Summer Stripes

I love summers in Minnesota, spending time sailing with family, going out to late dinners al fresco, and having a bonfire in the backyard with friends. This striped maxi dress from Splendid has become one of my favorite summer choices. I love how soft the cotton is and how easy it is to wear, and the best part is that it's striped (I own far too many stripes in my wardrobe). Happy summer everyone! 

: : Shop the Post : : 

Splendid Striped Maxi Dress (similar here and here) / / Kate Spade Handbag (similar here) / / Tory Burch Sandals / / Anthropologie Necklace / / Chanel Sunnies / / Prestonmade Walnut Ring

Photos by Preston Anderson 

Cruise'n Alaska {Lifestyle}

Our Alaskan vacation began last week as we boarded the Norwegian Pearl. Since moving to Seattle Brendan and I have been thinking of booking a last minute cruise as they literally set sail from our back door. When Brendan's parents suggested we join them on their cruise it was really a no brainier. 

Alaska is like nothing else, its majestic, untouched, and vast beyond compare. We were blessed with nice weather throughout the trip and were continually amazed by the Lord's creation. Sorry for the picture over load but my mother-in-law took such amazing pictures it was hard to choose. 

{Reading List: The One & Only  and Where'd You Go Bernadette}

 {Juneau - Mendenhall Glacier}

 {Winding through the White Pass}

 {The train took us all the way to Fraser Canada}

 {On our way down the pass we took the must have "Welcome to Alaska" picture}

 {Sailing at sunset}

 {One of my favorite pictures- I love how clear the proportions are between the kayaker's and the glaciers} 

{Traveling through Glacier Bay} 

{Sea Lions sunbathing}

{Dressed up for Brendan's Birthday dinner}

Thanks for reading, 

L

Photo's by Beth Lorentz 

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers {Food}

With summer in full swing, P and I love to experiment with new recipes and to grill outside as much as possible. P came home from work last week with ingredients to make jalapeño poppers and I was immediately intrigued...and super excited! This easy and delicious recipe would be a perfect addition to any backyard barbecue or an evening of appetizers with friends. 

: : Ingredients : : 

1/2 cup cream cheese

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 

Salt

Pepper 

Red pepper flakes (optional)

6 jalapeño peppers 

6 slices of hearty bacon

Makes 12 appetizers 

: : Recipe : : 

Slice the jalapeño poppers in half lengthwise. Remove all seeds and membranes. We prefer leaving a few seeds in each to add some spice!

Mix cream cheese and cheddar cheese together in a bowl until well mixed. Mix in a pinch of salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional). 

Place dollops of cheese mixture into the jalapeño halves and set aside. 

Slice your hearty pieces of bacon in half. Wrap one half slice of bacon around each jalapeño. You can secure with a toothpick, otherwise if you do not have on hand (like we didn't), simply place the joining ends of the bacon on the underside, touching the grill pan. The end pieces will seal together when cooking on the grill. 

Bake on the grill for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese has browned and the bacon is sizzling. 

With Love,

A

Photos by Preston Anderson

Favorite Things Friday

Perfume can be a tricky thing, there are so many options and since the price points tend to be higher it's important to select a scent you truly love. I have handed this responsibility over to my husband. He has done an impeccable job of picking the perfect scent for me - on any given special occasion I'm gifted a new scent. The most recent sent he has picked is the lovely Jo Malone and it has become a fast favorite. The interesting thing about Jo Malone is the capability to mix and match scents, creating your very own signature scent. B picked a floral and a light floral for me (wild bluebell & blue agave and cacao) I love the combination of the two but they also work well on there own. Nordstrom has a great Jo Malone counter if you are interested in testing out each scent out for yourself. 

: : Shop the Post : : 

Jo Malone Fragrances

Thanks for reading, 

L

Sources

1 // 2

Neon // Neon

I love neon! It has been one of those trends that I have embraced since the beginning. Neon is strangely versatile and adds that pop of color to any outfit. I recently got this sweatshirt on sale for $22 at J.Crew (with my teacher discount) and it has been perfect for those cooler summer evenings. This sweatshirt can be dressed down like I've shown here or could be paired with a pencil skirt for work, or a pair of skinny jeans with wedges for an evening out. Cheers to neon! 

J.Crew Sweatshirt (on sale plus 30% off) / / J.Crew Shorts / / Kate Spade Handbag, old (similar here) / / Cole Hann Tennies, old (similar here) / / Chanel Sunnies / / Prestonmade Walnut Ring / / Vintage Turquoise Ring (from my aunt) / / J.Crew Necklace

With Love,

A

Photos by Preston Anderson 

Smoked Mozzarella & Prosciutto Flat Bread {Food}

Ever since discovering Trader Joe's flat bread, B and I have been obsessed! Since my husband has a gluten intolerance its always a score to find bread that actually tastes good. We love making homemade pizza's together. The fun part is coming up with new topping concoctions.

Our latest combination of toppings has been prosciutto, smoked mozzarella, and fresh basil. I wanted to share this fast and easy recipe with you because this has been one of my favorite topping combinations to date. 

 First, pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees. Next, coat each flat bread with olive oil making sure to get both sides so it crisps up nicely.

Spread a generous amount of pizza sauce on each flat bread. Next, layer the smoked mozzarella and prosciutto.

Bake the flat breads for 10 minutes, lastly let cool and add basil. Serve with you favorite red wine.

All ingredients can be found at Trader Joe's.

Thanks for reading, 

L

Photo's by Brendan & Laura Lorentz