Hello There!

Hi everyone! It's been awhile! Though I never meant to take the summer off from blogging, the break was lovely! At the start of the summer toward the end of June, we flew home  to our happy place; Jamaica and spent an entire month there exploring the island and eating all the good food! We took a roundtrip across the island and places like the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, St. Mary, Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth, Portland, Devon House in Kingston, Trelawny are pictured in these featured images.  I have so many captured moments and they are too many to share here. This is a roundup of some of my faves. 

 

How was your Summer? I hope you were able to slow down  and really soak it all up. Today marks the 2nd day of school here and Ian and Zion are now back in school. Ian started 5th grade and Zion started 8th grade. I can't believe how fast they are growing! xx

10 Inspiring Outdoor Shower Ideas

source

Installing an outdoor shower has been on our to do list for awhile. The hubby especially is obsessed with the idea of installing an outdoor shower and have even carved out a spot in the backyard that he thinks is ideal. Can you imagine soaking up the sun's rays in that pink bath above. I guess that would be more of a bath experience instead of  a shower but just as delightful.  O.K., let's drool over the others, shall we?

Martha Stewart Living

Janni Delér

 Spell Designs

 Image of Hotel Azúcar in Mexico via Condé Nast Traveller

 Architectural Digest

 Architectural Digest

Do you have a fave? xx

A Gardener's Escape

Hello, hello! I never planned to take a month off from the blog, but Summer got the better of me and I've been doing a lot of gardening which is one of the reasons I was so excited to see this dream of a gardener's escape/summerhouse! This is what the phrase 'next level' probably refers to. What a delight!

 Imagine falling asleep in here or reading a book... divine! 

Photography: Christina Kayser Onsgaard for Skonahem

Hey June!

We've been having a lot of rain so everything is looking as nice and green as my lovely fiddle leaf fig, Glory. Summer is in the air! xx

One Last Summer Soirée.

Almost everyone seems to be engaging in Fall conversations while I am here thinking, "I am going to squeeze the life out of what's left of Summer." After all, it IS still Summer and it sure still feels like it.  I've said it a number of times that we basically live outside during the Summer, so today I am sharing what i refer to as One Last Summer Soirée...

It brings me such joy to be able to eat what we grow and boy have we been eating lots of basil. We have so much of it!

I made basil pesto and it was soooo good!

Am I the only one still soaking up what's left of Summer? Happy weekend everyone and the Ace Hardware giveaway winner will be announced on Monday. xx

images- Lea Hartman

Happy First Day Of Summer!

Summer is finally here and I couldn't be happier! Isn't this a lovely she-shed? Create your own she- shed for Summer with colorful potted plants, window box planters, and paint. Add a bench for extra seating which makes the perfect spot for reading a book. xx

Cool Down with Mango Margaritas.

We recently returned from a mini vacation in Florida and we loaded up lots of mangoes when we were returning home.  In addition to making smoothies and mango chicken, we recently added mango margarita to the list of what to make using mangoes.

some of the ingredients needed(tequila is optional)

I saw the recipe in the Summer issue of  Good Housekeeping magazine that was waiting for me in my mailbox on returning home. I thought they must've known that I would be loaded with lots of mangoes and included that recipe just for me! Ha!

Here's the Simple Recipe:

Blend 6 cups ice; 3 ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped; 3 Tbsp. orange juice; 2 Tbsp. honey; 2 Tbsp. lime juice; 1 tsp. grated orange peel; and 1 cup white tequila(optional). Serves 8.

Yummy! 

Colorful Summer Entertaining.

Summer is in the air. The grass is green, flowers are bursting with blooms, the sun shines longer, and overall people seem to be in better moods. Since giving the patio a makeover, we've really been enjoying every bit of it! It's the perfect spot for Summer Entertaining.

I recently had some Summer fun for a shoot with a couple ladies from a local social group called Fayetteville Co-working.

Cocktails are a must! I hope you're able to get outside and have some fun this weekend! Have a great one! xx

Photography: Dalton Carter Multimedia Consulting