Happy Monday!

AE t-shirt, Tiffany & co necklace, Express shorts, Thrifted scarf (used as belt), MK watch, RayBan's

Hello lovelies! I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was good. We went to see Liberty Memorial here in KC, it's the WWI war museum. There are so many historical and interesting places to see and I don't know about you but I take it for granted that we have them. I don't know why I take so long to visit. I guess I just assume that I can always go another time, but everytime I go to one of these landmarks I'm always so happy I did! If you all haven't been to see Liberty Memorial, the next time you're in KC you should definitely make it a point to go. Hopefully you appreciate the freedoms we have in the world because of others who have made it possible. Are you all making any plans to get out and about and discover what's in you're area?

Fall Crushes

Soon summer will be coming to an end, the leaves will start changing colors, and we will finally start getting to wear our chunky sweaters and boots! Yay! Season changes are a weak spot of mine. I see so many trends I like and I have to try to resist going on splurges. This time I'm setting a budget for myself and I will. stick. to. it. That being said, I have a trip planned to Osage Beach (great outlets!) to see what I can find without blowing my budget! Classic pieces I'm willing to spend more on since I can wear them for years to come. Here are some of the Fall inspirations that I'm currently crushing on:

Row 1: Pleated Midi Skirt, Cozy sweater, Leather shorts, Leather Saddle Bag, Oxford shoes

Row 2: Cape, Faux Fur cardigan, Silk shirt, Green nail polish, Gap Wide Leg Trouser Jean

Row 3: Tailored shorts, Navy Blazer, MK chocolate watch, MK gold watch, Cropped Trench

Grilled Stuffed Artichokes! YUM!

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite grilling recipes! I'm sure you could guess it from the post's title :) It's grilled artichokes! These are great as a side dish or all on their own. We typically serve them with Italian or steaks, but they really can be paired with so many different foods. Let me know what you think! Yum!

Ingredients:
Artichokes (we typically make 1 for each of us, but you'll cut em in half, so it's up to you)
Olive oil
Seasoned bread crumbs (I use Progresso Italian Style Breadcrumbs)

Directions:
Heat up your grill. Wash your artichokes well. Pull off the bottom row of petals. Snip off the little pointed tips of the petals with scissors. Be careful, they're sharp! With a knife, chop off the top of the artichoke where the petals all come together. Cut off the end of your stem, leaving about 1-1.5". Your artichoke will now look something like mine below:

Now, cut your artichoke in half length ways.

See that pretty little purple flower in the middle?...You're gonna gouge it out with a spoon. Leaving you with something like this:

Steam them until the stem is somewhat soft (not gooey). Drizzle the inside of the petals with olive oil. Then pour some of the breadcrumbs between the petals. Don't forget to drizzle the heart (what was left after you so non-violently removed the flower). There's no exact science to this...just use as much or as little as you want.

Toss them on the grill, over medium heat, for about 10 minutes on their backs and 5 minutes on their tummies (the inside or heart). Make sure you watch them. You want them slightly charred. Not burnt.

This is what your lil guys will look like when they're done! Now you'll need to hold back your guy while you're trying to get the perfect picture of your finished product. No honey, 1 picture is not enough...Yes honey, if I need to take 20 pictures I will. This process will go a lot faster if you'd stop drooling on my shoulder...Thanks.

To eat, you'll pull off the petals and slide them between your teeth to remove the "meat." Don't be intimidated to eat the middle (it's the artichoke heart) and the stem...those are the best parts! Enjoy!

Moving at a snail's pace

Arden B. Fedora, AE t-shirt, Urban Outfitters Chambray Skirt (similar), Tiffany & Co key necklace, Banana Republic acrylic rock bracelet, F21 bracelet

Hi guys! Ok, so it was beautiful out today! I had to work all weekend and Monday too. So today I just wanted to move at my own speed...I went shopping and we grilled out. I'll share one of my favorite grilling recipes with you tomorrow. I love the fall and am excited for it but I want to try to hold onto these last few weeks of summer while I can. There's something just so fantastically...(what a great adverb)...summer about a plain white tee, chambray skirt and straw fedora, especially while grilling out relaxing on the deck. I knew that margarita maker was a good investment! Cheers!

Ikat Get Enough

VS Pink Tank, Forever 21 belt, Mod Cloth Skirt, Kate Spade Bag, Matisse Espadrille

Thanks Mod Cloth for the title of this post. It was TOO cute...had to use it! So, yesterday was my day off but had a unit meeting to get to. The meeting was fairly casual and I needed to run a couple of errands before hand, so comfort was in mind. I just got my first delivery from Mod Cloth yesterday morning. It was like Christmas morning! I'm hooked! I opened the box and immediately knew I had to wear this skirt! I love prints and am really obsessing on ikat prints like this skirt! Note to self: find more ikat. Here are some more ikat items that I'm loving:

Anthropologie Bowls, Gucci Dress, Haryana Ikat Rug, Cynthia Vincent Flats, Ikat Chairs (source: style-files.com), Revolve Clothing Milly Ikat Shorts

It's Raining...It's Pouring

AE cardigan, AE tank, VS Pink jeans, UO umbrella, Bakers sandals, Forever 21 bracelets

We've been having a heat wave...like a wicked witch of the west "I'm melting" kind of heat wave! Until the day it decided to break and rain every second since then. I thought I was getting lucky and taking pics at just the right time but Mother Nature always has other plans. Smart lil ol' me had her umbrella just in case though! Take that Mama Nature! I'll enjoy my own clouds!

PS, I'm on the look out for rain boots. I'm beginning to think they're a necessity with the Midwest's wacky weather. Oh, and thanks to Linda over at Rose ala Mode, I'm craving some Hunter Wellies! Too many colors to choose from though. What do you think?

Numero Uno

Hello! Welcome to my blog...take that stylish lil jacket off and stay awhile won't you? Hmm, where to start? Well, I've been following different blogs (from style to decor) and seeing all these amazingly brave girls grow into their styles. It's official, people! I've started my own! This is going to be a collection of style inspiration and my own spin on things! I hope you'll see me grow into my own, as well as, inspire you along the way (that's the most important part)! Wish me luck and stay tuned...