago who loves to share her city with readers. Named one of AC's Top 1,000 Content Producers in the 2007 People's Media Awards, Sophie enjoys writing about Chicago, fashion and beauty, travel, and green living.
Education/Experience:
University of Dallas, Loyola University Chicago, life
Motto:
Unus Sed Lea
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Here are several tips to help you save money on your winter wedding reception with everything from flower selection to wedding decorations to wedding favors.
A guide to growing and using the herb, summer savory.
Three of the best cover crops that I have used to control weeds at different times of the year and in different ways.
Five affordable wedding dresses for your winter wedding that are all under $500.
The top five winter wedding trends and how you can accomplish them on a budget.
A guide to the best floating plants to use in a water garden.
When it comes to choosing the best pond shape for a water garden, here are a few things you need to consider.
A guide to choosing the best location in your yard for the placement of a water garden.
A guide to the best tropical water lilies to add to your garden.
An easy to follow guide to make your own hydrangea bridal bouquet.
Plant, design and grow bulbs native to North America.
Here is a guide to the best beaches to visit in USA this summer.
Here are the five yoga fitness DVDs that have become my favorites because they provides me with different workouts that are challenging and exciting.
A guide to late flowering bulbs that are great to add to any garden.
A guide to the best plants that you can use to design a hummingbird garden.
A guide to organic food delivery in Chicago and the Chicagoland area.
A guide to the best natural skin care products available for oily skin.
A detailed look at the pros and cons of both rubber and wood mulch and which you should use in your own garden.
A guide to the best websites for student travel and some of the best travel deals online.
The top five websites to find great summer travel deals.
Budget friendly ideas for a variety of summer wedding themes.
A review of the top five pairs of designer glasses from Marc Jacobs.
A guide to the best detangling products available for hair.
A guide to the types of products, and best examples, that will be beneficial for your skin.
A guide to the best Valentine's Day gifts for your wife when you are on a tight budget.
A guide to the selecting the best limos.
A guide to the top 10 cities in the world to ring in the New Year in 2009.
If you are looking for Chinese New Year greeting cards of your own, here are several retailers as well as websites that sell several different varieties.
Using cutouts it is easy to create your own homemade Chun Lian Chinese New Year Greeting Cards. Here are easy to follow instructions for making two different styles of Chun Lian Chinese New Year Greeting Cards to send out to family and friends.
A guide to all the festivities all over Chicago to celebrate the Chinese New Year in 2009.
A guide to the best bars in Chicago to celebrate New Year's Eve in style.
A guide to the best Christmas gifts for single women this year.
Here are several gift ideas that all cost around ten dollars, but will make great inexpensive Christmas gifts for your friend.
A guide to buying white Christmas trees for this holiday season.
A shopping guide to the top yard decorations for Christmas.
A guide to budget Christmas shopping in Chicago.
Where to Find Inexpensive Vintage Wedding Dresses
Review of Bissell Healthy Home HEPA vacuum cleaner
An online buying guide to mantilla bridal veils.
A guide to finding Dessy bridesmaid dresses.
Guide to the Best Waterproof Eye Makeup
Salon tips and products that stylists use to straighten hair easily and quickly.
Guide to help you remove sunless tanner quickly and easily.
Blush application tips and products for tan skin.
Review of my favorite IMAN cosmetic products.
The best places to find hipster clothing in Chicago for the entire family.
A review of several skincare products that I recommend for hyperpigmentation.
Products to help you keep your synthetic hair makeup brushes clean.
Ten tips for designing a meditation room in your home.
Tips on preparing your soil for planting vines.
Several years of winter gardening and maintenance has taught me a few things, and even though I cannot always protect my garden from the elements, I have learned several things that might prove useful in your own garden.
Tips on how to create a colorful fall garden using flowering plants and shrubs.
Tips for caring for your fruit trees in winter.
Tips for growing organically in an urban situation
Tips to help you maintain your compost heap in winter.
Here are five of my favorite websites to find last minute hotel deals in Las Vegas.
Here are my choices for the best Chicago night clubs that are no cover and still have plenty to offer.
The City Gallery in the Chicago Water Tower is a great place to discover new and experienced Chicago photographers.
If you are visiting Chicago and plan on shopping Michigan Avenue there are some upscale stores that you just have to visit. Here are the top five upscale stores on Michigan Avenue selling everything from jewelry to clothing to shoes.
Athletes go through several pairs of high-tech shoes every year, and the quality and technology that goes into each pair is definitely worth the splurge.
Hanging flower bags add color and beauty to your home or yard in places that it would otherwise be hard to plant a garden. A hanging flower bag, when full grown and blooming completely, can give the appearance of flowers growing out of the side of a tree
The following are some of Boston's best night clubs to go dancing and enjoy the night out.
If you are looking for a great singles spot in Boston be sure to check out the following locations which offer everything from a laid back atmosphere to a pulsing club scene.
Here are two separate tours that I have taken with my own family or a group of children while vacationing in New York City.
At the last few weddings I have attended in Boston, there were two photographers that stood out because of their ability to multitask, pose the couple and create beautiful scenes, and communicate clearly and quickly with those being photographed.
The following ten tours take you all over the Boston area to the significant and well known landmarks, as well as off the beaten path to little known historic haunts that are just as important.
The following are my favorite cheap antique shops in Boston. My favorite antique shops are those that specialize in a very specific type of antique, such as furniture or porcelain, as well as a couple general shops that carry just about everything.
Design tips for creating your very own Victorian kitchen.
The following are some tricks and ideas that I used when decorating my own garden room and tips that I share with others when helping them design a garden room of their own.
Here are four tips to help you improve the condition of your lawn using only eco-friendly practices.
If you need an instant garden around your home or other building, there are a few tricks you can use to get one.
Green landscaping sounds complicated, but it is actually a lot easier than you may think. Here are a few things to remember when you are choosing the best plants for your own eco-friendly landscaping project.
Here are a few landscaping tips to help you turn your small yard into an outdoor oasis.
There are several reasons for switching to a biodegradable sunscreen, and the several brands available for you to use make the switch even easier. Biodegradable sunscreens provide you with great protection from the sun and nourish your skin at the same time.
The following are popular choices for garden statues and where to place them in your own garden for the best effect.
The following are several eco friendly landscaping products to help you keep your yard looking incredible and why you should use them.
I have tried ten different all natural mosquito repellents that each use different or overlapping ingredients and found two that actually work very well. Here are my reviews of two of those all natural mosquito repellents that offer great protection.
How to choose the right swimsuit for a full hourglass figure.
Summer cocktail parties are a great reason to get together with friends and enjoy a few drinks before dinner. The ritual also calls for fun and flirty cocktail dresses, that you can never have too many of. Here are my choices for this summers hottest cocktail dresses.
Here is a quick guide to help you remember all the preparations that go into planning and throwing a quinceñera.
Here are my favorite Chinese restaurants spread throughout the city of Chicago.
A review of the new beauty tool, the Spinlash.
Here are eight foundation formulas with SPF that you can find at your local drugstore.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) eliminated three cities making a bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, leaving Chicago standing among the four finalists.
Today a string of powerful storms moved through the Midwest and into Chicago. The city saw massive power outages, downed trees and power lines and airport delays.
Here are a few tips that I have used to get into some of the hottest clubs in NYC quickly and without a problem.
Mother's Day is the perfect time to pamper mom with spa products that make a serious difference in the way she feels and looks. If you are looking for the perfect beauty products to give mom an at-home spa experience, try these spa Web sites.
The arrival of summer is when my hyperpigmentation concerns are at the highest, which is why I purchased the Marvel-Mini Rejuvenating Facial Light Therapy for Hyperpigmentation as soon as it came out.
While looking for an even quicker way to take care of hair removal, or keep me out of the beauty salon all together, I found the brand new Bikini Perfect System from Philips.
Here are the top five trees that you can plant for wildlife. All five trees provide some need for wildlife, add beauty to your yard and give you the joy of viewing wildlife right outside your window.
Here is a quick and easy guide to help you properly mulch your tree and some tips on the types of mulch to use.
A list of the top eight Sushi restaurants in Chicago.
Here are several places in the Chicagoland area where you can receive the CPR training that you need, whether just for your own preparedness or for a professional position.
Guide to the best belly dancing schools in Chicago.
Here are a few tips and tricks I have picked up while growing all types and varieties of peppers for the last ten years.
There are natural ways to enhance you beauty and improve the appearance of your skin, hair and nails. Here are some of my favorite natural beauty tips and how to use them.
A huge part of going to the prom takes place before the actual prom, especially for the girls. Besides choosing the perfect dress, the right shoes and finding a fun date, every girl going to the prom needs to worry about her hair and makeup.
Here are some tips to help you plant a stunning spring display of flowers in a window box that will flourish well into summer.
If you are going to host a garden party and want to make your own invitations, try making this simple but elegant flower invitation.
Here are some simple tips on the plants to choose for a stunning window box design.
Here are the best 18 and over nightclubs in Chicago, including clubs that host once a week 18 and over nights.
Summer is the perfect time to slip into a dress. Summer dresses can be dressed up or down and take you through an entire day, making them a great addition to your wardrobe.
Here are my favorite vintage clothing stores in Chicago that carry the best selection of styles and labels around.
If you are planning your own wedding in Chicago and are looking for the perfect florist to do your wedding flower, here are two of my favorite flower shops. Each offers very different service and designs, but they are both excellent at what they do.
If you are looking for the perfect vintage Barbie doll outfit for your doll, or your already clothed dolls need a new look, try looking at the following website.
If you are looking to begin collecting vintage jewelry boxes, or for some new places to shop, here are a couple of my favorite places to shop.
Here are two online wholesale florists that friends and family have used in the past to get the flowers they wanted for the least possible price.
The following are some ideas to help you choose the perfect colors, flowers and arrangements for your own fall wedding.
Here are five website that have yearly, monthly, and weekly calendars available for free.
To help you find the perfect pair of size 28 Seven For All Mankind Jeans I have listed my favorite places to shop for the brand.
If you are want to know where you can find Seven for All Mankind jeans, especially in size 29 which is a sought after fit here in the States, here are retailers that carry the brand, as well as other places to find the perfect jeans for you.
Here are five of my favorite bars, restaurants, and nightclubs that cater to the over thirty crowd in Chicago.
The seven wonders of the world include some of the most glorified and magnificent man made structures ever made. My trip to the Colosseum was definitely worth the time, planning and money I spent to get there.
If you are looking to sell a Cabbage Patch Kid you own or purchase one for yourself or a child, there are plenty of online retailers that carry the vintage dolls.
Here are a few of the best games available on PBS Kids across a wide range of ages. Each one has a lesson that contributes to a child's developmental growth, and are fun enough that they won't even see it as an educational game.
Pottery Barn Kids offers a high quality line of kids bedding that is whimsical and stylish.
Planting flowers under trees adds color and depth to your garden. A shaded yard with several trees does not have to go without flowers the entire growing season, bulbs are a great way to bring a variety of foliage and blooms to what would otherwise be a very empty spot.
Here are a couple popular and fun options for girls bedding that will work in several different room designs and stay trendy for more than one year.
The new 2008 Lexus Hybrid LS is the perfect combination of luxury and environmentally friendly cars. As a luxury sedan, the Lexus hybrid offers top of the line technology and engineering.
If you are shopping for your wedding band there are several design options to choose from. Here are ten different diamond wedding rings for you to consider.
Chicago has some of the best dining options in the nation, and family friendly places should not be kept out of the mix. Here are some of the best family friendly restaurants in Chicago.
Here are ten different princess cut diamond engagement rings for you to consider.
The soil block makers offered by the company, allow you to make your own soil blocks to start your seeds in. Making your own blocks eliminates the need to buy a bunch of seed starting plastic cells every spring.
Review of Ugg Australia Chicago store.
If you are looking for a Celtic wedding ring to mark this very important occasion, here are ten Celtic wedding rings to consider.
If you are looking to purchase an antique engagement ring, here are a few retailers and websites with very beautiful collections to choose from.
Here are some of the best restaurants in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, both old and new.
Here are three types of bird feed that are sure to be crowd pleasers all winter long.
A seed germination test can be done on any seeds that you have leftover in seed packets from previous years, or on seeds that you collected yourself but are unsure about their viability.
There are three popular types of clematis that you can find in your local nursery for your garden, and caring for them is relatively easy compared to other flowering vines.
Here is a guide to organizing your own plant swap where you can share tips and tricks to growing your favorite plants and swap extra plants and seeds from your garden.
Here is a guide to the basics of using organic mulch in your gardens, including what exactly organic mulch is, why you should use it and a list of the most common and ready types of organic mulch available.
Here are ten designers and websites where you can find the perfect beach wedding dress for summer.
Here are some of the best restaurants in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, everything from the family spot on the corner to establishments known by diners from all corners of Chicago.
Here is a list of the best fruits and vegetables to help you boost your immune system.
Here are tips for anyone who wants to begin growing tomatoes organically, or who already grows organic vegetables but is looking for a few tips for a better and bigger harvest.
Here are a few great ideas for that special couple in your life celebrating their thirty fifth wedding anniversary.
La Tienda offers several different kits, this review is for the Paella Kit with the traditional 15-inch paella pan. If you have never made paella before, this kit is a great introduction to the dish and everything you need is right there for you.
Here are several thirtieth wedding anniversary gift ideas from the traditional pearls to the contemporary diamonds, along with some other great ideas.
Here are 10th wedding anniversary gift ideas for family and friends to give to the couple, or for the couple to give to each other.
If you have been trying to get rid of belly and stomach fat with endless crunches and sit-ups but aren't getting the results you want, there are exercises to help you tone and strengthen your abs. Here are ten of the best workouts to get the abs you want.
Here are my votes for the best Indian food all over Chicago, the picks include the best Indian restaurants on Devon Avenue and then takes you on a trip to other Chicago neighborhoods.
Here are my favorite motivational tunes to get me through Monday morning blues.
Here are very easy instructions to make Valentine's Day note pads using items you probably already have in the house.
To help you find the perfect prom dress, here are five nationwide retailers that offer several styles of plus size prom dresses at more affordable prices.
From the candle lit table settings to the warm décor, Sangria provides the perfect setting for a romantic date or a group dinner with friends.
It takes a regular Chicago shopper, an insider, to understand what makes Michigan Avenue magnificent. So here it is, an insiders shopping guide to Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
Here are four restaurants in Chicago that I recommend for the romantic atmosphere and great food.
Fun and flirty or an updated classic, you can find a short prom dress that will have you strutting like the prom queen you are.
Buyinlow.com is a new alternative to eBay, which offers free auction and lotto listings to eBay merchants as well as new sellers.
Here is a guide to the best choices available and where to find them. The three options listed offer various amounts of support and coverage but all can be worn with a backless or strapless prom dress.
Set in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, an area overrun with bars that cater to college students, Vain has perfected the nightclub and lounge atmosphere.
Latin America is home to some of the most beautiful natural and manmade wonders of the world. Here is a guide to the top manmade wonders of Latin America.
Kaboodle is a social shopping community that has evolved into an social network where users can not only create shopping wish lists, but also organize websites that interest them. Here are some tips on how to promote your AC content on Kaboodle.
Fedoras have long been the hat of choice for men, but ladies are dressing up their heads with their own sexy version. New accents and a variety of fabrics help you show off your own style.
Thanks to several new guided tours by Chicago running companies you can now take a running tour that is designed to get you the most out of your workout while filling you in on all things Chicago as you go.
Chicago churches present some of the most impressive architecture in the city, from English and French Gothic to Renaissance style and Byzantine-Italian Romanesque to the style of the Roman basilicas.
In a city with hundreds of churches, most of which are architectural gems, three churches in Chicago have been chosen by the Vatican as Catholic Basilicas.
Enclave has earned itself a spot on Chicago's list of super clubs, but size and hotness don't count for everything.
Here are three new pieces of fitness equipment that you should try for yourself in the comfort of your own home.
Organic beauty products are becoming even more specialized, biodynamic beauty products are being made from ingredients that are not only grown organically but in tune with nature.
Supersmile Professional Whitening Gum is the perfect product for teeth whitening on the go. Each piece of mint sized gum works to not only whiten teeth and also remove superficial stains that your teeth throughout the day, but promotes gum health and freshens breath.
From calming oils to hydrating facials, these new home spa beauty products will give you the same stress reducing results that take you away from the pressures of daily life and leave you with newly soothed skin.
With a few special touches and a couple of neat products it is possible to create your very own home spa, right in the bathroom. Here are five new at home spa products that help you transform your bathroom into your very own retreat.
Romantic river walks, historic districts, antique shopping, and lively community festivals are all part of the charm of St. Charles, IL. Here is a guide to some of the unique offerings found in St. Charles to help you plan your own weekend get away.
High heels are about to get comfortable, all day wear comfortable. Instead of just providing more cushioning, like every other shoe insole out there, Insolia high heel insoles are created to change the way you put pressure on your feet.
If you have a darker complexion, you understand the importance of a beauty line created to care for and nourish brown skin. A new line of skin care products, Dr. Susan Taylor's Rx for Brown Skin, is specially formulated to treat and nourish darker skin.
There are several different shades of red to choose from, and each shade is designed to bring out the color of a different skin tone. Here is a quick guide to help you remember what to look for when choosing the perfect shade of red lipstick for your skin tone.
Chicago has stores stocked with Halloween costumes popping up all over the city, but not all of them carry a great selection of costumes to buy or rent. Here is an insider's guide to the best places to shop for a Halloween costume in Chicago.
This year's sexy fall shoe fashions are created by focusing on the small details, details like the color, type of straps used and the materials used. Here is a guide to this fall's sexy shoe fashions and how to wear them with the latest fashions.
If you are searching for the perfect Halloween costume, try a superhero. Here are ideas for making your own female superhero Halloween costume.
Still functional and serving a purpose, the new generation of women's rubber rain boots are trendy, fashionable, and just plain cute. Here are a few places where you can shop for women's rubber rain boots online.
Waist slimming skirts can change your appearance in minutes, you just need to know what to look for. Here are some fashion do's and don'ts to help you find a skirt that flatters your shape and make your thighs look slimmer- what's not to love?
If thinner looking thighs are what you are after, there are several things to look for when you choose a skirt. Here are some fashion do's and don'ts to help you choose a skirt that will flatter your figure best
Latin America is home to some of the most beautiful natural and manmade wonders of the world. Here are my choices for the seven natural wonders of Latin America.
Shopping for a quinceanera dress is one of the most important part of planning a quinceanera, and it certainly is the most time consuming. Here are five websites dedicated to Quinceanera celebrations to shop for your quinceanera dress.
If you are going to be celebrating Halloween with a friend and are looking for a unique costume idea for multiples, the HBO show Rome provides with the perfect characters- Pullo and Vorenus.
Here are a few tips and ideas to help you create your very own Ugly Betty and Henry costumes.
Dressing as a Greek Goddess for Halloween is both a fun and creative idea. There are several Greek Goddesses to choose from, so you can be the beautiful Aphrodite or the hunter Artemis
When you are seeking inspiration for group Halloween costumes this year, start at the beginning. The Nine Muses have been called upon throughout history to inspire creativity, so dressing up as the sisters makes the perfect tribute.
Dressing as a Greek God for Halloween is both a fun and creative idea. The basic costume required for a Greek God is very simple, requiring only a few props to be identifiable, and won't end up taking a lot of time and money to pull together.
If you are looking for fun and unique ideas to create Halloween costumes for you and a partner, here are two ideas for Shakespearean character costumes for a couple.
Shakespearean characters make great costume ideas for Halloween. Here are two easy to make Shakespearean character costumes for women.
Shakespearean characters make great costume ideas for Halloween. Most Shakespearean characters are easily recognizable and are quick to make, requiring few special props.
Chicago has endless opportunities for free fun, entertainment, learning, and culture all year round. This fall is a great time to take advantage of free Chicago favorites as well as a few seasonal events that only come around once a year.
Look past the bags hanging in Best Buy and other stores when you go shopping for your next laptop bag. Here are a few places to find functional and feminine laptop bags instead.
This year, several new beauty products are available to help support breast cancer. Here are some of my favorite products for all your beauty needs.
Unless there are cowboys featured in a telenovela, you probably won't find me logging anymore couch time. That said, here are the five things telenovelas taught me about life and love.
Don't just leave a pile of old jewelry sit around in a box unused. Recycling old jewelry can be a way to create new jewelry, help an organization, or make some side cash.
Here are two of the best state parks in suburban Chicago, each park is a standout because it offers more than picnic tables and bike trails.
More and more paraben-free beauty products are being introduced every year. Just about every type of beauty product that was previously made with paraben can be found in a paraben-free version.
To make it a little easier for you to choose a new mascara to make the most of your lashes, I have tried new products from several popular brands. Here are the best new mascaras in five different categories.
If back acne is a concern of yours, there are a couple beauty products to include in your routine that will quickly clear any problems up. Here are those products and some tips for using them.
Body wash, soap, lip balm, facial scrubs and several other products are no longer just made with keeping you beautiful in mind. Caffeine enhanced beauty products pull double duty, leaving you with a fresh, rejuvenated feeling after using.
A good workout is both satisfying and fires you up, but the way you workout may not always be best for the environment.
Online swapping, when it works, serves a really great purpose. Swap sites connect a user, who has something that they no longer want with people who have something they could use. Not only do the sites facilitate a swap, but they promote recycling.
As technology is introduced to clothing designers, more and more clothes is manufactured with an eco-friendly approach in mind. Here are four companies that provide eco-friendly fitness gear for you online.
Annual vines are a great addition to your garden, they can add color and height to an otherwise empty corner or fencepost, and are super easy to grow.
Potted perennials add color, variety and low maintenance care to container gardens, but their care cannot be ignored completely. Perennial plants that are grown in pots need to be prepared for winter if they are going to return in the spring.
New and seasoned gardeners are not always familiar with several of the different types of fuzzy plants that are available for planting in a garden. Here are five.
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