I’m still digesting the amazing week I had in Chicago where I got to see so many people, do many wonderful things, and also do nothing at all. It was such a fantastic visit and I’m feeling nostalgic for midwest summers and being home. I loved each and every day and spending time with my family who I see often and somehow never enough.

I had an opportunity to meet two Chicago bloggers, one who I attended Miami University with and the other who I met through Instagram. Jenny Musbach is a fellow sorority sister (go Theta!) and Kelsey Chun is a lifestyle blogger based in Evanston, IL. Ironically, Kelsey and Jenny’s past are intertwined through Jenny’s husband. It was too neat that we all connected (again) through our blogs! Today I’ll be sharing a fun collaboration we did creating a delicious salad recipe that is perfect for summer!

Jenny recently started a blog called Avenue Midwest where she shares her passion for home, life, and the written word. And damn does she know how to write. Kelsey is an aspiring Marriage & Family Therapist attending grad school this fall and she shares her life lessons and experiences on her blog called With a Little Grace. All of our blogs are so different yet we are all inspired by similar things: lifestyle; family; fashion; faith; friendship; love. It was a great experience collaborating together.

We met at Jenny’s Lakeview apartment with amazing views of the city and tons of natural light, aka a blogger’s dream apartment. We discussed our different blogging experiences and gave each other a few tips! Another part of the blogging community that is so fun and fascinating is that everyone has such different views and takes on each facet of it. How many posts should you write a week? How often should you post to social media? What’s the best camera for blogging? And all of those sorts of things. What I’ve learned most from everyone I have talked with is that you have to stay true to YOU. Write and post as often as you’re comfortable. The biggest leap in the blogging world is making that initial step– choosing to put yourself out there. The rest is straightforward: figuring out how to engage people.

We decided to make this sweet summer salad because of how easy it is (and pretty on the eye!). You can change up the amount of each ingredient depending on what your taste buds crave. Without further adieu, here’s are little creation!

Ingredients:
(serves about 4)

1 bag spinach
2 cups strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1 large avocado or 2 small ones
1/2 cup candied walnuts
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese

Directions:

In a large bowl, empty bag of washed spinach
Chop strawberries in half and add along with sliced avocado
Add goat cheese & candied walnuts
Mix in dressing and let it absorb

Dressing Options:

There are many summer dressings that would taste delicious with this recipe. I often just mix lemon and olive oil and voila, the easiest dressing is made! If you let it marinade for a half hour, it’s sensational. But for this recipe, Jenny made a delicious Strawberry Vinaigrette dressing she found on All Recipes.

What’s awesome about this salad is that you can choose your own amounts of each ingredient. Love strawberries? Add a few more. Are you an avocado person? Cut up one another one! Hate cheese? Goodbye cheese. Want to toast your walnuts instead of candy them? Me too. And if you want to make this salad a full meal instead of a side salad, add some grilled chicken! It’s that simple.

Thanks for letting us enjoy your home, Jenny! Cheers to friendship & community :)

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