Room of the Week: Poolside

I know this isn't an actual room, but it has furniture, and who wouldn't want to be by the pool on a hot and sunny Friday?

Image via Shelter

Design by Laura Day

I love the clean and classic style of the lounge chairs and umbrellas. Very Hamptons-like. And the landscaping is perfect! The tall hedges allow you to sunbath and swim in complete privacy. If only I had a pool like this in my backyard.....

Beat the Heat Meals

The temps in Boston topped off at a balmy 90 degrees today and we won't see a let up until Monday. Nothing makes you want to turn on your oven like 90 degree heat, right? 

In an effort to avoid going hungry for the next four days, I decided to cruise Pinterest for some warm weather meal ideas. 

Feta & Watermelon Salad

Caprese Salad

Thursday Night Cocktail: Lemon Champagne Cocktail

Recipe via Giada De Laurentiis at the Food Network

Ingredients

One 12-ounce container frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed (1 1/2 cups)

1 1/2 cups plain vodka

One 750 ml bottle rose champagne, chilled

Fresh mint sprigs

Directions

In a pitcher, combine the lemonade and vodka. Slowly stir in the champagne. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with mint sprigs.

Makes 4-6 servings

Cheers to a short work week!

Dressing for Hot Weather at the Office

After a chilly holiday weekend here in New England, we now have a heat wave starting on Thursday to look forward to. If you haven't heard, the New England area of the U.S. doesn't "do" spring. We go from cold and rainy winter to hot and sunny summer. Hence the winter weather last weekend and the summer weather this weekend.

I am actually pretty excited about the warm weather because I am one of those girls that is always complaining that their feet, hands and nose are cold. Dressing for 90 degree weather, not so excited! I would love to walk around in a pair of jean shorts, with a tank top and a pair of flip flops, but I have this thing called "my job" to go to, and I'm not sure my beach attire would fly with my boss, even if we are a business casual office.

With my beach attire off the table, I decided to come up with some other options:

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Color Block Sheath 

Shop This Sale: NET-A-PORTER

If the Memorial Day sales weren't enough, NET-A-PORTER's online sale has begun and there are tons of great buys!

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
Tonda croc and lizard-effect leather clutch
Was $395
Now $237  

TORY BURCH
Eddie embellished leather ballet flats
Was $250
Now $175  

The good stuff never lasts so get over there and scoop up the goods!

Happy Shopping!

The Pink & Red Color Combo

I love pink, and I love red, but I have never tried wearing them together....until now! I saw this amazing dress on Audrey Tautou at the Cannes Film Festival and fell in love with the color combination.

I immediately began mentally going through my closet to see if I owned anything in those two shades, and sadly I don't. I need to remedy this situation ASAP!

Clockwise from the left:

Ralph Lauren Black Label Pants

Topshop Strappy Cami

Miu Miu Trousers

H&M Cardigan

Room of the Week: Heading Outdoors

Image via The French Tangerine

I love the idea of an outdoor space that feels like an extension of the rest of the house. This patio set-up is so glam with the green furniture, striped walls and tied back curtains. It's the perfect combo of outside and in because you are outside, but covered from the elements.

This is the perfect space to entertain guests or enjoy a cocktail or a cup of tea. It just goes to show you that an outdoor space doesn't have to include a a grill and plastic furniture set. 

Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Memorial Day weekend is the official start of the summer season, but it's also a great weekend for sales. Because I am not heading off to the beach this weekend, I plan to take full advantage of all the sales and scoop up some more great summer clothing and accessories.

I have been scoping out the sales all week long, and this is what I have found so far:

$30 off when you spend $150 in-store or online

Additional 20% off all sale and clearance in-store and online

40% off all purchases plus an additional 20% all handbags at Kate Spade Outlet stores

Take an extra 25% off sale items online with the code RLMEM13

Thursday Night Cocktail: Fahrenheit 5

Recipe via Food & Wine

Ingredients

1. Ice
2. 3/4 ounce coconut rum
3. 3/4 ounce Grand Marnier
4. 1 1/4 ounces cranberry juice
5. 3/4 ounce pineapple juice
6. Splash of chilled Sprite
7. Directions
8. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the rum, Grand Marnier and fruit juices and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and top with the Sprite.
9. 
   

Cheers to a fabulous long weekend!

Easy Memorial Day Weekend Party Recipes

Most of us are either hosting or attending some kind of holiday weekend party, and if you haven't started thinking about what you are going serve or bring, it's getting down to the wire.

These are a few fun and easy party recipes that go down well with a crowd.

Caramelized Onion Dip

Everyone loves chips and dip and you can make it the day before to save time.

Caprese Pops

So cute and the size is perfect for a party. 

Bacon-jalapeño Cheese Ball

To save time, I buy the Kirkland brand pre-cooked bacon from Costco. Just pop it in the microwave for a minute or two and your bacon is ready to dice.

Shop This Sale: J. Crew Factory

I have always been a little weary of factory stores and websites. Some are great, but others really leave something to be desired in terms of quality. I have had great luck with J. Crew Factory, both in stores and online. The sales are great, and the quality is still there.

Going on Now.....

Take up to 40% everything at J. Crew Factory. Online Only.

The sale ends tonight, so get shopping!

Street Chic: Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham has come a long way since her Spice Girls/WAG days and has really hit her fashion stride over the last several years.

Her style has almost become a uniform. It isn't the same thing all the time, but many of her choices have a similar look and feel: classic, well designed and on trend without actually being trendy.

I can't do a Victoria Beckham style post without mentioned the heels! The women is always wearing them and I'm not talking about a pair of 3 inch pumps. She is rocking the sky high 5-6 inch platforms. That is serious dedication to fashion right there. If I could take the pain, I would be doing them same, but I just don't have that kind of tolerance.

My Weekend Trip to The Brimfield Antique Show

I headed to the Brimfield Antique Show for the first time on Saturday and it was unlike anything I had ever seen before! There was so much too see, it was almost overwhelming. I made the trip with my sisters and my sister-in-law (who is an avid antique collector) and we made it to seven of the different fields to check out the various wares.

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Enjoy Life

Cannes Film Festival: More Fashion Coverage

Earlier in the week I shared my top fashion picks from day one of the Cannes Film Festival. I had every intention of writing a fashion coverage post for each day of the festival but my day job and the Stanley Cup Playoffs (GO BRUINS!!!) got in my way.

Here are my top fashion picks from the last several days at Cannes:

 

Melonie Diaz

Katie Chang

 Naomie Harris

 Paz Vega

Room of the Week: Living Room Alcove

I love this "room." I say room with quotation marks because it's really a corner or alcove. This is the perfect living room area set-up for those of us living in tiny studios or one bedroom's in the city.

I wish I could see the rest of the room to see what the layout was like, but it could easily be a studio apartment. The small wooden table with the flowers on it sort of marks the entrance to the sitting area.

With any studio where you just have a huge open space, it's so important to create separate areas so the place doesn't feel like one large bedroom with all your stuff jumbled around.

Has anyone seen any great studio apartment set-ups? If so, please share. I would love some tiny apartment inspiration!

Image via From the Right Bank

Thursday Night Cocktail: Southern Belle

Recipe via Hostess with the Mostess

1 oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
1 oz. Super Premium Gin
1 oz. Grapefruit Juice
Splash of Club Soda

Combine ingredients into ice filled shaker. Strain and pour into a cocktail glass on the rocks. Top off with club soda and garnish with a twist of lemon.

Cheers!

Cannes Film Festival Fashion: Day One

The Cannes Film Festival is up there with the Met Ball in terms of the glam factor. There is a great mix of international actors, artists and glitteratti that make for great fashion coverage. 

It was raining on opening night at The Great Gatsby premier and I salute the actors and actresses for remaining on the red carpet despite the weather. I would have ran like hell for cover to preserve my hair and my dress!

These are my top pick from Day One

Nicole Kidman

Naomi Harris

Isla Fisher

Brimfield Antique Show

The famous Brimfield Antique Show is going on now through Sunday. For those of you who aren't familiar, The Brimfield Antique Show takes place three times per year, in May, July and September in Brimfield, MA, and is the largest antique show in New England with more than 5,000 dealers.

For a interior design and antique junkie, Brimfield is a mecca. There is truly something for everyone here including all kinds of furniture, art, jewelry, silver and every nick knack you could possibly imagine. With more than 20 fields of dealers displaying their wares, it's almost overwhelming.

My sisters and I are heading to the show this Saturday and I can't wait! I have been wanting to start a collection of antique silver flatware and I think this is the perfect place to get me started. Brimfield is about an hour's drive from Boston, so we will head out early on Saturday morning to try and avoid the crazy show traffic.

When heading to any outdoor flea market or antique show there are a few things to remember to make the experience as enjoyable as possible:

Bring Cash

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Stay Hydrated

Wear Sunblock

Be Strategic in Where You Browse (It's impossible to see it all)

Travel Light 

Take a Car with Extra Storage

I am bringing my camera with me so I can document my show experience. I will be sure to have a full report on all the happenings on Monday.

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Street Chic: Olivia Palermo

I am a major fan of street style in general, but if I had to wear the clothing from one person's closet for the rest of my life, I would choose Olivia Palermo's, no contest!

She manages to always be fashionable, but also incredibly classic at the same time. You know when you look at a photo from five years ago and think "What was I thinking?" Olivia will never have that problem because she can pick up on a trend from that season, without making it look too trendy.

I love to see over-the-top looks on the runway and in fashion editorials, but I have never been a fan of street style that looks like a costume. The nature of street style is that you aren't suppose to look like you stole a look from last season's runway show or had your stylist put together the look for you. It's suppose to be more organic than that. Olivia is the perfect example of good street style. It seems like she put together the looks herself from her own closet, even if she didn't! What she has on is wearable, and I think that is what makes her so appealing. 

Stocking Up on Gift Odds & Ends

I was out running errands with my sister over the weekend and we ended up at Home Goods and A.C. Moore. Of course, what happened is what always happens when we shop together: my sister and I buy a bunch of things we have no use for at the current moment, but are just too cute to pass up. I walked out of Home Goods with three packages of adorable and festive cocktail napkins, a bunch of different cards plus some wrapping paper and gift giving supplies.

I used to think my little shopping sprees for random gift and party items were a waste of money, but you know what? Whenever I need a card or hostess gift in a pinch, I head over to my chest of supplies (yes, I have a whole chest for these things!) and pull out what I need. I never have to run out and get wrapping paper or a worry about not having a "get well soon card". When I see something I like, I pick it up, and it get's used eventually. Plus, it's not like it's perishable. 

I developed this need to have all these types of items on hand from my mother. Growing up, she always had the best collection of cards, gift wrap and little gifts like pretty scented candles or a good bottle of wine, just in case she needed something last minute. She is the only woman I know that purchases greeting cards 10 to 20 at a time (no joke!). 

These are the items that I regularly stock up on when I see something I like, or I know I will use:

Greeting Cards (especially the handmade ones)
Wrapping Paper
Scented Candles
Bottles of Wine
Ribbon and Bows
Tissue Paper
Gift Bags
Thank You Notes
Cocktail Napkins
Delicate Soaps

I find all of these items to be especially good to have around during the holidays. You go to so many parties and it's nice to have a bunch of things on hand if you need to pull together a little gift at the last minute.

Does anyone else stock up on gift odds and ends like I do? Tell me what your must-haves are. 

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Mother's Day Lunch Desserts

I was over at my grand parents house yesterday afternoon to celebrate Mother's Day and we had some amazing desserts. My aunt, Didi, is an amazing baker and she made all of the desserts at the lunch.

I can't disclose the recipes (those are family secrets!), but I wanted to share some pictures.

Vanilla Coconut Cake

Chocolate Cake with a Light Buttercream Frosting

Perfectly Sweet Sweet Bread

My aunt makes this ahead of time and freezes it because it's a great time saver. The key is to "refresh" the bread on the day you are serving it. Just pop it in the oven and warm it up again, and it's like yo never froze it.

The White Cookies

These are my favorite childhood cookies. They are similar to the classic Italian cookies that have a licorice flavor from anise oil, but my grandmother's recipe skips the anise oil and used a combination of orange and lemon extract. They have a much lighter flavor and I prefer these, especially for a party, because a lot of people are not fond of the licorice flavor.

Did anyone else do anything special for Mother's Day? Any great baked goods worth sharing?