mara hoffman swimsuits at madewell

Let's just say it will be several more weeks before I feel "swimsuit ready" this season. To quote everyone's favorite preggo, Juno, I'm currently feeling like "a planet."

Still, the weather is gorgeous and it is Memorial Day weekend so why not take a peek at some gorgeous swimwear?

NYC based designer Mara Hoffman is known for her bright, bold prints. This season, she's done a swimsuit collaboration with Madewell that has my tongue wagging. If these don't make you want to book a beach vacation yesterday, perhaps you are just more of a mountain/hiking kind of person?

lord huron

Lord Huron's album "Lonesome Dreams" is my current summer jam.

The indie folk five piece hails from Los Angeles. Fronted by Michigan native Ben Schneider, the band began as a one man show. Over time Schneider grew the band's sound and head count by inviting other members who are mostly comprised of childhood friends. I very much enjoy this fact.

If you listen closely, you may notice shades of the Fleet Fox sound in some of Lord Huron's more dramatic songs. Still, there's enough of a steady mix of drama and upbeat melody to keep me coming back to this album again and again.

Check out the awesome video for "Time to Run" below. May I also highly recommend "Ends of the Earth" and "She Lit a Fire?"

(images via philly.com and gatheringofthevibes)

a swell getup for...a summer concert

Summertime is hot, but that's no reason to let the humidity bring you down.

With so many awesome outdoor events (like... perhaps the Americanarama Festival of Music on June 29th featuring Bob Dylan, Wilco and My Morning Jacket...oh my!), the above ensemble looks festive while keeping it low maintenance.

A breezy cotton embroidered dress with a crossbody bag keeps your hands free. Paired with a smart pair of shades on an unexpected gold chain and an effortless top knot, this get up is prepared to battle those hot Southern summer temps. Pair with flat summer sandals to keep those dogs comfortable.

Get the look below:

Sunglasses Chain, asos, $6

Brown woven belt, H & M, $12.95
Gold watch, Michael Kors, $180
Sunglasses, Ray-Ban Clubmasters, $150
Embroidered cotton dress (similar style here), Madewell, $165
Coral Lipstick, NARS, $29
Thin gold chain necklace, Lindsay Adelman, $230
Brown crossbody bag, Merona, $23
Flat sandals, asos, $19

(top image via cali vintage tumblr)

new sofia

Sofia Coppola's latest flick The Bling Ring hits theaters this weekend and I (like most of the ladies I know) am excited to check it out.

..

I fell hard for The Virgin Suicides when I caught it in theaters back in high school (ouch, age). Talk about an awkward first date...

splash dyed

Etsy shop twostringjane has a darling collection of knits and tees.

Perhaps it's the Bonnaroo fever currently pulsing through Nashville, but I can't help but think these colorful splashed cottons would make an ideal get up for a festival weekend.

I know one little hippie near and dear to my heart who would almost certainly agree. Definite birthday gift contender, Beastly. You have been warned.

Etsy shop here.

(images via twostringjane)

watermelon soda float

I'm sorry. What's that you say? A soda float made with fresh watermelon? Somewhere in Nashville my husband's mind was just blown. "How refreshing!"

This summery concoction features frozen Greek lime yogurt combined with zesty, bubbly watermelon soda and garnished with melon balls (cantaloupe and/or honeydew are suggested). I believe I will take my float poolside.

Visit Bon Appetit's site for the full recipe.

currently cooking: avocado toasts

S is back in NYC for business this week and (until my mother arrives at least!) I have been left to my own devices.

It's been busy and it's been hot. Due to these very reasons cooking a meal for myself has not been high on my priority list. Still, a girl has got to eat!

Answer? Avocado toast.

I got this idea after thumbing through Goop's new cookbook It's All Good. I wouldn't really call it a recipe because toast, mayo, a freshly sliced avocado and salt and pepper isn't too difficult an idea to grasp.

Still, I love the combo so much, I'm tempted to try different variations. The adorable cooking blog Annie's Hungry offers 3 delicious ideas:

-smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado
- chicken, spicy salsa and avocado
-"naked avocado" served with a poached egg

Visit Annie's blog (here) for the full recipes. Deliciousness.

(original images by annie's hungry blog)

headband turbans

"Where do you get your headbands?"

--Marnie to Charlie's new girlfriend Audrey on Girls

Okay, so I'm fully prepared to take get some flack for this one, but I can't help but crush on the headband turbans that keeping popping up on Pinterest. Isn't there something wonderfully Liz Taylor (the caftan years) about them?

When the temps soar and you're headed for the beach, I can't think of a better way to keep your hair out of the way and still look pulled together.

What's the verdict? Would you rock a headband turban? I'm leaning toward the silk versions. They feel much more vintage chic and less outdoor music festival (no offense to the "jammers" nearest and dearest to my heart).

(images via pinterest, threebirdnest etsy shop)

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)

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.

yo, August-

Looking good!

You sure came on fast.

(original images via time and vintage wonderland)

The Silly Goose

We hit up The Silly Goose in East Nashville for a lovely little lunch this weekend.

Located off Eastland (next to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream), this sweet spot's menu revolves around organic, locally sourced ingredients. They even grow tomatoes out front!

Their lunch menu is a casual selection of salads, sandwiches and a surprising variety of couscous.

Here are a few snaps from our meal.

red bandana napkins/clipboard menus

basil lemonande in antique jars

special chilled watermelon salad with goat cheese, almond, mint and balsamic

the "Bird"-grilled chicken breast, sundried tomato, avocado, bacon and peppered goat cheese grilled (is there such a thing as too much?) on whole grain bread

Bobo's couscous with grilled chicken

the dining room

We are pumped about trying out Silly Goose's dinner menu which gets a bit more fancy with a variety of serious entrees like steak, snapper and a saucy little desert named the Reverse Cowgirl.

Check out the full menu here.

(image via nashville lifestyles and ye trusty iphone)

a swell getup for...a hazy summer weekend

Quite possibly the perfect summer ensemble. A flowy, billowing black sleeveless dress, converse and a fresh bouquet of flowers...I want to wear this everyday.

Saucy sunnies, that turquoise ring and an oversize printed clutch seal the deal. I'm in love.

The simplicity of a black dress with sneakers is so effortless and chic! Also, to be clear, I mean a black dress with sneakers...not black dress sneakers. As I don't think those are a good look for anyone...

Thrown on for a casual breakfast out or a quick run to the farmer's market, I can hardly imagine a better ensemble for those morning weekend errands.

Details below!

black scoopneck cotton dress with pocket, $42 at sheinside.com
turquoise cocktail ring, $225 from Wendy Mink
sun shades, $355 by The Row
Flamingo Palms clutch, $65 by Aloha Rags
classic white Converse sneakers, $80 at converse.com

P.S. Has carrying a fresh bouquet of flowers ever been known to make a person look less than awesome?

(image via the style crusader)

arizona

We just returned from somewhat of an impromptu trip to Arizona. Wow. What a beautiful place...

I'm completely obsessed with the desert, the mountains and most of all the cacti (best word ever). Check out these gorgeous snaps.

While in Phoenix/Scottsdale we were lucky enough to check out local favorite America's Taco Shop.

The seemingly patriotic name actually comes from the restaurant's founder. The mastermind behind all of its delicious dishes is named America Corrales. America grew up cooking the same dishes with her mother and six brothers and sisters in Culiacán, Sinaloa in Mexico.

If ever I meet this woman, I might hug her. No kidding. Everything was that tasty.

We really dug this legit local flavor. Consistently voted "the best carne asada in the Valley", we dove right into the carne asada tacos

as well as the homemade agua frescas.

The horchata (third from right below) was cinnamon-y and sweet. S couldn't get enough of the jamaica/hibiscus (pictured second from right below).

(image courtesy the hot sheet and phoenix new times)

Thanks, AZ!