Monday 10 June 2013

Summer living | Vive l'été

After an amazing sunny week, topped on Saturday with the highest temperatures this year, all I could think about for today's post was the seaside. If only we had a seaside resort in Luxembourg! Well, we have river banks and then there is the Upper Sûre Nature Park in the northwest of the country, which we haven't visited yet. There is just something about being by the sea with sand between the toes and wind in the hair. When we lived in Antwerp it only took us an hour to drive to the Belgian seaside or to a beach somewhere in Holland, but I cannot complain because now we have a garden.


When the peonies are in season they are usually the only flowers I think about. This year it was different and the reason was probably the much colder spring we enjoyed. Honestly, I wasn't really feeling the peonies this year and instead I found myself drawn to blue or purple flowers, mainly irises, and I have already told you about my lavender obsession. Mine isn't blooming yet but I think it survived my propagation. The beauty about a plant like lavender is that you don't need a garden. Just visit your local flower shop and buy potted lavender and keep it on your balcony or indoors in a sunny window. The scent is divine.

Are you familiar with verbena? I have never kept a verbena, I'm only aware of the uplifting qualities of its essential oil, and after finding the photo to the right I think I'm ready for my own plant. It looks so pretty. The flower to the left is a potted scaevola, just as pretty.

Let's go back to the seaside and also have a look at inexpensive style.

I don't know how it is in other corners of the world but if you go to a farmers' market or a flower market around here you will see people carrying the classic French market baskets. They come in various sizes and styles and are very useful - perfect for the beach. Quite recently I found the website of Medina and saw that they carry a range of market baskets. Yesterday I found anther website that has plenty of French woven baskets, handmade in Morocco. I just added the links to give you ideas.

I like the idea of having all kinds of woven items and bringing them to the beach or taking them with you if you are going on a picnic.

Being stylish at the beach doesn't have to be expensive. The H&M Summer 2013 ad campaign shows a few basics that everyone can afford. I like the safari colour in this one. Maybe you already have something like this in your wardrobe so you are good to go, that is, if you have a beach nearby.

When I saw that the campaign photos were taken in Tulum, Mexico, I remembered this photo in my files. I have never been to Mexico but I wouldn't mind being at this spot in Tulum right now.

Whatever you do this summer, make it one to remember!

photo credit:
1: Nuevo Estilo / 2: Lovely Leaf Studio via Style Me Pretty / 3-4: William P. Steel for Country Living / 5: Aina of Modern Country blog / 6-7: Anders Schønnemann Photography / 8: Terry Richardson for H&M Summer 2013 ad campaign | model: Doutzen Kroes / 9: Mattias Olsson via Condé Nast Traveler (Playa Mambo, Tulum, Mexico)

8 comments:

  1. I love your summer vibe here. And you've beautifully curated the post combining so many summer lifestyle topics! Thanks also for the interesting shopping links:-) happy week!

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  2. How I love these Monday posts! This is the perfect summer for me. As I don't have a garden I like to visit the flower market every week and stock up with fresh flowers. I must have a picnic on the beach very very soon, because right now it's the only thing on my mind.

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  3. I love this post {of course} - if only life by the sea could be like this all the time...mostly people are bustling about with life, just like any place else--perhaps I will take some time this week to slip away and enjoy the paradise 5 minutes away. A verbena plant sounds like an excellent idea--I'm going to try and pick one up thanks to you :) Hope you are having a lovely day!
    xo Mary Jo

    p.s. I am going to email you later today--I am watching my first Iceland character on netflix...have to know what you think of him!

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  4. Soooo nice. Lisa. Pretty images.
    Currently peonies are decorating my home, and yes, lavender is always beautiful because its simplicity and colour. I love the baskets to go to the beach or doing the shop.

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  5. On Saturday I found the H&M landbook that I forget about under my bed (yes, my cats are crazy about trowing everything on my night closet under the bed) and on the back cover, there is this beautiful, serene and military green inspiration outfit with those magnificent earrings. I like the vibe of your summer posts, Lisa! And I can understand the love for purple flowers :D Have a beautiful day!

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  6. Love the lilac, purple and white palette! Can't wait for summer to come back around!

    http://currentlylovingblog.blogspot.com/

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  7. I hate to ask this but do you have a resource for the orchid color plates and white ripple bowls on the above page?

    Thank you so much.

    Berylee

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    Replies
    1. Simply follow the first link under 'photo credit' at the bottom of the post and you will see where these items come from.

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