the bees knees.

if you follow me on twitter you would know that i received a package on thursday at work from my grandma. she knows i have a little thing for bees:: 

my itty bitty bee collection includes: a bee charm necklace (urban outfitters), vintage magazine cover & tea towel (flea market find), and wooden matches (gift) 

i was super excited to open my package and find this adorable tea set!

do you have something special you collect? we also have a few elephant pieces (book-ends, and the ceramic planter pictured above).

xoxo jcd

weekend review.

engagement photo via

i received very happy news saturday night, one of my oldest and sweetest friends, Doula is engaged!!!! i cannot wait for her big fat greek wedding! she is going to be an absolutely gorgeous bride :) :) 


in other happy news, WELCOME to all of my new followers! i have been blown away by the enormous response to the Vamoose Giveaway and more importantly i have appreciated all of your sweet comments and support!! thank you SO much for visiting and if you have any suggestions-- anything you would like to see--or see more of, or if you just want to chat pleaseee do not hesitate to comment or contact me.  

happy monday! 

xoxo jcd

pie o my.

images via martha

via, via

when i am baking i tend to worry about how a pie will taste rather than how the crust looks. but dang...don't these photos make it seem soooo easy to make a fancy smancy pie crust?!? i love pumpkin pie but right now i am craving blueberry or something with lemon. what's your favorite flavor?  

jcd

we are marquette.

today is national marquette day! i absolutely loved my college experience in milwaukee and i have a lot of school pride... 

jcd


ps- be sure to check out these giveaways:: a custom print & stationary from two of my favorite blogs! 

friday link love.

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tonight i am going out to celebrate the bestie's birthday. whoohooo! which means tomorrow i'll most likely be recovering and blogging (with a little help from cinnamon rolls). i also hope to do a little thrifting on sunday- fingers crossed i find something fun. 
do you have any fun plans for the weekend? here are a few links to keep you entertained:

loving this 1920's inspired wedding (including that ice cream truck!)
dreams do come true:: mac n cheese- 30 days 30 ways
finally! the launch of Matchbook Magazine
neon to another level
who doesn't love babies!
you can never have enough personalized stationary: enter to WIN more!

and finally (if you haven't already)- enter to win vamoose jewelry!

jcd

friday's fancies #2.

i am super excited to participate in my second friday's fancies post. this is what i would wear tonight if i had an endless budget and if i was allowed to shop online::

1. mikkat market lace dress $48 (what a steal!)

2. jack by bb dakota severt jacket $79

3. cole haan perry street bella clutch $348

4. mea shadow medea $190

be sure to check out the lovely blog that started it all and more friday's fancies on long distance loving.

jcd


ps if you haven't already... be sure to check out my Vamoose Jewelry Giveaway!

vintage valentine.

i've never been one to celebrate valentines day... but this year i am having a change of heart (lucky you, h). we don't have anything too crazy planned, just a dinner date. and we are not exchanging gifts. 
however, that isn't stopping me from making a little vintage wishlist::

1. emersonmade beautiful blue wild rose $54 (i know, i'm obsessed).
2. marc by marc jacobs bow wow wow anabella ring $58
3. lip tease teacup and saucer $44.62

4. aldo Willman Floral bag (available this spring) $45
5. corail illusions cameo necklace $27
6. cross arrows necklace $20 (love this one).


jcd

simply sabrina.

i literally gasped when i saw this jason wu bow embellished silk-faille dress.

doesn't it just scream sabrinia?

jcd


ps have you picked out your favorite vamoose necklace or earrings?

put a ring on it.

no not a wedding ring. im talking about statement rings. i wasn't in love with lea michele's dress at the golden globes but i did love her bright blue ring. i need a break from statement necklaces and i think a beautiful ring would do the trick:: 

1. pebble petals ring in sky blue $13.99

2. smooth bead ring $4.80

3. sterling silver and tibetan turquoise ring $65

4. sea green chalcedony ring $135

5. light blue amazonite wire wrapped ring $12

6. the huyana ring $93

7. house of harlow tribal ring $71.25

8. chunky blue and bronze vintage ring $8.50

jcd
ps remember to enter my first giveaway :)

guest post on {daily crush}.

katie from daily crush was nice enough to let me do a guest post on her blog today. be sure to check it out! :) while you're there be sure to look around- she has a great eye for style, design and fashion. 

xoxo jcd

about those resolutions...

ok. bad news bears. i haven't been doing so well with my new years resolutions...but i have my reasons excuses.

1. reality television is a hard habit to kick. i have reduced the number of shows i watch-no more jersey shore, kendra, anything khardashian) however, now im watching cake boss: next great baker and i am craving cake 24/7. 

2. online shopping. here's the story:: i wanted a peony pouch for chirstmas and later i noticed it was out of stock. i sent the strand etsy shop owner a message asking if she was going to make anymore in the future. she was SOOO nice and said she could make a custom little pouch--just for me. so really how could i say no? 

bonus the pouch was shipped from sweden! yes. i am still impressed by international stamps.

and in the good news dept: h and i have started reading more (in lieu of walks since its frigid in chicago), i have had a lot of quality girl time this month and i've been going to the gym! whoohoooo!

how are your resolutions going?

jcd

country strong.

the other week i saw country strong. i was skeptical at first but i am a country girl at heart and i loved the movie, and the music. it reminded me of home and made me miss summertime and outdoor concerts. throughout the film there was a whole lot of plaid, but there were also a few cute sundresses, wide leg jeans and denim shirts. i'd like to add these country pieces to my wardrobe... 

1. emersonmade silk ribbon blouse $188

2. vintage horseshoe necklace $25 (i have a similar necklace and i wear it all the time)

3. fading away floral flutter top $32.99

4. pintucked tunic $26.50

5. always on my mind belted dress $42.99

6. emersonmade bluebells jeans $198


jcd

to the bestie.

happy birthday to my best friend jen - i cannot wait to celebrate with you!

ira glass card--merrybluesart_etsy

jcd

ps remember to enter my first giveaway :)

the best thing.

via, via

currently: 
listening to (and attempting to sing along with): you are the best thing by ray lamontage. love. it.
craving: a milk shake and burger.

jcd

ps remember to enter my first giveaway :)

o happy day and a giveaway!

happy monday! i hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. 

i sure did --this weekend i reached over 100 followers... and i am feeling v happy (like let's jump up and down and bust out the tambourine happy!) 

so, to thank everyone i am doing my first giveaway to one of my favorite shops. 

i am obsessed with the vamoose-- {as demonstrated here, here, here, and here} and now you can enter to win a necklace or pair of earrings--your pick--anything under $40.00.

easy beasy ways to enter the vamoose giveaway:: 

1. follow this blog via google connect or bloglovin' and comment on your favorite vamoose piece (under $40).

additional entries (please leave a separate comment for each):: 

2. follow me on twitter! and tweet about this giveaway::  

{enter to win a new necklace or earrings from the vamoose @cornflakedreams giveaway!}

3. blog about this giveaway {please include a link to your post}

a winner will be chosen and announced on {friday, february 4}. 

best of luck and thank you again for all of your support! 

jcd 

7 things i love right now.

kristen from a kapple a day, christine from bun&burough, rali from styles n' cream, robin from our semi organic life and the ladies from jet setting divas all gave me the stylish blogger award/shout-out on their blogs 

(thank you ladies!!). 

i'm going to combine the awards (is that legal?!) and respond with 7 things i am loving right now:: 

comfy ballet flats are my favorite. i like heels but i am way too klutzy to wear them everyday.

i love making travel plans with h, we come up with new places to visit all the time. i am so happy to be with someone who wants to travel and will actually make it happen.

lately all i want to eat is sugary cereal, peanut butter and jelly, and mac n cheese. and yes, i realize this means i have the diet of a four year old.

h has been reading up on urban gardens and this spring we are going to plant a few veggies. hopefully this will help combat my super processed eating habits...

on our way home from our roadtrip the other week, h and i starting made our chicago summer to-do list:: visit navy pier and ride the ferris wheel (it's been a few years), taste of chicago, lay out at the beach (yes, we have a beach), bi-monthly trips to farmer's markets,  neighborhood festivals and concerts, ravinia!, a cubs game, roosevelt flea market, rooftop restaurants, botanical gardens... and the list goes on.

another thing i want to do this summer is bike. i haven't ridden a bike in years, and i am a little nervous about biking in the city. all of that aside-- i love with the idea of bike dates and i think it would be a great way to explore the city.

i love old family photos. i made photo albums for my family this christmas and it was sooo fun to see how everyone has changed. i am so thankful that i am close with my parents, grandparents,  brothers, and cousins (i now have 20 cousins on my mom's side).

now i would like to pass this hybrid "stylish blog award- childhood memory post" along to a few of my favorites:: 

rachel-- the inspired house of wright

ashley-- ashley nicole catherine

the women of haute apple pie

jmay-- the swede records

sarah-- fairy tales are true

lena-- la petite coquin

be sure to check out these blogs! 

xoxo jcd

my friday's fancies.

{av} from one of my favorite blogs {long distance loving} started 'friday's fanices' and invited other bloggers to join. the concept is simple: dream up your ultimate friday outfit -regardless of cost. i loved the idea and i have enjoyed seeing all of her 'friday fancies' posts. for my friday fantasy outfit i decided to put together a summer outfit (a far cry from something that i could actually wear in chicago-- our high temp today is 8 degrees). i was also inspired by this post on hanneli-- i can't get that denim/mustard combo out of my head. 

1. Selvedge chambray shirt-jcrew
2. ray-ban metal cat's eye aviator sunglasses

3. marc by marc jacobs-classic q hiller hobo

4. pleated bow skirt_gap

5. DV by Dolce Vita- Toni
6. satomi kawakita rainbow moonstone ring


jcd

friday link love.

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happy friday! i have the day off so i am going to spend my afternoon catching up on blogs and watching a little daytime television. tonight i'm meeting up with friends to have a girls night (complete with homemade pizza co. and a movie)! tomorrow h and i have a morning library date so he can study and i can catch up on my magazines (YAH!). and like everyone else in the midwest, i'll be watching the bears beat the packers (booyah!) on sunday.

what are your plans for the weekend? here are a few of my favorite links from the week::

try this kettlebell workout.

how to style a few vintage finds.

this sandwich place is worth the work. promise.

11 must-haves for 2011.

dannnng don draper - you are smokin!

gotta love affordable art.
speaking of... i won this print (love the sweet message) from my new fave etsy shop.

bam! if only i could walk in these.

7 fashion picks for spring.
step inside emersonmade's home.

jcd

gap spring lookbook.

shop this look.

shop this look.

i love these two looks from gap's spring lookbook--the pieces are all classic yet modern and updated. the looks also remind me of something you might find at jcrew. bonus: gap is offering 30% off online purchases until 1/22, just enter GAPSPRING at checkout.

jcd

gladiator flats.

i love these gladiator flats (especially the olive ones). i also love that they are only $27. i usually have reservations about shopping at payless shoes but i think it's about time for me to get over that.

jcd

{hola} buenos aires.

h's brother mohsen recently traveled to buenos aires, argentina. here are a few of my favorite photos from his trip:: 

i would just looove to take dip in that pool...sigh.

jcd

bring back the hat.

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 i've seen tons of photographs of my grandmother wearing hats. hats are an easy accessory but i always forget about them, i only have two so maybe it's time to invest in another one for summer. do you like to wear hats? what's your favorite style?

jcd

serenity now.

photo via

work has been insane this week (is it really only tuesday!) sometimes you just need a little reminder to relax. and breathe. hopefully things will be back to normal soon and i will feel a little more at ease.

until then i apologize for being a little crazy.

jcd

braids.

photos via

sorta wishing i had longer (and blonder) hair...

jcd

basil is my fave.

photos via

it's no secret that i am obsessed with all things pesto. i LOVE basil and i am anxiously awaiting our new basil plant to sprout some leaves so i can start cookin. here are some recipes i am dying to try::

pesto, spinach and tomato garlic bread via haute apple pie
tomato and bacon sandwiches with basil mayo and chicken basil Parmesan burgers via framed cooks
healthy pesto pasta via hungry girl

this weekend we had dinner with h's dad and we ordered a basil, tomato, and mozzarella pizza from piece pizza (my fave in chicago). it was delicious and i would highly recommend it for anyone who wants a break from the deep-dish variety.

jcd

gg fashion.

happy monday! after watching 2 football games (bears win!), and a soccer game i was excited to get some girly television in yesterday. h patiently watched the golden globes with me while i scoped out all the dresses and updated our netflix queue. emily stone (love her as a blonde!), claire danes, and mila kunis were my favorites:: 

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if you watched the golden globes last night what did you think of ricky gervais as host? i thought he was hilarious (introducing bruce willis as ashton kutcher's dad- wowzah). who was your pick for best dressed? also we don't have HBO so i haven't seen boardwalk empire, anyone a fan- is it worth renting? and finally-- anyone else upset that inception didn't win a thing?!? where's the love for leonardo dicaprio and joseph gordon-levitt?! 

jcd

something to warm you up.

i don't know about you but i am in serious need of a hot damn hot vacation. the weather in chicago has been bitter lately and i dread going outside. ready. set. mini-virtual vaca and go...

bob marley is on my playlist today.

think warm thoughts. (and go bears!)

jcd