The Perfect Match

For your next soirée, wear these CC SKYE Zoe earrings and decorate with Geronimo's whimsical tasseled balloons.

The perfect match!

Just A Thought

Have a nice weekend!

XO, Linds

Lindsay's Look of the Week {Chloe Rose}

 

With my return to school looming just weeks away, I've been thinking about how to transition my wardrobe from summer to fall. Take a simple summer dress, swap out the shoes and add a few chic cool-weather pieces, and you've got a perfect "back to college" look.

Head over to the Chloe Rose Style Files to see other ways we styled summer-to-fall looks!

XO, Linds

Left: Dress by Greylin, Jewelry by Vanessa Mooney 

Right: Dress by Greylin, Cardigan by MinkPink, Scarf by Spun Scarves, Bag by Jess LC, Belt by B-Low the Belt

Inspired: Turquoise & Gold

Two things I'm loving right now:

1. the summery, refreshing combo of turquoise and gold (with a pretty hint of blush pink!),

and

2. BaubleBar.

If you haven't heard of it already, BaubleBar stocks tons of beautiful jewelry and has been featured all throughout the fashion mags lately. With prices starting around $20, it is a completely affordable option to add a little glamour to your life.

Join here to get $10 off your first purchase!

What has inspired you lately?



Jewelry via BaubleBar
Images via {here} {here} {here} {here} and {here}

Midwest Must-haves {Guest Post}

There is no better way to spend a Midwestern summer than on the lake. The Midwest is taken over by humidity and heat, so the lighter of clothes you wear the better.  Unlike the preppiness of the East Coast and the boho style of the West, the Midwest takes on a much more realxed and simple style of clothing for the summer months. For my summer wardrobe I depend on a variety of different stores, two in particular: J.Crew and the Minnesota-native Target. Both provide simple clothes that can be used for layering. Layering is important because of the roller coaster heat waves we often experience here. Midwestern style relies heavily on simple pieces like a plain t-shirt and basic jean shorts; to make these easy pices more exciting I often pair them with a fun, brightly printed piece. This summer I'm really into tribal/Native American-inspired prints along with my personal favorite - animal print. Further, I love anything oversized (like the Free People sweater you see below). Flowy pieces like these are perfect for summer, whether you pair them with jeans for day or a tight skirt for night.   

The goal for Midwestern style is dressing simply but fun. Pair something plain with a fun pattern and make your outfit look effortless. For the perfect accessories look no further than fun sunglasses or a Twins baseball hat. Always have a swimsuit and sunscreen on hand. You never know when you'll jet off to the lake.

My key pieces for staying cool during a Midwestern summer:

1. Mix & match Target bikinis - lazy days on the lake means lots of swimwear!
2. A Twins baseball hat to represent the homeboys
3. Pullover sweater
4. Day-to-night dress
5. Target striped T
6. Colorful statement necklace
7. Sperry wedges
8. J.Crew flat sandals
9. Basic denim shorts
10. Native American-inspired T
11. Barbour rain jacket - you never know when you'll get caught in a torrential thunderstorm.
12. Colorful wayfarer sunglasses
13. Eclectic statement necklace
14. Minnetonka moccasins - living on Lake Minnetonka means these are a wardrobe staple for weekends. 

I hope you enjoy my "Midwest Must-Haves!"

Erin

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About this post: After high school, my close group of best friends scattered across the country. We're still close as ever, but whether it be the West Coast, East Coast, Midwest or the South, we're all over the place. As I've been featuring some fashion on The Sweet Talker lately, I thought it would be fun to have guest posts from my friends covering regional fashion. This post is the 2^nd in the series. Click here to check out “Southern Style.” I hope you enjoy!

XO, Linds

Lindsay's Look of the Week {Chloe Rose}

My look for Chloe Rose this week: Top by Greylin, Denim by MiH Jeans (Style is the Oslo in Kara), Necklace and Ring by Vanessa Mooney, Earrings by Skinny, Shoes are Tory Burch.

Visit Being Chloe Rose for the full post and two more fun looks this week!

XO, Linds

Harmony Scott Jewelry

In love with this Harmony Scott leather wrapped pearl bracelet I got for my birthday. From a small Aspen designer, it's eclectic yet versatile: perfect to dress up a T and jeans for day or stacked with an "arm party" for a boho look at night.

What is your favorite go-to jewelry?

Stay tuned for an {Eat} update tonight!

XO, Linds

Favorite Summer Beauty Products

To me, summer beauty means glowing skin, lots of sunscreen, and absolutely nothing heavy. With hot days and humidity, I can't be bothered with slathering on piles of makeup, but I still want soft coverage that leaves me looking fresh faced without melting off.

Here are my current summer beauty product obsessions:

1. Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer with SPF 15 - I put this on my face and neck every day as soon as I get out of the shower. It leaves my skin soft, primed for makeup, and protected all day long. I have fair skin, so this step is essential in my beauty routine!
2. Kiehl's Creme de Corps body lotion - I have very dry skin, so this luxurious product keeps my skin hydrated without feeling greasy.
3. Benefit You Rebel tinted moisturizer - This one is a new beauty buy for me this summer. I have pretty clear skin, so I never thought I needed the coverage of a tinted moisturizer. As soon as I tested this product out, however, I knew I was a convert! The moisturizer gives me soft, flawless looking skin, and the hint of color gives me enough coverage to even out my skin and give me a little summer glow. The best part is that the product is sheer enough to wear in even the stickiest summer weather so you don't have to worry about sweating it off.
4. Benefit Girl Meets Pearl highlighter - Perhaps best described as a "luminizer,"I dab a little of this silky highlighter above my cheekbones for a subtle pearly glow. I am obsessed with this one!
5. Kiehl's Lip Balm with SPF 15 - Getting sunburned is up there on my list of "least favorite things." Even worse? Bright red puffy sunburned lips. This lip balm with SPF 15 is a lifesaver - and slightly addictive!
6. Bobbi Brown Blush in Poppy - Although it looks bright, this blush is sheer enough to give just a hint of color for delicately rosy cheeks.
7. Physician's Formula Gel Eyeliner for blue eyes - Easy to apply for a liquid eyeliner look, or smudged a little for a smoky eye, the best part of this trio (besides the fact that you get three fun colors!) is that it stays put all day (or all night) long.
8. St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub - Like I mentioned before, my skin is on the dry side, even during summer. This great-smelling scrub gets rid of those pesky little dry bumps leaving skin fresh and arms tank-top ready.
9. Physician's Formula Eye Enhancing Shadows - This wonderful palette with eye enhancing colors has three formulaic groups: natural, playful and dramatic. Or mix and match to create your own look!
10. L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara - I've been searching for my go-to mascara and think I have finally found "the one!" This mascara has an "excess wiper" built into the tube, eliminating the icky clumped-on look that bugs me so much about new mascara. One coat of this mascara glides on clump-free and gives me a bright-eyed look. Love it!

What are your favorite summer beauty buys? On my lookout list: bright lipstick or gloss. Any suggestions?

Citizen Cake Cupcakes {Happy Birthday To Me!}

I had the pleasure of enjoying these Citizen Cake cupcakes the other night as part of my birthday celebration.

Owned by Chef Elizabeth Falkner, I had been dying to try these treats ever since seeing her many times on the Food Network.

We divided up the cupcakes so we could each get a taste of the different flavors, and my favorites were the Citizen Signature (cocoa genoise cake filled with marshmallow fluff and ganache glaze) and Vixen (devils food chocolate cake with burnt caramel injection, fudge frosting and fleur de sel). The other flavors, like Carrot, Red Velvet, and Caramel Apple, were delicious as well.

 

Thanks to everyone for helping make my birthday so very special!

XO, Linds

Southern Style {Guest Post}

I think my friend Caroline explained it best when she said, “true to my Vanderbilt training, I ALWAYS go out in a dress and heels.” I don’t think there is any such thing as being too dressed up for the occasion in the South – it seems perfectly appropriate to attend a tailgate in a floral dress and pearls. When I’m shopping for school, my staples are sundresses, cardigans, and light scarves that I can pair with any outfit to change it up a bit. Also, try rethinking the lbd and reach for a lwd – little white dress – that you can dress up with fun, colorful jewelry.  

For accessories, you can’t go wrong with croakies from Southern Tide to attach to your wayfarer sunglasses (another Southern staple with all the sun we get!). As far as footwear, Jack Rogers are abundant (although I admit, I find their wooden heels very uncomfortable. Ah, the price of beauty!) and boat shoes are always classic. I personally have my eye on these Sperry’s with the adorable pink and blue plaid accents.

And for the men, you may think I’m crazy, but pastel button downs and pastel shorts are not only acceptable, but encouraged!



{Click for larger image}

1. Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Sunglasses
2. Michael Stars Striped Seaside  Scarf
3. Southern Tide Skipjack Croakies
4. J.Crew Featherweight Cotton Cardigan
5. Sperry Top-Sider Boat Shoe
6. Shoshanna Button Front Sheath Dress
7. Shoshanna Gathered Bodice Dress
8. Jack Rogers Palm Beach Navajo Sandals
9. Mikimoto Pearls
10. Milly Signature Cuff
11. kate spade "Cut to the Chase" Necklace
12. Lily Pulitzer Betsey Eyelet Dress
13. Spun Abstract Sunflower Print Scarf
14. {For the boys} Brooks Brothers Shorts

Thanks for reading!

Clare

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About this post: After high school, my close group of best friends scattered across the country. We're still close as ever, but whether it be the West Coast, East Coast, Midwest or the South, we're all over the place. As I've been featuring some fashion on The Sweet Talker lately, I thought it would be fun to have guest posts from my friends covering regional fashion. This post is the first in the series. I hope you enjoy!

XO, Linds

Enjoy: 4th of July Fashion Picks

Recently, I've been loving the retro-nautical-americana vibe I've been seeing in summer clothing. With 4th of July right around the corner, I thought I would share some of my favorite fashion and beauty picks for the patriotic holiday weekend.

{click for larger image}

1. Forever 21, High Waist Jean Short, $13.80
2. Vanessa Mooney, Classic Silver Teardrop Earrings, $42
3. Stuart Weitzman, Crocheted Ankle-Wrap Espadrille, $365
4. Jess LC, Lake Shore Navy Tote, $120
5. C&C California, Vine Stripe Empire Maxi Dress, $148
6. Urban Outfitters, Retro Swim
7. Anthropologie, Neapolitan Bucket Hat, $48
8. Banana Republic, Murphy Aviator Sunglasses, $98
9. Essie, Lollipop, $8
10. William Arthur, Vera Wang Letterpress Anchor Notes, $32
11. NYX Cosmetics, Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo, $6
12. {for the boys} J.Crew, Red Chambray Bow Tie, $39.50 

What are your must-haves for the 4th?

Judy Kaufmann Prints & Sunday in the Marina

This Judy Kaufmann print perfectly sums up how I'm feeling about San Francisco after enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon strolling and shopping through the Marina.

To see more of her bright and whimsical pieces, visit the Barcelona-based artist's site.

Swensen's Ice Cream {Russian Hill}

I'd like to introduce you to one of my favorite sweet spots on Russian Hill. It's called Swensen's, and is located on the corner of Hyde & Union.

It's modeled after an old school ice cream shop, and has dozens of the creamiest ice cream flavors I've ever tasted.

My favorite is the Mocha Fudge, but I've been dying to try the Bittersweet Chocolate and Swiss Orange Chip.

Dining In

 Sometimes there's nothing better than staying in...

Eating simple, fresh food from the Farmer's Market...

And enjoying a beautiful view on a quiet weeknight.

Lunch on the Lake

We have had nothing but blue skies since the cloudy streak ended this week, and I have been soaking up as much of the sunny weather as possible (which means I also learned my lesson and will be using more sunscreen from now on... ouch).

I caught up with a good friend the other day at a restaurant on the lakefront.

The town in which I grew up is located on the lake; water activities were always a fun part of my Minnesota summers as a kid.

We had a great view from our table. The tulips were so bright and cheery, I couldn't resist taking a picture!

I love that I grew up in a quaint community and that my best childhood friends lived just down the street. Now, it's always fun to come back and take a walk around town with old friends. There really is no place like home.

Visiting Grandparents

I consider myself very lucky to be able to say that I am so close to my grandparents. They live about a 20 minute drive from where I grew up, and "going to grandma's" was always a constant in my childhood. Now that I'm older, I realize how special this is, and I really treasure our time together.

A few of the things I love about visiting my grandparents:

Welcome...

...to my new blog! After blogging my study abroad adventures in Barcelona and across Europe at Sigame a España, I was inspired to keep a blog following my other experiences at home here in the U.S. Now that finals are over, I plan for this blog to help document the sweetness of summer before my senior year of college as I "Eat, Explore, and Enjoy" in Minneapolis and San Francisco over the next few months.

"The Sweet Talker" has been inspired by a number of blogs over the past couple of years, namely The Pioneer Woman, CakeSpy, Joy the Baker, My Baking Addiction, Oh Joy! and Cupcakes and Cashmere (do you notice a trend here?). I hope that I can follow their footsteps to provide entertaining blog posts that are both a visual treat and fun to read.

It might take me a couple of weeks to get this blog really swinging, but stay tuned to see where my culinary and everyday endeavors take me!