GET THE LOOK - 4 LABOR DAY WEEKEND OUTFITS

Summer may be winding down, and while this is deeply disturbing to us (and our tans), that's no reason to not look fabulous this weekend! Whether you're planning a BBQ, a casual weekend with friends & fam, or hitting the town with your S.O. we've got you covered with four looks sure to earn you some major style points.

Nothing says summer quite like a great pair of denim shorts. Pair these shorts with a striped tee and great sandals and accessorize to keep the look fab. Perfect for a daytime BBQ with your besties.

Tee/Sandals/Scarf/Shorts

When we think of Labor Day we think nautical. Take a literal approach with a fun anchor tee paired with neutrals. Très Chic.

Tank/Jeans/Purse/Sandals/Earrings/Bracelet

We love the casual chic maxi look. Perfect for spending quality time with the fam.

Dress/Sandals/Sunglasses/Clutch/Necklace

Got a date? Throw on your best romper, and accessorize with your favorite pieces to kick it up a notch.

Romper/Wedges/Clutch/Bracelet/Earrings

Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest for more style tips
Caroline
Melissa

Have a great long weekend everyone!

FRIDAY ROUND UP

Savor an end of summer treat this weekend.

The cat eye is like the little black dress for your eyes. So chic. 

These stella & dot drop earrings are perfection.

Transform your old barstools with a touch of gold. So fun!

Bookends are like accessories for your home. Make it pretty with these fab natural white quartz bookends.

These Rock Candy Cocktails are the perfect marriage between our childhood and adult lives.

WHAT'S COOKING - SF

Are you in need of a quick and easy appetizer with Labor Day Weekend right around the corner? Look no further because this Corn Salsa Dip is pure perfection. No exaggeration. I've made this dip on a few occasions and it's always a hit, the best part? It's so simple to make.

Corn Salsa Dip

Ingredients:

1 fairly ripe avocado (you don't want it to be too soft yet you don't want it to be too hard - like Goldilocks, somewhere in the middle works best)

1 lime

4oz Mild Soft Goat Cheese

1 jar (13.75 oz) Trader Joe's Corn and Chile Tomato-Less Salsa

If you're making this recipe for a large crowd I suggest doubling or even tripling the recipe. Trust me, it goes fast. 

First things first, prepare your ingredients. For the avocado you're going to want to slice and dice it so you have thin, delicious chunks. Don't you just love working with fresh ingredients?

This is my definition of beauty. Sorry, distracted by food porn, okay back to the recipe. 

You're going to need a shallow bowl or container, again depending on how much of the dip you want to make - scale your container to your needs. 

Take the soft goat cheese and press it to the bottom of your dish, you're going to want a flat layer that completely covers the bottom of your container. Make sure you don't press it in too hard or it will be difficult to scoop with chips. 

Next, take your Trader Joe's corn salsa and pour it directly on top of the goat cheese layer. 

Mmmmm. Then, take the avocado chunks you sliced previously and distribute it evenly on top of the corn salsa.

Cut your lime and squeeze the juice directly onto the avocado and corn salsa layers.

That's it. It's that simple. Now grab a handful of your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy these delicious layers of goodness. 

What do you plan on cooking up this weekend?

FOUR FAVORITES - NYC PICKS

I'm counting down to fall (it's my favorite season!) and these are some of my all time favorite flats. Real talk, is there anything better than a great pair of shoes? 

1. Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats
2. ALDO Volny Flats
3. Charlotte Russe Sueded Pointy D'Orsay Flat
4. Valentino Rockstud Leather Caged Ballerina

FOUR FAVORITES - SF PICKS

This week I'm loving pops of color and bold patterns, from fashion to household decor, there's nothing like a good statement piece.

1. Herend's Young Elephant in raspberry 
2. Jacquard Shorts
3. Kate Spade Brightspot Avenue Lacey in peony pink
4. Jean-Michel Cazabat Orla Sandal High Heel Sandal  

What are you loving this week?

FRIDAY ROUND UP

How perfect are these sunnies? Throw them on for an instant vintage feel.

Do you know what exists in every 'adult' home, that we fully intend on starting in ours? A cheese drawer. Yum.

For those living in the Bay Area who know it's Fall all year round, there's never a wrong time to break out some flannel.

Santorini just made its way up on our list to "take me here, immediately!"

We've got two words for this Fig, Prosciutto and Burrata Cheese Salad: yes, please.

A watercolor of our favorite things to wear. But really New York, is it fall yet??

What are you loving this week? Follow us on Pinterest:

Caroline

Melissa

WHAT WE'RE BUYING

Today we're sharing what we're buying this week. As two young 20-somethings who've recently moved into new apartments, right now we're all about furnishing and adding pops of personality to really make our places our own. And then of course there's the purchases that we just can't resist (we mean you, number 4). 

1. Target Maples Fretwork Area Rug, $79.99 - 149.99
2. Etsy (purchased similar at Target for $50) FinnellFineArt Extra Large Abstract Art, $425
3. Obaz Nautical Art Prints, $65
4. SodaCase Duchess Newbury iPhone 4 and 4s Case, $24.99 

What are you buying this week?

WHAT'S COOKING - NYC

Nothing says summer to me more than gazpacho. Super easy and refreshing, this is a great meal for any weekend or week night. The best part, I get to use ingredients straight from the garden.

Gazpacho Recipe

What you'll need:

2 cucumbers halved and seeded, peeled

2 red bell peppers, cored and seeded

4-5 tomatoes (I had tomatoes on the vine on hand, make sure to remove seeds!)

3 cups of tomato juice (V8 is great for this)

2 small jalapenos (optional)

1 medium sized red onion

1/4 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

A cap full of white wine vinegar 

We like things a bit spicy in my house (Notice the spicy hot V8 and jalapenos? Opt for regular flavored V8 and remove the jalapenos, if spicy is not your thing). 

You will need to assemble your vegetable ingredients and put each vegetable separately into a food processor. This helps ensure consistency.

Chop your veggies into cubes prior to putting into the food processor and don't forget to remove the seeds! Use the 'pulse' button to make sure the veggies don't get over processed.

After processing all the vegetables, combine them in a big bowl. Now you can add the tomato juice, white wine vinegar and salt & pepper to taste. Some people like to add hot sauce and worcestershire sauce, feel free to add it if you like! 

The end result. Pop it in your fridge until you are ready to eat. The longer the gazpacho sits, the more the flavors develop. We waited about an hour. 

Serve the gazpacho with grilled cheese, it's the right thing to do. Enjoy!

WHAT'S COOKING - SF

I've had a mean hankering lately for something spicy and cheesy so I decided to whip up some Jalapeno Cheddar Burgers this weekend, the perfect solution. This quick and easy meal requires very few ingredients and is so simple, you'll be chowing down in under 20 minutes. 

Jalapeno Cheddar Stuffed Burgers
What you'll need:
1 - 2 lbs ground beef
1 - 2 medium jalapenos 
block of cheddar cheese
salt & pepper to taste
1 avocado (optional)

This yields 4 hefty and delicious burgers

Prepare by slicing your jalapenos thinly, quartering them if you prefer, and cubing the cheddar cheese until you have enough to fill your patties. 

 Salt & pepper your ground beef to your liking, with the jalapeno and cheddar flavors, you'll need very little. Next, use the ground beef to begin molding the bases of your patties. You will end up almost making 2 thin patties for each burger, one made for the bottom which will have a bowl like shape in order to hold the cheddar and jalapenos and another to cover and seal into one patty. Begin by molding your base patty. You'll want to begin by creating a flat patty, then working the center so that it slowly becomes indented, almost like a mini pie. Once you have the base, fill it with as much cheddar and jalapenos as your heart desires

 Work the second half of the patty to cover and seal, in the end you'll have a regular looking patty with a secret pocket of goodness inside.

Continue until you have 4 complete burgers

I opted to cook these on my George Foreman grill. No matter what your cooking method, these burgers should take no longer than 7 to 10 minutes to cook thoroughly. Once you have cooked them to your preferred wellness, remove from the grill and let stand for 2 minutes before cutting or biting into as the cheddar cheese will be piping hot. Once slightly cooked, top with condiments and toppings of your choice, I went with some California avocado I'd been using for another recipe and it was delicious. 

Now, devour. 

Did you cook anything delicious over the weekend?

INTRODUCING PHILLIP LIM FOR TARGET

Target collaborations either miss the mark completely, or hit it dead on - Missoni we're looking at you (we're still obsessed). This time, we're incredibly excited over the latest Target collaboration, Phillip Lim. The bags alone are to die for! The theme of the collection is mostly work wear, but there are some simple, yet chic items we would definitely stand in line for at 6 a.m. 

We've pulled together our favorite looks of things we would definitely add to our wardrobe. For one, that sweater...pair it with some white skinnies, ankle boots and a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and you got fall fashion done right.

The collection premieres September 15, 2013. Be sure to mark your calendars!

FRIDAY ROUND UP

How yummy does this whipped feta look? Hey it's Friday, calories don't count today, right?

Major style icon - Rosie Huntington-Whitely. We could rock this look all day.

Current obsession? Decorating with vintage maps. Love the way it looks in this bedroom.

Loving this casual look, this kelly green chiffon blouse is perfect for work or play.

Try a fun DIY over the weekend. This vanilla sugar body scrub looks divine.

How perfect is this photo print? We'd like to drop this right in our living room, there's just no place like home.

What are you loving this week? 

FOUR FAVORITES - SF PICKS

I've always been a casual chic kinda gal; I'm all about functional yet, fashionable wear. I'm currently loving this dipped hem long sleeve shirt for a day out and about, paired with distressed jean shorts and tied together with a sandal wedge and classic bangle, this look is instantly heightened. Now, let's talk shoes. I've been lusting after these beautiful Sam Edelman's for some time now, and really need I think I need to bite the bullet and purchase them because let's face it - they're fabulous.

1. Black Long Sleeve Striped Dipped Hem T-Shirt
2. Rag & Bone Jean Distressed Boyfriend Short
3. Sam Edelman Serena
4. J Crew Classic Medium Bangle

FOUR FAVORITES - NYC PICKS

I'm a big fan of neutrals, I honestly don't think I could live without them in my wardrobe! I'm really digging these items, effortlessly cool and perfect for a Sunday brunch date with friends or summer festival. I mean, who doesn't need a pair of Karen Walker sunnies in their closet? This girl definitely does.

1. Bauble Bar Midas Leaf Collar
2. Madewell Whit Bamboo Stripe Mini
3. Karen Walker Super Duper Strength Sunglasses
4. Madewell the Slingback Boardwalk Sandal (no longer available - similar style here)

BAY AREA HIKING SPOTS

I've always loved a good hike, so moving to California was like a dream to me. The whole state became a playground of endless trails and mountains just waiting to be explored. One of the first hikes I tackled with friends took place at Big Basin. Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California's oldest State Park, according to the park website, and was established in 1902. With over 80 miles of trails it can be tough to choose which route you want to take...let me make it easy for you: go to the Berry Creek Falls. This particular hiking loop is approx. 8 miles in and out and along the way you'll get a picturesque view of foliage, redwoods and even some wildlife. 

We spotted a number of banana slugs during our hiking including this shy little guy

When we set off for the hike, we knew it would be a long and challenging one. In total, the 8 mile hike took us about 5 hours (at a fast pace with a lunch break). If you plan to hike this trail, I highly suggest packing a lunch, snacks and plenty of water. As the sign warns, the Berry Creek Falls Trail is no joke.    

Entering the trail loop, the first half of the hike to the falls is mostly downhill and not extremely challenging. However, I quickly realized that everything we hiked down...we would be hiking back up. But all that dread quickly disappeared when we reached the holy grail - the waterfalls. I cannot describe to you how beautiful the falls were in person and pictures just don't do it justice. 

The falls area offers a platform where hikers can enjoy a break; we took this opportunity to eat our lunches and enjoy the view while we refueled. After lunch we decided to explore the area around the falls and took a quick, steep path that leads to the very top of the falls. For those afraid of heights, I don't recommend this. However, there really is nothing like standing on the edge of a cascading waterfall - just be smart and careful! 

Once we regained our energy we began our climb back to base camp and let me tell you, there were times I wanted to quit and become a nomad just so I wouldn't have to hike back out. Yes, it was that challenging (or I just have no endurance). But at the end of the day, completing the hike was so worth it and I've never felt better. 

Do you have a favorite hiking spot? 

 Photography: Caroline