Summer House Styling

I've been spending a lot of time at home this summer

and I've really enjoyed it!

So today I thought I'd share some of my favorite 

Summer Styling 

that's made my heart happy to see

and have

 changed simple moments into memories!

I always enjoy using 

fresh produce

 in my

Seasonal Styling

And of course fresh flowers!

My cutting planter has been thriving!

Using shells in unexpected ways is always 

a summer favorite.

My orchids that I bought in April

will just about make it fully flowering until the end of summer.

Which is quite the floral bang for my buck.

Of course I brought in all my blue and white

which always feels cool and calm in the hot summer months.

Blue and white makes it into many of my summer outfits

for the same reason.

Right now my daisies are in full bloom!

They are such a hearty, happy  perineal.

My backyard dahlias are just start to bloom.

Last year we had blooms until the end of November!

My green fern centerpiece is still going strong!

One of my favorites this summer

Casual Family Dinners 

in the Backyard

Another favorite of mine

and one of the reasons I've enjoyed time at home

as much as I have

my newest inflatable pool!

I brought out my rattan bar cart from the front courtyard

to act as a drink station

and 

towel holder.

My fringed beach umbrella completed the vignette!

I started with my little mini dip from last summer.

This small pool also brought me so much joy!

Now I have a pool big enough to float!

Who knew a simple $30 inflating pool could bring me so much happiness!

And I've even been able to share my pools with 

my very favorite littles!

That's some of my favorite 

Summer Stying 

for my little

Summer House!

I'd love to hear what styling you've been up to

whether you are in summer or winter!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

.... hello Monday .... hello Gratitude ....

Hello Monday.... hello gratitude...

and hello to writing this weekly post... which always lifts my mood.

It's ironic really how these posts came to be...

and how powerful they have been for me.

I have realized...

the more gratitude I have...

the better my life has become...

on so many levels.

Focusing on gratitude as least for a few hours each week...

has become a way for me to retrain my brain...

to focus on the good that is my life...

instead of being so often caught up in the minutia of everyday frustrations.

As the last leg of summer presents itself...

I am forced by this post...

to reflect on the good that is my life.

Taking the time to refocus on this good...

has been this summer's best accomplishments.

I have tried to slow down...

and be grateful for the beauty that is in my life...

Focusing on the good   I have in my life...

 means less time for spirals down the rabbit holes of anxiety and depression.

But I can see...

Just like regular physical workouts...

this will need to be a regular practice...

not a  summer box that I checked off and move on from.

I must make gratitude...

a daily practice in my life..

every season.

I am ever so grateful again this week...

not only again for great health care...

but the gorgeous aesthetics where ours takes place...

and the healing comfort it brings.

We got the results of Hunter's MRI this week...

and it was the best we could have hoped for.

Only his kneecap was torn away with the waves impact...

which means no surgery and only 6 weeks of physical  therapy.

 Hello Monday...

and hello to gratitude to having time in the garden...

and seeing through the effects of the summer season.

Hello to being  grateful for having gotten pieces in my Primitives Collection

 listed in my shop.

Having my daughter Ellis's  help has made all the difference.

Hello gratitude for dinners out with my husband during the week...

and sunset strolls around our neighborhood lake...

When our kids were growing up...

we were bound by their schedules...

even in the summers.

As bitter sweet as their growing up and on has been...

a silver lining of this time in our life...

has been some spectacular summer sunset strolls.

To everything there is a season.

Hello to  my favorite time of the week...

Friday's at the beach for sunset cocktails...

and the time to savor the beauty 

that is summer from the Rooftop in Laguna Beach.

as always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style a life full of gratitude.

... hello Monday ... hello Gratitude ...

 Hello Monday...

Hello gratitude to spending time with family and friends....
Hello to an amazing Art Walk in Laguna Beach with my husband.

Hello to gratitude for living where we do...

and having opportunities to savor and enjoy

a Southern California summer.

Hello gratitude for this view on a trail I have hiked for over 17 years...

some years were spent pushing a stroller up these hills...

 many years were spent hiking daily with my three...

when we homeschooled...

we even saw two double rainbows up here.

There were years I hiked with dear friends...who have since moved away.

Today the footsteps are my own...

and I still love this cresting view on this hike...

it always holds the promise of what beauty lies ahead...

These days I hike somedays with ghosts of the past...

but more and more...

it is the realizations of a beautiful present...and hopes for the future..

that are my hiking companions ...

Hello gratitude for these hikes... because no matter my companion...

they are always balm for my soul.

Hello gratitude for Ari Seth Cohen 

and his shining the light on such stylish women.

Doing a tribute post to dear Judith of the Style Crone here

(that is our dear Judith in the bottom right corner...

 you will find her on page 202 of this delightful book)

Left me completely inspired by all of the women...

and off I went to get the book... finally!

I am particularly  inspired by Tziporah Salamon 

and her view of dressing as an art form.

Hello gratitude for inspiration from all of these wonderfully stylish ladies!

Inspiration enough to pull together a new outfit to drop off orders at the post office.

I was grateful for the reminder style shouldn't be reserved for only special occasions.

I was truly inspired all weekend to be more creative in pulling together new outfits

 from what I already own...

SO....

Hello Monday...

and this is what my closets look like in the creative aftermath.

When I am spurred in the  moment to try new compositions...

If I am in a creative zone of dressing...

I am truly a try it and drop it , if it doesn't work... and on quickly to another choice...
I have to work quick...
to outrun my critical voice who tends to stagnate creativity sometimes...
with over thinking or frustration.

So today... I am very grateful  for the time to put everything back in order :).

Hello Monday... and Hello Gratitude to a brand new week 
full of opportunity and promise!

as always my dear friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

.... hello Monday .... hello gratitude ....

Hello Monday.... Hello Gratitude.

Hello to being very grateful my husband has returned from his business trip to Pinehurst....

absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.

Hello to a great Saturday shopping with my girl...

and having such fun picking up some grown up pieces.

Hello gratitude???

Yes, this is my oldest son...

and I will be the first to say.... seeing this was not a mother's dream....

but...

since it is what it is...

I am very grateful he was able to work hard to make his dream come true..

I am very grateful he rides with a good head on his shoulders...

My heart is happy... that his heart is happy...

and he is living on his own... supporting himself...

becoming a strong man of integrity.

Hello to finishing this necklace...

that was a year in collecting.

Hello gratitude for seeing this piece to completion.

Hello to a room redo in full swing...

The guest room is going through a serious white out...

Hello to being grateful to Ellis seeing this through.

Hello to the continual need to balance...

getting things accomplished....

while remembering to savor the beauty and people in my life.

Hello to being very excited for dinner in the garden  tomorrow....

with one of my favorite bloggers and her husband...

she lives a Rich Life.... and is traveling through Southern California...

Hello gratitude for new friendships.

as always 

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life