Just sitting on the deck on a summer’s day, feeling the breeze…kids are out for the afternoon. The heat and humidity will be back this weekend. But it’s warm and the sun is shining, and a good book is waiting … I love summer!
Hope your day is as beautiful as it is here.
Best,
Stephanie
OK, so it isn’t the sea, it’s the Long Island Sound. But it is a perfect spot for lunch, isn’t it? My friends and I always try to get here just before the kids are done with school. There are three levels. Behind the white railing is a wrap around deck where we ate. Downstairs, right on the beach, there is catering. The canvas wrapped deck on top is the Sunset Grill, where they serve light dinners overlooking the water. There’s just something about eating outside near the water. (I had a yummy turkey club on a croissant with a side salad, if anyone was wondering. It had melted cheese and guacamole on it.) Isn’t that a beautiful view?
I think it’s the only place on the North Shore you’ll find palm trees. That’s Connecticut in the distance.
Summer by the shore… ahhh ….
Best,
Stephanie
I don’t usually link to other posts, but since I love this idea, and The Tablescaper is practically a neighbor – Hi Sweetie! – I thought I would join in!
![[SummerSundays2.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_k_DqRLoM_CtEVbl8hhhpp7uQQ9rN0Kpw7vMXYHI0aMAmXqogY-swhlU5ToumBiqVgqeqrNzQ05qjJVi9Zb7deBAmf35NYdsgfiOXsW9iGU9FlWTMe-0afLt1ptQRuCH1P19jdgOza4/s1600/SummerSundays2.jpg)
So here goes. Summer Sundays to me mean grilling with the family. Dinner outside on the deck, bare feet, and good food. I am not a food stylist, and it all tasted better than it looked. This is one of our favorite summer dinners. Grilled steak and chicken kabobs …
… a ton of freshly grilled veggies …
… and my favorite – which sounds weird if you haven’t had it, but Watermelon and Tomato salad with Feta and basil… oh my …
This one is a staple in Greece. And the combination is delicious. I never wanted to try it thinking it was too strange, but when I did, SOLD! If you grow your own tomatoes, you are going to want to give it a try. It’s best with the tomatoes still warm from the sun. This is so light and refreshing – you will make it all summer long. Just chop up some watermelon, add tomatoes, some feta cheese, chop up some fresh basil and drizzle with a good quality olive oil. So easy and SO summery!
Happy Summer Sunday!
Best,
Stephanie
… enjoying these first gorgeous days of summer. Sugar loves it when the summer furniture comes out too! There is rain in the forecast for tomorrow, but for right now, it is sunny, warm and dry out … gotta love summertime!
Have a great weekend!
Best,
Stephanie
Just a quick filler post until I get 5 minutes to myself – which should be Tuesday, I think. (I hope!) Hope you’re all doing great!
This was a super quick idea I had. I took a few of my favorite landscape and flower shots from last year and cropped them to a square. Then I ordered them as 3x3 photos, took a bit of ribbon and some mini-clothes clips, and strung them across the kitchen bulletin board. (which I had made years ago by painting and old window we replaced, and mounting it on a board with cork in between.) I’m probably going to move them, but I never really display any photos other than family shots and I thought that this is a easy, pretty way to display them.
Best,
Stephanie
One of the best parts of summer is eating light. And finding easy no cook (or little cooking) recipes makes my day. This one my whole family really loves. It is easy to make ahead too, so it is also good for company or a summer buffet.
Take grilled chicken, (I either grill a few extra pieces when I am making it for dinner and set them aside for this salad or pick some up at the deli counter) and toss with seedless red grapes, granny smith apples, and Newman’s Own light olive oil and vinegar dressing. (If you can’t find that in your area, a very light olive oil and white vinegar will do just fine seasoned with a little salt and pepper.) Add in some chopped walnuts. (I took the photo before I added the nuts.) It is light but still satisfying.
Trust me – this looks better in person, especially with the nuts added in, and your family will love it. It is low calorie, low fat, healthy AND delicious. Especially delicious.
Let me know if you try it!
Best,
Stephanie
My dad is the man who has everything. He is in his late 70’s and has 5 kids. There is literally nothing he needs. So I tied a bow on my son, and attached a tag that said “redeemable for one day’s labor.” Jamie was up for it (he loves his grandfather, though he HATED the bow!) and my dad absolutely loved it. I think too that the gift of time with his youngest grandson will be a gift for Jamie as well. These two are crazy about each other, but rarely get one on one time.
I also gave him pictures I had taken of him with most of his grandchildren over the last 2 months, and he loved those too.
We spent a few hours with dad, and then came back here and relaxed away the rest of the day. The men in my life were happy, so it was a good day.
Have a great week, my friends!
Best,
Stephanie
Isn’t this the most beautiful pool and pool house? It’s like a little jewel box of gorgeous. I saw this on-line today and had to share. Have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!!
Best,
Stephanie
*A Key West Vacation home designed by Todd Richesin (check out the magazine – this man has serious talent) in a home featured in Traditional Home. Photos via House of Turquoise. No copyright violation is intended. If the owner of this image would like it removed, please let me know and I will do so immediately.
As I look around, both here in blogland and in my life, it seems like there is such a huge transition that happens in June. Our babies grow up, they graduate, they move on. So I am taking this time to say – stop, breathe, enjoy the moment. And take a picture please. You may think you’ll remember the cute way they scrunch their nose. Or how their little tongue peaks out when they’re doing their homework. But so many of these moments are lost to the rush of time in our daily lives. Someday, they’ll treasure the memories those photos represent, and that we cared enough to capture those times.
As for me, I have two graduations next week – my baby goes on to middle school (which I’d like to protest please. She only turned 10 yesterday!) and my son goes on to high school (which starts in 8th grade here. Yeah, I want to protest that too!). I’m so crazy about these two, it is unbelievable. I am proud of them and all they do, but yet I want just for a minute to capture their little sweet hands and hold on a moment. I can’t freeze time. But I can capture the memory. Don’t wait. Take a picture please.
Best,
Stephanie
Not too much to post today – just some hydrangeas shortly before sunset yesterday. The light was beautiful, and by letting it hit my lens, I got this pretty, hazy effect. A few minutes later, it was nearly gone.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Best,
Stephanie
Not my usual post, but I saw a post on The Zhush the other day, about summer favorites. Since one of hers was one of mine, I thought I’d pass along my summer must haves.
Virgin Island Water, by Creed. A light blend of coconut, white rum and musk inspired by the trade winds of the Virgin Islands. This is not an inexpensive perfume – none of the Creed line is – but it smells like summer and heaven all rolled into one. It’s been my summer fragrance for the last few years, and I never fail to get compliments on it.
Smith’s Rosebud salve is actually a year round favorite. I use it for all those little skin irritations and chapped lips all year long. It’s great for summer vacations too as it is good for so many things. One little tin will soothe chapped lips, smooth your cuticles, works on blemishes, and even fill in as an eyebrow tamer and so much more. A little bit goes a long way and the tin lasts for a long time. And at about $6, it’s a great buy.
Burt’s Bees Baby Powder is talc free, and has a soft scent that won’t interfere with anything else you’re wearing. Keeps me cool and dry all summer long without drying my skin. You can find it on line, at specialty stores, and at some Targets.
Last but not least – lip gloss. I use Korres Natural Plum or Nude most days, or any of the Nars Glosses. My current favorite is Nars Dolce Vita. Great name, right? It’s a soft, nude pink color with a little bit of pop. Very pretty for summer.
What are your summer favorites?
Best,
Stephanie
It’s a question I’ve been asked many times. And one that I’ve asked, to be honest. When I am asked this question. I always answer. When I ask this question, with few exceptions, (love you, Traci!), I usually get an answer along the lines of, “it isn’t the camera that makes the difference, it’s the photographer.” (Has this ever happened to you?)
And I get it, I do. I know some people really think the only thing you need for a good photo is a good camera. I recently posted photos of my daughter to my Facebook page. Several people asked me what camera I used because “it takes such nice pictures”. They seem surprised that I haven’t changed cameras in a few years, since my photos have improved. The only reason for that is because I make a conscious effort to take a LOT of photos and to keep learning more about photography. The fact is, a camera doesn’t make a photograph anymore than a computer writes a great novel.
The camera is a tool, and some cameras have certain features that you may or may not need. I am interested in upgrading my camera and learning about what’s out there so I can make a good choice. Right now, I am between two camera choices, and so I am asking everyone who has them what the pros and cons are. So I say – go ahead and ask. The worst that can happen is that they don’t tell you.
Which brings me to my next photo tip. Take out your camera and play with it. Even the simplest point and shoots now have settings you can adjust to take better photos. The truth is, some of the photos I have posted with my point and shoot have gotten as much reaction as the ones I take with the DSLR. For example, the truck photo in the field of flowers a few posts back, and the Christmas tree shots back in December. So take out your camera at a time when getting the shot isn’t crucial, and play with those different settings. You will miss a few shots, learn a few things, and hopefully, have some fun in the process.
Happy shooting!
Best,
Stephanie
It is absolutely beautiful here, but it was a hot week in New York! But the good news is, the hydrangeas are out in full force. I wish I could get a photo of the whole row of them to share – but there are other bushes stopping me from getting back far enough to get them all in. About 3 years ago, I decided as much as I love tomatoes, I really wanted hydrangeas. So we planted them along the southern exposure of the house, and now we have a hedge over 40 feet long. I am in love!
As for the tomatoes, this year we are trying those upside down planters, and one pot on the deck. I cannot wait to see how they come out. What’s better than a homegrown tomato still warm from the sun?
I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Best,
Stephanie
Last weekend, we went to our favorite Greek restaurant. And by favorite, yes, all four of us agree. So does everyone else we’ve ever taken there.
We ate outside, right on the sidewalk, people watched, and ate some really good food … Why does everything taste better outside – even in the city?
That’s the husband, looking forward to good food and an ice cold beer. We ordered a bunch of appetizers to share instead of four separate meals. We had salad, calamari, amazing homemade grilled herbed meatballs, grilled haloumi cheese, grilled octopus, and the best handmade fries. YUM!
We could go there every week and not get tired of it. And it is the kind of place where they never rush you out, even on a busy Saturday night. I think we spent nearly two hours there, chatting, people watching and enjoying the food and each other.
Next time any of you come to New York, we are so going there!
Have a great weekend!
Best,
Stephanie
… was the annual 5K race. Which my daughter decided she was going to run. Despite never having run 1K. In fact, the only way she had ever done more than 1K was on the back of a horse or a bicycle. But she wanted to do it. This picture was right up our block, just past the 2-mile point. 
The man behind her is in the volunteer fire department with my husband. He is such a nice guy. And one mile later … success! Here she is just about to cross the finish line.
She finished in 40 minutes. Not too bad for a first try with no practice at all. She was sweaty, red, and sooo tired. And she still wants to do it again next year. My baby is so fierce!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Best,
Stephanie
One of the best parts of living in our village is the Memorial Day parade. We’re a small village, but they never forget those who served.
The fire department is a part of the parade too. That’s Mr. C. driving the last truck in the parade. (He wasn’t crabby – just squinting in the sun!)
After the parade, there is a service at the village green, with prayer, the national anthem, and the flag is lowered to half mast with a 21 gun salute by our veterans.
I hope you all had a happy day, and that you took a moment to remember those who gave all. God Bless America, and may He bless you all too.
Best,
Stephanie
Jen at Slumber Designs! Congratulations Jen! Jen’s comment:
“200 posts already?? Where does the time go!! Of course I follow you and for the two options: I pick the Greece book and the Bahia book... of course ;-) Pick me, Pick me, Pick me!”
Actually Jen, you get all three books: Greece Style, Provence Style, and Bahia Style. I hope you like them. I will be sending you an e-mail to get your address soon.
Funny story about this one. My random winner generator (i.e., Katie) was having so much fun picking, that after she pulled Jen’s name, she asked if she could pull out another one. So I said OK, and it came out Jen again! So you were definitely meant to win this one, Jen. I had fun doing this, and I’m going to see what else I can come up with for another giveaway.
I hope you all had a good holiday weekend. I have a lot to post on this week, and to catch up with on your pages.
See you soon!
Best,
Stephanie
