Countdown To Summer

A week from today I'll be sitting pretty on my patio in Eau Claire! Let's hope the sun decides to come out of hiding so that I can bask in the pure glory of this semester being over. While I do always enjoy the fairytale quality of crystaly and pristine winters, they are mighty cold and this year was a doozy! So I'm ready for a little heat, some sun, and even a little sweat (with a lemonade in hand of course and freshly painted toenails popping out of sandals). I'm looking forward to the budding of wild flowers, summer sunsets and of course freshly picked berries! 

Friday Fondness - Getting Your Groove Back

Me oh my! I have been quite lackadaisical about posting, haven't I? Not to make excuses but it's been pretty busy up in here with the semester's end right around the corner. But I'm back and groovier than ever! Alright warning: it's about to get a little personal (just a bit). After going through somewhat of a 'blah' phase of just not feeling quite like my shiny self, I've come out bubblier than ever! Oh what just a few weeks (or days) can do to make you feel a bit more on top! 

Even though there's snow her {YES, in MAY!} I'm thrilled that my parents are visiting for the day tomorrow and can spend some much needed time doing nothing but shopping, eating, and of course relaxing! Have a fabulous weekend!

image via tumblr.

Hey, Babe...

In the upcoming hot months of summer, I usually tend to slip back into a very simple, light, and classic form of dressing. As much as I love my layers of cardigans, scarves, boots and more, it's too hot and muggy in the summer to bother with such nonsense. I recently fell across this gorgeous brand, Babe New York who has simple silhouettes, light fabrics, and beautiful stilling. I could wear that little striped and collared dress above everyday of my life. 

What Makes You Feel Invincible?

Let's get real. This year's been really emotionally demanding, which made me feel a little 'blase' about myself. It's easy to get down on yourself when things just continuously don't go your way. But recently I've been feeling invincible! A few things that always make me feel a little bit more fabulous are when when I actually spend time on my hair and makeup, or when a cute guy smiles at me, or when I find extra time in my day to take a nap. The simplest things can make your break your day. 

What little (or big) things make you feel invincible?

image via tumblr

The Weekend In Short - Wedding Bells

Here's a little recap of the wedding weekend! Isn't Becca (the bride) beautiful?! Hoping you all had as much fun as I did this weekend!

Three Easy Snacks

Some days, especially if it's cold and blustery, I come home and find I have no ambition to make a marvelous meal that takes three hours to prepare; so I usually opt for my favorite go-to snacks {which are so filling they often turn into meals}. You may wince at this one...most people I know do, but an egg in a basket is so delicious! Cut a hold in a piece of bread, butter it, and toast it on a griddle. Crack and egg right into the hole you made and let cook - it makes a great breakfast on the go!

Crepes are some of the most tasty and easy to make things I know of. Any recipe will do, it's pretty hard to mess them up. With only a few ingredients {that you pretty much always have on hand} and a smothering of Nutella, these french wonders make great bedtime snacks. 

Last but not least, ahh yes, the cheese plate! I am from Wisconsin so it would be wrong if I didn't throw a little dairy in here :) I love making up a cheese plate, especially in late summer, when you can add crisp apple slices, grapes, strawberries and blackberries. The more flavors the merrier! 

What are your go-to snacks?

photos via 

Is 2013 The Year of Chia?

Last year seemed to be the year of kale. It was everywhere - kale salads, kale chips, kale smoothies - if you had a craving there was sure to be a snack that was kale based. This year however it seems everyone has jumped on the chia seed bandwagon. Much like flax seed, chia is high in omega 3 and has even more fiber - but better yet? - chia seeds don't expire and rot. You may have heard 'chia' before, but it wasn't concerning dietary needs, it was the main component of the ever hilarious gag-gift 'Chia Pets'. Dietitians are saying this little seed is quite the super food, and makes quite the edition to any diet.  It's said to help aid weight loss due to the fact that it expands during digestion. But beware, too much chia seed can lead to an 'overdose' of fiber if you will, which can lead to some unpleasant side effects. It's pretty simple though, add it to, well, anything! Oatmeal, pudding, smoothies...the list goes on and on.

Will you be jumping on this year's dietary fad?

images via ohsheglows and thedivadish