Going the Distance: guest post

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Check Me Out

As I'm making my way back home from a weekend in Philly, check out my guest post over on Karly's blog where I'm sharing some of my must-sees and recommendations in Puerto Rico as she's making her way back from there!

Here's a teaser picture:

Go check it out!

{Guest Post}: The New Mrs

The last guest poster I have for you is the super sweet and stylish Christina from The New Mrs. Christina and I have been blog friends for a while now, and she's let me take over her blog a couple of times while she's been away, so today is her turn to take over my space with some of her Fall Favorites!

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Hi everyone and Happy Weekend! Who is ready for 5pm?! I know I am - not much beats a summer weekend and it's hard to believe this is the last one before Labor Day!

I'm Christina and I blog about a little mix of everything over at The New Mrs. I'm happy to be guest posting for Jenn today while she soaks up some sun at the beach and enjoys these final summer days.

Let's get right into it, shall we?

Anyone who is familiar with my blog knows that I love a little theme - today I'm thinking all things fall as well as what exciting is ahead this season. I'm completely torn on my feelings - SO excited for fall, SO sad to see summer go… I think I'll have the mindset of September being part summer/part fall - now that is a win win.

Here's a little peek into some favorites I'm excited for this upcoming season...

Favorite Recipe
I'm not sure about everyone else but in my house this summer we've been all about the grill and BBQ's which have been lovely but I'm excited to get into some of my cooler weather comfort meals and bust out that crockpot more often! After finding this recipe I am completely craving soups.

Bread Bowl Potato Soup

Favorite Activity
NFL Preseason is underway and we are just eight days away from college football season. EIGHT. I cannot wait - there is no excitement than that of game day and tailgates. Having football back just screams "fall" to me. It also makes our weekend afternoons a little more interesting because football is ALWAYS on in the background. However, if Penn State is on and we're not at the game, then our day is planned around it and Sundays basically revolve on the time of the Cowboys/Eagles games
*that's right my husband and I are fans of opposing teams in the division… same goes for baseball season too ;)

Favorite Looks
I know it's not going to be cool enough for these looks for at least a few more weeks - maybe even longer but I'm loving the idea of fall hats, scarves (always!) and some layering.

one // two // three

Favorite Decor
I love that for much of the fall decor (not including Halloween and such) it can last from September through Thanksgiving. The colors are easy and there are so many subtle accents to add into your home.

via

Favorite Sip
Margaritas? Apple Cider? Why not try combining the two - this drink looks like it could be a hit to try at any gathering.

via

{Least} Favorite…
That fall leads to it getting darker earlier - I dread those nights where we come home from work and it's dark right away - no long nights on the deck, no walks as the sun's setting - just time inside as it's dark outside.

Thank you so much, Jenn, for having me! This was fun and I hope everyone will pop on over to my blog sometime to say hello :)

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Thanks Christina! Now that my summer vacation is coming to an end, this post definitely has me looking towards Fall and all of the awesome things that come along with it!

I'm going to add one more favorite to this post--today is the 4 year date-i-versary of MG's and my first date at Cava Mezze! I can't believe it's already been 4 years, and now we're married with a home of our own to start our family in!

{Guest Post}: Green Fashionista

I love today's guest post topic, and I have the perfect blogger/traveler to share with you one of my newest and most favorite cities with you! Kate blogs about daily life, fashion and travel (and she has an adorable little pup, too!) Check out her blog if you haven't, but first, take a look at her trip to Chicago last year!

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Good Morning Going the Distance readers, my name is Kate and you can find me over on my little piece of the internet at Green Fashionista where I blog about fashion and beauty reviews, recipes, weekend shenanigans, and my favorite of all - travel recaps. Which is just what I have in store for you all today. Since the fabulous Jenn just got back from an amazing trip to Chicago, I thought I'd share my first trip to the windy city last year.

I have been a lifetime lover of NYC, but everyone has always told me that if I love "the city" then I'll love Chicago even more. I never understood how that could be true until last September when I finally got up there. I'm absolutely in love with Chicago, and can't stop raving about all the amazing food and incredible site seeing.

We arrived on a Friday morning and packed as much as we could until our flight back home Monday morning. We took the train into the city from Midway (only $3 each way and the train connects directly from the airport to downtown Chicago), and when we arrived at our hotel our room was already ready for us. So, we dumped our stuff as I took a quick "ready to hit the ground running" selfie and a pic of the city view from our room. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel which was in a great location and we even had a view of the river from our room.

First thing we did was head over to the Sears (Willis) Tower, then we just explored the city before stumbling upon the Plymouth Restaurant & Roof Top Bar for some happy hour drinks, and to meet up with Emily and K to officially start our vacay. Next stop was Millennium Park to see the infamous Bean.

That evening, we celebrated K's birthday, and started off with some pre-dinner drinks at The Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the Hancock Building (absolute MUST DO when in Chicago). Drinks are a bit pricey, so go for a drink and enjoy the views before heading elsewhere for the evening. Emily and I also took a pic in the bathroom with floor to ceiling windows, and magnificent city views.

After drinks at the Signature Lounge, we walked to dinner at Ditka's where the birthday boy was sang to, and capped off the evening with some roof top drinks at Vertigo Sky Lounge.

Saturday morning, H and I walked around a bit before grabbing the best donuts we've ever had and a gingerbread latte at Glazed & Infused. We also walked back over to Millennium Park to check out the Bean again, and this time it was super crowded.

Then it was time for my first deep dish pizza experience at Giordano's, and it was absolutely delish! Emily and I met up with Nikki who lives in the city, and enjoyed a round of cocktails while chatting over pizza while the guys had lunch at a rooftop bar.

The rest of Saturday afternoon consisted of an architectural tour (we booked through Shoreline Siteseeing), a spin on the ferris wheel on the Navy Pier, and some drinks at the hidden tiki bar Three Dots & a Dash.

We had heard from several people that Cantina Laredo was the best Mexican place, so we checked it out for dinner, and they couldn't have been more right. Amazing fresh table side guacamole, margaritas, and entrees.

Sunday morning, H and I grabbed brunch at Wildberry Pancakes before taking the red line train to Wrigley Field to meet up with Emily and K for our first Cubs game. Afterwards, we hung out in Wrigleyville and grabbed some more drinks before heading back into the city. We knew we needed to grab a real Chicago dog so we headed over to Portillo's, and of course the dogs were delish! This is coming from a girl who hates raw onions and relish, but all the ingredients together was amazing!

My Chicago Must-Do's:

~ Drinks at the Signature Lounge in the Hancock Building

~ Roof top bar hopping

~ The Bean at Millennium Park

~ Catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field

~ Architectural River Cruise

~ A drink at Three Dots & a Dash

~ Deep dish pizza at Giordano's

~ Donuts at Glazed & Infused

~ Ride the ferris wheel at the Navy Pier

~ Eat a Chicago style hot dog

~ Sunday brunch

What are your must-do's in Chicago?

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And don't forget to hop on over every 2nd Wednesday of the month, and link up your favorite travel recaps and wish lists for Wanderlust Wednesdays with Kerri, Emily, and I. Our next linkup will go live on Wednesday, September 9th. You can also check out my Travel Tab where you'll find the rest of my documented travels over the years from Fiji to Europe to the Caribbean and U.S. Cities.

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If that doesn't have you craving a trip to Chicago, I don't know what will! I hit up so many of the same places that Kate did when I was in Chicago and it was seriously THE best time!

Thanks, Kate, for taking care of my blog while I'm away! :)

{Guest Post}: Miss in the Midwest

Today I have one of the sweetest chicks guest posting for me. Karly blogs over at Miss in the Midwest and I absolutely adore her. She has a great sense of style, great taste in tv shows (hehe), and is an absolutely sweetheart! So, while I'm soaking up some beach time, enjoy Karly!

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Hello, Going the Distance readers! I'm Karly, and I blog at Miss in the Midwest about all things beauty, life and style.

One of the first things that Jenn and I bonded over was our love of reading, and thanks to my recent purchase of the Amazon Kindle Voyage, I've been reading more than ever. So while Jenn's soaking up the sunshine and (hopefully) indulging in some fun beach reads, I'm sharing with you today my thoughts on a few books that I've recently read!

photo shopaholic to the stars_zpshigx2khj.jpg

Shopaholic to the Stars - Sophie Kinsella - 2 Stars

I have to preface this by saying that I have not read the Shopaholic series in it's entirety - I only read the original since I enjoyed the movie so much, and the premise of this one seemed appealing to me given my obsession with fashion and pop culture. That said, this book barely held my attention and took me nearly a week to finish (which is pretty long for me when it comes to books). Some of the one-liners and quick-witted humor was okay, but for the most part I found the story to be disjointed with a lot of gaps. Not to mention the ending ... in a nutshell, without giving too much away, nothing is resolved. I basically felt like I read the book for nothing. I imagine if you've followed the entire series of these books that you may enjoy it, but for someone like me who just picked it up on a whim, I'd skip it.

Crossfire Series - Sylvia Day (Books 1-4) - 4 Stars

Ladies (and gents, if you're into this type of thing): I present to you the best guilty pleasure read since 50 Shades of Grey. Actually, I enjoyed these books way more than 50 Shades - the story line and characters are much more realistic and believable that I found myself more invested in their "happily ever after." I finished all four books in a week, so obviously I couldn't put them down. Things get a bit slow and repetitive with the third book, but hang in there - the fourth book introduces chapters from the male character's perspective, which helps revamp the story line. Keep in mind that this series definitely isn't for the conservative of hearts - it's just as graphic (if not more, in some cases) than 50 Shades, but there isn't any strange, sexual abuse-disguised-as-consensual-sex, which is why I found it to be more enjoyable. Plus, there's a fifth and final book on the way to look forward to!

Currently reading: Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham

While I can't yet give a full review on this book, I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far! Seeing as I'm a huge fan of Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, I definitely can hear her in my head reciting some of Franny's lines and thoughts. It's a cute, light chick-lit read, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it ends.

I want to send a huge thanks to Jenn for letting me takeover her space today - it was fun, and I hope to see some of you over at Miss in the Midwest in the future!

What have you recently read? Let us know in the comments!

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Karly, you're the best! And, I may already have at least one of these in my Kindle, ready to be read on the beach! Thanks for the recommendations! ;)

Don't forget to have your What's Hap-"Pinning" posts ready to link up tomorrow with Jessi and I! I'll be back tomorrow with a post, so get 'em ready!

A Little Glitter {Blog Swap}

Hey Guys! My name is Pamela and I run the website A Little Glitter but I'm taking over Jenn's blog today while she takes over mine!

I write about all kinds of things including cooking, shopping, fashion/beauty, books, parenting and local NYC events. I love to make new friends and I hope that you will come by and visit my little slice of the internet sometime!

Today, I figured we could chat about makeup. I tend to be a total hoarder when it comes to that, so at the end of each season I like to go through my bag and evaluate. I chuck out the old, unused or expired products and make room for new ones. I just did a purge last weekend in preparation for Fall and the things I have in my shopping cart at Sephora right now (pending further research) are:

Urban Decay - Naked Smoky Palette

I participated in a giveaway for one of these a month or so ago and became totally obsessed! The colors are AMAZING and I need it in my life.

Kat Von D - Tattoo Liquid Liner

My liquid liner just ran dry and I have been in the market for a new one. This is supposed to be the holy grail in that department. Reviewers on Sephora's website use MANY caps in their descriptions of how much they love it.

Essie - Frock 'N Roll and In The Lobby

These will be my two signature Fall nail colors. They work so well together that I may pair them. I can picture myself painting all my nails In The Lobby and using Frock 'N Roll on my ring finger.

Urban Decay - Naked Skin Concealer

I have tried pretty much every single concealer ever created and I just cant find one that I love for under my eyes. This is the latest recommendation I have received so I am going to try it out. Wish me luck! Also, if you know of one that you are obsessed with please share it with me!

Thank you guys for following along today! What new makeup are you going to buy this Fall?

Guest Post {Tales from Trish}: 4.21.14

Hey Gals!

I'm Patricia from Tales from Trish and while Jenn is coming back to reality after an AWESOME wedding and an incredible honeymoon - I'm here to share with you some pics from the 4.12.14 nuptials and par-tay.

First - I have to say this (and I know everyone says/thinks this but since it's coming from me it's really true): Jenn made THE MOST beautiful bride. She looked absolutely gorgeous - the hair, the make-up, the dress = perfection!

First we started with the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Great mingling time to meet the groomsmen, family, bridesmaids and friends.

The bride even showed up in a cute white dress as practice (while 4 out of 5 of the bridemaids randomly (and unplanned) showed up in black. weird right?! LOL).

The Bride & I.

Bride & Dad - Love this pic! Mr. Bride's Dad looks so handsome!

The after rehearsal - after dinner - Bud Light shot! Mr & Mrs sure know how to party!

The BIG DAY:

In case anyone gets confused - THIS is the bride :)

The excitement was terrific! It all felt so much more real when Jenn stepped in and zipped up her dress:

I didn't get too many shots at the church (because I was busy being a bridesmaid in all) but I did get to snap this one:

The weather was PERFECT. The sun was shining, bird singing and overall a very happy weather day!

My favorite part of the whole thing: CAKE!

After the ceremony and after the cocktail hour (which the bride and groom was awesome enough to have a little cocktail hour set up for the bridal party since we missed a lot of it taking photos) there was lots of eating (the steak was so good), lots of wine drinking, lots of laughing, dancing, photo boothing and just overall fun. I'm STILL sore and my feet STILL hurt but it's so worth it!