Showing posts with label summer 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer 2013. Show all posts

Fashion Friday: 10 nautical faves

Friday, July 19, 2013

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How ironic that I should post about beating the heat this week. Just as we were going to bed last night, we noticed that the thermostat was stuck at a hotter temp than usual. It got hotter overnight, so by the morning, we had to call the repairman, who, thankfully, had everything fixed (yay for warranties!) and cooled off by 10 a.m.

And now, as I sit here drinking my ice-cold Diet Coke, I can't help but daydream about a lazy summer day at the beach. The kind of days that mark so many of my childhood summers spent on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, frolicking and splashing and laughing. Well, nothing screams beach day more than nautical style, so I thought it would be fun to round-up 10 pieces I'm loving right now...
*Panama hat, $58
*Signature French terry dress, $15.99
*Linen anchor pocket tee, $49.50
*Striped bikini, top ($29.99) and bottom ($24.99)
*Ponytail holder (set of five), $5
*Sailboat button earrings, $38
*Anchor rope bracelet, $38
*Wondrous whale ring, $40
*Gold knot ring, $27
*DIY anchor tote

So, what's your favorite nautical-themed find, friends? Are you wearing a lot of it this summer? I'd love to hear! xoxo

P.S. Friday links are coming up shortly! :)

[Top photo via The Sartorialist]

Found: 7 ways to beat the heat

Thursday, July 18, 2013

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As Nelly once said, "It's getting hot in herrre." And it is. Literally. The sweltering summer heat has finally arrived, and we're under a heat advisory for the next couple days. I stepped outside this morning, only to be greeted by a fiery-hot blast of air. You know what that means, don't you? There's only one thing to do: Conserve all your energy and find ways to stay cool. To help you in your search, here are seven ways to beat the heat...
Dip in the pool (here are 12 modern pools...).
Drink a sweet treat, like watermelon punch.
Slip into something light and breezy.
Put your feet up and let the cool air tickle your toes.
Curl up on the couch with a good movie (Netflix is offering a one-month free trial).
Let a melting popsicle run down your chin (here are four more popsicle recipes).
And...enjoy a cool summer supper, like the one my mom made last night. It was absolutely delicious!

Your turn, friends: How do you beat the heat during the summer? Any cool (pun intended...) tips and tricks? What's your weather like these days? Do you like hot weather, or not so much? Here's to staying cool... xoxo

[Top photo from LIFE magazine, via Pinterest]

Fashion Friday: Denim on denim

Friday, July 12, 2013

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I had a bit of a fashion realization this morning: I rocked denim back in the day! Denim jeans were my go-to staple of the '80s, as you can see from the above photo, and I wore them proudly. Well, The New York Times recently featured a street style round-up of people sporting their best denim-clad looks from around the world. And luckily, the denim-on-denim trend isn't hard to master. "The trick is to mix fabric weights and washes," says Patrick Robinson, Gap's executive vice president of design. Here are my six favorite picks for styling the look...
*Liz Claiborne long-sleeve chambray shirt, $29.99
*Boyfriend jeans in dark vintage wash, $64.49
*Classic espadrille flats, $16.95
*Stripe sweater, $75
*Roll-up jean shorts, $178
*Jean jacket in storm cloud wash, $118
What do you think, friends? Would you rock the denim on denim look? Is it a fashion do or don't? What's your favorite piece of denim attire? Let's chat... xoxo

[Bottom photo via Madewell's Pinterest]

Parks from above

Thursday, July 11, 2013

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After spending an afternoon in Central Park, California-based photographer Gray Malin set out to capture the beauty of "a day in the park." His latest photo series does just that with these gorgeous aerial shots of famed parks in New York City and Chicago. Above are NYC's Bryant Park, Central Park Lawn and Washington Square Park. Look at all those tiny people...

...and Millennium Park, one of my favorite spots in Chicago. The Bean!

Don't these photos make you want to pack a picnic and sit in the park on a lazy summer afternoon? What's your favorite park, friends? xoxo

P.S. New York City from above.

The Great Clean of 2013: Update #1

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

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So! I'm sure you all remember my summer project. When I first posted about The Great Clean of 2013 a few weeks ago, I had the highest of hopes -- you know, those grand dreams that put stars in your eyes and send your heart fluttering with wild anticipation. I was determined to be one lean, mean, cleaning machine. I was pumped. I was ready. I was all set...
That is, well, until I wasn't. I tried really hard at first. I did. And then, something weird happened. I realized it last night just as I was going to bed. Over the last couple of weeks, I've not cleaned out a bin so much as I gained half a bin...
What? How is that even possible? But, I feel it's important that I come clean today -- no pun intended -- and be honest. As I said in the original post, I promised to report on my progress (or lack thereof...) throughout the summer, and you all know that I'm a woman of my word. So, it's back to the drawing board this week...or, should I say back to the bins? I'll report back again soon. Wish me luck, friends! xoxo

Would You Rather: Spend your summer at the beach or in the city?

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ACK!! I'm actually torn on this one. The sun and surf? The sights and culture? Which would you choose? And, more importantly...how is your summer going? Look for my answer in the comments... xoxo

P.S. Would you rather live in the country or the city? :)

[Photos via We Heart It]

Lemon meringue pie s'mores

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

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Ahhh, just in time for the Fourth of July! How delicious do these lemon meringue pie s'mores look? What a fun take on the classic, camp-y, summery treat! xoxo

P.S. A new Love Lounge is coming up this afternoon! :)

Family Photos: Summer afternoon fun!

Monday, July 1, 2013

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Remember when I mentioned our little afternoon adventure last week? Well, friends, I've got the evidence to prove that it was, indeed, quite the adventure. Janelle had to get her tires fixed and needed to use my mom's car for the afternoon, so my mom and I decided to have a fun, leisurely afternoon.
We had Janelle drop us off at our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch (and my favorite birthday spot!). Now, I don't usually like to eat outside (did I ever tell you about the time I got sick in the desert? Not a good experience...), but the sun was shining and there was a cool breeze, so I threw caution to the wind and decided to be a rebel.


Surrounded by beautiful trees, we enjoyed chips and salsa before our meal...
...and I had the best enchiladas I've ever tasted. In my entire life. My mom enjoyed the tacos, and we split an order of rice and beans. It was the perfect lunch for a Friday afternoon.

How pretty are these flowers? They brightened up the patio, along with this calming fountain.
We then began the walk home. It's a trek we've made hundreds of times before, but this time, we forgot to count on one little thing. The weather. You see, there was a chance of afternoon showers, but we thought were invincible. Until, well, we weren't. A few blocks into our stroll, the skies opened and the rain started pouring down, first in little sprinkles and then in those huge droplets that stick to your clothes.
Luckily, a friend lived close by, so we were able to ride out the storm in her living room -- and enjoy a nice visit. It was almost 5 p.m. by the time we got home, and needless to say, we were pretty tired. BUT! It was a fun afternoon -- obviously one of these summer experiences that will stick out in my mind.

Have you had any outstanding summer adventures yet, friends? Do anything out of the ordinary? Get stuck in a summer storm? xoxo

Man Candy Monday.

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Good morning, friends, and happy July! Ahh, July...one of my favorite months, after August, of course! Fun fact: July is traditionally the hottest month of the year in the contiguous United States, and with the Fourth of July this Thursday, I thought an all-American Man Candy was long overdue. This round-up highlights five men who left their mark on this great nation. They were trailblazers. They helped define their generation. And all that power they wielded? Well, that was just darn sexy, if you ask me...

MY TOP 5 U.S. PRESIDENTS!!!!!!!!!!

THEODORE ROOSEVELT
HARRY S. TRUMAN
JOHN F. KENNEDY
JIMMY CARTER
BARACK OBAMA

P.S. Don't forget: Google Reader is being shut down today. You can follow So About What I Said... by joining Feedly or by following via Bloglovin' and RSS. And as always, feel free to connect with me on Pinterest, TwitterFacebook and now Instagram! See you there, friends! xoxo

Summer Project #2: The Great Clean of 2013

Monday, June 24, 2013

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Here's the deal, friends: I've been procrastinating. For quite some time, actually. It's not something I'm proud of, to say the least. You know that feeling you get when you let things pile up, and eventually, you just get to a point where you're like, "I just can't anymore. I can't look at this. I can't even deal with it."

So you don't deal with it because it all seems, well, a bit too overwhelming. And things continue to pile up. And pile up. And -- you guessed it -- pile up. You know you need to take control, which is why I've deemed this summer The Great Clean of 2013. My everything-needs-to-be-organized mind just can't take it anymore -- and neither can my mother and sister -- so I've made it my mission to go through everything. And I won't lie to you, friends, it's not going to be pretty or easy -- we're talking at least three bins filled with assorted papers, magazines (some from 2011) and books. I've even let piles take shape around the house...

But! No more! This is it. By the end of the summer, I will have everything squared away (consider the shots above the "before" photos...). I can do it, if I just keep at it, and that's where you come in, friends. I was reading an article about clutter in Family Circle a couple weeks ago, and professional organizer and author Dorothy Breininger suggests getting a purging partner -- a friend or family member -- to "hold you accountable." I love that idea, and it really rings true and makes so much sense.

And that's when I got an idea: Will you be my partners, friends? Here's what I'm thinking: Every week or so, I'll post an update on the progress I made during the course of that week. And if I didn't do anything? Well, I'll have to be honest and report that, too. How does that sound, friends? AND, if you're determined to tackle any projects this summer, post about them in the comments. We're all in this together, right? xoxo

P.S. And with that, I'm powering down for the night...we've got a tornado watch in the area! Oh, no!