It is so nice having spent this past week on vacation and I’m *almost* ready to return home – I do look forward to the familiarity that awaits.  Our vacation has been so great, yet I can’t wait to enjoy even more pleasures of summer in our own backyard.  Today, I have two more guests who will share their favorites about this time of year in the “Summer Is” series, the first is my friend Melissa who offers so many great tips, ideas, and projects for the home at her blog 320 Sycamore. 

“Thank you, Kate for having me over at your place! I love summer. When I think of summer, I think of  flags and home-town parades,

cloud watching in green grass,

do you see the whale eating the fish??

lazy afternoons in the hammock with a good book,

blueberry picking,

the lake,

playing until dark,

lanterns, white candles, driftwood, and shells

and yummy salads.

(we love this one from Southern Living)

For us, it’s a perfect time to slow down a bit, to lighten things up around the house, to open the windows at night, to soak in childhood and make memories, and to be grateful for the freedoms we enjoy that others have sacrificed so much for.

It’s the smell of green grass, sunscreen, and burgers on the grill. It’s the sound of marching bands, crickets, and sprinklers.  It’s the touch of gooey toasted marshmallows, cool water, and hot pavement underneath your bare feet.  It’s the taste of watermelon, strawberry jam, and ice cream cones. It’s the sight of fireflies at night, green fields, flowers, and lemonade stands. It’s the time that you look back on a cold, dreary February afternoon and long for.  Here’s to summer of 2012!”

Thanks so much Melissa for sharing your summer favorites with us – burgers, and watermelon, and ice cream?  Yes, please!  And I so love how Melissa’s summer’s are ones dedicated to making memories, do you feel the same?  

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Today my blog buddy Chris from Just A Girl is my teammate today in the Paint & Stain class we’re teaching at Haven, and so I invited her to share a few of her favorite things about summer too. 

“Hello, everyone! I’m Chris from Just a Girl, and Kate couldn’t have chosen a better topic to guest post on. Who doesn’t love summer? My only problem, of course, is narrowing it down to a handful of favorites when it comes to summertime! Where do I begin?

Sleeping in. The rest of these are in no particular order, but this one?  It’s first. Throughout the school year, I get up around 6:00, so the opportunity to sleep in until it’s actually light out is life-changing for me!

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The beach.  No matter what time of day (and believe me, we’ve been there during all of them) or what time of year, this place is always beautiful. It’s the one time when we can guarantee no cell phones, no arguments, and no whining. The whole family loves it, and we’re thankful it’s part of our summer schedule.

 

The ol’ red, white, and blue.  I don’t know what it is about summer that heightens my appreciation for America and its flag, but I find myself more aware of its beauty during the summer months. It’s not uncommon for me to ask my husband to pull off the road so I can snap “just one more picture” of another flag.

 

Lawnmowers.  No joke. Our harsh winter months can put us into hibernation mode, and I love the summer sound of people mowing their yards. It encourages me to be outside more, and it certainly facilitates neighborly conversation.

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Food on a stick. I’m not really sure how else to describe my favorite flavors of summer. Marshmallows, hotdogs, waffles…for some reason, they taste better when placed on a stick and torched in a backyard fire. Can I get an Amen?

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And last but not least? TIME. My husband and I make a conscious decision not to stack our kids’ schedules with sports, camps, tournaments, etc. We want  them to be home. We want them to ride their bikes in the neighborhood and chase frogs in the backyard. Time is what summer’s all about, isn’t it?

A special thanks to Kate for letting me share some summer highlights with her readers! I hope you all have a wonderful summer and are able to enjoy all of your favorites of the season.”

Thank you Chris!  I love seeing summer through others eyes, don’t you?  Everyone has their unique favorites, but it seems we all share the need to slow down, relax and spend time with family, wouldn’t you agree?

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While I’m talking all about paint and stain in Atlanta for the next two days, I have a few special guests coming up, and my first is my friend Myra from My Blessed Life.  I met Myra at the Blissdom conference over a year ago, and we’ve been friends ever since!  Since I’m touring the south this week, I’m excited to begin this “Summer Is…” series with this sweet southern gal, please give Myra a warm welcome! 

Hello, hello fabulous Centsational Girl readers!  I’m thrilled and honored to be visiting with you today.  Summer is such a beautiful time of year, although in Alabama it is very hot and humid.  But I embrace the beauty and stay as cool as possible.  Here are a few of my favorite things about Summer in the South…

Porch Living:  My family and I live in the oldest house on main street in our tiny town. We enjoy spending our mornings and evenings on the front porch reading, watching the cars go by, waving to neighbors and sipping on a glass of cold {sweet} iced tea.

 

 

Farmer’s Market Produce:  Each weekend, I stop by the farmer’s market to get fresh produce for the coming week.  My favorites are cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, strawberries, peaches and blackberries.  I’ve made delicious cobblers with fresh strawberries, peaches and blackberries in the last few weeks.

 

Backyard Hydrangeas: The huge bush of blue hydrangeas growing on the side of our house just takes my breath away. I love cutting blooms and adding them to a vase on the table. They cheer a room up so quickly.

 

Seabrook Island, South Carolina:  My very favorite destination to visit during the Summer months is Seabrook Island. It is a private, quiet community with beautiful white sandy beaches, gorgeous trees and marshes.  Bike riding is peaceful and a multitude of deer come out to play at dusk.  Seabrook Island isn’t far from Charleston which is definitely another perk!

Thanks so much Kate for having me today! I hope you and your wonderful readers have enjoyed reading about my Summer favorites.  I would love if y’all stopped by for a visit anytime.

Thank you Myra for sharing your definition of summer, I’m putting Seabrook Island on my list of places to visit!  

What’s your definition of summer?

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Greetings everyone!  Today I’m on a flight to the SNAP Conference in Utah where I’ll be mixing with other bloggers and also speaking on Saturday on a panel with Ana, Shelley, and Emily on ‘Discovering and Defining your Personal Style’.  Can’t wait to meet all of you that are attending! 

While I’m away, I have a very special guest for you.  I’ve long admired Heather Bullard, a talented stylist with impeccable taste.  Heather is a Contributing Editor to Country Living magazine, and she also produces and styles editorial stories all over the country.   Heather recently launched her publication Souvenir Magazine, filled with inspiration on all things home and garden.  I admire her talents so much I asked her to share a few styling secrets with you. 

Here are Heather’s Five Tips for Styling Better Photos!

“Hi Centsational Girl readers! So happy to be visiting you here today. I thought I’d share a few of my styling tricks and tips with you. Whether you’re working on an entire room, a small vignette in your home or want to style better blog photos here’s five tips to help make things easier!

1. Contrast.  When styling, think in terms of adding items that counter balance one another. The bright whites and warm woods in this photo of my kitchen corner, are a great example. Also notice there is additional contrast in the breadboards and the texture of the basket tray. And even hints of subtle contrast in the various colors and textures of the ironstone.

 

2.  Use a Statement Piece.  The bold graphic artwork in this mainly white home makes this room stand out.  Because the artwork was the focal point, I kept the other styling elements minimal and neutral. In this case, less is more.

 

3.  Real Life Styling.  Keeping props and styling realistic is what makes a space or image feel lived in and gives it a warm, inviting atmosphere. For this kitchen, I added what the homeowner might naturally have, such as a small collection of cookbooks, vegetables at the ready and the cooks favorite utensils. Even with all the added props, the styling remains simple and comfortable.

4.  Group Like Items.  A collection of like objects can be a stylists best friend. For this vignette, the only additional props added were a few vintage books in similar colors to accent but not overpower the clock collection. Letting the collection remain the true focus.

 

5.  A Touch of Nature.   Adding just a few sprigs of greenery or simple bouquet can give such life to any styling project. Beautiful florals and natural elements bring fresh perspective and help to add color and life a setting. These are a stylists mainstay and I can’t imagine working on a project without fresh flowers!

Thanks for inviting me to guest post today, Kate! I hope you and your wonderful readers learned a few Tricks of a Stylists Trade! Feel free to stop by and say hello anytime!”

Thank you so much Heather, you’re so inspiring!  I love all of these tips and she’s so right.  Incorporating at least one of these suggestions into your next photo shoot is sure to make for a simple yet well composed image. 

Be back tomorrow with one more post to finish out the week! 

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