Summer Fridays

Summer Fridays should be added to the constitution. They are stolen time to enjoy the best season.  Here's a few ideas on how to spend yours. 

Hit a pool, preferably outside. 

Pick a good book and good chair then hit the porch. 

Make lemonade for the masses. 

Hit an outdoor shower. 

Stay in a treehouse hotel. 

Live large, 

Frances

Picnic Crazy

I love a picnic whether on the carpet, in the backyard, in the local park, on the beach or dock.  Here's a few things that keep me picnic party ready. 

Ikea has the best napkins for 1.49 pack.  I always stock up when I make it there. 

Toss bright colored flatware in a bucket and bring out for last minute park runs.  The Dollar Store usually has a nice selection. 

Wasara is a japanese line of picnic productions that are biodegrable and can be reused for a few uses if they don't get "wet".  Branch Home sells a kit for 8. 

Another option for green friendly folks is this party kit from Branch Home. 

While visiting Nantucket a few years ago, I fell in love with a cute shop and the owners had put together this book.  It's been dog earred like crazy and while it's not my kitchen bible, a few times each summer it gives me inspiration.  Recipes for lobster rolls and clam bakes get me there without actually going.  Amazon sells. 

Live large, 

Frances

What does your towel say about you?

Hitting the beach this Memorial Day, I hunted around for my beach towels which I keep stored in my Moroccan puff.  They were a bit sad looking after surviving a Very Long Winter in a tight ball.  It got me checking out the different towels on the crowded beach. Like some bad Cosmo quiz or litmus test of sorts, I wondered what the towels said about the owner.   Here are a few cool ones that've found that  made me smile. 

Target's $8 star version sings "Give me a close up, Mr. Speilberg."

Not to be undone, Garnet Hill's colorful stripes are hard to resist. 

Lands' End has a subdued towel with a design to frame the person laying down. 

Still caught up in Will and Kate hysteria, try out this Union Jack from Amazon. 

Uncommon Goods has a "Destination" towel that serves as a reminder of a fun holiday. 

Live large, 

Frances 

Top ten ways to celebrate summer

#10  Seafood!  Celebrate with a lobster or shrimp roll.  One of my favorite spots is The Lobster Roll on road to Montauk.  Delish!

#9  Espadrilles. Channel your inner Frenchwoman and replace the flip flops with chic espadrilles like this (now on sale) versions at Madewell. 

#8  Summer bedding. Blogged about this last week but pick up new bedding for next summer like from Roberta Roller Rabbit's collections.  All these colors make me smile.

#7 Find a hammock and stay there.   I particularly love this one from  H Groome in Southampton.

#6  Eat outside. If the table isn't already outside, bring it!  Love the blue hues and nautical theme decor of Ralph's East Hampton shop.

#5  Flowers.  Surround yourself with glories from the garden.

#4  Beach Chairs.  Trade up the rusty beach chairs for a cool swing number.

#3  Eat low brow.  Find a taco stand or ice cream truck and order it up.  

 #2  Restock the beach bag.  Fill'er up for one last long weekend.  Toss Designs

#1  Sit and watch a sunset!

SO LONG SUMMER!

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Nothing nicer than nautical-Day 2

One classic color combo that always gets an A+ is navy and white. Especially in the summer, it's clean and fresh and a much needed departure from a winter of black.  Here are a few Navy and White things that make my heart sing. 

Thomas Paul

Don't these melamine dinner  plates just scream "CLAM BAKE"?

I LOVE this platter. It'd be fun to hang on the wall or put on a book case. The shape is elegant and at $30, it's a perfect hostess gift. Also, from the very talented Mr. Paul.  

This dress deserves to be sipping a chilled glass of rose at sunset.  Great news too. It's on sale for $90 at Rebecca Taylor. 

Enjoy!

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Nothing nicer than nautical

I am a beach girl.  Some people love the mountains and swear by how fun skiing is.  I just don't see the point.  So anything nautical gets my attention. This is my own personal "fleet week" with five days devoted to seashells and all things nautical.   Enjoy!

Seashells are one of life's perfect things.  They look great on a bookcase as a decorative object.  They can be used to hold things. (My conch holds cotton swabs.)  I picked these up on the North Fork, visiting a friend. They made perfect salt cellars.  

I also had a dinner party and used them to serve crab casserole. So easy and fun!  (Going in oven to cook)

Jack and Lulu, a fantastic stationery company, knows nautical. They live in one of the cutest towns, Rowayton, Ct. and always have something stylist up their sleeve.  Check out their new Whistle Bag that comes with .. yes... .a whistle.  At $75, you can get this and not have to sell the boat.  

ADORABLE!  Watch the ships ahead...

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