Summer Shindig

It's the final day of our Summer Kick Off blog series, and I hope you are as excited as I am to get this summer started right this Memorial Day Weekend! As a rather perfect conclusion to this blog series, Jenn from What You Make It has some fabulous thoughts and ideas for how to throw a backyard dinner party. 

Before you head over to What You Make It for the "How To" guide, here's a little summer insight from Jenn:

Find more details about this delish strawberry shortcake here

Do you prefer the beach or pool?  

I just love the sound and smell of the ocean...and how beautiful it is.

Which beauty/hair product is your skin’s/hair's best friend during the summer heat?  

Sunscreen! And I'm loving argan oil to calm my frizzy hair.

Name one piece of clothing you think every girl should own to properly dress for the long, hot days of summer.  

Stretchy pencil skirt - you can dress it up or down, and it's comfy but stylish.

Favorite summertime anthem?

"Turn Down for What" - and those who know me are like, "Seriously?" I can't get enough!

Recommendations for summer reads?

My favorite author is Kate Morton - if you like Downtown Abbey, you'll love The House at Riverton. Historical fiction, mystery, romance...all in beautiful, absorbing writing.

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Get your pretty little self over to What You Make It so you can find out how to throw the perfect backyard party THIS.WEEKEND!

Thanks so much for trekking along with us this week! It's been a lot of fun getting to know and collaborating with these fabulous ladies! In case you're late to the party, you can still get geared up for summer by checking out:

• J's post on summer fashion at Bless Her Heart Y'all
• A few summer essentials, according to me! {here}
• Susan's recipe for "Summer in a Cup" over at 2 Cats and Chloe

I hope you've enjoyed our Summer Kick Off series and gotten some great ideas for Summer 2014.

Have a fabulous {and safe} 

Memorial Weekend!

Summer in a Cup

Welcome back to Day 3 of our Summer Kick Off blog series! I still can't believe that Memorial Day is just a few days away...but, let me tell you, this girl is beyond ready for a three-day weekend! A three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer...my ultimate favorite season! OK, enough from me...

Meet Susan from 2 Cats and Chloe

Let's talk a little bit about Suz. The girl has some serious creative skills {she owns her own wedding and party coordination business...AND also has a job in marketing!}. She's a newlywed {her wedding was one week after mine!} who loves to travel and thrives on adventure! And she's got a fabulous recipe for the perfect summer concoction...Summer in a Cup! Before you head over to 2 Cats and Chloe to get the details on this refreshing summer cocktail, get to know Susan a little better through her responses to my awesomely interesting questions...

Do you prefer the beach or pool?

I prefer the river!! {And after you stop by my blog for a visit on the river today, I'm sure you will agree!}

Which beauty product is your skin’s best friend during the summer heat?

I will be the first to admit that my skin regimen {or lack thereof} would probably terrify each and every one of you!  Yet somehow my skin stays clear and fresh - thank goodness!  That being said, I will not use makeup that does not have some sort of SPF in it.  I'm a huge fan of pur minerals powder and concealer during the summer.  With the humidity and mugginess in my part of the country, this makeup feels light weight and handles well in the summer elements.  

Name one piece of clothing you think every girl should own to properly dress for the long, hot days of summer.

Does a hat count?  I'm a sucker for summer hats.  I feel like they can really dress up normal, plain-jane outfits.  Match a fun hat with a simple tank and you're set to go out on the town, to an afternoon ballgame or even the beach!  

Favorite summertime anthem? 

You're going to think I'm such a redneck based on my answer {I promise I'm not!}, but one of my favorite summer songs is "Redneck Neck Yacht Club."  In the middle of winter, this song will take me straight to summer memories of tying our pontoon boat, fishing boat, and jet skis together in the middle of the river... half of us drinking and grilling out on the pontoon while the other half is reeling in the catch of the day off the back of the fishing boat.  Good times!

Recommendations for summer reads?

One of my favorite summer reads is No Touch Monkey, by Ayun Halliday.  I am addicted to traveling and sarcasm, which both encompass this book.  Her witty travel adventures will definitely have you laughing out loud!

A little message from Susan...

And now that I've talked so much about the river - I want to personally invite y'all to all join me for a festive summery beverage on the dock at my family's cottage today! Unfortunately, I cannot afford to fly each and every one of Leslie's awesome readers to Carolina - so we will just have to have this little shindig virtually!  Grab your sunglasses and cute summer hats, then get your booties over to 2 Cats & Chloe  to kick off summer with me on the Perquimans River!

In case you're late to the game {where have you been all week???}, here's what you've missed:

• Monday: J's thoughts on summer fashion {here}.
• Tuesday: a few of my summer "must haves" {here}.

I hope you'll come back tomorrow to get some summer insight from Lesley {The Dream Tree}.

A Few Summertime Necessities

It's Day 2 of our Summer Kick Off blog series, and it's MY turn to talk type a little bit about my ultimate favorite season! I decided to take the "Leslie Loves..." post approach to share with you a few things I deem to be "Summer Essentials!"

First up...what to pack in a beach/pool bag:

1. J.Crew Market Tote, $49.50
2. Striped Beach Towel, $19.99
3. Michael Kors 58mm Polarized Aviator Sunglasses, $119 {My husband says non-polarized sunglasses are pointless. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure my LASIK surgeon told me the same thing...so make sure your sunnies give you polarized protection from those bright rays!}
4. EOS Lip Balm, $2.99
5. Havaianas 'Slim' Flip Flop, $26
6. Sunscreen {for your body}, $16
7. Sunscreen {for your face}, $19.50
8. Chelsea Handler's Uganda Be Kidding Me, $27 {In my humble opinion, the pool/beach is no place for challenging/intellectual reads that require intense thinking. Thus, I picked this HA-LAR-ious book, which essentially requires ZERO brain power.}
9. Insulated Water Bottle, $20
10. No-crease Hair Ties, $9 for set of 8

What about all those items that can't be exposed to water but you HAVE.TO.HAVE with you? Oh, don't you worry your pretty little self...I've got the perfect solution: convert an empty Crystal Light container into a waterproof storage bin and throw it in your bag!

An empty Crystal Light container is the perfect waterproof storage bin...plenty of room for your iPhone, car and/or house keys, ID, credit card, cash and more!

What about a poolside snack?  Frozen grapes!

On a hot summer day, frozen grapes are fabulously refreshing...and healthy too! Simply wash your grapes, put them in a Ziploc freezer bag and toss them in the freezer for at least an hour. Although I've never tried this, I've been told you can soak the grapes in 7-Up or Sprite {I'm thinking champagne sounds like a better idea!} for about an hour before you freeze them to enhance the flavor! I definitely plan on trying this soon!

And there you have it...a few of my "must haves" for a F.U.N. summer season! What are your summer favorites?

In case you missed Day 1 of our Summer Kick Off blog series, click here to see J's thoughts on summer fashion! And I hope you'll check back with us tomorrow to find out what summer means to Susan {from 2 Cats and Chloe}!

It's Almost Summer!

I'm so excited for this week in blogland! With the official start of summer just around the corner {Memorial Weekend...duh!}, I've teamed up with four fabulous ladies to share some summer fun with you ALL.WEEK.LONG! Each day this week, one of us will be sharing some summer-related thoughts/tips/favorites to help you prepare to kick off summer with a bang!   So, without further delay...

Meet J from Bless Her Heart Y'all

Is she not the cutest thing ever? And, let me tell you, the girl can bargain shop like no other! Before you venture over to Bless Her Heart Y'all, here's a little summer insight from J {Q&A style}:

Do you prefer the beach or pool?  

Beach, hands down.  I love pools, but there is something about the sand and those waves that just instantly relaxes me.

Which beauty product is your skin’s best friend during the summer heat?  

My Urban Decay Oil-Control De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray.  I have a very greasy face {yuck, that's gross}, and this setting spray keeps my makeup from sliding off my face during the day and also gives me a "no shine" appearance for hours.  It's the one and only product that seems to help me with my "shine."

Name one piece of clothing you think every girl should own to properly dress for the long, hot days of summer.  

A long floppy hat!  Protect that face from the sun and keep yourself cool at the same time. 

Favorite summertime anthem?

Oh gosh!  Anything Bob Marley gets me in the summertime mood. Bob.Never.Gets.Old.

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Sooo...what are you waiting for? Get yourself over to Bless Her Heart Y'all to see what J has to say about summer fashion!

I hope you'll come back tomorrow to hear from me...a "Leslie Loves..."-type post of summer necessities!