Guest Post: Fall Loves from Things that Sparkle...

Hi all, I am Alex from Things That Sparkle. I am so excited to be here today sharing the five things I'm "falling for" this fall. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year so limiting this to five is insanely difficult!

1. Lighting a fire. Is there ANYTHING better??

2. Bundling up in sweaters, boots, scarves and jackets. The fashion in fall is by far the best.

3. Baking. I don't know what it is, but the second there's a chill in the air, I feel the need to eat. Anything with pumpkin or apple preferably.

4. Making the switch to red wine, and dark red nails.

5. Fall activities. Including apple orchards and pumpkin patches. Other suggestions are welcome.

Thank you!

Guest Post: Fall Loves from Happenstance...

So excited to have Haydee here from Happenstance sharing her Fall faves, she has one of my all time favorite blogs. 

Cozy T-Shirts: I'm a t-shirt kind of girl so when fall comes 'round I love to pair a simple tee with fun jewelry, scarves and sweaters.

Delectable Desserts: Along with fall come the holiday soiree's and fun desserts! I recently had these from Früute … so good!

Fun Statement Jewelry: I'm not a huge jewelry person but when I find a good statement piece like this one from Elva Fields I usually go for it.

Organic Gloss: Since I'm sure I'll be on the go quite a bit this fall I like to have my gloss on hand. Especially one that is natural and paraben-free like this one by Josie Maran.

Movie Nights: Is there anything better than cozying up on the couch with a throw and watching a great movie?

Ankle Boots: Fall definitely calls for some cute, “the more worn they get, the better they look” ankle boots.

Colored Jeans: I'm definitely in the mood this fall to partake in the colored jeans movement. Especially since I wear a lot of gray these will add the perfect pop to my outfits.

Guest Post: Fall Loves from A Lovely Escape...

hi ladies - i'm audrey from a lovely escape sharing some fall inspiration on sarah's space today. while fall is quite fleeting in chicago, it is my absolute favorite season! chunky sweaters, layering, pumpkin flavored everything, the change of leaves - what's not to love? this fall i am particularly looking forward to...

1 - bare legs and boots


2 - our annual trip to the apple orchard and baking our bags of apples into pies and scones


3 - tweed. lots of tweed.


4 - opening the windows and letting crisp fall breezes fill our home

5 - cozying up with warm lattes and ciders

thanks for having me sarah!

Guest Post: Fall Loves from Note to Self...

Hi everyone! I'm Sarah, visiting from Note to Self. As a total sentimentalist, I get rather giddy and nostalgic when the seasons begging to change. Autumn is no exception - the leaves, the smells, the food, the costume parties! Oh my... But without further ado, here are the top five things I'm really "Falling For" right now...
1. Revisiting old favorites: as the days grow shorter and the nights longer, you can't go wrong snuggling up to an old favorite. In my queue: Meet Me In St. Louis, You've Got Mail, and Little Women (this version, too.)
2. New comfort foods: Whenever fall rolls around, it's fun to pay extra attention to food blogs and seek out some new comfort food recipes to try. This "tomato cobbler" on Honey & Jam caught my eye right away. Yum!
3. Touches of tartan: Can you go wrong adding some of this classic print to your home or wardrobe? I don't think so. Here in Savannah, Georgia, we can't wear anything wool so soon in the year, but just the look of it in a napkin or table cloth can get us in the fall spirit. Worth reading: this Martha Stewart LIving post on the subject, or a classic book, Tartan: Romancing the Plaid (Amazon, from $59).
4. Penny loafers: These certified classics are everywhere this fall. I say add these to a pair of rolled jeans, café capris, or a cute dress as an alternative to ballet flats. I've been eying this Bass pair for a while now. Time to take the plunge?
5. Gallery walls: They are the excuse we all needed to keep the little things we love close at hand, right? Over the summer, I began the process of curating some keepsakes: prints, vintage scarves, ticket stubs and shopping bags (yes, shopping bags) to frame on a gallery wall. Bring on the hammers and nails! (DIY tip: unroll some butcher paper on the floor, layout and outline your frames, and use the paper as a headache-free guide for nails on the wall.)

Well, I hope you enjoyed these tid-bits. Don't be a stranger now.

Many thanks for having me over, Sarah!

xo,
(another) Sarah

Birthday Week...

Danielle and I have birthdays just 4 days apart (she is the 17th and I'm the 20th)! We are kicking off a blog inspiration week to celebrate! I will have a Tibi tomorrow and more surprises. 

On Thursday, we invite you to link up with a gift guide blog post. I hope you will join in and share a post with your favorite gifts! We plan on including your blog links in our blog posts. If you would like to participate, please leave a comment with your name and blog link or email by 8pm Central. Please be sure to publish your post on Thursday morning by 7:00 am Central time.

Go check out sweet treats at Breakfast at Toast this morning and come visit this afternoon for my favorites! 

Falling For...

With every season comes a new perspective...and a new series on the blog. I'll be asking bloggers to share what their top 5 fall favorites are, from fashion to destinations, recipes, home decor and more. It's less about the 'trend' and more about what floats your boat. What are you currently falling for this fall...? 


My Top 10:
Boots...There are a few pairs of boots that I have my eye on this season, from the back of the bike motorcycle boot to, low ankle booties for date night, I must save up for these kicks.
Vintage...I have loved the Randolph Street Market this summer and stores in Andersonville, but rarely found time, I am going to be on the hunt for a few home items this season and can't wait to dive back into strolling shops nearby. Currently coveting vintage letters and just spotted this one last weekend. R for Reilly;)
Baking...Summer months always inspire me to grill and mix up fresh cool cocktails with ingredients like mint leaves and ginger. Fall is the beginning of  that crisp feeling in the air that makes me want to bake pies, casseroles, and serve up warm coffee + cider drinks with homemade donuts. 
Football...Not only do I adore watching the game. I like to wind up and get my wicked tight spiral on. Every year I threw together the Turkey Bowl (in Sf and NYC), a tailgate picnic in the park with food, drinks and a friendly competitive game of pigskin. Should I try to kick this off in Chicago?

Sweaters...can't wait to color coordinate my stack of sweaters and throw them over cute tops with jeans this fall. It's my all time favorite season to dress, you don't have too little on, or too much, it's right in the middle of comfort and chic. Stay tuned for my current picks.
Music...This is always on my list, also different than the summer theme of going to parks and outdoor venues. I will be seeking local shows that are quaint and off the beaten path. Like Fleet Foxes (9/30) and Foster the People (10/5). And perhaps even venturing to make a few new playlists. *Miss Moss + Destined to Design always have a little music mix inspiration.
Road Trips...It's the perfect time of year to pick a spot nearby on a lake or farm to have an overnight rustic retreat.
Birthday...Well, let it be known that about a decade ago, I decided to LOVE my birthday, and ever since I make sure to have a fun little gathering with friends and maybe even a trip. It's a benchmark bday this year, so I'm off to Vegas for a weekend in September. Danielle's bday month is September too, and we'll be having some things in store for readers to help celebrate. 
TV Time Out...I happily log very little couch time in the summer months, why watch the tube when you can watch the sunset from your balcony on a beautiful night? Also, there's not much to entertain. But when the fall comes, so does some good tv time. 
Sightseeing + Culture...It's too chilly for a picnic, but not to hop on a bike and tour the city, or venture to the museum now that you don't have to feel guilty for missing the hours of sunshine during a summer day. I have yet to explore much of this cities sights and culture, so for my first fall, I need to get out my Chicago guide and be a tourist.

Come Visit ~ Breakfast at Toast Today...

A few weeks ago my friend Danielle asked me to be a part of this series on her lovely blog Breakfast at Toast, called Girls who Inspire. For those of you who know my blog, I don't divulge many personal details;) It was great to step outside of my daily posting and share style inspiration, why I love Chicago and dish on other little fun Q's. Thank you so much for having me D, honored to be a guest. xo

Guest Post: Summer Recipes ~ Danielle from Breakfast at Toast...

Hi! Danielle of Breakfast at Toast sharing my favorite summer treat with you! Homemade ice pops have become a part of my daily routine since purchasing the Zoku Duo. One of my favorites has been this little mixture. 

Throw these ingredients into a blender, mix + pour into the Zoku. I didn't really measure the ingredients. Just threw them in to the blender. Wait a few minutes and voila. Instant ice pop. All natural, no added sugars. Perfect on a warm summer day!

 

Thanks for having me over on the blog today, Sarah! 

xo

Danielle

Guest Post: Summer Recipes ~ Jillian from Cornflake Dreams...

hi there! it's jillian from cornflake dreams. when my (now) fiance and i moved in together last may it was fun to see what books he brought along for the move. i was surprised to see that he had a larger collection of cookbooks (was i dating a master chef?!) turns out our cooking skills were about the same (okay but not top chef status!) but we both loved to cook. now my favorite part of the day is coming home and cooking dinner with my man. he chops, i stir. 

one of our all-time favorite summer recipes to make is our version of the chicken enchiladas. our recipe is adapted from one of his cookbooks: sam the cooking guy. 

2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded 

1 cup salsa verde (that's the green kind!)

1-2 tablespoons chopped chipotles in sauce 

1/2 diced small red pepper 

1/2 diced small green pepper

1/4 diced small onion

1 handful of diced cilantro

1 small diced plum tomato (did i mention we love our veggies?!)

1 cup chicken broth

8- 8 inch flour tortillas 

1 cup shredded Monterrey jack shredded cheese*

*we usually go without the cheese bc h is watching his cholesterol but i occasionally add some to the top of mine for some extra flavor!

Preheat the oven to 350. In a bowl mix the chicken, salsa, chipotle diced green/red peppers and onions.  Pour about 1/2 cup chicken broth into a 9x13-inch cooking dish. Pour the rest of the chicken broth into a bowl to dip your tortillas until well moistened, about 30 seconds. remove and place about 1/8th of the chicken mix in the middle of the tortilla, roll it up like a cigar, and place it, seam side down. repeat until all the tortillas are filled and side by side in the dish. if you're using cheese spread it over the top. bake until it browns for about 30 minutes. remove from the oven and top with the diced tomatoes and cilantro.

HOLY moly. tasty. we usually eat it with some packaged spanish rice and bud light limes (fancy right!?). 

enjoy! 

xo, 

jillian 

Guest Post: Summer Recipes ~ Audrey from A Lovely Escape

So excited to have Audrey here from A Lovely Escape, her blog always has the best style inspiration and weekend scenes, and she is one of the sweetest people! 

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Cool as a Cucumber Lemonade

I planned to share a summer vegetable pizza recipe here on Sarah's lovely blog, but my AC broke and its 85 degrees in my apartment and just the thought of turning on the oven made me break out in a sweat. So instead, I turned to one of the most refreshing things I've had this summer - cucumber lemonade. It's super simple and undeniably satisfying. Just add a splash of vodka and it transitions from a cool daytime drink into a tasty cocktail,  

4 cups of water

2 cucumbers, peeled and cubed

1/2 cup of sugar

1 cup of lemon juice (recommend freshly squeezed)

1-2 tablespoons of agave nectar (to taste)

1 - peel and cube cucumber, puree in blender with water and sugar

2 - add lemon juice and agave nectar and blend

3 - garnish with a cucumber or lemon slice and drink it up

Guest Post: Summer Recipes ~ Ashley from This City Girl

First up on the foodie week series is Ashley from This City Girl sharing a yummy summer pasta recipe. We met back in February and I'm so excited to have her on the blog for the first time. 

***

When Sarah asked me to guest blog on the fabulous Where the Sidewalk Begins, I was thrilled!  I love the blog and LOVE summer cooking.  It's just so easy to use fresh, local goods from the farmers market.  It makes the prep work so easy because everything already tastes so good!  So, here's my summer weeknight go-to: Arugula pesto spaghetti with slow roasted tomatoes and pine nuts.  

For the Pesto:
2 cups arugula
2-3 tablespoons olive oil 
1 or 2 cloves garlic (I love garlic)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Lemon zest 
Italian parsley 
Salt & Pepper 

I pretty much throw all of these ingredients into the food processor and in a couple minutes you have a bright green pesto.  

For the Tomatoes: 
Preheat the oven to 300
Cut cherry tomatoes in halves 
Rub with a little olive oil and some sea salt 
Roast for about an hour or until the edges are caramelized, mixing a few times throughout the process
(you can make these in advance) 

Boil up your favorite brand of spaghetti, mix with the pesto, tomatoes and a hand full of pine nuts that have been toasted up in a pan and that's it! 

Though I'm not really one to follow recipes, I got my inspiration for the pesto from Giada and the tomatoes are from Gwyneth's My Father's Daughter. 

{images: My Father's Daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow (tomatoes & Gwyneth); The Blender - Williams-Sonoma blog}

Guest Post: Summer Destinations ~ Tomboy Style...

So excited to have Lizzie here today from Tomboy Style, one of my favorite bloggers dishing about one of my favorite cities...summer destination: San Francisco!

***

My husband and I are hopping on the short flight from LAX to SFO for the weekend to visit friends and enjoy "The Paris of the West".

1. Mark Twain may not be synonymous with San Francisco, but one of his maxims has become quite the S.F. cliché ("The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco"). I love collecting old books with fun covers and could imagine this one jumping into my Etsy cart in the near future. 

2. My husband and I are staying with friends for the weekend in The Mission, who have a thing for nautical ephemera, I'll be sure to send them this awesome thank you card made from the San Franciscan letterpress, Yellow Owl Workshop.

3. Heath Ceramics is such a fantastic and Bay Area institution. I recently scored a set of vintage Heath plates at a thrift store in Orange County for next to nothing, but wouldn't mind shelling out for some of their beautiful glassware. 

4. I live for essential oils, especially when I travel, and am a big fan of everything from the Berkeley-based company Juniper Ridge and their Big Sur blend.

5. There are so many things to love about S.F., but for me the biggest draw is the food. It is, in my book, the best eating city in the country. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there's time to grab a beer-battered Sweetwater Oyster Po' Boy with bacon remoulade from Hog Island Oyster Co. at The Ferry Building. (photo via TheFoodinista.com)

6. My favorite SF-based online vintage store is no doubt Paris Hotel Boutique. I'm lust over the oil paintings that come in on a weekly basis and definitely have my eye on this guy. 

Guest Post: Summer Destinations ~ Monkey in Los Angeles...

I'm in for a treat this week, and so are you;) Eva from Monkey in LA is here to talk summer style ...and back on Friday for 4th of July surprise. Her blog is a new discovery that I can't get enough of, you'll be hooked too;)

***

Now being hitched to an Oregonian and having always heard good things about Portland, I'm finally trekking it up to the Pacific Northwest for some shopping at Canoe, dinner at Clyde Common and a stay at the Ace Hotel—my kind of summer getaway. Knowing that Oregon can have it's June Gloom like Los Angeles, I'll be packing easy layers like this Steven Alan poncho and a pair of Jodhpur boots to comfortably explore the city. Add a camera and a summer scarf, and I'm good to go. 

1. Petiole Blouson Dress  2. Urban Outfitters Thick Crystal readers 3. Spring Utility Poncho 4. Alkemie Necklace 5. La Sardina   6a. Terrain Silk Voile Scarf 6b. Fleabag Gunpowder Bag  7. Toast Jodhpur Boot 8. Madewell Silk Boyfriend Shirt

Guest Post: Summer Destinations ~ Sage + Style...

So excited to have Taryn visiting today from Sage + Style - I'm always in awe of her beautiful blog!

***

Destination: Traverse City, Michigan for the Traverse City Film Festival

To me, there’s nothing that speaks of summer so much as a trip to Northern Michigan's Traverse City. A must do for any Midwesterner; this gorgeous lakeside town is full of city action, natural beauty and a bevvy of delectable gourmet influences that range from restaurants and bakeries to local, award-winning wineries. It’s also home to the Traverse City Film Festival, which was begun in 2005 as "a way to save one of America’s few indigenous art forms—the cinema.” 

Founded by Michael Moore (Oscar winner and documentary genius,) the festival boasts a variety of events, performances and films —this year’s lineup will be announced on July 8^th— and is as close to Sundance in the Midwest as you can get. That's why I'll be packing plenty of laid-back "auteur" accessories, at least one fantastic fedora, retro sunglasses, a large, light handbag and loads of bright color! After all, this casual lakeside town begs for a summer-time airiness that doesn't include the requisite festival black.

1.  Theory silk ruffled top / Stylebop. 2.  Green Seven Eighths skinny trouser / TopShop 3.  Karen Walker number 6 sunglasses / LaGarconne 4.  Tabby cloche hat / Anthropologie 5.  Film festival survival guide / ChrisGoresLovespray @ Etsy 6.  Gwendoyln tote / Tory Burch 7. Mother-of-pearl April bracelet / Gemma Redux 8. DV by Dolve Vita Marci sandal / Lori's Shoes

Guest Post: Summer Destinations ~ Destined to Design...

Jacket / Shirt / Skirt / Clutch / Oxfords / Bracelet

I'm so excited to have Jessica as a guest today. I'm sure you're not new to her blog, it's on my favorites lists - Destined to Design is always filled with great music, style and inspiration. Today Jessica is sharing with us her favorite destination of the summer and what she's wearing. (By the way we definitely share the same love of outdoor concerts and this outfit is currently on my wish list, head to toe!)

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Every summer a group of friends and I gather for at least one concert at the Hollywood Bowl. We pack a picnic, arrive early and enjoy good food and good company until the sun goes down. This year we're planning for The National/Neko Case/Sharon Van Etten  show in September that is sure to be a memorable one. If we're lucky, it'll be one of those amazing summer nights where you don't even need to pack a sweater...