Patio Perfect - Le Jacquard Francais

I love entertaining in summer, on the patio, pulling out all kinds of china, candles, napkins, silverware, stuff that is too casual for the formal dining room.

One of my favorite vendors is Le Jacquard Francais.  Their napkins, placemats and tablecloths are perfect for summer entertaining. The colors are vivid, their patterns are unlike any other and you can mix and match with your current stock of placemats and tableware to create all kinds of new combinations.

 I am eyeing this pattern to add to my summer stock.  I love the mint/aqua combination.

Happy Entertaining!

Lilly Lust

A recent trip to Atlanta required multiple trips to the Lilly stores where my siblings and I shopped til we dropped. I am loving some of their clothes this year.  Here are some of the top picks:

These pullovers are a great weight, not too heavy and are great for chilly summer evenings.  I have last year's version and I wear it all the time.

 This is just the cutest dress ever but you must see the back with the zipper that goes all the way up the dress.  I love this print too.  See it here.

 The t-shirt dresses are great too. So comfortable, just an easy dress to throw on and go to the grocery.  There are many prints to pick from too.

I fell in love with this dress too and probably should have brought it home.  The back of this dress is so adorable too.

Fell in love with this tunic. It would look great also with a hot pink t-shirt underneath.

 And this one came home with me.  It's a little bit heavier than the other one, but I love the colors and will wear with white jeans.

 My sister bought this dress. It's so cute in real life.  It looks great on her.

 I didn't try this on but should have.  The fit and flair style hides a lot of stuff.  It looks much better in real life. It has the v-neck in the back too.

Love how Lilly is catering to all sizes and shapes and ages these days.  Love, love, love the brand.

Throwback Tuesday - The Aura of Upperville

The first Monday in June is on every horseman's calendar in Virginia.  It's the day the Upperville Horse Show begins just outside of Washington, D.C. in the most gorgeous horse country you will ever see.  If you have not made the trip PLEASE go.  You will not be disappointed and this year, unlike many, the rains are staying away.  The horse show began in 1853.  If you would like to visit the show everything you need to learn is here.

There is nothing like Upperville.  Words simply do not aptly describe it. The tradition, the trees, the old grand stand, the horses, the beauty of it all.  The best of the best show up.  Winning a blue at Upperville is difficult, very difficult.  Jogging your horse into the ring to pick up any ribbon there is an achievement and I still get goose bumps thinking about the first time I did it. 

Here are some old photos from the show grounds. The grass rings have been replaced with better footing (and has taken away some of the beauty IMHO) but the trees are still there (most of them) and horses are still beautiful and the tradition still continues.....

Some of the country's top riders have ridden in the Upperville Lead Line Class...

 This is Olympian Joe Fargis who lives nearby:

 This is Rodney Jenkins, a top rider who now trains race horses.

 Sidesaddle is still very popular at Upperville:

 

 My lone blue ribbon hangs proudly in my office:

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Straw and Needlepoint

Straw bags are a wonderful summer staple that somehow never seems to go out of style.  You can use an old one, update a new one, or buy one that tends toward trendy.

I love how you can take a simple straw bag, add some ribbon and even a needlepoint Christmas ornament and make it your own.  This was is from Po's Point in Charlotte, N.C.  Add an equestrian-themed one it horsey, using your initials, maybe in "Hermes orange" or "Gucci green".

You can find these basic straw bags at stores like Wal-Mart or even a craft store like Michaels. Keep your eyes open.  They are out there and they can be inexpensive.

 Add a nice ribbon to spice it up.

 Use your imagination on what you might add to it.  The possibilities are endless.

 Your initials maybe....

 Or take a needlepoint design from an ornament and add it to your bag.

I love having something I created all on my own.  And these are keepsakes.  If you get tired of it, create a new needlepoint piece for it. 

Enjoy the lazy days of summer!

Tasselmania

The tassel necklace is all the rage right now and as usual, my go-to-place for great but inexpensive jewelry is Etsy.  You can find the best stuff there and you are supporting, in most cases, small business.  Here are some that I am loving right now.

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Happy Friday!!!! 

Summer Picks

A recent trip to Atlanta which included a lot of shopping time, gave me a bird's eye view of some great summer clothes.  Here are some of my favorites:

Love this Sail to Sable dress.  This dress is not so short and it needs the shoes.  See it here.  It is much cuter in real life. I'd pair it with orange and gold Jack Rogers sandals.

Also fell in love with this Alice + Trixie top.  I adore her clothes.  Pair it with white pants or jeans and dress it up with jewelry and shoes.

Trina Turk is another brand I love.  She is hitting on all cylinders this summer. See this one here.

See this one here.

This one is so much cuter in real life.  This would be great for a summer wedding or party.  See it here.