Fashion Friday: 10 nautical faves

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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

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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]

Parks from above

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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.

[Via Honestly WTF]

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]

Happy Fourth of July: 10 patriotic Pinterest finds

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American flag

Classic sparklers

Flag fruit pizza

Outdoor table setting

Red, white and blue nails

Striped wooden spoons

All-American style

Patriotic roses

Layered drink

Chalkboard print (from Etsy shop j&paper)

Have a good day, friends! Here's to family, relaxing and LOTS of good food! xoxo

Lemon meringue pie s'mores

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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!

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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

Summer Project #2: The Great Clean of 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!

Fashion Friday: Taylor Swift for Keds Collection

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For the final day of Summer Week, I thought it would be fun to feature one of my favorite ladies. Taylor has perfected that effortless, laid-back summer vibe with her breezy dresses and vintage glam. And now, she's bringing pops of color to feet everywhere with her Taylor Swift for Keds Collection...

How cool are these shoes? So much fresh, eye-popping color. Now if only I could get a custom-made pair...I'd be set for summer!! What do you think, friends? Is this your style? xoxo

P.S. More Taylor Swift style.

Summer Week: 6 ways to feel like a kid again

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Happy first day of summer, friends! Ahh, the summers of youth -- those long, lazy days spent playing and frolicking and laughing until your sides hurt. These days seemed to last forever. Until, well, they didn't. Somewhere along the way, you grew up (how did that happen...?), and the summer months lost that special spark of magic. It all leaves you with a very unsettled feeling.

I've been thinking a lot about my childhood summers lately. I'll be going about my day, and waves of nostalgia will just come over me -- sometimes, from out of nowhere. So, this summer, more than anything, I'd love to recapture that feeling of child-like enthusiasm. I know what you're thinking: "Melissa, you can't recapture you're childhood. Don't you know that? Once it's gone, it's gone." Of course I know that, but who's to say we can't enjoy those things that made our childhood summers so special? Still don't believe me? Here are 8 childhood classics to get you in a summer mood...

*A summertime temporary tattoo, $5 for set of two.
*A pint of Jeni's famously delicious ice cream, $12 (if you're feeling adventurous, here are the 20 best recipes for homemade ice cream).
*A classic paddle ball to see if you can still beat your childhood record, $2.59.
*Colorful sidewalk chalk to make your driveway pretty, $6.69.
*Bouncy balls because you used to spend hours seeing how high you could make it bounce, $4.91.
*An old-fashioned kite that reminds you of all the good summer afternoons with your father, $12.99.

Do you miss being a kid in the summer? What was your favorite part? Any toy or games you loved? Let's get a bit nostalgic, shall we, friends? xoxo

[Top photo via We Heart It, edited by me]

Summer Week: What are your favorite beach reads?

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One of my favorite memories of visiting my grandparents every summer was the hours I'd spend lounging with a good book or magazine. Some mornings I'd wake up and read in bed for a bit. It was a great, relaxing way to start the day.

These days, though, I'll be the first to admit that I don't have nearly enough reading time carved into my schedule. We all know the importance of setting aside some time each day for "pleasure-leisure reading," as my sister calls it, so I'm bit ashamed to admit that I can't recall the last time I actually finished a book. A book from the Twilight series, maybe? Eeeeks! That was such a long time ago, was it?

Well, this summer, I'm going to try and take a few "reading breaks" here and there. Even if it's only reading a magazine on the patio (perhaps with some root beer, of course...), it will feel nice to relax like in the old days. What books do you like to read? The awesome What Should I Read Next? is a Web site that helps you find new books to read based on past favorites. To get started, all you do is type in the name of a book you liked. The site will search its huge database and give you recommendations for what to read next. You can even create book lists. How cool is that? Here are a few books I'd love to read this summer...

*L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad: I've had it sitting on my bookshelf for a couple years now and have heard good things about her books, $8.59.
*The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger: I'm in the writing game and haven't read this book (scandalous...), $12.37.
*Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard: I LOVE the TV show and am dying to see how the books compare, $20.54 (Books 1-4).
*At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks: I was obsessed with his novels years ago and would love to pick up where I left off, $7.19.
*The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio: I've always admired Sara's writing (and was honored to guest post on her Glamour blog a few years back...), $11.70.
*Peyton Place by Grace Metalious: I've always wanted to see if the last generation's Fifty Shades of Grey is as steamy as people made it out to be, $14.48.

Your turn, friends: What's on your must-read beach reads list? Have you read any of my picks? Any others you'd recommend? xoxo

[Top photo via We Heart It]

Summer Week: 7 road trip essentials

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Although we haven't traveled much in the last few years, my family used to be the masters of road trips. Remember my play-by-play of our classic adventures? Or that time we got stuck on the famed Blue Ridge Parkway? Well, the times spent in our tiny car -- a car filled to the brim with suitcases and bags and my wheelchair -- are some of my favorite childhood memories. My philosophy? All children should experience the joys of a good road trip at least once in their life. It builds character. It strengthens bonds. And at the very least, it makes for good writing material (and maybe therapy topics?) as an adult. So, to that end, I give you my top 6 picks for the classic road trip...

What do you think of this list, friends? Anything you'd add? Do you take many road trips? What's been your favorite adventure? Any advice for summer travelers? Do share!! xoxo