so long, summer (snaps)

It's been a whirlwind of a summer that I would almost swear didn't happen. How did we already get from May to September?

Thanks to the recently discovered collection of iPhone snaps you see below, there's no denying that the summer actually happened. Backyard BBQ's in Brooklyn, concerts, a trip to Chicago, two weddings, a cross country drive to start a new life in a different state...and all sorts of other summery goodness in between.

Yeah, summer happened alright-- and it was awesome.

Cheers to a fantastic Labor Day weekend, friends. Let's celebrate her before she's gone!

  

1-a charcuterie plate complete with dainty floral garnish at The Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, NC/2-Parker's rehearsal dinner...nothing beats a fella in a bow tie/3-the groomsmen show off their tails/4-a stop for legit North Carolina BBQ at Bridges in Shelby, NC/5-beautiful NC mountaintops captured on an early morning hike/6-toasting with W and K at the reception

7-Benton's bacon on the grill/8-dance party with the bestie/9-Bouchon Bakery treats for Mr. B's birthday/10-saying goodbye to our garden in NYC/10-locking up our place one more time/11-so long, NYC skyline

 

12-a painting in progress beside the Highline in NYC/13-an impromptu concert in Central Park/14-one last snap of our beloved Bethesda Fountain/15-buildings reflected in water at Central Park/16-disco roller skating on the Mall/17-Only in New York, folks. Dance, baby, dance!

 

18-pretty AK on the roof of her Chicago home/19-Lake Michigan was...freezing!/20-The Drake/21-delicious tacos, guac and margaritas at Big Star Taco in Wicker Park/22-napping with AK's new kitten Dexter /23-because Home Alone always rules-the American Airlines terminal at O'Hare.

24-Those Darlins rock it at The End in Nash/25-Biggest. grasshopper. ever./26-a double stack from Gabby's burgers in South Nashville/27-summer carnivals mean ferris wheels!/28-Nashville-based chocolatiers Olive & Sinclair make a mean sea salt and pepper chocolate bar/29-fresh peaches from the farmer's market in our new neighborhood

30-East Nashville's Tomato Arts Festival doesn't play around. Mad Donna's advertises their offering./31-cruising Nash in our new ride/32-frozen lemonade at a street fair/33-shopping for bikes in East Nasty/34-hot sun, cold soup at the Tomato Arts Festival/35-Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams never disappoints.

36-checking Mom and Dad in at the Union Station Hotel...they say it's haunted, you know.../37-our new living room in Nashville/38-a framed Bob pic scored for a dime at an antique shop/39-baking lemon bars/40-THE Hot Chicken Festival/41-date night at The Belcourt theater

42-new shades make Mondays brighter/43-blue skies over the Tennessee capitol/44-orange Pellegrino is certainly the drink of champions/45-Libby dog shows off her spots/46-oysters on a weekend jaunt to Memphis/47-one last coral pedicure before summer ends

grady's cold brew

I love my coffee, but hot coffee on an August afternoon...woof.

Enter Grady's New Orleans-style Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate!

Simply mix the above with equal parts water (or milk if that's what you're into...) and add ice. Voila! Iced coffee ready at home or at the office.

The mix lasts in the fridge for a month. Plus, the adorably designed bottle even comes with a blank label where caffeine junkies can write their names thus staking claim to their cold brew while simultaneously warding off break room pirates.

The New Orleans-style option is chicory flavored. Yes, please!

Get your own bottle at New York Mouth's online shop.

(image via New York Mouth)

Just in time for Labor Day...

Dean Martin's burger recipe.

Pulled from 1967's The Celebrity Cookbook, the recipe for Sinatra burgers might be even better.

(images viasamotako)

a swell getup for...date night with the mister

Ah-the jumpsuit...such a passing fad...

Every few years it seems these make a comeback. I've always laughed them off as one of those trends our children would tease us for wearing one day. So how can it be that lately I can't stop daydreaming about owning one?

There is something so subtly sexy about a jumpsuit that feels perfect for a romantic night out with the mister.

The silhouette of this royal purple version is working in all the right ways--the wide, flowing legs and the tailored sleeveless top? Whoa, mama.

What a perfect piece to take you from warm summer nights to cooler fall evenings. Wouldn't this also look tasty with a buttery brown leather jacket?

A sparkly necklace, a smart clutch and a rocking pair of heels have me craving some candlelit canoodling at the Patterson House.

Get the look below.

Jumpsuit: halter belted jumpsuit, Warehouse, $120
Clutch: similar grey envelope clutch, Svpply, $100
Necklaces: crystal circle necklace and Venus Fly Trap crystal necklace, both J. Crew, $85 and 135
Watch: bow watch, Kate Spade, $195
Shoes: Sydney snakeskin sandals, J. Crew, $200
Lipstick: Luminous Fresh Pink Peach, YSL, $32
Eyeliner:  Crayon Yeux Liner in Earth Brown, Revlon, $12

(image via barrett adair)

saturdays

are usually fabulous, but this one finds me home with the stomach flu. How lame is that?

Cozying up on the sofa for the first time in months to watch a few flicks.

Hoping your Saturday eves are much more rocking (and rolling).

P.S. Dedicating this song to the best nurse ever.

(original image via bippity boppity boo)

natful

Somehow the last days of summer are upon us. In spite of our fears about the infamous August heat waves here in Nashville, the past few mornings have been almost autumnal.

Still, with a only few more weeks until Labor Day, may I share with you the easy, breezy, beautiful indie label natful by Nataly Elian. Based in Tel Aviv, this label's Etsy shop embodies everything I love about simple and effortless summer style.

Take a gander here. Doesn't this line have a total Jemima Kirke vibe?

The shop is rocking a pretty killer sale which comes in handy for those of us really looking to make those last few weeks of summer count.

antlers

I love the idea of decorating with antlers. Our new place is anything but rustic, but I can't shake the want to find the perfect pair for right above the flat screen.

Don't they look awesome in these similarly simple living rooms?

One of favorite boutiques back in Brooklyn displayed the dainty gold necklaces they sold like so:

I love the idea of combining something so fragile with something so rugged and strong.

The incredibly awesome vintage shop in East Nashville OMG (short for Old Made Good) had a pair only a few weeks ago that sold. Shows what I get for waiting...

Coincidence or hint from the future that their logo contains antlers? Fingers crossed for the latter.

(images via pinterest and omg)

daydreaming

Such a stunning image. Why can't this really happen?

(image via swissmiss)

a swell getup for...dinner with the girls

Maybe it's the "back-to-school" vibe getting the best of me, but late summer always leaves me leaning toward neutral shades like tan and brown as I daydream about sprucing up the wardrobe with new boots and blazers.

The problem? It stays warm (and by warm I mean almost hot) here in Nashville until almost October. How's a girl to transition without missing all the fun?

A breezy button in the perfect shade of camel, a pair of high waisted denim jeans and the cutest cut out Oxfords I've ever seen seem like a good place to start. Pair with balanced wristfuls of tied on bracelets and a mean bowler bag and I think it's time for a cocktail, gals.

Red nails optional.

Get the look below.

camel blouse: Equipment, $370, donnaida.com
leather tote: Madewell, $168
bracelets: Vanessa Mooney "Tie Me On" bracelets, $45 for 3, Bloomingdales
nail polish: Essie "Lollipop," $16, The Cosmetic Market
cutout Oxfords: $199, shopcolico.com
high waisted jeans: J Brand, $380, Bloomingdales

(top image via style umbrella)

Venn diagrams

Venn diagrams were always my favorite part of math. Could I be more right brained?

This clever attempt brings fedoras, alcoholics, Indiana Jones and your grandfather together in what could be my favorite Venn diagram of all time.

(image courtesy huffington post)

youth lagoon

Youth Lagoon's album "The Year of Hibernation" has been a favorite on our household's Spotify since the drive from New York to Nashville.

It's dreamy yet upbeat which makes it a universally pleasing choice for almost any occasion. For example, an afternoon work soundtrack, cooling down at the gym, drinking red wine...

Check out my current favorite tracks "Cannons" and "17" below.

(images via thrillcall blog)

introducing...lady lib

After years of wishing and hoping, we took the plunge and adopted...Libby dog!

When we moved to Nashville, we knew a dog wouldn't be far behind. For a long time we daydreamed that that dog would be a Bulldog, then a Corgi, or even a Bassett Hound. Alas, that was not to be the case.

After hearing about wonderful Nash-based rescued services Agape Animal Rescue and Love at First Sight, we decided to go a different route. We decided to give one of these sweet pups a home. Thanks to April at Agape, Libby was our girl.

Libby is part boxer, part Beagle, and well....we aren't really sure what else. Her father was charmingly described as "a handsome stranger."

Still, we are smitten with her big brown eyes, random little howl and her spotted belly. She's also quite the cuddle bug.

Welcome home, Lib.

cut loose

It's Friday afternoon which makes it almost time to cut loose after a somewhat trying week.

Here's a classic jam that never fails to pump me up. Hope it gets you cats in the mood!

(image via pinterest)

billy reid shindig

S and I have been longtime fans of Billy Reid's. His clothes blend modern, rugged edge with Southern gentility. I'd be a liar to say that we've often been able to resist their charm.

Back in NYC we would frequent the shop on Bowery and 2nd. After all, where else in the East Village could you find the perfect gauzy white button up and Southern Foodways Alliance t shirt?

When we started coming down to Nashville last summer, we were stoked to learn that TN has an outpost. (see post here). Over the past year, we've gotten to be pretty good pals with the people who work there, and they've all been wonderfully supportive of the business venture that brought us back South.

So when our friend Bentley shared that Justin Townes Earle was playing a small show at the shop last night, let's just say we were more than a little stoked.

There were tasty snacks, strong whiskey cocktails and only about 50 people in attendance. JTE played most of our favorites. The setting made for a pretty rad way to see him perform...and we should know!

Check out a few seconds of  "Memphis in the Rain" to get a vibe for the low-lit show.

As for libations, Bentley was whipping up the signature "Billy." Recipe to follow in a later post!

P.S. S also left with this dapper pair of suede lace ups he scored for a steal. Not too shabby.

P.P.S. Did I mention that Nashville is awesome?

a month of working girls

Christina Tosi, chef/owner of Momofuku Milk  Bar in NYC

Have you guys been reading Refinery 29's August series called "A Month of Working Girls?" If not, may I suggest you start!

The concept is a simple. Each day for the month of August the site posts a story about awesome female movers and shakers who are doing it for themselves (if you caught the cheesy song reference, say "heeeey"...).

From pastry chefs to florists, photographers to youth music teachers, every story is centered around the same main thesis. Are these gals successful? Of course! But the point is they got that way by working hard at something they truly love. How's that for a dose of inspiration on this hump day?

15 interviews to be read, 15 more still to come. Happy clicking!

Candace Waldron owner of Jumelle Boutique in Brooklyn

Madeline Fawcett and Meredith Bichsel, co-founders of Project MM, a beauty PR firm

Bee Shyuan Chang, freelance writer

(all images via refinery 29)

a swell getup for...that Tuesday morning conference call

The past few months have left leaning me toward the classic notion that simple is almost always better. Remember this "a swell getup" post?

Perhaps I'm feeling inspired by the sleek vibe of our new place... or maybe my current Keri Russell Pinterest obsession has at last gone too far? This is all to say that I can't get enough of clean lines in neutral shades, and for that very reason, the above outfit has it going on.

Pair an oversized boyfriend tee with rolled sleeves and slouchy dress pants. Accessorize with black suede pumps and a crossbody bag? Boom. Looks like someone's got business.

Get the look below.

white boyfriend tee with turned up cuffs: $24 at romwe.com 
black pants: Theory, $128 at the outnet.com 
black bra: Stella McCartney, $65 at net-a-porter.com 
black suede heels: H & M, $24 
crossbody bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Natasha, $368 at Zappos.com 
sun shades: original Ray-Bans, $150 at shopbop.com

(top original image via stockholm street style, image with text via a merry mishap)

happy note

When I was in elementary school, my mom packed my lunch. On special days, she would include what she called a "happy note." These little notes were rarely more than a few words long, but boy were the effective. I 100% plan to carry on the tradition.

Since it's only Monday,  let's just leave it with this. Here's a "happy note" from me to you, dudes.

(image via modern hepburn)

I feel that too...

It's Friday, and I'm feeling fine.

Doesn't it feel great to shake the weight of the work week off your back?

Here's a slow jam from Nashville's own Jessie Baylin to get this weekend started right. Her album is called Little Spark, but I've had this sweet ditty in particular on heavy rotation all week.

 

(photograph by alejandro annicharico)

screenprinted clutches

Charming screenprinted clutches in tribal patterns. Don't mind if I do, CORIUMI. Don't mind if I do!

Purchase from their Etsy shop here.

(images via coriumi)