Fashion Friday: 10 nautical faves

How ironic that I should post about beating the heat this week. Just as we were going to bed last night, we noticed that the thermostat was stuck at a hotter temp than usual. It got hotter overnight, so by the morning, we had to call the repairman, who, thankfully, had everything fixed (yay for warranties!) and cooled off by 10 a.m.

And now, as I sit here drinking my ice-cold Diet Coke, I can’t help but daydream about a lazy summer day at the beach. The kind of days that mark so many of my childhood summers spent on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, frolicking and splashing and laughing. Well, nothing screams beach day more than nautical style, so I thought it would be fun to round-up 10 pieces I’m loving right now…

*Panama hat, $58
*Signature French terry dress, $15.99
*Linen anchor pocket tee, $49.50
*Striped bikini, top ($29.99) and bottom ($24.99)
*Ponytail holder (set of five), $5
*Sailboat button earrings, $38
*Anchor rope bracelet, $38
*Wondrous whale ring, $40
*Gold knot ring, $27
*DIY anchor tote

So, what’s your favorite nautical-themed find, friends? Are you wearing a lot of it this summer? I’d love to hear! xoxo

P.S. Friday links are coming up shortly! :)

[Top photo via The Sartorialist]

Found: 7 ways to beat the heat

As Nelly once said, “It’s getting hot in herrre.” And it is. Literally. The sweltering summer heat has finally arrived, and we’re under a heat advisory for the next couple days. I stepped outside this morning, only to be greeted by a fiery-hot blast of air. You know what that means, don’t you? There’s only one thing to do: Conserve all your energy and find ways to stay cool. To help you in your search, here are seven ways to beat the heat…

Dip in the pool (here are 12 modern pools…).

Drink a sweet treat, like watermelon punch.

Slip into something light and breezy.

Put your feet up and let the cool air tickle your toes.

Curl up on the couch with a good movie (Netflix is offering a one-month free trial).

Let a melting popsicle run down your chin (here are four more popsicle recipes).

And…enjoy a cool summer supper, like the one my mom made last night. It was absolutely delicious!

Your turn, friends: How do you beat the heat during the summer? Any cool (pun intended…) tips and tricks? What’s your weather like these days? Do you like hot weather, or not so much? Here’s to staying cool… xoxo

[Top photo from LIFE magazine, via Pinterest]

Fashion Friday: Denim on denim

I had a bit of a fashion realization this morning: I rocked denim back in the day! Denim jeans were my go-to staple of the ’80s, as you can see from the above photo, and I wore them proudly. Well, The New York Times recently featured a street style round-up of people sporting their best denim-clad looks from around the world. And luckily, the denim-on-denim trend isn’t hard to master. “The trick is to mix fabric weights and washes,” says Patrick Robinson, Gap’s executive vice president of design. Here are my six favorite picks for styling the look…

*Liz Claiborne long-sleeve chambray shirt, $29.99
*Boyfriend jeans in dark vintage wash, $64.49
*Classic espadrille flats, $16.95
*Stripe sweater, $75
*Roll-up jean shorts, $178
*Jean jacket in storm cloud wash, $118

What do you think, friends? Would you rock the denim on denim look? Is it a fashion do or don’t? What’s your favorite piece of denim attire? Let’s chat… xoxo

[Bottom photo via Madewell’s Pinterest]

Fashion Friday: Taylor Swift for Keds Collection

For the final day of Summer Week, I thought it would be fun to feature one of my favorite ladies. Taylor has perfected that effortless, laid-back summer vibe with her breezy dresses and vintage glam. And now, she’s bringing pops of color to feet everywhere with her Taylor Swift for Keds Collection…

How cool are these shoes? So much fresh, eye-popping color. Now if only I could get a custom-made pair…I’d be set for summer!! What do you think, friends? Is this your style? xoxo

P.S. More Taylor Swift style.

Thursday Giveaway!

Today’s giveaway is from Maddy from Marolsha, a beautiful Etsy shop of vintage- and nature-inspired bridal jewelry, as well as modern, everyday pieces. Maddy handcrafts each piece — from her trademark hair combs to lockets to rings to necklaces to earrings to bracelets to her bridal collection — with love and care.

“I have lived and traveled to many countries and loved the unique experiences of many beautiful places, cultures and people,” she says. “Life is a gift, and I am grateful for it every day. I create from my heart and I am happy to be able to share my beautiful handmade jewelries with you.”

She’s offering this flower hair collage comb to one lucky reader. I love how the mint and pink hues complement each other so nicely, don’t you? It’d be perfect for everything from a summer picnic to a summer wedding!

For your chance to win, simply visit Marolsha, and leave a comment below, telling us where you’d where it if you won. You can also LIKE Marolsha on Facebook, GET INSPIRED on Pinterest and PIN TWO ITEMS from her shop to your Pinterest for extra entries. AND, you can also share the giveaway on Twitter by tweeting, “I just entered to win this beautiful vintage hair comb” via @melissablake. Enter the giveaway here: http://bit.ly/12uOHoe

As always, make sure you leave separate comments for each entry. A winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, June 11th, so you’ve got five days to enter. Happy browsing, friends! xoxo

Update: Congrats to winner Meg! Thanks so much! :)