Guest post: Relaxing on a summer day

Today's guest post is written by bride-to-be Alli. Her lovely little blog is a source of many happy things, and I'm always inspired by Alli's positive attitude and many "reasons to smile."

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I'm Alli from Reasons to Smile and I'll be talking to you about my favorite ways to relax on a summer day! 

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First, everyone needs to find a good summer read. I'd suggest some of these:

The Hunger Games (gov't/conflict)

Harry Potter (wizards)

BossyPants (Tina Fey autobiography)

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (biography, full of life)

City of Bones (fantasy)

Mao's Last Dancer (biography, history)

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Grab some coffee or tea with a friend. There's nothing like having a chat with a friend about life, love, and dreams.... or hardships. Take some extra time for yourself and plan date with someone you haven't seen in a while to catch up. As a grad student, a lot of my friends are gone for summer so it takes some extra work to see them but it's always worth it!

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Go on a picnic for two with a best friend or a significant other. Getting outside on a nice day is like a cure all for the blues. Get your fill of that Vitamin D while lounging about. If a meal is your thing try some classic pb&j with chips, watermelon, lemonade, and brownies. If you're looking for a little romance perhaps a bottle of wine, some different types of cheese and crackers, a baguette, or some dark chocolate? 

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Go out and get some exercise. It took a long time to sell me on this. I think there's a two week hump that everyone needs to cross over. At first it just feels like a struggle and it's hard to get up and go to the gym but once you do it for a little bit it starts feeling really good. In fact, after two or three weeks if I don't go it begins to feel like something is missing from my routine. Make it fun: play tennis, racquetball, go swimming, walk through a local park.

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Cook, bake, or try something new! Is there a recipe you've always wanted to attempt? Or have you always wanted to try your hand at baking? On my list is this peach cake. I'm no baker but I think it'd be fun to try. Wouldn't you like to take that beauty to a party? 

What are your favorite activities to do during the summer to relax?

Guest post: Summer bummer

Today's guest post is written by Bethany, whose blog Rinse Repeat is one of the first I ever followed {and she was the first follower I ever had who didn't know me in real life! I will always have a special place in my heart for Bethany...} Her writing is eloquent, her photos are gorgeous, and you just can't help but adore her. Read on and see for yourself!

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Know what's the hardest about summer vacations? Returning to reality. Talk about summer bummer...

For example...in June, my boyfriend took me on a trip to Paris. He's currently in Iraq, so we met at the airport in Paris. Just like in the movies. We kissed while walking through the streets of Paris. Just like in the movies. And he proposed on a terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Just. Like. In. The. Movies. I came home with a fiance...but kissed him goodbye when he boarded a plane back to Iraq. Not exactly like the movies.



How does one come down from a month like that? I'm unsure and I've not excelled at resuming normal life. If looks could kill, my pile of dishes would have fallen into the ground days ago. And please don't ask why I'm wearing red shorts and a purple tank top. Yes. Laundry Mountain has yet to be conquered.

So, in an effort to rebound from the post-vacation blahs, I've made a plan and here it is: Make over my porch...into a place that feels like a daily vacation. A place where I read a book into the afternoon and chat on the phone with my fiance, Gabriel, late at night.



I just moved in a little over a month ago, and have never had an outdoor living space before...so this porch stayed pretty bare bones over the past few weeks. Upon moving in, my mother came over and we christened the porch with a pie picnic + a box which served as a table. Classy, eh?

Aaaaand I've gotten this far. Which is great! And especially for the price: just about $100 for the table, chairs, chair pads and candle (all from IKEA). It's functional, simplistically sweet, looks crisp and leaves lots of room for moving about the porch.

But, before Gabe left for Iraq, we had one ultra sweet night out here, attempting to play Scrabble by candlelight (not a fantastic plan), drinking a little too much wine and talking about the future. He told me how much my creativity, writing and photos boost his spirits, even from thousands of miles away...and how his dream is for me to pursue creativity in any way I desire. Sigh. If I hadn't already agreed to marry him, I certainly would have after that conversation.

That night was so, so beautiful...perhaps my favorite date we've ever had. So, I owe it to the space in which that emotional magic occurred to do just what my fiance said: Pursue my creativity.

While the table and chairs are cute, I've got plenty of space for a few more pieces. Ultimately, I'm going for this:

1. Garden House Decor. 2. Urban Outfitters, via pinterest. 3. Anthropologie. 4. VivaTerra. 5. Urban Outfitters, via pinterest. 6. Alisa Burke. 7. Pearl River. 8. Pink Friday blog, via pinterest. 

A little mod, a little Moroccan and a little Shabby Chic. Sure, it's slightly eclectic. But eclectic lends well to thrift sale finds + a coat of spray paint + a little DIY elbow grease (like this DIY Chevron rug!).

And as a supplement to this plan, I'm picking up my dusty copy of The Happiness Project and diving in again. If this doesn't bust me out of the post vacay-slump...nothing will! :)

P.S. Are you having a summer bummer? Drop me a line with your address at wwrinserepeat@gmail.com. I would love to send you a little care package to bring some sunshine to your summer!

Guest Post: Em's dilemma

Today's guest post comes to you from my favourite friend in the whole wide world {yep, the one who lives a whole world away}... Emily in France! You've met her before, in many a post, including our weekly E & me photo project. And now here she is in person, to tell you a little bit about summer in France {oh la la!} and summer in Canada, eh?

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I live in France, right?

That's fabulous.

But I miss Canada too.

That's less fun.

Summer is great in both places.

But until somebody finally invents a teleporter 

{hurry up & do that already!}

I guess I can't be both here & there.

But you know what I can do?

Make a list of my Top 10 Summer Hits & Misses to share with you.

What I love about summer in France:

le lac d'Annecy, Summer 2011

10. going for a dip in Annecy's gorgeous {& crystal-clear!} lake

9. drinking an ice-cold demi-pêche
{draft beer + peach syrup = beyond delicious!}

8. the amazing local fruit & vegetables at the markets

7. Bastille Day celebrations:
fireworks & the traditional fireman's bal {public dance}
6. picnics {sandwiches on fresh baguettes are never boring}

5. eating dinner on our balcony with a view of the mountains

4. La Fête de la Musique

3. sitting on the shady terrace of a café people-watching

2. swimming in my parents-in-law's pool

1. music festivals like this one

moi in my favourite café in Annecy's old town, July 2011

What I miss about summer in Canada:

Erin & I at Vancouver's English Bay, Summer 2010 {the leis? it's a long story...}

10. iced chai tea lattes at Starbucks

9. dipping my feet in the Pacific Ocean

8. salmon on the BBQ at my parents' house

7. Bard on the Beach in Vancouver

6. corn on the cob

5. the fact that it's almost never muggy
{or above 30 degrees!} in Vancouver

4. lazy summer days with family & friends

3. Canada Day celebrations

2. baseball games at Nat Bailey Stadium

1. Slurpees


me being corny during dinner at my parents' house, Summer 2010



So... voilà !

Last summer I was on the West Coast for a nice long visit.

This summer I'm making the most of Annecy 

& heading to France's Atlantic Coast in a few weeks for vacation.

Best of both worlds?  

Certainly.

Although I'm still waiting for that teleporter...

 

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I wish you had that teleporter too, Em! Think how handy it would be for those times when we just really want to get together for a tea date...

E & me {summer sky}

I might be away on vacation, soaking up the sun lakeside, but that doesn't mean we don't have time for an E & me post! 

Today's photos feature the summer sky. Isn't it gorgeous, on both sides of the globe?

click on the photo collage to take a closer look

I love a sky full of interesting clouds, don't you? And even more, I love a sky that stays light until at least 9 pm! Hurrah for summer! 

Now... Victoria, Canada and Annecy, France. Can you guess which sky is which? 

PS: Speaking of Em, there's just one day left to enter her fantastic Bastille Day giveaway if you haven't already. You want to win, believe me! I speak from experience when I say she sends the best packages. Bonne chance!

Guest post: Summer cooking with Micaela

Micaela of Dolce Vita doesn't really need an introduction. Everyone in blogland knows her and loves her, am I right? M and I have been friends since her first Christmas ornament swap in 2009. We were paired up and I'm so glad! We have a wonderful friendship and have written each other stacks of long letters over the past few years. I'll be writing her one while I sit beside the lake this week, I'm sure...

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happy summer darling readers of my sweet friend's blog! it's micaela of dolce vita  keeping you company while erin is enjoying the sunshine at the lake (nothing says 'summer' like the word lake, no?)

today i wanted to share one my favorite summer eats. i haven't stopped making it since i first came across the recipe and what i love most about it-- it's such an easy dish to put together. 

lovies, grab your aprons, hit play on some summery music (as i type this i'm listening to a jack johnson cd my twin sister gave me) and let's make israeli couscous salad. 

this is all you'll need (makes 8 servings)

2 cups of Israeli Couscous

2-6 oz containers of Cherry Tomatoes sliced in half 

1 bunch of Basil roughly chopped

8 oz Feta Crumbled

Juice from 2 lemons

1/4 or more Olive Oil

S+P to taste

Cook Israeli Couscous according to package directions. Let it cool to room temperature. While it's cooling, cut up tomatoes and basil. Toss with cherry tomatoes, feta, basil, lemon juice, olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

ingredient notes: according to couscous directions, adding salt and butter is optional but what is life without butter? so i added "i can't believe it's not butter" to keep it a little healthier. 

i used yellow & red tomatoes the first time i made this and will grab them when they're in stock. i also use whole wheat couscous and never measure the feta or tomatoes cos we love a lot of both in our household. instead of two lemons, i used one because husband likes things a little less 'lemony' so if you're the same way, it'll still taste just as good with the juice of one lemon. 

terribly easy to make right? and so good. 

for dessert, i suggest a whole bag of unwrapped miniature reeses buttercups. yes, i just said the whole bag.


enjoy lovies!!! and thank-you for letting me be your host today. please do say hi and let me know if you make my favorite summer dish or if you want to tell me about one of yours xo

Guest post: Summer in Australia

Today's guest post is written by beautiful Gracie, of the Aussie blog Graciebellabutterfly. Gracie is the sweetest girl who sends the loveliest things in the post. She's a fellow children's book lover, and host of the Happy Mail Project. I'm so happy she agreed to write a post for me whilst I'm away...

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Hi everyone this is Gracie from Graciebellabutterfly. Erin has kindly asked if I could do a guest post for her while she's off on a summer holiday.

I thought I would write about my favourite way to spend a summer day. Summer time in Australia means beautiful weather. So being outdoors is a must.

Via Apartment Therapy

♥ A picnic on the beach is perfect for a romantic date night. 

Via Apartment Therapy

♥ Or even a picnic date in a park with a sweet little tent. 

Via Ohhellofriend

♥ Watching movies at the drive in with a basket of food ( fairy lights and blankets add a nice touch)

Via Samantha Lamb Flickr

♥ Reading books on a rug

Via Jaz Marsh Flickr

♥ Taking lots of photos and wearing pretty summer dresses

Via Bordons Flickr

♥ Going on a picnic for one and riding a cute bike to get to the destination

Via Paper Pastries Flickr

♥ Writing plenty of letters and postcards

♥ Going for sunset strolls on the beach

A perfect summer day to me means spending time doing the things I love in the outdoors. It means wearing pretty dresses or skirts and relaxing in the shade. It means ice cold drinks and reading beside a pool. It means longer days and pretty sunrises and sunsets.

Summer is my favourite season and I look forward to the next Australian summer.

Thank you Erin for letting me share my thoughts on your blog. I hope you are having a wonderful time on your holiday :)

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Thank you, Gracie, for writing such a lovely post for my readers to enjoy while I'm away! Now everyone... go visit Gracie's beautiful blog! It's full of such pretty things.

Guest post: Summer lovin'

Today's guest post comes from my adorable and totally awesome blogging friend, Kim, in sunny Los Angeles {seriously jealous up here right now, Kim!} Her sweet, funny, always interesting blog is one of my first reads every morning. Go visit her and you'll see why!

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hello everyone! this is kim from fill your well.  i am so excited to be helping erin with her fabulous blog while she's off on her adventure.  erin has been one of my best bloggy friends ever since we were both wee bloggers in this big blogging world {alliteration!}, and her blog is still one of my absolute favorites.

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i'm not sure about you, but i have been LOVING summer!  to fully get where i'm coming from you have to understand that i have not experienced summer in years, years i tell you!  i was living in san francisco for a good long time where summers are cold, foggy, and windy.  there, summers meant scarves and sweaters and boots.  the poor tourists always stuck out like a soar thumb with their shorts and "I <3 San Francisco" sweatshirts, which they purchased upon realizing their mistake in not fully researching their vacation destination.  i'm sure those sweatshirt stands made a killing every summer!  

{clockwise from top left: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

but now i live in los angeles where the air is hot, the sun shines brightly, and the beach is hopping.  while i love cold weather, i'm definitely soaking up my summer experience here in the desert.  yes! finally summer!  so if you wouldn't mind, i'd like to share my ode to summertime...

...for lounging in the hammock and living in cute summer dresses, 

for passion tea lemonades and gelato shops,

for picnics in the park and reading on the beach,

for bare feet and the smell of sunblock,

for evening strolls in search of food trucks and outdoor concerts in the park,

for watching classic movies while floating in a pool with friends,

for helping all of life slow down just a little more,

THANK YOU summer.

i love you so!

and i hope all of you, dear readers, are having a lovely summer as well!

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Thank you, darling Kim for this lovely guest post. Summer, I feel the same way, too...