Besides being the most important meal of the day, breakfast is also our favorite meal of the day (just check out our daily breakfast photos on Tumblr). So, when we learned about their new cookbook, In the Small Kitchen, we invited veteran guest bloggers Big Girls, Small Kitchen to share one of their favorite brunch recipes with us! (And wouldn’t you know it? The last time they appeared on the blog, they shared a delicious pancake mix recipe!)

Here’s what they have to say about their latest foray into déjeuner: “Back in college, we were used to seeing our friends all the time! Now, meals with our friends and former college roommates have become fewer and further between,” write Big Girls, Small Kitchen. “The one thing we can rely on to bring us all around a table is brunch. The promise of an indulgent brunch will lure even the laziest of them downtown for a rendezvous, complete with French toast and these Creamy Mushroom Tartines. As we eat, we catch up on life events and remember that there’s not much better than getting together with girlfriends over a delicious meal.

“You’ll find this recipe in our brand spanking new cookbook, In the Small Kitchen, in — wouldn’t you guess it? — the brunch section!”

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The summer sun is nearly upon us, meaning it’s time to start wearing white! We’re feeling the urge to sport pale beiges, creams, and whites in celebration of the season, and are currently inspired by this cool outfit by Hannah, of the blog Foxtail and Fern. We like how she grounded her breezy, peaches-and-cream ensemble with rich brown, gold, and onyx-colored accessories, making this an excellent look for a fancy brunch with your gal pals, or a casual stroll about town!

Get Hannah’s look with the Poetic Prequel Top, Dusted with Gold Skirt, Shade-y Lady Sunglasses, Small Sips Bracelet, Chic Street Shoulder Bag, and Parkside Stroll Heel.

Besides getting a gift from her registry or from our Mod Couple Gift Guide, it’s always nice to do something a little more personalized for your BFF. You’ve been through thick and thin with your friend, and now she’s setting off into wedded territory. Giving her a gift that either helps her capture new memories with her honey, or shares remembrances of your time together as friends, is a great way to think outside of the (gift) box. We’ll show you an easy way to put together a “memory kit” as well as a couple DIY presents that are easy as 1, 2, “I do!”

Go DIY: Time Capsules and Chain Scrapbooks from Meggy

What better way to keep memories safe than with a homemade time capsule? Present your best gal with a tightly sealed jar filled with tchotchkes, souvenirs, and knickknacks that will delight her upon unearthing them ten or twenty years from now. If you’re not flush with photos, or in possession of a magnet depicting the cheerful couple’s favorite zoo, feel free to (secretly) go to your BFF’s significant other for photobooth pictures and movie ticket stubs of their favorite corny thriller.

Another approach to keeping memories intact is the creation of a chain scrapbook. Whether you find a bookbinding resource and make your own scrapbook by hand, as in the example above, or use a premade notebook, such as the Between the Walls Notebook, a chain scrapbook is a wonderful way to compile the bride-to-be’s friends’ sentiments for the life adventure ahead.

If her loved ones are close by, throw a scrapbooking shindig, complete with glue sticks, colored pens, and glitter, and encourage guests to bring memory-inducing bits and bobs of their own. With a page or two per guest, the book will soon be filled with touching testaments to your friend’s radness factor. Are her friends far-flung? Plan in advance and have the book mailed from location to location. It requires a bit more effort, but the payoff when your best gal tears up every time she pages through your creation will be more than worth it.

Make it Snappy: Turi’s Memory Kit

If your friend’s into photography, snag an old-school 35-mm camera from ModCloth, along with a couple rolls of film. Bundle it all up with artsy frames, and the couple will be able to snap their own photos.

1. Bark Life Picture Frame 2. Lomography Fine Color 35 mm Film 3. Knots of Love Picture Frame 4. Fisheye 2 Lomography Camera 5. Instant Success Picture Frame Set

With a little bit of effort and a whole lot of love, you’ll be proud to present your friend with a gift that she can treasure forever. Whether it’s an analog camera or a sprawling scrapbook, your heartfelt gesture will remind her to keep making — and pinning down — memories for the rest of her life.

Weddings are all fun and games, right? Wrong! Although there are lots of mushy toasts, loads of dancing, and tons of catching up with old friends, there’s still the practical side of things — how to survive it all. It’s your job as the bride’s right-hand woman to make sure you handle this for her, too.

1. Fancy and Fresh Water Bottle 2. Sewing kit from Etsy seller Christinas 3. Stick By Me Lingerie Tape 4. For Whom the Bird Tolls Pouch 5. Sweeter than a Cupcake Manicure Set 6. Howl Do You Do? Tote 7. Truly Royal Sandal 8.BAND-AID Brand by Cynthia Rowley

We’ve also put together a free, downloadable checklist of everything you’ll want to take with you on the big day to ensure that you make it through without sore feet, crazy hair, and ripped hose. Stick to the plan, and the wedding will be just as fun as you and your BFF imagined!

Knowing you, you’ll want to stand out, if even a little bit, at the next wedding you attend. One easy way to do this? Construct your own fascinator!

Armed with a needle and thread, glue gun, and trip to my local craft store, I fashioned 5 fabulous DIY fascinators that work wonderfully — if I do say so myself — for brides and guests alike.

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Make your friend’s special day even more memorable with a handpicked wedding playlist! Slip a beautified mixtape or CD into your wedding present, or, mail the disc to the couple if you can’t make it to the event. You can also ask the entire bridal party or your circle of friends to make mixes for the couple, and play them during the reception.

To get you into the mood, we made a sampling of songs for a romantic bride and groom dance!

What songs would you add to a wedding mix?

For dazzling, daytime peepers, Andie likes Lime Crime’s sparkly Eyedust in Diva and Forever Near Top.

Something borrowed, something blue, something stunning— well, hey, that’s you! Andie, our talent acquisition associate and by-night makeup artist, will teach you the beauty techniques you need to apply a shimmery eye, soft cheeks, and lovely, luscious lips. Whether prepping for your own, or a pal’s special occasion, try your hand— and your blush brush —at this event-excellent look!

Who: Stefanie

What: Wedding gown

Where: Aubergine Vintage Emporium & Cafe, Sebastopol, CA

How Much: “It was marked $28, but there were a few stains on it so I got it for $25. A friend altered the neckline for me as a wedding gift, and the stains came out at the dry cleaner.”

When I Use It: “I used it last month — along with a headpiece a friend made and a pair of vintage heels given to me by the costume shop director at the theater where I work — when I got married! But it’s such a great cut; I may just dye it and wear it again.”

Shopping Tips: “My first rule of thrifting is: If you’re not sure about something, leave it for someone else. Second, know what you’re looking for; if you know the colors you’re after and the fabrics you like, you can eyeball a rack in a minute’s time without riffling through every hanger. And third, don’t be afraid to ask if the cashier will knock a few bucks off if you’re going to have to do repairs!”

HEY, BLOG READERS! We know you’re the cleverest vintage hunters around, which is why we want to hear the story of your Fave Find! E-mail favefinds@modcloth.com with a picture of you with your favorite vintage find (a rare record, a perfect pair of boots, or any other treasure), and answer the following: Who, What, Where, How Much, When I Use It, and Shopping Tips!

The Rosy Mary Dress was featured in the June issue of People Style Watch.