Summer Is A Rumpled Tunic

I am back from a much-needed mini haitus. I took a quick trip back home to look for a reception venue and spent some quality time with my wonderful family and then started my new job the day after I got home! It has been busy, but I am very happy and content....I am sure in part to the warm weather. 70 degrees = bliss. My summer daydreams look a little like this:

crochet skirt, garden patio, printed shorts, toasted coconut vanilla limeade, rumpled tunic

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day. And smile, it's almost Friday :)

Top of My List...

At home in the desert this week-- sorry for the lack of posts but I am having too much fun playing hooky from life to do anything productive. I did not pack a hat for my trip, so the 105 degrees of blazing sun have me pining for a fedora, panama or wide-brimmed topper. Any kind will do, but here are a few of my favorites from the web:

Another topic that seems to come up this time of year-- any new and amazing sunscreen finds? The Cetaphil SPF 50 facial sunscreen that I used last year did not cause any breakouts, but it did leave my face shinier than acceptable standards of dewiness allow... in my book anyway. Which is a crazy read-- but I digress. If you know of any sunscreens that leave a matte finish, especially in a humid climate, I am all ears! (And face)!

Current Decor Obsession: Succulents

Plants! We eat them, wear ugly shoes to hike on trails in the middle of them, buy them in mass quantities at extraordinary prices for Valentine's Day and (perhaps best of all) we decorate our homes with them. Mother Nature can be the best source for decor when you want something fresh and alive in your home. And Mother Nature made Flora Grubb the fairy godmother of greenery so we can all have cool-looking indoor plants. I love FG's work, her shop and the general idea of indoor succulents- so have a look:

The cafe area of Flora Grubb's namesake shop in San Fransisco

Inside the FG shop, featuring one of her hanging installations

A historic home in San Fran with one of FG's vertical succulent gardens

Another shot of the Flora Grubb store. I want this to be my backyard!

DIY instructions for making and framing your own vertical succulent garden!

Not the work of FGrubb, but this event space has an awesome "living wall" with giant succulents!

Would you add a few more plants or a vertical garden to your home? Do you already have one? And am I crazy for thinking these are cool?! Also, I have started an herb garden but planting won't start until temperatures are a little warmer here, so in the meantime, does anyone have any herb garden advice? (or for plants in general since I can only keep succulents alive and that is only because succulents are indestructible?)