{Dress: Target; Shoes: Calvin Klein; Sweater: J. Crew Jenna Sweater} Running out of the door, almost late to work, with dirty hair and not a whole lot of time is probably not one of the better times to snap a fashion photo to share on your blog, is it? But this little dress I snapped up last week from Target for $24 was too good not to share with you all. In the past, I’ve made a bunch of unwise … Read More
No Fat Talk Tuesday: What Defines You?
Over the last few weeks, Joe and I have both been talking a lot about what defines us as individuals. It’s been an interesting, and sometimes uncomfortable, journey as we dig into the deepest parts of our hearts and examine what’s inside. During this difficult time of self discovery, I put together a list in my head of things that do not define me. I heard someone tell me recently that in order to know who we are and what … Read More
Jason and Ali’s Wedding!
Joe and I just returned back from Kansas City after spending a weekend celebrating Joe’s brother, Jason, as he married his new wife, Ali! It was such a beautiful long weekend celebrating a truly amazing couple. I couldn’t imagine a couple better suited for one another, and being able to be a part of their special day was an honor. Ali had the fun idea to let all the bridesmaids pick their own dresses, as long as the were … Read More
Grilled Pizza
Joe and I took a little bit of time tonight to try something special and off the beaten path for dinner. Well, that’s not quite true. We eat pizza all the time, but this was the first time we made pizza on the grill. And man, it was amazing. The crispy, charred crust was better than anything we’ve ever made in the oven, and it went a lot faster than cooking it in the oven, too. Here’s our step-by-step guide … Read More
Seeking Inspiration
Over the past couple weeks, life has gotten the best of me. A series of difficult events have compounded on one another and drained me of my creative and emotional juices as of late. The sun is starting to shine a little brighter around these parts over the past few days, but I’m five steps behind and trying desperately to catch back up. Do you ever experience times like these? So today, No Fat Talk Tuesday will have to wait. … Read More
Quick Caramelized French Toast
Whew! What a fun-filled weekend we had. For the past couple months, Joe has had plans for a big guys weekend with all his college buddies. There was a Warrior Dash going on this weekend near Des Moines, so all 7 of the guys spent the weekend in Grinnell. Since our apartment is pretty small, and my mom was in town for the weekend to hang out together for her birthday, we rented a nearby apartment for the guys. I … Read More
Shabby Apple Giveaway!
If you’ve spent any time on blogs over the past year or so, chances are you’ve heard of Shabby Apple. This clothing company sells adorable skirts, dresses and swimwear at affordable prices. So when Shabby Apple contacted me, asking if I was interesting in hosting a giveaway I was thrilled. I know some of you have said you like the occasional fashion post on Espresso and Cream, so I’m guessing you like free clothes, too, right? Here’s what you need … Read More
Kale and Black Bean Salad with Avocado-Caesar Dressing
On the weekends or during the weekdays when I work from home, I try to put just a bit more effort into what I eat for lunch. Although lunch isn’t my favorite meal of the day, it’s most certainly the best time to pack a bunch of vegetables at one sitting. Since I’m 100% obsessed with kale these days (along with everyone else in the food world), we always have plenty on hand. Somewhere along the line, I convinced Joe … Read More
No Fat Talk Tuesday: Melissa’s Story
Today’s No Fat Talk Tuesday post comes to us from Melissa. Melissa is a fellow ISU grad and I feel like I’ve gotten to know her through the e-mails we have exchanged over the last handful of months. Melissa’s story is incredibly touching and personal and I’m so happy to have her share with everyone today. Thank you, Melissa! – Madison I’ve wanted to share my story for a long time, yet part of me holds back. How do I … Read More
Basil-Cheddar Mac and Cheese for One
Last week, I took a day off from work to catch up on things around the house, work on the blog and take a little bit of time for me. It was blissfully relaxing, and since I have a few more vacation days than Joe does, it made sense. Joe happened to be having an office day on my day off, so I made lunch for him at the house. Joe is the ultra-sport when it comes to lunches. I’ll … Read More
Healthy Raspberry Frozen Yogurt
Has this week thrown anyone else off? Taking two days of vacation in the middle of the week seriously threw me for a loop. Yesterday, I spent most of the day thinking it was Monday. It got so bad that I missed my regular Thursday conference call because I truly thought it was Monday. Every time I remembered it was Thursday, it was a happy surprise. Since it’s Friday, that means that Ice Cream Week on Espresso and Cream is … Read More
Perfect Vanilla Ice Cream
Happy Thursday, friends! I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July. I took Tuesday off work, so I’ve been feeling like it’s the weekend for the past couple days. I’m seriously off my schedule. Unfortunately, Joe came down with a really bad cold and sore throat on Monday, and it reached it’s worst on Wednesday. Jake and Baylen were both under the weather on our visit last week, so I’m not totally surprised. Consequently, our 4th consisted of a … Read More