weekly roundup

Today at 3 pm, I will have officially made it through my first week of nursing school! Wahoo! No rest for me though, as I will be studying all weekend long (and will basically not stop until I graduate in July). Thank goodness for new nursing school friends and planned Panera study dates!

one: I know, I know. Everyone's sick of ice bucket videos. But Tina Fey is hilarious and you should watch it anyways. Plus, Kermit is the one who challenged her. Reason enough to watch it!

two: 36 times Jess Mariano completely melted our hearts. WHERE MY GILMORE GIRLS FANS AT? Swoon, sigh, hearts in eyes. Reading through this will make you want to watch season 3 again, aka the season with the most swoon worthy moments from the best bad boy. (Thanks to Cher for posting this on my facebook wall with the caption "Logan can get to steppin")

three: So it's obviously clear at this point that I am SUCH a dog lover. I tell my mom all the time that I'm just going to be the crazy dog lady with my five dogs. (And then I get an eye roll, so....) But one type of dog I want is a french bulldog. They're so cute! And this video is just beyond adorable. Someone get me a puppy now?!

four: Words that have a totally different meaning when you're a dancer. Hopefully we have some bloggers out there who dance/danced and can laugh at this with me. I did ballet up until my sophomore year of high school (fun fact for you), and reading things like this always makes me miss it! Blogger dance crew anyone?

five: I'm going to warn you, this is a major tearjerker. Major. Tears streaming down the face (in the best way possible). I'm not going to say anything to take away from the video, except for that stories like these are why I want to be a nurse. (And the doctor is from the hospital I want to work at once I graduate!)

Have a fantabulous weekend everyone!

-Kylie

monochromatic

My last ever first day of school outfit! WOOOOO! I have to say, I really think I'm ready to be done with school. (Of course, says the girl who plans to probably go back and get her Master's in nursing at some point. Whoops. Maybe I'm just ready for a break?) With it being the end of summer, and refusing to really acknowledge fall yet (except for the return of the PSL!), I am wearing white every chance I get! Seriously. Hence the white shorts and the light grey shirt with all the white accents. Soaking up the last of those summer bright whites!

shirt: C.Wonder (similar) // shorts: Target // belt: American Eagle (similar) // shoes: Steve Madden // bracelets: Alex and Ani, gift (similar) // watch: Lacoste

Who wants to boycott the end of summer?

-Kylie

black and white

So I know these aren't my greatest pictures. In my defense though, I hadn't found the best spot in my apartment to take them yet (I have since found a much better place), and this was right after a terrifying eight hour orientation for my program! (Excuses, excuses, right?) Anyways, the pictures will be getting better! (Fingers crossed.) 
Now, I can't take all the credit for this outfit. It was totally inspired by the lovely Shannon and this outfit of hers. I loved the way she paired the dress with converse, and knew I wanted to try it in my own way! Thanks for the inspiration, girl!

dress: Banana Republic (similar) // jacket: Abercrombie (similar) // bag: C.Wonder (love it in dark cherry!) // bracelet: Alex and Ani // watch: Lacoste // shoes: Converse // necklace: gift (similar)

Have you ever been inspired by another blogger?

-Kylie

official blogger status

I am now an official blogger. I have done a picture with my jacket on my shoulders, and now feel like an official fashion blogger! ;) Unfortunately, these are my last set of pictures from home. Boo. Which means tomorrow I go back to tripod pictures in my apartment and figuring out how to make it work, until I can convince someone to be my photographer! Any takers? ;)

jacket: Abercrombie (similar) // tank: Tommy Hilfiger (similar) // skirt: Urban Outfitters (similar) // sunnies: nich boutique // shoes: Chinese Laundry // watch: Lacoste // bracelet: Alex and Ani

Have you become an official fashion blogger yet?

-Kylie

linking up with: Trend Spin, Style Elixir, Trending Tuesday

strawberry banana cupcakes

It's my first day of my accelerated nursing program! AHH! Not going to lie, I'm definitely nervous about it all. I mean, it's 4 years of normal nursing curriculum packed into one year! (Plus, I have classes for pretty much 8 hours straight on Monday. Blegh.) But it was really reassuring to meet a bunch of people at the orientation, and find that they're all just as freaked out as I am! (And ready to spend all our money at Starbucks this year ;)) Plus, it will be nice to finally be working towards what I want to do in my life! Yay!
Now onto these cupcakes. YUM. Let me tell you from experience, it's pretty hard to go wrong when mashed banana is in the recipe. It seriously made the cupcakes so fluffy and moist, and they actually tasted like banana bread! Add the sweet strawberry buttercream, and it was just perfection! (Next I want to try the banana cupcake with a nutella frosting!!)

Strawberry Banana Cupcakes (recipe from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen)

Ingredients

• Cupcakes:
• 3 large bananas, mashed
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup (12 Tablespoons) salted butter, softened
• 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• Frosting:
• 3/4 cup (12 Tablespoons) salted butter, softened
• 4 oz cream cheese (1/2 8 oz block), softened
• 1/3 cup frozen sweetened strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed (note: these do make the frosting very sweet, use fresh strawberries instead to knock the sweetness down!)
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (note: I probably used about 1/4 cup more)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 24 muffin tins with liners and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, combine mashed bananas and lemon juice and set aside. In another bowl, mix the flour and baking soda and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with a mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar and beat on medium until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time until combined, scraping the bowl after each. Beat in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, beat the flour mixture and buttermilk in alternately, starting and ending with flour and scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Fold in mashed bananas.
4. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the center of cupcakes springs back when lightly touched. Allow to cool completely. on a wire rack.
5. Prepare frosting: In the bowl of your mixer, beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Add pureed strawberry mixture, beating on low until smooth. Add powdered sugar and continue beating on low until JUST mixed. Increase mixer speed to high and beat for one minute.

Are you ready to get baking?

-Kylie

weekly roundup

A little bit of a blog change this week! When I started blogging, I wanted to be an every day blogger. And it's worked really well for me since I started in January! But now that I'm starting my accelerated nursing program, and I'll be in scrubs twice a week, I think it would be easier for me to just be a Monday-Friday blogger. Which means, I'm gonna start doing my weekly roundup posts on Fridays, because I love them too much to get rid of them!

one: 22 people who should have definitely not taken the ice bucket challenge. Be prepared to laugh, cringe and have serious secondhand embarrassment for some of these people. (But seriously, how amazing is it that they've raised over $25 million from all this awareness?)

two: Oh. My. God. Where the Disney obsessed millionaires live. It's a community on Lake Buena Vista of DisneyWorld where you can actually LIVE, and get a ton of Disney related amenities (like park passes and extended hours!). Pretty much my dream. Who wants to loan me the millions of dollars I need to live here?

three: My Dad sent me this link a while ago (whoops, sorry Dad!), but it's definitely something to look at! Be prepared to look at a bunch of gorgeous men in Italian clothes, dressing the way we wish the men in our lives would dress ;)

four: SO TRUE. If men were women. This video is pretty funny, but actually a really hard thing to think about when you realize that's how girls have it all the time.

Happy friday and have a great weekend!

-Kylie

movin on up

Yesterday was my last day at home, and today I'm driving out to Pittsburgh where I'll be for the next year doing my accelerated nursing program! I've been home for about a month at this point, so it's going to be so weird to go back to living alone now! But I'm excited to get my program started and get the year rolling.
On top of this though, I got another headache (major boo, wouldn't life be better without headaches?!?!) which means you guys will just have to bear with me on another pinspiration post! Love you all xo.

-Kylie

lilly colorblocking

My house is close to wear the Lilly Pulitzer warehouse sale is every year, but I wasn't home the weekend that it happened. Thankfully I had my mom and sister who went and got e birthday presents there! ;) Case in point, this colorblock sweater dress. I thought it was cute when I first got it, but it's even cuter on! I love the fun colors, and it is seriously so comfortable. I can already see pairing it with boots and a jacket for fall, or even with heels to dress it up!

dress: Lilly Pulitzer // shoes: Chinese Laundry // purse: Francesca's (similar) // sunnies: Ralph Lauren (similar)

Anyone else finding good summer to fall transition pieces?

-Kylie

linking up with: The Pleated Poppy, Because Shanna Said So, Pampers and Pearls

pops of blues

It's not really a surprise to anyone at this point that I love me some blue. It's easily the color of most of my wardrobe, which is shown very clearly in this outfit. Still so funny to me, since I am such a pink kind of girl! Guess I'll just take my pink in the form of the print on this Lilly scarf!

Also, happy happy birthday to my favorite photographer and the best guy I know, my dad! Love you Daddy!

scarf: Lilly Pulitzer // top: Victoria's Secret // shorts: Target // shoes: Carlos Santana // sunnies: Cole Haan via Nordstrom Rack

Anyone else have a signature color that surprises them?

-Kylie

lobstah roll

So when I said I didn't have much neon the other day, I had totally forgotten about this shirt. It's definitely one of my favorites, so whoops! And when I got this "Lobstah Roll" bow in the mail from Preppy Bows and Sass, I knew I had to pair it with it!

ALSO, happpppy 26th anniversary to my parents!!

shirt: J.Crew Factory (similar) // shorts: Target // bow: Preppy Bows and Sass c/o (use the code KYLIEREP for 15% off!) // shoes: Carlos Santana // necklace: gift (similar) // sunnies: Ray Ban (same pair, different color)

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

-Kylie

linking up with: Let it Shine, Mix it Mondays, Manic Monday, #HowISummer

weekly roundup

one: After the bows the other night at Aladdin on Broadway, in honor of Robin Williams, James Monroe Iglehart (who plays the genie) led the audience in a sing along of Friend Like Me. Beautiful tribute.

two: 24 moments that defined every late 00's high school experience. I was laughing so hard because I could relate to pretty much of all of these! (I was obsessed with sending those Facebook bumper stickers!)

three: Things Disney characters do that would be creepy if you did them. DYING.

four: 21 uncommon romantic gestures that would make any girl melt. Um....yup. Pretty much. Especially the playing with the hair thing. I haven't met a girl who doesn't like her hair played with.

five: And because I always need a puppy video.

Here's to a fabulous week!

-Kylie

weekend pinspiration

(all images via pinterest)

Have a happy Saturday!

-Kylie

chewy glazed lemon cookies

Lemon is definitely one of my absolute favorite summer flavors...now. I definitely didn't like it as much when I was younger, but hey, maybe my taste buds are finally starting to expand! (I'm the pickiest eater you will ever meet. Notice how I almost always post dessert recipes?) So when I saw a recipe for chewy lemon cookies with a glaze, I knew I had to try it! And I am so glad I did. YUM. A perfect treat for the last couple weeks of summer!

Chewy Glazed Lemon Cookies (recipe from Lauren's Latest)

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup salted butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar + extra for flattening the cookies

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

zest of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

for the glaze-

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice (note: I had to use WAY more lemon juice for the glaze to get the right consistency!) 

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat and set aside.

Cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar together in stand mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in egg, vanilla, lemon extract and lemon zest. Scrape sides and mix again. Stir in dry ingredients until just combined. Scoop onto prepared sheets and flatten slightly with the bottom of a cup dipped in the extra sugar. Bake 8-9 minutes (I had to do about 10-11, and waited til the bottoms were slightly golden brown), cool 2 minutes and transfer to cooling rack.

Stir powdered sugar and lemon juice together until smooth. Drizzle over top of each cookie. After a few minutes, the glaze should dry and you can eat them ALL.

Have fun baking!

-Kylie