A Patriotic Look for Less

I spent a good amount of time this weekend shopping- I hit up Northpark and The Shops at Willow Bend for some goodies (and we shopped for Geoff's wedding suit-YAY!) Anthropologie at Northpark was packed- I guess it was all of the super cute sale stuff they had out. I was good and didn't pick up anything at Anthro (though my wishlist is growing rapidly...) but I did get a super cute Anthro-esque top at Forever 21. So excited! Check out the original Bouquet of Stripes Tee from Anthropologie, and the cute navy tank version that I am wearing today. I have been meaning to start posting my fave outfits, so I guess this is also my inaugural outfit post. WOOT! Have a lovely Monday all!

XO
-L 

Bouquet of Stripes Tee from Anthropologie (still in stores, no longer online)

My cute F21 Knockoff (couldn't find this one online either but it was new in stores so maybe it'll pop up soon!)

Feeling Breezy

Or at least I would like to be. Usually I find summer is a time to slow down, relax, spend more time outside and just chill. Um, not this summer. We are less than three months away from the nuptials people! I gotta say, my stress level is definitely up. Hence my blog absence. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty sure my posting will be spotty in the next couple of months as we get closer, but I will do my best to check in with my beloved little blog. I took a rare break from wedding madness to do a little online window shopping this evening. Nothing drops my blood pressure like gazing at gorgeous, flowy, breezy blouses. There are so many in stores that I am in love with. I can see each of these paired with cute cutoffs and flat sandals for summer weekends, with dark skinnies and heels for work, and layered under my fave cardis when the weather gets cooler. Yes, definitely going to have to add a couple of these beauties to my wardrobe.

XO
-L 

Flowering Pastures Blouse via Anthro
OMG. So in love with this one. Definitely at the top of my wishlist. 

Silk Chiffon Flutter Sleve Top via F21

Bellatrix Lace Trim Chiffon Top via Nordstrom

BCBG Pearl Gray Printed Blouse via Bluefly

Anik Batik Berry Cristoba Blouse via My-Wardrobe.com

DVF Annushka Short Tunic via The Outnet.com
Must. Have. This. Top. (So wish I could register for this...) 

Cannibal Hippos & White Dresses

What does the title (the Cannibal Hippos part) have to do with this girly blog you ask? Absolutely nothing. But it was on Animal Planet while I was typing this post, and for some reason I found it hilarious, so here it is. I love being the boss of this blog! :)

So, after my super-depressing week last week (see previous post) I am back to my beloved blog and trying to put on a happy face. And nothing perks me up like a little retail therapy. On that note, I have been on the hunt for the perfect white dress for summer.  Yes, I've already bought a white wedding dress and a white rehearsal dinner dress, so maybe I have white on the brain. But I'm talking the perfect little white sundress here, one that will be cute for summer concerts with my old cowboy boots, or look hot with sky high nude platforms for a night out. Check out my picks below (I'm leaning toward the 1st one from Banana...)
Hope you all are having a lovely Monday!

XO
-L

1. Twist Back Veranda Dress from Banana Republic
2. Emma Shift Dress from Alloy
3. Daytime Jersey Scoopneck Dress from Victoria's Secret
4. BB Dakota Caleb Dress via Zappos
5. The Way you Look Tonight Dress from Ruche

Don't be Tardy for the Cardi

BTW, that title is awesome. That one's for you, G.

My all time favorite piece of clothing is a cardigan (people who know me are rolling their eyes right now, because I wear one 5 days out of 7...at least.) I tried to leave the house this morning without one on and I kinda felt like I left my arm behind. Sad. I asked G if I could wear one with my wedding dress, and he said no. Ok, maybe a wedding cardi is going a bit overboard, but I will never stop adding to my beloved collection (dammit!) I have them in almost every color-I got one in the most lovely shade of coral-y pink this weekend. But something still eludes my collection: patterned cardis. They've been cropping up around the blogosphere and (oddly) I have yet to jump on the bandwagon. So, here are my pics for the best patterned and printed cardis hanging around- be prepared to join my wardrobe!

XO
-L

1. Favorite Crew Neck Cardi in Leopard via Boden
    (Dear fashion gods, please send me this for my birthday. Pretty please!! :)
2. Featherweight Lynx Bling Button Cardigan via J Crew
3. Cooperative Printed Cardigan via Urban Outfitters
4. Rise and Fall Cardigan via Anthropologie
5. Button Bin Cardi via Anthro
6. Oasis Heart Cardigan via Asos
7. Wild and Wondrous Cardigan via Anthropologie
   (Yeah, I'm pretty obsessed with this one too...)

And here's a dose of random for your Thursday...

SO PUMPED about the new Ray Bans G surprised me with yesterday! Thank you honey!
SO SWEET!!!

G also informed me that there are not enough pics of Calvin on the blog...so here you go...
I know everyone thinks this about their fur babies, but he is seriously the cutest dooger in the whole world!

Cake pops and doodle bops (and some stuff I'm craving)

Hello random Thursday. What's a doodle bop you ask? I have no idea- it just rhymes with cake pop, so I threw it up there. I'm a little silly from staying up way too late making some cake pops for a fun girls weekend this Saturday, and doing laundry-because we are totally out of clean clothes. If you are not familiar with cake pops, where have you been? They are amazingly delicious little balls of heaven. I have made the oreo ones about a billion times, but last night I was feeling adventurous so I made Red Velvet cake ones too. YUM. 

Oreo Cake Pops image via slash food

Red Velvet Cake Pops image via bakerella

Oreo Truffle Balls (adapted from this recipe)

Ingredients
• 8 ounces light cream cheese, softened
• 1 Bag Oreos, chopped into powder in the food processor
• White or Milk Melting Chocolate

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese for a couple minutes to smooth out. Add in just over 1/2 of the chopped Oreos and mix until thoroughly combined. Add in the rest of the Oreos and mix just until combined - some bigger pieces are ok.

Cover bowl and chill for an hour or 2. Scoop out dough and roll into 50-60 balls. (I like to use a small ice cream scoop to make them all even.) Cover and place back in the refrigerator to firm up.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave according to package directions (be sure to watch it closely so you do not scorch it.) Remove and stir to melt the rest of the chocolate. Dip each truffle ball in the chocolate and set aside on foil or parchment paper. If the chocolate mixture starts to firm up, gently - in the microwave. Store in the refrigerator after all are dipped. I like to take the opposite color of chocolate and pour into a plastic baggie, then I snip off the end and drizzle it over the truffles to make them stripey and pretty.

To make Red Velvet Cake Pops, simply swap the crushed Oreos for a baked Red Velvet cake- mix it with the cream cheese and follow the rest of the directions after...(or get the full recipe here.)

Viola!

And because I'm feeling totally random this Thursday, here are some treats I am craving right now.
Enjoy!

XO
-L

1. The SAK Silverlake Crossbody Bag in Dark Amber via Piperlime
    (My friend Julie & I got this for my friend Laine for her birthday and I loved it
    so much now I WANT ONE!)
2. Roxy Day Trip Romper here
3. Wandering Dreams Sleep Pants via Anthro
4. Great Mustaches Mug via PlasticLand
5. Feather Catchall Dish via Urban Outfitters
6. Pictorial Webster's Rubber Stamp Kit via Plasticland