Curated Weekly

As we step into mid-April, I am currently in a spring clean mindset as I worked last weekend to give the home a deep cleaning and now, I am starting to declutter as well as transition my wardrobe over to a spring//summer wardrobe.  As I start to put away the sweaters and gloves for yet another season, I am reflective of this past season and journaling through what worked for me and what I can do to elevate the other areas that I feel could have been better. I always like to reflect on the past seasons as we transition to new ones to remember the good things that I got to experience, but to also work out what can be made better for the next time too. Now that spring is here, I am planning through my warmer weather wardrobe, planning picnics, and planning to visit some new places in Raleigh that I have yet to see. I am enjoying the many flowers around the neighborhood too as my little area is always full of beautiful tulips for the month of April and I took a walk this past weekend to visit them before they are all too soon gone. I hope that you too are out and about visiting the flowers and enjoying times in the gardens and on picnics and that you savor the season with all that you can.  And now, let us cozy in and start the weekend with another curated weekly post for even more springtime inspiration.

SHOPPING, BOOKS, MEDIA, ETC.

Nothing says spring and summer more than linen and this linen blend twist back midi dress looks so chic and fun for the warmer days ahead.

Strappy sandals are a must-have for spring/summer as they are easy to wear and look chic with any outfit and these vegan leather strappy sandals from Banana Republic Factory look to be a great pair and comes in several different colors.

Kate Spade is coming out with a Target collection tomorrow and this 4-pc embroidered icon cloth cocktail napkins and the wood cheeseboard with knife set would be great buys if you love to entertain at home.

If you are a renter or you are simply looking for more space in your closet to hang things on, then the 4 piece of foldable wall hooks would be a great solution.  It would save room because they fold up so easy, but will provide extra space for hanging coats, bags or even outfits of the day in the closet with ease and style.

The warmer days ahead provides us opportunities to enjoy an icy beverage with friends while entertaining or even alone while relaxing outside this season and these icon juice glasses from Anthropologie are a delightful way to enjoy cold drinks this season. I particularly like the lemon and bee glasses.

I have had my eye on Mason Cash mixing bowls for a while and would like to eventually have a few of them for my home, and if you too are looking to start a collection then here is beautiful purple, in the meadow tulip mixing bowl form Sur la Table for only $35.00.

I saw this author, Rich Leonard come to Raleigh recently and his book, The Grandma Stories intrigued me. As a child, Rich was enchanted by stories of his mother and her siblings on the dairy farm during the Depression and passed these stories on to his children who were equally charmed and begged for more. He has now written some of them down, both real and imagined, for us all to enjoy. If you are looking for a simply charming reading experience of the “olden days”, then this book looks to deliver.

 

I think we are always asking how we can help nature thrive more and, in this book, How Can I Help? Saving Nature With your Yard, Douglas Tallamy tackles the questions commonly asked at his popular lectures and shares compelling and actionable answers that will help gardeners and homeowners take the next step in their ecological journey. Topics range from ecology, evolution, biodiversity and conservation to restoration, native plants, invasive species, pest control, and supporting wildlife at home. Tallamy keenly understands that most people want to take part in conservation efforts but often feel powerless to do so as individuals. But one person can make a difference, and How Can I Help? details how.

 

A cozy mystery is always in season and Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kid was just released this past Tuesday for the mystery lovers. This is Kid’s first in a cozy mystery series about a former nun who searches for answers in a small seaside town after her pen pal mysteriously disappears.  Being described as having an elegant prose, vivid characterizations, and a fascinating protagonist that adds up to a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. Readers will be delighted and eager for the sequel.

 

For a more fun tongue-in-cheek book, The Jane Austen Insult Guide for Well-Bred Women: Serving Tea with a Side of Scorn by Emily Reed was also released this past Tuesday and looks to be witty and fun read. Why waste time inventing your own insults when you can borrow topnotch snipes from a literary genius? With The Jane Austen Insult Guide for Well-Bred Women, you can have witty replies at bad dates, micromanaging bosses, irritating strangers, and tiresome guests while keeping your chin and pinky up, just like the queen of clever comebacks herself. Austen’s timeless retorts work just as well today as they did two hundred years ago.  Packed with razor sharp quotes, this guide makes handling life’s irritations feel like Regency era theater.

If you are looking for some spring and summer “quiet luxury” style inspiration, then Alice in Paris provides some ideas that can easily be incorporated into any style.

 

Rita Konig is such an inspiration when it comes to home interiors and now you can get an inside look at Rita’s London house for even more inspiration.

A long-awaited new series from Agathie Christie has now been released on BBC back in March and will be available on Brit Box here in the states on April 16th.  I love a good Agatha Christie mystery, and this one looks to be stylish, mysterious and fun to watch.

articles of interest

If you work full time like I do then you already know that there are plenty of times that you simply do not feel like cooking, but these 30 easy dinner recipes for when you don’t feel like cooking from The EveryGirl has some great ideas that look simple and delicious.

There are many elegantly curated finds amongst the many interior delights of this Victorian London property featured on English Home Magazine’s website.  Lots of inspiration in every picture.

A delightful read from Flower Magazine on Gardening with a Sense of Place where Landscape architect Mary Walton Upchurch shares tips for respecting the land where you live and creating a garden that expresses its unique locale.

Easter is so soon upon us and if you are starting to plan an Easter brunch, here are 23 Easter brunch menu ideas to make hosting feel effortless from Camille Styles.

A cropped trench coat would look very chic this spring and here is an article from Glamour Magazine about how The Cropped Trench Coat Is the Only Spring Jacket You Need Right Now with ideas on how to style this versatile piece as well as options you can purchase online.

There is a lot of style inspiration in this blog article, 15 Key Summer Wardrobe Staples for A Timeless Look by Lise Fonde.  I always appreciate Lisa’s style ideas and her love of timeless style.

in case you missed it…

This week on the blog I was inspired to write about how elevating everyday moments in a beautiful, yet simple ways with incorporating small details into those everyday moments of life where we can create them on purpose with style and joy.  Everyday life is such an important place to invest time and money into creating one that we enjoy waking up to everyday and this post is a reminder to tend to those details and to make everyday life the best part of life there is to experience.  I also posted the second half of the travel diary for Paris and shared the highlights of what I savored and enjoyed while in the city of lights those last few days.  I hope you have a great weekend ahead and that you are currently savoring the spring season as much as you can.

How To Elevate Everyday Moments in a Beautiful, Yet Simple Way

Travel Diary: Savoring Every Moment in the City of Lights