The Best Mask

As you know this year is all about taking care of my skin.  More water, less refined sugar, products that actually take care of my skin and truly feeling like I have control over my skin.  I don't have bad skin, it isn't over dry or too oily, it doesn't suffer from chronic breakouts, it is just skin I have been wearing for more than 40 years and it was high time I took control of taking care of it.

12 Happies du Jour

I am back today with my current 12 Happies.  Y'all loved last weeks post so we will be making this a permanent piece for a while. You are correct it is Wednesday and not Tuesday, but I didn't want to miss this weekly post so it is out of schedule this week.  I am excited about writing this post each week, make sure you let me know what you love most and what you would like to see more of.  Currently I would love to see this plate in front of me for tonight's dinner ... I love grilled dinners and these sundried tomato burgers and this caprese pasta salad would be perfect right about now!

Memorial Day At The Lake

Happy Tuesday!  I hope you loved your weekend as much as we did ... honestly the family time was good I never wanted it to end.  Lazy mornings, endless card games + games of pool, alternating between the pool and the lake repeatedly, grilled dinners and so much laughter, I am not sure I could have planned it better!

Have I mentioned I love my sweet family?

Punch On The Porch

To kick off summer vacation my sweet friends and I gathered on our newly restyled porch. We are still waiting on a few things to call the porch complete but that doesn't mean we can't use it while we wait! I love to have a house full of people and I can't think of a better reason to celebrate than another school year said and done.  This one was a doozie and I can't say I am sad to see it go for our middle child but for our youngest I have loved every second.  I love her school, her precious teachers and most of all the darling little friends she chooses to share her days with while she is there.  End of school + punch on the porch was the best idea I have had in a while. 🎉

Red, White + Blue For The Weekend

I shared earlier that the kids last day of school is today ... officially at 12:30 ... so we are taking off tomorrow morning for the lake for a super long weekend.  I am so excited I can almost not stand it.  Family time + lake + relaxation for days = yes, yes please!  The younger kids and I leave in the am and then the Hubs and our oldest leave later in the day.  By the time we all head for bed we will be together and already enjoying the weekend.  I truly am so very ready for some serious down time!

SHOP THE POST

12 Happies du Jour

Hi guys!!  I have swapped up my usual Random Thoughts posts a bit and now will be sharing 12 things I am super excited about each Tuesday.  With summer coming it is easier to corral all the things I am loving into one post per week.  These posts always do so well with you guys so I decided to make them a regular thing!

Today will be the first ... so welcome to 12 Happies du Jour!

The Duke & Duchess of Sussex

Just like so many others I was up while it was still dark on Saturday morning with a large cup of tea ready to take in every single moment of the royal wedding.  I was beyond excited and for so many reasons.  Harry has always been my favorite, the younger and almost rebellious son of the incredible Diana.  I love his zest for life, his fierce love which is so apparent for his darling Meghan and most of all that shy but darling smile.  The way Harry bites his lip just as his mother used to is absolutely precious.

Harry + Meghan ... Wedded Bliss

I am definitely over the moon excited for tomorrow's royal wedding.  I have biscuits ready for their lemon curd and jam, tea ready to brew and Pimm's Cup ingredients ready to toast mid day.  I have my alarm set for 4 am and I am hoping I can convince my girl to get up with me.  She watched most of the last wedding with me and I am hoping she wants to watch once again.  Now that she is a teenager getting up her early is like trying to wake a hibernating bear.  Bless her, mornings are not her thing!

The Best Scarves

I wrote this post about the most darling woven bags the other day and then posted the image above on Instagram and got a flood of questions about the scarf I tied to the bag.  As I have shared before I love to wear a scarf and have such a fun selection of them that I rotate between.  Most of my collection are vintage so it is hard to share a source, but I have in many posts shared some great sources for finding vintage Hermes, Gucci and Burberry scarves. Today I have the best source for new scarves with just as much character as a vintage one.  

Royal Wedding

As an 11 year old I watched every moment of the live coverage of Charles and Diana's wedding with eyes larger than me and completely enamored of the brand new princess.  I am not the only one who grew up dreaming of being a princess and watching the wedding from beginning to end was nothing less than a dream come true for my young self.  I did the same with my girl seven years ago in 2011 when Prince William married Kate Middleton.  I watched as she sat with the same wide eyes and open mouth as she watched the coverage of this next amazing royal wedding. We will do it again this Saturday as Prince Harry marries his beloved and I could not be more excited.  In America we don't have a prince or princess and watching these incredible royal weddings is the closest thing we get to living out the iconic fairy tale. 

Carolyne Roehm

Anyone else a huge admirer of Carolyn Roehm?  I have so much admiration for this amazing woman with such incredible designs. She is the best kind of classy, traditional and classic.  I truly do love every single thing she designs and creates.  This master hostess is the true definition of taste maker with an amazing attention to detail and design.  I can spot a photo I am sure is her work even before I see the credits.  She is pure magic, but what else do you say about someone who was mentored by Oscar de la Renta?

Woven Bag Goodness

Dress || Bag (similar) || Sandals || Sunnies (similar) 

Anyone else think a straw or woven bag automatically makes any outfit feel like spring and summer?  I love a straw bag and have for so many years.  I think I started carrying one during college when I would head to the beach.  From my dorm room at UCF it would only take me 60 minutes to get to the beach and we went quite often.  I had a large straw bag which I would fill with my towel, my sunglasses and I am sure some unsafe tanning oil.  From that time straw and woven bags immediately make me think of warm weather and relaxing days. 🌞

Summer Packing

Stripe Top || Gingham Top || White Jeans || Shoes 

You guys know I love to travel.  Whether it be for work or for play ... I love exploring new places, revisiting some of my favorites and always, always the experience of the adventure.  Summer is coming so fast, the kids only have two more weeks of school, and we are officially starting summer with a trip.  I can't wait to be sitting at the lake, cocktail in hand watching the first sunset thinking I get to spend all summer with the people who make my whole life so much better.  Although I don't want this school year to end for our girl (it has been the best, ever!!) I am thrilled for the summer we have planned!

Willow Park Boutique Styling Studio

I having been working on a project for about a week or so that I haven't really chatted about until today.  One of my favorite online shops, Willow Park Boutique, is opening a brick and mortar styling shop.  I love this darling shop and the amazing girls who run it.  They have the best clothes, darling accessories and the best recommendations.  Since Willow Park Boutique is a local shop I have had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with these sweet ladies. 

Gingham Obsession Vol. 2

Top || Earrings || Sunglasses (similar) || Bracelets || Julep Cup

Y'all know I have a major gingham obsession and I definitely don't see it going away any time soon.  It is such a fun pattern that I feel like makes anything happier.  Last month I posted this fun round up of my favorite gingham things currently on the market and today I am back with even more fun things! 

The Best Mint Julep

I hope your weekend was amazing, ours was jam packed!  With both the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo I am sure a lot of you celebrated one, or both, which made for a fun weekend for sure. I really like both events and we managed to squeeze in some celebrating for both, so it was definitely super fun!!  But what isn't to love ... friends, fun with added in eats and sips.

#yesplease

Cinco de Mayo ... yes please!

What a fun weekend this is ... with both Derby and my favorite taco day it quite possibly doesn't get more fun, don't you think?  Whether your plans include going out for dinner or staying in and inviting some friends to pop over you most definitely need some margarita recipes at your disposal.  I love a good margarita!  My go to is a Skinny, but I am quite the sucker for a flavored fun version, especially if someone else is doing the shaking!

Running For The Roses

Wow, we have a huge weekend ahead with two super fun days to celebrate, Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby.  Since I love both of these fabulous events I have had to get creative to see how I can make the most of both, yet giving each its own celebration.  I think I have the perfect plan for us that includes both adults and kids and allows us to enjoy each of them in a relaxed setting!

Upping My Makeup Game

Happy Wednesday, I hope your week is going well!  We are enjoying some amazing spring weather and longer evenings sitting outside enjoying the porch and family time.  I found myself noticing it was late the other night and having to stop playing cards to send the kids to bed.  I am getting more and more ready for summer ... anyone else?