Favorite Summer Scarves

It's really hot out but I am still sneaking in a scarves.  I love the layered look and I feel like they can dress up a plain t-shirt or sleeveless dress.  Here are a few of my current faves.

I bought this American flag style scarf last year on Etsy and have been getting lots of wear from it.  I wore it on Memorial Day, each of the recent World Cup games and of course, plan to this weekend.  It is so soft and light, perfect for warmer temps.

I ran into Old Navy for my sister to grab some swimsuits for the kids and came out with a scarf for me.  It's infinity style (my fave) and has cute tassels.  Super lightweight and great for summer.

Ahhh....the soft touch of silk.  

This JCrew snood is so fun.  The tassels give it a cute look for all seasons.

The most recent addition to my scarf collection is this cutie with pink flamingos.  I cannot remember where I got this but found lots of adorable options here.  

What are your go-to summer looks?  Hope you are off to a super week!  

My first NBA Draft Party

Hope you had a great weekend.  I was scheduled to race but Mother Nature sent the rain and won again.  Sunday turned out great so I spent the day with the fam at our summer lake spot.  

Thursday night, I went to my first NBA Draft Party.  I am not really much of a basketball fan but my sis had an extra ticket so they talked me into joining them.     

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 It was a really fun outing.  The Magic dancers were taking pictures with fans and there were lots of activities all around the arena.

 The girls got to meet the team mascot and it was the highlight of their night.

I posted a picture using their hashtag and the kids got to see it up on the big screen.  So fun!

 

They had free-throw contests and we saw several people hit the shot (from half-court) and win $1,000.  There were kids games, photo ops and they also did a live broadcast of the draft.  The concessions were half-price.  Aside from the long food lines, it was nearly perfect.  

The kids had a great time and I am glad they ended up with an extra ticket because I probably would have never gone to something like this.

Hope you have a super week! Short work schedule for us...we are closed Friday for Independence Day.  Don't forget to cheer on the US soccer team tomorrow night.  USA! USA! USA!

Pinterest Project: Back Porch Cooler Stand

I am ready to plan our first summer party and cannot wait to use the new addition to the Porter family, courtesy of my god friend Pinterest.  It's 99% complete.  Simon wants to add wheels and a little catch can for the bottle tops.  I found a vintage Coca-Cola bottle opener on Etsy.  Check it out.

 

These were some samples I found online.  (search: cooler stand) 

I liked the cedar one and dark stained ones best.  I gave him these pictures and from there I wasn't too picky.  Picking the stain was the biggest decision.  

We ended up going with the Teak colored stain that was somewhat transparent.  

  

Here are some action shots from the project.  He did great on attaching the lid.  It lined up perfect and it has a good seal to keep the drinks cool.  It's time to plan a par-tay, wouldn't you agree?!  :)

Packing & Planning for SeaWorld Aquatica

I just got back from my second visit to Aquatica.  Packing and planning for theme park visits can be tricky.  You are stuck with your choices, good and bad...all day long.  A lot of people have the tendency to over pack for all those "just in case" items.  My tips for Aquatica.  One note, the child I had with me is 10 years old.  Adjust your kiddie stuff accordingly.

First, the DO-NOT list:
No water shoes - Many rides do not allow them at all
No loose cover-ups - Again, many rides make this a no-go
Camera - If you have someone not swimming and sitting on the sidelines, this is okay.  Otherwise, there are lots of photographers there.  They will give you a wrist band to scan to purchase photos at the end of the day.  Most rides do not allow loose items to be carried on.
Sunglasses - I didn't take them in line and was fine.  Some of the rides are pretty fast and there is a good chance you will lose them at some point.
Food - This won't even make it thru the entrance.  No outside food is allowed.

The DO list:
Credit card - (versus cash) I was just saying, all parks really should go the Disney way and use a wristband to make purchases.
To my surprise, Aquatica offers this.  The park is huge.  The LAST thing you want to do is keep going back to your locker to get money.  You can link a debit/credit card to a wristband and any money you don't use goes back on your card at midnight.
Sunscreen - Obviously.  Hello...it's Florida.  Temps are already in the "feel like" at 100+  The park does a good job of providing lots of shade while you wait in line though.
Backpack - Carry everything in a typical size backpack and you are good to go with a small sized locker
Grocery bag - Stash a couple of these in your backpack to carry out wet swimsuits.
Towels - We took towels and they fit in the locker fine.  You can rent them if you want to pack light so towels can go either way.
Travel size/hotel size body wash & shampoo - There are free showers in the bathrooms by the lockers.  They do have some all-in-one body wash in the showers so you are covered it you want to pack light.

Lunch plans - Lunch is so so.  There are several spots to duck-in buffet style and grab food but the temps are FREEZING if you are wet.  It was so hot that we didn't have a big appetite and opted for hotdog and a drink.  We got fries but they were cold so we tossed them.  The prices are as you would anticipate, a little on the high side. 

We did see some all-day dining signs posted but didn't check into it.  I believe the signs said $20 or so but check the website for that info. 

My niece loved the Dippin Dots stations.  This little treat was perfect for a quick cool down and there are three different sizes.  These were $5-$8 or so and there were several spots throughout the park. 

If you are planning a trip, Aquatica is in a great spot in Orlando.  Nice hotels and lots of dining nearby.  Wet-n-Wild is a nearby waterpark.  It's a little lower priced but not nearly as nice.  It's about 40 years old and is closing next year.  

Cabana Bay is another nearby waterpark.  It's tiny in comparison to the major waterparks but huge for a hotel pool.  It's inside a hotel so it's much more temperature controlled.  It's really reasonably priced.  I took my nieces when they were 5 or so and they loved it.  

Have any fun summer trips planned?  I want to take a long weekend with my husband.  No theme parks for us but something outside to enjoy the water for sure.  :)    

Work travel + weekend fun + World Cup

It's the start of another week and I am ready.  For some reason, summertime makes the weeks fly by faster.  I did some traveling for work last week and found a nice spot to recommend....One Ocean in Jacksonville, Florida.
We typically stay in modestly priced hotels but my manager treated us to an extra nice spot.  We usually have late dinners and get started early in the morning so my work travel essentials are a few nice wash cloths and an iron.  We got lucky with an early dinner and I snuck up to my room to watch the US Soccer game and finish up a little work reading.  I couldn't find an iron in my room and when I called to the front desk, I was pleasantly surprised to learn they come pick up clothes for basic steaming at no charge.  Bonus!  I am sad to say that I never even walked downstairs to check out the restaurant or bar but everything I did see was lovely.  Perfect for a weekend getaway spot if you are in the area.

 Just before I left for a few days on the road, my niece Payton and I went to SeaWorld Aquatica

We had a fun afternoon and lines were't too bad.  You can definitely tell it's tourist season in Orlando though.  We have annual passes so I have the packing down pat.  I will share some tips later to help you plan a visit.  

Hope you have a super week!  Don't forget to support the ladies tonight in the FIFA World Cup game! USA! USA! USA!

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Purse d-o-w-n-s-i-z-e-d

Aaaahhhh....can you feel my relief?  I have been lugging around a waaaayyy oversized bag for years. I have some small crossbody bags I love for nights and weekends and have long been searching for a smaller everyday bag.
I didn't find the perfect bag, but it's good for now.  I had lunch with a co-worker and she talked me into swinging by Saks Off Fifth to make a quick return.  While she was at the register, I scanned all the bags and grabbed this Rebecca Minkoff crossbody. It's dual-purpose and be a shoulder bag by doubling up on the straps.
It's surprisingly spacious inside, holding my full size wallet, cosmetics bag and car keys.  I am way too busy to switch bags daily so I got a neutral to carry each day.
See what you think..... (the chain strap is my fave)

Perfume of the moment: Miss Dior

Thanks to some VIB points I was saving up with Sephora, I scored a deluxe mini of this scent and loved it.  Online it says it's a combination of mandarin, peony and rose.  It's definitely worth a try.  

I love the convenience of the roller ball style, plus it gives me a chance to change scents often.  I couldn't find this scent in a roller but it's worth the splurge. ($75)  

Catching up....Destin trip

Playing a little catch-up since Memorial Day weekend.  I was home just a couple days before heading out on a 4-day work retreat.
My work has an annual manager meeting in Destin, Florida and it was the perfect way to kick off sumer. We had a little rain but still got lots of sunshine.  We stayed at Emerald Grande and it really is the perfect location if you want to walk to everything.

View from my room

We had lunch at The Back Porch

Crab Island

I didn't take any pictures of the inside of the condo but here are some from my stay last year.  The water was still a touch cool but with the sun out, it was perfect.

I am hoping to do a couple long weekends, one with Simon and one with the kids.  The little ones are out of school and have already hit us up for a summer vaca.  We have a tradition of taking them on trips when they are on breaks from school and it's something they always look forward to.
Some friends of ours just stayed at South Seas Resort in Captiva Island (they own a timeshare there) and they said it was great so we check that out this summer.

That's it for now friends...I made a couple purchases I'd like to share with you.  Hopefully I get caught up this week and can hop online.  Don't forget to cheer on the ladies in the women's World cup this week.  USA! USA! USA!