End of the week musings

Happy Friday morning to you! Today is a day where the theme is hodge podge. Truly a little of this and a little of that and a fairly short post (for me at least). First I am announcing the winner of the garden goodies.  Then, a few books I have just recently gotten that I love, a few new products that I just got that I am very excited about, a couple of new trinkets around the house, a few additions to my shop and so on and on. First the winner for the lovely trio of gardening items....using random number picker. The lucky winner is #80

 Enter an integer here

 Here is the result 

                                          Congratulations to Kathy Moody!!

Please contact me with your shipping details so these can get on their way............

First lets talk books. I use to be an avid reader, I mean a voracious "can't put a book down" kind of reader. Then I discovered blogging and the rest is history. I still pick up a book here and there but nothing like it used to be.Simply do not have the time, pure and simple. But, I did get a few new books and I am excited to delve right in. The first one, Ricky Laurens lifestyle/cookbook is not a novel but is a really fabulous book capturing the essence of laid back/beachy Montauk and is chock full of delectable recipes. Then a few reading books......

                                                         Enjoying this..

About to read.........

And just finished this and loved it (based up on Hadley Hemingway's life, wife of Ernest)

Any books you care to recommend that I can add to my flying by summer reading list? Do tell!

Calling all blondies.......Heard about this from a friend obsessed with hair and on a few blogs. You know I ran out to CVS to buy one of each. I plan to start using tomorrow morning but will let you know in a few weeks if it does what it says it will. Disclaimer is that my highlights actually look pretty good since i just got them so its not totally going to be obvious if this is really that good for at least a few weeks but there is a lot of hype over it! But everyone is hailing this as a really fabulous product that is the first of its kind (and no its nothing like Sun In, lol)

I was in East Hampton a few days ago and got some cute things from the Lilly Pulitzer store, this dress caught my eye because I remarked to the salesgirls that its so perfect for July 4th or Labor day and then she told me the fireworks on it glow in the dark! Genius!! I no longer wear short strapless dresses but if you do or you have a daughter who does...how great looking is this dress!! Seriously cute and talk about how you will positively "glow"...lol.

And since I couldn't buy the dress, I did what every girl craving a little retail therapy would do...bought some shoes!

And they are actually pretty comfortable to boot!

And being a big fan of Calypso, it was my first stop got these great tunics......they are a great resource for chic summer tunics, paired with white pants, they are a no brainer!

Speaking of shoes.....are you a flip flop person? I love them and in fact love shoes in general but as I have gotten older comfort and practicality trumps looks every time (whereas when I was younger). But of course they have to look good. Real good.  I would suffer and my poor toes were like smashed sardines by the end of the night..no more, they are free, free to be comfortable! Got the best flip flops (from stylish Swedish designer, Ilse Jacobsen), they are like physical therapy for the feet and look cute...so they are a winner in my book. Got them from my good blogging buddy, Mon's gorgeous shop, Splendid Avenue, chock full of all kinds of wonderful things for us girls and our homes. Its a must see, and here are my flip flops, highly recommend them and they come in 6 chic colors....click here to visit.

Also added these four Trowbridge prints to above a console, not sure they will permanently stay but they do like nice and its nice to see a big blank wall filled at least for now!

Store biz........going to stop carrying Seda France soon, down to my last few candles of each scent. They are a very special line but the shipping is quite expensive (opposite coast) but I will still carry the amazing gardenia in crystal urn candles. Click here to visit my store.

I am excited to start adding some really exceptional tole pieces late summer/early fall. Here's a preview..........thoughts? 

I have been sold out of the squirrel nut bowl that have been wildly popular, got four more in yesterday so for anyone who was wanting one...they are now available (first come first serve).

Adore this dish, its like the cutest conversation piece and serves a lot of nuts too.........

                 And got in a few pieces of each of these silver items also that were sold out.....

Gorgeous filigree display bowl with beaded edge

Beautiful heavily detailed tray for vanity or bar (I have this in my bathroom)

Gorgeous large filigree planter

I am excited to start adding some really exceptional tole pieces late summer/early fall. Here's a preview..........thoughts?

Last piece of biz.....on my online store I have a section titled "Your enchanted homes" this is a place where customers send in pictures of products they purchased from me and show me how they are using them in their homes. Its really exciting for me to see and there are so many gorgeous pictures.....my customers have unbelievable taste! So please,  if you have a picture of something you want to "show off" email it to me! Would love to add to my collection and I am going to be planning my first ever contest in a few weeks, so would love to see your purchase in action! Click here to visit Your Enchanted Homes.

So...that's whats cooking over here. Was on the road again yesterday, Rhode Island this time and feel lately like I am gone more than I am home. Soon off to Mass. for a few days and then planning a small birthday luncheon for a really dear friend on Wed. so busy days ahead but you know I will be sure to stop in when I can. Hoping your summer is going well! Wishing you a fabulous day and thanks for stopping in!

How does your garden grow and a gardening giveaway!

What is it about gardens and why we love them so? I am a sucker for a more natural looking garden, kind of like the perfect combination of nature just doing what it does best...growing all kinds of beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers with a little help from us to keep things neat and pristine. Nothing overly done, nothing too perfect and a beautiful lake or pond, a charming gazebo and some gorgeous statuary and planters certainly is the icing on the cake. One thing I never tire of looking at is pictures of beautiful gardens. They literally have the ability to "take me away" to a beautiful, magical, serene place. Do they have that effect on you too? I had a loooong wish list at the start of this summer (being its the first summer in our new house, I came wide eyed and full of dreams and wishes) but the reality is that little has gotten done and the list remains nearly as long as it did when summer started! So....thinking next year is the year (please remind me that I said this).

One thing I wanted to desperately do is start my own garden, had one in our first house and few things could make me as happy as when I ran out first thing in the morning to fetch what nature had sowed.....it was thrilling to load up a big crate of tomatoes and cucumbers! I have planted some flowers this year, and of course several new hydrangea bushes which grow really well around here, they are practically fool proof! I have done some container gardening, (mostly indoors though) and though I have done little....the little I have done has been immensely satisfying and I realized this year how much I enjoy it, always looking for an excuse to visit a nursery or a beautiful florist or greenhouse (to the point where I think some people think I work there)! So next year, my green thumb is going to be glowing and ready for action! Today  I share with you some exquisite gardening images I have saved that just make me exhale and immediately bring down my blood pressure a few notches. To boot....this is being tied in with a fabulous gardening giveaway!! Something from my shop in conjunction with a few chic gardening items from Angela's garden. All details on bottom. Enjoy..............

This is positively magical, Old Westbury Gardens

This makes my heart sing.....the white blooms, the charming seating arrangement, does it get any better?

The manicured look of I believe boxed hedges is simple perfection.

Beautiful planters and statuary, boxwoods, a fountain and lush foliage make this cozy, inviting but above all very elegant. London gardens

This charming parterre garden is just beautiful, Lamaisonfou

How beautiful is a simple garden bench on a sea of perfect grass with a raging flower garden as a backdrop!

Dreamy don't you think? A beautiful arbor or corridor of pale pink roses....spectacular!

Give me an expanse of bright green lawn, and a bed of blooming hydrangeas and I am good to go!

Green with Envy garden tour.....lush, secluded and magical is how I would sum this fabulous setting up.....

What awakens every one of our sense as much as a breathtaking rose garden/arbor? Granted this is not something most of us could easily achieve but its certainly a thing of beauty to aspire to!

White flowers in a lush green garden are the picture of elegance, Southern Accents

Statuary is such a gorgeous compliment to a lush and elegant garden, love this! Linda Floyd

How beautiful is this? What a perfect hideaway aka reading spot! Alfreds Gardens

Love a shaded parterre garden with a beautiful bench,  it just beckons you to sit and stay awhile, Pam Penick

One of my most favorite looks a boxed grass courtyard surrounded by hedges and towering large trees.....just breathtaking! J Schamp photography

Arbors and fountains are a beautiful way to complement a garden, Rinfret

How about a wisteria arbor to enter your herb garden? Yes thank you! The garden tourist

The right dose of weathered benches, boxed perimeter hedges, florals and lavender/heather......love love love it!

Gorgeous boxwoods frame this elegant patio, love the idea of a bold statuary item to center it.....Susan Friedman design group

OK if this isn't the picture of idyllic charm...don't know what is! Old Westbury Gardens

Love white in gardens and this lush garden's hydrangea borders are just amazing!!

Yes this requires boatloads of work and maintenance, but how stunning is this perfectly manicured garden featuring these round boxwoods lining a walkway? Domestic Executive

How beautiful is this bronze statue placed in the middle of a gorgeous lily pond? Love!!! Linda Floyd

This has been in my files for a long long time as a picture perfect "yard" (while I realize its far from your average yard) love the manicured, restrained feeling......visual perfection. Southern Accents

Are you channeling your inner green thumb yet? I am and most definitely feeling very inspired though we all know to have anything like those above, must be a true labor of love. These just do not "happen"! 

 So to get you really motivated I am offering a wonderful gardening giveaway! I am offering a beautiful aged moss fiberglass planter along with this beautiful pair of kidskin leather gardening gloves and matching stylish hat, courtesy of Angelas Garden. To enter its very simple, click on my store (here) and come back and tell me one item that you would love to own. Want a second chance then visit Angelas Garden (here) and tell me a gardening item you would love to have.  If you are in the market for great looking, very stylish, well priced gardening accessories, look no further, Angelas Garden is AMAZING!  I will announce a lucky winner on Friday! Good luck.......and get your garden on!

Here's the planter ready for your green thumb to work its magic!

And the beautiful kidskin gardening gloves and chic matching hat from Angela's garden...

If this doesn't get you motivated to begin gardening, don't know what will. Talk about gardening in style! Thanks for stopping in....wishing you a wonderful day. Be back on Friday!!

Guest posting today at Inspired Design!

Hi there...hope you had a great weekend! Ours was busy and great but oh so hot!  I was melting and don't know if I have ever felt such incredibly hot weather, about 100 as a temp but once the humidity was factored in the index's were more like 109!! As you can see I have been posting less...there's been a lot of coming and going so my posting and blog visits have been sporadic. I do try to visit all my favorite blogs (and theres a ton of them) when I can, but realistically I expect this is how it will be for most of the summer. However, come fall I expect things to go right back to a more regular schedule (and I look forward to it). This summer has been quite busy with not as much downtime as I would like, so really hoping August might be a bit more relaxed! Moving on.....

Today I am over at one of my most favorite blogs and the guest of one of my best blogging friends, Debby of Inspired Design. Yes, that gorgeous blog that promises a perfect dose of stunning style, picturesque travel pics, inspiring images and always a well written prose worth reading every single word of. Debby knows just how to draw you in and my morning blog rounds simply would not be the same without a stop over at Inspired Design. Debby started her "Smitten with summer" series and asked me to guest post, naturally I was thrilled and jumped at the chance! Please stop over and visit me there, click here to visit!

Just a brief sidenote Debby, being the talented girl and photographer that she is recently launched her online store, Inspired Design Print Shop,  featuring the most gorgeous photographs (perfect for framing and hanging as a grouping) of her favorite places on earth. Places like Nantucket, Paris and California. The giclee prints (8x10)  are absolutely gorgeous, well priced and a really terrific way to display your love for some of your favorite destinations, also a superb gift idea! I think they are so well done, just had to share. Here's a sneak peek of what she offers...............Click here to visit her Print shop.

Pretty gorgeous don't you think? Thanks for stopping in....see you over at Inspired Design!