Monday Mantra

Just... Monday.

Here's to a fresh start.

Happy {It's Here} Weekend

It's the weekend girls.

That's how I feel.

On the agenda? Date night with the girlfriends. A wine festival sponsored by Coastal Living. And a Sunday champagne brunch welcoming a new-comer to our little stretch of paradise. Doesn't sound too shabby, huh? 

So how about a few links of love to help start your weekend off fantastically?

• The best hair tips I've ever seen... ever, here.
• The cutest idea for serving up summer to guests here. 
• Another cell case that seems most fitting here.
• A super chic, super cheap cocktail ring here.  
• Loving this flirty little look here.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

xoxo

Design Crush: Sheridan French

I've written about Sheridan French before because I. am. obsessed. with this line.

This girl has seriously got it going on. A proud mama, fashion designer, and lifestyle blogger, her effortless style exudes everything she touches, home decor and accessories included. We included her ultra fabulous Saphira clutch in the Fall 2011 issue of VIE, and people everywhere went wild.

I'm currently dying to get my hands on the Neve dress in Fluoro Lime (as seen in the first photo) and the Ella swim dress (below). But my starving artist budget says, "Hold tight."

For those of you looking for vibrant, bright, exotic prints to incorporate into your summer closet, check her out here.

On Contentment (Again)

Guess what we did last night?
We sent the May/June issue of VIE off to the printer, that's what.

There's something to be said about accomplishing a huge task. Satisfaction. Pride. Contentement. Ah, sweet contentment. I'm on a never-ending journey for contentment. It's the goal of every single day. Stressed, anxiety, heartache—push it all over to find contentment. He's got it under control and sending little moments to me every day to remind me that life is, in fact, oh so good.

When the perfect song comes on.
When you're driving towards the sunset.
When you're sitting on the beach in perfect peace.
When you look up to realize you're doing what you love.
When you read a sentence that speaks to your heart.
When your friend's voice covers you in love.
When you put your name on something you're especially proud of.

When I'm creating something, crafting something from the bottom up, contentment dawns. I'll pull words from the air and discard them just as quickly until the perfect one sits snuggly in a sentence, and contentment will glow. An idea will float right in front of me, and as I form it into thought, contentment sings. Inspiration fires up the jets of contentment. Love fuels contentment. Contentment is everywhere, it's just a matter of knowing where to look for it.

Contentment, for me, comes from knowing who I am, what I'm good at, doing it every day—and being satisfied there. Keeping the wishing, wanting, and desiring in check in order to appreciate this moment, this day. When I stamp my signature on something truly good, whether in the office, at home, in a relationship, or in my never-ending journey with Him, contentment covers me.

It's a good feeling right now.

Say It Sass

I'm a sucker for a punch of sass to convey just a pinch of at-ti-tude, and these images found on my morning Pinterest perusing say just enough of that for themselves.
Low back in low light.

 Quirky color combos.

 Monochromatic messages.

 Combining glam.

 The shades say it all.

 My new favorite tee.

Monday Mantra

Ah Monday.
Not many words for today. Just these, for you to mill over and consider. They are good for my soul.

Be good to yourself.
Happy Monday!
xxx

Happy {Birthday} Friday

Sending a huge, sparkly, covered-in-love Happy Birthday shout out to the best little sis in town on her 23rd today!

Ann-Hayden was my PIC growing up. People often confused us for twins (even though I was clearly the older one—don't forget it sis), and if I tried to list everything I love about this little gem it would be the never-ending story. Total opposites in all the best ways but alike where it matters most, I'm prouder every day of the lovely and graceful woman she is becoming.

For most of my life, the month and a half that interferes with us being precisely two years apart has been my most-hated time of the year. Pulling the "But I'm older" card was slightly trickier as little sis always retorted, "not that much older" for the short amount of time we were technically only a year apart in age.

But guess what sis? As we continue to tack on the years, I'm juuuuuuust fine with only being a year older than you.

Happy Birthday Ann-Hayden! And sending everyone else wishes for a lovely weekend!
xoxo

That Southern Woman

"To be born a Southern woman is to be made aware of your distinctiveness. And with it, the rules. The expectations. These vary some, but all follow the same basic template, which is, fundamentally, no matter what the circumstance, Southern women make the effort. Which is why even the girls in the trailer parks paint their nails. And why overstressed working moms still bake three dozen homemade cookies for the school fund-raiser. And why you will never see Reese Witherspoon wearing sweatpants. Or Oprah take a nap."

No, I didn't write those words—though I wish I had. Those are words from  what quite possibly can be alternately titled "Ainsley's Favorite Article of All Time," an exquisite piece from Garden & Gun (last September, but I just stumbled into it again) on what sets the infamous women of the South apart.

I get it. We talk about being different alot down here. And for those of you who hail from the Midwest, East Coast, or New England, I know you're different and special and quirky and gorgeous in your own, unique way as well. I just so happen to adore the Southern unique way more than anything else in the whole world.

It's in my blood. It's in my evenings spent swinging on tire swings hung from the magnolia tree underneath my bedroom window. It's in my summers spent tanned and freckled in the bright Mississippi sun. It's in the heartfelt conversations had with Mama lounging on the front porch swing. It's in the blues clubs of the Delta, the tailgating of the Grove, and Sunday lunches at the Country Club. It's why my nails are always painted, why I drink my tea with sugar, and why I will always fall for a fella in seersucker shorts.

"Southern women see no point in the hard way. Life is hard enough. So we add a little sugar to the sour."

We say "thank you", "sir", and "y'all". Mama is always mama and Daddy is always daddy, no matter our age. And at 25 years old, I am still reminded to take a gift to my hostess and write a thank you note. We hug and we kiss freely—our children, our partners, our girlfriends, and our grandparents. A pat on the hand is a subtle condolence, and we'll bless your heart as many times as you need (or we need to.)

"Southern women know how to make other women feel pretty. Southern women like men and allow them to stay men. Southern women are not afraid to dance. Southern women know you can’t outrun your past, that manners count, and that your mother deserves a phone call every Sunday. Southern women can say more with a cut of their eyes than a whole debate club’s worth of speeches."

We are inherently aware of who we are, what is expected of us, and the means to make what needs to happen, happen.

I'm going to quit quoting this article now and demand that, if you haven't already, you go read it here.

Black & White & Chic All Over

I just sat down to write about how life isn't black or white, and sometimes you have to embrace a little gray in order to stay happy and content.
But then, I thought, sometimes life is black and white. And when that happens, isn't it lovely?

all images

Book Club: Summer Reading List

It's that time again—I've exhausted my bookshelf and Amazon keeps showing me so many options for what needs to be inhabiting my purse/beach bag/hand when a free moment declares itself. The old grad student in me still feels slightly guilty when I'm not using free time to catch up on my reading.

What I've confirmed my credit card number and shipping information for:

1. Paris Was Ours, by Penelope Rowlands: A book of 32 short memoirs capturing that special allure of the City of Lights. Some funny, some somber, and topical of everything from how Parisian women stay so thin to the reasons Parisians capture that certain je na sais quoi. Probably not great for fueling my obsession with getting to this city, but it sounds perfect for lazy days of lounging on the Seaside lawn. Added perk: perhaps I'll brush up on my French in the meantime.

2. It's All About the Dress: What I Learned In Forty Years About Men, Women, Sex, and Fashion, by Vicky Tiel: An It girl of the 1960's turned fashion designer. I mean, do I really need to say anything further? I "splurged" for the hard copy on this one because paperback isn't yet available.

3. Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss, by RoseMarie Terenzio: The title was originally what reeled me in to exploring this but further review revealed this memoir, written by JFK Jr.'s personal assistant and publicist, accounts their close friendship during the last five years of this American royalty's life before his tragic end.

4. Tender Is the Night, by ole F. Scott: I know what you're thinking—"Surprise, Ainsley has something by Fitzgerald on her reading list." Well, girls, I won't apologize for the obsession, I'll simply say I've never gotten around to reading this one yet, and considering it's based on the dynamic duo (Scott and Zelda)'s own marriage, I'll be finishing this one rather quickly.

5. Steal Like an Artist—Ten Things Nobody Ever Told You About Being Creative, by Austin Kleon: This little book, craftily littered with fun charts (is that an oxymoron?) and graphic art, is taking the creative industry by storm. A "manifesto for the digital age," young writer Austin Kleon delivers a positive message that perfect creativity is all about tapping into one thing: yourself. Perfect for the self-help junkie inside me.

6. The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris, by Alicia Drake: Essentially, this should be renamed Yves Saint Laurent vs. Karl Lagerfeld: How They Divided Paris Into Two Fabulous Fashion Halves. However, this book may not be for everyone—we all know I'm a not-so-closet nerd, so the research-based scholarly writing was a perk, not a pit, for me when picking this book.

And there we have it. If you see me stretched out on a park bench or perched in the sand with a book covering my face, don't say I didn't warn you.

Monday Mantra

Back today from a lovely weekend, albeit exhausting, which is why I'm so looking forward to this big cup of coffee in my hands, a little Ray LaMontagne on Pandora, getting back on track for the week ahead. Stumbled across our mantra for the week on Friday, and it lingered in my mind all weekend:

Stay young, stay foolish, and stay happy.
Happy Monday!

Happy {Friday Finds} Weekend

I'm not a superstitious person. Or, I tell myself I'm not a superstitious person. When a black cat passes my car, I won't deny that I flinch a little. I only walk under ladders if I absolutely must. And on Friday the 13th, I'm extremely cautious (probably an indication that I could stand to be a little more cautious every day). Which would be today. Nonetheless, it's Friday and that means it's going to be a good day despite that pesky little odd number attached to the most celebrated day of the week. So in an effort to promote a fabulous Friday, how about a few Friday Finds for you?
The simplest of ways to dress up wrapping paper: neon polka dots. Roll out the paper, proactively paint the dots, then roll back up for an instant update to any gift-giving occasion.

BFrend Bracelets via MadebyGirl. Would love to get my hands on these to stack with my Michael Kors watch.

My weekend manicure—yellow tips. A subtle pop of color, although I've been told it's better to leave it up to a professional then try and make it happen yourself.

I need this painting for my bedroom right. this. second. (My birthday is in two and a half months for anyone listening.) Until then, it also comes in an iPhone case.

A fun update for your market bag—neon paint—via Harper's Bazaare. The perfect pop of color on the beach.

Perhaps one of the most perfect vanities I've ever seen in my life. A girl can dream...

And I'm off for the weekend, to finish a few articles for the upcoming issue of VIE, attend a get-together or two, and embark out on the water for a nautical adventure tomorrow. I'll also be waiting for two memoirs to come in from Amazon (Paris Was Ours and Vicky Tiel's fashion/socialite reflections), as I'm longing for a lazy Sunday on the sand in the sun. Sounds like a dream to me.
Happy Weekend! xxx

Little Miss Sunshine

I thought we could all use a little color this Thursday, to boost the mood and get the spirits high.
How about some yellow?

That's better. Doesn't a great sunny yellow just instantly brighten the mood?
I thought so.
Which is why I just purchased this yellow frock for $23. And for that steal, you should, too.

You're welcome.