Cool Mint for Summer

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Are you looking for a cool color for summer?  Mint green is a pretty departure from bright, bold summer colors.  It is crisp and cool and is easy to pair.  

Mint green looks fantastic with beige, navy, and yellow.  I love to wear mint colored jeans with a navy boat neck top.  Throw on a bunch of gold bangles and you have a look that is chic for even the warmest day.  

Here are some of my favorite finds in Mint Green for Summer 2012.

Shopping Guide

Purse, dress, watch, sweater, jeans, bangles, shoes

What is your favorite way to wear and pair mint colored clothing?  

xoxo

Show Me Your Lilly!

Today's the day to choose your favorite Lilly to wear!  Since I wear Lilly almost every day when I'm not wearing things from my other favorite designers, Kate, Elizabeth, Tracy, and Kayce, today isn't really anything out of the ordinary!

But in honor of today's celebration, I decided to wear a pretty pink and green palette in one of my most cherished prints.  Dirty Shirley is a whimsical pink and green print from Resort 2010.  When I was a little girl, ordering a Shirley Temple in a restaurant was such a special treat.  A Dirty Shirley is a grown up girl's drink...a Shirley Temple with vodka!  Delish!

The Darcia dress is cool and comfy and the ric rac bangle set adds a pop of pink and green.  Gold McKims complete the ensemble!

To add to the Lilly fun today and celebrate the official start of summer, I have a challenge (and the chance to win a prize) for you!  Here's how you can participate.  

1.  Post a picture of you wearing your Lilly on the Maryland Pink and Green Facebook page.  Send your friends to the page to "like" your picture.

2.  Pictures of three different Lilly Lovers will be selected at random tonight at midnight.  

3.  The three winners, announced of the facebook page tomorrow, will each receive a box of Lilly Pulitzer animal crackers, a special edition box that honors Operation Smile.  

xoxo

Preppy Summer Reads

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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For me, summer is a time of renewal.  The end of a school year means extra time to do things that I enjoy.  Reading is one of my simplest pleasures, and summer is the best time to delight in dozens of books.  Whether I'm at the pool, beach, or on an airplane, reading is a fantastic pastime.

These books are at the top of my summer reading list.

Bond Girl is a hilarious and quick read.  When I read this book, I couldn't put it down and finished it almost immediately.  Alex, the heroine of the book, feels like she could be one of my best friends and I was cheering her on throughout the book, although there were a few times when I felt like I needed to pause to give her some (unsolicited) relationship advice.  She shares her adventures on Wall Street as the new girl and grows up quite a bit before the end of the book.

The Rock Star in Seat 3A is somewhat of a departure from Jill Kargman's standard novels such as The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund and Arm Candy.  Hazel is not the typical preppy, twin set wearing blonde living in New York like other Kargman heroines. She's edgy and does not hesitate to filter her thoughts...or her language.  This book is a perfect and easy read for the beach or on an airplane; after all, you never know  who will be sitting beside you on the plane!

I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag is a powerful memoir from Jennifer Gilbert.  Her incredible story and her inner strength touch me deeply and remind me a lot of some of my own personal struggles with a frightening car-jacking incident in Mexico.  What strikes me the most about this book is that sometimes people can have an outward appearance that everything is perfect, when in reality, they are crumbling on the inside.  She rebuilds her life piece by piece and is not a victim, she is victorious!  Although the book is enjoyable, you'll need some tissues for this poignant summer read.

Do you ever re-read books?  I find myself constantly revisiting some of my favorite classics.  One of the first books I remember reading as a young girl is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  Mrs. Danvers is probably one of the most haunting characters in literature to me because she is so manipulative and spiteful to the new Mrs. de Winter who is trying to make her new life as Max de Winter's new wife at Manderley.  The story of a naive young woman is carefully told with more twists and turns than a Monte Carlo road and keeps the reader guessing until the very last page.

Another one of my favorite classics that I could read every summer is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  You've probably read this book many times and don't need any introduction or explanation to this classic novel.  I love a good book that takes me to another place and time.  That's exactly what this book does to me when I read it.  Simply perfect!

What are your favorite books this summer?  Please leave a comment with your suggestions; I'd love to add them to my summer reading list.  


xoxo



book images via amazon

Ohhh, Thank Goodness It's Green!

Happy Friday!  Green is one of my favorite colors, naturally, and I love to wear it or showcase it whenever I can.  Although green is pretty in a print, green solids are a smart choice all year long.

Here are some great finds in green that you're sure to love!  

Espadrilles from C. Wonder; J. Crew Factory one shoulder cotton sateen dress; Elizabeth McKay Rose jacket; and Z. Gallerie tray.

The J. Crew dress is a steal; on sale right now for only $24.50!  Remember that the outlet is only open online until Monday morning, so click over to J. Crew and take advantage of a fabulous price.

My daughter Alexia's favorite color is green, too.  She broke her foot during at field day at her school jumping over a hurdle.  I'm not sure who the Einstein was to have 5th graders jumping over hurdles, but it didn't end so well for my little minnie.  Needless to say, I was not happy to hear this news.

Luckily, Alexia has a gentle spirit and such a positive attitude that she's making the best of her 5 week stint in a cast.  She is unable to participate in the dance recital next week that she has anticipated all year long and swimming lessons are on a hiatus for now.  Her dance teacher is presenting her on stage before her group dances to recognize her and she is so happy to be a part of the recital, even if she can't dance that evening.

The dance teacher's comment when he saw her cast was so funny.  He said, "Ohhhhh, thank goodness you chose a green cast.  It will match your costume!"  

The best part is that her cast is waterproof!  She can get it wet in the shower and in the pool!  What a bonus, right?

Hope you have a fantastic weekend.

xoxo

Steve, Lilly, and the Katia

Here’s a recent conversation between Natalia, age 10, and her grandmother.

G: Natalia, here’s a little surprise for you.

N: Oh, grandma! These earrings are perfect. Just perfect.

G: I’m so glad that you like them.

N: Oh, yes. They’ll be perfect with the outfit that I have planned for tomorrow.

G: That’s nice. What are you going to wear?

N: The hot pink Steve Maddens, with the white Lilly capris, a little tee and my pink Katia.

Later, my mother says to me, “She’s really into fashion. I had no idea what she said to me, but I’m glad she likes the earrings.”

How funny is that?  Things here have been very busy and just a little hectic.  I'll give you a full update later this week.

I hope that you're still out there reading after my one week hiatus.  Give me a shout out or leave a comment to say hello.  I'd love to hear from you.




xoxo