LIFE / STYLE : Good Clean Autumnal Fun + Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar

Over the weekend we took a short road trip to the west side of Michigan to meet up with a few friends and go apple picking. It's become a yearly tradition of ours- we call it the Good Clean Fun Autumnal Outing! I get absolutely dorky over Fall activities- hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches- when the weather cools and the leaves change, I need it all in my life! We visited Jollay Orchards- a darling little farm that I highly recommend checking out if you're in the area.

Of   course we picked waaaaay too many apples. Like, way to many. I've been making applesauce and apple muffins and apple pear cranberry pie and having apple butter and toast for breakfast every morning and I still have a whole huge bowl full of apples! So when a friend told me she was using her haul to give homemade apple cider vinegar a try, I figured why not!? I'm a huge fan of ACV. Like down a tablespoon of the stuff every morning kind of fan. There are so many benefits to using apple cider vinegar- check it out! I followed a combination of this recipe and this recipe and currently my apples are fermenting in a huge jar in my pantry. I'll definitely let you guys know how it all turns out in a few weeks. In the meantime, if you have any tips, send them my way!

Live Wild, Flower Child // Our Boho Baby Shower

You guys, our baby bash was featured on 100 Layer Cakelet this week and I'm just so darn excited to share a few photos with you! It was seriously the most special day. We gathered at one of our favorite local taco joints, Antique Taco, to feast, laugh, listen to records, and celebrate our little Moonpie with a boho themed party! Head on over to 100 Layer Cakelet to see the full feature.

Up  until this point we had kept the whole boy or girl thing a secret, so we decided to reveal the baby's sex at the shower. As guests arrived, we had them place their bets. Toward the end of the shower, we brought out a piñata and let family take a swing. It was by far the highlight of the day- so incredibly fun to see the surprise and joy on everyone's faces as the piñata exploded into a cloud of pink confetti and candy! There were lots and lots of happy tears. We drew a name from those that had cast a girl ballot, and the winner took home a special little raffle prize- a box of Moonpies, of course!

We  asked guests to fill out these Wishes for Baby cards designed by Kirra Reyna Designs. I've read over them so many times since that day. The answers make me laugh so hard and tear up and feel all the feelings. It's incredible to know just how loved this little girl is already. She is so lucky to have an amazingly bad ass village of people in her life to support her!

The Foxglove Studio adorned this macrame backdrop (by My Macramania) with wild flowers and greenery and it literally made my heart go pitter patter!

Seriously  the most dreamy and fun day! I wish I could relive it a million times over. You can see even more photos on the Avery House blog. I worked with such an incredible group of vendors to make my boho baby dreams come true and I can't thank them enough! Check them out below.

Venue & Catering: Antique Taco / Photographer: Avery House / Flowers: The Foxglove Studio / Flower Crown: Asrai Garden / Macrame Wall Hanging: My Macramania / Cake & Cookies: Alliance Bakery / Mini Donuts: Stan’s Donuts Chicago / Hand Lettered Window: Papa-to-be Matthew Bremer / Invitations & Wishes for Baby Cards: Kirra Reyna Designs / Piñata: Bash Party Goods / My Dress: Free People (similar here) / Make-up: To Have & To Glow

Mama Style // Labor Day Weekend at the Lake

The end of summer is always so bittersweet. I could totally deal with about a million more blazing hot days, brunches on patios, ice cream dates, park hangs, and backyard BBQs. But alas, Labor Day came and went and that means fall is upon us! We took full advantage of the long weekend and snuck away for a quick road trip to the beach. We spent a few days in South Haven, Michigan hanging out with family, lazing around by the lake, enjoying endless picnics, and taking in the super quaint little beach town.

It was absolutely the perfect way to close out summer. AND it marked the last little getaway Matt and I will take before baby comes so it was an extra bittersweet weekend! I'm 35 weeks tomorrow so we're just 5 weeks away from Moonpie's due date. Eek! 

Hat: Brixton / Dress: Santa Marguerite / Sunnies: Warby Parker Barrie Sunglasses in Jet Black

How did you spend your last weekend of summer? Hope it was lazy and relaxing and sun soaked and wonderful!

**This post is in partnership with Warby Parker but, as always, all ideas, words, and opinions expressed are totally my own!

Drink Up. Live Well. with Harvest Juicery

I seriously can't believe the end of February is upon us! Anybody else feel like this year is flying by? This month has been all about cleansing for me. And I mean that in every possible sense of the word! I've been purging, deep cleaning, and organizing my house like mad (I recently read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and it really struck a cord with me). All that shedding of possessions got me thinking about deep cleaning other areas of my life. Try as I might to stay on a healthy course, the winter months make it waaaaay too tempting to splurge on junk food while Netflix binging wrapped in a blanket on my couch. Basically, me and the gym and vegetables haven't been on speaking terms lately.

To jump start a cleaner lifestyle I called in back up from local juice shop, Harvest Juicery. I mean, their motto is "Drink Up. Live Well." and that's something I can get behind! Their cold-pressed juices and made in house smoothies are such a fresh and yummy way to ensure I'm getting my daily dose of veggies. Not to mention, their oh so dreamy minimalist store front in Fulton Market has me feeling some kind of way! Below, we're giving you the skinny on Harvest.

So what exactly is cold-pressed juice and why is it better than the regular stuff, you ask? It’s juice that’s hydraulically pressed – a fancy press that does not generate any heat and keeps the temperature of the product without oxidizing. Thousands of pounds of pressure are applied to extract the juice leaving each bottle packed with enzymes and nutrients that are otherwise robbed in other juicing methods. Each bottle of Harvest Juicery juice contains 2-3 pounds of vegetables. I also love that at Harvest, all of the fruits and vegetables that go into their juice are organic or locally sourced. They incorporate fresh herbs and spices in each and every bottle that not only awaken your taste buds but nourish your body. And that’s why it tastes so good!

Now that I'm hooked on Harvest (the Grapefruit and Green #2 are my favorite), I'm thinking about giving their 3 Day Cleanse a try. And because Harvest Juicery is like a modern day milkman with their amazing delivery service, getting my hands on healthy fresh-pressed juice is that much easier!

Feeling ready to get juiced? Check out our Instagram today for an extra juicy giveaway. One lucky follower is going to score a sampler pack of 3 Harvest Juicery juices!

*Since Harvest Juicery juices are unpasteurized, it’s best to enjoy them within 72 hours to ensure the highest quality, health benefits, and taste.

{Lauren}

LIFE / STYLE: All You Need Is Love...

There are about a million beautiful murals splashed across the walls in the city (check some of them out here). And that means there are a million different poses to strike in front of them! The Love Mural on Damen is one of our favorites and just seems super appropriate for Valentine's Day weekend, don't ya think?

On Claire // Panama Hat / Denim Shirt (similar here) / Levi's 721 High-Rise Jeans / Tabitha Bootie

On Lauren // Sherpa Suede Coat from Some Days Lovin / BDG High-Rise Flares (similar here) / Love + Leather Necklace

Do you have big plans for this oh so lovey dove weekend?

Brunch Me / Parson's Chicken & Fish

Parson's Chicken and Fish, with their huuuuge patio and infamous Negroni slushy, has long been our favorite outdoor summer hang out spot. But then winter weather blew in to town, the patio closed up for the season, and we just sort of forgot about the place. That is until we caught wind of their new brunch menu. Brunch? It's on!

Parson's has transformed their patio into an ice rink for the winter. How cute is that!? Our hope was to stuff our faces and then strap on some skates but with temps topping out in the single digits, we opted to just drink copious amounts of coffee, languish in the amazing indoor natural light, and chat about the new year. The weather is supposed to warm up a bit next week so we just might get our ice time in after all! Oh, and Parson's brunch was super yummy. You've got to check it out!

On Claire // AA Easy Sweater, Cecil Necklace, Levi 721 High Rise Jeans, Tabitha Bootie

On Lauren // Koda Brushed Scarf,  Santa Cruz Cardigan, Vintage Squash Blossom Necklace, Ventura Thermal, Madewell jeans, Forever 21 Booties (no longer in stock)