.The last, sweet days of summer.

I really can't believe that the Fall is upon us.  Here are a few pictures from the last bit of the sticky summer that we got to enjoy.  Luckily we're off to Savannah for a bit, and that doesn't seem like such a bad way to bring in my favorite season.

.Eternal Summer.

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.

.Celia Thaxter.

Sometimes all it takes is a few hours in the sun, on an old family blanket, to convince you that this summer is shaping up quite nicely.  

It's Sort of What Gets Me Through the Crazy Work Week.

This week has been touch and go, a rollercoaster between discouragement and pride.  It's always easier to cope when you know a trip and holiday is on the horizon though.  My portfolio deadline is approaching much faster than I'm typing, but I've got a bit of a scheme planned for Valentine's day that I'm excited about, so I'll be spending most of my free time this weekend sneaking about.  I must say it's a miracle... somehow the list always manages to get done.  But this all starts after tonight, with our very wild tradition of Friday pizza and DVR.  It's sort of what gets me through the crazy work week.

.The Air was Damp.

This weekend was full of off and on showers creating the best cozy environment.  It's still not as cold as I'd like for January, but the drizzly comfort will do for now.  I don't mind weekends where nothing sounds better than takeout every night, baby play dates, where we venture out into the rain just to get out of house in search of fun items like tea kettles, books and baby stockings, and let the candles burn for hours on end with live concerts on tv as I (try to) work furiously.  Now the chores still have to be done, and the pups are muddy, and I struggled with something as simple as leaving Dylan in the church nursery this Sunday (in my defense, this was the first time anyone but her grandparents has watched over her), but regardless we ended the weekend brimful of smiles and laughs and all those other things are just petty compared to the rest.

.Santa Baby.

Yesterday, we took Dylan to meet Santa.  She handled the strange, white-bearded man much better than we expected.  Although she's small, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful source of cheer; the innocence, the whole-hearted belief.  The experience was a bit overwhelming for mama, keeping sleepy baby girl happy during the wait with crying children all about, but we survived.  It's a tradition that I wouldn't want Dylan to miss out on, an important childhood rite of passage. 

Now to spend the last weekend before Christmas scrambling about for last minute necessities.  It is unusually warm down here and doesn't feel at all like December, but Christmas is officially here.  I am welcoming the chaos of the holiday and the great music that accompanies it.

.This Thanksgiving.

Thank you Lord,

for him and her,

the best things I've ever done.

.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

.From the Clouds.

In my opinion, a summer soundtrack is not complete without a little Jack Johnson.

Oh you’re such a pretty thing I’ll take you and I’ll make you all mine

I would steal you from this patient world let it chase us

It could never take you back

We could watch it from the clouds

We can’t stop it anyhow

It’s not ours

We could watch it from the clouds

We can’t stop it anyhow

It’s not ours

I know you know me well enough

To know I’m lucky to have you

But oh it’s just the little things

The words that I should tell you all the time

Like you’re so sweet to me

When you beat me in double solitaire

You’re so sweet to me

In a world that’s not always fair

We could watch it from the clouds

We can’t stop it anyhow

It’s not ours
We could watch it from the clouds

We can’t stop it anyhow

It’s not ours

The more love that you feel

The more your little heart will ache

Love is the only thing that carries on

It’s the only thing this world can’t take

This love is ours

This love is

Oh, you’re such a pretty thing

I’ll take you and I’ll make you all mine

.From The Clouds.

* Pictures taken Memorial Day weekend at the river

.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

.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