The Wise Baby :: Whimsical Butterfly Garden Nursery

I love the fun and carefree vibe of this butterfly garden nursery.  For details head over to The Wise Baby.  Happy Tuesday!

Entertaining Basics :: Dinner En Blanc

So excited for next week's Dinner En Blanc, the countdown has officially begun.  If you're planning on being a part of this stunning soiree, here's a little inspiration on what to bring next week.  With all the traveling and logistics, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, but we've put together a little list of essentials.  And do get you in the mood, check out this lovely Diner En Blanc documentary.  If you aren't going, not to worry, you could easily recreate an all white soiree for your next summer evening dinner party. 

{1.} First and foremost, let's not forget the bubbly, champagne flutes, & bucket

{2.} Set the table with lovely white linen, beautiful dinner plates and napkin rings. 

{3.} Add to the romance with hydrangeas and candle light.

{4.} Go for fancy details with this stunning parasol and this seasons hottest trend the floral crown.

{5.} You can't forget dessert like these lovely rose cupcakes.

{6.} Finally bring something handy to carry your goods, like this handmade picnic basket, as you'll be walking all over downtown Chicago to get to the final location.

{7.} Other items to consider: food (unless you're getting a catered basket), sparklers, cutlery, napkins, etc. 

Lolla 2014

Happy Monday lovelies.  I'm beyond exhausted from a fabulous day in Lollaland on Saturday and celebrating the Mister's birthday on Sunday.  I can't believe I've been missing out all these years, on Lollapalooza.  Here's to reliving the fun!

Tasty Thursday

I'm trying to squeeze all my must have summer desserts in before the end of the season.  This watermelon rose granita has been on my to try list, and hopefully I'll be able to whip up a batch this weekend.  It literally is just 3 ingredients, and takes about 8 hours.  It's easy, pretty to look at, and perfectly summer.  Happy Thursday!

Travels :: Puerto Rico

We celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday in Puerto Rico this month.  This was our third trip to Puerto Rico, and if you've never been it's a hidden gem.  There's a perfect blend of eating, sight-seeing, hanging out on the beach, outdoor activities, and shopping.  And it's the best way to getaway to somewhere tropical without needing a passport.  We stayed at the Marriott this trip, which had several great restaurants and stores within walking distance.  However, my favorite place to stay in Puerto Rico is still the Ritz, you should note that it's not centrally located and you'll be taking cabs everywhere if you stay here, but the accommodations are so worth it.  Here are just a few highlights from our trip and of course restaurant recommendations...

No trip to Puerto Rico would be complete without a stop at El Morro, one of Puerto Rico's oldest forts.  But what I think you can discern from this picture is that my family loves stripes, haha.



The little Man is a true water baby.  While he loved chasing the waves he enjoyed splashing around in the pool more.

Running around in Old San Juan.  We grabbed lunch there on two days once at the El Picoteo & at a cute little brunch spot the next day.  And we ate at Tantra for dinner, which is one of the best Asian/Indian and Latin fusion places I've tried. 



We also ate dinner at Ali Baba which had some of the most delicious Mediterranean dishes, their lamb is delicious!  On our last night, we grabbed some incredible pasta at Il Bacaro Venezia.