Today feels like the first REAL day of summer around here.  It’s hot, humid, and muggy; the way July is suppose to be.  And what goes better with a steamy summer day than something cold and refreshing?  This blueberry frozen yogurt recipe from Simply Recipes (I get most of my recipes from here) looks perfect for such a day and appears to be absolutely delicious.  Now if I only had an ice cream maker…

Blueberry Frozen Yogurt

{image shown belong to Simply Recipes}

Amazing, colorful, gorgeous images of clouds and skies from mrs. french’s Flickr set, summer travels.  Seems like these sorts of clouds only happen around where I live once in a blue moon during a sunset.  It must mean I need to go on vacation more often!

{images shown belong to mrs. french}

After discovering small stump & studio choo, I’ve become a big fan of their blog (and their frequent cute dog photo posts!).  I am so in love with their new business cards and hang tags.  So, so cute and very lovely, indeed.  I’m always in favor of letterpress, but this is one instance where they are simply perfect as they are.

{images shown belong to small stump & studio choo}

Birthdays should always be special days of the year, but a 100th birthday is quite special indeed.  Chelsea at {frolic!} posted images from her grandmother’s delightful birthday party and it looks like a every detail made the day truly memorable.  I’m loving the simple and elegant flower arrangements, the use of personal photos, and the green color scheme.  Happy Birthday Grace!  Looks like a wonderful celebration.

{images shown belong to frolic!}

After all the cold, dreary and rainy days we’ve had this summer, any chance at warm temperatures and sunshine has everyone in New England relishing in it (not sure if it’s temporary or not).  Earlier this week, Jeffrey and I decided not to miss out on the gorgeous weather even though we had to work, so we decided to eat dinner outside.  After making my favorite salad, we grabbed the picnic blanket (and I grabbed the camera) and went to a meadow nearby for a picnic at sunset.  It was magical.  Surrounded by choruses from happy birds (swooping up and down across the meadow, apparently gleeful as well from the summer weather) and busy little insects determined to get the very last of the day’s work done (probably catching up after sitting under a rock all month from the rain).  The meadow sits next to a baseball field, and even though I’m not one for sports and love my peace and quiet, it was nice to see everyone in the distance enjoying a simple evening little league game.  We relaxed on the blanket, went for slow strolls through the paths, watched bumblebees hover around, saw a bunny or two, and enjoyed a twilight serenade of a lone bird as we called it a night.

{for more of my outings & experiences photos, check out my Flickr}

There’s a special place in Chicago that I need to visit: a collection of all things beautiful for the home, as well as gorgeous floral services.  Asrai Garden looks like a little piece of heaven to me with fresh flowers, stationery, homegoods, artwork, and many intriguing trinkets.  Is it possible to fall in love with a store even though you’ve never visited?

{images shown belong to Asrai Garden}

There are plenty of things that are no longer considered common everyday actions that make me sigh and wish I lived in the 19th century … writing a heartfelt note to a loved one (instead of a quick email), walking to town to visit with friends and shop for necessities (instead of taking the subway or a car, and buying more than you need), and taking the time to braid your hair (instead of throwing it back into a ponytail like I do most days).  I tend to romanticize things, braided hair included, but it’s good to know I’m apparently not the only one.  I just came upon the Flickr group Braid Wednesday and I cannot wait to start partaking in their love for plaits.  I tend to have a hard time doing my own hair (which is why it’s always in a pony tail) but these other women are inspiring me to keep at it and practice… and not cut my hair anytime soon.

*I did it!  I joined.  Check out my first entry.  Pretty boring, I know… I’ll have to think of more creative things.  Gotta break out my old braiding book from when I was little.

{images shown via Braid Wednesday}

A few years ago while working in Arlington, MA, I happened to eat lunch at a little spot in town called Sweet Sue’s Bakery and Cafe.  It was a lovely little restaurant and it was here that I experienced the best salad on earth.  I kid you not.  What makes it so good?  Berries, and lots of them.  I’ve never been much of a real salad eater, and never imagined putting fruit in them (with the exception for some sliced apples or dried cranberries).  I remember sitting at my table deciding what to eat, and noticing many of the other patrons eating these huge salads covered in berries.  Being a fruit fanatic (I have to eat 3-5 pieces of fruit everyday), I knew I had to try it.  I instantly became an addict of this salad, visiting the restaurant or ordering take-out as much as possible, until I realized I could recreate the same salad at home when I found out the exact type of dressing used to finish it off: Brianna’s Poppyseed Dressing.  Call me crazy, but you really need all of these ingredients for the salad to be absolutely perfect.  And it has to be during the summer, because the fruit has to be in-season and perfectly ripe.

Summer Chicken Salad on Mixed Greens (my recipe is based from Sweet Sue’s Bakery and Cafe)

• Chicken Salad (I either make mine, boiling the chicken and when cooled mixing with mayo and a pinch of black pepper, or if I’m lazy I buy it from Wholefoods)
• Mixed summer greens
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Diced apple
• Dried cranberries
• Lingonberry jam (I’ve found this at either Wholefoods or lately, Ikea)
• Brianna’s Poppyseed Dressing

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Place mixed greens on plate until you can hardly see your plate anymore.  Put about 1-2 cups of chicken salad in center (depending on how hungry you are).
2.  Sprinkle (or cover, if you’re like me) with sliced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and diced apple.  Put a heaping spoonful of lingonberry jam on top of the chicken salad.
3.  Sprinkle dried cranberries all over entire salad, and drizzle with Brianna’s Poppyseed Dressing.  Then, prepare to be amazed.

I cannot tell you how much I look forward to summer; it’s my favorite time of the year… but I can tell you that this is one of the many reasons why I do.  Enjoy!

{for more of my summer salad photos, check out my Flickr}

After going through many pages of my favorite Etsy sellers this past weekend, I came across the Groundwork shop again and remembered how much I’d love to own some of her prints.  Groundwork is owned by Danna Ray and her upbringing in rural South Carolina has greatly influenced her work.  I’m attracted to the simplicity of her work, the natural color palette, her themes involving nature, and the texture that’s often repeated in many of her pieces.  And another lovely thing about purchasing her prints?  She has a partnership with Trees for the Future where for every print purchased, 10 trees will be planted.  That’s definitely something worth supporting (an artist as well as the earth).

For more about Groundwork, check out the Etsy shop, her Flickr, and her website.

{images shown belong to Danna Ray/Groundwork}

We’re off to spend time with the family today to kick off the 4th of July weekend.  If the weather actually pulls itself together, we might even spend some time on the beach.  Whatever it is that you’re up to this holiday, I hope you have a relaxing and wonderful time with your loved ones.

{image shown belongs to Darling Dexter}