pinspiration: a stars and stripes hostess...

Happy Independence Day to all of my fellow American readers. I hope that whatever you're up to today, you have a lot of fun. Here are my best bets for the hostess - what to serve, what to wear, and the ultimate July 4th Americana playlist.

this week's clicks.

get your week off to a colorful start...

SWOON.

• Loving Summer's fun and colorful patio makeover.
• A cute Little Free Lending Library party via HWTM.
• A summery ballet themed wedding inspiration shoot.
• From A Practical Wedding, a modern Navajo ceremony.

SMILE.

• Desktops: Salt, Flipsnack, Dawn Nicole, Superpower.
• From Apt. Therapy 10 ways to summer-ize your digs.
• Fun gift idea: cute Kokeshi dolls inspired by artists.
• Kitsch bun pins make me wish I'd kept my hair long.

FLASHBACK.

• 2015: Palm leaf green wardrobe picks, inspiration for a retro camp wedding, summer entertainment faves (Paul McCartney!), dream geeky spin-offs for #5FandomFriday
• 2014: a Sunday Social about my fave entertainment genres, fashion picks inspired by tropical getaways, our Busch Gardens trip, and my July favorites.
• 2013: the cutest July birthday cards, vintage-style wedding inspiration, and our Tennessee vacation, including the Titanic Museum Attraction, the Cumberland Plateau, and our day trip to Nashville.
• 2012: my summer Instagrams, soft blue fashion, home decor, and wedding inspiration, and first wedding anniversary and the mystery marriage book we received in the mail.

sunday simplicity.

My Lens of Love via Camille Styles

“In the silence of love you will 

find the spark of life” - Rumi

this week's clicks.

get your week off to a colorful start...
SWOON.

Glass Jar Photography via Style Me Pretty

• From Elle Decor, a summer camp turned eclectic home.
• Not a typo: a beautiful garden wedding in Las Vegas.
• At Style Me Pretty, a romantic military wedding.
• A summery engagement shoot via Heart Love Always.

SMILE.

• Happy Shark Week! Here's what to watch, from a scientist.
• I want every single one of these cheese boards from Anthro.
• Monica's on-trend DIY sequin phrase sun hat is just adorable!
• Get ready for Independence Day with last-minute ideas.

FLASHBACK.

• 2015: a rustic wedding recap, my fourth Stitch Fix, my favorite aliens for #5FandomFriday, and a Literary Junkies post about summer reads and re-reads.
• 2014: a random Sunday Social, stylish patriotic picks, escort card ideas for romantic weddings, and my family's Williamsburg, Virginia vacation.
• 2013: a Sunday Social about movies, lemon yellow poolside essentials, thoughts about SYTYCD, my favorite mixed-berry cobbler recipe, and patriotic wedding inspiration.
• 2012: 4th of July wardrobe inspiration, party decor, desserts, and can't-fail side dishes.
• 2011: My last-minute wedding projects.

sunday simplicity.

The Hungry Australian

“Summertime is always the best of 

what might be.” - Charles Bowden

clicks of note: I am a universe wrapped in skin..

get your week off to a colorful start...

• Here's a sneak peek from my friend Mandi's sweet rustic wedding in a reconstructed 1880's church on the Blue Ridge Parkway this weekend... full recap coming on Wednesday!

LISTEN.

• Joy Williams hasn't slowed down since the breakup of the Civil Wars - her new album Venus comes out today and I am so excited for it. Can we all declare "Woman (Oh Mama)" our new anthem? I'm linking up today with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

• Check out this cute state cake topper at Emmaline Bride.
• Cool fireworks wedding invites via Oh So Beautiful Paper.
• Landlocked? Escape with this California inspiration shoot.
• Last-minute Independence Day ideas on my Pinterest.

SMILE.

• BuzzFeed girls take on Victoria's Secret swimsuits and poses.
• An interesting visual of creatives' daily routines from Podio.
• Hadley Freeman's ode to 80's movies, via the Guardian.
• I really needed Megan's essay on embracing the in-between.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I shared a random Sunday Social, rounded up some stylish patriotic picks,  and collected creative escort card ideas for romantic weddings. My family kicked off our Williamsburg vacation
• Two years ago I participated in a Sunday Social all about movies, found some lemon yellow poolside essentials, geeked out about SYTYCD, shared my favorite mixed-berry cobbler recipe, and shared some patriotic wedding inspiration.
• Three years ago, I shared Independence Day wardrobe inspiration, party decor ideas, and round-ups of dessert recipes and side dishes.
• Four years ago, I was working on last-minute wedding projects.

my late summer in instagram

We started the summer with Mr. Q's second relay triathlon.  This one was held in Roanoke at one of the city's parks.  Mr. Q's team had added a new runner and the three of them took second place!  Also, NEW CAR WOO.  We are loving our Crosstrek!

Just messing around with my morning routine.

Chicken and waffles with my BFF Breeze and my other favorite friends for my 29th birthday.  It was also my "golden birthday" because I turned 29 on the 29th.

The country townhouse, ready for D-Day and Independence Day celebrations.

Summer means lots of patio lunches and dinners, and more time to cook!

My container garden has done really well this rainy summer, and the colors make me smile every time I look outside.

Preparing for camp by building a whale with my fellow adult volunteers and getting the campers' medications organized on opening day.

Probably the most "summer camp" picture ever.

Mr. Q and I went to our favorite Brazilian restaurant for our anniversary and I convinced my health-conscious guy that we needed to treat ourselves to tiramisu.

My mom and I spent a day in downtown Roanoke pretending to be tourists.  We visited the art and science museums and had lunch on the market.

Back to school haircut - my fist from my new hairdresser.

A few views of my classroom in action.  Lots of neon to keep me happy and awake!

Beautiful Wisteria Ridge, where Mr. Q's cycling club had their end-of-summer cookout and fundraiser ride for Roll Over Cancer.

Treats!  I made this Oreo cookie poke cake for the Roll Over Cancer cookout.  The cookie butter was a treat from my friend Jess's trip to Trader Joes.  So amazing!  It's probably a good thing we don't have a TJ's around here, actually.

Linking Up:

happy independence day.

Kelly Hornberger Photography

O say can you see by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

- Francis Scott Key

clicks of note: you've got my heart racing...

get your week off to a colorful start...

LISTEN.

• Brett Eldredge's "Beat of the Music" is one of my favorite country songs this summer... country always ends up being my default musical genre for summer, after a spring of pop music and a fall and winter of mostly rock and indie stuff.  Do any of you go through similar phases?  I'm linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

Christine Sargologos via Snippet and Ink

• Snippet and Ink features a backyard wedding with pretty Southern details.
• A surprising, romantic Oregon woodland engagement shoot at Bridal Musings.
• Over at Ruffled, a rustic chic New York wedding with gorgeous florals.

SMILE.

• These swimming babies made me smile.
• Loved Casey's favorite things about traveling.
• I'm going to try StyleBistro's travel photo tips!

VISIT.

• Susan at Denim Do-Over featured my patriotic rag wreath.
• Dawn at We Call It Junkin' made her own red, white, and blue wreath!
• I've rounded up tons of Independence Day ideas on Pinterest.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I participated in a Sunday Social all about movies, rounded up poolside essentials in a lemon yellow color scheme, geeked out about SYTYCD, shared my favorite mixed-berry cobbler recipe, and shared some patriotic wedding inspiration.
• Two years ago, I shared Independence Day wardrobe inspiration, party decor ideas, and round-ups of dessert recipes and side dishes.
• Three years ago, I was working on last-minute wedding projects.

DIY: Patriotic Washi Tape Decor for Independence Day

Since our family's annual vacation always coincides with Independence Day (thanks, furniture industry), I don't really go all out in decorating for what's actually one of my favorite holidays.  This year, I wanted to add just a little quick patriotic flair to our home decor without spending any money.  I ended up creating three little vignettes based around two of my favorite things - words and crafting!  I started out by "shopping" around the house for red, white, and blue craft supplies, books, and other decorative items.

I grabbed some washi tapes I'd purchased for former projects, some cute twine and straws from the dollar bin at Target and was starting to get inspired.  Throw in the chipboard letters I've had hanging around the craft shelf since I used them to make the pennant banner for our wedding's cake table, and I had my theme.

I tend to both clean and decorate rooms in a clockwise order, so I started in one corner and worked my way around the living room and kitchen.  Since we don't have a mantel, I always like to keep some decorative items on the ends of our entertainment console.  In this corner, I started with a vintage Roget's Thesaurus and milk glass vase from our wedding centerpieces.  The flowers are Sweet William and Statice from the grocery store - very budget friendly, and they look like fireworks!  I love the tabs in the thesaurus.

On the other end of the console, more wedding books and milk glass along with leftover pinwheel favors from Aubrey's Etsy shop to tie in with my wordy theme.  The candleholders were such an easy craft - I grabbed blue and white candles in glass containers from my stash, peeled off their original labels, and got creative with my washi tape while watching television one night.  Keep in mind that more cylindrical or square containers are easier to tape stripes on than ones with a tapered shape.

In the kitchen, I used a Pier1 cake stand from our wedding to hold three jars of goodness - I chose three glass jars of different heights to create a visual triangle.  The taller two are real Mason jars, but the shortest one was holding artichoke hearts just a few days ago!  My white teapot, a gift from my mama, is also from Pier1 and holds some flowers from my container garden.

Instead of actually making any words with my chipboard letters, I decided to display the letters themselves.  The daisy Mason jar lid is from one of my favorite affiliates, the Plaid Barn, and a leftover from Breeze's bridal shower.

I just love the farmhouse style a cake stand stacked with Mason jars adds to my kitchen, and the pop of red, white, and blue makes me smile every time I walk by!

Happy Independence Day!  Do you have anything special planned?

Linking Up With:

Catch as Catch Can at My Repurposed Life

Creativity Unleashed Party at Shaken Together

DIY Party Time at DIY Show Off

Eat. Create. Party! at Endlessly Inspired

Inspire Me Please at Liz Marie Blog

Pinworthy Projects Party at Just Us Four

Wednesday Whatsits at Real Housemoms

Whimsy Wednesday at Simply Designing

Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday at Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons

Serenity Saturday at Serenity You

This Project Was Featured:

Happy 4th!

Jaclyn Marie Photography via Bridal Guide

"America is another name for opportunity."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

summer recipe: mixed-berry cobbler for the 4th of july!

I made this cobbler, based on a recipe from Midwest Living, for a dinner party

this weekend and got so excited that I forgot to take any "real" pictures,

so you get this Instagram gem that also shows off my friend Breeze's beautiful

countertop and cute flatwear.  But you can see that this cobbler is amazing, right?

Mixed-Berry Cobbler

Serves about 12

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 cup whole milk

1/3 cup butter

12 oz. fresh blackberries

12 oz. fresh raspberries

1/2 cup sugar

Vanilla ice cream

Directions:

1. Preparation:  preheat oven to 350 degrees F, melt the butter, and grease an 8x8 baking dish.  

2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and baking powder. Add milk and butter; mix well.

3. Spread the batter in the dish and scatter the berries evenly over batter.  Sprinkle sugar over each layer of berries, finishing off the 1/2 cup sugar.

3. Bake 50 minutes to an hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion near the center comes out clean.

4.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.  I do not consider the ice cream optional- it's a must.

ENJOY!

clicks of note: steal my kisses...

get your week off to a colorful start...

LISTEN.

SWOON.

Carmen and Ingo Photography via Magnolia Rouge

• This blue toile inspiration shoot at Magnolia Rouge is stunning.
• Design*Sponge features perfect mixed prints for summer home decor.
• Apartment34's Erin shares solid tips for creating a gift registry and classy picks at Snippet and Ink.
• Purple Wedding of the Week: this rustic hydrangea wedding in from SMP (Mason jar alert!).

SMILE.

• Do you live in one of these places with the most fabulous fireworks displays in the U.S.?
• Tips for travel food photography from The Kitchn.
• Love this chambray inspired style board at Note to Self.
• We live in a modern world.  You can now follow first lady Michelle Obama on Instagram.

MAKE.

• Doesn't this watermelon mojito from A Beautiful Mess sound delicious for the 4th?
• I think I need to live in a neighborhood with a 4th of July bike parade (Say Yes to Hoboken).
• Lia Griffith's printable gift wrap and tags in punchy colors are perfect for summer celebrations.
• Moomah follwed up their classic single-bloom bouquet with a rustic mixed-flower bouquet tutorial.

FLASHBACK.

• Two years ago, I was working on last-minute wedding projects. Last year I shared Independence Day wardrobe inspiration, party decor ideas, round-ups of dessert recipes and side dishes, and my DIY rag wreath in red, burlap, and blue.  There's more inspiration for the Fourth on my Pinterest board, Independence Day!

Have a great week, everyone!

Independence Day recipes: side dishes for 4th of july cookouts

Here's the scenario:  you've received an invite to a potluck Independence Day celebration and decide to bring a side dish - just like you do every year.  Here are some suggestions for how to break out of your usual rut and spice up this summer's cookouts!

last year, you brought tomato and cucumber salad...

this year, bring chicken salad stuffed tomatoes from Eating Well!

last year, you brought broccoli salad...

this year, bring grape salad from Love of Family and Home!

last year, you brought deviled eggs...

this year, bring crab meat deviled eggs from Country Living!

last year, you brought classic potato salad...

this year, bring potato salad with bacon and sun-dried tomatoes from Country Living!

last year, you brought classic pasta salad...

this year, bring fiesta chicken pasta salad from Life as a Lofthouse!

last year, you brought zucchini fries...

this year, bring zucchini tots from Skinny Taste!

last year, you brought sweet potato fries...

this year, bring roasted red pepper and garlic hummus from A Farmgirl's Dabbles!