O, Say Can You See...

With our nation's birthday approaching, I felt the need to post something celebratory marking the love for all things red, white and blue.  Here's some patriotic favorites that struck my fancy:

Luminaria are so perfect to add some spark

Love this star hook for towels

Great napkins to add to any summer table

Quintessential flag pillow

May the fireworks burn bright for you-
Happy 4th and Happy Birthday, America!

Wine to Love

I'm a moderate wine drinker.  No connoisseur, but someone who enjoys a lovely glass with lovely company. And when I saw this little trinket, I just shook my head and said, "Honestly, what will they think of next?"

Keeping wine the "just right" temperature is no easy task for a hostess (or host), and no matter then technique...on ice, in the refrigerator, etc. it could compromise the quality of the wine. 

Enter the Corkcicle: a handy little invention that is both cork and temperature control!  You place the device in the freezer for 2 hours or more, then when ready to open the wine bottle (red or white), you place the Corkcicle inside and it keeps the wine at a steady temperature...not to cold, not too warm!  Simply pull out, rinse and place back in the freezer for reuse when ready.  So brilliant.

Connection Point

I don't often read Redbook, but with my recent traveling delays, I picked up a few new magazines to keep me entertained for the hours in the airport lobby.  Paging through it, I found a really neat idea for wearing necklaces.

It's common to hear about layering, especially with regard to texture, weight or color/metal.  All great ideas, but I happen to think this idea was pretty brilliant: the combo necklace, where you take two necklaces and hook their clasps together to make one longer necklace.  The idea here is to create a new look with two pieces, and it's almost better if they don't look too "matchy matchy" so there's some visual interest to the piece.

Here's what Redbook (June issue, p.22) showed for an idea:

And here's what I put together from my necklace collection:

I like the chunky-ness of Redbook's suggestion- they key is both necklaces have to be short enough individually so the connected piece is just the right length.  I don't think I have a short enough colored necklace to pair with my gold circle chain to make it look just right.  But a creative idea, no?  I'll keep working on mine, but you should check out your collection to make a new look!

Short + Skirt = ?

The Skort.

This little invention confuses me sometimes.  I have a strong affinity for skirts over shorts.  I only own my obligatory 3 pairs of shorts- khaki, black and denim.  And I definitely didn't spend big $$ on them.  So then, there's the skort- the biker short underneath the skirt.  Mulit-functional.  Kind of cute.  And strikes me strange every time.  I guess I get stumped with the two in one...it's like, choose one already!

When I see skorts, I think of my niece- wearing her cute little khaki skort as a school uniform, with her long and lean tan legs popping out.  Clearly she looks adorable in them.

Or there's my mom- with her great legs b/c of a firm commitment to walking- as she wears her Lands' End skorts to exercise and bop around in her garden.

Or my friend, B, who came by yesterday to give her two cents on a recent dress I purchased.  She was sporting an adorable Lululemon Athletica skort w/ a cute back pleat.

So I decided I would pull out the one skort I own from Target (I know, I know) which is actually pretty comfortable to exercise in.  What do you think?

Skirt? Short? Skort?  I'm with you.

Bandwagon BR

It's no secret that I like when merchants collaborate with different designers.  Target has been mastering this technique for years.  And now, Banana Republic jumps on the bandwagon!

Welcome Trina Turk Collection in June!

I have been a fan of Trina Turk, the California based designer, because of her love for color and print.  Definitely inspired by Palm Springs, this new collection promises to give us all a taste of her classic designs, at more reasonable prices.  I'm loving the use of color in everything (sheath dresses, jewelry, shorts) partnered with a summertime flair that makes me want to parade down the streets of Miami. (and I am no fan of hot, humid weather- so this says A LOT!) Looking forward to checking out the new line in June.

Banana already released this necklace to kick off a preview...isn't it lovely??