And thus begins a summer of sale shopping! Memorial Day sales are always the first, and perhaps most exciting, round of markdowns and deals that we should 100% take advantage of as we move into the summer season. Right now is a great time to take stock of your summer wardrobe and housewares and see where you should keep your eyes peeled for a golden opportunity. Here are a few of the sales on my radar this year: H&M offering 20% off sitewide, Elemis offering buy two get one free, Lulu & Georgia offering up to 25% off, Ballard Designs offering up to 20% off sitewide, and Saks offering up to 80% off tons of designer pieces.
Everyone needs to know how to make a simple olive oil cake. It’s the ideal “company’s coming” cake that’s pretty effortless to make and can be altered in countless ways to suit specific tastes and dietary restrictions. For a dinner party, you need little more than this cake and some freshly whipped cream to have dessert handled.
Call off the search, I’ve officially found summer’s most versatile dress. Whether you’re wearing this smartly-cut maxi shirtdress in black or white, you’re a good sandal away from bopping out the door to almost any event on a moment’s notice. Staud quality meets a classic shape and endless dress up/down capabilities. You’ll wear this dress roughly 500 times this summer alone.
Look, it’s not often that toys for little ones get this adjective assigned to them, but these magnetic blocks are honestly chic. This 42-piece set of stylish blocks are magnetic, assisting kiddos in their building ideas and also maaaaaaybe making clean up just a bit easier too. Good for kids three and up!
Were you aware that Carbone, the outstanding Italian restaurant in my beloved NYC, bottles and sells its sauce?? There’s a truck currently backing up into my driveway full of this Carbone Marinara sauce and I don’t want to hear any arguments from any members of my household. The sauce gets its own bedroom, mkay? Whether you prefer a classic marinara, a tomato-basil, or an arrabiata with a kick, Carbone sells them all, and it’s so nice to have a little piece (or bowl of pasta) of home every now and then.
The Alice cotton voile dress by Cefinn is basically my ideal summer frock. The thistle-print in bone china blue dress is calling to me, and needless to say, I’m picking up that call. And, for something this high quality that I’ll wear year after year, it’s hard to beat the price.
Hey, you know what we can stop doing? Leaning our yoga mat behind the door after a workout and hoping no one sees it. We can do much, much better than that. Let’s start with these dreamy baskets from Serena & Lily (which are currently 20% off). The tall version is perfectly shaped for yoga mats, and will likely fit with any existing decor due to its neutral shade and classic texture.
Here’s why a scone silpat mat for baking all your favorite scone flavors is necessary in life: When you bake scones on a flat tray, precious, precious butter leaks out. These pans not only help hold the scone’s shape, but also create absolutely scrumptious edges by refusing to let the butter escape onto the pan during baking. Mark my words, this mat is going to level-up your baked goods.
While I might not make it back to NYC this summer due to… you know, a brand new actual infant… that doesn’t mean I can’t help you make the most of the season. This is a really good list to use when you’re brushing up on the best NYC rooftops, especially this year when (sadly) not all rooftops from previous summers are still operating.
Attention: Lawn games can be chic! Honestly, I thought all lawn games either came in garish colors for children or overly sporty hues that don’t really go with the ambiance I’m trying to create out there, but I was wrong. This is probably the first stylish version of cornhole I’ve ever seen and therefore I very much need it in our backyard immediately. I was kind of hoping it also came with an Aperol Spritz but that’s fine. Anthropologie actually has several other outside amusements worth looking into!
If you haven’t started watching the wit-laden show Hacks on HBO, please start. It’s about a seasoned comedian working with an up-and-coming joke writer, and neither of them are exactly happy about the situation. Hijinks and hilarity ensue. The episodes are only 30-minutes long, so it’s really easy to catch up. It stars Jean Smart and I’m loving everything she’s been doing lately, including Mare Of Eastown!
It’s always the genius solutions that are staring you right in the face that you literally kick yourself for not inventing first. This little item is a coffee scoop that’s also a clip for the bag of coffee! How do we take our coffee? Innovative, that’s how.
Oh yes, they come in outside versions now, too. These waterproof outdoor smart plugs by Teckin are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and make your outdoor appliances just as smart as everything you have inside. Simply plug in a device, connect to your Wi-Fi network, and download the Smart Life app to control the devices you plug into them. You can even set timers to ensure nothing is ever left on by accident. They’re made of ABS fireproof material and have weather/impact resistant housing. From lighting, to fans, to bug zappers—essentially anything you need to power outside but also don’t really want to worry about—these smart plugs are ideal.
If “who stole my charger!” is said in your house more often than “good morning!” you’ll want to look into this elegant cord name tag solution to family thievery. Get one of these smart little cord tags printed with everyone’s name on their own personal tag, so claiming one’s cord becomes effortless, and theft easy to spot. Speaking of cords, I need to go have a strongly worded discussion with my husband… unless Coco and Liza have developed fine motor skills that I don’t know about.
Something tells me (the temperature, the temperature tells me) that it’s going to be a rather toasty summer. For those who enjoy a glass of wine on a patio but want to sip it at a leisurely pace instead of slamming it back like a college vodka shot, try these smart little cooling coasters. They’ll help keep your drink cool so that you can take your time and enjoy your summer night.
If styling a cheese board always feels daunting, a quick trick is to just buy a cuter board that helps guide artful placement of charcuterie. This darling serving board contains grooves for things like crackers, meats and veggies, making styling the board that much easier.
Whelp, I eat all my meals in motion now, this settles it! This little dip clip has a universal mount for your car’s air vent area and a base that accommodates most dips from most major fast-food chains. In other words, you no longer have to place your precious sauces and dips on your lap like a barn animal while enjoying car nuggets. I mean, is there anything left to invent?
You’ve likely seen these sandals in a recent post of mine, and for good reason. The Tory Burch ankle-wrap espadrille sandals are my favorite summer sandal purchase so far this year because they’re comfy, beautiful and ideal for both casual and dressy events all summer long. I started off with the caramel brown colorway but I have a feeling that the white pair will be mine soon…very soon.
I think one major reason I’ve never really been a huge bath person is because I always find myself slipping down into the water as if I have no control over my body. Physics, slippery tubs, whatever the reason, it’s not fun. That’s where the Bath Bean comes in. It’s a 100% FDA-approved food-grade antimicrobial silicone pad that’s designed to be placed under your bottom to prevent you from sliding. Since it weighs a substantial 2.5 pounds, it ensures you stay put so you can genuinely relax instead of trying to keep yourself from slipping around so much. I also love that it’s dishwasher safe!
Look, is it the most practical bag I’ve ever seen? No. It is, however, one of the cutest knotted leather bags that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since it first graced my Instagram feed. Macramé knotting gives it an airy look and the retro shape gives it that “updated classic” vibe that I love so much. The black colorway is pure perfection.
The cuteness. I cannot handle the cuteness. If your kids’ room or playroom is lacking storage, what a golden opportunity you have to make clean-up time a lot cuter with this giraffe-shaped basket. How do you not smile every time you see this?
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