Family Day at the County Fair

Last weekend we took the kids to the Dupage County Fair. It was AMAZING! We watched pig races, my son rode a horse, myself and my daughter rode a camel, we ate lots of fun food, saw prize ribbon animals, went on tons of carnival rides, played games for prizes, and even made friends with a robot! Sadly, the day we went the monster trucks were not running, but there's always next year!

Since I knew it was going to be raining on and off day I wore a hat and I had to bust out the cowboy boots (thank you Gwen for reminding me those were the perfect shoes for the day!).
I kept my look super simple, wearing no jewelry or even makeup! Hey, sometimes it's just not in the cards to get all dolled up.

Tank: H&M // Jeans: Calvin Klein // Boots: Just Fab // Hat: Forever 21 // Bag: Target // Sunnies: Ray Ban 

All four of us had the best time! My son is like me and LOVES all things thrill rides while my daughter is more reserved like my hubby. We did find something for everyone though.

Here are a few shots from our day:

Do you attend your local county fair? It really was so fun. If you have the opportunity, I say go for it! I mean, I got to ride a camel for heaven's sake!

Remix: High Waist Denim

I got these amazing high waist Mother jeans on Hautelook in early 2013. Since then I have worn them time and time again and they are still one of my favorite pairs of jeans. 

Here are a few of my favorite ways I have styled them over the past two years:

Are you a fan of high waisted denim? What's your favorite way I have styled them above?

Outfit: "It's a Nice Day for a White Wedding"

 My hubby's work friend got married last week and I was set on wearing this dress as soon as I knew we were going. 

This is my third time wearing this beauty and to be honest I am surprised it's still wearable! The material is very delicate and I have snagged it at least once each time I wear it. Thankfully I have a wonderful dry cleaning service and they also do alterations. I have had all the snags fixed and two years later, this dress is still going strong. 

I decided to add a pop of color in my shoes & lip color as black and nude seemed like such a simple pallet for a wedding. 

 Dress: Victoria's Secret // Shoes: c/o Just Fab // Bag: Target // Necklace: EG Jewelry // Bangle: c/o It's a Bling Thing // Watch: Fossil // Round Ring: Baublebar // Love Ring: T+J Designs 

Suit & Top: Express  // Tie: JC Penny

How handsome does my hubby look? I am one lucky girl! 

The wedding was beautiful, outside, and they said their vows as the sun set behind them. They gave mason jars as the take home and had a de-lish signature drink. 

And I got my dance! My hubby is not a big dancer, but I am always promised a dance (or two) at each wedding we attend. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a romantic night out! 

What do you wear to weddings? Do you have a dress that you are always scared is going to ruin if you wear it? 

Outfit: Lace is More

I am a big fan of both these shorts and this blouse but I would have never thought to pair them together. Both items came in my most recent TSF box service (more on that later this week) and they were styled as an outfit. Carly is amazing and apparently the more lace the better! It's always super fun to be styled by another person. You end up trying out things you never thought you wear or pair for that matter. This outfit was perfect for my day with the family all around town.

I decided to keep this rest of the outfit simple by adding a nude bag and shoes.

Top: Love Marks (TSF Box Service)  // Shorts: Black Hearts Brigade (TSF Box Service)  // Shoes & Hand Chain: c/o Just Fab // Bag: c/o Sole Society // Sunnies: Prada // Watch: Fossil 

These are hands-down my favorite shorts. Like in the history of all the shorts I've ever owned! They are super comfortable and I am obsessed with the lace detail.

What do you think? Do you like to pair lace with more lace?

Recipe: Summer Salad

My mom is hands down the best cook ever! I'm sure I'm bias, but I am also very positive that if you ask anyone who has ever eaten anything she has made, they will back me up on this. 

Even her salads are better then anything I could think of on my own. So today I share with you a salad I've eaten with her twice. I kid you not that she mixes it up each time and it ends up being the best salad I've ever had!

I give you, the perfect summer salad:

Ingredients:

Power greens (use any greens you'd like)

Grilled Corn

Black Olives

Yellow tomatoes

Broccoli 

Pine nuts

Cucumber

Celery

Carrots

The dressing used this day was a vinaigrette.

 

The second time she made it she added diced egg, avocado, bacon, and poppy seed dressing:

I am obsessed with this salad. I think the grilled corn just makes it, no?

What's your favorite summer salad? Do you think your mom makes the best meals ever too?

Outfit: Paint Splattered Maxi Dress

Chicago is having a few cooler days and I am loving it! Who doesn't love a sunny day, in the lower 70's, with a cool breeze?

This paint splattered maxi dress did the trick to keep me comfortable all day long. Plus it looked really cool when the wind picked up and got it moving.

I decided to keep the styling a bit simple with a nude bag & heel, and blue & gold in the accessories.

Dress: Choies // Shoes: c/o Just Fab // Hat: Worth and Worth // Bag: c/o Sole Society // Necklace: House of Gemmes // Rings: T+J Designs // Watch: Fossil // Bangle: It's a Bling Thing // Sunnies: Prada 

I have to say this is for sure one of my new favorite dresses. I even had it altered to fit my shorter frame.  I love a long sleeve dress that has the ability to not only roll up the sleeves, but to also button them so they stay in place.

Do you like love sleeved maxi dresses? What do you think of this one?

Remix: White Denim

I got my favorite pair of white denim pants back in 2012. It was my first time owning Level 99 jeans and I have been hooked ever since. Thank you to Carly of Thirty Something Fashion! These beauties were included in my first time using her box service (which I recently did again! More to come on that next week!!). 

I feel like there are two kinds of people when it comes to wearing white. Ones that do NOT wear white after Labor Day and feel very strongly about that rule, and those who wear it year round. I fall into the latter group. 

When going back through my photos I realized I have been slacking on wearing my white skinny jeans in 2014. I do plan to correct this in the coming months. 

Here are the ways I styled them in 2012:

( 1 // 2 // 3 )

A few looks from 2013:

( 1 // 2 )

 

( 3 // 4 )

And my only time wearing them in 2014 so far: 

(source) 

After wearing them this past time I realized I wanted to have them altered, so I did! I don't plan to get rid of my favorite white jeans, so why not have them shortened to fit my body perfectly?! 

Now I have white denim on the brain. And I've styled about 5 looks in my mind as I'm typing this. More looks to come... 

How do you style your white denim? Do you wear white year round or do you stick to the old school "fashion rules"?

5 Things on My Wish Lisa

I was recently featured on Project Soiree in a segment called "What I'm Reading Now" (thank you again Sara)!
One of the questions she asked me was "what is on your current wish list?". I shared my answers in her post, but decided to take it a step further and look for some great shopping finds for each answer.
And now I want to go shopping...lol!  

Five things on my wish list:

1. A Fringe Black Bag

Target $29.99 // Cleobella Fringe Backpack $395 // 

Barlow Fringe Bag $68 // Steve Madden Fringe Bag $128

2. Print separates (crop top & skirt)

ASOS // BooHoo
BooHoo // BooHoo

3.Cute one-piece bathing suit

Light in the box $40.49 // Mara Hoffman $408.62  
Magicsuit $170 // Tommy Bahama $89.99 

4. Black cutoffs

Express $29.94 // J Brand $112 
Rag & Bone $143 // Express $35.94

5. A backpack 

Sole Society $39.95 // ASOS $104.80
ASOS $114.32 // River Island $60

What's on your current wish list? See anything above you never knew you always wanted? ;)

Outfit: Summer Style, Weekend Edition

 

I was recently lent this beautiful lace tank in my latest swap with Kaitlyn, and it was love at first sight. 

The obvious way for me to style this would be for a night out or maybe even wearing it to a brunch. The less obvious way, in my mind, would be to dress it down for weekend wear. I decided to go with the ladder and get some all day use out of this beautiful number. 

I kept the styling super simple by add white denim shorts, white ribbed tank under, my go-to hat this summer, and brown flats and purse. I also had to toss on my teal sunnies. What looks better paired with coral then teal? Not many colors in my mind. 

Top: Swap w/ Kaitlyn // Shorts: Paige Denim // Shoes: Target // Sunnies & Bag: Just Fab // Hat: Forever 21 

Oh summer weather, thank you so much for finally gracing us with your presence this season. It's about time (and end rant)!

What do you think of my relaxed weekend outfit? How would you style this top?