EYELET LOVE

Oh, Eyelet how I love you! Especially in a crisp white! You may remember I was going to take this DRESS for a Chicago dinner, but since it was at an Italian restaurant, I thought I better not wear white! But you can bet it went on my next vacation with me. The holes at the waist or see-through but does not show too much skin. I just love the length, the sleeves. And how darling is the back?

 All about flutter sleeves this season!

I felt like this precious Summer DRESS needed some bright color to jazz it up and these new LuLu lace up sandals were perfect. Don’t you just love the color? AND the petals on the Rose of Sharon bushes matched perfectly!!

And how cute are these Statement Earrings? They are from Amazon, totally lightweight and I must’ve got a dozen compliments on these babies! And White Frame Cat Eye Sunglasses for under $10! YES!!

DRESS HERE // Similar Dresses HERE & HERE 
and HERE// 
EARRINGS HERE // SHOES HERE // SUNGLASSES HERE // BARRETTES HERE // POM CLUTCH HERE

HAVE A SUMMERY DAY!!!

Linking Up With Oh Hey Girl  // Visible Monday // Style Me Wednesday // THT  // Fashion Friday // Trend Spin // Fab Favorites // Confident Twosday //I will wear what I like // Fancy Friday  // Fashion Frenzy // Straight A Style // Metamorphosis Monday // On the Edge 

xoxo

ANTIPASTO SALAD

I don’t know about you, but especially in the summer, I like quick, easy and fresh meals! The less time I spend in the kitchen, the more time I can spend outside and in the pool! Tasty Tuesdays have been on the back burner this summer, so it was time for one of my new, favorite recipes!
This delicious antipasto salad was adapted from one of my favorite chefs: Giada De Laurentiis! One of the best Italian chefs in my mind. The dressing with the fresh basil makes this extra delicious! Prep time in only 20 minutes! I love that. It calls for strips of  meat and I wanted them a little chunky so my deli counter gal cut the salami and turkey in the perfect hunks for me to cut into strips. 

What you'll need

Antipasto Salad

INGREDIENTS 

1/2 pound fusilli pasta

1/2 pound whole wheat rotini pasta

1 bunch, fresh basil, stems removed and leaves chopped

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon minced garlic

One1 teaspoon brown mustard

1 teaspoon black pepper, divided

1 teaspoon salt, divided

1/2 pound hard salami, cut into strips

1/2 pound smoked turkey, cut into strips

6 ounces provolone cheese, cut in strips

1/4 cup shredded asiago cheese or Italian cheese blend

2/3 cup drained roasted red peppers, cut into strips

DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil add pasta and cook according to directions, probably about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain in a colander. To make the dressing, process the basil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, half teaspoon of black pepper and a half teaspoon of salt in a blender until the basil is finally chopped. Gradually add the oil in a slow steady stream while blending until smooth. In a large bowl, toss together the salami, turkey, cheeses, red bell pepper strips and the cooked pasta. Sprinkle in the remaining black pepper and salt. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to coat. This makes about 6-8 generous servings.

HAVE A LIGHT and YUMMY DAY!!

Linking up with Tasty Tuesdays  // Full Plate Thursday // Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday // Creative Muster Party // Thursday Favorite things Blog Hop //Best Of The Weekend // Grace At Home // The SITS Girls // Create, Make, Take // Love Your Creativity  // Pretty Pintastic Party // Metamorphosis Monday //  Meal Plan Monday   // Happy Now Blog Link-Up // Hello Monday

xoxo

FRIDAY FAVORITES....LIVING SUMMER EDITION

This had been of week of pool hair, frizzy hair, hair all up! My Lawrd, it’s HOT!!!! It’s been either all pool or all AC but we did have a mother son day. We're all Just over here Living Summer to the fullest!

1. LAVENDER & FERNWOOD
You may have read from my post on Wednesday, that the lavender fields last Friday were a bust. It was from that darn polar vortex colder than the North Pole temps this past January. However, we landed at the Fernwood Botanical Gardens and it was a beautiful summer day pre this heat wave. My favorite things were the giant Katsura Tree with a swing inside and the electric train set up. Sooo cute! 

 How cute is mom? We did not even plan to both wear jumpsuits and our hair in side braids..and we matched. We always do that. Great tastes run in the family. And Our sunglasses matched because I had bought us both a pair, lol.

 

Look how darling her hat is!

Weeping Katsura tree...so big and inside there is a swinging bench

So cool, and the little covered bridge was just darling!

 

2. CHIA SEED PUDDING

 I am so thrilled with this new healthy recipe; I cannot even tell you! I love it Warm in the morning with a little bit of cinnamon and natural sweetener on top. It is absolutely delicious! Chia Seeds are soooo good for you and known as a Superfood. Excited to share this recipe with you and it is so easy!

What you'll Need

Chia Seed Pudding

INGREDIENTS 

1 can unsweetened coconut milk

1/2 cup chia seeds

1 1/2 cups hot water

1/3 cup sugar substitute like Swerve

2 teaspoons vanilla 

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, stir the chia seeds in the hot water. Add rest of ingredients and divide into 6 small bowls and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Enjoy cold or warmed with cinnamon and more swerve on top. 

SWERVE
This is my new favorite all natural sweetener and I cannot wait to use it in baking! I have always been a huge proponent of Stevia sweetener‘s but this one is the closest to granulated. I often sprinkle a little extra of this on top the Chia Seed Pudding

3. WEEK'S ATTIRE
Including The Pineapple Top...

Similar HERE Similar Top in Red HERE // Earrings HERE // Necklace HERE

Eek, here’s the pineapple tee I wore on vacay. I love it, it’s burn-out material and the pineapple is little bling discs. So cute!

Pineapple Top HERE // Earrings HERE

4. HALTER DRESS

It must be the week of the halters and boy do I love them! This is the easiest little dress to throw on. AND IT'S UNDER $13 right now!! I cannot stop with the red, white and blue, despite the holiday being over. It is just such a preppy look and the Dress, which I got at Kohl’s, totally reminds me of Tommy Hilfiger or Nautica.

DRESS HERE // EARRINGS HERE

More Inspo

5. MISC. FUN

Monday ~ A Small Town America Independence Day

Wednesday ~ Polka Dots and Lavender

Blankets 

I am very hot blooded but oh how I love to be cozied up on the couch with a super soft blanket! In my opinion, you can never have too many blankets! So, while I didn’t buy much from the Nordstrom sale, like I told you last Friday, my Barefoot Dreams blanket has been my favorite purchase ever. This year, Even though it's Hot summertime, I bought a couple of much more inexpensive blankets but equally as soft fringe blankets and they are amazing! They will make super gifts and are under $26! Tons of colors too! 

 BUY BLANKETS HERE

GREAT LUXURIOUS GIFTS for $25 bucks!

Geraniums

Usually, when it’s this hot, my flowers suffer but I have watered like a boss and the geraniums, unlike my hair, seem to be loving the humidity. I have two of these pots and a window-box with this variety and they are thriving!

Stay COOL my friends!


Linking up with  Friday Favorites  // High 5 For Friday  // Fashion Friday

xoxo