summer

5 items I’m loving at Target right now (all under $100!)

Hola! Hope you enjoyed this past weekend. I can’t believe it is already June, and although Summer hasn’t officially started, it sure feels like it around here!

A couple of weekends ago I made a trip to Target to grab a couple of random items and got sucked into their home section. (You know, the usual.)

I would say especially over the last couple years, Target has really upped their game when it comes to housewares and home decor items.  They have some really great designer looks but without the high price tag.  Here are my faves:

five summer home items from target under $100!

Links from top to bottom: cotton blanket, mirror, marble lamp, brass wire basket, bench

 

color story: citrus tones

We all draw our inspiration from different places.  Finding inspiration in food… that’s perfectly normal, right?   Yup.  Some of the most cheery colors out there are citrus tones.  Lime, grapefruit, orange, lemon…  They are like little works of art.  Especially when styled like this pic below:

 

lovely citrus shot

And besides, what’s summer without good music,  longer days, – and of course – bright colors?

 

 

citrus tones style

 

Oh and Margaritas!! Can’t leave that off the list!!  (Click the picture below for the recipe to this Pink Grapefruit Lime Margarita)Grapefruit Agave Margarita recipe - Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

 

Honestly, this may be my favorite color palette in the world.  (I may have said that before in a blog post, but I was just kidding, and am super serious now.)

 

citrus tones paint palette

I mean, some of my favorite interior shots EVER are in this palette:

 

 

colorful living room, featured in Coastal Living

 

You may remember the image from above.  This home was featured in Coastal Living.

green banquette! - vim + vintage

And this one: well if a green banquette doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will.

Tastefully done with some more traditional flair.

vintage citrus tone bedroom

 

This nugget below made the cover of Southern Living’s May 2012 issue.  For me, it still remains one of the best mixes of prints I’ve seen in an interior.

Lindsey Ellis Beatty Living Room - featured in Southern Living

And let me just say – Mandi at Vintage Revivals is the bomb-dot-com, because she gets the last 2 photo mentions.

This first one is the love child of retro vintage and bohemian styles and it’s awesome.  retro bohemian bedroom, featured on Vintage Revivals

And YES, one of my favorite DIY projects of all time!!! Seriously, still can’t get over that hex wall.  She’s a genius!

DIY Tufted Picture Frame Headboard - Vintage Revivals

MYTH #1:  You have to live in FL to rock these colors.

MYTH #2:  Using a bunch of bright colors together creates disaster.

As proven by the pictures above, both of these statements are totally false!  Yes, these colors do favor coastal environments, but when done right, anyone can pull off this look.  Intermix some of these fresh tones in, and the fruits of your labor will pay off (See what I did there?)

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citrus tones color story inspiration board - Vim & Vintage

1 // such an awesome book with inspiring bright colors, from Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar

2 // I don’t think it’s possible to talk about bright colors and not bring in some Jonathan Adler.  This chair comes in a variety of finishes and colors!

3 // of course you need some fun fabrics.  ( Clockwise from top left: Robert Allen Out of Bounds Chartruese, Kravet Almora 712, Robert Allen Delighted Citrine, Robert Allen Cats Cradle Papaya)

4 // yes, I always have to feature a watch.  This Michael Kors one is pure dynamite!

5 // pretty pillow cover

6 // most possibly the cutest set of measuring cups

7 // simple, elegant, and versatile summer wedges

8 // I wish I could have each and every one of Madeline Weinreb’s rugs.  They are absolute perfection

9 // another fun, midcentury-inspired JA chair!

10 // vintage vase in a fun yellow color!

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Have yourself a bright and cheery day! xo

(inspiration board is my creation, but all other photos link back to their original source)

 

sweet summertime.

Hola!!

Random fact: This is actually the longest I’ve ever went without blogging since I started it back in October of 2011!  I took off most of May and all of June, but the good news is that I’m backkkkk!  I’ve realized my neglected blog needs some love too. 🙂

It seems entirely insane to me that already half the year is over.  I need to continually remind myself to just take some deep breaths, look around, and take in my favorite time of the year.  Temps in Texas have been a refreshing 95 degrees (ha!), but hey we’ll take anything under 100 this time of the year.

PS. There’s not too much news to report around here.  We traveled back to the Mitten in June to celebrate 2 awesome weddings (my friend Kaytee and Nate’s brother Matt), and also have had some visitors in Texas recently, too.  I haven’t taken many pics lately, but here are some from the trip to Michigan:

Ludington, Michigan

chalkboard wedding sign

Kaytee and I

lite brite!

(Yes that is a Lite Brite, and yes I took at least 3 pictures of it during the night because I was so freakin excited.)

State Theatre -  Traverse City, MI

putt putt

Crystal Lake, MI

kayaks on Crystal Lake

Matt & Lynn!

Lynn and Ethan dancing

bearded lover and I

sandy feet

Sunset over Lake Michigan

 

It seems like more and more lately, I’m reminded of how extremely lucky and blessed we are.  We have a home with tons of potential, a loving pup, good jobs, and been on some great trips this year already.  Reflecting on it all, life is good!