Transitioning White

Dress - Target / Vest - Old Navy / Booties - Sam Edelman / Necklace - Yuni Kelley (similar) / Watch - Kate Spade

It may be after Labor Day, but I'm still in white. While the weather continues to cooperate (at least for today) and it still is technically summer, I'm going to keep on rocking this little white dress.  Paired with my utility vest and booties, it feels perfectly appropriate as a transition outfit to fall.

I wore this earlier this week for a quest over to Wicker Park for trivia night. I think we've finally found a trivia program that I can really get behind, because A) they cater heavily to my intense knowledge of the Home Alone franchise, and B) we've come in second twice. Of course, some of my friends aren't as cool with the whole "not winning" thing, so I said next time we go our team name should be, "Always a bridesmaid."

Are you still in white?  Or have you packed it away until next year?

Linking up with Friday Fab Favorites.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

I don't know if it's obvious from most of the recipes I post on here (pasta, pasta, and more pasta), but I'm not that into health foods.  Most of them plain just freak me out.  I see "skinny" recipes on Pinterest and pass right over them - they just never taste right to me.  I'm actually trying to cut all fake-y foods out of my life right now (margarine, diet anything) because usually the ingredients that are used to replace the "bad" foods are actually worse for.

BUT I kept coming across recipes for chia seed pudding, and the pictures looked so good I had to check it out.  It turns out the ingredients are all pretty legit.  Chia seeds are actually the same seeds from Chia pets, and are edible seeds that contain all sorts of good-for-you things like omega-3s, protein, fiber, and calcium.  I've found them in the grocery store in the health foods aisle as well as near rice and quinoa.  Chia seeds expand when they come in contact with liquids, so adding them to milk causes them to create a pudding-like texture.  After a couple of disaster attempts where my pudding didn't set, I've tweaked the recipe to the point where I've found a healthy dessert that I actually like!

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
1 serving

You'll need:
1 1/2 TB unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk (I usually use regular old cow's milk, but almond milk works too)
3 TB chia seeds

Add cocoa powder, sugar, and salt to a small jar with a lid.  Add milk and stir to combine.  Add chia seeds, put lid on jar, and shake well to combine.

Refrigerate for 20 minutes, and then shake again to make sure chia seeds don't clump together.  Then let sit overnight, and voila! Pudding!


Have you tried chia seed pudding?  Would you give it a try?

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!

Stripes & Sneaks

Tank - Loft (similar) / Jeans - Gap / Sneakers - Nordstrom Rack (similar) / Bag - Coach Factory (similar) / Necklace - Yuni Kelley (similar)

I put this on last week, and Jeff said, "You look really cool. Like a rock star." I'm now uncertain as to whether or not Jeff has ever seen a rock star, but I think it was the sneakers that got him. I've been wearing sneakers whenever I've been walking a lot lately, not just because they're comfy, but also because it turns out I have a leg length discrepancy. Remember a couple of weeks ago when I had to go get my legs measured? Well the right one is about a centimeter shorter than the left, which means I now get to wear a nifty little lift in my sneaks whenever I do anything resembling exercise. I feel like I would have been embarrassed about it when I was younger, but now I think it's hilarious, and with the lift I can finally do squats without falling down. Win win win.

Linking up with Style Sessions, Trend Spin Linkup and Tuesday Pretties.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!

This Weekend...

This weekend I went down to my alma mater for a football game, where I...

...Coincidentally found myself in a suite with a bunch of my mom's sorority sisters and determined that my mom and father-in-law definitely knew each other in college.
...Got to relive my dorm days with one of our favorite lunch foods, the chicken zing wing.
...Watched Champaign's pride parade (only three months late) and danced on a balcony to It's Raining Men, and then met up with one of my friends in the middle of the pride madness and got my very own Oscar Meyer weenie whistle.
...Started my first fantasy football matchup against Jeff, I think I'm gonna beat him but still have two more players going tonight.  I also beat him in our first matchup last year.  Hee hee hee...
...Went back to one of my favorite downtown Champaign restaurants, Radio Maria, and had some freaking amazing stewed oxtail and paella.
...Had a mini ASB (Alternative Spring Break) reunion with some of the lovelies I went to Arizona with in college.

I hope you had a good one!

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!

Jumping the Gun

Tee - Loft (similar) / Vest - Old Navy / Jeans - Gap / Necklace - BaubleBar (similar) / Watch - Kate Spade / Sandals - Target

I'm really trying to jump the gun on this fall thing.  I got excited this week, and tried to go buy candy corn (hint: they aren't selling it yet), started pinning fall and halloween stuff like crazy, and kept trying to dress like it's sixty degrees out instead of eighty.  Case in point: this outfit.  I originally had boots on and was sweating to death.  Note to self: next time, check the calendar!  Fall doesn't officially start until the 23rd.

Linking up with Monday Bloom and Friday Fab Favorites.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!

Lemon Herbed Chicken

I honestly am not sure how I haven't shared this recipe before.  My mom made Lemon Herbed Chicken for us all of the time growing up, and now it's one of my favorite things to cook.  It's so easy, but still so flavorful, and so much more exciting than another boneless skinless chicken breast.  Of course, you could still make this with boneless skinless chicken breasts, just lower the temperature and decrease the cooking time.

The key to this recipe is actually giving it time to marinade.  Mixing everything up and letting it sit the night before is really the best option, and that way when you get home from work all you have to do is turn on the oven and pop the chicken in.

Lemon Herbed Chicken (recipe originally from Chicago Tribune)

Serves 4

You'll need:

3-4 lbs chicken (I either use whole chicken pieces or skin on/bone in thighs)

2 tsps minced fresh garlic

2 tsps Dijon mustard

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

1 TB soy sauce

1 TB each, minced: fresh chives, basil, and rosemary (or 1 tsp dried)

1/2 tsp salt

Fresh ground pepper

Put chicken and other ingredients in a gallon size Ziplock bag.  Secure bag next to chicken and squeeze out air so that marinade coats chicken.  Refrigerate 2-3 hours or overnight.  

Pre-heat oven to 425.  Line a shallow baking pan with heavy duty foil.  Remove chicken from marinate and place skin up in pan.  

Roast chicken until sizzling and deeply browned, about 45 minutes.  

Linking up with Little Friday.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!

C'est La Tee

Tee (exact, similar) and Jacket - JCrew Factory / Shorts - The Limited / Sandals - Target (similar) / Watch - Kate Spade 

Laughing because someone was catcalling me from the street.  Oh this blogging thing, it's kinda awkward.

I realized I now own three almost identical graphic tees like this one.  I just can't help myself.  They're just a little more fun than wearing a plain old white tee shirt, and so versatile.  Here I was wearing it with some tailored shorts, but I've also worn these tees with skirts to dress them up, jeans and boyfriend shorts, and of course blazers.  I'm excited to add some scarves and boots into the mix once the temperature cools down a little - maybe this coming weekend?

We're heading down to the good old University of Illinois for some football on Saturday, so some fall weather would actually be pretty nice.  I'm really excited to go down, I haven't been back to campus in two years and am ready to see the Alma Mater all shiny and coppery, see some old friends, do some tailgating, and eat some amazing donuts made by my friends at Pandamonium Donuts.  Oh, and the football too I guess.

Linking up with Summer Style, Style Me Wednesday and Random Wednesday.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!