{inspired by: gourmet}

I love this Gourmet magazine cover... the brilliant + playful colors remind me of summer and all the fun + sun that go along with it! Here are a few grown-up goodies with the same playful summer feel.

{Kate Spade Bollywood Popsicle coin purse}

{Soapylove Rainbow Sherbert Soapsicle}

{gigantic graphic sweet treats beach towel}

{strawberry + vanilla + chocolate}

There is something so pretty about classic neapolitan ice cream... that may be why you can find its color combination just about anywhere!

{yummy Sweet's neapolitan saltwater taffy} {adorable Now Designs Floursack dishcloths} {pretty + personalized neapolitan notecards} {versitile pink+mocha+white cotton woven rug bag from Dash & Albert Rug Co.}

{cool + graphic Madeline Weinrib Strawberry Stripe rug} {girly + practical Coach Heritage Stripe Swingpack} {easy + pretty GAP pink striped tie waist tank} {fun + bubbly Old Navy printed beach tote in white & pink dot}

{spend the summer with kate}

Kate Spade has some of the cutest summer accessories I have seen lately! Basket-style handbags with metallic detailing and funky rags+riches sandals are super cute {and decently affordable}. I love the miranda flip-flops embellished with a cute frayed linen flower and jewel center - which would pair perfectly with the anguilla venice basket handbag with gold metallic trim or simple colorblock mercado tote {so easily chic}.

Pictures taken from www.katespade.com

{children + couture}

Although these books are catagorized as "children's", they are too fabulous to strictly be for little ones! Fashion inspired children's books like Different Like Coco & This Little Piggy went to Prada are two books I have found that are would be perfect for any fashion maven - no matter what age!

{poo~pourri}

Poo~pourri is a new bathroom product to mask unpleasant odors while {ahem..} well you know. It is made with natural essential oils that create a barrier so odors never escape into the air - and best of all when you flush a burst of citrus scent is released, leaving your bathroom smelling fresh and clean! The original Poo~pourri {citrus} is great but I love the crisp smell of their Royal Flush {spearmint and eucalyptus}. You can even give the gift of a better smelling bathroom with their Poo~pourri Gift Set: a travel size bottle of Poo~pourri tucked inside a roll of poo~pourri bath tissue.
Text and images taken from www.poopourri.net.

{smelling green}

Going green never smelled so good... I recently dicovered Paddywax Eco candles while flipping through Coastal Living. These cool candles are packaged in cool biodegradable paper pulp containers wrapped in 100% chlorine-free recycled label that is printed with soy-based inks. The candle itself is made from soy wax and natural fragrance oils. My personal favorite: the spicy and exotic Bergamot & Tobacco Flower.
Images and text taken from www.paddywax.com

{creole thrift}

If you are looking for a really fabulous book that has a little bit of everything: history, art, design, inspiration, recipes, culture... Creole Thrift has it all + more! Creole Thrift has been one of my favorite books since I first picked up a copy about 4 years ago. I'm surprised I haven't bragged on it before now! The pictures are gorgeous, the recipes and diy guides are simple and pretty and the whole book makes you wish you had grown up on a Louisiana plantation!

{Pictures taken from Creole Thrift by Angele Parlange}

{ruffle me pretty}

I have a new obsession: ruffles! Everything I have my eye on lately is 100% girly and ruffled! How precious are these ruffle laundry bags from The Blissful? and is there a sweeter way to shower than behind Balineum's Catherine curtain. I am also on the hunt for the perfect ruffley blouse to go with my new sassy seersucker Brooks Brothers pencil skirt and LOVE Vicki's version: simply adorable!

{new little monkey baby shower extravaganza}

The baby shower was simply splendid! Everyone had so much fun enjoying all of the delicious food and playing all of the cute games. Here are a few pictures... Enjoy!

The menu showcased on a pretty gold easel and accented with votives of baby rosebuds and a single candle

Our tropical centerpiece {which I did myself - props to me! my first arrangement!} and the delicious buffet of pork tenderloin sandwiches, crawfish elegant in puff pastry shells, baked brie with apricot perserves and spinach & artichoke dip

Yummy cherry tomato and mozzarella skewers drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette

Our adorable potato chip bar feature plain and barbecue kettle cooked potato chips and accented with mini bouquets of pink gerbera daisies

We had Wild Child Champagne Punch {strawberry champagne punch} for the grown-ups and "Pink Monkeyade" {pink raspberry lemonade} for the kids and mommy-to-be

It was such a beautiful day, we had our bar set up outside on an adorable pink scalloped-edge table cloth

Guess How Many Diapers in the Diaper Cake Game {the cake was so easy: plain white diaper cake purchased online + pink polkadot ribbon, silk gerbera daisies and glittery pink "It's a girl!" hanging decoration = adorable diaper cake - switch all the pink for blue or green and yellow and you easily have a diaper cake for a baby boy or and unknown}

Who has the poopy diaper? - we made diaper necklaces out of plain white infant diapers, green and yellow raffia ribbon {to match the raffia on the favors} and Hershey kisses! Whoever had the unwrapped Hershey kiss {or poopy} was the winner! Tip: use clear packing tape to keep the diapers from unrolling.

Cutest Baby Contest - each guest submitted their baby picture and everyone had a chance to vote for the "cutest baby". We gave away 1st, 2nd & 3rd place! Everyone loved this one!!

We filled a pretty little basinet tied with ribbon matching the diaper cake with all of the gifts - it made for a really cute display

After watching the mommy {and daddy}-to-be open her gifts everyone enjoyed the yummy sugar cookie...

...and delicious vanilla buttercream cupcakes

At the end of the shower, everyone left with a little monkey soap favor. The perfect end, to the perfect baby shower...

{southern proper}

Haberdashery for the Southern gentlemen. They couldn't have said it better! Southern Proper, a relatively new lifestyle brand, is aimed at all who dream of spending lazy Sunday afternoons on a front porch swing with a mint julep in hand. Created by two beautiful belles, Emmie Howard & Reagan Hardy, Southern Proper began as a way for the two belles to honor the things they love most: the South and Southern gentlemen.

Southern Proper offers luxurious ties and "Beau" ties along with Proper Polos, traditional cotton 3-button polo, Southern Drawls, classic-cut boxers featured in 6 signature prints, Frat Hats, plain and simple baseball caps embroidered with the Southern Proper black lab and Belle Bands, pretty silk headbands currently offered in 4 different prints.

Southern Proper is currently not available for purchase on the web, but they do have a list of retailers on their site. I think the red Steamboat Gent or the Cotton Pickin' blue Beau would be perfect for Father's Day!

{if only...}

I am completely in love with the most beautiful mirrored vanity from The Paris Apartment. It is completely mirrored vanity with ample drawer space for my extensive collection of beauty products. I love that you can customize the drawer lining with quilted silk or velvet in rich colors. I would want pink or chocolate silk drawer lining and the lucite bubble drawer pulls. If only I could afford such a luxurious home accessory...

{oceana's eat a cookie}

Oceana has developed a Save the Oceans gift program dedicated to the conservation of over a dozen sea creatures. By adopting one or all 16 of the sea creatures listed on Oceana's website, you can help protect the beautiful sea life of our oceans. In return for your donation you will recieve a cute cookie cutter in the shape of your adopted critter and a gourmet sugar cookie recipe created by the founder of Cakelove, Warren Brown. How sweet it is!

{new little monkey}

Cute hot pink "animal mobile" invitation

I am so busy lately! I am one of three brave women planning a co-ed baby shower for 60 people! It's so much WORK {and I'm loving every minute of it}! I've titled the shower, New Little Monkey, because there is a cute back story of the couple that is expecting involving a tiny stuffed animal, a monkey, named Monkey.

My Aunt and Uncle are expecting their first child, a baby girl! {I am one of 3 girls so this is very exciting!} Since the party is almost here - 2 weeks {YAY!}I wanted to start posting some of the progress.

Cute baby safari napkins from Caspari & pretty vanilla buttercream cupcakes

Diaper cake inspiration {we have a Guess "How the Number of Diapers in the Cake" Game} and WS Monkey Bread as a prize

Potato chip bar featuring a Louisiana favorite - Zapp's Potato Chips

Grown up party favors - handcrafted shea butter soap in a delicious almond biscotti scent made by a friend and tied with green and yellow "wraffia"

{feed 100}

WholeFoods has teamed up with FEED Projects, an organization whose goal is to reach hungry children through the sales of their FEED bags. Each FEED 100 bag sold will provide 100 school meals to hungry children in Rwanda. FEED bags are helping raise much-needed funds for WFP school-feeding operations and awareness of the problem of child hunger. All FEED products are made as eco-friendly and fairly as possible. The bags are produced with high-quality 100% organic cotton and natural burlap. FEED works with only audited and certified fair labor facilities. It's amazing what you can do with a burlap sack.

{Text and photos taken from http://www.feedprojects.org/default.asp.}

{not your grandma's needlepoint}

I have seen so many cool needlepoint pillows lately! My favorite so far is the Flamingo Mixed Stitch Pillow I first spotted in the March issue of Domino - I need one! Too bad it's $150! I also like the nautical feel of the Boat Pillow from Newport Nautical Decor and who wouldn't rather be in Paris? The simple lettering and stitched Eiffel Tower make for one cool statement for your sofa or favorite chair. If you're looking for a more modern and quirky needlepoint style check out Jonathan Adler's ADMIT ONE Ticket and other needlepoint pillows and accessories.