Look Linger Love

Remember recently when I went on and on about how sometimes conference presenters aren’t so informative? Well the universe seems to be pointing her finger at me and she’s putting me in the hot seat. The Southern Coterie Summit in Jekyll Island, GA to be exact.

The Southern Coterie has teamed up with Southern Living to bring together an intimate niche group of southern creatives (think bloggers, artists, social media junkies… you?) for this inaugural event in early May. Expect a lot of conversation, ideas, and in my case, beach time. It’s going to be sooooo good.

My friend Lulie Wallace and I will be leading a session all about blogging and brand collaborations. We’ll be getting real. I promise to bring it. You can read more details about our session here on the summit schedule page. And check out the rest of the schedule – it’s packed with some really awesome presenters (see that whole list here). I get a lot of emails asking for thoughts and advice about blogging – well, here ya go.

Point it, it’s going to be an awesome getaway to Jekyll and I’m hoping to see a lot of you southern peeps there!! We’ll have pool drinks, meet some great people, learn a few tricks, and have an all around good time. Check out all the details HERE.

I’ve shared my adoration for Clare’s paintings before (almost exactly 1 year ago, see here), and I just think y’all will love her latest pieces. Every time I look through them I have a new favorite. You should note that all of her prints are incredibly affordable, too.

What, you see all pretty clothes and fancy things up in here so you think I don’t know my way around a Home Depot? Wrong. They’re such a legit group over there.

Remember when I took part in their holiday style challenge? Well a few weeks ago they asked me to participate in their upcoming Patio Style Challenge, too. Que the happy dancing.

So I was invited to choose a patio set to have and to hold forever and ever. As you know, we’re in the midst of fixing up our backyard. Which means I’ll soon be in need of a dining set to go back there. Pretty good timing right? Feeling so lucky. The backyard isn’t done yet, so for the time being my new set will live in this little space on my porch.

I can’t wait to break into those boxes and get this pretty all set up! Expect some bright paint, people :) I’m thinking peachy coral. But we’ll see where the Home Depot paint department pulls me. Unfortunately our painters want to charge an arm and a leg to paint this (take advantage much?) so I miiiiight actually have to tackle this on my own. Any tips for painting cast aluminum?

I went through my swimwear collection yesterday and was so shocked at how plain it is. Save for a few stand outs, it’s pretty blah. That just can’t do. I need some color in my life.

Have I ever mentioned to you all that I’m Catholic? Probably hasn’t gotten brought up as I avoid this type of topic here on the blog. That, and I wouldn’t say I’m the beeeest practicing Catholic. Sorry Granny. But in my religion we have this thing called Lent going on right now. People give up habits like eating junk and stuff like that for a short period of time. It’s really a nice thing.

Well, I’m going to start doing one good deed a day. I mean, yeah I like to think that I already do this so it should be super easy. But I’m going to really concentrate on it. And I think this One Good Deed A Day journal could help and make it all so much fun.

‘Tis the season for trip planning. Just in the past 3 days I’ve gotten emails from 4 different people planning trips to Charleston looking for recommendations of places to stay, where to eat, which shops are musts… I get these emails all the time and totally plan to have a Charleston recommendation page on my new site to make it easy for everyone (and myself).

But it got me thinking about how amazing Charleston is and why people want to come. Obviously it’s gorgeous, nice weather, on the beach, historic, crazy good culinary scene. But it’s the people here that make Charleston awesome, too. Did you know that we’re considered to be one of the friendliest, most good looking, fashionable towns around? It’s true!!

So if you want a little Charleston style here are a few spring notes (that don’t include Lilly Pulitzer dresses and Jack Rogers sandals – no, there’s nothing wrong with them – please don’t send me hate mail!!)

A great blazer. Better yet, make it a floral blazer.

Plenty of garden party dresses. It’s about color, People.

Load up on maxis too. Loving these budget finds ($23 – $41 – lots of different color options, too).

And some new, fresh sandals.