Happy Friday, friends! Today is especially happy, because my guest blog post – Friday Five – is live on the Windy City Blogger Collective. I love everything about Chicago, so obviously joining WCBC was necessary when I started Gilded Gal. If you are a Chicago blogger – I seriously suggest joining. It’s always fun to check in with other creative Chicagoans – they are a constant source of fun & inspiration!
Fall weather is {sort of} in full swing in Chicago, and for the first time in a long time – I have absolutely nothing going on this weekend! I look forward to relaxing, trying out a new recipe, and hopefully doing a fun fall activity before the weather turns to winter overnight.
Color Crush
Photo cred: Jennifer @ Publicist in Pearls
I am totally color crushing on burgundy this fall. I LOVE how Jennifer of Publicist in Pearls paired her swoon-worthy suede booties with a fun plaid dress. I’m obsessed with the Rag and Bone Agnes bootie, but since they are way out of my budget, I have my eye on these from Steve Madden.
Banana Chai Bundt Cake
Photo cred: Lindsey @ Butter & Type
I’m not much of a baker, but you can’t knock me for trying! I’m a sucker for pretty presentation, so I’m constantly looking through Pinterest for unique recipes that are easy to make. Through WCBC, I discovered Lindsey at Butter and Type, and I love her recipe posts! They are easy to make, always delicious and if I try hard enough – they look almost as good as Lindsey’s! I’m not a fan of pumpkin flavoring, but I feel like the mix of banana and chai is perfect for fall. I’m going to give this bundt cake a whirl this weekend – follow along on my Instagram to see how it turns out!
Not Just Followers
Photo cred: Kelly @ Kelly in the City
Social media has totally changed the friend game. Our circle has suddenly grown from people you see in real life to your social media friends, who you might actually see more than your “real life” friends. Since starting Gilded Gal, I have a brand new appreciation for the ladies on my Instagram feed. Although I have never met any of them in person, I feel like I know them so well. They are truly my every day inspirations. It’s kind of like when the world became obsessed with Kate Middleton {guilty} before the Royal Wedding. I never actually heard her speak until she said her vows, but seeing her every day and reading tons of articles about her made it feel like I’ve known her forever … crazy! I love how Kelly of Kelly in the City keeps in touch with her online friends via phone and computer screens. Her Pin Pals project with Marshall’s looked so fun!
Go-To Jacket
Photo cred: Erin @ See Through Happiness
The weather has been so up-and-down lately, so I’ve been bringing my leather jacket with me everywhere just in case there’s a massive drop in temps {so, every day in Chicago!}. It’s an easy and chic way to stay warm during the cooler months. I love how Erin from See Happiness Through styled her moto jacket (under $100!) with a floral skirt – edgy & feminine is one of my favorite styling combos.
Work it Out
Photo cred: Katherine @ Engineering in Style
So, it’s definitely too late for me to work on my summer 2016 bikini body, but at the rate I’m going, I probably need to start getting ready for 2017. I dread going to the gym, so I love finding workouts that are effective, easy and can be done at home. Katherine from Engineering in Style rounded up four workouts for stronger abs that you can do at home for only 30-minutes a day.
Thank you to all these fabulous ladies for keeping me inspired all day, every day. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend full of sweets, shopping and fun with friends & family!
xAlex
*I’d love for you to check out my original Friday Five post over at WCBC, too!