missing summer

it's that time of year again... the time where one gets so restless of being indoors and all one can think of is summer! so because of the days spent dreaming of summer... i started looking back at all of the old photos on my phone.. and then it really hit me, that i miss summer, but also that summer is NEAR! i cannot wait. i want to on the lake, playing games with friends, and getting color from the glorious sun. on tuesday it is suppose to be 60, so that will basically feel like summer ;) but really, summer please come soon...

the perfect meal for one who hates air conditioning

simple cooking creates delicious meals. 

i dont know why we have ever strayed from this. 

why meals have come complicated. especially in the summer. 

chad and i have this weird philosophy in our home, we have central air. but... we don't use it.

it may be 89 degrees, and humid. but turning on that air condition does not even remotely seem appealing. when you live in a state that is below 30 degrees for 4 to 5 months out of the year . a little sweat indoors feels great. (yeah, we're crazy) but besides the fact that we are rooting for anything besides turning on that air, we try really hard not to turn on the oven. 

it's slightly ridiculous how far of measures we will go to avoid turning that thing on.

so thankfully there is the grill.

and antipasto salads. that we eat all summer long.

with that, if you are in refusal of turning on the air coordinating... and the oven. here is the simple solution for you.

caprese salad

fresh garden tomatoes, sliced thinly

fresh mozzarella , sliced thinly

fresh basil

best quality olive oil

salt & pepper

arrange cheese, tomato, and basil in rows

drizzle olive oil over, and if you would like  a litle kick, drizzle some blasmic

generously apply salt and pepper

lemony chicken

**this is a recipe that i just  threw together and tasted really good, and here are the things that i think went into it ;)**

3 lemons

chicken breast

2 garlic cloves

1 tablespoon olive oil

fresh salt and pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

fresh basil

slice lemons thinly

mince garlic

add salt,pepper, and cayenne to chicken

put all of these things in a zip lock bag and add olive oil.

marinate for at least one hour, and up to 24 hours.

heat grill to medium and cook until chicken is done, i did 5-8 minutes per side

chop up basil and arrange in a pretty pan or dish

grilled corn on the cob

heat grill to medium

pull husks away from corn and soak in water for 10 minutes

pull husks back up and transfer to grill, grill for 15-20 minutes

what are your favorite summer recipes?

things that make me say yay // 05

top// madewell skirt// h&m shoes//ralpyh lauren glasses// firmo purse// coach

long summer walks around the lake

tomatoes, especially when they are fresh from the garden

ponytails in the summer

becoming more settled in my new place

indoor plants... and how they are becoming my friends ;)

m.k fischer's novels

spending afternoons looking at photos of southern france

making new friends

what makes you say yay?

shrimp tacos

so, i know i have mentioned that we love mexican in this house, like a little too much. i am thinking that secertly, we are part mexican we just don't have the biological proof to say that. ;)

we like it a lot, and i have blogged about it a lot, like  HERE, but i guess we can't help it. that darling husband of mine always wants more of it! i am constantly looking for new recipes to whip up (since we average a mexican meal at least once a week) and came across this shrimp taco recipe. granted, shrimp tacos are not super spicy tacos, but they are similar in the sense that we were still eating tacos, they may be sweet but spicy, and i don't believe that mexican cooking uses a lot of fish, but despite that, i decided to still categorize it in the mexican category (i know, i know, doesn't really make sense but in my head it does, ha!)

so if you have a husband or boyfriend that is constantly wanting some type of taco recipe and you are struggling to find one that is different, i have provided you with the solution :) it is the perfect recipe for meal out on the deck and a little sangria.

spicy shrimp tacos

oil
1 pound shrimp
1 can enchilada sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 head cabbage, green or purple, whatever you choose, sliced real thin! i have been on a purple kick lately, i dont know if it is the color, or that i am making up in my head it taste better, but i really do like it.
1 chopped jalapeno
1/2 onion diced
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup mayo
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
dash of salt
dash of cayenne pepper
bunch of cilantro, chopped
fresh lemon

6 of your  favorite variety of tortilla

1. in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot, add shrimp and spices and cook until done, about 10-15 minutes. then add enchilada sauce and cook until thicken, about 5-10 minutes

2. meanwhile, prepare the slaw. in a large bowl place cabbage, jalapeno, onion. set aside. in a medium bowl mix milk, mayo, vinegar, sugar, salt, and cayenne. mix until blended well. pour sauce into large bowl and coat cabbage. then squeeze the lemon on top.

3. when shrimp is all done, set up a little station and assemble tacos to whatever one's preference may be.

num num! quick, simple, delicious.

if you have any other mexican/taco recipes i would love to hear them.. well i think, unless we need a taco intervention in this house. ;)

chasing daylight

 

so minneapolis weather has still been a little weird. super chilly one day, where you have to be so bundled up and then the next, is hot humid day again. though the hot days are pretty much gone but chad and i were lucky enough to spend one the last warmer day with our friend JD, who happens to be an awesome photographer. we walked around lake of the isles (a lake i often forget about) and then went and go pizza at my favorite place, pizzeria lola. the whole night was a great summary of why minnesota summers are the best, especially when spent with friends. 

thanks JD for the awesome photos and the great company! 

pianos & the park

in the summer there are several things that come to my mind of what to do with a little one... but the one i always go back to is the park. i love the park. and the kids love it too! they love to stare at the "older" kids, play on the swings, or even roll around in the grass. though my little nanny lady is only a year old, she has fully caught onto the fun aspects of play and if we walk by a park, she starts to holler to stop (they get so smart so young!) but i never mind. i think that little ones learn so much by playing and even falling down. they are able to develop both the fine and large motor skills they are necessarily for their future daily functioning. 

**all smiles when we get into the car, which isn't always the case, but sometimes she is just a peach saying "hi!" to all of the cars that pass us by, othertimes the car ride isn't as pleasent**

**i just love this little lady, and love that we are starting to share some snack with one another. the apple was a big risk but she just kinda nibbled off of mine, she is so interested in trying all of these new foods and textures, so everything is going into that mouth**

one of my favorite things this summer are all of the pianos located around the twin cities. i am not very familiar with the project but there is a several painted pianos located through out saint paul and minneapolis. these pianos are for public use so anyone can plop down and play a song. this little lady thought it was so so cool.

what do you do with your little ones during the summer?

life lately: summer heat

life lately via chad and i's iphone/instagram

1// baby and i went to the walker, a great museum in the minneapolis area! they have a great sculpture garden with lots of life sized pieces of art. this cherry on the spoon is a great local classic! the little baby loves going here. it is her favorite art museum 2// look at her cute little blue eyes 3// hot hot days around here! meaning more time beach side. we are experiencing the heat wave that a lot of midwest/ east coast people have. yesterday i passed an office building that said 97! and that isn't factoring in the humidity factor either. needless to say, lots of showers. and water. 4// lake nokomis, that is the closest minneapolis lake to chad and i, we go there often if we feel like doing a quick lap around the lake. then we usually stop and get some gelato at a local shop around there!

other things that have been going on lately:

it is still busy around here. i feel like my head is spinning. not to mention i haven't been sleeping well, which is never a problem for me lately?

also with all of this hot heat, i am craving more hot things? ironic right? i want hot mochas, hot soup... someone please tell me i am normal ( i know i am not, this is a very weird and abnormal thing) but, oh well. i have had a hot cappuccino the other day and it was delightful. i didn't care that it was 95 degrees out... now only if i could get some soup ;)

picnic in the park

since this blog has turned into "all of the reasons" i love summer. here is another one. community events. (and the majority of them are free!) i love it! there is all types of festivals, concerts, and even movies in the park during the summer. what a great way to get outside with some friends and family to enjoy it. 

the other day some friends and i went to a classical music concert in the park, we turned it into a little picnic and had some adult beverages and lemon pellegrino, it was great ;)

 **my friend angie and i, our picnic consisted of mostly snack-y types of foods. carrots, celery, a berry mix, cheese and crackers, and my favorite apples with cinnamon sugar over them! oh not to mention gushers ;)**

 **always love getting more pictures with him... though he may think we have a few hundred too many**

 we ended the night with nothing better then ice cream, my kind of night. summer your a dream.

food of the week: kebabs + strawberry juice

here is a recipe of how to make summer dinners lovely.

start by using a grill to get tasty, summery food that you can only eat during this season (at least when you live in the midwest)

add some fresh herbs from the garden. let them be your inspiration of what you will be cooking.

finish by putting fresh flowers on the table!

grilling + herbs + flowers = great summer meal. especially if eaten outdoors!

so, if you haven't noticed... grilling still going on at our house. it just doesn't get old when you can find so many recipes that provide such variety!  it is great. mix in all of the great herbs from our garden. so far this summer we have only had the same thing once (that the thing we repeated was just a side salad.. you know that corn one i loved!).

kebabs are what we have been doing as of lately. they are easy, flavorful. and pretty good! this one here was our favorite recipe as of lately

beef kebabs

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 small yellow onion grated
2 garlic cloves grated
1/4 pepper diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. sea salt
ground pepper

sauce:
1/2 cup sour cream (or plain yogurt would work! i thought of this after)
1 freshly squeezed lime or lemon

heat the grill to medium high. combine all ingredients. divide the mixture into six equal parts. then between palms of hands, form each portion into 4 1 inch pattys. put the 4 pattys onto a skewer. grill until meet is browned.

add this with the corn salad. you will have a great meal!

and if you are looking for a nice summery juice! i have found your recipe

3-4 cucumbers
2-3 lemons
2-3 apples
1-2 kiwis (can keep skin on)
handful of strawberries

put into juicer and enjoy!

what food have you been loving latley?

freedom lakeside

well i hope everyone had a lovely time celebrating independence day! chad and packed up our bags and headed north to his family's cabin. it is a beautiful place in northern minnesota. we have created some wonderful memories, including when he proposed last memorial day weekend! we have been itching to get up there but because of work we hadn't gotten a full weekend up yet. thank goodness for extended holiday weekends because our little trip up north was exactly what we needed! 

**the kirseboms on the 4th (not going to lie, i have worn that red stripped tank for three 4th of julys in a row... next year i need to find a new patriotic outfit ;) )**

 ** coffee lakeside + fishing, it doesn't get better then that**

 **lacey attack**

 while we were up there we got some skiing in. i am still a fairly new skier but love any chance i get to get out on the water. chad is a whole lot better at it then i am, bu i am going to say that is because he's a guy, and the fact that i am still a newbie ;)

 we ended the night with watching some fireworks off the dock. it was so beautiful to see the collection of fireworks going off by the lake front. the only bummer was that attack of bug that bit up my legs. i am not kidding when i say i have 15 bug bites in a 6 inch radis. they were awful, but they aren't going to get me down, not on my favorite holiday! ;) i hope everyone had a great holiday weekend with family and friends. and once again, happy birthday america, land of the free!

the must have bags for travel

well i am off at the lake my friend rachel is going to be posting here today about the best types of travel bags. how perfect is this! i am always looking around for cute and fun bags to bring with me while on the road. so with that, welcome rachel!

************

Hi all! I am thrilled to be posting on Heather’s darling blog today! My name is Rachel from Brachel Boulevard. The term “Brachel” started when my husband, Brandon, started joking about “celebrity” couple names. Brandon+Rachel=Brachel. Over the years, the joke continued and now “Brachel” has come to represent all of the wonderful things we have done as a couple. Over the last 4 years we have had two children, visited 12 countries, lived abroad once and are about to do it again! Our family of 4 is about to move to Spain in just 5 weeks. We are pretty much nervous wrecks but are incredibly excited at the same time! We would love to have you follow along at BrachelBoulevard.com

Like most ladies out there, I love a good bag, especially when traveling. I decided to put together a quick list of bags that I am craving for our upcoming move, and upcoming travel adventures. Swoon…

 camera bag * weekender * backpack * carry on

~Make sure to head over to Brachel Boulevard for a fun giveaway today~

************

thanks again rachel for posting, i love all of these bags. generally speaking i tend to go the weekender route but will be using some of your recommendations for some trips i have planned in the next few months! make sure you guys go check out rachel and her adorable blog!

summer lately

my life lately via chad and i's iphone/instagram feed. 

1// pretty ally way in saint paul 2// we love brunch 3// the days have been early around here.. just finished up finals week and chad had a lot going on at work. meaning, we had lots of early mornings! in fact today was the first day we got to "sleep in" and that was 7am. 4// ice cream on the tail gait! we have been lovin that chad got a new truck. especially for summer dates like this one!

5// had to get at least one ice cream picture in. sometimes i like fro-yo to be a healthy little snack.. the other day it was not. just cold chocolately fro-yo. it was great 6// cute litte flower shop down the lane 7// we went to a trampline park for chads birthday! 8// and it was this little one's birthday this last weekend too. her birthday party was at the zoo!

other lately's that have been going on.

i have a few days off from class before starting again so i am taking full advantage of this by not spending time on the computer (apart from this post). it has been so nice, actually getting away from the internet. it is a love hate thing

so instead of spending time on the computer, i have been reading! ah so nice. i have become obsessed with the library and spend hours requesting books online, so then all i have to do is stop by and pick them up! its become a weekly thing. how come i never did this before?!

birthday weekend

so over the weekend it was chads birthday. and i love birthdays. i think they are the most fun thing. i always get a little carried away -plan big long day activities, decorate the house, and know that i will be eating extra ice cream! and over the years because i get so excited about this, i have found that i love chads birthday more then i love mine. i am nuts! also, in our house, birthday celebrations are not just one day, it s a before the day, the day, and after the day type of thing. 

so we started birthday weekend going to a cute pizzeria in south minneapolis called pizzeria lola. little did we know that in the middle of our dinner there would be a flash flood/thunderstorm that lead to the power going out! but in all reality it worked out greatly, we  were lucky and had a window seat where we had a beautiful show of all of the rain and got to have an unexpected candle light dinner. it was great! though we did some other birthday festivities this was definitely a high light and a great story we will remember forever. not to mention the pizza was so delicious. 

** because we were on a date just the two of us we didn't get a good photo, so being the photographer that chad is he went ahead and snapped this one of me- sometimes i wish i had his abilities!**

happy birthday chad! 

linking up with sami for the weekend update!  

my favorite things about minnesota summers

ah the beauty of summer nights around a lake. living in minnesota we are so blessed to be surrounded by large masses of water. there are so many trails to go explore, fun walking paths filled with beautiful scenery. it is love. and this type of weather/beauty what makes me fall in love with minnesota again. yes we have crazy winters (especially this year!), but the second summer hits you fall in love. (until winter comes again)

but because i am on my summer sunshine high, i am going to be sharing five things that make me say yay about minnesota summers

1// coffee & gin rummy  by the lake with friends, three things that the kirseboms love

2// the beautiful minnesota lakes, filled with sailboats! 

3// my love, we have spent the last two summers apart ( i was in ny for an internship in 2010, and in 2011 chad worked at a summer camp in iowa) so it is such a treat to finally spend the summer months together again! i feel like we need to make up for lost time 

4//   cute little trolly cars. i haven't gone on one before but i would love to try and get on one this summer, they are so fun! (well at least they look like they are!)**

5// all of the pastels that you wear in the summer. they just scream its nice weather outside! 

what is your favorite part about summer?

insta-summer

my life lately according to chad's and i's iphone/instagram pictures. 

1// katie's party! 2// katie looking all cute, about to get married on saturday 3& 4// katie and i ventured out to our favorite coffee shop in the city, spyhouse. we did lots of studying there in college. good ol' memories 6// cutest ice cream truck at calhoun 7// time for a baseball game! 8// family at the game 9// chad and i 10// our hats matched the twins piggy bank. 

life lately. well the sprummery weather has continued in minnesota, so i am just going to call it the year that it became insta-summer. no spring, just summer. but i can't complain! it also feels like summer because our first wedding of the year (aside from our own) is this weekend for my good friend katie rose. and to top of the summery feelings, we went to our first baseball game of the year. life is good. summer is great. :)

link up with us and show us your insta-lately/ iphone photos! 

sprummery things

top: jcrew shorts: nordstrom sunglasses: target

sprummer. yes this is the term i made up and continuously uses through out the entire weekend. spring + summer = sprummer. chad may or may not be on board with the term, silly boy! minnesota went from having a mini snow storm monday evening to having glorious summery weekend. temperatures were in the 70s, it was amazing! it was also the first weekend to wear shorts comfortably. its practically like a holiday.

so cheers to the sprummery weekend and to the many more like it!

Labor Day Weekend Fun

1// me & lacy 2// C on boat 3// lovebirds on the boat 4// vintage boat show 5 // vintage boat show 6// cute golden puppy I met at the boat show 7// Lake Vermillion 8// C & I after swimming 9// flea market 10// flea market finds  11// shooting 12// c & dog 13// c & I  14// lacy as a lap dog 

As always, C & I had a blast at the lake this weekend. It is so nice to escape from the craziness and the to-do list to a place of nothing. Nothing is planned, nothing has to get done, no where you have to be. It really allowed me to unwind before having to start school again. We spent the lake hanging out, boating, and spending time outside.

My favorite part about the cabin are the mornings. You wake up, get your cup of coffee and stare out onto the stillness of the lake. The beauty is captivating.  

But back to reality and the to-do list (after all I do have a wedding to plan ;) )