style crush - {travel in style}.

phuong from travel in style is one of my favorite international fashionistas. she is a world traveler and just returned from a trip to dubai (lucky!) i love how she pairs neutrals with neon accessories to create fresh looks that are stylish and comfortable. 

outfit no.1, outfit no.2

inspiration outfit

get the look:: zara tulip skirt dress $89.90, hot pink scarf $19.95, sunglasses $24, bootie $48.95, silver cuff $102, crescent silver necklace $48

what trends do you love right now?

I love to mix and match difference kinds of color at this moment, a pop of color makes an simple outfit more special. Also the all white looks caught my eyes, cannot get enough of it. 

who are your favorite designers?

I actually don;t have a favorite designer. There are so many I just like, I probably cannot choose just one haha.

what is favorite piece of clothing or accessory?

At this moment my favorite pair of shoes are from Zara, wedges with a buckle around the ankle. They are gorgeous and comfortable at the same time. Also my new Cambridge satchel bag is my favorite, just a perfect accessory if you need to pop some color in your look. 

what do you feel most comfortable wearing?

Comfy loose fit trousers, with a beautiful colorful top and sandals. Very simple for a beautiful summer day out.

what is on your shopping wishlist for the summer? 

I still want a beautiful white suit or a pink one. Just perfect for a great summer night out.

where do you look for fashion inspiration? 

Everywhere, from my travels, other bloggers, the street, online and so on..

what do you like most about blogging?

Sharing my thoughts about fashion, that's the mostly love about blogging. And the second one is meeting new people who has the same interest; FASHION.

do you have any advice for newbie 'what i wore' fashion bloggers? 

Wear the things you love, because fashion is about expressing yourself and your thoughts about style. Don't follow each and every trend you see, remind yourself if it's truly something you love to wear and how you want to express yourself to others.

see! she is pretty fantastic, don't you have a little crush now too?!

xo, 

jillian

canvas classics.

i want to get my closet ready for summer and the first step is to stock up on a few classic pieces that i can wear over and over again. i am pretty smitten with lands end canvas lately... they have great pieces at affordable prices. i have my eye on a few light sundresses and tops::

boatneck shell $39.50, navy striped shift dress $69.50, via, via, typographic map $40

phoebe toe ring wrap sandals $49.50, washed canvas tote $49.50, modern aviator sunglasses $49.50, chambray romper $59.50, ballerina dress $69.50, via

happy memorial day!

xo, 

jillian

story time.

growing up i had a few favorite books: mr. popplers penguins, james and the giant peach, and matilda all topped my list. i have fond memories of reading the dahl classics in the summertime and building a shadowbox in grade school featuring the little poppler penguins. i randomly h about the shadowbox and a few months later he bought me a vintage copy of the book :) 


 sooo naturally, i was a little sad to see that mr. popplers penguins is going to be made into a movie...with jim carrey. i used to like ace ventura back in the day.. but after a string of flops not so much. ugh. i hope he doesn't ruin my penguins!

cutie pie 1, cutie pie 2


what childhood books do you hold close to your heart? 


xo, 
jillian


ps for the record i liked the movie productions of Matilda, the Witches and James and the Giant Peach and the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

friday's fancies #19.

memorial day weekend has arrived!! in honor of summer time i am busting out my white pants (and i suggest you do the same!) h and i have a few things planned for the long weekend--we're seeing 'the hangover' on saturday (i'll give you a full report on monday) and my family is having a cookout on sunday to celebrate my little brother's return from Afghanistan and my twin cousin's birthday. the weather in chicago is suppose to be sunny- so i want to go for a few long walks.


 for my friday's fancies memorial day outfit i have chosen something a lil bit patriotic (america! yah!):: 

nicola striped-panel strapless BCBG dress (with belt!) $128, sandals $50, clutch $64
poppies via, via, via 

you may have missed- guest posts galore::

memorial day plans on ten scenic drive 

bebecakes on 100 things i love

what i wish i wore on love, julie


what are your plans for the holiday weekend?
xoxo, 
jillian

barcelona birdies.

judy kaufmann is one of my favorite illustrators. she has a soft spot for birds, houses, cars, people and other animals. her prints are bright, fun and unique::

 lady peacock print $25, peacock and friends $25, houses and birds print $25,


oOo and did i mention she lives in barcelona?! and now i cannot stop dreaming about the city and our upcoming trip :) 

birds and color print $25, via, via, via, 

check out more prints:: etsy shop


xoxo, 

jillian

DIY Sweets Doily Garland.

I am thrilled to have Sarah from Deeds & Petunia guest posting today for a lovely party DIY tutorial ::

via rosemary photography

 I love doilies.  I love how old fashioned they are and knowing that when I see one I'm about to dive into something delicious.  We made this little "sweets" garland for our dessert table that featured classic candies, fresh baked goods, lemonade and wedding cake to invite guests to treat themselves to our handmade goodies.  It's so easy to recreate and there are so many variations - you don't have to be super crafty for this one!  Use whatever words strike your fancy - this garland is great for all occasions.

Supplies:
Package of 8" inch or 10" inch white paper doilies
Paper of choice - I chose some card stock with a sweet gingham print to keep with our country vibe
Scissors
Paper glue, such as Zip Dry
At least four feet of ribbon, vintage seam binding, rickrack, twine, etc. for hanging

1. Cut out letters around 4 inches in height and no wider than 4 inches in width.  If you're not great at free-hand cutting, print out letters from your word processing program to cut out and trace around (or use those!)  Just try to make sure they're all around the same size.

2. Adhere letters to the center of the doilies using the Zip Dry.  Note: there is a back and a front to a doily, so make sure you're gluing to the front!

3. Lace the ribbon, twine, etc. through the top center of the doilies carefully, from bottom up through the top and down again.  I like the loops to be looped about 1/2 inch through each doily.  Just eyeball it to be sure they are looped evenly in about the same place for each doily.

4. Spread the doilies evenly across the ribbon, twine, etc.  Make little loops on each end to hang.  You're done!

Additional Ideas...
-Dye the doilies with food dye to make your garland more colorful!  Just dip dye carefully in some water with a few drops of food coloring, rinse, and ring gently.  Lay flat to dry and proceed!
-For a Rustic look, dip dye with coffee or tea and cut out letters from old books or newsprint.  Hang with jute garden twine or vintage lace seam binding (or both!)
-Use pre-printed letters from the craft store to save yourself some time.  You can even find some with adhesive backs!
-Dress up with buttons - loop the ribbon through a button or glue the button on top of where the ribbon loops through the doily.  Just make sure you have the doilies spread out and positioned where you want them to be on the ribbon before gluing!

a huge thank you to sarah :) and be sure to check out the premiere issue of Its All in the Details on Deeds & Petunia! 

xoxo, 

jillian

bridal zine launch + giveaway!

i am so excited to announce the launch of the online bridal zine it's all in the details! the new magazine features editorials and gorgeous photo collages for a handcrafted wedding. to see the entire first issue click here! 

{Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2011}

photos via rosemary photography

the magazine features lots of great DIY tips including pretty vintage inspired bird cage veils by deeds & petunia. and now you can enter to win one! 

photos via rosemary photography

how to enter:: 
follow cornflake dreams and visit deeds & petunia's etsy shop- 
leave a comment with your favorite piece. 


additional entries:: 
(please leave a comment for each!)
1. follow cornflake dreams on twitter
2. follow deeds and petunia on twitter
3. like on its all in the details magazine on facebook
4. like cornflake dreams on facebook
5. follow deed & petunia's blog

{a winner will be chosen on june 1. the giveaway is open to domestic and international participants. be sure to spread the word to all of your engaged or fancy friends!!}


xoxo, 
jillian

{guest post} - ten scenic drive.

Hi readers of Cornflake dreams, I'm Kristin and I am so excited to be guest posting for Jillian since she was one of my first "blogger" friends I met when I started blogging just a few months ago! If you read my blog, ten scenic drive, you know that I love fashion, food, planning parties and being outdoors! Memorial day is one of my favorite weekends to kick off summer by bbq'ing, sipping delicious cocktails and hanging out with family and friends. Here is my inspiration for the perfect Memorial Day weekend celebration with delicious food, friends and a great outfit of course.

Images via Pinterest

Since I grew up on the east coast near the ocean, my ideal party would be a clambake bbq on the beach! Complete with crabs, lobsters, burgers and dogs, grilled corn, lots of salads and campfire s'mores for dessert. And no party would be complete without some fruity summer cocktails - watermelon sangria and jello shot-filled strawberries! Yum!

Images via Pinterest

Easy breezy is the outfit of choice for a bbq on the beach, a super cute bikini with a comfy cover up, perfectly accessorized.

Image

And I wouldn't mind winding down the night here in this perfect outdoor movie theater...LOVE THIS!

Image 

Whatever your plans, I hope you have a fantastic long weekend welcoming summer! Come check out ten scenic drive for more of my inspirations on fashion, food and just about everything inbetween. Thanks so much for having me Jillian!

xxkristin


ps stop by ten scenic drive to see my memorial day party ideas :)
AND hop over to 101 things i love for a special bebe guest post.

ten things.

happy monday! the lovely joelle from where we love is home tagged me in a post last week. now it's my turn to break down my ten favorite things... all of which somehow made an appearance in my busy weekend :) 

1, 4, 7, 8, 9

1. sandwiches. i know you've heard it before but i am still obsessed. burgers, caprese, blt's, bring them on. {we went to the lockdown for our anniversary and i got the bbq bacon burger on a pretzel bun!} 

2. a good song. music has the ability to make me happy. {h bought me the kooks and regina spektor on vinyl! what a peach.}

3. travel planning. h and i are a little obsessed with mapping out future travel plans. {spain in september. pondering turkey, paris, amsterdam, and italy.}

4. type and design. i looove the endless possibilities of what you can create with a little creativity and a great font. {i finished my first blog redesign this weekend!!}

5. reality tv. specifically real housewives on bravo. i am a little ashamed of this one. i tried to stop. but i just can't quit my watching my favorite divas in orange county, new york and atlanta. {i broke down and watched the season premiere of new jersey on sunday. fail.}

6. italian lemon ice. pretty much anything sweet for that matter. i don't discriminate... bring on the chocolate, sprinkles, and butter. {hello, ice cream bars i've missed you!}

7. i like to move it, move it. pilates, yoga, free weights, walking...i like to move it move it at least a few times a week. {i'm all about the kettlebell lately}

8. summertime when the weather is fine. i love a lot of things about the summer- lots of sunshine, festivals, farmers markets, rooftop pools, cookouts...birthdays! {we walked to the bar on saturday, and home from dinner on sunday night. it was fantastic.}

9. apple mac book pro. it's where allll the magic happens and what i look at for the majority of the day. {the mac has a new home! we finally bought a proper desk!}

10. my fiance. he's a keeper.

what make's your top ten list? 

xoxo, 

jillian

friday's fancies #18 - {anniversary outfit}.

happy friday!! today h and i are celebrating our two year anniversary- yippieee! may also marks our one year anniversary of living together! time is flying by but i am happy i am able to spend a lot of quality time with my man. exact celebration are still tbd... we want to see how the weather turns out and then go from there (pray for some sunshine!!) i would love to do something low key: a picnic with some sandwiches and wine or burgers and beer at an outside patio (i know, i know i'm obsessed w burgers lately). 

dress $185, cardigan $330, sandals $60, necklace $1300, blanket $48, picnic basket $50, wine $10

do you have any special date ideas? what was your favorite way to celebrate an anniversary or special day?

xoxo, 

jillian

ps i saw 'bridesmaids' last night with a few friends (and two of my bridesmaids!) and it was hilarious. go see it. now.

shop crush - {fishs eddy}.

my latest home decor obsession is fishs eddy: the new york shop specializes in dinnerware, glassware, flatwear, and servewear. i love all the unique and classic pieces and i would love to go to a retail store (maybe next time i'm in NYC!)

nut bowl in emerald $2.95, cereal bowl $7.95, nappy bowl in celery $8.95, side plat in navy $6.95, dinner plate in navy $9.95, bridge and tunnel mug pair $21.90

'clean up your act' soap dish $4.95, carnival tote bag $10.95, white milk cake stand $74.95, take 5 dishtowel pair $14.95


psst: another huge bonus for all of you engaged ladies- they have a gift registry! 

xoxo, 

jillian

pantone love.

while i was shopping at paper source this past weekend i noticed a fun pantone folding chair for sale. i laughed and thought "okay nerdy. but i like it." it got me thinking that there must be other gifts to give all the other pantone junkies. i found a few gems... my personal favorites are the espresso cup set [6], the homemade pantone cookies (what a fun idea!) and that uber impressive art installation (i want to call it pointillism via pantone?!) 

[1] stairs via [2] folding chair via [3] notebook $15 [4] mug $12.50 [5] colorstrology $7.50 [6] espresso set of mugs $50 [7] iphone 4 cover $36

pantone tins $28/each, cookies via, art via


are you fascinated by pantone colors and products? or is it a little too tech-y for you?


xoxo, 
jillian

{guest post} - diary of a chair.

Hello Cornflake Dreamers!  I'm Angela from Diaryofachair, where I enjoy sharing my inspirations, DIMyself projects, and favorite recipes. You may have seen my dream dining room I shared on Jillian's recent Decorate this Space Blog Crawlnot too long ago.  I am so excited to now be sharing my complete dream home with you today.

I live in Boston, but grew up on the south shore of coastal Massachusetts, just north of Cape Cod.  If a day goes by when I can't see the ocean, I'm lost.  So, my dream home is located in a place where the beach is close at hand, and my husband, g.,  can dock his dream boat in the front yard.  I don't have a green thumb, but I love the look of lush gardens, climbing flora, and a porch to welcome and entertain family and friends.  Our shingled home with white trim pays tribute to true Nantucket style.

Our kitchen will most definitely be the heart of our home.  G. and I love to cook and entertain, so we need a space large enough to cook up a storm, but is not vastly huge.  Beadboard ceilings and my favorite pendant fixtures are a must.  The bar is perfect as a buffet or appetizer counter, and the kitchen table is a great place for casual family dinners.  We'll definitely need a mini wine cellar to store our favorite bottles of Donna Fugata wine!

Our windows will look out to a grassy yard and outdoor table a chairs where we can spend a lot of time outside.

 Back inside, an open concept floor plan is great to fill a space with natural light and give it an airy quality.  Our coastal casual dream home is all about comfy and fresh.  

Our downstairs powder room has to have a rustic and interesting barn door like this one:

Our master bedroom and bathroom will be calming and romantic, with little touches of unexpected.

Ahh... dreaming is so fun!  I'm off to buy some lotto tickets!

Click here to check out the rest of my dream home!

A huge thank you to Jillian for letting me take over a little piece of Cornflake Dreams today :)

Photo credits: homeaway, bierlydrakeassociates, victoriahagan, customhardwarefactory, charmhome, elledecor, theinspiredroom, littlebitsoflovely, housebeautiful, diaryofachair


and to see a few tidbits of my dream home, hop over to diary of a chair.
xoxo, 
jillian

weekend recap.

hi there and happy monday! how was your weekend?! 
i had a fantastic time in milwaukee with the girls (followed by a rough recovery). 

despite the gross weather (it was rainy, windy and v cold), we made the most out of our trip. we shopped in the third ward, grabbed burgers for dinner (my bacon blu cheese burger was ahhhmazing! i am still drooling thinking about it) and ventured out to two campus bars where we ran into some old friends and danced the night away :)

via, via


a few things i learned from our trip: 
-i'm really going to miss julie (brunette in the blue tank w no bangs) this summer- 
she's leaving tomorrow for a summer associate position in buffalo, ny. 
-i have a lot of school pride and i love to see how the campus is changing and becoming even more beautiful.
-red bull is dangerous and i should stop after one or two. 
-it pays to be childhood friends of the manager of a bar (jimmy pictured above).
-when in doubt print out directions for dinner (we got a little scenic tour of the town).
-when people talk about friendly people in the midwest they are probably talking about milwaukee.
-we all still have some pretty sweet dance moves.
-gyros taste pretty good at 3am.


how was your weekend? do you take trips with your friends?

xoxo, 

jillian

ps be sure to check out my chicago summer to-do list over on little miss holls!