This post is sponsored by Hebrew National.

You guys, I am so incredibly excited to be moving into a house so soon! I haven't shared too many details about it so far, but the main thing I'm looking forward to right now is the awesome patio and backyard.

While I have absolutely loved living in an apartment all these years (and I'll definitely miss the amenities like the gym, pool, garage, and courtyard grills), I can't wait to have the extra space and a backyard to properly entertain! Growing up, we'd always have cookouts at our house and they were the best. My mom would make a ton of appetizers and people would gather around the kitchen counter or load up big plates and take them outside, and then we'd fire up the grill for dinner later.

I love spring so much because the weather is perfect, and I always want to spend my entire weekend outside. Once we get our stuff moved into the new place (by May 15th), it's going to be an all-out unpacking fest because I'm already planning our first weekend party.

I've worked with Hebrew National before and continue to do so because we're huge fans of not just their hot dogs, but the brand itself. I think it's so important to feed your guests and/or family quality food, and  believe that all-beef hot dogs are worth paying that little bit extra for. You can rely on Hebrew National All-Beef Franks every time.

They asked me to share some of my party tips and a menu for upcoming spring BBQ celebrations, so here we are!

• Invite everyone to bring something, but give them a little direction--that way you don't end up with four pasta salads and no dessert. I also always like to provide one appetizer and a big salad just in case someone forgets to bring their dish.
• As always, keep dietary restrictions in mind. This goes both ways--I'm mostly gluten-free but I know that people want buns, so I always provide them.
• Keep it easy and fun by doing toppings buffet-style. Grill all the hot dogs, let people take one or two, and then have a toppings bar set up so everyone can customize their own dog with chili, veggies, cheese, etc.
• Don't be afraid to invite a wide variety of people--sometimes I feel nervous to combine my different groups of friends, but every time I've done it it's always been so fun. They do all have you in common, after all!

Wishing you a fun-filled season of outdoor cooking and entertaining! 

What makes a Hebrew National kosher hot dog premium? It's all about what makes the cut (and what doesn't). We're choosy about what goes into our franks--we use only premium cuts of 100% kosher beef from the front half of the cow and then choose the best from that. No artificial flavors, colors, fillers, or by-products. When your hot dog is kosher, that's a hot dog you can trust! For more summer fun with Hebrew National, visit facebook.com/hebrewnational.

I don't know if I love a skirt more than this one, which is why it's continually made the cut as I've gotten rid of more and more of my clothes. It's neutral and yet still interesting, and it can be worn with almost any kind of top, including the ol' dress-as-a-shirt shirt. This time I decided to pair it with one of my favorite dresses, a little striped number that is cute on its own, but just as good when layered underneath a skirt.

This is the kind of thing I like about a capsule wardrobe--it forces you to pair pieces you normally wouldn't put together, and the result is often a new favorite outfit.

Skirt (similar): J.Crew | Dress--on sale! (worn as top): J.Crew | Sandals (similar): Steve Madden

Photos by Andi Perullo for Freckled Italian.

Our second wedding anniversary is coming up next week and I can hardly believe it. It feels like just yesterday that I was in Minneapolis, packing up for a week in Virginia followed by a week in the Dominican Republic. So much has happened in the past twenty-four months and I am so excited for the road ahead--but my super nostalgia-loving self will be spending the days leading up to our anniversary reflecting back on the fun we had planning our wedding and celebrating with all our family and friends.

It was kind of a fun coincidence that Helen from Borrowed & Blue, a wedding resource with some great information on North Carolina weddings checked in with me to see if I'd be willing to answer some questions about our (Virginia) wedding, blogging, and living in Charlotte! Here's what she had to say:

“The moment I caught a glimpse of Freckled Italian, I knew I’d found my new favorite blog. There are so many things to love about Megan’s work. First, she is an adorable, genuine person, and it comes across in her writing. Whether she’s talking about the latest recipe she made or about her silly pup and husband duo, I find myself totally immersed in her world! I could hardly wait to sit Megan down to ask her about her aesthetic, life in North Carolina, and some fun wedding questions, just in time for her wedding anniversary! While Borrowed & Blue is the insider guide to finding your wedding vendors and inspiration, there’s nothing better than reaching out to wedded experts, like Megan, for some real reflections on life, post-nuptials. I’m thrilled for everyone to read Megan’s thoughts!”

— Helen, Borrowed & Blue's North Carolina Market Specialist

Here's my Q&A with Borrowed & Blue:

For friends who might be reading your blog for the first time, describe your style in six words.

Straightforward, simple, comfortable, neutral, and fun.

Can you give us a bit of background about how you got into blogging?

Sure! I started my blog in 2008 and it was mostly just an online journal (shout out to any of you who have been reading Freckled Italian since it was "some things about megan"). I wrote about my time in college, and then as I started working and going to graduate school I slowly turned it into the site it is today!

Before we get into wedding questions: Megan, you are one savvy, adorable lady. Who/what are some of your style inspirations?

That is so kind of you to say, thank you! I have a big style crush on Regina Spektor--I like how she manages to be classic and quirky at once; and I've gathered a lot of capsule wardrobe inspiration from Caroline of Unfancy.

Happy anniversary to you and Rob! How did you two meet?

Thank you so much! We met at a Halloween party in college. I was dressed as a sailor and he was Waldo. We both went to high school in the same city but didn't meet until college, so we had a lot of friends in common.

What was the most memorable aspect of your wedding?

I will never forget how cool it was to see all of our friends and family in one place--one of my favorite parts of our wedding video is this very small clip where one of Rob's friends is shaking hands with someone before he sits down at his table. I just loved seeing everyone and it was so humbling to have our marriage be the catalyst that brought all of our people together.

As far as details go, I think wearing my mom's dress will always be the most memorable aspect. We spent a lot of time on the details and so many family heirlooms and symbols made their way into our ceremony and reception.

When you and Rob were deciding what you wanted your wedding to be like, what was your North Star--in other words, what was most important to you, and how did you keep that in mind throughout the planning process?

We just wanted it to be relaxing and fun, which is what we kept coming back to. An outdoor ceremony and reception, vintage but non-fussy details, and a gorgeous buffet dinner helped make that happen. We knew we had pulled it off when all our guests started letting loose on the dance floor.

One last wedding question: Do you have any post-nuptial advice you'd like to share? 

It's easier said than done, but don't sweat the small stuff. Get as organized as you can from the start and the rest of the wedding planning will go smoothly. Take time to really enjoy being engaged and planning the wedding--it's a once in a lifetime privilege and you want to be able to look back on it and smile.

You're really interested in cooking and I've loved reading through your recipes and recaps of dishes you've cooked. What draws you towards cooking for others, and food writing, in particular? 

I come from a family where food matters. My mom instilled a love of cooking in me and my brother from a young age, and my brother is one of the best cooks I know. We never got to know our grandpa Albino but apparently he knew his stuff in the kitchen, so my brother and I always like to say that feeding and entertaining people is our way of communing with him.

And I love food writing because it combines two of my biggest passions--writing and eating. I really enjoy sharing recipes because it gives me the opportunity to help someone make something delicious for people they love.

Charlotte is chock full of great restaurants! Do you have any particular favorites that you'd like to share with us? 

Yes it is! My favorite places are Customshop (get the Brussles sprouts and the bread pudding) and Soul Gastrolounge (hard to get into but if you get a table make sure to order the pork belly tacos). We also go to Bakersfield a lot, and I'm a huge fan of Not Just Coffee. If you're anywhere near Davidson, North Carolina (about half an hour north of Charlotte), please go to Kindred and just get one of everything.

Describe something that sets Charlotte apart from other places you've lived. 

Charlotte is a great city because it's still trying to figure out what it is. This bothered me a lot when we first moved here from Minneapolis, but I decided to be open-minded and realized that while at first glance Charlotte feels brand new and awfully corporate, there is actually a really awesome food scene and creative community here. It's a big city with a small-town feel, and I'm constantly running into people at the grocery store or coffee shop, which I love.

Thanks so much for the interview, Helen! If you're planning a wedding in North Carolina, make sure to check out Borrowed & Blue sometime!