Weekly Pick: Lollapalooza Fashion

Let the countdown begin! I'm going to Lollapalooza this Saturday to see Family of the Year, Ben Howard, Matt & Kim, Local Natives, Ellie Goulding, The National, The Lumineers, and Mumford & Sons. I'm more than excited to see some of my favorite artists, but let's be honest the fashion at this music festival is also pretty entertaining. I'm still debating what to wear (serious dilemma) but here are some inspiring looks.

                  

Images found here

To really complete the look Blowtique has launched a braid bar at the LollaShop to offer braided buns, beachy waves and the popular fishtail braid. They are also offering colored ribbon and hair chalk to finish off the look. How fun is that?

The winner of the Chloe + Isabel giveaway for $25 off a $75 purchase is Amy Klepser. I'll be emailing you details later today. Thank you to everyone that entered!

xoxo

PS 

Tasty Tuesday: Scoozi!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile now you know I'm slightly obsessed with the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants here in Chicago. I mean Mon Ami Gabi is a must for me at least every other week (seriously). 

 

Scoozi! had been on my to-do list since I've heard great reviews of their food and lovely patio during the summer. I have to admit the patio was pretty amazing as was the freshly baked bread that was delivered to the table upon sitting down. I ordered the Margherita pizza (of course) made with fresh mozzarella, basil leaves and tomato sauce which was a true winner here with a thin and crispy crust. What I loved most about Scoozi! was the casual atmosphere that would be perfect for entertaining out of town guests and the spectacular Italian food at an affordable price. I'll definitely be back!

xoxo

PS

What I'm Reading Now: In Residence

I'm so excited to start this new series and introduce you to some pretty amazing bloggers. My hope is that you'll find a new blogger to add to your reading list on Bloglovin or learn something new about one of your favorite bloggers.

This week I'm featuring Anne, an English major turned work-from-home editor, and the brilliant blogger behind In Residence. I've been a long time follower of In Residence for book recommendations, recipe ideas, DIY projects, and Pinterest pins becoming reality (my favorite series on the blog). What I love most about In Residence is Anne's approach to pursuing what she enjoys and blogging about it in a creative and refreshing way.

Get to know Anne:

1. What are you currently reading?
I'm about to start Beautiful Ruins, one of the books on my summer reading list.

2. Favorite recipe or restaurant?
Best big, fat, chewy chocolate chip (they really are the best - it's that full tablespoon of vanilla that does it!).
3. What's your favorite thing about blogging? 
How my online blogging life has actually influenced and improved my real-world life: I've made in-person friends with several blogging buddies; I've been motivate to learn how to create things in Photoshop and with HTML, take better photos, define my personal style, and make new recipes; and (crazy as it sounds) I've developed a self-confidence in my blogger self that has actually made me more confident and outgoing in everyday life!

4. Five things on your wish list:

• Classic trench coat

• Amazon Prime membership

• Giant plush giraffe
 for baby's nursery

• 50mm fixed lens
 for my fancy new camera

• Gold boyfriend watch

5. Favorite quote?
There are plenty more profound, but for my profession and English major nerdiness, this one I saw on Pinterest: "Grammar: the difference between knowing your shit and knowing you're shit."

Thanks for joining the soiree today Anne!

xoxo

PS

Happy Friday + Links

Image found here

Party Favors:

12 apps to help you get shit done

Works of art you won't believe aren't photographs

I love this Michigan tee

Commonly asked questions for vegetarians

Dreaming of this Champagne bar in Italy

xoxo

PS



Fab 5: Chloe + Isabel (and a GIVEAWAY)

I'm really excited to share five of my favorite pieces from Chloe + Isabel today, and also offer one lucky reader an exclusive offer of $25 off a $75 purchase thanks to Megan. I love the range of Chloe + Isabel jewelry that offers something for everyone with both trendy and classic pieces. The best part is Chloe + Isabel is a brand that empowers young women ambassadors to open their own e-boutiques and sell this fun line of jewelry.

 

I'm loving this honeycomb ring for a simple yet chic statement piece.
This petite baguette stone necklace is ideal for dressing up on date night or keeping it casual paired with a graphic tee.
These stud earrings would stand out with a perfect little black dress.
Add this crystal chain bracelet to your arm party for a little extra sparkle.
This tennis bracelet is all about glamour for a night on the town.

The giveaway ends July 30 and the winner will be announced July 31 so be sure to check back. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo

PS

*Giveaway open to US residents only

Weekly Pick: American Cancer Society

This month I'm giving back to the American Cancer Society and supporting my friend and fellow blogger Cait from pretty and fun as she's training to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (for the second time). Despite a few injuries this season I'm so impressed that's she's decided to run another 26.2 miles this year for the American Cancer Society's DetermiNation team in honor of her grandmothers.

I can't wait to cheer you on this October!

xoxo

PS

Tasty Tuesday: Blueberry Lemon Coconut Muffins

After buying a pint of blueberries from the Green City Market I decided to search Pinterest for a recipe to use up most of the blueberries before I literally ate all of them. Since I've been obsessed with coconut lately and love the combination of blueberries and lemon I adapted this blueberry coconut muffin recipe from Let Me Eat Cake and added some lemon zest to the muffin batter. The result was a perfect balance of tart lemon with sweet Michigan blueberries and just a hint of coconut flavor.

Ingredients:
1/2 stick butter (unsalted)
1 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
zest of 1 small lemon
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup milk

Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees and line muffin tin with cupcake liners. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. Toss the blueberries in flour to keep them from sinking to the bottom of the muffins.

Beat the butter and sugar until creamed (about 3 minutes). Add the egg and beat until combined. Add the vanilla and lemon and beat until combined. Add the flour mixture slowly and beat until combined. Add the milk and beat just until combined (don't overmix). With a rubber spatula fold in the blueberries and coconut.

Bake the muffins for 30 minutes and rotate the pan halfway through baking.

xoxo

PS

What I'm Reading Now: Blogs (New Series!)

I want to start a new series on Project Soiree each Monday that not only focuses on what books I'm reading (although I confess I read a lot of them), but on bloggers and blogs that have caught my eye. I'm always browsing through Bloglovin to get fashion inspiration, a DIY project for my apartment, beauty tips for the summer, or a new vegetarian recipe so I'm excited to share some of my finds.

 

Stay tuned next week for the first featured blogger!

Image found here

 

xoxo

 

PS

Happy Friday + Links

Image found here

 

Party Favors:

26 signs you work in social media

Frozen s'mores...yes please!

Would you wear a black wedding dress or a crop top wedding dress? (I would)

What your coffee says about you

I'm obsessed with this note card set

 

 

xoxo

 

PS

 

Fab 5: Michigan Wines

Each August my family takes a week to relax and enjoy the end of summer in one of the most magical places on earth (and no it's not Disney World). Northern Michigan is home to some of the best sunsets, sand dunes, lakes and wine that you can't find anywhere else. With a growing list of wineries in the area we love taking an afternoon drive through the beautiful countryside and stopping along the way at some of our favorite wineries.

Here are five of my favorite wines you can find in Northern Michigan:

1. The M. Lawrence Sex Brut Rose is an all time favorite for it's fruity flavor and blush pink color. The name pretty much says it all...

 

2. 2 Lads not only has a beautiful view from their tasting room but also a killer Pinot Noir. With soft notes of cherries and strawberries this wine has a smooth finish and rich flavor that I love.

 

3. Peninsula Cellars is located in an old school house so it makes sense to create a wine called Detention. This semi-sweet red wine is easy to enjoy and pairs well with just about any dish.

 

4. We love visiting Black Star Farms to see the horses and of course taste their amazing wine. I'm a huge fan of the Arcturos Pinot Noir with flavors of dark cherries and plums.

 

5. Good Harbor Fishtown White is a classic white wine with a dry, crisp finish that's ideal for a summer afternoon sitting by the lake.

xoxo

PS

Weekly Pick: Summer Chic

When I'm home in Grand Rapids there are two places that are on my "must visit" list and luckily they happen to be right next door to each other. Martha's Vineyard is the best place for picking up a few bottles of my favorite wine, and Nantucket bakery has the best cookies and coconut macaroons in the city (hands down). For a Saturday afternoon I kept my outfit laid back for strolling around downtown with my sister yet chic so I could meet up for drinks with friends. This Madewell top has quickly become one of my go-to tops this summer along with these fun colorblocked d'orsay flats.

  

  

 Top: Madewell ( similar style)/ Skirt: H&M/ Flats: Forever 21/ Sunglasses: H&M

 

The winner of the Hey There. design mini art print is Megan Jedlinski! I'll be emailing you later today to get your address. Thank you everyone for entering! 



xoxo

 

PS

Tasty Tuesday: Panzanella Salad

My Saturday morning routine is a stroll through the Green City Market for some of the best local produce and stunning flowers. I'm quite obsessed with the Ciabattini from Bennison's Bakery so I decided to make a Panzanella Salad that would be refreshing and healthy for lunch. What I love about this salad is that you can add your favorite vegetables and mix it up depending on what's in season. I picked up some cherry tomatoes and a cucumber from the market, but feel free to add peppers, onion, basil etc.

Ingredients:
1 ciabattini or small baguette
1 English cucumber
1 cup of cherry tomatoes
Parmesan cheese (or
1/4 cup olive oil
1 T balsamic vinegar
Salt & pepper

Directions:
Start by cutting the ciabattini or small baguette into 1/2 in pieces and bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees until crispy (about 10 minutes). Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and chop the cucumber into 1/2 in pieces (optional: remove seeds and skin from cucumber). Add some chopped parmesan cheese, feta or blue cheese (this is optional).

For the vinaigrette mix 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1 T of balsamic vinegar with a wisk. Add salt and pepper to taste.

xoxo

PS

What I'm Reading Now: Insurgent

Last year I picked up Divergent only to find myself completely obsessed in the same way I was with the Hunger Games. The setting takes place in Chicago (they are currently filming the movie here) and the story line is full of plot twists so it was a no brainer that I would love this book. It's taken me awhile to get my hands on Insurgent, the second book in the series, but it was well worth the wait. This book was just as amazing as the first and now I'm dying to read the final book Allegiant available October 22 (not sure if I can wait that long).

 

xoxo

 

PS

Happy Friday + Links

Image found here

Party Favors:

19 things to stop doing in your 20s 

This spaghetti fork does all the work for you

I love this article on Northern Michigan

Print your own post-it notes

I totally disagree with this

 

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

xoxo

PS

GIVEAWAY: Hey There. design Mini Art Print

Etsy has become my latest obsession for finding art prints to hang in my apartment and include in my gallery wall. While searching for an inspirational quote I came across Hey There. design and loved the designs that Jordan created. Of course I couldn't decide on just one print so I picked up two for my apartment.

You have the chance to win this mini print (2.5 x 3.5 in.) with one of my favorite quotes "Be yourself everyone else is taken" by Oscar Wilde. This little print would look amazing in a gallery wall or displayed on your desk at work.

Here's how to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be announced Wednesday, July 17 so be sure to check back. Good luck!

xoxo

PS

*Giveaway open to US residents only

Weekly Pick: Cut It Out

This H&M skirt is one of my all time favorite pieces in my closet. The bright pink color and thigh high cut create quite a statement, but when paired with a simple t-shirt and chic gladiator heels this skirt becomes a little more versatile for a stroll through East Grand Rapids.

 

            

T-Shirt: Gap/ Belt: H&M (similar H&M)/ Skirt: H&M/ Shoes: Macy's (similar Macy's)/ Sunglasses: H&M

xoxo

PS

Tasty Tuesday: (Super Easy) Gazpacho Soup

 

When summer hits I'm always craving a refreshing bowl of gazpacho soup for lunch. What I love about this recipe (found on Pinterest) is that it's easy to make and really healthy. I like my gazpacho a little spicy so I added a can of diced tomatoes with jalapeño peppers and added some tabasco sauce, but if you prefer something a little less spicy choose a can of regular diced tomatoes. I also prefer to leave the veggies whole in this soup, but you could combine these ingredients in a food processor to give the soup more texture. 

 

Gazpacho Soup:

Ingredients:
1 can diced tomatoes with jalapeño peppers
1 cucumber diced (remove seeds - optional)
1/2 small green pepper
Onion & garlic (I omitted this from my recipe but add as much as you prefer)
1 cup of tomato juice
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Tabasco sauce
Salt & pepper

Directions:
Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl and let the soup sit overnight so the flavors can meld together. Enjoy with a few slices of avocado and/or croutons.

xoxo

PS

My Holiday Weekend

I'm back! After an amazing extra long weekend in Grand Rapids/Northern Michigan it feels great to be back in Chicago. Here's a little recap of how I spent the holiday weekend.

1. My sister and I coordinated in red, white and blue for a 4th of July parade filled with endless Tootsie Rolls.
2. I celebrated 'Merica with PBR (obviously).
3. The highlight of the 4th was my mom's famous blueberry pie (recipe here).
4. Stay tuned for a new outfit post on the blog next week featuring these new metallic pointy toe flats.
5. I spent a day in Northern Michigan wine tasting at some of my favorite vineyards including the M22 shop in Glen Arbor.
6. The Joy boat in Leland has always been a personal favorite.
7. We enjoyed this view with a picnic of smoked fish from Carlson's Fish Market.
8. Since it was Cherry Festival in Traverse City we had to pick up some cherries from a road side stand.

xoxo

PS

It's Time for a Little R&R

It's time for a much needed r&r holiday week to get inspired and just take a break from the usual routine. I'm looking forward to spending some time with friends and family in Michigan to rejuvenate and enjoy the sun and sand. I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July and see you next week!

If you miss me here on the blog you can keep up with my adventures this week in Chicago/Grand Rapids/Northern Michigan on Facebook and Instagram. You'll probably see a few behind the scenes outfit posts, wine tasting at some beautiful vineyards, Lake Michigan (of course), and me attempting to cross a couple things off this 101 in 1001 list.

FYI you can find a new painting in the Etsy shop today! I'm working on a few more pieces that will be available later this month so stay tuned.

And get excited for some fun giveaways this month, outfit posts and more recipes here on Project Soiree. My editorial calendar is pretty amazing this month (if I do say so myself).

xoxo

PS