So I am back

So I am back.  My celebration last week resulted in comfy clothes and lots of things other than computer screens.  And besides, you would have probably started ignoring me forever if I continually reminded you of my nurse-hood every single day.  I was too excited to sit still.  

See you all tomorrow! xo

{Skirt, Billabong; Sweater, lulus.com; Cami, F21; Bracelet, lulus.com; Belt, thrifted; Sunnies, windsor.com}

A wedding with emotion

Soon enough I will have the energy to weed through the hundreds of photos from our wedding that our seriously stellar photog took (Chris, you rock...check his stuff HERE) and show you his amazing work and our wonderful, lovely, perfect, exciting day (I loved our wedding, can you tell?).  But for now.  Here are these.  A whirlwind of emotion during the speeches at our wedding and well, I just plain loves these photos.  I cried all over again.

My dad's toast was the best part of the reception.  amazing.  I cried the whole time.  

(Caption for photo, Mike: "Um, Blair?" Dad: "Whatev")

xoxo

All you need is...

A black maxi, sunnies, hot lipstick, a top knot and flip-flops.  Seriously.  I didn't even want to take it off.  Sometimes less is more.  

Today is Friday and that means my test is a mere 3 days away.  Yikes.  3 days.  I need to go study.  

Toodles! xo

{Dress, Tulle; FlipFlops, Havaianas; Sunnies, Target; Lipstick, Schiap by NARS}

Girls rule

{Top, Zara; Skirt, F21; Tights, Target; Belt, Anthropologie; Shoes, Jeffery Campbell}

Girls rule.  Pink, lace and polka dots.  And giant wonderful wedges.  

I was also able to have a girl's night this weekend which was incredibly needed.  Life lately has been stressful as nursing school has come to a close, my boards are ever impending (6 more days, ah!) and the self-inflicting rush to find the right job for me.  So again, a night out with the girls and a cocktail was ever so lovely and relaxing.  We walked ourselves to the greatest Latin restaurant and indulged in several servings of chips and salsa and a margarita or two (I think you have maybe realized that I am in deep love with margaritas).  

And now as for me...I am going back to study...wish me luck!

It was 60 degrees so I went shopping.

Leap day was a blessed day.  It was nearly 60 degrees...in Chicago...in February.  Thank you, Lord, for that.  And so I wore this...a blazer and chiffon shirt...shopping...in an outdoor mall...Are all these ellipsis making this sound more exciting and amazing?  Because it was. 

And of course I threw on hot pink lipstick in celebration of this fake spring day.

{Jeans, F21; Blouse, F21; Blazer, UrbanOutfitters; Lipstick, NARS Schiap}

The weekender

Weekends are for comfort, but I mean, not lifeless comfort.  Hence the leggings, tunic, bracelets and lipstick.  Comfort is of upmost importance during my weekend hours and so this is what I chose.  Also, sorry for the bit of wrinkles on that shirt of mine...I should use an iron, but, ugh, I hate ironing.

{Tunic, Urban Outfitters; Leggings, American Apparel; Belt, Anthropologie; Bracelets, Forever21}

Life lately, according to the iPhone

Souffles and Custard

For our wedding we received a bunch of beautiful appliances like blenders, food processors, mixers and the like.  For the first 3 months of marriage the only energy I had to exert on dinners and desserts was enough to sear some chicken breasts, throw together a salad, or order pad thai and have Michael pick it up on his way home from work.  But this last week, I whipped out every appliance and made tons of different and delicious (is it ok to call my own food delicious?) things.  It was so fun.  But I also realized my kitchen is just miniscule.

Here is the healthy custard recipe I made:

3/4 cup part skim ricotta chesse

4 oz low fat cream cheese

1/4 cup granular sugar substitute, like splenda, or regular sugar

1/4 cup fat free half and half (I used part milk and part regular half/half)

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

1 egg white

Cinnamon for garnish (I added some to the mix which was delicious too!)

1.  Preheat oven to 250 degrees

2.  Place cream cheese and ricotta cheese in mixing bowl and use mixer at medium speed and mix well.

3.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined.

4.  Pour mixture into 4 (8oz) ramekins and place the ramekins in a baking dish with about 1-inch of water at the bottom of the dish. (you may cool mixture for an hour up to overnight if you wish, this is optional)

5.  Bake at 250 for 45 minutes.

6.  Remove from water and cool.

7.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and indulge guilt free!

Chinese New Year

Chinese new year is something we have been celebrating as a family for many years now.  My younger sister, Madison, is adopted from China and because of that, China has a special place in our hearts.  So, like every year, we had a party!  My sister and her husband hosted and as a fun little contest she told us all to wear red and whoever wore it the best/most would win a prize!  Some people forgot.  Some people went all out.  My mom won.  I was extremely impressed.

My sister is a great little cook so she treated us to quite the asian feast.  She also made homemade bubble tea for her and I (guilty pleasure during our shopping trips together).

Family, good food, games, bubble tea, I could go on...it was a perfect evening

Husband

I love this man.  He totally rocks.

Gift guide: Valentine's Day!

I think Valentine's Day is awesome.  Any day to celebrate love sweet love is fine by me.  Every year growing up as a kid I would wake up and there would be a card from my Dad and a gift on the kitchen table.  It was the best.  Now I think I will make Husband do that for me.  

Wherever the love flows from, just let it flow.  Oh, and here are a few gift ideas, because really, what in the world do you get?

I love these.  Some for boys.  Some for girls.  

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