Neon Necklace

Necklace: Neon Necklace in Pink & Orange by T&J Designs (c/o) | dress: Lilly Pulitzer (white ones here) | shoes: Urban Outfitters | purse: Gap

I'm so excited to see the movie "The Bling Ring" this weekend! I haven't even read the book yet, but for some reason, this is a movie I'm just dying to see. Something about girls obsessed with reality tv wanting to be famous, and stealing from celebs seems just a little crazy. Plus, I'm dying to know how these girls went from "normal" to obsessed and who doesn't love Emma Watson? And of course, the styles ... oh, the fashion that's going to be in the Bling Ring - dying to see it all!

But back to my neon necklace... I'm a fan of neon, but not when it's overwhelming. So, when I saw the bling at T&J Designs and they offered to send me something, I became a little obsessed with this neon necklace and a bunch of their other jewelry because it is all absolutely fab. I adore this neon necklace and it adds the perfect touch to my favorite Lilly dress. {Well, today's favorite. Tomorrow, I'm sure I'll have another.} But, pink and orange bling add the perfect touch of edge to the sweetness of this dress and allow me to keep my simple style, but with some fun. Which is what style, in my opinion, is all about.

Thanks for reading - what movies are you looking forward to this summer?

xo ~chloe

29+ Ideas for Bucket Lists

We are a few weeks into summer and boredom is almost setting in, so now is the time to pull out or start summer bucket lists! They motivate us to go out and do something fun when there seems like there is nothing to do on a hot summer day. No more "I'm sooo bored!" We pulled together and wrote down some of our top things that we wanted to accomplish this summer -- from retro to fun to exhilarating -- let's get this summer started!

Some of the ideas that made it on our Summer Bucket Lists:

- Pull an all-nighter - Skydive (yikes!) - Go to the zoo - Go to a state I’ve never been to - Go to the beach - Buy my dream purse - Take a golf lesson - Take a boxing class - Buy $1 in pennies & place them face up for good luck for others to find - Find a race and enter it - Create and go on a scavenger hunt - Mountain bike (on a mountain) - Make tie-dyed shorts - Perfect “the flirt” - Watch the sunset - Have a picnic - Create something new & different - Have a movie marathon - Read a new book that I would typically pass up - Create a summer songs playlist - Wish on a shooting star - Rock a romper - Actually finish a stick of chapstick - Jump off the high dive - Go to a concert - Find the perfect sunglasses - Compliment 3 people in 1 hour - Roadtrip anywhere - Get a pedicure & try a not-so-me polish - Have a bonfire - Go to a drive-in movie - Play flashlight tag

In our typical fashion, we decided to make it a little more exciting than the predictable notebook list {so blah & boring}. After a short and inexpensive run to Hobby Lobby to pick up popsicle sticks, gold spray paint, white puffy paint, and a mini vase from Target, we got to work. We spray painted both sides of the Popsicle sticks and after letting them dry, started thinking up ideas and writing one on each stick. We let those dry, stuck them in the vase, and voilà: the cutest summer bucket lists on the planet, just sitting bedside as daily inspiration. Whenever boredom hits, just close your eyes, pick a stick, and you've got your day planned!

And yes, we'll be doing some of these. Make sure you're following us on Instagram so you can check our progress!

What's on your summer bucket lists?

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

It's official: the first signs of fall are here. It's finally cool (well, at least in the morning), and leaves are beginning to fall from the trees. I've been baking cinnamony and pumpkiny and cranberry-y things for a month now and it finally feels justifiable. To celebrate, I made a batch of buttery shortbread studded with creamy white chocolate and tart cranberries. They melt in your mouth and are deliciously crumbly, and they have all the good things of shortbread plus all that's good about fall. Another bonus is that, because they are shortbread and not sugar cookies, there are no eggs. All that means to me is that I can eat the dough without worrying about salmonella and that fun stuff.

White Chocolate Cranberry Shortbread

Want to know the key characteristic of shortbread? Let's ask our good friend Paula Deen. Enough said. There is a LOT of butter in this recipe, but that is what makes them melt in your mouth, and it also gives the cookies wonderful flavor. Since there are no eggs, butter is the primary source of moisture; you want a dry, crumbly cookie, but you want a cookie, not streusel. Without this ungodly amount of butter, you would just be baking mounds of coffee cake topper. That's delicious and all, but I want a cookie and I want it to taste good.

These cookies are what is commonly known as slice and bake cookies, which means that you roll the dough into a log, chill it, and slice it into coins. You can make the logs as big or as small as you want, but I make mine about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and slice them about half an inch thick. This size allows them to bake perfectly and have the best texture without becoming too dark.

What makes these cookies unique is the smattering of dried cranberries. You can get dried cranberries pretty much anywhere now, and for good reason. They are pleasantly chewy and tart, and they complement the flavors and textures of both the white chocolate and the shortbread. I don't bother chopping mine for this recipe since they are cut when I slice the logs of dough; this cuts down on time and the varied sizes of cranberries gives the cookies a rustic look.

My white chocolate cranberry cookies couldn't be simpler, and they taste so good! The flavors are simple and shout elements of fall. I like to make them in bulk and keep them in my freezer because both the dough and the cookies freeze spectacularly, but they are usually gone within hours anyway!

2 Sticks Butter, Softened 1 Cup Powdered Sugar 2 Cups Flour 1 tsp Vanilla 1/2 tsp Salt 1/2 Cup White Chocolate Chips 1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the vanilla and salt, then add the flour. Fold in the white chocolate chips and cranberries.

Split the dough in half. Place each half on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into two logs about 1 1/2" in diameter, sealing the ends of the plastic. Chill until cold, about 1 hour.

Heat the oven to 350F and line cookie trays with parchment.

Slice the dough into 1/2" rounds and place the coins on the prepared trays. Bake for 8 minutes or until just golden around the edges.

Makes 28, Recipe Adapted from www.theendlessmeal.com