Beach Inspiration on a Winter Day

While the majority of the country is suffering through weather conditions that only a polar bear would appreciate, Southern Californians are enjoying their shorts and flip flops. While this hardly seems fair, at least we can enjoy these photographs and pretend that we can feel the sun's warmth on our legs and sand between our toes.... Oh spring, you can't get here fast enough. Stay warm, my friends!

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Photos taken by my mother during a visit to her childhood home of Palos Verdes, California.

Summer Light

Have you ever noticed that the light looks different in the summertime? It's more inviting...and almost lures us out to play. Back on Mackinac Island in Michigan, there are so many reasons to get outside and soak up the carefree days of July. You can visit the ice cream shop, take a bike ride, walk along the lake and enjoy all of the lovely historic homes. The yellow, blue and turquoise homes with their crisp white trim look dreamy year round, but in that summer light they belong on a postcard or in a painting.

Now how about that bike ride? We could stop for a hotdog or ice cream....

American Summer

These images, which were taken by my dad all around our great country, epitomize everything that is great about summertime in America. They conjure up thoughts of apple pie, white picket fences, lightning bugs and freshly sliced watermelon. With the Fourth of July just around the corner, we hope they will remind you to stop and remember all of the little things that make an American summer so special. We know it's easy to forget about the joys of summer when you're toiling away at work! Need more American summer inspiration? Visit us on Pinterest to see even more images that make us think of good ole summertime.

American Summer 1

American Summer 2

American Summer 5

American Summer 4

American Summer 3

American Summer 6

The Color of Summer

Certain colors just make us think of summer. Turquoise is one of the those colors that is so fresh and pairs well with every neutral -- black, white, khaki, gold and silver. It is a great accent color for your home and works equally well for your wardrobe. Today we have pulled together our favorite turquoise home accessories that have a touch of gold. Each of these pieces is from our personal collection. Here's the story behind each piece. If you would like helping sourcing your own turquoise goodies, you can connect with us here!

Floral tray - Vintage. Scored from an estate sale several years ago for a song.

Books - Vintage. Picked up from various estate sales and antique malls.

Florentine trinket box - Vintage. Belonged to Joan and was handed down to me by my mom while I was in college.

Candles - Vintage. Previously belonged to my paternal grandmother, Lucy, who is 90 and lives in Italy. Turquoise is her favorite color.

Avon milk glass vase - Vintage. Also belonged to Joan and was given to me by my mom when I first moved to Memphis in 2006.

Heart-shaped bottle - Purchased at Disneyland when I was 12 or 13. Over the years, I have filled it with tiny shells from all of my beach trips, which basically means it has 16 years worth of shells in it!

Florentine frame - Vintage. Found at a antique mall four years ago. I put one of my beloved postcards in it. Underneath the postcard is a precious poem for a baby boy, but since I don't have a baby boy, I covered it up...for now.

Earrings - Old Banana Republic.

Bracelet and bird charm - Gifts from my sister from Anthropologie.

Leaf necklace - Gifted to me by my mom from a shop in Manhattan Beach, California that is now closed.

Polished mineral - Purchased in 1996 from a nature store in Costa Mesa, California that is now closed.

We hope you enjoyed a peek at some of our favorite turquoises pieces. Living with this color is like taking a mini-vacation.

Well, almost! :)

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