Three Things

Just a few things that have struck my fancy of late: a fun zebra-print dress from Anthropologie, cheeky popsicle earrings from Kate Spade, and a stunning Federalist/neoclassical living room in upstate New York, as featured in Architectural Digest.

Has anything struck your fancy lately?

xx

Summer Lounging

How adorable are these deck chairs from Gallant and Jones?  Summer is quickly approaching (and I think it has definitely arrived in Texas), and I would love to set a few of these brightly patterned chairs on the back porch for long chats with friends over lemonade (or G&Ts!).

xx

shop them here

Janie Bryant | Elle Decor

Detail's from Janie Bryant's LA home, featured in Elle Decor.

I love the mix of styles in the Mad Men costume designer's house.

xx

see more here

Goals for the summer

After the grueling last semester as an undergrad I just finished, I have decided to take the summer off, which will be the first time I've done that since before I started university.  I'm excited about the long vacation I'm getting, but I know I'll go stir crazy if I sit at home without anything to do every day until I leave for grad school in September, so I made a list of things I'd like to do this summer.  My list (which is separate from my still-ongoing Thirteen in 2013 list) runs the gauntlet from scholarly to culinary to completely random goals, but in the end, the idea is to keep myself busy until I head off to start the next chapter in my life.

-perfect my egg-poaching technique
-tackle Geoffrey Parker's book (It's over 1,000 pages long!)
-write a great personal statement for doctoral programs
-learn how to use the manual settings on my camera (and explore my hometown while doing so)
-find (or create) a good hollandaise recipe
-start the background reading for my dissertation
-organise my bookshelves (and my Internet bookmarks)
-go out for brunch with my mom or with friends as often as possible

Do you have any goals for the summer?

xx

images 1 | 2 | 3

Weekend Wear

I've been back in my hometown for less than a week (September is currently looking very far away), but luckily I've been keeping busy, and this weekend, I have several parties to go to, including one of my own.  I love casual summer parties, and I especially love the outfits for summer parties- easy dresses, wedge sandals, and fun jewelry.  Here's a casual outfit perfect for brunch, lunch, dinner, or really any time of day: a cotton dress, strappy sandals, and a big necklace, plus a clutch, of course:

dress | sandals | clutch | necklace | earrings

Have you found any great outfits for summer outings lately?

I hope you have a great weekend!

xx

Phone Cases

One thing I like about having an iPhone is all of cute cases that are possibilities.  Right now, I have a pink and navy colorblocked case from J. Crew, but I'm always on the lookout for the next cute one.  I'd take any of these in a minute.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

xx

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

Kate Spade's surprise sale ends tonight at midnight, and there are still several things left that I would love to snap up- the prices are amazing, and there are so many things that are so tempting for travelling around Europe in just a few short months!

Here are a few of my picks:

Cobble Hill Little Minka | Villabella Avenue Mara

Plaza Athenee Short Necklace

Pasadena Zippered Chrissy | Irving Place Little Nadine

Did you find any great deals in the Kate Spade sale?

xx