Honeymoon Picks: via Cornflake Dreams!

hi there! it's jillian from cornflake dreams. i am SO excited to be guest posting while Lara and Yt are on their honeymoon! my fiance and i are just a couple of weeks away from our big day and after over a year of wedding planning i know Lara must thrilled to be on her honeymoon! as everyone knows, Lara and Yt are spending their first days as newlyweds in hawaii! i love the beach and maui is famous for their gorgeous, sandy beaches! i have picked out a few things lara can wear on vacation and buy after the honeymoon to remember the trip!

tied spicifera yellow dress $148 - sandals $69 - tote $278 - stripped towel $48

hawaii painting $20 - personalized map print $22

lara and yt, i hope you two have the BEST time on your honeymoon! thank you for inviting me to guest post, stop by cornflake dreams anytime for a daily dose of inspiration. 

xo, 

jillian

YES and YES to both the fashion and the art. I'm kind of obsessed with that personalized map print. I'm putting it on my must buy list for after the honeymoon!  Thank you so much for the picks Jillian! 

Chicken Oregannato: via Courtney O'Brien!

“Three meals a day for which you didn’t pay.” Do you know the reference? I make my family watch it every holiday season.

After a year of tofu stir-fry in my DC apartment, I missed the “three meal” oasis that is home-cooking. That’s when I wised up and asked my mom to send me a few of her classic recipes. There is one gem in that pile that I want to share with Lara’s readers. It’s easy, the ingredients are cheap, and the dish tastes like a Sunday dinner, but with Monday-I’m-tired-and-don’t-wanna-work-no-mo fuss.

I am pleased to present: Chicken Oregannato. Forgive the picture quality.

What you’ll need…
2 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts
4 plum tomatoes
4 yukon gold potatoes
1 large yellow onion
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup freshly chopped oregano
S&P
Dutch Oven (cooking pot)

What to do…
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Cut up tomatoes, potatoes and onion into similar size chunks and place in Dutch Oven
Place chicken breasts in Dutch Oven
Season with oregano and S&P
Drizzle the olive oil on top
Mix all ingredients to coat chicken and t/p/o

Place lid on Dutch Oven, cook in oven for 45min-1hourServe with mixed salad and warm rolls. Enjoy!


This looks like the perfect week night meal! And I adore the handwritten recipe - it reminds me of my grandmother's handwriting. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing Courtney! 

10 Reasons You Shouldn't: via with a C.H.!

Hi everyone! It's Christin again from with a C.H.! Just because I fancy myself a comedian, and Lara sort of agrees, here are 10 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Get Married. These are very serious and all of you engaged ladies, or ladies pining for a ring should take these to heart.

1. You aren't good at "commitment".

2. Contracts aren't really your thing.

3. You like your toothpaste to be disposed a certain way.

4. Someone would describe you as "not a fan of change".

5. You are the definition of "couch commando", you remote hog, you!

via

6. Since you’re super wealthy, you don’t want some slore or douche takin’ half your loot!

7. You think monogamy is a type of wood.

8. Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell are your idols.

via

9. An avid gambler, you know a lot about odds. The house always wins.

10. Kim Kardashian

via

I hope you all have enjoyed my time at Simply Irresistible! Thank you for having me Lara, and I hope you're having a wonderful time. 

10 Reasons You Should: via with a C.H.!

I am so thrilled to be sharing with Lara's lovely readers today since she had to leave you to go off and get hitched. How inconsiderate is she? The nerve!

Today I will be sharing two posts with you that Lara & I thought would be fun for the whole gang: 10 Reasons Why You Should Get Married & 10 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Get Married. I'm pretty excited and hope you are too! Here goes nothin'...

10 Reasons Why You Should Get Married

1. You will always have a dinner date.

2. Movies, alone? Forget about it.

via

 3. Cooking for one person is really hard but cooking for two is much easier.

4. You have someone to forever blame a messy house on.

5. Two words: tax breaks.

6. Two incomes = more money = more shopping!

7. Your kids won't be bastards.

8. You have someone to play pranks on forever.

9. Registry gifts, need I say more?

10. You have a wedding anniversary which means, more presents!

**Part 2 coming later this afternoon!**

Honeymoon Fashion: via Sequins and Stripes!

Hi there! It's Liz from the fashion and style blog, Sequins & Stripes, and I am thrilled to be here today while Lara is away soaking up every single minute of her wedding + honeymoon! Since everyone seems to escape to warm weather for their honeymoons, I decided to put together a little day and night ensemble for a tropical escape {even better if it is with your new hubby}. 

Day: Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses  //  Eugenia Kim Fedora  //  Loren Hope Leslie Earrings  //  Topshop Bow Back Top //  J.Crew Striped Shorts  //  Loeffler Randall Sandals  //  A camera to capture the memories  //  J.Crew Farmers Market Tote  Night: Mango Maxi Dress  //  J.Crew Bubble Necklace  //  Ban.do Pom Pom Flower for your hair  //  ASOS Weave Clutch  //  Essie Bikini So Teeny Polish  //  Bobbi Brown Neon Lipstick  //  Michael Kors Platform Sandals

Add a fun bikini and you are good to go! 

Lara, congratulations on your wedding and I hope you are enjoying every single minute of this magical time! Thanks for having me!

Thanks so much for helping me with some honeymoon fashion must haves Liz!! I love how she mixed some bright pops of color with more neutral basics - definitely took into account these tips when packing! Can't wait to share honeymoon pictures with everyone. xo 

Wedding Moments: via Long Distance Loving!

Hello there! It's {av} from {long distance loving}, standing in for Lara while she prepares for her big day :) I got married a little over two years ago, but it still feels like yesterday that I was pulling on my dress. Though it may seem strange, some of my favorite photos from any wedding day are those where the bride readies herself for the walk down the aisle--often times with the help of her family and close girlfriends. 

{left column: top - middle - bottom | right column: top - middle - bottom}

Maybe it is because you see the team of people it takes to get someone in their dress--or maybe it is simply that last moment before they're fully a "bride"...whatever it is, these photographs are pull at my heartstrings. I just love that it forces the bride and her crew to pause and focus on the task at hand. On my own wedding day, this {somewhat stressful} process required the help of my mother and my best friends, as seen in this little wedding video. Oh, the memories!

What moment do you always look for when turning through someone's wedding photos?

I will never get enough of these crazed and happy moments from a bride's big day.

Thanks again for having me, Lara! I cannot wait to see your photos soon :) 

Congratulations to you both!! xoxo {av} | {long distance loving}

Thanks so much for the guest post AV! I absolutely need a video of myself getting ready - pretty priceless to look back on! xo. 

Blueberry Pound Cake: via Stripes and Polka Dots!

Hi guys!  I'm Kate, and I blog over at Stripes and Polka Dots.  Berries are my favorite fruit.  I think part of it is that they remind me of summertime.  My mom makes amazing pound cake, and last time she added blueberries.  It was to die for!  This pound cake is delicious year round, but blueberry pound cake is the perfect dessert to make as summer approaches.

The original recipe comes from an old issue of Southern Living.  See how well loved it is?  You've gotta try it!

Cream Cheese Blueberry Pound Cake

1.5 cups butter, softened

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 cups fresh blueberries

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1/8 teaspoon salt

• Preheat over to 300 degrees.
• Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes or until creamy.  Gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes.  Add eggs one at a time, beating until yellow disappears.  Add vanilla and mix well.
• Dredge blueberries with 1/2 cup of flour (from the original 3 cups) and set aside.
• Combine remaining flour and salt and gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.  Gently stir in berries.
• Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.
• Fill a 2-cup, ovenproof measuring cup with water and place in oven with tube pan.
• Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.  Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes and remove from pan.  Cool completely on wire rack.

Thanks so much for stopping by Kate!!! Cannot wait to try this recipe. It looks phenomenal! 

Peonies Please: via Things That Sparkle!

Hi all, I am Alex from Things That Sparkle and I am so excited to be here today guest posting for Lara during her wedding and honeymoon! A huge congratulations to her and yt!!!! 

I am getting married in September so its been so much fun following along with Lara during her planning.

Here is one thing I can say, I am very jealous of the fact that Lara is getting married during peony season. Seem silly? Maybe. But its not something I even thought about when choosing my date, and now that they are unavailable to me, all I do is pine over them for other people!

If I could, I would want them everywhere! Bouquets, cake, & centerpieces.

What is your favorite flower? Were you able to include it in your wedding?

Funny story here: We didn't end up using my three favorite flowers in our wedding. They just didn't go with the whole modern vibe we have - so I used all three during our rehearsal dinner. I refer to this as the "throw up of favorite flowers" they don't really match, or go together, but I love them. Sunflowers, hydrangeas and peonies!! Thanks for posting Alex - can't wait to see your big day come together! 

Wedding Time!

Hi Friends!!!!

Sorry for the radio silence. It's been really silent, and a really long time since my last post, but all for good reasons.

We found a new apartment on Thursday and moved in on Saturday! They told us it was the fastest lease sign and move they have ever seen - I'm even a little impressed with myself. We saw it and signed the lease fifteen minutes later. FAST. It's right on the lake, has an updated kitchen, and tons of closet space - I'm a happy girl (and my shoes will be happy too, since they all have a home).

Despite the crazy NATO activity we moved without a hitch - but are saving all of the unpacking for after the honeymoon. There just isn't enough time this week because...

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED ON SATURDAY!! 

Our families have already started arriving in the masses - but it doesn't feel quite real yet. I've been stalking the weather channel on an hourly basis, but I know that no matter what the weather, the day will be perfect. I'm almost ready to hand over the to-do list and let the day unfold.

I am absolutely ready to marry my best friend. I am sure that I wouldn't have been able to sort through the chaos of the last few months without him. We have so many wonderful things to look forward to. It's going to be good.

I will be back the second week of June - with pictures from our big day, our trip to Hawaii, some recipes I've been dying to try (they just didn't make the pre wedding diet cut), and lots of summer goodness. Until then, I have lots of wonderful bloggers filling in!!

Lots of love! xoxo

P.S. A picture of us unpacking some of our wedding gifts - how silly does this look?!

the home stretch.

This is one of my favorite views in the city. When I run on the lake, I always run north, with this view behind me. When I turn around, I'm reminded what a beautiful place Chicago is. 

I always stop for a moment and take it all in - especially on a day like today, You have the lake,  the city, families spending the day together, dogs being walked, and lots of running, biking, skating. It's the best. 

I cannot believe we are less than two weeks away from our wedding day. There have been so many milestones in the last few months - but this is the BIG one. 

Friday I saw a potential apartment - and I'm kind of in love with it. I don't want to get my hopes up yet, but say a little prayer or cross you fingers! I'd love to make it ours. 

Saturday I spend the day in the suburbs dog sitting. I forgot how nice it is to have a car! I spent the day running errands, and the night on the couch with a glass of wine and rented The Vow.  Channing Tatum a good looking man. 

Sunday I made my way back to the city and relaxed with a nap and a long run on the lake. 

What did you do this weekend??

SUMMER STRAW

I usually blog about trends that I'm in love with - clothing I'm lusting over and accessories I cannot get out of my head. Today, I have a trend I'm not entirely sure how I feel about - straw. I'm definitely digging the pops of color in the below collection. I love the way this material screams summer. And, while I think this look pairs well with shorts and a tee - it could also accompany a more dressed up look. With that being said, I'm not really sure I'm sold... I may need a bit more convincing that this is a look I can pull off... 

bags: Rebecca Minkoff, Topshop, Marc by Marc Jacobs

shoes: Tory Burch, H&M, Jean-Michel Cazabat

hats: Kate Spade, Rag & Bone, Burberry

what are your thoughts? yay or nay?

this is speaking to me..

yes, yes, yes. 

chaos is pretty much surrounding me. 

I had to close my eyes while getting ready this morning because our apartment is in complete shambles. 

And I swear that for every item I cross off of my to-do list, two more items appear at the bottom. 

We are in the process of packing, and moving, and finalizing our wedding - its a lot! 

I also decided that now would be a good time to change careers - obviously. 

So I gave my notice last week - and will soon complete my three and a half years working in advertising. 

I'm exciting to finally start a job in event planning - something I've been dreaming about for some time. 

So needless to say, things are a little cray cray around these parts. 

But it's all so good, and so exciting - all of the chaos will surely pay off! 

thanks for still visiting the blog when new content appears, 

although it may be less frequent during the next couples of weeks. 

xoxo

avocado obsession

I have a slight obsession with avocados lately. There's something about their creamy texture and fresh flavor that makes them the perfect spring and summer treat. While of course they are good for whipping up a batch of zesty guacamole (which is one of my all time favorite snacks), I'm loving some of these less traditional uses for this great green produce. 

avocado pasta

avocado salad

shrimp stuffed avocado

Have you tried avocado pasta? I'm thinking of whipping up some this week. 

Looks easy, flavorful, and delish!