.A Little Video.

I've been following Olivia's blog, Everyday Musings, for awhile as her pictures have a way of transporting you to wherever her adventures may have taken her.  She is currently residing in the French countryside and made this little video that I wanted to share...

dordogne from Olivia Rae James on Vimeo.

This just makes me want to pack us up for a holiday, wear Dylan through miles of vineyards on a sunny day, and eat nothing but bread and cheese.  Happy Saturday.

.Roman Holiday.

The last few days while we were waiting for baby to get here and trying to move the process forward, we put some time aside to relax and catch up on movies.  My mom and I watched Roman Holiday the night before Dylan came and although it was made in the 50's, there were still parts that I craved.  Long structured skirts, moped rides through the city, rooftop conversations, giant headboards, and outdoor dancing and dinner parties are just the kind of things that would be perfect to end our warm season and bring in the welcomed fall.

                                                     

* All images found here

.Summer Shine.

"I want warm summer nights, to lie in a hammock, staring at the stars, telling you stories. I want to dip my toes in the water, to dangle my feet off the edge of the dock and sit leaning forward, looking at you, laughing till our stomachs hurt, that’s the summer I’ve always dreamt about."

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We're almost a month into summer and the sizzle is ever present.  To commemorate the season of cook-outs, slushy drinks, water fun, and darker skin, I'm loving... shirt dresses, outdoor dining, having childlike fun with kites and sunny games, mint details to add a pop of summer color to any outfit, reading in the sun, ballerina-like feminine silhouettes, pool time, striking flowers, painted doors, warm weather hats, rose gold jewelry, the fragrance of raspberries mixed with vanilla , passion tea lemonade, sun tea, coconut mocha frapps, and European adventures like this or this.

Quote source
1. Midnight in Paris source
2. Outdoor dining sources 1/2 
3. Kite dress source
4. Mint shoes source
5. Summer reads source
6. Silhouettes sources 1/ 2
7. Pool source
8. Peonies source

9. Painted doors source
10. Summer hats 1/2/3
11. Carried Away source
12. Rose gold ring and watch sources

.Always a Good Idea.

Paris is always a good idea.

.Audrey Hepburn.

For one of our Sunday dates, G and I caught Midnight in Paris.  I of course, left completely dazzled by the portrayal of the time, the scenes of Paris, and especially the fashion.  Details I found darling were skinny belts accessorizing simple silhouettes, espadrilles, tousled curls, airy tunics paired with skinny jeans, classic necklines, delicate accessories, mixing neutrals, coin purses used as clutches, and evening walks on cobblestone streets.  Between this and reading this, I think I just might be ready to bring a little European flair to this sleepy southern town. 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!  Dylan has her newborn shoot and after taking literally hundreds of pictures of her already, I'm sure she'll be a natural.

.Guest Post: Gabby of Design-Muse.

Today I have a guest post from my long-time friend, Gabby of Design-Muse.  There, she shares her ingenious ideas for hosting parties, mouth-watering recipes, and daily fashion inspirations.  Pretty much, I get a thrill in each of her postings and vow that I will one day be talented enough to host a dinner party like this.  She's really a girl after my own heart in finding that any occasion can be turned into a celebration with the right attitude.

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I've known Jessica for quite awhile now...in fact, we've been friends ever since I cornered her in line at Moe's Burritos and essentially forced her to rush Sigma (our college sorority). The rest, as they say, is history. I love keeping up with her on .Learning Love's Life. - so much so that I recently asked her to guest post on Design-Muse, the daily lifestyle blog I curate. I was thrilled when she asked me to return the favor and give her some much needed time with that beautiful baby of hers.

Given the most recent events in Jessica's life, it only seemed right to conjure up some baby-related-goodness for you. Now, I think it's important that I start out by saying I'm not a Mom. In fact I'm not even close to being a Mom, which gives me a distinct advantage in one way and one way only. I'm fully able to hold onto the delusions of what I think I'll be like as a Mom. For example, I can still say things like "oh, I'll be just fine with no sleep" and "of course I won't freak out about her first ear infection". Come day two of motherhood I'm pretty confident I'll be singing a different tune altogether. But that's beside the point. One of the (admittedly ridiculous) things I want to believe about Gabby, the Mom, is that her kids will always be impeccably dressed. I'm talking outfits that put Suri Cruise to shame. It's a foolproof plan I've been developing since I was about 13...sure there are a few minor gaps (lack of funding, husband, etc.), but once I work those out I should be golden.

I'm excited to see all the beautiful things Jessica has planned for sweet baby Dylan's wardrobe. I see a lot of "ooooohs" and "ahhhhhhs" in our future (side note: is she a gorgeous baby or what?! My goodness!). Here are a few pieces I'd want to buy for my princess. Yes, those are baby clothes. And yes, they're more stylish than what I'm wearing at the moment, too. That's just how pretend-Mom-Gabby rolls.

1. Ikat Shirt, Zara $12.90 2. Cross Strap Sandals, Old Navy $12.99 3. Chunky Cable-Knit Shorts, J.Crew $78 4. Metallic Mocs, Trumpette $31.50 5. Twill Trousers with Belt, Zara $25.90 6. Ikat Tank Dress, J.Crew $52.50 7. Aztec Embroidered Skirt, Nordstrom $68 8. Cotton Tee, Estella $28 9. Toddler Fedora, Amazon 10. Loop Strap Sandals, Gap $15.99 11. Floral Baby Lace-Up, Zara $35.90 12. Eyelet Shift Dress, Gap $30.99 13. Bubble Pants, Gap $16.99 14. Polka Dot High-Waist Bikini Set, J. Crew $49.50 15. Fringed Suede Sandals, Old Navy $12.99

.Take Advantage.

Pick up a book and take advantage of all the world has to offer.

.Matchbook Magazine.

After many recommendations, this is my latest warm weather read.  I've quickly become engrossed in the story, and find it difficult to put down for mandatory life obligations.  Interestingly enough, many of the characters are shared between this novel and a movie I just watched that inspired a whole other post coming soon.  The beauty and complexity of literature, as well as a writer's ability to transport you into another world previously unknown never ceases to amaze me. 

I couldn't live without the written word.  What are some of your warm weather reads?  I'm always open to additions to my reading list!

 

{Thanks Mary and Justin for the birthday gift!}

.Mad for May.

The month of May brings me a sense of relief.  Mostly because it's always associated with the end of a school year and being that I just ended my twentieth school year in a row, I'm quite conditioned to the timing of this sense of calm.  I also appreciate May for the lovely inspiration that this sunny month brings.  For this May, I'm simply mad for beautiful stationary, stylish coffee mugs, ice blue nail polish shades, cute picnic baskets, phone calls from dear grandparents, fresh flowers, french bread and strawberries, monogramming, J. Crew accessories, highlighting special passages in my warm weather readings, clothing that looks like art, and ballerina buns.

What is striking your eye this month?

1. Picture
2. Source Unknown
3-7. JCrew
8. Essie's Sweet Talker
9. Monogramming
10,11. Ballerina Buns  1/2/
12. Picnic Baskets 1/2
13. Stationary 1 /2/3/

14, 15, 17. Anthropologie
18. Atlantic-Pacific

.Hair Nation.

As the temperatures continue to rise, the necessity to keep fresh also heightens.  I'm a simple girl when it comes to my hair; I can't keep up with the demand of highlights and colorings, my still-college student mindset prohibits me from splurging on hair products, and I barely remember to get routine haircuts {I literally cannot recall the last time I got a trim, but I feel like there was an abundance of graduations around that time?}.  All this to say that I've embraced the next several styles as quick ways to make my daily look more interesting, while still maintaining a level of professionalism that my girly Blair Waldorf headbands don't always achieve.  I've donned all these updos at the office and I will say that the tutorials are not only uncomplicated, but the end result simultaneously makes you feel chic and refreshed.  Just in time for a carefree weekend.

1, 3, 4 & 5 via A Cup of Jo

2 via Cupcakes and Cashmere

.Details of Longing.

G and I recently watched The King's Speech as part of one of our Friday Food & Film Adventure's.  Along with it being a fantastic movie, it made me long for several details of the past not seen as frequently now.  A time of top hats, round tortoiseshell eyeglasses, bowties, fabulous hats, gigantic doors, massive fireplaces, and phonographs.  G and I might just have to revamp aspects of our home and closets to better reflect some of these classic staples of the 1920's and 30's.

glasses: Etsy

bowtie: Southern Proper

door 1: Masterwerks
door 2: Interior Decorating-Furniture Designs

set photo Via
all other images found here

.Decadent Spring.

"Springtime is the land awakening.

The March winds are the morning yawn."

The start of Spring doesn't officially befall us until Sunday {G's birthday!}, but we got a nice preview this weekend.  It's one of the few enjoyable climactic times of the South before the heat becomes unbearable and there are several things that awaken my Spring soul from its Winter hibernation.  This season I'm looking for it to consist of things like chic rides on adorable bicycles, warm social events, mixed fabrics and patterns, beautiful dishes, bright nails {here come in my newest friends  French Affair, East Hampton Cottage, and another specific color I 'm in search of}, weekend mornings on the deck, romantic florals, outdoor strolls with G and the pups, longer days, dainty jewelry,  show-stopping head accessories, and color blocking. 



* Quote

1. Teen Vogue

2. As seen in Matchbook Magazine via

3. As seen at Apartment #34

4. Source unknown

5. Southern Proper

6. Anthropologie

7. Essie 

8. Ban. do

9. Kate Spade