Favorite Things #4: Ikat Designs

Lately, I've been drawn to a lovely design pattern......ikat designs.

I didn't even realize that I was gathering a collection of ikat designs until I noticed a very strange coincidence......I had purchased a sundress, outdoor pillows, a candle, and a fragrance all in the same indigo blue design!! Hmmmm, there must be something to this pattern that I loved, so I did some research.

Ikat (pronounced "ee-kat") is an Indonesian fabric dyeing technique that is extremely labor intensive and a true art form. The colors and techniques of ikat design can range in soft and subtle hues to very bold and intense colors.

Ikat designs are everywhere -- in art, home decor,  fabrics, rugs, fashion, jewelry, home accessories, and more. (Check out my pinterest board, "Ikat Designs.")

Here are a few of my current favorites featuring the stunning ikat patterns.


l. Pillows: I bought a few of these for my outdoor sitting area from Kirklands. I can't wait to show you how well these go with the new and improved BLUE exterior of Sea Glass Cottage!

2. Summer Fragrance: It's too hot in the summer for a perfume, but Aerin's Ikat Jasmine body cream is the perfect way to wear a very light scent, and I love jasmine!

3. Fashion: I found this cute ikat print sundress at Macy's and it works well as a casual dress or a cover-up.

Hope you are having a wonderful summer!

Favorite Things #3 -- Everything Fall

What comes to mind when you think of fall?

I close my eyes and feel cool, crisp air......I smell woodsmoke and spices....I see glorious rich colors of amber and golds.....the sunlight is golden and mellow.....I feel the soft textures of fuzzy sweaters and cozy blankets...I crave apples and pumpkins and all of nature's bounty.

I celebrate fall! So in honor of this very special special day, the first day of fall, I'm sharing a few of my favorite autumn things.

Make the House Smell Like Fall

• One of the first things I do to celebrate autumn, besides pulling out pillows and decor, is to stock up on fresh candles. I love Yankee candles, and add fresh scents with every season. I always have a candle burning in my kitchen when I cook, and in the evening when we are settled in the den to read or watch television, I enjoy the ambiance of a candle on the coffee table. 

My current fall scents that I am enjoying are Autumn Leaves and Apple Pumpkin:

                                           
                                                             

• If you don't use candles but still like the house to smell like fall, a simmer pot is perfect for a cool, cozy evening. I fill a pot with a few cups of water and add orange peels, apple peels, lemon peels, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, a few drops of vanilla extract, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, and whatever else I might have on hand. (Herbs such as bay leaf, rosemary, and lavender are good, too!) Simmer on low, making sure the water does not completely evaporate.

Make Homemade Flavored Coffee

• I love flavored coffee, and pumpkin spiced coffee and lattes come out seasonally, but they can get expensive! I make my own simple version of flavored coffee with the regular blend I have at home.

You can make either instant coffee or fresh brewed coffee flavored by adding a few dashes of two items you probably have in your spice cabinet: ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. You can experiment with amounts to see how strong you want the flavors.  If I am making a cup of instant coffee, for example, I add a heaping spoon of instant coffee, about three dashes of cinnamon, and a dash or two of pumpkin spice, and add hot water. For a full pot of fresh brewed coffee, add coffee grounds, about a teaspoon each of cinnamon and pumpkin spice, (more if you want stronger flavor) gently stir to mix, and brew as usual.

Make Homemade Bath Products

• Now that I've got the house smelling spicy delicious and my cup of pumpkin spiced coffee is steamy hot, I'm ready to look up some fun fall DIY recipes. Here are two projects I found on my DIY Body Products pinterest board that I am ready to make for a luxurious spa bath experience:

Pumpkin Spice Soap:

• This easy and delicious smelling soap recipe for a relaxing fall evening bath is found on Happiness is Homemade.

Vanilla Pumpkin Body Scrub:

• You can find the easy recipe for this divine body sugar scrub also at Happiness is Homemade.

Here's to a wonderful fall filled with all good things, the beautiful bounty of nature, and a season of gratitude and thankfulness for all our blessings!

Favorite Things #2 - Jute Tote Bags & Home Decor

There was a time, long ago, when I couldn't get through summer without a few new bathing suits.

After two children, I was all about the beach cover-up!

Now, I don't even want to think about beach fashion! I'm all about cute and fashionable beach totes and accessories.

Mudpie has a great collection of coastal and nautical fashion, accessories, jewelry, and home decor. Currently,  I am loving anything that is a burlap/jute combination with white stamping. I personally own the sea fan cosmetic clutch (bottom left) and the sea fan tote (bottom right) for my beach bag. Amazon has a good selection of Mudpie products.

Besides beach totes, I also found a Mudpie table runner with the same jute/stamped white combination that I am loving, and I am using this simple, neutral table setting as my everyday centerpiece.

Jute seems to be really popular right now in coastal decor -- I've added jute pillows to my collection, rugs, candle holders, mirrors, picture frames, and lanterns -- just to name a few.  Oh, and that great beach bag!


(Note: These products are my personal products, purchased by me. I have not received products or compensation, and these are only my opinions.)

Favorite Things -- Summer Scents

Ever since I began my recent beach house adventure (and creating this blog to chronicle the story of Sea Glass Cottage), I've discovered a whole new world of bloggers who are truly dedicated and passionate about home decor, lifestyles, creative living, DIY, and so much more that goes into making our homes a special place for our families.

I decided that I would post a "favorite things" about beach living, and each post will be a different topic regarding beach living. It might be a great beach read I discovered, a super simple recipe, a new piece of home decor.....whatever I'm inspired to share.

This week I kicking things off with my favorite summer scents.

Here in the south, we have extremely hot and humid temperatures well into September and October, and the last thing you want to do is wear a heavy or cloying perfume. This summer, I am enjoying two light and crystal clear fragrances.......Pure Grace by Philosophy and Bobbi Brown's Beach.

Pure Grace is my favorite and I find it to have great staying power without being heavy or overpowering. It is a clean and crisp "soap and water" scent like ivory soap. I like to layer the scent with the shower gel and body lotion. On the hottest of days, I don't even wear perfume. The body products are all that I need.

My newest summer fragrance is Bobbi Brown's Beach. It's a bit pricey, but the scent is very reminiscent of Coppertone suntan lotion. If you have nostalgic memories of sun, sand, and Coppertone, you may enjoy this fragrance. I also have the bath gel and body lotion, but I find the Philosophy is more long lasting and less expensive.

If you're a "no fragrance at all" kind of person but still like to have some fun with summer scents, Philosophy shower gels are a great alternative. Every season, I look forward to their limited edition scents and I've never been disappointed. They are also great for travel as they can be used as shampoo and body wash. This summer, I'm enjoying Senorita Margarita and Melon Daiquiri. Both are fresh and fruity in the shower without a long lasting scent.

Here's to keeping fresh and clean during the dog days of summer!

(Note: These products are my personal products, purchased by me. I have not received products or compensation, and these are only my opinions.)