Fourth of July: By the Lake

Do you guys have any July 4th traditions? A red, white, and blue food you love, or a party with friends and family? We like to pack the dogs in the car and head to a little lake in our small college town. It's the perfect atmosphere for the holiday: kids (and kids at heart) swimming and playing with sparklers, and the smell of campfires and cookouts in the air. Whether you're particularly patriotic or not, you have to love the 4th. It's a celebration of everything great about summer. And this festive little outfit is perfect for the occassion.

8 Things I Want to do This Summer

Can you believe we're almost halfway through summer already? Between work, school, and everything else, I feel like I've barely even been outside. There's no worse feeling than letting these summer months slip by unnoticed. So today's the day I resolve to spend the rest of the summer having adventures and making memories. Here's where I'll start:

Cilantro Pasta Salad

The 4th of July is next week! Can you believe it? That means a wave of summertime gatherings is right around the corner, and you'll need something to bring to the table. Well, you're welcome, because this is it. I've had so many requests for this recipe I'm surprised I've gone this long without sharing it. The crisp, cilantro-y dressing is perfectly refreshing in the summer sun, and again, it's completely customizable to your tastes. What I've provided here is a simple base recipe - tomatoes, peppers, onion, and olives. You could (should) add corn, avocado, feta cheese, or whatever else your little heart desires.

Leather & Lace & Kiki Smith

In addition to this leather and lace ensemble, we'd love to share a little bit about one of our favorite artists, Kiki Smith. This will be the first in a new series highlighting talented lady artists, musicians, writers, scientists, and people. Hope you enjoy!

Art museums are kind of my jam. As a former art student (I have a BFA in sculpture) and a current artist (I work when I can), I get a thrill from art museums that very few other places are able to achieve (maybe the zoo, because…penguins). Every time I go I find myself inspired and compelled to create. So, naturally, when I had some free time Sunday afternoon, I begged Lindsay to go to the Akron Art Museum with me.

DIY Twine Planter

Today we're bringing you a super easy, super adorable DIY from our talented photographer friend Erika. Aren't these twine planters adorable? They're perfect for a little succulent garden, and they're made from recycled food containers!

Chic Chambray

Hello lovelies! How was your weekend? We had a relaxing time hanging out with the pups and visiting a few favorite local spots. Do you have a go-to place for a casual night out? We love to spend summer evenings on the rooftop patio of The Lockview with the perfect grilled cheese, a cold craft brew, and a handful of friends. It's a summer ritual.

And isn't this just the perfect dress for such an occasion? There's nothing better than a classic silhouette with a fun and modern twist. We love chambray for its ease and comfort, and this dress makes it look equally chic. If we had a weekend uniform, this would be it.

P.S. Did you enter our Very First Giveaway yet? You could win $100 to Sephora!

Our Very First Giveaway!

Happy Saturday! We usually take the weekend to rest/plan/write for the upcoming week, but we were so excited to bring you our very first Giveaway, we just couldn't wait until Monday! So go forth, Darlings, and enter to win a $100 Gift Card to everyone's' favorite fancy cosmetics store, Sephora! And let us know in the comments below which products you've had your eye on lately (I'm lookin' at you, Tarte blushes!)

Update! Congratulations to Jessica M! Thanks for entering, everyone!

One Monthsies!

Remember when you were young and you'd measure your relationships by the week? And then when you made it to one month it was a BIG DEAL? Well, this must be true love because Dearest Darling is one month old today!

We can hardly believe all the love and support we've encountered in such a short time. We've had readers from over 30 countries and we blew our visitor goals out of the water. We've gotten so many thoughtful comments, and we were featured on some of our favorite blogs!

We want to thank a few fellow bloggers who've been especially supportive with thoughtful comments and great advice. Check out Jacqueline from The Sunshine District, Sarah from Princess Audu, and Jessica from Midwest Muse. They're all fabulous ladies with fabulous blogs you should definitely check out.

As we grow into this blog, we're sure some things will change. Is there anything you'd like to see more/less of? Anything you think we should do that we haven't? Do you wish we would just shut up and leave you alone? Let us know in the comments below, we'd love to hear your feedback. And be honest! We can take it, I promise!

THANK YOU FOR ONE AMAZING MONTH! Here's to many more to come!

Dog Days of Summer

When I told people in my life that I'd be starting a blog, 90% of them naturally assumed that it would be overrun with pictures of my dog by now. I'd like to point out to those people that I've made it an entire month without even mentioning Huxley's name (SO THERE)! But I can't go on like this, the readers deserve the truth. And the truth is: we are the owners of 3 of the greatest creatures alive in the whole wide world. And you deserve the chance to get to know them. So come, feast your eyes upon puppy pictures, and get to know these magnificent gentlemen (and lady).

Be Bright: Part Two

Today we have Part Two in our Be Bright Series inspired by Kate at Clear the Way. This is all about facing the difficult, heartbreaking, and stressful things in life and making the choice to Be Bright anyway. Do something you love. Help someone you love. If you can't be bright yourself, brighten someone else's day. No matter what happens, life is full of choices. Make a choice each day to Be Bright.

Check out Part One if you missed it, and go read what Kate has to say over at Clear the Way, you'll love it!

How to Make Frushi

Can you believe we're halfway through June already? The first official day of the summer is this week, and the Fourth of July is right around the corner. You know what that means? Picnics! Cookouts! And we'd hate to send you off to your summer holiday gatherings empty handed, so we'll be sharing some of our favorite dishes for summer parties.

First up, this sweet little dessert packs a major wow factor, and it's super easy and totally customizable. I had frushi a few months ago at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World, and it was the highlight of my day. So pretty! So fresh! So perfect for a hot day! I went home determined to replicate it. Here's a recipe for easy, homemade frushi.

Be Bright: Part One

This week we were inspired by the perfectly simple, important advice of Kate at Clear the Way:

Life can be rather dull sometimes and the days can be dark.
People step on your toes in the name of insecurity, immaturity, and misguided love.
Sometimes you really care about these people, and it really hurts.
We’re all trying to do what we think is right, and sometimes people make mistakes.

Just be bright.

Be bright in the best ways you know how. Be bright by lighting up a friend’s day. Be bright by reading something new and interesting. Be bright by tending to your needs and cares. The whole world can feel gloomy at times, but you’re a really awesome person and you don’t settle. You don’t let stuff well up and cave in. You’re too bright for that noise.

Feminism is love. Feminism is using love to triumph, to heal, to accept some parts, and to dismiss other parts kindly. When you feel like the world is trying to cramp your style or as if some of your loved ones are trying to snuff your flame, you can choose to be bright.

Isn't that perfect? So we're choosing to be bright this week, both in our attitudes and in our outfits. Stay tuned for part two!

Guilty Pleasures

Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? I'll be on my own (Ben is in Chicago recording the new Annabel album) so naturally I plan to indulge in a few of my favorite guilty pleasures. Namely: binge watching TV shows (any of them, I'm not picky), eating nothing but popcorn and ice cream, and reading trashy teen lit. Do you have any fun guilty pleasures? Here's a few more of ours:

Skyla: 

• * Kety Perry: Because Teenage Dream is a love song for the ages
• * Selfies: Because I get excited about what I'm wearing and I think everyone else should be too.
• * Galley Boys: We have this amaaaazing drive in burger place called Swensons down the road. Their signature burger, the galley boy, makes me reconsider vegetarianism on the regular.
• * Kanye West: He's so cocky, I can't help but love him.

Lindsay:

• * Doctor Who: Because I'm a huge nerd and fast talking aliens make me feel all timey-wimey.
• * The aforementioned trashy teen lit series, including but not limited to: Divergent, Hunger Games, The Selection, Mortal Instruments, Matched, etc. I have a problem.
• * Talented kids singing on youtube. This is also the only thing I watch on Youtube. As far as I'm concerned, the internet is just a vehicle for talented kids to make videos of themselves being better than me at stuff. Lennon & Maisy 4 eva!

OK, now spill the beans: what are your guilty pleasures?

Where in the World: Iceland

Since we started this little blog, I've been so excited to share a little bit about my experience in Iceland last summer. It's weird to think that (almost) exactly one year ago, I was in a rental car with Ben and 3 strangers, driving down abandoned, winding mountain roads in the most beautiful, magical place on Earth. In the future I'll post a guide with all the important details for those planning a trip, but here's a little bit of our story.

A Few of my Favorite Things

 I've never been a big list-maker. If it's not to-dos or groceries, I just don't keep track. But if I had to list a few of my favorite things, here's what it would probably look like:

1. Fluffy puppies

2. Good books

3. Good coffee

4. Thai food / tacos (it's a toss up)

5. Debating (Ben might call it arguing - but he's wrong.)

And somewhere on that list would eventually appear polka dots, bright colors, and leopard print. This outfit was actually a last-minute, "all my laundry is in the basement where band practice is happening what am I going to do" creation. And then, in my hour of need, I threw together a few of my favorite things.

And now The Sound of Music soundtrack will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

Cozy Summer

We had some gloomy weather this weekend, and we figured, what better way to brighten the day than with a bold color and a cup of coffee? This skirt was a thrifted find that Skyla transformed from a weird pair of shorts into this awesome structured statement piece. She paired it with a subtle polka-dot patterned chambray, a faux leather crossbody, and T-swift tennis shoes. It's the perfect look for a cozy summer afternoon watching the rain.

Summer Reading List 2014

I don't know about you guys, but growing up, I was a super-cool kid. So cool in fact, that one of the most anticipated activities of my summer was tackling my reading list. Sure, my peers were out gallivanting around at swimming pools and getting up to all sorts of tomfoolery, but not me. No, all I needed was a tall glass of Tang and a good read.

Alright, that might be an exaggeration, but really. There's something about summer that makes a long reading list so exciting. And this summer's releases are really delivering. Here are some highlights from my must-read list:

Euphoria by Lily King - This is at the top of virtually every reading list out there right now, so I'm eager to see what all the fuss is about. A trio of 1930's anthropologists happen upon an undiscovered tribe in New Guinea, and the resulting experiences challenge their relationships with their pasts, their futures, and each other. Dun dun dunnnn... Seriously, you had me at 1930's antrhopologists.

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You by Courtney Maum - This is another chart topper, and the reviews have me intrigued. It's about a divorced man's midlife crisis after the loss of his mistress, and his determination to re-win the love of his wife. It's a comedy of life, love, and regret set in London and Paris - if that's not a recipe for a great summer read, I don't know what is.

This One Summer by Mariko & Jillian Tamaki - I'm a sucker for a good coming of age story, and this graphic novel packs a punch. The story follows a young girl through her family's summer vacation filled with secrets, danger, and friendship. The art and prose guide you back to the sense of security and the relentless excitement of childhood, and force you to face very adult struggles through a child's eyes.

The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer - This is the story of Matthew, a 19 year old boy with schizophrenia who writes in order to come to terms with his brother's death. The resulting tale is an insightful exploration of mental illness, tragedy, and love.

Not That Kind of Girl - Lena Dunham - To be fair, this one doesn't come out until September. But I'm going to spend all summer anticipating it, so that counts as a summer read, right? I loved Bossypants and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and I expect Dunham's memoir to deliver equal parts discomfort, humor, and encouragement.

Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead - This is described as "a gorgeously written, fiercely compelling glimpse into the demanding world of professional ballet and its magnetic hold over two generations." Where do I sign up? Seriously, I dabbled in dance as a child and I've always been fascinated by the intense behind-the scenes drama of ballet. Yes, please.

The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook - Two families inhabit a grand mansion as Hamburg struggles to rebuild from the post WWII rubble. Drama ensues. This could be Masterpiece Theater in a novel, and I'm on board. This gets my vote for perfect porch read.

Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique - This imaginative story chronicles three generations from 1916 to 1970 in the Virgin Islands. It's a love story, a history lesson, and a fairy tale, all in one. Fans of the late Gabriel Garcia Marquez (ie: me) will love this.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami - This is another cheat as it's not released until August, but it's also my most anticipated read this year. Haruki Murakami is probably my favorite living author, and this sounds like it'll be an excellent example of his talent. He's a realist who distorts the border with fantasy in order to achieve a higher and more honest reality. Sorry, my lit major came out for a second, let me clarify: It's great and you should read it!

Linked up at FundayMonday & MondayMingle & AllAboutYou & Be.YOU.tiful

Lovely Links

Happy Friday, friends! And also, happy National Doughnut Day! That's right, today's the official day to feast on your favorite fried sweet. I plan on eating at least a a dozen, and then spending the evening curled up in bed overcome with regret. Just kidding... probably. Anyway, what are you up to this weekend? I'm hoping to hit the winery with friends, and spend Sunday eating tacos with friends. I must be starving, because this post just turned into a list of things I plan to eat. Sorry. Here are some fun links from around the web. Enjoy!

Is your life really a Jane Austen novel?
An important thing to keep in mind when times get tough.
Also important, the complete history of Ryan Gosling.
This list makes my heart swoon a little bit.
The real story of an extraordinary hero.
Manicure tips from Essie herself.

Paint it Black

When our friend Katherine suggested we head downtown for an impromptu photo shoot, we each threw on some clothes and hopped in the car. Then we noticed a theme - is it any wonder we both opted for all black? Black on black on black is one of our favorite color palettes, especially this time of year. It's easy, it's classic, and it can take you anywhere. Today our outfits are inspired by the versatility of black - both equally chic and effortless - but both very different. Check it out!

Ideas for the Kitchen

We've had our house for over a year now. We've painted, sanded, ripped, and painted again. And with each change we've grown to love it more. But somehow the kitchen has remained untouched all this time. Maybe it's because it was never horrible to begin with, or maybe the idea of painting that wine rack was enough to make our heads spin. Either way, enough is enough. The time has come.

Pinterest has us (foolishly) believing that we can tackle this ourselves, so here's the plan. We'll paint the cabinets, update the hardware, and paint the walls a cool toned color to go with the rest of the house. Then we'll decide if we need to change the backsplash. I'm also trying to sell Ben on replacing the wine rack/cabinet combo with some nice open shelving to make the room feel bigger.

I needed a visual to get Ben on board, so I created a quick mock up in photoshop to test out colors. Take a look!

Impulsive

Sometimes impulse buys turn out to be the very best kind. I found this top a few weeks back when I was browsing for a birthday dress. As much as I loved the tailored lines, bold print, and matching skirt, I was on the fence. I knew it wasn't one of those elusive "wardrobe staples" that can go anywhere and do anything. But a friend encouraged me to go for it. "It's your birthday, wear something you're excited about."

And you know what's funny? Since that day, this top has become one of my go-to pieces. I've had fun finding different ways to wear it. I love it with this simple quilted skirt and sandals. I love it with high-waisted shorts. It's been a great reminder that bold can be versatile, too. So go on. Be a little bold today!

Photos by our friend Katherine Case.

Takeout Fakeout: How to Make the Perfect Tofu

Today I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes for a quick, delicious, takeout-quality tofu stirfry. I always imagined tofu as one of those foods that can only be delicious when it comes straight from the kitchen of a trained chef. Certainly the pros wielded some magic that could turn this lumpy, spongy bean curd into crispy fried yumminess. And I certainly couldn't replicate those results with my decidedly unmagical hands, right? Well, maybe. But then I found this secret...