Summer is finally here! I feel like it took forever for our spring showers to finish up and for the summer sun to stick around for a while. #ClassicWisconsin But I'm so very excited for the beautiful weather and all of the wonderful Wisconsin summer fun! My husband and I got to spend our 4th of July weekend with family in Waupaca on an island, soaking up the sun, swimming in the lake, taking relaxing boat rides and naps, I'm still not sure how I was able to convince myself to return to reality.




But here I am, back to the old grind and I'm finally finding time to update Merely Midwest! Brief history about me, I have never tanned in the sun up until just a couple of years ago. I have a lot of ginger-blood in my veins so I'd burn bright red, then the red skin would peal away and I'd be left with pale, freckly skin. I must be getting old because my skin has completely changed and I'm finally tanning! Which is great BECAUSE I can wear pale colors now! Fortunately whites, creams, millennial pink, are all hot colors and I can wear them without being totally washed-out!



Another tidbit about me is that I used to have fabulously curly hair. I mean, how cute are these locks?

Lori circa 2009

Then BAM! I don't know what happened but I lost all of my beautiful curls. It could have something to do with how much I was straightening my hair (I know it's a big no-no) or with the smoothing Keratin treatment I got. Or simply that my hair was changing as it sometimes does with time. Either way, I've been working through the frizz, the knots, and the dreadlocks forming at the nape of my neck to get my curls back.



So here's my simple, summer look! I'm so obsessed with this skirt. I love all things with a high waist and especially skirts. I'm only 5'4" and I have a crazy-long torso (for example, my bike frame is built for a 4'10" person. I have no legs.) So high-waist skirts make me look taller and like I have legs built for my height. And who doesn't love to wear linen in the summer?! Milwaukee experienced some crazy heat this weekend and this skirt could not have been more comfortable or breathable.

I paired it with a simple pink/mauve t-shirt, pink lips, and my favorite heather-tan, peep-to, backless booties. The shirt and shoes are currently unavailable (isn't that how it always goes?) But try these alternatives!



Thanks for reading! And enjoy the beautiful summer sun!

Love - Lori

I love this recipe because it's so simple and incredibly delicious. And there are so many variations you can do to keep it interesting, I don't think that I'll ever be bored of it.


Chicken Parmesan is traditionally served over spaghetti noodles but this time I made my first ever batch of zoodles (zucchini noodles). My husband and I love pasta and we (arguably) eat too much of it. So I thought I'd give zoodles a try. I got the KitchenAid attachment as a gift and am so excited that it's easy to use and so versatile.


Turns out, zoodles = awesome! They added a nutty-ness to the chicken parm that I didn't realize I was missing by serving it over spaghetti noodles. And that zoodles are quicker to make than spaghetti noodles is just a win-win for me.

Another thing I love about this meal is how few dishes I use to make it. Everything for the chicken is done is my 9x13 in stone pan.

Place 3 large chicken breasts in pan

Cover in marinara sauce

Cover in provolone cheese

Sprinkle with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese

I hope you enjoy my Chicken Parm recipe! Let me know if you have a variation that you enjoy!

Chicken Parmesan Bake

Servings: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

- 3-4 zucchini
- salt
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup marinara sauce (or to taste)
- 4-6 slices provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Cooking spray

Zoodles Instructions:

- Wash zucchini
- Spiralize zucchini and place in microwave safe bowl
- Sprinkle with salt and microwave on high for 1 minute
- Mix zoodles and microwave at increments of 30 seconds until all warm.

Chicken Instructions:

- Preheat oven to 350F
- Place chicken breasts in greased baking dish
- Cover chicken in marinara sauce
- Place cheese slices on top of each chicken breast
- Spread bread crumbs evenly over cheese slices then top with 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese
- Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until chicken is cooked all the way through
- Top with more Parmesan cheese
- Serve over zoodles
- Enjoy!

I've been singing, "If you're go-iing to San Francisco, be sure to weaar some flowers in your hair," over and over for the entire last week. You'd think I'd learn the rest of the song, but you'd be wrong, that's all I know. #facepalm


But I did wear flowers in my hair! I drank wine in Napa Valley, drove a Go Car through downtown San Francisco, ate fish 'n chips at the bay, drove down the coast on Highway 1, hiked to the base of Yosemite Falls, and so much more! I can't wait to tell you all about it!

I have to start with Napa Valley. My in-laws planned this entire week-long vacation for my husband and me and I'm so desperately grateful. My mother-in-law set aside one day for us all to head up to Napa Valley just for me! How lucky am I? The answer is VERY lucky.

We started by visiting Grgich Hills Estate. This winery created the first California wine to win in a blind taste test against France's finest wines. After that, the California wine country emerged and people have been harvesting their fortunes ever since.

We were fortunate enough to taste wines and learn about the Grgich Hills Estate wines from a member of this Hills family! Though they are known for their award winning Chardonnay, our tour guide took us through their Cabernet flight, as cabs are my fav!


We continued on to Heitz Wine Cellars and finished up at Sutter Home. We all know that Sutter Home is on the lower end of the price chain but I love Sutter Home wine! Honestly, I always have. I like that I can buy the mini single-serving bottles so I don't have to finish an entire bottle before it goes bad. (I'll be honest though, I don't usually have a problem with that...) Or the monster nine-glass bottles for a girls night in!

The Sutter Home rose garden was exquisite and they have the most fun gift shop! I bought wine-inspired soaps, candy dishes, tea towels with a map of Napa Valley, and of course, wine.


More California stories to come! But first, I'm going to pour myself a glass of wine and enjoy the Wisconsin spring sunshine.

My sisters are the coolest people I know. One lives in Arizona and is a fabulous oncology nurse. The other is a food scientist for the Wrigley Co. and works in candy development. Yes, she's basically Willy Wonka. Or as my dad calls her, Wilma Wonka. Two weekends ago was her birthday and we all traveled to Chicago for a big family weekend! I get excited about Chicago because I always do something new! Be that a new restaurant, a new tour, or a new bar. This weekend I got to see the Bean for the first time! How crazy is that? I know it's like, the thing you do when you go to Chicago but I had never taken the time to go before. The real name is Cloud Gate which is exactly what it looks like, so I get it. But I prefer to call it the Bean.


We also did the architecture cruise along the Chicago River. I get totally sucked into historical stories and this tour did not disappoint. We got to hear all about the great Chicago fire, the layout of the city, and many of the iconic buildings that make up the downtown area. We also got to enjoy some fabulous beers.

Me, sister Chrissy (Wilma Wonka), sister Karen

Chrissy, Karen, Stephanie, Cliff

My husband, Ben and me

I love to cook dinner for my husband and I. I have a killer meatball recipe that he loves and I make almost weekly - recipe coming soon! But by the time I get home after a full day of work and fighting the Milwaukee traffic, I'm so hungry that I just want to throw a frozen pizza in the oven and eat it 12-15 minutes later. Which is no fun! Because I do love to cook, I love to find new recipes and when I feel so uninspired to do something that I love, I get really sad! So I made this menu board because 1- It's adorable and it looks fabulous in my kitchen. And 2- I can finally meal plan for the week, grocery shop for everything and hold myself accountable for making dinner! Fun, right?

I started my first blog in 2009 when I was a Freshman in college and oh man... it did not work. Of course it didn't though, I was totally inept! I was living on my own for the first time, I didn't know what I was going to do with my life. Heck, I didn't know what I was going to do with my weekend! I was just eager to do something that I thought was going to be cool and easy. I was already an okay writer and I read a lot of fashion magazines so in my 19-year-old brain I thought I had everything it took to be a successful blogger. Boy, was I wrong.

Me visiting Chicago circa 2009

Like I did with most things when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I jumped into the deep end of a pool filled with sharks, twelve-foot waves, and a strong undertow. (That's a scary pool....) And I found myself completely unprepared, under researched, drowning.

But not this time! I've done my research, I'm okay with trial and error. I know this is going to take lots of dedication and practice but I thank you for going on this adventure with me! It's going to be fun!

Hello! I am so happy you're here! My name is Lori and I am so excited to get into the blog-esphere. I've been so anxious to get started that I claimed my domain name before I had any content! YIKES! Learning experience #1. I am a born-and-raised Wisconsin girl and currently living in Milwaukee and I'm married to the handsome man you see in that photo. The gist of this blog is about fashion, beauty, travel, baking, reading, and all things Midwest! I'm so pumped to start this journey and I love that you're coming with me!

In the mean time, enjoy these photos from my recent wedding!