Summer To-Do List

When summer arrives in Seattle, it puts everyone in a good mood. We may deal with perma-drizzle and grey skies the rest of the year, but our summers are pure bliss. For that reason and so many others, this time of year has always been my favorite. Besides sitting outside and soaking up the sunshine for the next three months straight (which sounds like a pretty solid plan, actually), here are a few of the things I can’t wait to do this season.

1. Wear bold, vibrant lip colors. NARS Heat Wave, how I’ve missed you!

2. Find the perfect little white sundress

3. Make rosé slushies

4. Get my Shark Week fix, perhaps with some themed snacks

5. Take off on a weekend road trip

6. Dine al fresco as much as possible (rooftop deck at Terra Plata, I’m coming for you!)

7. Read a book (or four) on the beach

8. Attend the Bite of Seattle (Jules and I missed it last year because we were meeting Emily Schuman! Worth it.)

9. Master the art of self-tanning (has anyone tried these?)

10. Get in the water. Lake, pool, backyard sprinklers…it’s all good!

Obviously there’s so much more (making s’mores, watching the fireworks on the 4th of July…) but these are just some of the highlights.

What are you looking forward to this season? Do you have any special summer traditions?

♥ Mil

 

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Friday Favorites

TGIF, you guys! It’s been a hectic week and I feel like my brain is at full capacity lately…between that and this chilly, damp weather we’ve been having in Seattle, I’m in a bit of an early summer funk. I may be in desperate need of a vacation (or a super long nap/light coma). Anyway, I hope you have something relaxing planned for the weekend! But first, let’s unwind with a few fun links.

1. In this interview, the founders of theSkimm discuss finding your voice, going viral, and their journey from dreamers to full-fledged businesswomen. (The Coveteur)

2. These sweet & creamy coconut popsicles are basically summer on a stick. (Style Me Pretty)

3. Ladies, there are SO many creepers in the world. This new app is designed to help you fend off the worst of ’em. (Refinery29)

4. This city guide reads like a love letter to Seattle, and it’s inspiring me to do some exploration in my own backyard. How have I never heard of Neon Taco? (Cup of Jo)

5. If you agree that every getaway should include sunshine and sand, say hello to your ultimate beach vacation bucket list. (PureWow)

Bonus: I love the message of Together Women Can, a public awareness campaign encouraging women to support each other in the workplace as peers, mentors, and friends. (Lean In)

Have a fabulous weekend!

♥ Mil

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Beach Bag Bonanza

I may only have three pairs of jeans (all virtually identical), but what my wardrobe lacks in pants, it more than makes up for in bags. Naturally, a good chunk of these are beach bags, since summer’s my fave! Whether you’re a beach bum or planning to spend plenty of time poolside this summer, a cute, roomy tote that can hold all your essentials is a necessity. Here are twelve stylish options that fit the bill.

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve

 

Which one would you pick? #1 and #3 are my favorites – I love those bright colors. Though I could also use a classic like #11 (a total steal at only $23)!

♥ Mil

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Life Lately

Hi friends, it’s been awhile! I fully intended to get back to the ol’ blog on Monday, but I was stricken with a cold towards the end of my sister’s visit, so I made the tough decision to spend the last couple of days convalescing on the couch with Thai takeout, a giant box of Kleenex, and a DVR full of Fear the Walking Dead. But I’m on the mend now and ready to regale you with some highlights from my week off.

Our first order of business once my sister arrived? Wedding dress shopping! My friend Sarah joined us for the day and our little entourage visited several bridal salons around Seattle. It was SO much fun – and it was Kate’s first time trying on dresses, so there was a lot for her to absorb. (More to come later on the whole wedding dress shopping experience!)

Excited to start trying on dresses at Nordstrom!

 

Anthropologie, killing it as usual in the styling department

 

Isn’t she lovely? This dress wasn’t the one, but it twirled like whoa

 

Next up was our epic Mother’s Day surprise. First, some background: Kate lives in Taiwan and she hadn’t been home in about a year and a half. We had been planning this surprise for months and were a little worried my mom might suspect something, but she had NO idea, and the surprise went off without a hitch. There was a lot of crying and screaming (the happy kind!) which was extremely satisfying. I actually took a video of the whole thing, which turned out pretty great, but it’s in an “unsupported file format” so I can’t share it here. Trust me, it was awesome!

Here we are waiting for our mom to show up for Mother’s Day brunch so we can surprise her…of course she was half an hour late

 

Celebratory mimosas after the big reveal

 

We all had so much fun together over the next week – soaking up sunshine at the beach and the park, round two of wedding dress shopping, an afternoon baseball game, loads of wedding planning – but of course time passed way too quickly. By some miracle the weather was absolutely gorgeous the entire time, which made it even better! Now it’s back to the grind, but I’m wistfully looking through all the pictures on my phone in a fruitless attempt to drag my vacation out a little bit longer.

Strolling along Lake Union

 

Sister time at the beach

 

Victory margs and tacos after finding Kate’s dream wedding dress!

 

As it happens, the menu at Little Water Cantina perfectly captures the essence of our blog

 

Taking in an afternoon baseball game

 

Bleacher seats are the best seats

 

Takin’ selfies in the backyard

 

Come back soon, Kate!

 

So that’s what’s been going on with me! What have you been up to lately? Any fun adventures to report? A cool vacation coming up? Has work/school/life been driving you crazy? Let’s hear all the juicy details!

♥ Mil