cornflake dreams.

friday's fancies #66 - memorial day weekend!

2012-05-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

happy friday! i am excited about another long weekend! on sunday we are heading out to the burbs to meet with our florist, assemble our wedding invitations and attend my nephew's 8th grade graduation party. the rest of the weekend i'd like to keep things low-key... a bike ride and a scoop of italian ice sound like do-able plans. this weekend it is going to be hot so i'll be wearing shorts or a maxi dress::

maxi dress $124 - sandals $60 - sunglasses $119 - tote $119 - earrings $30

wanna snap up those earrings?! jojo loves you is having a HUGE memorial day sale over the weekend! the bling stud earrings are on sale 3/$60 which is a great deal if you can't pick one favorite -- i love the pink pair (obviously)...annnd the hot orange, white, sapphire frost, neon green, pacific green opal and mint alabaster.

what are your plans for the long weekend?!

xo,

jillian

ps don't miss the TWO giveaways going on right now! enter to win $50 to SWIMSPOT or $50 to NOVICA!

swim spot giveaway!

2012-05-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

summer is right around the corner and i can't wait to visit the beach (chicago has a beautiful one!) sounds like the perfect time to find the perfect swimsuit! swim spot has a great collection of select brands (including athena, ella moss, hurley, and splendid). the site also has special features to make shopping easier! the Fit Specialist and Bikini Builder help you find their perfect suit based on your body type and allows you to customize your own swimsuit look. here are a few of my favorite swimsuits on swim spot::

luxe asymmetrical bikini - ella moss calypso stripe bikini - athena maldives bikini - via

ella moss flora triangle bikini - ella moss jewel box bikini - splendid polka dot bikini - via

enter to win a $50 gift card to swim spot!

want to win?! (leave separate comment for each):

follow cornflake dreams via GFC or BlogLovin

visit swim spot and comment on your favorite suit

follow cornflake dreams on twitter

like swimspot on facebook

tweet about the giveaway! please include @swimspot and @cornflakedreams in your tweet

a winner will be announced on thursday may 31st- this giveaway is open to domestic and international entries

best of luck!

xo,

jillian

wedding wednesday - the menu.

2012-05-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

tomorrow i am taking the afternoon off and heading to our wedding venue for our food tasting! i have been looking forward to this for a while, so i hope we get to test out quite a few things. we have a general idea of what we'd like for the menu: a served salad, stations with a pasta bar, a traditional beef option, and persian inspired grilled vegetarian and chicken kabobs. we're also going to have appetizers and late night snacks (those options are still tbd!) with all of that food, i am sure by the end of the tasting i will be stuffed! here are a appetizer and late night snack ideas we are considering::

caprese skewers - ricotta & spinach wonton - guacamole brushetta - samosas

sliders - soft pretzel bites - popcorn - mini chicken taquitos

i promise to try snap a few instagram pics tomorrow (if you have the app, follow me cornflakedreams)!

what is the best thing you have eaten at a wedding?
appetizers - main course - late night snacks?!

xo,

jillian

ps: don't miss the NOVICA $50 gift card giveaway!

poshlocket wishlist.

2012-05-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

i think i'm officially addicted to jewelry. i can't seem to stop buying it or adding things to my wishlist. poshlocket is another great place to find (affordable) CUTE jewelry (gotta love shops with free shipping AND returns)::

inoa starfish ring $25 - sally double stack ring $20 - hampton drop earrings $27 - alex enamel stacker bangles $30 - slyvia urbanite bracelet $32

deborah leather snap cuff $28 - julia bulb ring $33 - harlow arrow bangle $22 - eliza pave studs $20

xo,

jillian

ps don't forget to enter to win $50 to NOVICA!

NOVICA giveaway!

2012-05-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

happy monday! i am SO excited to announce a special NOVICA giveaway. you can win a $50 gift card to the online shop full of unique artisan pieces from all around the world! i love all of the pretty glassware and entertaining pieces::

green wave ceramic serving bowl - aqua margarita glasses - cobalt drinking glasses

aqua glass pitcher - golden celebration glasses - eggshell mosaic bowl

they also have a great selection of jewelry. i like the silver charm bracelets, amethyst chandelier earrings, and earrings from peru.

want to win?! (leave separate comment for each):

follow cornflake dreams via GFC or BlogLovin

visit NOVICA and comment on your favorite piece

follow cornflake dreams on twitter

follow NOVICA on twitter

tweet about the giveaway! please include @NOVICA and @cornflakedreams in your tweet

a winner will be announced on monday, may 28th - this giveaway is open to domestic and international entries

best of luck!

xo,

jillian

congratulations!

2012-05-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

congratulations to lucky number 39! you won the susan posnick cosmetics giveaway! please email me to claim your gift card.

thank you to everyone who commented! i'll announce another exciting giveaway this monday!! have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

xo,

jillian

friday's fancies - #65

2012-05-18T07:30:00.000-05:00

hello there and happy friday! today chicago has been taken over by the NATO summit. i work downtown in the loop so my commute was a little hectic...needless to say i am excited for the weekend :) and a day off on monday! i plan to check a few more things off the wedding to-do list and be outside as much as possible. this sunday is a big day -- one of my best friends graduates from law school! i am so proud of her and excited to celebrate such a great achievement! i am also excited about the warm weather in chicago (hello summer!) bring on the maxi dresses and sandals::

maxi dress $60 - necklace $75 - sandals $295 - tote $32

xo,

jillian

ps one last day to enter the susan posnick makeup giveaway! a winner will be announced tomorrow!

stop by ashley nicole catherine today -- it's her wedding day!!! and i am guest posting :)

office space.

2012-05-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

when we bought our condo last year i really wanted to have a space to work at home. luckily we found a two-bedroom condo and made the small bedroom into a guest room and office. the office has turned into our storage room as well -- it's where h's medical books and binders live, as well as all our wedding decorations and accessories. somewhere in the middle of all of that stuff is a desk and workspace!

i love little desk accessories that make work a little more fun! i found quite a few cute (and functional) pieces on the site sorting with style. here is my little office space and are my favorite desk accessories::

polka dot file folders - cherry blossom sticky notes - light bulb stickies - flower paper clips - polka dot iphone case

how do you accessorize your office space?

xo,

jillian

ps only a few days left to enter to win $75 worth of makeup! i'll announce a winner this saturday (5/19)

wedding wednesday - sweet favors.

2012-05-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

happy wedding wednesday - we're less than 2 months from the big day! thankfully, our to-do list is starting to (slowly) shrink. right now i am figuring out the favors! we're going to have lots of food (and sweets!) but i am still leaning towards something edible for the favors. i think it's nice to have something to snack on after the wedding. one of my all-time favorite favors was at my friend's wedding, she had giant candy apples! here are some other tasty treats::

macarons - candy jars - fortune cookies - cotton candy

what do you think of wedding favors? go or no go?
do you usually want something to eat!?

xo,

jillian

ps there's still time to enter the sun savvy $75 makeup giveaway!

craving indian.

2012-05-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

this past sunday we went out for indian to celebrate h's birthday. it was his pick and he insisted on traveling allll the way to the north side of the city - to devon avenue, for our meal. if you live in chicago you know that the devon area is full of authentic indian restaurants, shops and grocery stores.

i have a love, hate relationship with indian food... i love it. it hates me. regardless, i always go back for more and i typically order the same thing (it's too good not to!) veggie samosas, chicken tikka masala and plenty of naan bread... i think it's fair to say that this is a typical starter meal for someone who is trying to venture into indian cuisine. the next time i have indian food i'd like to make it myself!

homemade naan bread - restaurant style samosas- slow cooker chicken tikka masala - indian print

have you tried indian food? what's your favorite dish?

xo,

jillian

ps: don't miss the $75 makeup giveaway!

muses + makeup + a monday giveaway!!

2012-05-14T13:00:00.000-05:00

good morning - i am thrilled to share a special giveaway! lauren from aspiring kennedy recently introduced me to susan posnick cosmetics, an innovative company that creates mineral beauty products that offers sun protection (something we alllll need)! i was lucky enough to try out a few products and share my muse and source of inspiration over on susan's blog- make beauty simple.

model via - flowers via - makeup via

hop over to the susan posnick cosmetics blog, make beauty simple, and comment on my muse post for a chance to win a $75 gift card! good luck! i'll announce a winner this saturday (may 19th)

xo,

jillian

ps congratulations to Julie, lucky #10 - you won the getaway giveaway!! please email me.

friday's fancies #64 - turkish fashion.

2012-05-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

happy friday! i don't know about you, but i am ready for the weekend!! it's suppose to warm up in chicago, so i am determined to get a bike ride in. i also want to do bake special for h on saturday-- it's his birthday! this week i have shared a lot of my photos from Turkey and now i'd like to share some of my favorite fashion trends i spotted in Istanbul!

-h and i spotted cobalt blue jeans were EVERYWHERE..and now i really want a pair.

-while we were in turkey the weather was gorgeous, 70's sunny and light trench coats were the popular style.

-i saw quite a bit of floral tops + color block flats.

-and finally...the evil eye ring. there are blue glass evil eyes are in just about every tourist shop in the city but i remembered seeing this house of harlow ring before the trip and i was determined to find something similar in Istanbul. fail. they didn't sell anything like it! note to turkish jewelers... dooo it! the gold rings would be a hit!

have a great weekend!

xo,

jillian

ps you still have some time to enter the getaway giveaway! i will announce a winner on monday.

istanbul, turkey - shop.

2012-05-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

i always love to shop when i travel, and istanbul was fullll of opportunities to find something special. there are shops everywhere, full of ceramic plates, tiles, silk scarves and little glass blue and white evil eye charms. i was really looking forward to the grand bazaar but it ended up being a BIG let down! it was full of touristy shops that you see around the city, along side high end jewelry shops and knock off purses and wallets. i am not a fan of counterfeit goods so i passed on the fake tory burch bags and we didn't stay at the grand bazaar too long. luckily we stumbled along the spice bazaar! it was full of unique items and lots of delicious smells::

after our visit at the spice bazaar we ran into a gorgeous jewelry shop full of thousands of beads. i was like a kid in a candy shop! i quickly picked out a few strands of beads and they made it into a necklace for me. we returned the next day for another one...

the necklaces are my favorite thing i bought in Istanbul but i was kicking myself for packing so many clothes-- i wanted to buy a ceramic platter. instead i bought 4 ceramic tiles that i plan to frame and put in our kitchen... along with a few other things. h bought the watercolor prints and Turkey flag (he always buys a small piece of art and a flag when we travel).

what is your favorite thing to shop for when you travel?

xo,

jillian

ps don't forget i also bought a few goodies for one lucky reader! enter the getaway giveaway!

istanbul, turkey - eat.

2012-05-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

as promised, today we're talking about foooood. while we were in turkey i ate a lot of meat. it's everywhere and it's delicious. i had my fill of chicken kababs, meat skwers and wraps. i even had some lamb! the meat was fresh and afforadable so h a happy man. all of the food -- the meat, rice, vegetables and bread reminded him of food that he grew up on (he is persian so the staples are pretty similar).

meat aside, my favorite treat in turkey is somewhat mysterious. it's a cross between a croissant and a bagel -- we called it a baaa-sant (get it!?) but i don't know it's real name. the baaa-sant was buttery, flakey, with little flecks of seseame seeds. it was the perfect breakfast bread and i paired it with turkish cheese (which tasted like feta but not quite as salty) or strawberry jelly.

sooo i guess it's kind of ironic that my favorite food in turkey was something you'd expect to find in paris... but i'm okay with that. and even more excited about our honeymoon in two months!

xo,

jillian

ps have you entered the getaway giveaway yet?! doooo it!
also check out my may houzz board -- it's full of wanderlust picks!

istanbul, turkey - see.

2012-05-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

during our trip to turkey i had a pretty simple game plan -- i wanted to see, eat, and shop. i'd love to share with you a few of my favorite sights. istanbul is a city FULL of gorgeous views. it was almost comical at one point, with a hilly landscape it was impossible not to have a great view of something (whether that be an ancient mosque or the bright blue sea). in addition to the views we were blessed with beautiful weather and blue skies the entire week - perfect weather for exploring the city and taking photos.

sultan ahmed mosque (the blue mosque) - this was the first mosque we visited, and it is my favorite. the lights are breathtaking and the detail is gorgeous in person.

topkapi palace - i was thrilled to visit the ornate palace full of gorgeous mosaic tiles.

hagia sophia - this site has a long interesting history. it started off as a basilica and then was made into a mosque before it was transformed into a museum.

tomorrow it's all about the food...

xo,

jillian

ps don't miss the getaway giveaway! i brought back special turkish treats for one lucky reader.

see. eat. shop. - turkey recap + giveaway!

2012-05-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

happy monday -- im baaack!! thank you to all of my amazing guest bloggers, and all of your sweet comments. h and i had a great time in turkey! i'm still trying to go through 600+ photos and fight jetlag but the trip was full of beautiful sights, long walks, and tasty treats. here's a little sneak peak at a few of my favorites... and a special giveaway!

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i promise to share more photos from our trip this week. until then i've got something special for one lucky reader! i picked up a few goodies from turkey - turkish black tea, a small porcelain bowl for rings and things, two handmade turkish towels with glass seeing-eye charms and a postcard!

if you want to win the getaway giveaway, please follow cornflake dreams via GFC or BlogLovin and leave a comment with your favorite travel destination.

a winner will be announced next monday, may 14th 8 AM CST. the giveaway is open to domestic and international readers.

best of luck!

xo,

jillian

{guest post} - friday's fancies - love from afar.

2012-05-03T23:00:00.001-05:00

i am honored to have my bloggy bestie and the creator of friday's fancies, miss. {av} from long distance loving, guest post today. the outfit she dreamed up is PERFECTION (especially that bracelet!) {av} always gets it right :)

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Happy Friday! My name is {av}--and I am so excited to be filling in for my bloggy bestie! Jillian has been linking up for Friday's Fancies since day one, so it is a honor to grace the pages of cornflake dreams today. I'm more than jealous of her latest jaunt across the Atlantic, so I crafted this sassy ensemble that she could rock on the streets of Istanbul this Friday...

1) Simple stripes make this Mason by Michelle Mason Maxi Dress a versatile choice for any vacation.

2) These sweet Kate Spade Seaport Pearl Studs would be an easy and happy addition to this ensemble.

3) For a dash of color, the contrasting stripes in this Marc by Marc Jacobs Crossbody Bag do the trick!

4) These Marc by Marc Jacobs Round Sunglasses would be perfect for strolling the streets of Istanbul.

5) Who wouldn't love to sport this sassy Corrin Bracelet from Loren Hope? It is bold and beautiful!

6) Though they may not be the best walking shoes, but these Bernardo Matrix Sandals would be the perfect to throw in a suitcase.

Wishing safe travels + lots of fun to {j} and {h}--thanks again for having me, my love!

If you want to see the round-up of other Friday's Fancies this week, click here :)

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

xoxo {av} | {long distance loving}

{guest post} - APT 34.

2012-05-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Apartment 34- where style lives happily ever after. that pretty much sums it up! i love Erin's chic finds and wedding posts. she is an urban style icon and makes it look easy (and attainable)!

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Hi all, Erin from Apartment 34 here, tickled pink to be keeping you company while Jillian is on her dreamy vacation. Since we're all fantasizing about a similar adventure, I thought I'd go ahead and pack an imaginary dream bag for an ultimate imaginary getaway. You know, should a real opportunity to hop a plane suddenly arise, one ought to be prepared with a shopping list.

Phillip Lim Bag, iPad case, similar sunnies, scarf, watch, bracelet, similar sandals

A good weekender is an airplane essential. It must fit the iPad (I must confess, I don't leave home with out it), a scarf for the frigid plane air, a watch to get yourself settled into local time and sunnies and sandals for when you you step off the plane. I love to throw in a little necklace or bracelet that I put on when I arrive at my destination - just to feel a little dressed up!

So now that my bag is packed, who's ready to go find Jillian in Turkey me?!

-Erin from Apartment 34

{guest post} -wedding wednesday - brooklyn bride.

2012-05-02T08:00:00.014-05:00

this wedding wednesday i have a special guest blogger from my favorite wedding blog, brooklyn bride. Vané is v stylish and has an eye for great design.

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Getting ready for your honeymoon can be a little daunting...how much to pack, how little to pack, WHAT to pack! So many options! I thought for this guest post I'd cover my honeymoon must-have's for chic traveling. Have an amazing time in Istanbul, Jillian!!

1| The Lipault Plume Trolley in a candy red color will surely standout at baggage claim

2| Spacepaks make packing a lot easier, and the inside of your luggage neater. I always feel like I can squish a few more items in when I use these.

3| Dont forget to take your vitamins! These cheeky pill containers are the cutest!

4| A stripey Kate Spade cover for your iPad will keep it protected and looking super sharp.

5| Luxe City guidebooks: a must for finding all the hottest spots.

6| A Baggu leather pouch will keep all your important documents & loose change from getting lost

7| The Gorillapod is an amazing way to catch shots of your & your hubby when there's no one else around...mount it to anything!

8| I love the idea of a flashdrive luggage tag!

- Vané of Brooklyn Bride

{guest post} - the boot.

2012-05-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

marissa from the boot, is one of the sweetest bloggers i have been fortunate enough to meet. she is living the dream, overseas in italy with her fiance, teaching young children and cooking up some tasty meals. every time i go onto her blog i smile... and then get hungry.

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I'm always on the go - car trips exploring towns in Puglia, train rides to new cities in Italy, transatlantic flights to visit home and family in the summer time - so I'm pretty much an expert in travel snacking. In Italy, I'm what they call "a good fork" meaning I like to eat a lot, so I'm always prepared to be hungry, even when I'm in transit! :) What are your favorite travel snacks?

1) Trader Joe's Swiss Dark Chocolate with Hazelnuts - delicious and good for you because it's dark!

2) Dean & DeLuca Granola - super satisfying and full of flavor. i like to crunch on it during those in-flight movies.

3) Peanut M&M's - this is my guilty pleasure candy. there's a nut/chocolate trend happening in this list!

4) Carrot Sticks and Hummus - when you feel like something more substantial that candy, this is healthy and easy to pack!

5) Vita Coco - on long flights, to keep your jet lag at bay you need to stay hydrated. not only is coconut water super tasty but it's more hydrating than water alone. win win!

6) Snyder's Soudough Specials - i love a good, hard pretzel anytime, but while traveling they're perfect because they don't break in your bag!

Thanks so much for having me today Jill! If you're hungry for more of my musings and recipes, come by the boot sometime!

- Marissa of The Boot

{guest post} - greedy girl.

2012-04-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

i am thrillllled to introduce a week of guest bloggers while i am away on vacation. first up is one the first bloggers i started reading! caroline from greedy girl has an amazing sense of style and i am smitten with her getaway girl series!
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i'm so glad jillian asked me to contribute while she's away. turkey's been on my to-go for a long time, so it was fun to get into the istanbul mindset. all those beautiful colors and patterns and amazing markets, not to mention those incredible mosques... i'm so jealous, jillian! well, here's a look at what i'd pack for my own byzantium getaway. the weather sounds so nice this time of year (warm days, cool nights), so i tried to keep that in mind. also, i stuck with a generally conservative look and added in a scarf—to wear for warmth at night and to use as a head-covering when visiting mosques.

+ Top, Antik Batik + Trousers, J.Crew + Sunglasses, Topshop + Scarf, Forever21 + Necklace, Bellissima + Ultra Wide and Slim Camera, Photojojo + Wallpaper* Istanbul City Guide, Phaidon + Flats, Geewawa + Bag, Madewell

happy travels to the happy couple! and i'm serious, jillian—don't forget to instagram!

- Caroline of Greedy Girl

friday's fancies #63 - in the air.

2012-04-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

tonight we're off to istanbul, turkey! we've got a late flight but it's non-stop!! i am hoping to sleep on the plane and finish the second (and maybe third hunger games book (the flight is almost 11 hrs long!) i promise to take lots of photos (h bought a new paparazzi camera just for our trips!) i'll also be sure to eat lots of tasty turkish sweets and meats...mmmmm... here's what i am thinking of wearing on the plane::

tee $24 - sweater $10 - black leggings $36 - tory burch flats $179 - luggage $279 - passport cover $24 - earrings $38

note: no sweatpants or pj's on the plane! leggings are just as comfortable!

have a great weekend and don't miss all the wonderful guest bloggers i have scheduled for next week!

xo,

jillian

our vacation to-do list.

2012-04-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

eat. walk. see. shop. sleep. repeat.

that's what i plan on doing all next week in turkey. i have had quite a few people ask me why.. why am i going to turkey? what is there to do there? why not europe?

i always have the same response - h and i wanted to go somewhere NEW, somewhere different but with food we love. we also scored a sweet deal on non-stop flights last august - so that helps!

it's the perfect time to go on a trip - a break away from wedding planning, and a mental break for both of us from our busy jobs. i can't wait to spend seven days with my man, eating kabobs and cheese, and fresh bread; exploring the city and seeing all the gorgeous architecture and shopping in the grand bazaar... (i already have a mini shopping wishlist!)

via - via - via - via - via

where do you want to travel?

If you have been to Istanbul are there any sites we should put on our must see list?!

xo,

jillian

wedding wednesday - be our guest.

2012-04-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

when i was younger i always got excited to sign my name in the guest book at a wedding. i thought it was a fun way to be involved in the wedding and make sure the bride and groom knew i was there! now that i am planning my own wedding i have discovered lots of unique ways to welcome our guests and get them involved right away. i am smitten with these ideas::

map - fingerprints - wine corks -

quilt - typewriter - wedding wish tree

my mom is a fantastic quilter so we're going to have quilt squares for our guests to sign as they arrive at our reception! i have no doubt it will be a keepsake that i will treasure for years.

how did you welcome your guests at your wedding?
with a traditional book for them to sign? or something a little more unique?

xo,

jillian

ps have you heard?! the StyleMint, ShoeMint peeps are up to it again-- and this time they have recruited Justin Timberlake! bring sexy back and, sign up for early access.

i love you like...

2012-04-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

it's no secret that i have a thing for carbs (evident here and here). one of my favorite carbs are fluffy buttery, biscuits! i have great memories of sunday breakfast at my grandparent's house and my grandpa would always made me biscuits and gravy. it was always a special treat and i STILL crave the warm homemade sausage gravy and fluffy buttermilk biscuits...

biscuit sign (i have this in my kitchen!)- classic biscuits and gravy - green chili biscuits and country gravy - cheddar and herb biscuits

other recipes to try:: {vegetarian gravy - gluten-free gravy}

what is your favorite breakfast comfort food?

xo,

jillian