Picnic for Two

Sunnies: Old Navy

Dress: Urban Outfitters (via ebay)

Belt: Old Navy

Flats:Gap

I love picnics. If my three meals a day could all be eaten in a picnic setting, I'd be the happiest girl in the world. B is less enthusiastic about picnics, but he will usually indulge me if I annoy him enough ask nicely.

Last week, B conceded to my requests that we dine outside. (Mostly, I think, because I promised him funfetti cake if he did. I'm not above bribes.) We headed to Salem Common, where we spread a blanket beneath some trees & enjoyed the dinner & dessert I had made. We ended our evening with a walk through the surrounding neighborhood, one of the prettiest in all of Salem.

I feel like a pretty sundress is the perfect picnic outfit, so I opted for this Urban Outfitters dress I bought on ebay. Can you believe it took me over a year to wear it?! I don't know how or why I neglected it for so long, but I'm making up for lost time by dreaming up other ways to style it through the rest of the summer & into fall.

Custom House

Sunnies: Jessica Simpson (TJ Maxx)

Scarf: Jack Wills

Sweater: thrifted

 Purse: vintage Dooney & Bourke (thrifted)

Pants: Gap (thrifted)

Flip flops: Old Navy 

The building you see here is the Custom House, one of Salem's prettiest buildings. I feel lucky to walk past it daily, and, each time I do, I stop & stare. On this particular day, I decided I might as well take my outfit photos here since I was already stopped in front of a pretty backdrop.

We've had a reprieve from the heat recently, which has allowed me to wear a few of my heavier (relatively speaking) items. I thrifted this sweater earlier in the summer & was so excited to finally have a chance to wear it. Isn't it the loveliest shade of green? I predict I will wear it often as the seasons transition.

Foodie Friday: Phyllo Dough Pizza

This recipe, from Good Housekeeping's Vegetarian cookbook, makes an easy, light, summer pizza. Serves 2.

Here's what you'll need:
6 sheets 17"x12" phyllo (if frozen, thaw before use)
2 tbsp butter or margarine
4 oz. goat cheese
1 jar (6 oz.) marinated artichoke hearts, drained and cut in 1/4 in. pieces
1 and 1/2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes (red and/or yellow), cut in half

Here's what you'll do:
1. Preheat oven to 450 F.
2. Put one sheet of phyllo on ungreased cookie sheet and brush with margarine or butter.
3. Layer remaining sheets, brushing each one - but don't brush the top layer.
4. Crumble cheese, and add cheese, artichokes, and tomatoes to top layer.
5. Bake until edges are golden-brown, about 12-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Summer Layers

Cardigan: thrifted

Belt: Gap

Dress: Mine (Marshall's)

Purse: Fossil (Macy's)

Bracelets: Salem street vendor, American Eagle

Flip flops: Old Navy

Yesterday, I complained about the 100 degree day we experienced last week. Fortunately, for a few days afterward, the temperature barely hit 70. That's my kind of weather! 

On one of those evenings, it was actually cool enough for me to layer a sweater over my favorite floral print dress (YAY!), so this is what I wore for dinner & drinks outside. You'll see me recreate this look countless times as the weather cools because there's nothing I love more than a cute dress paired with a comfy sweater.

Fedorable

Fedora: Burlington Coat Factory

Sunnies: Jessica Simpson (TJ Maxx)

Dress: Forever 21

Belt: thrifted

Sandals: Forever 21

On super hot days, a fedora is my go-to accessory; it alleviates the need to do anything with my hair, and it hides the fact that I'm wearing little or no makeup - or that my makeup is melting off of my face.

I wore this outfit last week on a day that reached about 100 degrees. (I've mentioned that I hate the heat, right? Ugh.) I spent much of my morning crying about how hot it was, before B & I decided to pack up our laptops & head to somewhere - anywhere - with a.c. We ended up at Starbucks, and while we were there a crazy thunderstorm started. It poured for a couple of hours, after which it was about 25 degrees cooler, and I was a happy girl.

P.S. If you haven't heard already, one of my favorite bloggers, Lauren at La Petite Fashionista, featured me recently in her Style Profile series. You can see my Style Profile here. Be sure to check out the rest of Lauren's amazing blog while you're there!

Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

Sunnies: Steve Madden (Macy's)

Purse: Fossil (Macy's)

Dress/Tunic: Forever 21

Shorts: Forever 21

Flip Flops: Old Navy

In the short time we've lived in Salem, B & I have fallen absolutely in love. We're still in the process of unpacking, organizing, and deciding how we want to decorate our new apartment. Since we're living on the North Shore now, it seems fitting we incorporate some of the North Shore into our decor, so we've started collecting sand, shells, and beach glass to display in our apartment.

Last week, we headed to Derby Wharf, which you've seen on the blog many times already, to begin our search. It was a good start, but we have many more beaches to visit before our collection is complete!

Reworked

Flower pin: J Crew outlet 
Sunnies: Jessica Simpson (Macy's)

Dress (worn as top): Forever 21

Shorts: Forever 21

Sandals: Forever 21

Clutch: Banana Republic outlet  

Surprise! My shirt is actually a dress. The last time I wore it, I asked you all for some ideas about other ways to style it because it is way too short for me to wear as a dress & maintain any level of decency. Several of you brilliantly suggested converting the dress into a shirt, so I did. It was simple: I removed the elastic waistband that cinched below the bust & cut off the belt loops. Ta-da! I'm really glad I was able to salvage it because I adore this sweet floral pattern & couldn't bear getting rid of it.

The purple J Crew flower pin was a last minute addition to the outfit. I bought it a couple of years ago but had completely forgotten about it until I found it while packing for our recent move. I love the way it dresses up my top knot a bit!

Foodie Friday: Baked Parmesan Tomatoes

Why hello there, Chill Air & Perfume readers! Joanne here, the recessionista behind the life and personal style blog Fabulously Average. I’m thrilled to be guest posting for fellow vegetarian Hannah today and bring to you a side dish that has become a staple at Casa de Joanne.

Since I became a vegetarian, hosting dinners has become a bit of a difficult task. I have to constantly remind myself that not everyone chows down on vegetables, beans and meatless meat products as often as I do. That’s when I discovered this yummy appetizer/side recipe and have been whipping it up almost nightly at my house! Baked Parmesan Tomatoes anyone? 

What You’ll Need:
4 tomatoes cut horizontally
¼ cup of parmigiano reggiano cheese
1 teaspoon of chopped fresh cilantro
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
½ teaspoon of paprika
Ground pepper, to taste
4 teaspoons of olive oil

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450° F
2. In a medium sized bowl, mix parmigiano reggiano cheese, cilantro, salt, pepper, garlic and paprika. Set aside.
3. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray
4. Place tomatoes on baking sheet and top with cheese mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until bubbly, about 12-15 minutes.

Recipe adaptation via eatingwell.com

Cool & Comfy

Sunnies: Steve Madden (Macy's)

Blouse: American Apparel

Shorts: Forever 21

Flats: Gap

The original version of this outfit involved my blouse being tucked in & buttoned up higher. It also included a big, chunky necklace worn under my collar & a few other choice accessories. I loved the way it looked, but it was just too damn hot for all that nonsense, so before leaving for dinner, I made a last minute decision to simplify. I threw my hair up in a messy bun, removed all my accessories, untucked my blouse, and unbuttoned the top buttons. The overall effect of these changes was certainly more casual & less put-together, but it was also cooler & more comfy - a must for dinner outside on a hot summer night.

After dinner, eager to walk off our drinks & appetizers, we headed to Derby Wharf, where we walked along the water & watched a few neighborhood dogs play. Aren't they adorable?

In Harmony

Hat: Burlington Coat Factory

Sunnies: Ray-Ban (Husband's)

Earrings: Charlotte Russe

Purse: Fossil (Macy's)

T-shirt: Gap

Shorts: Levi's (Macy's)

 Sandals: Gap

My sister & I are both a little creepy in the fact that we love cemeteries. Lucky for us, Salem is full of them, some of which are of more historical significance than others (read: some of which attract more tourists than others). On Friday, we ventured away from the more "popular" cemeteries and visited Harmony Grove. Harmony Grove actually contains quite a few notable burials & local celebrities too, so I can't wait to go back & explore more - preferably on a much cooler day.

Because I was going to be doing a lot of walking - and, of course, because it was so hot & humid - I opted for a super simple outfit consisting of cut-offs & a t-shirt. I added the fedora simply for utility: I could hide my hair underneath without worry about how sweaty & frizzy it would surely be. To avoid feeling too grubby, though, I added some subtle red lipstick & my favorite flower stud earrings. They jazzed my outfit up just the right amount, and I actually love the result. Sometimes, simple really is better, eh?