Moving!

LPF Cooks: Buffalo Chicken Tacos

I'm all about making meals that are simple, delicious, and somewhat healthy. I'm always craving buffalo chicken lately, so I thought these tacos would be the perfect summer meal. They were so easy to make and yet so tasty.

This buffalo chicken taco recipe, is super easy to prepare, makes two servings, and about 15 minutes of prep time. It's a fantastic mix of flavors!

1. Shred rotisserie chicken in bowl
2. Coat & mix with Frank's red hot buffalo sauce
3. Cut up lettuce, & cilantro, dice onions and celery
4. Place tortillas on baking sheet under broiler to make them crispy
5. combine ingredients + sprinkle montery jack cheese and ranch dressing
6. ENJOY!

Have you made any recipes lately you've loved? please share!

xoxo, lauren

Cool Coolers + Summer Brews

Cait's post on Beach Bag essentials over at Southern Curls & Pearls has me absolutely loving the cooler tote. I love the idea of toting around something stylish + stow-able rather than a clunky cooler to the beach. These beauties are all chic coolers and affordable too, they would be the perfect must have for summertime.

get the bags: volcom cooler bag // mudpie ikat cooler tote // swoozies turquoise lattice backup cooler // roxy chillout cooler tote bag

Not only is the perfect insulated cooler tote a summer essential, but so is the perfect summer beer.

 I've chosen some of my favorites above. Leinenkeugel (or Leinie's as we affectionately call them) is a Wisconsin brew and the Sunset Wheat is my favorite! For a refreshing drink I like Bud Light Lime or Corona. Shock Top's Summer Shandy is tart and summery and Sweetwater Blue is a southern beer with a hint of blueberry. taste.

What is your favorite summertime beverage?

xoxo, lauren

Saucy Jocey's Kitchen Guest Post: Strawberry Shortcake Dip

Hey guys! Hope you're having an awesome Memorial Day weekend (also, thank you to those who have served and are serving our country). Today's guest post is from my best friend Jocelyn, she pretty much taught me how to cook + kept me well fed while we were roomies in college. 

Joce just started a food blog called, Saucy Jocey's Kitchen & she is always putting up delicious new recipes that she dreams up! Her guest post features Strawberry Shortcake Dip; easy to make, delicious & perfect for a Memorial Day cookout or summer appetizer.

Strawberry Shortcake Dip
Makes 2 cups of dip
Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
1 lb strawberries
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup whipped cream cheese
2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
vanilla wafers, graham crackers, and whipped cream for serving


1. Chop strawberries into small pieces. Mash half of the strawberries in a bowl with a fork.
2. Mix strawberries and the rest of the ingredients.
3. Serve chilled with whipped cream, vanilla wafers and graham crackers. Enjoy!

Start off with a whole 1 pound container of beautiful strawberries.

Chop all of the strawberries into small pieces.

Mash half of the strawberries with a fork.

Then a nice and creamy base of vanilla yogurt and whipped cream cheese (the whipped kind is easier to mix)...

Mix the strawberries, vanilla yogurt, whipped cream, vanilla and sugar.

Vanilla wafers and graham crackers are perfect for dipping. So sweet and so easy!

For more tasty, easy & inexpensive recipes like Mango Banana Bread and Gaucamole check out her blog at Saucy Jocey's Kitchen!

Thanks Joce for the guest post, wish I was able to enjoy this with you for Memorial Day Weekend!

xoxo, lauren

Summer Bucket List

I feel like since the first snowfall I've been talking about what I can't wait to do this summer. Well, it's finally here so I better start checking things off my list! Summers in Wisconsin are so short, I'm determined to enjoy every day to the fullest!

I anticipate spending as much time in the sunshine as I can in bright sundresses & taking time out to relax and enjoy life. I also want to get a little crafty, read a few more books + have a little fun too!

On a side note, my sister introduced me to Karena & Katrina's site, Tone It Up. They are healthy + gorge surfer girls. I'm so inspired by their workouts + recipes. Their site will be my fitness inspiration all summer long! 

What's on your summer bucket list?

xoxo, lauren

Memorial Day Must Haves

Seriously, words can't explain how excited I am for Memorial Day weekend! I'm so excited for a long weekend and getting ready for my big move + sister's visit. I plan on spending my weekend at festivals, lakeside, and with lots of local craft beers!

This is pretty much the perfect memorial day outfit from the knotted chambray top to nautical bikini:

Get the Look: Old Navy Chambray Top // Alabaster Collar Bauble Bar // Vix Bikini  // Bauble Bar Starfish Earrings // Top Shop Sunglasses // Urban Outfitters Pabst Glass // Soludos Ikat Flats // Charlotte Ronson Sunless Tanner // Essie Bikini So Teeny Polish

I'm in love with the ikat espadrille flats, colorful shorts and starfish earrings; a little bit of nautical with a twist.

So, what are y'all doing for the long weekend? Make sure to take some time out to enjoy life + summertime!

xoxo, lauren

P.S. Congrats to Brittany Kennedy - entry #52 for winning the Summer of Shopbop Giveaway! Keep checking back for more exciting giveaways this summer!

Bedroom Moodboard: Preppy Boho

I know I've been talking about it forever, but the time is finally (well, almost!) here. I've already been dreaming up ways to decorate my new bedroom. It's so hard for me because I'm one of those people that gets bored and wants to redecorate every few months. I've decided I'd be happiest in a room that's an eclectic but pulled together mix of two styles.

This is the mood board I've come up with as the theme for the room:

get the look: book // duvet cover // sheets //  pineapple // chair // pillow // vase

I've been noticing a lot of bedrooms with what a like to call "preppy boho" decor. It's a combination of chevron stripes and ikat prints, chippendale side tables + sunburst mirrors, printed throw pillows + classic bedding, watercolor prints on the wall + with monogram initals. I would throw in a pinch of surfer girl style!

These are a few of the stylish spaces i find to be totally inspiring "preppy bohemian" :













Some of the designers who do this perfectly are Jamie Meares of Furbish Studio  and Jules Reid! I think this look will be tricky to pull off, but will be SO my style.

xoxo, lauren

Saturday Farmers Market

One of the things I love most about living in the Madison area is the famous Saturday farmer's market! I love being able to buy fresh produce from local farmers and all of the buzz around the capital. I took advantage of the sunny summer day to pick up some veggies and fruit for a juice cleanse I'm attempting this week (wish me luck!)!

I love any excuse to wear a pair of cutoffs and my favorite fringed cowboy boots, so I wore a boho chic ensemble and my monogrammed tote to carry all of my purchased goodies!

I love that the busiest booth in the entire farmer's market is the cheese booth (would you expect anything else from Wisconsin? ;). I can never resist picking up some fresh herbs, spinach, and bouquet of wildflowers.

What's one of your favorite local summer pastimes?

xoxo, lauren

Try This Trend: Knotted Maxi Skirts

I did a trend spotting post a while back about the knotted shirt trend (which I'm still loving btw!). Now, a new trend I've noticed popping up are knotted maxi skirts. I personally love this as a petite girl, because then it's not so overwhelming on my frame!

get the look:   tie dye skirt via billabong // coral skirt via swell // tribal skirt via tobi// teal skirt via mango// yellow skirt via asos

Above are some of my favorite colorful skirts for summertime (they're also all super affordable!). I've also seen some stylish trendsetters pull this look off perfectly. Get inspired by the way they wear the knotted maxi skirt trend.

via pinterest

via stockholm-streetsyle

via lovely-little-things

via thrift juice

For all of you a little intimidated my maxi skirts (this girl), this is a fun way to wear them! I can already envision myself poolside in of these!

xoxo, lauren

Mint & Pink Peonies

Lately I've been feeling nostalgic about my little mint house! I am so excited for my move to "the city" but I will definitely miss the first place I've ever lived on my own. This is the small town where I've learned more about myself, decorated and made it a home, and adjusted to a new life in the Midwest. 

I came home today to my peony bush in full bloom from the hot weather we've been having. I couldn't help but notice that my mint pants & pink top perfectly match my little home!

I've been majorly loving colorful pants lately I found a purple pair & the mint pair I'm wearing on a recent Target trip for less than $25! I also picked up a Webster for Target white top, some summery Essie polishes, pretty little notebooks and paint dipped serving utensils!

So much to look forward in the next couple of weeks; blogger wine night with Carly, my move & little sis coming up to help me, and finally.. the start of summer!

xoxo, lauren