Red, White & Blue Dresses For Summer

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The 4th of July is right around the corner. I love this time of year because summer is in full swing! It has been especially hot recently in Georgia which has me searching for anything breathable to wear. Since the 4th lies on a weekday this year, I wanted to do something simple for the holiday. We usually host an event or go visit my parents in Florida for the holiday, but this year we decided to stay local.

I rounded up some patriotic pieces that are nice and breezy to wear for this time of year. Rather than wearing all red, white and blue, I like to wear some variation of the color scheme and pair it with fun colorful earrings or shoes.

I'll be sharing my porch decorations and outfit Saturday that I plan to wear for the 4th!

Monday Blues - Blue Gingham from Daytime to Happy Hour

Outfit Details:

Scarf (sold out), other scarves shown below

Happy Monday! We got back from California on Friday and have been attempting to catch up on sleep ever since! We spent almost 2 full weeks on the west coast and we had the best time! When we travel and try to see a lot of one state, we like to hop around rather than staying put in one city for a week.

California was absolutely beautiful. The weather was perfect! It was warm during the day and with a cool breeze at night. I kept laughing at the fact that I was able to wear jeans with a jacket in the middle of summer! In Atlanta, it gets so hot and unbearably humid it's hard going outside in just a tank top and shorts.

While in Sausalito, we stopped at a cute flower market called Nancy Ann's. They have everything. I built an arrangement to match my outfit, took it inside and had them wrap it for me. Even while traveling, I love to have fresh flowers around. It makes the hotel room feel more homey.

I've been buying some new pieces for the summer and have recently been swooning over the gingham trend. I just love all of the soft pastels and how easy they are to match with other items in my closet. My favorite things to wear in the summer are light and airy tops that are breathable. I found this particular top by Rebecca Minkoff at a Nordstrom Rack while we were in La Jolla.

This top is so lightweight, it almost feels like you're wearing nothing. It's tight around the chest so it doesn't gape open and breezy at the bottom so you can eat as much as you want in it. ;)

 

As for accessories this summer, I have been sticking to tropical/straw bags and using my new favorite purse by Kate Spade. It matches just about anything I put on and carries more than what I need.

I always love one solid pair of sunglasses as my staple and I tend to go for tortoise shell because they look good with my skin tone.

When we were in LA, we found the best little restaurant right outside Hollywood to stop off for a little bite and cocktails called Edendale. I am an absolute sucker for cheese, so when I saw a cheese board on the menu, I immediately ordered it. 

Now THIS is what you call a cheese board. They did not skimp on the meat or other accouterments. They topped our board with dried figs, little pickles, various shaved meats, a few cheeses and fresh cut herbs.

This blue top is so versatile. It looks great tucked in or as I am wearing it here. I think it is a classic and can be worn for years to come because gingham, like a good cheese board, never truly goes out of style.

Kitchen Items I Am Loving

If you caught my Instagram stories over the weekend, you know that I am in the midst of a major kitchen transformation! If you missed it, be sure to check out my story highlights to catch up on the progress there (once I am completely finished I will be posting the full tutorial).

My style is classic and timeless. I like to mix basic white dishes with fun pops of color in my glassware, linens and server pieces. I wanted to share my top 25 favorite items in my kitchen with you all.

1) Chargers

These chargers are great for all seasons. The natural color makes them easy to mix and match various colors of plates and napkins. They easily transition from summer to fall to spring and are a classic.

2) Scalloped Plates

These pretty scalloped plates add a soft feminine touch and interest to your tablescape. Mix and match them with basic white dishes and smaller plates/bowls that have a pattern. In the holiday months, I will mix these with gold and white plates.

3) Blue and White Border Plates

If the feminine scalloped touch isn't your thing, add a pop of blue with these gorgeous dishes! They just scream "oh, just these old vintage plates I found on my trip to Italy." The price tag doesn't hurt either.

4) Marbled Glass Tumblers

These glasses are just fun. Serve lemonade with circle lemon wedges on the side for a summery drink on your porch.

5) Napkins

Blue and white is my favorite color combination and always a classic. It creates a soft look and is very peaceful. Even if I am serving food with plain white dishes, I like to add a pop of color with fun napkins. Cloth napkins can set the tone and theme for your dinner party.

6) Melamine Server

When I first spotted this beauty I couldn't believe that it was melamine. We eat so many meals on the porch, I like to use plastic when I can so no one gets injured if there is an accident. This piece is an example of form and function working harmoniously to create the perfect hostess gift.

7) Kitchenaid Mixer

If you like to cook, you will love owning Kitchenaid. Despite all the rave of the wedding industry pressure to own one, these bad boys really are a great investment. Once I finally purchased mine it made my life so much easier. I used a hand mixer before, and this machine allows me to multi-task seamlessly while cooking.

8) Copper Utensil Caddy

I love European decor influences, French and Italian in particular. Originally I wanted all copper cookware until I was gifted a copper pot and realized just how tedious the maintenance is. This caddy is the best of both worlds. It provides the look of copper without all the clean-up. I love mixing in copper and gold where I can to illuminate a space.

9) Wooden Salt & Pepper Mill

Not only is this mill gorgeous to look at (seriously beautiful with all tablescapes), but you can adjust the grind from fine to coarse, allowing you more control of your spices when cooking.

10,11,12) Plain White Dishes - Dinner, Salad, Bowl

I like classic white dishes for everyday use. No muss, no fuss. They are inexpensive and easy to replace if you break one and they go with everything.

13) Amber Spray Bottles

These might seem silly to you, but I like my entire house to feel like it flows together, even the little things like cleaning products. I have been using these spray bottles for certain grocery-store cleaning products as well as homemade cleaning products. I make a homemade insecticide and bug spray using essential oils and these are great for holding them. 

14) Magnolia Table

I think I am with most of America in my love of Chip & Joanna Gaines. Their story is very inspiring and their lifestyle is oh-so-appealing to me. This cookbook's photography is beautiful and the recipes are great for "gathering" as the description says. I like to display it in my kitchen.

15) Paper Towel Holder

The devil is always in the details. I love this gold hammered paper towel holder. It makes a utility item look so much prettier.

16) Soap Pump

This soap pump is so easy to use one-handed when you've got food on your hands.

17) Gold Flatware

Illuminate your table with this gorgeous set of gold flatware. I have looked long and hard for the perfect shape and color gold and this one takes the cake....oh and did I mention it's on sale?

18) Bee Tumbler Glasses

These are so cute and classic. I love the detail of the bee. It takes a what would be plain glass and makes it chic and interesting.

19) Utensil Crock/Vase

With the laurel insignia, this stoneware crock/vase easily fits into farmhouse style or a classic patina-inspired kitchen.

20) Keurig

I love the color of this keurig, so much so that we swapped out our black one for this. It helps keep the color scheme of my kitchen alive and also pours a great cup of joe. This color is being discontinued so grab yours before it's gone.

21) JK Adams Cutting Board

I'm slightly obsessed with this cutting board. When I found this collection I started purchasing all of the various sizes and shapes for a collection.

22) JK Adams Rectangular Cutting Board

You may have to search a few different places to find each one, but I've linked where I found all of mine. I love this giant rectangular cutting board as a serving board for cocktails.

23) In-Drawer Knife Holder

In an effort to clear my countertops, I finally ditched the traditional knife block and purchased this. It always felt aggressive to have large knives on display anyways. 

24) Expandable Utensil Holder

I love this piece because I can expand and contract it as I please for whatever size I need. 

25) The Most Glorious Soap EVER

I talked about this soap when I first started my blog and got a few people HOOKED. It smells amazing. I have a very strong sense of smell, and this soap puts me in such a good mood every time I use it. 

My Skincare Routine

 I would categorize my skin as dry, so I am always seeking out ways to keep it hydrated. In this summer heat and humidity, I needed to allow my skin to breathe, which meant hydration without an oily base.  My mother turned me onto L'Occitane products years ago, and I have always loved their skincare. Recently, I discovered their Aqua Reotier collection and decided to give it a try because it is  a non oil-based product with intense hydration. 

Unlike other beauty products, this one started working for me instantly. Most noticeably with my skin's firmness and hydration. I use the five-step collection in the morning, and the moisture lasts with me throughout the entire day. I start by cleansing my face with the water gel cleanser, and then apply the moisture prep. After, I follow with the ultra-thirst quenching cream, which smells divine. A little bit goes a long way so a container should last you quite a while. Once I've moisturized with the cream, I come back over my face with the moisturizing gel and allow it to soak into my skin. 

The mist is one of my favorite products from this collection because it is great to have on-the-go to achieve a dewey look with or without my makeup. All of these products smell heavenly, and I get complimented on the fragrance.

My skin feels so radiant from using these products and is giving me the confidence to go out without makeup which is a long-held goal of mine. My skin not only looks great but it feels extremely soft - just what I was looking for.

Thanks to L'Occitane for sponsoring this post.