Style: Sunday Stripes

I know it's Tuesday, but today's post is all about Sunday.

As you can see in nearly all of my outfit posts, I'm a lover of stripes. For a casual day visiting Jack's family and cooking Thanksgiving dinner, a striped ensemble was on the menu (no pun intended). Because we were running errands and spending time in the kitchen, leggings, a 3/4 sleeve tee and my favorites boots were a necessity. Not only did I love everything about this outfit for a casual Sunday, this photo shoot makes me laugh every time I look at it. Jack was a trooper for putting up with me, and snapped some ultra-candid photos in the process (i.e. lipstick prepping and laughing). While the photos are all unconventional, they perfectly describe our giddy little Sunday.

And with that, have a wonderful Tuesday (and let's cross our fingers this week flies by!)

xo,
C

|| Photos are property of Twentyapolis. Do not use or distribute ||

Holiday: Turkey Day

Jack and I are off to the slowest start on this Monday morning (which came way too soon, I might add). Yesterday, we celebrated our first-ever homemade Thanksgiving dinner (just the two of us), in our new apartment. We're heading to Mexico on Thanksgiving Day, and due to our busy schedules over the next week and a half before we leave, yesterday was the only day we had open to celebrate. We spent hours in the kitchen, sipped wine and beer while the turkey cooked and ate wayyyyy too much food (and nearly an entire pumpkin pie). Our bellies are still full, and we're still coping with sleepiness from eating too much turkey on this Monday morning.

On that note, coffee please?

Since this was our first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner, we kept the menu simple - herb-roasted turkey, garlic and parsley mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, steamed broccoli (we're big broccoli lovers over here), herb stuffing, green bean casserole, butter croissants and homemade pumpkin pie. We topped it off with a glass (or two) of sauvignon blanc for me and a beer for Jack. Needless to say, we have at least a few days worth of leftovers on our hands (not so good when you're preparing for a week in a bikini, let me tell you...)

Regardless of my waistline, it was a relaxing, delicious day at home spent with my very best friend. What more could I ask for? (And yes, there IS pumpkin pie under that insane dollop of whipped cream below...)

xo,
C

|| Photos are property of Twentyapolis. Do not use or distribute ||

Style: Rainy Day Swim

It's a rainy day in Minneapolis, but the forecast for Mexico in a few weeks is nothing but sunshine!

Mexico, you ask? Although Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, Jack and I will be spending the holiday in Mexico! Those seven days of sunshine, relaxation, pina coladas and quality time spent beachside can't come soon enough. We planned this vacation months and months ago, and can't believe it's finally here!

In my opinion, no beachside vacation is complete with a new swimsuit (or two). With Christmas right around the corner, I wanted to buy a few new pieces for our trip, but not break my bank account (I've got presents to buy!). Luckily, J. Crew still had swimwear available in their sale section, and were offering 20% off all purchases. I tell you, there's just nothing better than a J. Crew sale.

A mere $90 later, I had two new swimsuits for our trip to Mexico (in navy - my favorite). I can't wait to wear these new beauties on the beach! You've got one happy girl in Minneapolis on this gloomy, rainy day.

Have a great Saturday, gems.

xo,

C

(Hurry - there are only a few sizes left!)

dot top || dot bottoms || stripe top || blue bottoms

Travel: On the Road Again

And just like that, I'm off on another business trip for the rest of the week. It'll be a busy week, you guys, and I'll miss you!

With all this business travel, I've become a pro at packing (well, let's be clear, I still overpack). But when it comes to getting by while on the road, I've got that covered. Even when I'm away from home, I like to feel like I've never left my apartment in every way I can. To do this, I try to keep my routine as normal as possible - I pack my yoga gear, toiletries, current read and my favorite snack. While my bag may be overpacked (and I secretly fear it won't fit in the overhead bin), I feel as at home as possible even when I'm hundreds of miles away. (Oh, and if you're wondering about that book below, I highly recommend it! I found an advance copy in a used bookstore in NYC. A must-read!) 

I'll be gone for only a few days, but I'll see you soon...

xo,

C

granola bars || lip balm || makeup || shampoo || conditioner || nail polish || airborne || yoga dvd || lotion || face wash || ear buds || book || towel mat || bag

Recipe: Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup

In my opinion, gloomy, cold, lazy Sundays generally call for movies on the couch and bowls after bowls of homemade soup.

A few weeks ago (on a Sunday similar to yesterday), I was a little under the weather and was craving some homemade soup. While I usually gravitate toward vegetable-heavy, minestrone-esque type soups (my personal favorite), I was in the mood  (and have been ever since) for comfort foods (in this case, pasta and potatoes). After a little research, I found a phenomenal recipe for homemade roasted chicken noodle soup. I say phenomenal because Jack and I finished all the soup we made within two days (yes, we ate it for every lunch and dinner). It was that good.

My favorite part about this soup recipe is that it's unbelievably simple and doesn't take long to make. It's perfect for slow Sundays, or even a weekday night dinner. Needless to say, it's now one of our favorites. We'll be making it again soon!

xo,
C

Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 cup onion, chopped

1 cup carrots, diced

1 cup celery, slice (we omitted celery)

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup all-purpose flour 

1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried

1/4 teaspoon thyme, dried

1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

6 cups low-salt chicken broth

4 cups peeled potatoes, diced

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups roast chicken, diced (we used a rotisserie chicken)

1 cup evaporated skim milk

4 ounces (2 cups) uncooked wide egg noodles

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat.

2. Add chopped onion, carrots, celery and garlic clove; saute for 5 minutes.

3. Add flour, oregano, thyme and poultry seasoning; cook 1 minute.

4. Add broth, potatoes and salt. 

5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer (partially covered) for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

6. Add roasted chicken, milk and noodles and cook for 10 minutes, or until noodles are tender.

7. Garnish as desired (thyme or fresh parmesan cheese).

8. Enjoy!

|| Photos are property of Twentyapolis. Do not use or distribute ||

Style: Up and At 'Em

Goodness gracious, Friday, you are finally here. These past four days, you were rough. Let me tell you, this weekend is much needed.

I'm not sure what it is, but Friday mornings are my thing. While I'm {usually} exhausted and can't wait until 5 p.m., everything about a Friday morning feels right. Only a few hours of work ahead before the weekend - full of opportunities, optimistic attitudes and lots of coffee (oh, and sometimes donuts at our office). Friday mornings, I don't dislike you one bit.

For me, Friday mornings consist of casual clothing (as in the most comfortable sweatshirt in the world, see below), a vanilla latte, a bit of lipstick and a chipper attitude - Friday morning, you are my thing.

Let's do this, Friday.

xo,
C

|| Photo is property of Twentyapolis. Do not use or distribute || 

Style: Snowfall

Well, it's safe to say it's not fall anymore.

This morning, Minneapolis woke up to SNOW. And not just a little coating of it either. We've got a few legitimate inches of snow on the ground. While it is beautiful, I hope this isn't a sign of a long winter to come!

While many of the accessories I buy aren't necessities, any Minnesotan knows that having good cold weather gear is they key to surviving the winter months. I thought I had a few more weeks, but winter snuck up on me. While I'm in the market for a few new winter accessories, I've got the perfect hat, mittens and scarf to help me get by (for now).

And if you were wondering, YES, I'm wearing my winter jacket today (that exact same jacket below) because it is cold and wet outside, ladies and gents. And this girl's all about warmth (and dryness) today.

Oh winter, you came too soon.

xo (but not really xo because I'm mad at you, winter),
C

wool socks || ear muffs || jacket || scarf || boots || lip balm || lotion || mittens

Life: Back At It

Good morning, gems! I know I've been on a bit of a hiatus lately (my apologies about that), but I swear, I'm back and I'm here to stay!

Where have I been? To put it simply, I've been trying to get my life in order. That sounds a little weird, right? I agree - how could I ever let my life get out of hand? For a girl with a severely type-A personality, your guess is as good as mine.

Let's start with the basics - I have a loving, hilarious family, wonderful boyfriend, fantastic yet challenging job and an apartment I've quickly come to love. I've been healthy, have had great opportunities and am falling in love with the Twin Cities more and more each year I live here. Overall, life has treated me well.

But if there's anything I have learned in the past year or so, life gets busy. Like, really busy. Busy to the point where I get excited to have a night in to do laundry. Where a Saturday or Sunday without plans is so unheard of I almost don't know what to do with myself. Or, as of last night, an evening where it's suddenly 2 a.m. and I have to wake up for work in 4 hours (seriously, pour me another cup of coffee today, please...) Key learning here = life is busy.

Over the past few weeks, I've really been trying to focus on what's important to me. Where do I want to invest my time? What am I passionate about? What makes me happy?

...hence my hiatus.

While it's an ever-evolving list, it's time for me to get focused on the things I (slightly, only for a little while) lost track of...

1. My health. From eating well to yoga, staying fit and healthy is top of mind for me.

2. The blog. I haven't been as consistent as I'd like to be, but I love posting! Let's make this a habit.

3. Italian. I studied Italian in college, and learning and speaking the language made me incredibly happy. It's time to hit the books again (literally) and brush up on the language.

4. Quality time with Jack. After a huge promotion (congrats, darling!), Jack and I see each-other less than we used to. Spending time together (i.e. lots of dates at home and elsewhere) is a must for us.

Let's do this together, shall we?

I feel better already. Goodness gracious I've missed you. Have a great day, loves.

xo,
C