Oyster Cravings...

Grilled Oysters, w/Cilantro Lime Sauce

Oysters Rockefeller 

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! 

***

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}

Summer Dish: Pops...

Pour a little bubbly over popsicles and serve. Yum. {image via Southern Living}

Summer Guide: Chicago Long Weekend...

There are so many great things about Chicago in the summer. I have lived in New York City, San Francisco and now Chicago. Hands down - summers in this city are my all time favorite. Between festivals, baseball games, concerts, outdoor dining, and lakeside paths for running and biking, I'm in heaven. A friend reached out recently and I put together 'What to do' guide for their visit this week, here's a little agenda! 


Wednesday: 
Go to the Green Farmer's Market on North Clarke in Lincoln Park, pack a picnic and take a great walk along North Beach.
Wednesday Eve: 
Happy hour at Hubbard Inn, the Southside cocktail is YUM!
Early din din at the bar at GT Fish + Oyster, don't miss the lobster roll...
Ferris Bueller's Day off - Movies in the Park


Thursday: 
Stroll Michigan Ave shops and stop at RL Cafe for a late lunch on the patio. 
Thursday Eve: 
Hit Maude's Liquor bar or the Girl and the Goat in the West loop for dinner.


Friday:
Head to Wrigleyville for Cubs vs. Marlins day game! 
Friday eve:
Try one of these spots for dinner
Then hit up the Old St. Pat's Block Party and see great live band performances.


Saturday:
Taste of River North Festival
Saturday Eve:
Pitchfork Music Fest: Fleet Foxes on the Green Stage
Fireworks at Navy Pier - Either bring a blanket and a bottle of wine down to a grassy spot by the docks or get to the Trump early for a perfect view.


Sunday:
BBQ at Market Bar


Enjoy!! Stay tuned for the Chicago Bloggers favorite restaurants. {image via Breakfast at Toast}

Summer Dish: Pizza Pizza...

I found a few great summery pizza recipes I can't wait to try...especially on the grill!


Asparagus, Green Garlic and Leek Pizza
Fontina, Arugula and Prosciutto Pizza
Summer Vegetable Pizza

Eat a Peach...

Peaches are one of my favorite summer fruits. I sliced some up for a lunch side dish Saturday and served with sandwiches poolside. These recipes look yum. {images via pinterest}

Grilled Peaches and Haloumi Salad
Frozen Peach Margarita

Summer Guide: Chic Sailing...

This week makes me want to sail away to a coastal retreat on the ocean;) At least on stressful work days I have a view of the beautiful lake! 


1. Marc Jacobs Sweater Dress 2. Sperry Top Siders 3. Crepe Mini Dress 4. Ethan Allen Sailboat 5. Tote 6. Harbor Photo 7. Philip Lim Shorts 

My Kind of Scotch...

Love these summer shades of nailpolish - this brand might be my new fave.

Summer Color Crush: Turquoise...

Beautiful turquoise against tan skin, white walls, rustic outdoor settings and accessorizing simple styles are my fave for summer. Loren Hope jewels are the perfect addition to seasonal pieces - here are all of her turquoise picks. {images via pinterest, pink wallpaper, house of turquoise}

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!)

***

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...

Summer Dish: Microleave & Edible Flower Salad...

Lovely and delish summer salad. 

Where I Go...

I spotted this brilliant Summer Getaway round up on Vogue, capturing the weekend bags of favorite escape artists via Destined to Design. Such amazing timing too, I had just reached out to a few friends and bloggers for my summer guest post series. The theme, What's Your Summer Destination and What Are You Packing? Great minds think alike. I can't wait to kick this off with Tomboy Style, NYC fashionista behind Tibi PR, Destined to Design, Sage + Style, Luella + June and more...Stay tuned. 

Summer Guide: Cold Sweets for Summertime

Yummy desserts for hot summer days;) {via pinterest}

Summer Guide: Sunnies for the Street...

These are my favorite sunglasses on the block, from beach to the streets;)

Peach TopShop Sunglasses
Black Ray Ban Wayfarer
Blue Lowestoft Sunglasses
H&M Aviators
Black Aviators
Lacoste Cat's Eye Sunnies
Tory Burch Retro Shades

Summer Guide: Music in Chicago...

Just a few favorites that are playing locally this summer. Can't wait to picnic in the park on June 6th with a few friends and hopefully see Florence and Eddie Vedder, lastly I'll cap off the summer with Lollapalooza;)


Adele ~ May, 24th @ Riviera Theatre
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals ~ June 3 @ House of Blues
Iron & Wine, The Head & the Heart ~ June 6 @ Millennium Park*
Ray LaMontagne ~ June 7 @J ay Pritzker Pavilion
My Morning Jacket ~ June 17 @ Auditorium Theatre
Florence & the Machines ~ June 18 @ Aragon Ballroom
Low & Glen Hansard ~ June 27 @ Millennium Park*
Eddie Vedder ~ June 28th/29th @ Chicago Theatre
Bon Iver ~ July 24 @ Chicago Theatre
Lollapalooza ~ Aug 5-7th @ Grant Park

*Millennium park concerts are free on Monday evenings. 

Summer Guide: 5 Classic Fashion Must-Haves...

I'm going to attempt to make packing for summer weekends easy. By getting a few simple things that you can mix and match, wear with anything and throw on and go! These are a few classic pieces you cant miss:


White dress, military jacket, gold watch, bright clutch, cute shorts, neutral wedge.