St Patty's in Chicago!

Happy Bachelorette Party Weekend to my sister, Amanda!  I am so excited it is finally here - It feels like forever ago that I got the idea to celebrate this big weekend in Chicago in honor of our favorite holiday ever - St. Patrick's Day!  20 ladies will reunite for over 48 hours of partying and celebrating the future Mrs. Huff!  But... before play time, we have spa time with Mom!  I have never spent the entire day at the spa... but I can only image it is going to be absolutely amazing!  Check back next week for photos from the big party, but also check back tomorrow for a guest post. Have a great weekend! :) xxoo.

You can find me at {cornflake dreams.}

Jillian from cornflake dreams. invited me to do a guest post on her blog today! Below is just a snippet from the post, but check out the rest {here}!  Thank you Jillian :)

"...currently one of my favorite trends in fashion right now is nudes and vintage whites with pretty details, below are some of my favorite inspirations:"

polyvore created by {ashley gale}

Guest Post: {cornflake dreams.}

Hi Friends!  I am really excited to introduce you to my new friend Jillian from {cornflake dreams.}! We did a blog swap today where I guest blogged for her and she did the same for me!  Say hello below... and check out my post on her blog {here}!  -ashley

hello there! it's jillian from cornflake dreams, a chicago-based, fashion, travel and design blog. i have been blogging for almost six months (my anniversary is at the end of march!) and i have "met" so many inspiring and interesting bloggers (including the lovely ashley). as a guest i think it is important for me to share a little about myself. 

i grew up in a far western suburb of illinois surrounded by cornfields and i always dreamt of living in the "big city." i got a taste of city life when i went to marquette university in milwaukee and studied abroad for a month in an even larger (and dreamier) city- paris! after college i followed my dreams to charleston, south carolina. i fell in love with the southern charm of the historic homes, breezy palm trees and beaches. unfortunately the job market did not reciprocate it's affection to me and i moved back to illinois after six months. i moved downtown and fell in love (again) with the city of chicago. i have been living in the windy city for three years now and i am loving every minute of it (except the occasional blizzard weather). 

so you might have noticed that i use the word "love" a lot. i have a lot of loves in my life... the real big ones like the boyfriend, family, friends, cookie dough ice cream...

here's my most recent love list::

since i started blogging i have also been shopping less. weird, i know. i seem to always have a running "wish list" but i rarely follow through with purchases because the list is constantly growing once i see other inspiring images. however, given a little extra cash i wouldn't mind seeing these little gems making their way to my closet::

stripe top $75, chicago designer ascendant earrings $64, DV beaded sandals $59, rose gold watch $250, tassel purse $109

so now that you know a little more about me - where i come from and what i love, stop by cornflake dreams anytime for even more love lists, crushes and inspiration. a huge thank you to ashley for allowing me to stop by and guest post :)  

 xoxo, jillian

Happy Fat Tuesday!

While catching up on my favorite daily blogs today I came across a super cute Mardi Gras themed inspiration board on {fabulous k}!  It made me smile and I wanted to share it with all of you so I emailed her to ask if I could post it on my blog tonight... she was so nice and said yes! Check out her {blog} for more great inspirations! ....and enjoy Fat Tuesday!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Girl Scout Cookies Have Arrived!

I got the best/worst email from one of my co-workers yesterday, "Girl Scout cookies have arrived"... Shoot, I forgot I ordered 10 boxes of tagalongs! Usually I would be extremely excited about this day as tagalongs are by far my favorite cookies in the world, but today I was a little torn - do I pick them up or do I leave them there?!  Just kidding - I definitely want to support the little troops, but what am I going to do with 10 boxes of tagalongs??  I can't bring them home (they will be gone in one night)!  Don't believe me?  I have witnesses from previous Girl Scout cookie arrival days! ;)  This wouldn't be a dilemma if I wasn't heading to Mexico in less than 20 days... so maybe I could pay for the cookies and add on a storage fee for a few weeks??  It's worth a try!  Or... maybe I will just go pay for them and then tell all my friends to pick them up and enjoy their treats - then I can make the homemade version below when all of the travel/wedding festivities are over!  Decisions, Decisions!

Click {here} for recipe

PS. Forget to buy Girl Scout Cookies this year??  Don't fret - there is a Girl Scout Cookie APP that allows you to locate the closet troop and their selling location!  Yes, an APP!  Enjoy :)

iPhone Mobile Upload

Ashley Gale Photography: Newborn

Let me introduce you to the most precious baby boy, Evan James Nickels.  I had such a great time on Saturday visiting a good friend from high school and his family!  This was the first time I had taken photos of a newborn... and I sure did learn a lot!  Who knew that newborn photography included space heaters, heating pads, noise makers, and lots of patience :)  But... after reviewing the photos - it was all worth it!  I can't wait to take family portraits of this beautiful {family} this summer!  Below are just a couple of my favorites from Saturday! Thank you Travis & Casey for letting me photograph Evan!!

One Month of Blogging!

I have been blogging for one month today and I absolutely love it!  When I started my blog I didn't know if I would update it daily or weekly... but I have posted every day and sometimes wish I could post more than once a day! In the past month I have "met" some great blogger friends, enjoyed a plethora of comments and have had people in Europe, Asia and Australia visit my blog!  And... the past couple of days I have had over 1,000 hits - Crazy!!  Thank you everyone!  I would love to hear your feedback and what you would like to see more of!  Let me know!!  Check back this week for a precious newborn photo shoot, my first guest blogger post, and some new inspiration!  Enjoy!

{Inslee}

Feeling Nautical

I think I might be ready for Summer (ok, I'll take Spring)!  Just feeling a little nautical right now! :)  Have a great weekend!! xxoo.

polyvore created by {ashley gale}

Fab 5 Friday: Week 3

Hi Friends :) Here are my fab five friday picks for this week! What could be more fabulous than chalkboard paint? Probably the ability to use a magnetic primer that allows you to stick magnets to the wall too! Messy braids are my new fav - especially with blond highlights!  The heart necklace below is my newest item on my wishlist (hint, hint Mom)!  The iPhone decal that looks like a camera front is so cute and so fun!  AND... it's March now, so how could I leave off Shamrock Shakes - YUM :)  Enjoy!

♥ chalkboard paint
♥ messy braids

♥ heart necklace

 ♥ iphone "camera" decal

♥ shamrock shakes  

Images {1} {2} {3} {4} {5}

Decorating with Grey

The color GREY is my newest obsession!  I used to hate dislike this color (very much)!  I thought it was so blah in clothing and would have never looked twice at it for home furnishings!  Maybe I disliked it because my Mom always disliked it (she thought it washed her out)! However, in the past few years I have grown to love this simple color - I can't tell you how many different articles of grey clothing I own (could have something to do with where I work)... but now I am gravitating towards grey shoes, accessories, and HOME DECOR! Check out some of these amazing grey inspirations! These pictures make me want to buy a house - a grey house, with grey rooms... everywhere! Ok, that might be a little extreme, so maybe just the grey house below with one grey room, but which one??!  Enjoy! :)

This is my new dream home! I love the way that the black and white play off of the grey house!

This room screams my new "home style" so much that I am 100% positive I will be re-creating this the next time I move! Love every single thing about it... except I would definitely add a big, oversized, textured rug to the mix!

The overall feel of this space is a little too modern for me -- but I LOVE the grey accent wall (again with the black & white) and I can't wait until I have a wall long enough to expand my photo collage collection!

This bed is calling my name! I love a pop of color, so I would definitely add a bold color to the bedding to mix in with the white -- but that grey headboard against the grey wall.... yes please! 

Please don't mind if I lock myself in here for a couple hours... with a glass (or two) of wine :)

...And my weakness! Accessories!! Grey pillows would be the perfect way to add this color into any room in a very subtle way!  You can buy this lovely pillow {here}!

All photos found on {Pinterest}

...I'd Still Run!

I saw this awesome nike running ad on my friend Amelia's {blog} a while ago and fell in love with it! I haven't really ran in over a year (except for one random warm morning a few weeks back), but its almost spring again and I've made it one of my goals to get back into it... Wait, I have to get back into it -- I signed up for {Warrior Dash}!  Can't wait until I feel this way.... "and every day, in every way, you felt just like you wanted to feel, [I'd still run]"! :)

March Madness!

On Sunday I went to the OSU vs. IU basketball game with my future brother in law and had a blast!  I was definitely cheering on my Hoosiers... but it was fun to be around the excitement of OSU fans since their bball team is doing so well!  Come on Hoosiers... pick it up :)  The game got me really excited for my second favorite month - March!  Only a couple weeks away from the madness of the NCAA tournament!  Below is my March Madness inspiration outfit :)  Check back to see my bracket soon! Enjoy!

polyvore created by {ashley gale}