Easy Breezy

A candlelit tablescape to showcase red and blue firework-like flowers from the garden plot--the candles ended up being more useful than intended, as we lost power several times throughout July 4th evening

Because the holiday fell in the middle of last week, the weekend seemed to sneak up on us sooner than expected. Since we had already cleaned things up in order to have people over for a July 4^th cookout, and we didn’t need to do much cooking because we had plenty of party leftovers to enjoy, it felt like we had more time than usual to kick back and enjoy the few remaining remnants of celebration scattered throughout the condo.

Mini flags tucked in planters on the balcony that was almost too hot to enjoy

The best and easiest recipe for a delicious finger food that my grandma used to make often

Whimsical Words

Lately, while shopping, I’ve been sneaking peeks at the whimsical words found tucked inside of Kate Spade’s wallets and handbags courtesy of the brand’s tastemaker, Deborah Lloyd. In fact, I’ve been so taken with the evocative turns of phrase that I let them serve as the inspiration for my sister’s themed birthday gift—a trove of sweet treasures to stow inside the Marc Jacobs bag which I recently scored for her at Saks. It just didn’t seem complete without a fluorescent patent leather travel wallet, mini Moleskine journal, bright lip color and candy stash. 

Happy Birthday Sarah!

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Stars and Stripes

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At last, it's time to break out the quintessential Midwestern Jello flag cake, glitter nail polish strips (they actually work, trust me!), and sparklers! We’ll be spending our day sipping lemonade and watching the local parade and our evening on the beach, admiring fireworks as they sprinkle over the Lake. May you enjoy an equally patriotic and magical holiday…. 

Shelter from the Storm

The weather in Chicagoland has been highly unpredictable as of late, so we recently took it upon ourselves to duck inside the Lincoln Park Conservatory and get away from it all for a little while. I can’t recommend this historic glass house enough for those looking to mentally escape to an exotic, far-away land.

Rays of Sunshine

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I couldn’t resist buying these brilliantly blinding yellow accessories, as this relaxed clutch and chunky crystal necklace are just what my wardrobe needs to transition into sunny July. Here are a few other things that are sure to make me incredibly happy this month:

• Harvesting basketfuls of herbs and vegetables from my garden plot and getting creative with dinner
• Finally getting around to packing my bulky sweaters away for a few months
• Taking a morning daytrip to the Chicago Botanic Garden
• Browsing mid-summer sales
• Spending a hot date night watching Savages in a cold movie theater
• Making my own ice cream
• Attending a surprise birthday pool party
• Turning a long weekend with visiting family into a fun-filled stay-cation
• Grilling cheeseburgers and corn on the cob
• Relaxing on the beach, reading piles of books and magazines for hours on end, and just generally being unproductive

What exciting things do you have planned for July?