First Day of Summer....

Image by chocolate creative design

I am a summer girl...always have been always will be...I love everything about it...well..maybe not the bathing suit part but I'm working on it..

These are things that make me really really happy about summer..

mint chocolate chip ice cream in a sugar cone

warm sand on my feet

the smell of the ocean

the smell of the ocean in my towel

the feel of the ocean on my skin

grilled cheese sandwiches

planting and picking flowers and vegetables from the garden

barefeet

laundry on the line

flipflops

fans

A cold Stella Artois with lemon

the way my house smells sweet only in the summer

summer rain

having the car windows rolled all the way down

sun on my back

collecting shells

lobster rolls

sending the monster out to play

So today, we celebrate the first day of Summer and gladly the longest day of the year...

What are your favorite parts of summer??

LSW

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards... Modern Summer Wedding

Images

Row 1: Taylor Creative, West Elm Zig Zag Carpet, Jonathan Adler via La Dolce Vita

Row 2: Taylor Creative, Jonathan Adler via Porch Light Interiors, Taylor CreativeRow 3: Dandelion Ranch, Ikea white Lak coffee table, Sperry Tents
Row 4: Taylor Creative, Ruffled Blog

I designed this board for a bride and groom I recently started working with that are getting married at a private residence in Connecticut. Sondra (bride) described the mood as sophisticated and elegant but vibrant and fun. Modern Elegance, with black and white as a base and bold colors as accents throughout. Inspired by the incredibly talented Jonathan Adler we are going to bring in modern patterns and textures to create different layers of design, from the cocktail hour to the main reception tent. I am just in LOVE with this design and the colors, perfect for a summer wedding!

Keeping Cool...

With soaring temperatures and 100% humidity in the Northeast, this is exactly what I would like to be doing today!!!

Image by Peter Stackpole (1941) found via Life.

The Girls of Summer....

I am a t-shirt and jeans girl at heart, but for me, there is nothing like the fashions from the 40's, 50's and 60's.  I have always been drawn to them since playing in my mother's closet as a young girl.  The women from those eras are the epitome of being feminine and womanly.  Maybe it is the dream of having a 26 inch waist that intrigues me, or is it because the clothes actually fit a woman's body?  It was the fashion photographers of those eras (Penn and Horst) that influenced me and found their way into my work as a Photography Major.  It is an extremely hard task to look back to the past, be influenced and then make it your own and modern.  For me, Anthropologie is one that can successfully integrate the two.  Even though I am not a huge fan of being in a bathing suit, I can still appreciate and dream of being one of the Girls of Summer.

Top images found on Flickr-images by Tom Palumbo, Bottom right found on Flickr and Bottom left found on myvintagevogue.

Images by Lucinda Smith Wesson, Florence, Italy 1996.   Mark Saldana Designs

Anthropologie Taffy Stripe Maillot. Vintage Images found on Flickr and myvintagevogue.

Anthropologie Majesty Palm Maillot. Irving Penn image found on Flickr, Palm image found on Flickr.

Anthropologie Peaks and Valleys Halter and Boyshorts. Vintage image found on Flickr.

Anthropologie Vargas Halter & Bottom, Fleet Week Halter and Boyshorts. Vintage image found on Flickr.

Anthropologie Buri Checkered Bikini Top and Bottom. Vintage image found on Flickr.

Anthropologie Water Ballet Halter.  Vintage image found on Flickr.

Anthropologie Fisherman's Knot Halter and Hipsters. Ursula Andress image found on The Sun.

Anthropologie Rock Garden Tote, Botany Sketch Halter and Bottom. Jean Patchett image found on myvintagevogue.

Anthropologie Marimba Wedges.  Vintage image found on Etsy.

Anthropologie Anacapri Hat, Swirling Winds Hat and Farm Bounty Hat.  Vintage images: Jean Patchett image found on myvintagevogue. Red Hats image found on Flickr. Red Straw Hat image found on Flickr. Trio of ladies image found on myvintagevogue. Floral Hat image by  John Rawlings.