FROM FANTASY TO FÊTE: POPSICLE PARTY

Happy August, everyone! Camille Styles here, with this week's summertime party fantasy turned into a real-life fête...

I don't know about you, but the only kind of entertaining I'm into this month is carefree, low-fuss, fun-loving and brimming with chilled drinks. This party takes the cooling effect a step further by showcasing icy popsicles in a rainbow of fruity shades. I created a mood board inspired by watermelon, cantaloupe and a green grassy lawn - summertime essentials, in my book! Invite friends of all ages to embrace their inner kid for a celebration of summer's last taste of freedom...

These popsicle invitations, designed by Ashley Meadors, couldn't be more perfect for announcing such a soiree. Guests will be craving these fruity frozen goodies before they even arrive!

Hang colorful, patterned lanterns overhead to turn any space into an instant party. Luna Bazaar is my go-to source for high-quality lanterns in a huge variety of colors and patterns.

Hit the grocery store to stock up on glass soda bottles in as many colors as you can get your hands on. I always check the aisles at my local Mexican grocery for flavors I could never find at other markets. Or, get fancy and mix up these delish spicy sunrise mocktails (add tequila, if desired!).

Who doesn't love bubbles? Greet guests with their own bottles, and watch as the air fills up with shiny little spheres dancing towards the sky.

In case popsicles aren't quite enough to satiate appetites, casual picnic fare is perfect for this gathering. Serve thick wedges of watermelon with pepper & mint, and toss together platters of this incredible grilled peach & prosciutto salad. The key is to serve dishes that can be served at room temp, no oven required!

*images: {row 1} flowering tree, cannelle et vanille; poppy cake, martha stewart weddings; popsicles, green wedding shoes; macarons, cannelle et vanille {Row 2} dress, snippet & ink; snow cone, gemma comas; tequila watermelon, martha stewart; popsicles in prosecco, green wedding shoes {Row 3} watermelon photo, well wed via snippet & ink; popsicles, green wedding shoes; sodas, sunday suppers; watermelon margaritas, martha stewart. party pictures by our labor of love for design*sponge.

FROM FANTASY TO FÊTE: SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Camille Styles here, with this week's fantasy of an old-fashioned Southern potluck, brimming with the bounty of summer...

Designed in shades of mint, sky and warm wood tones, this party transports guests to a Southern porch where they can sip mint juleps and cool down with slices of watermelon. Dressed in sundresses and seersucker, they're welcomed onto a grassy lawn set for croquet. It's all so inviting, they may never want to leave!

Set a wood farm table with bunches of magnolia blossoms, antique silver and your finest china. The formality is balanced by sweet tea served straight up in mason jars, paired with southern classics like chilled tomato soup and deviled eggs. A light main-course, like grilled swordfish with herbed butter, adds a modern touch to the menu.

These bacon-bourbon brownies are the ultimate guilty pleasure. Salty, smoky and sweet, they're even more delicious served from a mismatched collection of antique teacups. Hop on over to get the recipes!

*images: {row 1} martha stewart weddings, cliff brunk via snippet & ink, southern accents {row 2} cliff brunk, forgetting details {row 3} maria mcbride, michael & anna costa via style me pretty, chelsea fuss {row 4}martha stewart weddings, cliff brunk, jeremy harwell via style me pretty. all party images: fredrika stjarne for food & wine.

FOODIE FASHIONISTA: RASPBERRY LEMONADE

Well hello there readers! It's Crissie, back with another edition of Foodie Fashionista. This week I'm exploring a bright color palette of pinks and neon yellow inspired by the most refreshing combination of raspberry + lemonade. This fun, and girlish style is perfect for long summer days spent sipping raspberry lemonade and strolling along the boardwalk soaking up the sun... 

 What do you think - can you handle this packed-with-punch style? 

*Resources: 1. J. Crew; 2. Madewell; 3. Chloe; 4. Nixon; 5. Chloe; 6. K. Jacques for Opening Ceremony; 7. Butter London 

*Foodtography by My Baking Addiction 

FROM FANTASY TO FÊTE: TACO NIGHT!

Camille Styles here, with this week's summer party fantasy. As Cass learned last time she visited me in Austin, there's nothing I love more than a good taco + margarita night...

So, for today’s inspiration board, I put together my dream south-of-the-border palette: saturated splashes of flame red and grapefruit set against earthy woods and whites. Don a sombrero and gather dahlias & ranunculus into emptied Mexican food cans (I posted a DIY here!) to scatter around tables. If you’re feeling especially festive, hire a mariachi to serenade guests late into the night!

Aren't these papel picado-inspired invites the cutest? Even for the most casual get-together, a simple invite turns the festive quotient way up.

I've always loved dresses with Mexican embroidery, and they make the perfect hostess garb for a carefree summer dinner...especially since the lightweight material stays cool on humid nights.

For this taco night, I'm sticking to my all-time favorite: fried white fish with fresh corn tortillas, lime crema and pico de gallo. Keep the menu simple and let the only accompaniments be my beyond addictive watermelon with mint, salt & pepper ...and a slushy peach margarita, of course!

*images: {row 1} coco+kelley, 101 cookbooks, jose villa {row 2} jose villa, maracas {row 3} diego uchitel, feasting on art, poppytalk {row 4} jose villa, brides, martha stewart living. invitations, d+k buckmaster; gwyneth & fish tacos, my father's daughter; cacti, ashley meadors.

TRAVEL DIARY: CAPRI

A perfect place to visit on a Friday afternoon... and my last place to share from my trip to Italy. Welcome to Capri!


This beautiful island is every bit as charming, sunny, and wonderful as everyone promised it would be. By far the most relaxing stop on our travels, I could have spent a few more days here lounging by our pool, enjoying the views, and indulging in a little luxury!

While we couldn't book a room at J.K Place (where I've always wanted to visit) we did the next best thing and stayed in a lovely hotel practically right next door. It was just my sister and I for this part of the trip, so we dolled ourselves up one night and headed over there for drinks on the patio that turned into a spectacular dinner where we were completely spoiled by the staff.

We also discovered a cute little lunch spot where we wedged ourselves into this teeny balcony and people-watched for a few hours on a Saturday when it was quite packed on the island.

The second day there, we spent some time in Anacapri which was lovely and quiet - especially on a Sunday. (It's where I got the pair of sandals I shared with you last week!) I wanted to bring back a whole bowl of these puffer fish too, but I don't think they allow sharp objects on the airplane...

We basically ate our way through Italy - can you tell? This was the best pesto I have ever ever had at some random little spot we picked because we got hungry. Love when that happens!


We ended the last night there in the glow of this beautiful sunset... I was so sad to leave such a relaxing and beautiful place. Capri, I will definitely be back!

I hope you enjoyed a peek at all my travels! It was an amazing little trip and I can't wait for the next one! Ciao Ciao!

*all images by coco+kelley

FOODIE FASHIONISTA: SUMMER STAPLES

Hello dear readers, Crissie here (from bug&Bear) with this week's edition of Foodie Fashionista!
S'mores are one of my very favorite summer traditions. It seems the season just isn't complete without at least a few of these tasty little treats.

Sadly, city life tends to make s'more roasting slightly tricky, so I was BEYOND thrilled to find this recipe for "Grown-Up S'mores" on the Fresh New England blog...

They look amazing, right? And while we're snacking on these homemade miracles, why not throw on a perfectly casual (yet chic!) outfit to complete the summer feel...

1. Fedora-ble Hat via ModCloth, 2. Rag & Bone, 3. Obey bag, 4. Buzz Off Bandana, 5. Asos Leopard Print Retro Sunglasses, 6. BC Footwear, 7. Shorts by Rare via Top Shop, 8. Essie Nail Polish in Mint Candy Apple and Mezmerised

It's like being at summer camp all over again... Don't forget your bug spray!!

*photos by Fresh New England, via Pinterest

HAPPY (MORE SUNSHINE PLEASE) WEEKEND!

After melting my way through two weeks of Mediterranean heat (and attempting to look quite glamorous while doing it), I brought back with me one of the best tans I've had in years...

So the rest of the summer will be spent attempting to keep it up! Gotta love a healthy summer glow...

I'll definitely be scheduling in some sunshine lounging this weekend in between work catchup and apartment hunting! It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

Hope you all have a relaxing weekend!

*images via tumblr (original source unknown) and by luigi cassinelli

FRESH RIVIERA

The resort collection from Roksanda Ilincic has me wishing I were boating on the Riviera in the 30's...


Turban in full effect, of course! The simple combinations of color throughout the entire collection make it cohesive and wonderfully fresh...

Tangerine, acid mint green, navy and white. The only pattern was a hit of large-scale gingham here and there. Absolute perfection, and lovely little dresses...


*images via style.com

HAPPY (4TH OF JULY) WEEKEND!

It's time to pull some stars and stripes out of the closet this weekend...


Well, maybe mostly just stripes, but aren't we lucky that there's no shortage of classic Americana style right now to help us through this holiday weekend?


Hope ya'll have a happy and safe 4th of July! How will you be celebrating? I'm hoping some bbq, sunshine, boat time or a sweet little picnic might be in my near future...

*images via here

COCKTAILS AT SIX: THE VENTIAN SPRITZ

Ciao from Italia, my loves!! Right about now, I'll be enjoying the beaches of Sicily, soaking up ridiculous amounts of sunshine, and hopefully sipping one these refreshing concoctions...

While this recipe originates in the north, it's popular all over Italy, and is a delightful mix of bitter and sweet... sort of how it's going to feel to leave this magical place in another week.

The Venetian Spritz:

4 ounces Prosecco
A splash of sparkling water
1.5 to 2 ounces Aperol
Orange
Lemon
1 green olive

In a glass over three or four ice cubes, pour the prosecco, a dash of sparkling water and the Aperol, being sure to follow that order lest the Aperol sink to the bottom without mixing. Garnish with a slice of orange, a twist of lemon (or both) and an olive.

*images via the glitter guide, recipe + drink via the nytimes, and marie claire

FROM FANTASY TO FÊTE: PICNIC ON THE AMALFI

Since the moment Cassandra mentioned she was headed to Italy this summer, I haven't been able to stop dreaming of vino in Rome, shopping in Florence and most of all, long lazy days spent sunbathing on the Amalfi Coast...

Camille Styles here, and today's fantasy is totally inspired by the idyllic two weeks my husband and I spent in Capri and Positano on our honeymoon two summers ago. The incredible seafood, deep Mediterranean waters dotted with pristine yachts and sailboats, and the nautical-chic style of the jet-set as they escape the bustle of a bigger metropolis. A lovely little fantasy on which to base today's fête, no?

A sandy stretch of beach and a fun group of friends are really the only necessities for the success of this party. A lightweight folding table and swath of linen fabric are the base for a spread of fresh, seasonal dishes. On the menu? How 'bout a very Mediterranean cucumber, tomato & feta salad and this most-luscious marinated bean salad with grilled shrimp & watercress.

What to wear to such a summer get-together? A swimsuit of course, although a classic striped boatneck is a must to guard against the sea breezes when the sun begins to set.

Formal invites are not really necessary for a gathering this relaxed, but when the stationery is as charming as this by Mr. Boddington's Studio, you just might not be able to resist. The Wolfgang style is so fitting for an oceanic occasion with it's urchin-like pattern and inky blue script.

Arriverderci, Cass...we can't wait to hear about your adventures!

*images: {row 1} couple, bunting, compass escort cards {row 2} necklace, feathers {row 3} clementine place setting, capri, rope{row 4} map, invites, oyster, dress. all party images: roland bello. invitations: mr boddington's studio.