Preppy Summer

My friend Anna Louise and I were chatting yesterday on the phone, and one of the things she shared with me was her recent trip to Belk.  Her words, "I was just going to pop in, but there was no popping in; it was straight-up shopping." I knew I had to check it out with that review as we have similar styles, both of us loving a timeless preppy style. So this morning, over coffee, I sat down and decided to shop online and what I found was share-worthy.  It is indeed so good, and the sale they have now is kind of crazy, crazy good.  I found some precious pieces to purchase and even more to share. 

How To Set A Table Like A Southerner

Well, if this topic isn't perfect timing?  My friend Nicole Letts is a freelance writer, in case you didn't already know.  She contributes to a number of magazines in both print and digital and her repertoire is growing daily.  She is an excellent writer and we have used her to help our 17-year-old form ideas for a number of papers this year.  She is a willing participant, with her extensive teaching background, and we pay her in eats and drinks. 

Seersucker Memorial Day

T minus 7 sleeps until Memorial Day arrives, is anyone else a bit in shock?  With Memorial Day being the unofficial beginning of summer I am partially 100 percent ready and 100 percent not ready for another school year to end.  Next year my daughter is the dreaded s word and I am not ready for that adventure one single bit. But ... I digress.  Memorial Day, the pools open, the flags come out of storage, and we fire up the grill for burgers, hot dogs, and all the goodies. 

Emily McCarthy Collection

As you may know Emily McCarthy expanded her lifestyle brand to include clothing a bit over a year ago.  It was a longtime dream of Emily's to create clothes and I was absolutely thrilled to see her dream come to life.  She has just released her 11th collection and with each and every one I say it is my absolute favorite.  I stopped into her Shoppe yesterday on my way to St. Simon's Island and had a bit of time to hug her, shop, and catch up on our respective lives.

Serena + Lilly Sale

One of my favorite stores, Serena + Lily is currently on sale!!  I love shopping a great sale, this is the time I usually purchase something I have had my eye on for a while.  Serena + Lilly is so good about keeping their new collections cohesive with their older ones which means anything I buy now will pair well with something I had purchased before. If you are feeling the Coastal Grandmother vibe the collage above is definitely going to be for you.  Can you even with those darling striped towels and that scallop cart?

Bathing Suit Season

It's about that time.  I plan to take some time this summer to soak up my family, which will most definitely include the beach and the pool.  I am a Florida girl, and we love to be outside this time of year, no matter how hot it is, so being near water is a must for us. So ... a bathing suit and a darling cover-up are a must-have. As I was shopping yesterday, I realized I am not the only one who craves pretty and coverage-appropriate cases, so it seemed perfect to share this week.  A great bathing suit + coverup combination is hard to beat when you are poolside or at the beach. 

Coastal Grandma Aesthetic

If you haven't heard, the new buzzword in clothing and lifestyle would be the "coastal grandma."  The definition of this term is... "based on the clean and classic style of middle-aged, wealthier women living in luxurious oceanfront properties, similar to that of Diane Keaton in the Nancy Meyers movie, and Something's Gotta Give, set in the Hamptons. Coastal grandmothers wear cashmere and linen; they love to garden, take leisurely walks on the beach when slightly windy, and sip white wine while reading on their wraparound front porch. They cook fresh meals with goods they picked up at the farmers market in their open concept kitchens accessorized with neutral and natural elements like butcher block and rattan. And, naturally, they listen to soft jazz and the oldies while doing so." (source)

Being a big fan of all Nancy Meyers movies and their sets, I am very intrigued by this concept and its appearance in society.  The short story ... I am here for this. And before I type any more, you must read the blog post that goes with the image above, it is so perfect and I am in love with her kitchen!!

The Summer Edit

Y'all. Summer is almost here.  My girl gets out of school in exactly 15 days.  I am not ready, yet I am prepared to soak up some serious quality time.  I am working very hard the rest of this month, so I can take some real time off this summer and spend it with her.  She is only home one more school year before life really changes, and I am absolutely soaking up every single second. 

Six Things I Bought + Loved Vol. 15

Happy happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was terrific, and if you are a mother, you were spoiled rotten.  I had a wonderful weekend with many things to do, including time with my friend Mary Huddleston. We were at both etuHOME + Dillard's, and it was the most fun. Two events, lots of friends, chatting, eating, and some shopping. I have a great new release of your favorite blog post, and it is perfect for a Monday.

Let's start the week with the good stuff. 😉

Spring + Summer Uniform

For years my summer uniform was a pair of Lilly shorts and a polo.  While I have not entirely abandoned that look, especially for the beach, I seem to be in a dress moment of late. The ease of one-piece vs. two, plus the beauty of a dress, has me almost converting full-time.  I have recently purchased and been gifted such unique dresses that I have loved wearing.  It has become apparent that I am leaning more dresses than anything else in my closet.  

So, let's talk about what makes a dress perfect.

Garage Organization

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I shared the other day on Instagram that I am working on organizing our garage.  It is a long process and a really hot one, but I absolutely love every step.  Our garage was a hot mess and in major need of some sort of organization.  Honestly, this is something I should have done when we first moved in or any year since, but I finally got to the place where I could no longer deal with any of it.  Running a small business from our home needs organization and it had been spilling into the garage one too many days.  So, I finally made the decision I was done with the clutter and dove in to get it organized. 

Dillard's Event + New Dresses

Mary is coming!!  You read that right; Mary Huddleston is coming to Alpharetta for an event at our local Dillard's.  I am so excited to see my sweet friend and cheer her on while she shares her Southern Living Collection, talks all about table settings, the specific pieces of the collection, and shares her tips and tricks with us all.  Mary has a long history with event planning and setting a fabulous table and has so much knowledge it would take days to share.  I am thankful she will be meeting and greeting for a few hours and genuinely getting to hear all the fantastic feedback from her friends and followers in the area.  If you are local, please plan to go; it will be fun. 

Laura Ashley For Derby

The Kentucky Derby, attending is a bucket list item for us, and one day it will happen, but until then I choose to celebrate at home.  Every year I grab the yearly Derby bottle of Woodford Reserve, stock up on the mint, and make sure I am ready with all the fixings to watch the race and enjoy the day.  It may be the fastest race at just 2 minutes, but I am sure to enjoy it all afternoon with yummy food + all the juleps. 

Derby Prep

So many fun things happening in the next few weeks.  First, we have Derby, Mother's Day, and fun graduation ceremonies.  It is time to prepare; they will sneak up on us before we know it.  Today I am talking about things  Derby, our plans, and the items I have pulled together to create a simple day of watching races while eating and sipping. We planned a fun Derby party a few years back, and a cancer diagnosis derailed it, so I am really excited to be chatting Derby and showing you how to set up a fun little event.  For us, it will be an early cocktail hour with some bourbon tasting and, of course, all the Mint Juleps.  Yes, please!!

Our Porch

I spent most of the afternoon yesterday scrubbing our screened-in porch to prepare it for porch season.  It was covered in pollen, as it always is, and it took a bit, but she is on her way now to a beautiful and shiny space.  I love my porch.  I could honestly spend most of my day answering emails, having coffee, and even reading and needlepointing. I am a true porch girl. 

Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth II

Today is the 96th birthday of the Queen of England.  Elizabeth, the longest-lived British monarch, took the throne in February 1952 at 25.  She is an avid horse lover, rarely seen without a hat and matching purse, and her love for her country is remarkable.  I have been a follower of the royals for as long as I can recall, even getting up quite early to watch every single wedding televised during my lifetime.  

CDT x GMS

When I wrote this blog post about two weeks ago I shared that Christine Trant was planning a fun and amazing collaboration.  Well, that time to share is now as the collection launched yesterday.  Christine collaborated with my friend Nicole and her shop, Grand Millennial Shop and they created 14 unbelievable and gorgeous pieces of framed art. But this isn't just art or art in a frame, this collaboration is truly one of a kind. 

MSS + Dillard's

It's launch day for the fabulous collaboration between Mrs. Southern Social + Southern Living + Dillard's.  Y'all this collection is incredible and now having both seen it in person and set the table with the pieces I was gifted ahead of the release I can tell you that you will LOVE it all. The 40 piece collection launches at 10 am EST and will be both online and in stores.  So you can shop either online or in your local Dillard's.  I will be doing both as I have a list of things I really just must have. 

Six Things I Bought + Loved Vol. 14

Happy Good Friday!  I feel like this week was so long and I am so ready for this long and special weekend.  We have so much family time planned, which is my favorite way to spend any day.  I am a bit unsure of the weather coming, but it is sunny and bright in my office at the moment and I am truly loving every second of it. The yard is in full bloom with azaleas, the trees are fully green, and the sun is pouring in the windows.  Yes please. 

Mrs. Southern Social for The Southern Living Collection at Dillard's

Today is such a fun blog post for me as I am here to share such fun and exciting news.  My darling friend Mary, who wrote this book, has a brand new collection with Southern Living at Dillard's launching in just five days.  Yes, that is correct ... Mary has hand picked an amazing collection of tableware made my Southern Living Magazine that will be sold at Dillard's. I am so excited for her and incredibly proud.  This is huge and fabulous and I am just here to watch it all happen.  Mrs. Southern Social is truly blowing up out of control, and it is a very fun thing to see unfold before my eyes.  Mary, you know I adore you and this is just the most fun, maybe ever. 

Hapsy, The Science

If you recall I shared my experience with Hapsy with you here in this blog post.  Hapsy is a CBD company started by a fellow Southern C summit alum Andrea Wightwick.  I met Andrea at this year's summit and walked over to her table during the first session of the day.  She was talking and sharing her company and her passion for CBD and I could not stop listening.  What grabbed my attention was her wealth of knowledge and her personal story. She was incredible.  Long story short ... I took the bottle she handed me with a sincere thank you, took it the next night, and the rest is my incredible journey. 

Wicker Bag Season

The second the air warms up I can be seen using one of many wicker bags in my collection.  Having collected them over the years I find they keep me connected to my Florida roots.  Wicker + natural bags, earrings, shoes, and hats instantly take me right back to years spent in central Florida.  I pull them out once the weather warms up and they don't leave my side until the leaves begin to fall.  I used my largest bag on my trip to Florida last week and got a number of requests for the source.  This bag is one of my favorites, and my largest, and was a gift from the darling owner of The Monogram Corner.  She gifted it to me before my epic trip to Palm Beach in 2019 ... and I have loved it since it arrived.  It needs a bit of a painting repair but that doesn't even change my love for it one single bit. 

Sephora Spring Savings Event

Today is the very last day of the Sephora Spring Savings Event and I got up early with a to do list as tall as me.  The third thing on the list was "order Sephora" since the sale ends tonight and I definitely did not want to miss out. I needed to order some Vitamin D and more sunscreen after our trip last week.  I love this sale, I get to stock up on what I need and I always try an item or two since the return policy is so generous.  I have a list of must haves that I stock up on like vitamins, sunscreen, and deodorant.  And luckily, I am almost out of all three of these. 

Stoney Clover

I have known about Stoney Clover Lane for some time seeing it pop up in my feed and in the posts shared by my cute friend Caroline.  But honestly, I did not understand the cult following.  I was very much a ... "it's so cute, but maybe not me?" person ... until yesterday.  I was in Target with my son and I immediately got pulled into the SCxTarget section and could not leave.  Now it has been out for the week but our Target had quite a few pieces left over including a darling pink cooler and enough bathing suit pieces for all to purchase.  I walked into the section, snagged a dog collar and some patches and am now the complete Stoney Clover lover.  

Who knew?

Introducing Christine Trant

When I met Christine Trant at The Southern C I was drawn to her.  Her vast knowledge of the art world, art history, and her rebuff of every statement I made about my own lack of art knowledge set her apart to me.  I had just "crashed" a conversation she was having with my friend Nicole who is the art buff of the two of us.  Nicole is passionate about art and artists and can always be found chatting up new to her artists.  Christine was lovely and her statements to me intrigued me so, I wanted to know more about her so I requested her business card.  She was knowledgeable and yet so inquisitive about what I was speaking of ... the kind of person I strive to be.  I always want to gain knowledge from others so she was definitely someone I would be connecting with post Summit. 

Easter Palm Cross Linens

Palm fronds are synonymous with Easter season.  As Jesus entered Jerusalem the people carried + fanned palm leaves.  They are a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life. These beautiful green backed Easter Palm Cross linens are the creation of the darling brand Honey + Hank.  The palm leaves are placed in a cross pattern, creating a special print and a linen that is absolutely perfect for Easter season.  Not only can you use it for Easter Sunday, but a week earlier for Palm Sunday as well. It is, in my opinion, absolutely perfect for Easter. 

Round Top Travel Guide

As promised I have all the details from my recent trip to Round Top, Texas with recommendations from four of the best guides I could imagine.  In recap we spent four days in Texas last week, one in Houston and then three actually in Round Top.  It was the best trip, better than I could have imagined, and shopping Round Top is something I will be doing twice a year from now on.  It was magical, something that you must experience to completely understand.  I describe it as a cross between Scott Antique Market (on steroids) + Highpoint Market (the way the town comes alive) + the best shopping, eating and sipping you can imagine.  I am telling you ... it was phenomenal. 

Duffield Lane Times Two

I have definitely landed on items of clothing lately that are so me.  Maybe I am maturing in my choices, maybe lines are just making items I connect with, but it is definitely been really easy for me lately to find pieces that are so very me.  The two pieces I am sharing today from Duffield Lane are easily in that category being both preppy and timeless.  I was happy to find both of these from their current spring collection and have worn both items numerous times since they arrived.  Can you even handle the navy striped midi dress?  It is perfectly seersucker and perfect cut and I could not love it more. 

Beautiful Home, Beautiful Life

I am super excited to share with you that I was invited to speak at the Beautiful Home, Beautiful Life online conference which starts in just one week.  I am honored to be among the amazing speakers you see here chatting about everything from organization, decluttering, design, and my session, how to add pattern and color to your home.  The online event is FREE and I hope you will register and enjoy all of this incredible content that has been created for you.  I have registered myself and will be soaking it in while lying on the beach during Spring Break.  Can you imagine a better place to take it all in?

Green Check For The Masters

With just ten days before the start of the Masters it is time to decide what all we will be wearing.  Whether you are attending, hosting a viewing, or even just sitting with your family eating all the appropriate snacks, a cute outfit or two is a must. When I visited Willow Park Boutique a few weeks ago to pick out a spring dress and some table goodies I spotted this darling green check dress which I knew would be perfect for the Masters.  I have yet to attend in person but my husband has and loves it and we always watch each round at home while snacking on pimento cheese, egg salad, and all the sweet tea and lemonade.  

It is just what we do. 🍋

Introducing Caryn Lawn

I am thrilled to share a new to me brand to you today that has swept through my closet and made it shine.  My love for Caryn Lawn started with a single dress, the Preppy Dress, and has now expanded to many more pieces.  What I love about finding fabulous pieces is how versatile they can be.  Caryn's dresses and tops are not only versatile, but so comfortable and equally flattering making it a must have in my book.  When she reached out to introduce herself to me I instantly stopped when I saw the word preppy to check out her website.  

Instantly, I was hooked. 

29 Years of Green Beer

As I share every year, St. Patrick's Day is the anniversary of our first date. He poked his head into the war room where I was working and simply said, want to grab a green beer?  That simple question spun into a full on love fest and here we are 29 years later with a family, the house, the dogs ... and each other. I will never not love St. Patrick's Day and that memory, I recall sharing a large plate of nachos, two beers and lots of conversation.  We walked from our office on Lake Eola in Orlando to Church St. Station and then walked back. March in Florida is the perfect weather and that walk there was the beginning of the rest of my life.  Looking back I never saw it coming ... but it chose me and I am forever grateful. 

Round Top Bound

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Yep, you read that right.  I am heading to Round Top on Sunday morning.  This is my first time and I truly am so very excited that I am having trouble settling down before bed.  Antiquing and hunting has always been one of my most favorite things to do and traveling to and shopping Round Top has been on that list for quite some time.  Between the excitement of a new adventure, seeing everything, and the things I will be able to shop, it just doesn't get any better.

WPB + Holly Shae

I am so lucky to live minutes away from one of my favorite local boutiques and to know both the owners as well I as do. If I am in a pinch for any outing, adventure, or just wanting to shop I can pop literally down the street into Willow Park Boutique and check out the new arrivals. With spring weather coming, well and going, and a sunny evening in the forecast I was thrilled to stop in and shop.  I found such goodness while I was there, which you should absolutely check out on their website.  I was shopping with a specific event in mind so it was easy for me to keep my blinders on and check out the dresses + the table linens. 

Pi Day

Happy Pi Day ... aka March 14th.  Who else loved math and science in school? What is so funny to me is that I love math and science, did not like English at all, and completely passed notes in History and Geography so I am constantly relying on Google to set me straight on where things are and when they happened.  Got 101 in Organic Chemistry ... but probably squeaked through English with a mid B and here I am writing for a living. If I only knew then what I would need now ... 😉

Introducing ... Hapsy

I had heard of CBD for quite a while.  I had seen my friends on Instagram talk about their journey with CBD and how they were using it and taking it.  I had heard of friends locally talk about CBD and what they were doing.  But ... in all honesty I had no idea how to add it to my life, whether or not I needed it, and how I would even begin.  For me it was one of those things I would hear people talk about and would think to myself that I needed to know more but would always stop there.  Kind of like a great toothbrush people were raving about and I needed to investigate, but I never took it any further.  That was until one evening at Summit last month when my friend Nicole and I decided to try the samples we were given before bed.  We both read the instructions, took the dropper full, and I closed my eyes and went to sleep.  It was that simple, yet not at all, and truly with that one bottle, that one dropper, and that one evening my life changed. 

Inspire Collection

I was thrilled when I got the email from Talbots about their stunning new Inspire collection.  Talbots is a leader when it comes to traditional classic clothes and their partnership with Dress For Success seems like a match made in heaven.  I think this collaboration is the perfect time to think about getting involved in a DFS chapter near you and see what more you can do.  I know I feel like I could be donating gently used clothing and accessories and diving into what more I can do as a woman to help other woman in my area.  I think this darling sweatshirt, and the other two in the collection, are not only great and inspirational to wear but most definitely speak to the strength and core of the values of DFS.  

Spring Shopping

I think we can officially say that spring has begun in Georgia.  The other morning I found some pollen on my car and I noticed yesterday that the azaleas in the front yard are full of blooms.  I am ready.  I am ready for winter to end, for a new season to begin ... and for the yards and streets to be filled with color once again. I am definitely not ready for pollen season, but no pollen no stunning blooms, so ... bring it on. 

Toast Please!

Yesterday my besties and I showered another bestie with a brunch to celebrate her birthday.  It has become a tradition for us to sit and soak each other up since our girls are getting older and our time of carpool antics has ended.  The four of us have been close since our girls became besties since fourth grade and their girls are so special to me.  These women have been the world to me and any chance I get to throw them love I do. 

Add Trim Please!

Today's blog post is short and sweet, but includes one of my favorite projects.  I posted a video the other night talking about clean beauty and my evening shower habit and I got a number of questions about my bathroom.  Well, not only the bathroom, but more specifically the blinds. I love our bathroom, its happy colors and I love how custom the blind on our large picture window feels.  It was a simple project, easy to do, and delivers a ton of goodness in return. 

A Perfect LWD

The perfect little white dress, it is essential for spring and summer in the south.  I think the combination of the breezy feeling of white and the endless ways you can wear it makes it an essential.  It began long ago with Easter.  We wore our white dresses + new white shoes for Easter Sunday ready to ditch the cool weather of winter and embrace the warmth.  And in the south, that still happens except grown up me has traded the white dress + white shoe combination for a great dress and some new fun espadrilles.  Yet the little white dress is a staple in every woman's closet and is worn religiously all summer long just as the little black dress is ready for any and all fancy occasions and dining adventures. 

Denim Jacket 101

On Monday while cleaning out my closet I mentioned upcycling my denim jacket with some darling fabric on the collar and cuffs.  I got quite a few messages about how to do this and even more comments about people upcycling their own. So much so that I was sure this topic deserved a blog post of its very own.  I wear my denim jacket quite often and found that its a great and easy go to when I am cold or trying to wear a piece of clothing out of season.  It is a great grab and goes with every single thing I have.  Because, you know, it's just an easy piece of clothing to style. 

White Jeans Four Ways

You know those white jeans I hunted for you last week?  They are still in my mind.  They are, in my humble opinion, the perfect white jean for spring and summer. In case you missed out, I am speaking about these jeans.  Do not miss out on them, they are the perfect high waist, the best length (maybe cut an inch off) and the best amount of stretch.  Like I said, perfect for spring and summer!  

Shop Your Own Closet

Happy Monday!!  I hope you are ready for the week, fully caffeinated, and feeling good.  I know for me I have had to take a read on my own mental health, the news on the happenings in Russia and Ukraine are heartbreaking and very hard to read and watch.  I so wish I could do more, even help more, pray more, and bring more peace.  I do take some comfort in the news that prayer does help them and I will continue to pray until they are safe and this madness is over. It is truly heartbreaking and makes me so very angry and sad. 

New To Me Sustainable

As my mind continues to think about sustainable shopping I had the luck over the weekend to find some new to me shops that I think are perfect for your list of sustainable shopping stores. The more I think about this the more I come to realize that my hunting and love of finding things barely used is not only helpful to me, but also helpful to the planet.  Look at me being so proud of myself ... ha ... but seriously, I am thankful I have been shopping resale and selling my items for years.  My want to buy and replace, donate and sell has definitely been helpful in building a closet I love and continue to curate.  I think it may be one of my favorite hobbies, and one I have become pretty good at over the years. 

Spicy Margaritas

I had the best spicy margarita yesterday and decided it needed to be something I learned how to master for taco nights at home with friends.  I really love a great margarita, the tang, the salty + the sweet, I think it is just so delicious.  We eat a lot of Mexican food at home with tacos, bowls, and fajitas and I do love pairing a Mexican evening with a great margarita.  I mastered the regular margarita in 2020 and now I am ready to tackle the spicy one. 

Living In Blue + White

I have been incredibly inspired by all things blue and white lately and after seeing two different dresses in stunning blue and white patterns I was inspired to gather all sorts of blue and white items. Have you heard that Mark Sikes has been chosen to decorate Jill Biden's East Wing office?  I am thrilled for him and can't wait to see what kind of amazing and timeless design he includes.  💙 

Blue and white .. timeless and as traditional as it comes. 

Sample Sales

There are some great deals to be found at a sample sale and I most definitely check them out when it is a brand I love. This week I found not one, but two, great ones to share with you. Both of these brands are brands I love, own, and would recommend repeatedly.  My friend Elizabeth Cook notified me of both of these sales and I thought I would pass on the goodness to you. 

Can we all have a yummy cocktail + shop the sales?  Doesn't that sounds amazing?  Oh, and by the way that isn't a tray of three cocktails, it is a CAKE. I was just chatting with the darling Julie McAllister and that is a groom cake she made. If you do not know Julie, here is the first introduction to her, I will be sharing more of her very, very soon. 😉

All The Dresses

I was looking for a perfect thing to write about today and this lovely follower sent me a message yesterday complimenting my dress collection.  She asked if I would be willing to share some great ones with all of you and her timing was perfect.  Between all the content I had planned to share today I had this day waiting for a great idea.  Thanks to her I had one immediately.  I love wearing a dress almost every day.  I love how easy they are to put on, how great they make me feel, and how I can go so quickly from errands during the day to dinner in the evening with just one shoe change.  💗

Shop Buru x The Southern C

As I have mentioned attending Summit this year was epic.  There was a perfect mix of brands, people, and the excitement of being together again ... it was truly just so very good.  One of my favorite things about the conference was meeting Morgan Hutchinson, the owner of Buru.  Morgan is a fabulous woman, so kind and thoughtful, and truly one of the most inspiring women who took the stage.  I have loved Buru for a while and just last year bought my first two pieces.  What I absolutely loved most about the experience was the ability to change a dress they had that I adored but the colors offered were not me.  They simply allowed me to choose from some swatches of left over fabric they had and I ended up with a custom caftan that I will wear for years.  It is so me and feels so very special to own it.