Style: Lake Season

My bags are (almost) packed, plans are made and my car is full of gas - on Friday, I'm hitting the road for Wisconsin. It's time for a long weekend at the cottage!

It's been a tradition in my family for 23 years - every summer, we pack our bags and head to the cottage during the week of the 4th of July. Family flies in from all across the U.S. to celebrate the summer and each-other, drinks and delicious food included. Sleeping in, morning chats over coffee, quickly packing a beach bag and heading to the lake as soon as possible. Followed by hours on the boat, family dinners and smores by the campfire. Drinks included, all day long. Hey, it is Wisconsin.

The best part of all is spending time with my family, some of whom I only get to see once or twice a year. And at the cottage, the lake time is family time. Cramming our enormous family on the boat and dock, our family just couldn't be any closer...literally and figuratively. And it's right around the corner!

So in celebration of my mini vaca, here are my beach essentials - I'm a pro by packing for the lake at this point!

set || towel || sun screen || perfume || chapstick || hairspray || earrings || magazine || sunglasses || bag || hat

Travel: Road Trip

It might be the beautiful summer weather that's prompting this obsession, but I'm craving a backpacking, living out of a car adventure. 

I think it's time I start planning a road trip.

Unfortunately, this isn't something I'll be able to do anytime soon. As a newly employed college graduate, my paid time off isn't overflowing and I haven't come across a pot of gold lately. While it's a year away, I'll set my sights toward next summer.

But where to go? Personally, I love the outdoors, hiking, water, sunshine and rain. I'm thinking my options will be:

1. Washington/Oregon

2. California coast

3. Northeastern U.S.

4. Door County (keeping it local)

And the road trip spirit puts me in the mood to shop. Even when you're living out of a car, you've got to have the right accessories!

 set || scarf || jacket || water bottle || camera || pants || sandals || bag || headband

Life: Summer in the City

Needless to say, I need to come up with a better posting schedule.

From here on out, every night at 8:30 p.m. - it's Twentyapolis time...but don't hold it against me if it takes me a week or so to adjust.

That being decided, here are my excuses for where I've been! 

 || dress shopping for Kellan's wedding || 

 || sunday night cooking ||

 || my new favorite drink: a cosmopolitan at one of my favorite restaurants, Gingerhop || 

 || white wine with chilled watermelon || 

 || cupcake || 

 || work travel = king sized bed || 

 || twins game date ||

 || beers at Williams || 

 || summer pink pants || 

 || stormy Minneapolis weather || 

 || pre-wedding drinks in Wisconsin || 

 || date night || 

|| happy hour at the Republic || 

Life: Summer Reading

Today was the day - I finally opened the pages to the first book on my summer reading list.

As a recent grad with a new job and no homework, I honestly thought I would have more free-time than I do. But with apartment hunting, working late and other odds and ends, I've discovered I'm still a little busy. But that's no excuse to not pick up a good book.

My solution? Reading before bed - and with how good my most recent read is, I know getting back in the habit of reading won't be a problem. At this rate, I'll have to force myself to put it down!

Here are the books on my summer reading list:

1. French Women Don't Get Fat by Mirielle Guiliano

2. The Anthropology of Turquoise: Reflections on Desert, Sea, Stone and Sky by Ellen Meloy

3. The Gospel According to Coco Chanel: Life's Lessons From the Most Elegant Woman by Karen Karbo

4. Persuasion by Jane Austen

5. Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster

I'll let you know how they go! Let me know if you'd like to borrow them!

Style: Chevron Chic

I'm a stripe person - a linear, parallel, simple stripe person. Black and white especially, but really, any color and white will do. Which is why I'm surprised that I actually like....I hate to say it....chevron.

I almost feel guilty saying that I kind-of like it. Don't get me wrong, my loyalty is and always will be to stripes. But chevron? I don't hate it. Not even a little.

set || lampshade || phone case || lamp || dress || clutch || rug || necklace || pillow

Fit: Back to the (workout) Basics

After a few long and stressful weeks of work, I have to admit, it was a little easy to drop my workout schedule in exchange for errands and relaxation. But it's lake season, which means time to get back in shape.

And if I've learned anything about myself over the past 22 years, it's that nothing happens without motivation. My motivation to work out? Join a gym with fun classes and stock up on as much cute exercise clothing as possible.

Here are some of the workout accessories I'm envying - and hopefully will buy once my gym membership is booked! The search for the perfect gym is on.

set || shoes || top || headband || pants || energy bars || armband || water bottle

Style: Day for Dad

And just like that, Father's Day is right around the corner. Personally, my dad is the most difficult family member to shop for. I swear "I don't want a gift, I just want your love" is his favorite line this time of year. But this year, I think I have a few ideas that will change his mind. Knowing his love of the outdoors, grilling, golf and reading, I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

What are you getting your dad for Father's Day? Here are some of my ideas!

set || sign || kit || boots || cuff links || shirt || playing cards || belt || pan || golf balls || cooler || book || grill set

Life: A Good Laugh

Sometimes, the cure to everything can be as simple as a good laugh.

My favorite? Some e-cards. Hilarious, every single time.

And these just made my day!

Life: A Place of My Own

Well, another big girl moment happened today - I signed a lease for my very first studio apartment! Starting on August 1st, I'll officially be a dweller of Lowry Hill East neighborhood, better known as "The Wedge." I'm so excited to live on my own, decorate my own studio and begin my Uptown life. August can't come soon enough!

So now that I've signed a lease and have an official move-in date, the furniture shopping begins. I was pretty lucky Memorial Day weekend (remember my Wisconsin trip? Needless to say, I made a haul rummage sale-ing - a dresser, table, stools and kitchen accessories galore), but still have a lot on my list! 

For the studio:

1. New bedding (I'm thinking yellow stripes!)

2. Shower curtain

3. TV

4. New bed and mattress

5. Small couch

6. Coffee table

7. Pots and pans

8. Air conditioning unit (a little old-school, I have to admit)

9. Dishwashing supplies (back to doing the dishes!)

10. Drinking glasses

11....and so much more

It looks like I have a lot of shopping to do! I can't wait to get started.

Dine: Cooking for Two

It feels like a sign of age, but I'm obsessed with cooking.

Obsessed. After recently buying a crockpot and accumulating about every kitchen item possible over the last year, I think I've found my new hobby. I'm no chef yet, but I've gotta say, this girl can cook.

My favorite way to cook? Cooking for two....or three or four.

I love a busy kitchen - people walking around, eating and cooking at the same time, sipping a glass of wine and making a little bit of mess as we go (wait, who am I kidding, I never like a mess.) But with the company I keep, it's always a little unavoidable. I'm starting to appreciate the chaos.

And old recipes. My favorite dish to cook? My mom's famous lasagna - absolutely delicious. Paired with homemade garlic bread, a balsamic salad a glass of white wine - or red if I'm daring.

Here was our masterpiece last night! It wasn't lasagna, but it was amazing none-the-less!

|| cooking for two ||

Style: Citrus Summer

Do you love citrus as much as I do?

Happy summer!

set || polish || polish || necklace || candle || poster || pitcher || soap || dress || hat || shoes || purse || scarf || lip gloss || bowl || earrings || earrings