etched in stone.

The September issues have been locked and loaded on my bedside table, and they are the official curriculum on my first go-round this Fall as a non-student (P.S. Happy first day to everyone at Samford!). Landing at the top of my stack, though, has to be the Victoria Classics: Monograms. I found out about this from Splendid Sass and have been dying over it all weekend —we all know I love a good monogram (exhibits a., b., c., and d.).  I am loving the feature on Allison R. Banks, a fellow Samford graduate and one of my former professor's daughters. She is so incredibly talented and has been featured in Garden & Gun and other great publications.

To see more, head over to Splendid Sass. 

long time, no sea.

As my punny title suggest, I am spending my summer at the beach.. hard life, I know. I got myself a little job in Rosemary, which is my new absolute favorite part of 30-A. Seriously, come visit. You won't be sorry. I've been blowing up the Instagram world 24/7 with obnoxious photographing, but if you haven't been subjected to my flooding of photos, without further ado, my summer thus far:

Need I say more?

On my way to monogrammers anonymous. 

There is no beach quite like the Gulf.

Read. This. Book. Amazing. And a quick read.

Hello, summer job.

God's glory, shining through in Rosemary.

...and in Calif.. I mean, Alys. 

My Lilly obsession is alive and kicking and much more dangerous since,
A. this dress exists,
B. This pattern exists,
C. There's a Lilly store 3 miles away.

This picture from Classy Girls Wear Pearls had me
on the hunt for this Lilly necklace.

Lilly Pulitzer Shell Yeah necklace. Everything about this is perfect,
especially the fact that it is also a bottle opener. Yep.
I don't even drink anything with a bottle cap, but that HAS to come in handy somehow.
Trying to convince myself as I type this to not drive to Watercolor and buy.

A small Tory Burch purchase with my first paycheck. Emphasis on small.

Finding more and more peace in the fact that whatever God wants to happen will happen,
and that if it is meant to be,  He will make it happen.
Also, obsessed with Pinterest and quotes.

if it's not moving, monogram it!

Could anything be more southern than this? --monogrammed burlap tote. I hesitated posting this because I like to get my hands on something I find BEFORE I share it with all of my super stylish friends. However, I realized how selfish that sounds, so I thought y'all might love to get your hands on this NOW, since it is THE perfect beach tote/everyday tote/ shopping tote. I'm in love. With hundreds of possible monogram and thread combinations, the hardest decision you'll have to make in buying it is whether or not you want 5 for yourself! This burlap tote is also the perfect gift idea! Thank you, Pinterest, for yet again insuring that I stay broke.

Remember these wise words from Reese:

the politics of monogramming.

..It's my favorite chapter in The Official Preppy Handbook, and for good reason.  Why would you wear someone else's initials when you can embroider, emboss, or engrave your own on something?  Just look at Roger Federer.  Especially in the South, we all love a good monogram, and I am no exception. Here are a few of my favorites that I have seen.  But please, obey the OPH, and do not slap one on your car.

___________________________________

All photos via Pinterest, except for the Smathers and Branson Fancy Monogrammed Flask.

Heavens to Etsy

I'm loving these moss covered letters monograms from Etsy. Perfect for a room decoration or party.

Maine Attraction

My first memory of L.L. Bean took place during the summer before my K-4 year at Saint James (yes, I went there for a few years..don’t judge me-- youthful indiscretion :) ).  I remember sitting on my bed with my mom while she called and placed her order:  one Original Book Pack with script name for me and a Deluxe Book Pack with block initials for my brother, both in cobalt (duh, we went to STJ!).  I was SO excited—my big brother and I matched (yeah..shoulda known then that I was a sucker for matching/twin/themed looks)! 

And let me tell you, those 3-5 business days that I had to wait for that backpack felt like an eeeeeeternity. 

Classic style available in an array of colors, or build your own!

Fast-forward 16 years later, and I still love L.L. Bean.  They offer the standard in great quality for unbelievably reasonable prices.  Right now I’m getting ready to purchase the college version of that Original Pack*—an extra large Boat and Tote.  Originally made to hold large quantities of ice and said to be able to hold 400 pounds, I believe this tote can handle my textbooks and a computer, don’t you?  And if that isn’t good enough, all of their products have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  I might even get it in Regatta Blue as a throwback to that ole cobalt backpack.  

Decisions, decisions.  I'm going with Insignia.

My favorite part of nearly all L.L. Bean products is the $5 monogramming—just like any good southern girl, I love a monogram.

Some other things I’m coveting from L.L. Bean this season are a men’s gingham shirt (shown above) from the Signature Collection, to be worn oversized and belted at the waist, and some new moccasin slippers.  My mom has the most decadent pair of soft-soled moc slippers from L.L. Bean—flannel lined with soft, buttery leather and a hint of fleece.  They make your feet feel like they are floating in clouds of cotton--the only problem is that it looks like they aren’t making this particular style anymore.  Hopefully as we move into cooler months, this will change — otherwise I might be making two purchases from the gentleman’s side of the shopping world.  

How do you juxtapose a jaunt into menswear? 

Femme it up with a bow headband and a cinched waist, and voilà!

Borrowed from the boys, right? 

Well, whatever you purchase, if it’s from L.L. Bean, you won’t be disappointed. 

*That Original Book Pack lasted me all the way until 5th grade, at which point my copious (ha..) amounts of homework were outweighing the dimensions of the Original.  No fear, I upgraded.