School's Out For Summer!!

In our area school will get out at 12:30 today and it is officially SUMMER!!

I love. love. love Summer and it seems to take longer to get here every year!!

#hurryupsummer

This is what I would like to do ALL Summer!

Are you a beach person or a mountain vacation person?

   

This year's beach hat is fro the Dollar Spot at Target!

I'm Team BEACH all the way!

We are not sure where we are going yet!!

I can't believe I just wrote that! 

We have been waiting to see if perhaps, just maybe, our condo that was flattened

 last Fall by the hurricane might, just maybe, be ready by July.

Nope. 

I'm headed out to spend my June 

living out of a backpack on Mission trips but believe me - Mollie is on it!!

She is a researcher extraordinaire and she is determined to find our little July spot

 in a paradise somewhere. :)

We are going to (practically) throw a dart at Florida, 

find a place to hang our (beach) hats 

and have an adventure!

Maybe it will be as funny as the one I talked about here.

Where are you going this Summer? 

Like, I really want to know! 

I want to know about great places to visit!!

So dish!!

Bamboo Friday #11. I Can't Choose...

The November issue of Coastal Living Magazine

 has two of the most amazing bamboo items ever. 

I cannot pick a favorite so you decide.

Which do you think is the most fabulous??

First, this hanging chair/bed/?  

However you identify it, it is the perfect spot to read/relax/ sleep/ daydream.

I'd like to spend every Bamboo Friday in it :)

And the other image that grabbed me is this "rounded bamboo sofa" in this dreamy Caribbean home designed by the amazing Amanda Lindroth.

I mean, really. 

That is my dream bamboo find right there!!

I could definitely be happy sitting on that couch on Lyford Cay for the rest of my life.

Have a good Bamboo Friday 

and if your weekend involves some thrifting then I hope you find something bamboo!!

Bamboo Friday #5

#bambooisbest

Bamboo Fridays started because of my popular hashtag 

and Pinterest Boards of the same name.

But bamboo may truly be at its best at The Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

There isn't anything I don't love about the British Colonial decor in this iconic hotel. 

Maybe someday.

Just one night.

And black and white checked floors plus giant potted palms.

Perfection.

Happy Friday - hopefully there's a tropical destination with bamboo chairs in your future!

Bamboo Friday #3

This one is a zinger!

I had another BF topic in mind and then I found this article in 

House and Garden UK 

and it was all over.

The title: "Bamboo House."

They had me at bamboo and they were not kidding.

Look at this place.

And it's on a remote island.

Perfect and perfect!

Location. Location. Location.

And by "bamboo house" they mean "bamboo house."

It's all fabulous. 

The bedrooms are great but check out this bathroom.

And to get around  the little island of Mustique... a bamboo bicycle. #idie

I did a little digging and found this fabulous mode of transport in case you don't want to ruin your relaxed, zen state from hanging out at the bamboo house by pedaling-

A bamboo Vespa!

And in case you think this is over the top and a bit much...

 remember bamboo is sustainable!

Tropical and Refreshing!

When I blogged about the amazing tropical bar cart set up from OKL last time I said I was off to search for some tropical drink recipes that would be refreshing and delish!

I kept my word!

First, I headed to a favorite tropical spot -

 The Florida Keys.

Yes, it really is that beautiful

Every time.

These photos have not been edited.

Just iphone pics.

 Then Mollie and I set off to find the "best in The Keys" of one of our favorite drinks - 

The Mojito.

There's nothing like it on a hot, hot day!

We did our due diligence. We sipped in several picturesque locations...

And then we discovered the best one ever!

We went back again - just to confirm and to be sure there was honesty in reporting.

#research

#wearethereforyou

For sure. 

The best Mojito was at Lazy Days in Islamorada.

And the bartender willingly shared the secret!

 She uses Parrot Bay Key Lime Rum.

Using this rum cuts out the need for simple syrup

 (which sometimes makes Mojitos too sweet and #calories)

And it is sooooo easy.

And light and refreshing.

All you need to do is:

1. Muddle fresh mint in the bottom of the glass

2. Fill a tall glass with ice.

3. Add Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Key Lime Rum and fill with club soda.

4. Garnish with a lime.

via

And just so you don't think we just ran around sipping Mojitos all day long- we found an amazing Smoked Wahoo Fish Dip at the Zane Grey Lounge.

Delicious and look at that presentation.

If only going to Happy Hour and reporting back was a full time job!

#careergoals

PS. I am not affiliated or compensated by any of the companies mentioned in this post. 
I'm just happily sharing great finds!

from my iphone 11/29/2016

We spent Thanksgiving Week here:

We were thankful to be at the beach with family and for so much more!

I posted about finding a pair of beautiful, vintage chinoiserie lamps.

Then I posted a PSA on IG about rewiring your vintage finds. My husband said these would have caused a fire if I had plugged them in - they were in terrible shape wiring-wise :(

So be sure to rewire. It's easy. There are step by step kits at places like Home Depot or ask a handy friend for help.

You'll be seeing them in their rewired beauty in upcoming Christmas decor photos, I'm sure. I love them!

My sister and I got up early on Tuesday of Thanksgiving Week

 to again join Charleston Basket Brigade in their tremendous effort 

to feed the hungry families of the Lowcountry.

 That is just a small portion of the over 1600 frozen turkeys we bagged and boxed!!

And a shout out to the Coast Guard squad that shows up every year to do the heavy lifting!!

And while on the subject of the biggest eating holiday and hunger:

I really liked that quote. So true!

And back to food: 
We went to the Darling Oyster House on King Street in Charleston.
I hate to be corny (not really) but it was darling and delicious.
 We all loved it! Highly recommend it!

This is the back wall of The Darling. I want it in my house!

I'm making some of these. Cause, you know, everyone else is.

They are fun and quick and I hope they make it onto a tree soon :)

Christmas decorating is definitely on slow speed around here!

And I'm watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix with Mollie cause, you know, everyone else is.

I hope my next post is about Christmas Decorations. 

At my house. Completed. We will see!

Turquoise!

 

This is pretty funny.

 I never. never. take any of those zillion "quizzes" that show up on FB.

 What Disney character are you most like? What food are you most like?

What state should you live in?

(duh. Hawaii)

 

But for whatever reason I took this one from Coastal Living: What's your true blue?

And well, this is pretty funny ( read below the color swatch)

cause I loooove turquoise and my porch ceiling is painted blue (Charleston SC gal)  and melon ( or coral) is a color I often choose to accent my turquoise with!

 

Hello Sunshine! Your cheerful, optimistic disposition can brighten even the stormiest day. Like turquoise, you're on everyone's most-wanted list, and you decorate your home to uplift one and all (the laughter bellowing out from your kitchen and back porch doesn't hurt either.) Speaking of, nice work painting that porch ceiling a fun shade of aqua, making your guests feel like they're lounging in Key West. And since you pride yourself in a well-stocked bar, that's a great spot for your turquoise collection of vintage barware, wall frames, or porcelain. But even the crowd-pleasing turquoise comes with a word of caution: The same way you wouldn't invite only shrinking violets to your party, you should resist playing it safe with an all-pastel palette. The more interesting its contrast color (think melon, chartreuse, olive, and lilac), the more turquoise shines like the color star it is.

 

 

So in honor of my true blue and because I have Spring Fever in a big way

and I'm ready to sit on my porch with the "fun shade" of aqua ceiling, here are some images to celebrate "my color"...

 

Best color to paint a faux bamboo chair?
Yep.

 

 

 This could facilitate sweet dreams...

 

I've realllly been wanting to paint my front door turquoise.
Like for years.
 Dratted green roof.







Things would just taste better, wouldn't they?
(This kitchen is amazing on so many levels)







Only map I need.



I have a turquoise bread box in my kitchen already!!


Could this place be for real???








Don't you feel relaxed just looking at all these calming, turquoise images?

Of course, it makes me want to paint something turquoise and soon!



All of these images are found on my Pinterest boards
 where you can find the original sources for these gorgeous turquoise images.

From My iphone...

1.Every year Trader Joe's has beautiful, full boxwood wreaths for $9.99. 

They are the deal of the season and usually sell out in a day or so.
They are lush and green. And smell so good.

I hung one up on our French door in the family room last Christmas.

 It dried out perfectly and rarely shed. I left it.

Last week I bought a new one so I took the dried one outside and sprayed it gold. 

That's some serious bang for the buck!

Now.... where to hang it?

2. We went to Charleston for Thanksgiving.

 If you follow me on Instagram then you are probably on Lowcountry picture overload.

But every sunrise and sunset was beautiful.

We just sat on our deck or the walkway through the dunes and soaked up the view

 and the 70 degree sunshine!

3. I shared a few weeks ago that my hair had gotten really long - finally.
(Also, I stink at taking selfies. And I'm really self conscious in them!)

I donated 10 inches to a non-profit called Children With Hair Loss.

I went to the salon Mollie uses - she said I hadn't had a haircut in years and I needed a really good one :)
The hairdresser, Lauren, was great about following the hair donation "rules" and gave me the full salon treatment and a cute long bob that I love.
When I got to the front desk at Challise and Company in Marietta they said it was comped because I donated my hair. They let me tip Lauren but that was it!! 
How awesome is that?!!
I'm definitely going back when I need a trim!


4. My view every morning this week before I leave the house. 
I'm on a ladder painting again.

I get up early. Paint. Shower. Go on with my day.

If only the job was finished when the paint bucket is empty.

More on this later.

5. We had some major thrifting success in the Lowcountry last week. 

Not pictured but artfully packed into the back of the car were 2 vintage bamboo mirrors

 ( matching mirrors, even!!!!), 2 lamps - one a brass pineapple lamp, and two coolers full of shrimp straight off the boats in McClellanville. Oh and the trunk had stuff "stuffed" in it :)

We had to get pretty creative when we added our luggage!!

6. I took a screen shot of this post from Chez V's IG.

She was one of my ORC inspirations and I love her feed and blog.

She found this inspiration pic and said she was going to try and duplicate it. 

Meanwhile, I actually stumbled on a tutorial for this on a new to me blog, Good Life of Design.  I'll be doing good to get a regular old wreath on the door this year :)

That's it. 

I hope my next post has something to do 

with how my house is clean and decorated for Christmas!

#christmaswish

Summer, continued...

 

or discontinued???

 

Tomorrow the kiddos in my county go back to school.

Yep, it's just August 3rd and hotter than you can imagine.

Especially on a school bus.

 

 

So everyone around here is thinking about

 

 

and I'm still thinking about things like this

 

 

from India Hicks blog

 

 

 

or places like this

 



 

and here

 

 

and the Big Island always works for me

 

 

and I may just move here altogether

 

 

but this works for me, too

( The whole fam is dying to return to Normandy).

 

And I'm not just daydreaming...

I've worked out the transportation issues, too!!

 

 

I would want to get off on every stop.

 

You prefer boats?

Okay!

 

 

 

A newer model, perhaps?

 

 

 

 

Got it!

 

And if you are not crazy to be beside the water like I am then we could just go here.

 

 

or someplace with elephants!!!!!!!

 

 

Where do you want to go?

 

All images and sources are on my Pinterest 'Take me There" board.