I’ve searched high and low for an antique or a vintage mail sorter from a hotel or an old apartment building. I’d love to have this one cleaned up and painted and then use it in our mudroom. It’s our family’s main entrance into the home, and it’s just a dark mess. No organization to speak of. The previous owners were some kind of giants, or something, because the hooks that are hung are about eight feet high so I need to stand on a bench in order to reach them, and the shelf above them is even higher and has never been used by us. It’s just collecting dust, I’m sure.   

Our recyclables are a nightly mess. We use one tiny bin underneath the kitchen sink and it’s full by lunchtime, and as the kitchen is on the main level and the garage is two levels down, I don’t take out the recycling nearly as often as I should. Which means we have major overflow issues. It annoys my husband. It annoys me, too. It is not pretty.

But these are.

I’d tuck them away in our laundry room. And I’d be so on top of the recyclables I’d probably get an award, or something. Just kidding. I just really like the bins, is all.

I’m into orange lately. That’s something new and different for me. Since I’m all about the neutrals. But it’s such a happy color. Even more so than sunny yellow. And I’m reading that orange is the hot new color. Which means, in my book, a trend. And I really dislike trends. So I don’t spend a lot on them. This little cardigan from Lands’ End Canvas – in ‘orange spice’ – is on sale. And it’s just so… perky. I love it. Twenty bucks. Sold.

These are the most perfect gold hoop earrings ever.  

I’m not big into jewelry, but in my efforts to step out of my comfort zone, I’m trying.

Big summer sale at one of my favorite children’s stores, ‘Peek… Aren’t You Curious.’

I never have a going-out-at-night bag. I always end up schlepping around my daytime tote which is huge.

But I am having just the hardest time committing to one.

I like this one from Topshop, and the price is just right.

I love this one from JJ Winters. The price? Not so right.

Cute dress, right? I haven’t been into a Gap in forever. At least not unless it was to grab something for the girls. But this dress caught my eye. I have always loved shirt-dresses. They are wildly flattering on every body type. And that this one is denim with a slight Western-cut makes it absolutely perfect. Love the price, too.

But that got me to thinking: what else am I missing?

This tote, perfect for summer. Love a bright color to lighten up all of those neutrals in my wardrobe.

These adorable ballet flats. A steal when compared with their style counterpart by Sue London.

On occasion, I see a picture of someone famous wearing something that I just have to have. The most laughable occurrence of this was Reese Witherspoon’s gold YSL sandals that retail for well over $500 and were sold out or had a waiting list, or something like that. Clearly, I am not crazy. I did not get those sandals. (Even at Bluefly, they were well over $400.)

But in trying to figure out who those sandals belonged to, I stumbled onto a fun site called ‘Celebrity Style Guide.’ This was a couple of years ago when you actually had to pay a monthly fee to peruse the site. Glad to see that it’s now free.

And now, again, I have found myself just this afternoon wondering about yet another pair of Reese Witherspoon’s sandals, and checked them out and voila! No fee to peruse the site! Just set up an ‘account’ for yourself.

I still know nothing of Reese’s sandals. Oh, well. I’m sure I wouldn’t buy them anyway. But a girl can dream, you know?

My new purse. By Linea Pelle. It makes me very happy. And it was a steal for a high-end designer bag. Of which I have not bought (or received) a new one since Coco was born. So I have no guilt. And why this lovely pewter color was 50% off is beyond me, because it’s an amazing color.   

I’ve been eyeing these Stella McCartney for Adidas shoes for a while now. And every time I’m ready to place my order, they’re out of my size. I love that they are a sneaker, but that they amp up the style factor of my morning outfit during the school year, a time of the year when I am prone to get lazy due to schedules and routines and hurry up we’re going to be late! These shoes paired with my usual lounge pants would look just a little more chic…

I carry around a huge wallet. It’s so huge that my husband assumed I was carrying around our checkbook in it. Uh, no. I’m not. But I hear you.

In an effort to pair down, I’d love to find something small that I can grab and run out the door. Large enough to hold my driver’s license, my debit card and that’s about it. Because all of those other cards I carry around? I never need them.

I really love this one by Comme des Garçons. I like the shape, the color. I think it’s perfect. I’m adding it to my Wish List…

I am into quality shoes for my girls. They tear the less expensive shoes up in the matter of a couple of wearings. And when I do the math and realize that for the cost of those two cheap pairs I bought at the discount place, I could have bought one pair of higher-quality shoes that would last the summer, ugh.

Lesson learned.

Some of my favorite summer shoes:

These adorable flip-flops by Sanuk. Yes, there’s actually a big difference in quality when it comes to flip-flops. The rubber on a cheaper pair can tear apart that little spot between toes. Ouch. And I am over Havaianas. As soon as everyone I knew was wearing a pair, I moved on. And I’m glad I moved on to these. (And they match up nicely with the mommy pair. How cute, right?)

A cute alternative to flip-flops…

My newest obsession for my little girls’ feet – anything by Aster. But especially these sandals. They’re made by the same company that made these shoes. Remember? You probably wore a pair when you were a kid, right? I know I did. Mine were white. I still have them…

If your daughter also likes thong sandals, this pair by Rachel Shoes not only satisfies that need for bling (albeit in an understated way), but they also have these amazing soles that are thick enough to save them from the scuffing and tearing and peeling. And they look adorable with little summer sundresses.

These cute and casual summer shoes by Sanuk. My husband has been wearing them for years, and now they come in kid sizes, too. And with really cute prints. And the kids can put them on themselves. No buckles, straps or even Velcro. I like that.

And while I tried my best to stay away from these shoes, little Coco convinced me that she had to have a pair of Lelli Kelly mary-janes. And while I’m not much for anything so ‘blinged out,’ I have to admit that the shoe is cute and really well-made, and it makes my little one happy. And I’m loving the new ballerina-style for my older daughter.

This pair of Nike hybrid sneaker-ballerina shoes for Pea. She wears them every day. With dresses. And shorts. Skirts. Her bathing suit.

And while I know fall seems eons away from today, over here, where I live? Not so much. School starts again in less than two months, and fall is right on the heels of that first day back in class. And I am drooling over these boots (and the brown ones, my first choice, are on sale!). In fact, I wish they made these in my size.

Summer is a time of the year when I have to spend a little extra time grooming myself. Between waxing, tanning lotions and dry hair desperately in need of deep conditioning, it’s a good thing the girls are not in school or I’d never get them to class on time.

Some of my favorites:

This Japanese conditioner. A splurge, yes. But this is an honest a-little-bit-goes-a-long-way product. And it will soften even the most coarse, dry and kinky hair. Such as mine.

And since I”m all about my naturally wavy hair in the summer, I love Bumble & Bumble’s Surf Spray.

This French-produced avocado body oil. I slather it on everyone in the family – especially after a day in the sun. I’ve also put it on the ends of my hair when it’s dry, to soften and add shine. And I also keep a bottle of the line’s aloe on hand, too. It’s great for when you’ve had just a little too much sun. And it also doubles as a post-shave (man or woman) treatment.

And after I shower, I always use the Jergens Natural Glow self-tanning moisturizer on my legs. The color is natural, not streaky, and I don’t care what anyone says. We all look better – healthier – with just a hint of sun-kissed color. Why not get it the safe way? From a tube?

I have really oily skin, so I have to skip bronzer. On my skin? It just looks dirty. And although I do slather on the SPF, I have skin that quickly gets brown, anyway. But I love the look of pink cheeks. You know, like you just came in from a long hike? And you’re all rosy? My favorite healthy mountain girl look. Nars has a cream blush called Cactus Flower that I”m addicted to. In fact, I wear it all year long. It warms up my sallow skin in the winter and adds a pop of fresh color to my darker summer skin. Don’t be shocked by the ridiculously bright shade, either, when you first open the compact. This is another a-little-goes-a-very-long-way product. Just dab it on the high apples of your cheeks and you’ll instantly look fresher. Younger. Definitely healthier.

For my lips, I like a little bit of color, but I am not a lipstick or lipgloss girl. I’m all about the tinted balms, and with SPF I’m really going to get onboard. Which is why I’m particularly fond of Fresh’s new tinted balm in the plum color. You can put it on without a mirror, it prevents and treats chapped lips, and it doesn’t contain any funky ingredients. Don’t be scared off by the rich and thick color in the tube. It goes on sheer and shiny, your lips only better.

And to extend the life of my regular summer pedicures, I ‘paint’ this Borghese oil on my toes each morning, before I step out the door. I swear, I don’t get a single smudge or crack in my polish for weeks. Even with all the running in the mornings, the girls and dogs tripping all over my bare feet the remainder of the day.

And I wax myself. Head to toe. I find it to be the most horrendous experience, going to a professional to have this done. So I’ve tried everything out there, every product, and the Nad’s is by far my favorite. I wouldn’t be without it. In fact, our Rite-Aid was out of it recently, and I am not kidding you, I had a mini-meltdown right there, in the store. And follow up with Tend Skin. Don’t skip it!

Outdoor concerts are in full swing in our neck of the woods. I love this time of the year. A bunch of us gather up our families, our picnic baskets, bottles of wine, and head to a local resort to sit on the grass, enjoy the music and watch the kids chase each other around on the mountain.

In years past, I threw everything into whatever bags I found lying around the house – an old LL Bean Boat & Tote, those recyclable grocery bags you buy from Whole Foods.

Not this year. We’re picnic-ing in style with our new French Bull picnic set. So adorable and practical and such a pleasure to use real place settings when sitting on a blanket in the grass.

Some of my favorite summer sandals:

This pair from Yellowbox, that raises the bar when it comes to flip-flops. They can go casual or dressy. Love them. Also love their slightly-more-casual younger sister;

this pair has a nice Boho feel about them. Only more chic and less earthy. Love love love;

this pair, in a pared-down gladiator style;

this pair of bright pink ballerinas. How cute with a pair of white linen trousers, right?

I remember my very first pair of Kork-Ease sandals. We were still living in New York and my parents were still married, making me about 5-years old at the time. That’s the same age as my oldest daughter today. And I remember how much my father did not want my mother to get those sandals for me. And I remember how she went behind his back and bought them anyway. I loved those sandals. So much so that just about 33 years later, I still see myself in them, playing in my backyard with the Jacobsen girls. Love the updated version.  Just so seventies. A good decade. No, a great decade…

Balk at the price of these all you like, they are amazing quality for so little shoe. I have a pair in this style and adore them. You can’t get them away from me. They are, in my opinion, the ultimate French sandal. So much style and yet still classic.

Any single pair of the ‘Gigi’ sandal from Sam Edelman. Although I am particularly fond of the cork version;

the perfect summer sneaker: no socks required, and once again, harkening back to the seventies;

or a snazzier version of the knock-around summer sneaker, in gold, of course. And with a matching pair for your kid…