I absolutely love this time of year because it seems magical to me and I’m excited to soak up every opportunity that comes along. The sunlight starts to turn golden in August and everything seems hopeful as we savor the last days of summer. So this month…live as much as possible. Things have been so upside down, but no matter what, time marches on and focusing on the positive and seeking out the beautiful is more important than ever. Plan an adventure, even if it’s just a hike or a short trip to the beach. Get out of your house, your comfort zone, and enjoy. Take some time for peaceful moments to read, try a new recipe, and be outside. It’s time to relax!

This Month, I’m Inspired By and Excited About…

The idea of a picnic is so appealing right now. So many restaurants aren’t opened and if they are, it’s so hard to get a reservation, so why not pack a picnic and find a beautiful place to sit and eat. It doesn’t have to be hard…buy some prepared foods from your local gourmet store or the grocery store. The only requirement is to make it beautiful! Here’s an article from Southern Living that will help you with a well packed picnic basket!

Classic Fashion

I have been loving classic fashion…summer dresses, denim, linen blouses, straw bags and cute sandals. I’ve been focusing on collecting a few new quality, forever pieces this summer because somehow, that just seems appropriate!

Banana Bread is Making a Come-Back…but did it ever go away!

Leave it to Tiegan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest to come up with the most decadent version of banana bread…Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Banana Bread!

The Luxury of Home

This may sound crazy, but I’m looking forward to being home and getting back on track! Things have been so crazy lately with my girls in and out, lots of cooking, baby showers, and just life happening that I’m excited to be home, get my house organized and start fall in a really good place.

We recently had our living room sofa re-covered and I’ve hardly had a chance to sit on it. I’ve had a picture of this sofa for several years and finally got around to getting it done! I’m going to be honest…I copied Tory Burch’s sofa (who better to copy) and I’m in love with how it turned out! BUT, you know….when you get one thing covered…everything else looks shabby!

I do love being home, but I find it stressful to live with a mess…anyone else with me on that?!

Looking Forward to Fall Cooking!

I’m always inspired by my cookbook collection and even though I love summer food, fall is one of my favorite times to cook. It just doesn’t get any better than eating homemade soup by a cozy fire!

Probably 30 years ago, I had the good fortune to take a cooking class from French chef, Madeliene Kamman and I still use some on the techniques I learned in that class. I loved learning from her and she definitely wasn’t there to entertain, she was there to teach us French technique. I admire her so much and will always be grateful for being a part of her cooking class. I have just discovered one of her cookbooks on Amazon that came out in the 1970’s and ordered a used copy to add to my collection. If you’re someone who wants to learn traditional French cooking techniques…this cookbook is for you!

Supporting Great Women Owned Companies

I am forever trying new supplements and recently started using 8Greens Supplements. The company was started by Dawn Russell, cancer survivor and entrepreneur! They supplements come in the form of tablets and are packaged in little tubes that contain 7 tablets. You simply drop the tablet in a glass of water, it starts to fizz, then dissolves and you drink it. The tablets taste really good and you get sooo many greens…as much Vitamin B5 as 15 cups of broccoli, as much vitamin C as 6 oranges, as much vitamin B6 as 6 cups of spinach, as much vitamin B12 as 7 cups of milk, and as much zinc as 3 cups of raw peas. They come in 3 delicious flavors, a skin vitamin and gummies! There is also a cookbook – The 8Greens Cookbook – A Simple Way to Get Your Greens, with recipes including the supplements. I haven’t tried anything yet, but I’ll let you know!

Lastly, I’m inspired by the beauty and tranquility of Bald Head Island! I’m packing up tomorrow and hoping the hurricane passes quickly.

So what are you all up to this month? Any fun plans? Birthdays? Shopping for cozy fall pieces via the Nordstrom Anniversary sale? It’s looking like we’re all going to be spending a lot of (cozy) fall days at home and most likely in our loungewear with a mug of something warm in hand and a cozy blanket!. Probably, most of us aren’t ready to talk fall just yet, but by the time I get home from the beach at the end of August, it will be just around the corner.

While I’m aware that there is so much uncertainty right now about what the future holds, and life may feel somewhat exhausting, I’m committed to bringing you content that lifts your spirits, piques your interest and makes life feel just a little bit easier! So keep checking back for more ideas, recipes, inspiration and as always fashion!