Independent Decorating

< The wreath on our front door, accented with a patriotic addition >

Can you believe that Independence Day is next Monday??  I mean, where-oh-where have the months gone this year?  If time is flying by for you like it is flying by for me, it must mean we are all having fun!  In the spirit of July 4th and all that this holiday means for our nation, I love putting up some red, white and blue decor around the house to celebrate.  Honestly, I love decorating for each and every holiday, as you may now have guessed by perusing through the archives of this blog.  There is something about Fourth of July decor, however, that brightens my spirits so- feelings of patriotism, thankfulness for freedom, and memories of great summers are all evoked.  I am not sure what my husband and I will be doing to celebrate July 4th this year, but I hope my plans will include time on or by the water, a great barbecue with good friends, and plenty of "ooh-ing" and "ahh-ing" over bright fireworks bursting in the dark night sky!

I leave you today with these awesome words: "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

< A little red and white added to the blue in our front entryway >

< Candles and holders create a festive centerpiece >

< Bunting adds some festivity to the kitchen ceiling! >

< Simple, summery, 4th-themed items decorate the kitchen table >

< Flag decor brightens up a kitchen corner >

< Love this little family of flag-waving ducks! >

< And of course, one of my favorite places to decorate- the mini hearth on our fireplace - gets a splash of red, white, and blue >

Fab Fashion

One of my favorite things to find online is an idea for a great outfit!  For today's midday post, I am happy to share with you a few blogs that friends have shared with me that offer great ideas for work wear and other outfits you need in everyday life.  These blogs inspire me to create new outfit combinations with items from my own closet, and sometimes motivate me to try new style and accessory trends.

Which blogs or other websites do you visit for outfit inspiration?

< See jane. >

< Corporette >

< Capitol Hill Style >

< J's Everyday Fashion >

Wonders from the Weekend

< A little rainbow I saw in a wave off the side of the boat >

This past weekend I enjoyed a little getaway to the lake (as mentioned here).  The weather was amazing, and much time was enjoyed on the water (which is my favorite way to spend summer days).  I know this post contains many pictures of water, but I just loved the lake and the view I was able to enjoy during the long weekend.  For example, how great is that little rainbow in the picture above?  And how beautiful are the evergreens surrounding this lake?  And what an amazingly beautiful setting sun reflecting off the water, right?  Well, browse through all of the pictures here and you will know what a relaxing and beautiful weekend getaway I enjoyed!

< The shrubbery on this rock is the perfect addition to this cove >

< A few geese enjoying the warm summer weather >

< Sunny sky, blue water, and green forest- it doesn't get any better than this! >

< By chance, got to watch this chopper dip its bucket into the water and haul it away to a fire- so awesome to see up close! >

< The sun starting to set on our last night at the lake >

< The perfect treat for a drive home after a mini vacation! >

Daily Dressing: 1 skirt, 2 ways

One of the things I love doing is creating new outfits out of the items in my closet.  For the looks in this post, I simply changed the look of each outfit by adding a new top and different accessories to each skirt.  This is one of the easiest ways to mix up the items in your closet to create different looks for the current items that you own.  I created mostly office appropriate looks with the changes that I made to each skirt outfit, but also added in a few options for cocktail hour and dinner out on the town.  Can you tell that I am loving wearing bright colors during these warmer summer months?  None of these outfits are my absolute favorite, but they are perfect for triple digit heat!  

Tell me, how do you mix and match items in your wardrobe to create new outfits?

- Photo on left -

Occasion: work

Shirt: J.Crew

Skirt: The Limited

Belt: The Limited

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: TJ Maxx, Ross, The Limited

- Photo on right -

Occasion: work

Shirt: Tahari

Skirt: The Limited

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: TJ Maxx, Ross, The Limited

- Photo on left -

Occasion: work

Shirt: Banana Republic

Cami: TJ Maxx

Skirt: Gap

Bag: Liz Caliborne

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: Citizen (watch), ON, TJ Maxx, Ross

- Photo on right -

Occasion: casual drinks with the girls

Shirt: The Limited

Skirt: Gap

Shoes: BR

Jewelry: Citizen (watch), ON, TJ Maxx, Ross

- Photo on left -

Occasion: work

Shirt: The Limited

Skirt: Simply Vera Vera Wang

Belt: The Limited

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: The Limited, Tiffany, ON

- Photo on right -

Occasion: work

Shirt: Tahari

Skirt: Simply Vera Vera Wang

Shoes: BCBG

Watch and earrings: TJ Maxx

- Photo on left -

Occasion: work

Shirt: Banana Republic

Skirt: Anthropologie

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: The Limited, Loft, ON

- Photo on right -

Occasion: dinner date

Shirt: To the Max

Skirt: Anthropologie

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: Vintage, TJ Maxx, The Limited

In case you haven't heard...

An amazing new site has been created and launched by Taylor of Sterling Style and a collection of other fabulous bloggers.  If you are looking for insight on trends, fashion, beauty, shopping,  a peek into some of your favorite blogger's lives, and of course, how you might infuse glitter into your everyday life, look no further than The Glitter Guide.

Keep on sparkling!

Packed!

< All packed! >

Happy Monday to you all!  The title of this post is relevant to a few things this week: 1) I am sharing what I packed for my much needed lake getaway this past weekend, and 2) This week is packed to the brim and the posts may not be in line with the normal pattern of what is posted on my blog.  No matter what, please know that I am always working hard to keep this blog fabulous and consistent, and I so much appreciate all of the support that readers give to me!  Anyway, these past few days (and a little bit of today), I have been enjoying time at Bass Lake.  The weather is perfect for boating during the day and for making smores at night.  Sunscreen and bug spray have saved me from looking like a tomato with chicken pox.  Laughter and smiles are what the days at the lake have been filled with, which is pretty much my idea of a perfect day!  I know that none of the outfits I packed are super stylish, but they are all so comfortable and perfect for a casual lake-side setting.  And be sure to look at the last picture- my thought is that magazines make the perfect accessory with a lounge chair while enjoying the sunshine and the sound of water lapping against the shore.

Tell me, what are you packing for your summer getaways?

Friday!

< Random kids having recess fun! >

Remember Fridays when we were younger?  Free play for recess, the snack bar, pizza parties, and spirit girl cheer time... ah, such fun memories.  The fact that I live down the street from an elementary school, who's bell rings for all recess and class times, reminds me of how fun it was being a kid.  My goal is to keep infusing my excitement for Fridays into the rest of my life!  Here are some things that remind me of Free Play and recess when I was growing up.  Tell me, do any of these remind me of recess time from your past?

Hope that you all have a great weekend!  Now, I am off to go find some red licorice...

< My favorite treat to buy from the snack bar >

< My friends and I used to use flowers like this during recess to make bracelets and necklaces >

< Aww... aren't these guys cute!  Two mascots from two different elementary schools I attended >

< Remember how fun four-square was?? >

< Ah yes, the fun that was had at those class pizza parties! >

< I had a Book IT! pin that I put a ton of gold star stickers on >

< Pom poms for cheering on the plays at Friday football games! >

Obsessed: Palm Beach Retreat

Hooray for Fridays!  For some reason, Fridays are the only day each week that I feel slightly like a morning person.  Not that I am that much more awake, I just think my mind is doing a happy dance to some song with the letters T-G-I-F!  And what else is going to cheer me up this Friday?  My new obsession with the interior design of Meg Braff's Palm Beach condo, which I recently discovered as I happened across a past issue of Coastal Living.  I have to confess: I am fairly sure that I have heard of this magazine before, but after flipping through the pages of the issue I picked up, I realized that this is a magazine that I would thoroughly enjoy on a monthly basis.  I mean, what can be better than adding a little more beach to every aspect of your life?  After perusing through the editorial showcasing Ms. Braff's Palm Peach decor, I am inspired to redecorate at least one room of my house with the bright, citrus, Florida-beach-like hues you see in the picture below.  And if only I had an ocean front/lake front/ river front home, I just might install a whole wall of mirrors to reflect the outdoor scenery.  Now, don't you want a lucite coffee table, an all-white dinning room with just a few beach colored pops of color, and - oh yes- a water-front condo in Florida?

* All images via Coastal Living