Fashion Forecast; Sunny and oh so Fair!

While I’m still trying to soak up as much summer sun as I can, signs of fall are everywhere, heck AC Moore already has HOLIDAY decorations up! My feelings on premature holiday decorations aside, one of my favorite signs of fall is the Champlain Valley Fair. Here are my fair worthy wardrobe selections along with a word to the wise… close toe shoes are a MUST, boots are best.

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The Champlain Valley Fair kicks off tomorrow, Aug 25th, and runs through September 3rd. There are tons of great events happening every day so make sure you take a peek at their website for all the details.

What signs of fall have you been seeing?

Nautical Stripes & Boho Hair

Belt/headband: American Apparel, Striped Cardigan & Peep toes: TJ Maxx, Mullet Dress: Old NavyIt’s not often that I let my hair go au natural but every now and again I let my curls do what they want and embrace the outcome. I thought my big hair would lend a bit of boho romance to the olive green mullet dress I can’t get enough of and the newly purchased cardigan I can see myself wearing to death this fall. The asymmetrical cut of the cardigan played off the dress’s high-low hemline better than I could have hoped for and the peeptoes lent just the right amount of polish.

Something about the colors (olive, navy, camel, and oatmeal) and angled/sloping proportions in this outfit reminded me of the beach we camped on at Valcour Island this past weekend. The green of the island’s forest just sort of faded into the grainy beach sand before being swallowed up by the blue of the lake. It wasn’t until looking at these pictures that I was able to really make that connection either. I guess I came away more inspired than I realized.

What experiences have inspired your outfits?

Classic Beach Blues

Vintage Scarf: Quarter Life Vintage, Dollar Store Sunnies, Camp Shirt: Gap (via Goodwill), Shorts: Old Navy, Sandals: TargetFor cheering on D’s softball team in their first playoff game and a sunset barbecue I stuck with classic Americana,  khakis and a perfectly worn in camp shirt. The kitschy travel print scarf from the Lovely Lisa of Quarter Life Vintage was the perfect personal touch to this classic summer look. I love how vintage accessories and prints can really enhance even the most simple outfits. Little touches can add a lot.

What little touches have you been adding to your summer outfits?

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Simple Sweets

The last time we visited D’s parents his mom let me in on her simple and incredibly versatile fruit tart recipe and it’s quickly become my go to dessert for impromptu summer parties.

1. on a well floured surface roll pie crust dough out to fit into a 9″ pie pan. I used this pie crust recipe but I’ve also used Jiffy’s “just add water” pie crust mix (one box makes enough for two 9″ tarts)

2. after rolling the dough out cut it into a circle and lay it in the bottom of a pie plate, pinching the sides up a bit

3. we happened to have peaches and strawberries on hand but you can really use any fruit, the riper the better. Thinly slice all of your fruit, remember consistency is key!

4. once you’ve artfully arrange your fruit on your crust (spiral patterns are usually a crowd pleaser) sprinkle a tablespoon or so of sugar over the top of your tart for a touch of sweetness. Bake in a 350 degree oven until edges of the crust are golden brown (about 12-16 minutes)

5. serve with a healthy scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and congratulate yourself on being a master chef as you watch everyone lick their plates clean.

What summer sweets have you been whipping up?

Dawn of a Beautiful Day

I’m not a morning person and I’m definitely no Pollyanna, but it struck me as I was editing these early morning photos from last weekend that every day starts out beautiful. The rest is on us.

Cat o’ Nine Tail Florals

Gifted Hat, Sunglasses & Skull Ring: Downtown Threads, Scarf: Carol Maguire Home, Top (?), Shorts: Old Navy, Converse: EbayFor a predawn fishing trip bright white converse may seem like an odd choice (I’ve been making a few of those lately) but they brought me luck and were perfect for the slippery decks and docks I encountered along the way.

After spending many summers avoiding shorts all together I decided to give the looser, longer boyfriend style short a try and to my surprise I am loving them. The subtle pinstripe reminds me of the OshKosh overalls I grew up wearing and makes pattern mixing a lot of fun.

What new summer pieces have you been experimenting with?

Hiking in Silk & Chiffon

Gifted Hat, Sunnies & Top: Downtown Threads, Skirt: Kohl’s, Beaded Bracelet: Rome, Ring: Charlotte Russe, Flats: TJ Maxx

I spent many a summer hiking in the White Mountains as a child, mostly it against my will. The only part I enjoyed was fording streams…. and eating mom’s homemade trail mix at the summit. I’m more of a lie on the beach with a book and a drink type than the trek up a mountain type, but every now and again even I enjoy a traipse through the woods…  in chiffon and silk.

Last weekend D and I  spent a gorgeous, albeit toasty, afternoon hiking through Mount Independence  and believe it or not I was beyond comfortable in my easy breezy fabrics and striped canvas flats.

What weekend adventures have you been taking/planning?

Delicious Greek Yogurt Pesto

Basil from our garden, garlic, and walnuts

My love for pesto is fairly new. For the longest time I thought all pesto had pine nuts (which I do not enjoy) so I avoided it all together. Eventually I was introduced to walnut pesto and fell in love with the rich, earthy, nutty flavors.

Adapted from Jane Salzfass’s Spaghettini with Yogurt Pesto recipe featured in Great Meals in Minutes, pasta menus this yogurt pesto makes a great dip, sauce, or marinade and is perfect for sweltering summer nights when you can’t face turning the oven on.

You will need: 2-3 cloves garlic, 1/4 – 1/2 cup walnuts, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 1/2 – 2 cups fresh basil leaves (firmly packed), black pepper (to taste) – food processor

To Make: mince cloves of garlic in food processor (if using minced garlic skip this step). Add walnuts, salt, and olive oil to the minced garlic and blend in food processor until you’re left with a smooth paste. Slowly add Greek yogurt and fresh basil to the walnut paste mixture in the food processor and blend until well combined and bright green. Add salt and pepper to taste and chill covered in the fridge for an hour before enjoying.

mince garlic in food processor add walnuts, salt, and olive oil to minced garlic and blend in food processor until smooth. *(If I’m making pesto dip/spread I’ll keep this mixture a little bit chunky as opposed to blending it smooth when I plan to use it as pasta sauces)*add Greek yogurt slowlyadd basil leaves to yogurt mixture and blend until smoothWhile you can enjoy it immediately I’ve found that it’s best after its had some time to chill in the fridge (about an hour or so).

Every time I make this quick and easy pesto recipe I find another way to use it. Last night we had burgers with tomato, mozzarella, and a dollop of pesto and before I left for work this morning I put a couple of chicken breast in with the rest of the pesto to marinade so tonight we’ll be having grilled pesto chicken Caesar salads tonight.

I can’t wait to hear how you enjoy this delicious pesto so be sure to let me know in the comments below or on twitter or facebook!

What’s New Pussy Cat

Sunglasses: Dollar Store, Dress: H&M, Pumps: Steve Madden

Saturday D and I spent the day in Montreal and since Burlington is less than 100 miles from this cosmopolitan Canadian city it makes a perfect day trip. While we were there I popped into H&M and this colorful cut-out dress was one of my purchases. I am such a cat lady at heart I couldn’t resist when I saw the dresses print. Some of the cats have different colored heads and tails, giving them a certain Frankenstein vibe.

I wore this with fun feline frock to work and out to lunch with friends. When I was in the office I had a black blazer on but it was such a nice day that I shed it as soon as I stepped outside. I love Burlington this time of year. There’s always something going on: the farmer’s market on the weekends, the annual Church Street Sidewalk Sale, tons of concerts on the waterfront, and of course Brewfest.

what summer fun are you looking forward too?

Weekend Wedding

Sunnies: Zinnia, Dress: Vintage (via Etsy), Wedges: Vintage (via my mom)

D and I attended a friend’s wedding in Orwell, Vermont this weekend. We quickly snapped these photos before the reception kicked off. The weather was almost as beautiful as the setting, with the wedding and reception taking place at the bride’s family’s farm.

I was excited to finally be able to wear this vintage, disco era party dress. It was light enough to keep me cool during the warm afternoon ceremony and comfortable enough to dance in all night long. The wedding celebrations continued well into the wee hours of the morning with the majority of party goers retiring to tents they’d set up in the field as the sun came up.

I was so excited to come home from the wedding and see this wonderful article about Wore Out in the Burlington Free Press. I spent an afternoon with Lynn Monty from the Free Press a few weeks ago and had a blast. Her article was the perfect way to celebrate 6 months of blogging!

What did you do this weekend?