Banana Republic ruffle sweater || lace layering blouse || Express ‘Columnist’ ankle pants
It’s Friday guys! I’m so excited for a three day weekend! I’ll be spending it with friends, relaxing and barbecuing. It’s finally starting to feel like summer around Chicago and yesterday I caught myself nearly complaining about the heat and humidity! Oh how things change on a dime. I’m so excited to get to the pool and soak up some vitamin D. Now, onto the round up, shall we?
Today I’m rounding up some behind the scenes shots via Instagram. Let me know if you’d like to see outfits on the blog with any of these pieces. Read on for what I’m eating, reading and blogging about over the past week or so and I’m also sharing my favorites from one of the biggest sales of the season! The Nordstrom Half-Yearly sale is upon us and there’s some really great brands at a great prices. Since there’s so much to look through I went ahead and did the dirty work for you. Below you’ll find my favorite picks from the sale.
Free People ‘Under Your Spell’ blouse
lunch with Ashley at Le Pain Quotodien || Mossimo tassel canteen crossbody
My lilacs are in full bloom! || Avec lace up striped sweater || H&M lace trimmed cotton shorts || Sole Society ‘Tova’ saddle bag || H&M sandals, similar here and here
ingredients for a Pure Tea smootie || Endless Rose bell-sleeve blouse
Sole Society ‘Audrina’ wedges, similar here
fueling up for a full day of shooting with my Sudio Sweden ear buds
similar utility jacket {under $40} || Who What Wear for Target ruffled skirt || nude heels || snakeskin Chloe ‘drew’ dupe {under $30} – see full post of this look here
EATING::
Lately, I’ve been in a little bit of a recipe rut. We all have our favorites, but lately my recipe rotation has gotten a little stale, so I took to a couple Chicago foodies who always have something on the table to shake things up! This week, I whipped up a double batch of Lauren’s Salsa Chicken tacos, complete with her easy corn salsa and saying they were a huge hit would actually be an understatement! OMG were these amazing. We actually ended up eating them 2 nights and I still have a decent amount left for the freezer. Anytime I can find something new and flavorful, that even my kids will devour, is a win in my book!
I also whipped up Kit’s Sirloin Steak and Blue Cheese pizza, with my own twist. Instead of using pizza dough, I used mini naan that I picked up at Costco and added a layer of garlic butter. After adding the caramelized onions, chopped spinach and cheese, I just tossed them under the broiler for a few minutes and then added the sliced sirloin and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I also replaced the blue cheese on my kids’ pizzas with sharp white cheddar. Another hit, except I did manage to forget the second batch under the broiler. #mykidswillneverbeafraidofasmokealarm
READING::
An interesting read on Why Amanda Peet will never get botox. No gonna lie, I did it once, and it was amazing. But it does feel like a bit like a rabbit hole from which one might never be able to escape.
A funny article that talks about life as a drunk mom. And when I say drunk, I am referring to being extremely sleep deprived.
For my blogger babes, an interesting read on the rise of micro-influencers on Instagram. You may have more power than you think.
BLOGGING::
This week I shared my latest post in my Rent the Runway series and discussed how to style a super feminine piece. Also, if you missed it, last Friday I put together a look for less post featuring the season’s hottest trends and its worth a peek if only to scope out some truly amazing dupes!
SHOPPING::
So. Many. Sales. Today I’m rounding up my favorites from the Nordstrom half-yearly sale. This one is a doozy guys and things are going fast, so if you have your eye on something, definitely don’t wait to long! I ended up on the site for far longer than was healthy! Happy shopping!
What are your Memorial Day weekend plans? Any fun barbecues? Or sale shopping?