How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

I love bacon (I mean, who doesn't?), but I hate making it.  It takes forever and requires far too much attention for me in the morning.  So last weekend I decided instead of frying it up, I'd try it in the oven.  And let me tell you, I am not going back!

You can bake bacon just on a cookie sheet, but I like my bacon extra crispy so I didn't want it just sitting in grease while it cooked.  So I took a baking pan, lined it with foil (for easy clean up, because cleaning is also hard on Sunday mornings), and then put two cooling racks on top.  That way, the bacon grease could drip off, and the bacon could cook from both sides.

(I may have turned the cooling racks between pictures.)

Bake it at 400 for 15-20 minutes, and voila!  Lots and lots of bacon is served.  

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The Vest, Again

Sweater - Banana Republic (old) / Vest - Old Navy / Jeans - Gap / Boots - Tahari (similar) / Watch - Michael Kors

I told you I had a problem.  Seriously.  This vest is getting around.  If it was a person, she'd be getting a very bad reputation.  I wore this for running a few errands (ahem, trying on many pairs of shorts) last weekend.  Comfy and cute, what more do you need?

Linking up with DC in Style and Mix It Mondays

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This weekend...

This weekend I...

... Went to dinner at my grandma's house, where we had to cook steaks for 15.  NBD.  I was in charge of the sauce, which included about a pound of butter.
... Tried on about a thousand wedding dresses, and actually found some real contenders.
... Took my mom and sister to Taco Joint, which was the second time I've been in a week.  I may have a problem.
... Designed a website or two.
... Actually won at Cards Against Humanity, which I don't think is actually a good thing.
... Had a major pizza craving and dragged the boy to Giordano's for a classic sausage onion and pepper, scientifically proven to be the best toppings.
... Went to JoAnn to buy supplies for this Pinterest project, and somehow came away with the exact fabric from the tutorial.

I'm not really looking forward to this week, I have to work at a tradeshow for two days which is basically the worst thing you can ask an introverted person to do.  But the weather is supposed to perk up a little, so that's something to look forward to.  I hope you had a good weekend!

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How to clean Hunter Boots the DIY Way

Have your Hunter rain boots lost their original shine?  Hunters are made from real rubber, which goes through a process called "blooming" where the rubber expels certain particles, causing a white, powdery substance to appear on the surface of the boots.  The original boots I tried on in stores had already bloomed (which the sales person was highly embarrassed about, he made me buy a shinier pair instead) so I knew exactly what to expect, I just didn't realize they would get so dull so fast!  I was going to buy Hunter's boot cleaner, but then a quick Google search found a DIY way to get my boots clean.

Step One: Wipe down boots with a damp, soapy rag.  Let dry.  They got a little better, as you can see below:

Step two:  Pour a little olive oil onto a dry rag.  Rub boots, adding more olive oil as you go, until the whole boot is shiny again.  Wipe off any excess oil and let dry.  Rub any spots you may have missed with more olive oil.  I probably used 2 tablespoons total.  And boom!  Shiny as new: 

I was a little worried that I would get oil all over myself, but I was careful and just got a little on the floor.  Once they dried they didn't feel oily anymore.  Instead they were just super shiny and made me feel like a hundred bucks every time it rained in the last week.

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Chambray & Floral

Chambray - Target / Skirt - Daisy Fuentes for Kohl's (super old) / Booties - Steve Madden (old, similar) / Belt - Target (somehow even older) / Necklace - Stella & Dot / Bracelet - LC Lauren Conrad (similar)

This skirt is one of those things that's been in my closet forever.  I often forget it exists, but whenever I find it again I remember how much I love it.  I actually used to have a shirt in the same print and would occasionally wear them together - yikes!  I last wore it with stripes last spring.  With the warmish weather we had last weekend (ahem, 50 degrees) I was dying to wear something springy, and the florals were calling my name.

I'm starting to get really excited for this weekend because my mom and sister are coming into the city for more wedding dress shopping!  I'm crossing my fingers I can find the one this time.  Unfortunately I'm also having flash backs to prom dress shopping, which took trips to about seventeen different stores before settling on one I didn't really love.  No settling this time!

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March Budget

March was kind of a struggle for me budget-wise.  I stayed under somehow, but when spring arrivals hit the stores I had a hard time holding myself back.  Pretty pastels and jeweled details were really catching my eye this month, as well as other impractical things that I won't be able to wear for a few months (silly Chicago).

Here's the damage for March:

LOFT Chambray - originally $54.50, on sale $41.69
Sole Society Scarf - $29.95
LOFT Necklace Tee - originally $49.50, on sale $29.70
Old Navy Utility Vest - originally $32.94, on sale and used credits $11.74
JCrew Tee - originally $45, on sale $33.75, used giftcard $0
Gap Boyfriend Shirt - originally $49.95, on sale $34.97, used credits $19.97
LOFT Sweater - originally $44.50, on sale $22.57
LOFT Jeweled Cardigan - originally $59.50, on sale $25.29
LOFT Necklace Tee - originally $49.50, on sale $37.87
The Limited Dot Shorts - originally $54.95, on sale $27.48
Sole Society Heels - originally $69.95, used credits $9.95

Not pictured:
American Eagle Coated Jeggings - originally $59.95, on sale $24.99

Total spent: $281.20
Total saved: $259.04

In looking at how much I got this month, it seems like a LOT.  I cleaned out my closet and gave a lot of stuff to my sister, so it seemed like there was some space to fill.  I think for April I'm going to try to buy fewer overall items.  I do have my eye on some pretty spring dresses and block heels though, so who knows!

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Vest & Dots

Shirt - LOFT (old, similar) / Vest - Old Navy / Jeans - Gap / Booties - Target / Necklace - JCrew Factory (similar) / Bracelet and Watch - Michael Kors

I bought this vest from Old Navy a couple of weeks ago and have literally been holding myself back from wearing it everyday.  It feels like outerwear and seems to go with everything in my closet.  I might have a problem.

I was actually hunting for a utility vest for a long time and also bought this one from JCrew Factory.  I ended up returning the Factory one partially because the Old Navy vest was such a steal in comparison, and also because the fit on the Old Navy vest was better - the pockets were a lot less bulky making the look feel more stylish and less like I was actually going fishing.

Although fishing does sound like fun...

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