I’m back home from Asheville and getting back into the routine of everyday life again. I love traveling though, whether it’s across the ocean or just a road trip away. There is always something to be learned or something that can inspire us as we visit places that we have an interest in. I have been to Asheville several times in my life as well as the Biltmore Estate and I am never not impressed when I step around the corner and see this beautiful, gilded age home standing tall like a piece of beautiful artwork that someone forgot to put the glass over.
As you walk through the Biltmore you notice that every detail was carefully considered and that the details, no matter how small they may seem, absolutely matter. That is a lesson that I try to incorporate into my life every day. And now that I am back home, I still work towards finding ways to elevate the everyday moments of my life as this is where most of lives are lived.
I am so excited to post all about Asheville and Biltmore for you next week, so stay tuned for those posts coming up soon.
As we head into another summer weekend, here are some things to check out for this week’s curated post.
BOOKS, SHOPPING, MEDIA, ETC.
A straw bag will always be a chic accessory for the summer season, but it can be hard to find a good one sometimes as we still want one to be elegant and functional. This Woven Straw Camera Bag from Banana Republic looks like a great straw bag to add to any wardrobe for that summer elegant touch.
Another summer wardrobe staple is a good quality sunhat. It can be hard to find a style that I like, but I am eyeing this Packable Fedora from Banana Republic Factory as I do like that packable feature for travel.
When I posted about my trip to the art museum a couple of weeks ago, I had a few people compliment me on my earrings. I got the earrings a few years back, but while I was looking through Banana Republic Factory, I saw this pair of Chain Earrings that are a very similar style to what I was wearing.
I am such a fan of marble accents in the home, and I have a few marble items throughout my home as well. Marble is such a chic and timeless texture that invokes a minimal kind of elegance. Whenever I see marble accents, I always take notice and these Decorative Set of 2 Levanto Bookstands from Target caught my attention for sure. A good bookstand is the one thing missing from my own personal bookshelf, so I may invest this pair and at only $25.00 for the set, it’s a good budget friendly buy.
I am currently on my last felt tip pen for journaling, so I will need to replenish them soon. The ones that I get are simply from Target, the U Brand Soft Touch Felt Tip Pens which comes in a pack of 3. I really enjoy the way that they write as well as how pretty they are designed with their colors and rose gold accents.
One of my favorite candle scents from Target is their Masala Rose Candle from Studio McGee and they are on sale right now for $17.00 for this beautiful 20 oz. candle.
Never one to not want to read a Francophile book, this new release, I’m Mostly Here To Enjoy Myself: One Woman’s Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris by Glynnis MacNicole looks to be a fun read and is described as, come to Paris, August 2021, when the City of Lights was still empty of tourists and a thirst for long-overdue pleasure gripped those who wandered its streets. After New York City emptied out in March 2020, Glynnis MacNicol, aged forty-six, unmarried with no children, spent sixteen months alone in her tiny Manhattan apartment. The isolation was punishing. A year without touch. Women are warned of invisibility as they age, but this was an extreme loneliness no one can prepare you for. When the opportunity to sublet a friend’s apartment in Paris arose, MacNicol jumped on it. Leaving felt less like a risk than a necessity. What follows is a decadent, joyful, unexpected journey into one woman’s pursuit of radical enjoyment. The weeks in Paris are filled with friendship and food and sex. There is dancing on the Seine; a plethora of gooey cheese; midnight bike rides through empty Paris; handsome men; afternoons wandering through the empty Louvre; nighttime swimming in the ocean off a French island. And yes, plenty of nudity.
Summer is here to stay for a few months, so why not look into some refreshing salad ideas for the season? This cookbook, The Salad Lab: Whisk, Toss, Enjoy! looks like a great read for anyone who is trying to elevate their salads this summer.
If you are a summer romance reader like me then you already know that there are several books being released this month. The one on my list currently is Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher which is the second book of the Lakefront Billionaire series. This book is described as, Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic who writes love songs. I’m a struggling workaholic who could inspire a hundred breakup albums. On paper, we have nothing in common except for my son. For eight months, I avoid her until our summer trip. Fourteen days. Two islands. And one nanny I shouldn’t be attracted to. Spending time with Ellie is expected, but enjoying her company? That isn’t part of our travel plans. After my divorce, I swore to protect my heart at all costs. Even if it means breaking hers in the process.
While shopping through the gift shops at Biltmore I found this cute book, Decorating a Room of One’s Own which was such an interesting concept of literary characters talking through their homes as if they were being interviewed by something like Apartment Therapy. I got to read a lot of this book while spending an afternoon at the pool and was chuckling to myself as I read the witty responses within. Described as, getting lost in the setting of a good book can be half the pleasure of reading, and Decorating a Room of One’s Own brings literary backdrops to the foreground in this wryly affectionate satire of interior design reporting. English professor and humorist Susan Harlan spoofs decorating culture by reimagining its subject as famous fictional homes and “interviews” the residents who reveal their true tastes: Lady Macbeth’s favorite room in the castle, or the design inspiration behind Jay Gatsby’s McMansion of unfulfilled dreams. Featuring 30 entries of notable dwellings, sidebars such as “Setting Up an Ideal Governess’s Room,” and four-color spot illustrations throughout, Decorating a Room of One’s Own is the ideal book for readers who appreciate fine literature and a good end table.
I do love a cute summer romance movie and I am looking forward to seeing This Time Next Year when it’s released. Based on the novel of the same name, it looks to be romantic, funny and full of beautiful moments that are touching.
If you appreciate calm and cozy videos like I do, then be sure to check out Adriana Tudoache’s YouTube channel. A channel dedicated to all things slow living and overall coziness; I always love to watch these for some slow life inspiration.
Back with another small, but beautiful apartment, this video from Apartment Therapy for a 280- sq ft apartment in Paris. View this beautiful space and grab some inspiration on style and storage ideas as Marion Jacques shares her space and how she decorates it.
articles of interest
If you are interested in home baking like I am, then you will enjoy this article 16 Essential Tools Every Baker Should Have in Their Kitchen from Sur La Table.
Trader Joe’s is my go-to place for flowers as their selection is very robust and the prices are the lowest I have seen from any other store. And since I love all things flowers and Trader Joe’s, I enjoyed reading this article from Camille Styles, Turn Your Trader Joe’s Flowers into Beautiful Arrangements – 10 Tips From A Pro.
As a teatime lady myself, I love to look at beautiful tea settings and Teatime Magazine had a lovely article, 6 Settings for a Summer Tea Party that I really enjoyed looking through.
If you’ve never visited Teatime Magazine’s Cozy Corner, then you definitely should. A cute section of their site where they delve into a cozy mystery book as well as provide recipes that pertain to the book. This past month’s article was for The Diva Goes Overboard book and a Banana Walnut Bread recipe. It’s truly a cozy corner of the internet to explore.
If you’re a poolside/beach side reader like I am, then you’ll like this article from Southern Living, 21 Pool Reads You Won’t Want To Put Down.
Summer isn’t everyone’s season of choice, but we can always embrace where we are at any given time. If you are feeling the summer blues, then try reading these 15 Quotes to Make You Excited for Summer’s Arrival.
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