Friday's Fancies #14: April Showers

Happy Friday!

This week we were asked to create our perfect rainy day look by our dear {av}. Well, I guess I jumped the gun a few weeks ago, because I created mine for our Spring Fever week!  You can see that post by clicking HERE (spoiler alert, it includes the perfect khaki trench).

Since I've already got the outfit down, this week I wanted to highlight the most stylish rain boots out there- Hunter Wellies! You can visit their site HERE to see all their amazing rain boot styles and colors- you won't be disappointed, I promise. My favorites? The black boots with the neon bottoms- beyond perfect for a gloomy rainy day!

Which Hunter boot would you puddle jump in?

as always, stop by {long distance loving} for more rainy day joy!

Shade love

Last week Michael's lovely aunt Adrienne asked my to do a post talking about my favorite sunglasses out there right now...so Adrienne- happy belated birthday, this is for you!

CONFESSION: I do not own a single pair of expensive sunglasses. Why? I am the most sunglasses-accident prone person I know. I end up smashing them in my purse, dropping/scratching them, or losing them while doing some outdoor activity. I do not deserve nice sunglasses. It's a fact. 

Should I happen to mature and learn how to take care of my sunglasses, these are my top 5 this season:

1. Stella McCartney Metal Aviators: Will aviators ever go out of style? I sure hope not. In my opinion they flatter most face shapes- and I always have a cheap pair of these kicking around in the summer.
2. Ray-Ban Classic Wayfarers: Last summer I had a pair of $5 knock-off Ray Bans which I managed to crush into three pieces somehow in my purse. Heartbreaking. I love the fact that men and women alike wear Ray-Bans and look beyond classy in them.
3. Kate Spade NY Retros: I love all the neon right now, and these bright pink and coral retro shades would be perfect for a girls vacation to the beach. Oh Kate Spade, why must you make everything so well?
4. Miu Miu Square Slant Tops: I love huge sunglasses (which my mom would call "bug" glasses)- and I think these square shades would be the perfect sun accessory!
5. Tom Ford Classic Cateyes: There are so many bloggers I've seen rocking these (ahem, Maegan, I'm looking at you), and although I'm not 100% I could pull these lovelies off, I couldn't leave them off my top 5 list. (mainly because these would be so cute on you Adrienne!)

Now I'll turn to you, my awesome readers:

Which sunglasses are your favorites this season?

xo, lp

Oh How Pinteresting #4

It's Wednesday- which means it's time to share this week's favorite Pinterest finds!
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Favorite Bag (floral bandwagon jumper):

via

Favorite Recipe (Roasted Tomato Soup) :

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Favorite DIY Magic (Tape Floor!!): 

via

Favorite Shoe:

via

Favorite Place Setting (is there anything more perfect??!!): 

via

Favorite Necklace:

via

Favorite Outfit (minty fresh): 

via 

Favorite Interior (Walk down wine cellar WHAT!?): 

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Want to see more? Follow me on Pinterest HERE!

Now, head on over to thevintageapple.com and see what everyone else is loving this week!

Parmesan Herb & Garlic Twists

HI.

You all will simultaneously love me and hate me for this recipe.

You'll love me because it's easy and delicious.

You'll hate me because it's addictive not at all healthy.

I saw a million recipes for assorted cheese twists on Pinterest, and for some reason I thought they used Crescent Rolls... well I was wrong. They used either puff pastry, buttermilk biscuit rolls, or a homemade recipe....so I decided to just throw random things in a bowl and see how it all turned out.

Without further ado, may I present to you... Parmesan Herb & Garlic Twists!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED (Makes 8 twists):

- 1 tube crescent rolls (Pillsbury or generic)

- 2 Tablespoons of butter

- 1 Teaspoon dried parsley

- 1/2 Teaspoon dried oregano

- 1/4 Teaspoon black pepper

- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced 

- 1/4 cup (about) grated Parmesan cheese

- Parchment paper

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN:

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 (or whatever your crescent roll tube says to do)

Step 2: Melt your butter and mix it with the parsley, oregano, black pepper, and garlic. 

Step 3: Unroll your crescent triangles and spread them out on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Step 4: Spread an even layer of your buttery-herb goodness mixture on the triangles.

Step 5: Pull out the triangles a bit and twist them up:

Step 6: Spread another layer of your mixture on top of the twists and top with Parmesan cheese.

Step 7: Throw them in the oven and bake as the tube directs- pull them out when golden brown:

Is your mouth watering yet!?

Seriously. Soft, chewy, garlic-y magic. 

Next time I think I'll make them a little more unhealthy by putting Parmesan cheese inside of them too, because life is just better with cheese, my friends. It's a fact.

Anyone else love cheese this much? 
(You can take the girl outta the Midwest, but you can't take the Midwest outta the girl)


Psssst- I'm working on a nav bar for my blog- so far I've only finished compiling my Food Love & Recipes- go check it out!!!
xo, lp

OBX B&W

Michael and I were in the Outer Banks, North Carolina this weekend.

VACATION. YES. 2 WHOLE DAYS OF VACATION! TOGETHER!

My brain is still on vacation too, so today's post won't have any witty writing or super riveting questions...just some b&w photos of the weekend.

Happy Monday my loves.

I'll be back tomorrow with a delicious recipe post!

xo, lp

Friday's Fancies #13: Team Spirit

When I originally wrote this post we had just made it to the sweet 16...aaaaaaaaaaand now we just lost. Good thing I sound peppy from writing it before...

This week {av} encouraged us to center our Friday's Fancies around our favorite team for the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. As I've mentioned multiple times before, Michael and I graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  I don't ever dress up for sporting events- give me a big jersey or a sweatshirt and I'm good to go! In general, since the main UW sports are football (outside in cold WI fall) and hockey (in a chilly arena)- everyone is bundled up to watch the games anyway! 

Funny story actually:  For the 2011 Rosebowl a few of us road-tripped out to Pasadena to see the Badgers play TCU. Everyone was wearing goofy, ridiculous outfits, with every speck of red we could find. Huge beaded necklaces, face paint, I even bedazzled some white keds (shown below). The funny thing was the TCU fans were dressed to the NINES. The guys were wearing chinos with tucked in oxfords, and the ladies were wearing silky purple dresses with pearls and heels. Our HUGE tailgate was a massive party (80 cases of beer and 13+ handles of  booze with 110 people) across from a classy, dry TCU tailgate. They were drinking Starbucks and wheatgrass. I kid you not. At. A. Football. Game. BLASPHEMY!!

I digress, you get the picture.

With all the fun colored jeans out there, I am totally getting a pair of red ones for the upcoming UW Band concert in April...my outfit will go a little like this:

Any other Badger fans out there sad as can be today?

(psst, make sure to head over to {long distance loving} for more gameday getups!

DIY lyric canvas, Take #1

        If I were to link all the DIY lyric canvases/prints I've seen on blogs, Pinterest, and Etsy- this post would be reeeeally long. Thus, I won't link up to all of them- but if you peruse my Pinterest boards, you'd probably find some. I thought I'd try making one with a bright color and a good old Beatles quote to hang somewhere in our apartment. Here's what I ended up with---but it took a while to get there....another title for this post could be "CONTACT PAPER FAIL" or "ANGRY LAURA".

First I printed out my letters and cut them out...

Then traced them out onto contact paper:

After I decided where I wanted my quote to be, I peeled back the contact paper backing and went for it!

The problem became clear instantly. THE CONTACT PAPER WOULDN'T STICK.

Like...not at all. Slid right off. Sorry for the CAPS lock freakout, but I was a little annoyed. I specifically told the lady at Ben Franklin Crafts I needed the contact paper for making canvases and she assured me this would work. HAH. LIES. Man, this is why I need to stick to Michael's Crafts.

I attempted to paint around the letters while holding them down...which...sort of worked...

After a few little touch ups with white paint it didn't look too shabby! I used acrylic paint and instead of painting another layer to make it a full, solid orange I left all the brushstrokes visible. Rather than over think it- I just decided to let it be. Hah. Catch that pun there? Yes, it was annoying. Deal with it. 

Now of course I have to figure out what else to hang up with it- but for now it's chillin' in our dining room. 16x20 painting, meet HUGE wall.  I'm not 100% on the orange, but for now I'm liking the bright spot it adds to the room.

What lyric would you make on YOUR canvas? 

xo, lp