Happy Friday all! I can't believe Labor Day weekend is only 2 weeks away! How has Summer passed so quickly?!? I am savoring these last bits of Summer, but am also secretly excited for cooler weather and Fall layers. It's an internal conflict I have every year, so in a year with a pandemic, I am happy to be feeling some kind of normal. 

Counting down the days until the premiere of The Crown season 4!

This dress would be so cute with booties for Fall! 

The perfect summer dessert. 

Merritt just launched her Fall Wardrobe Capsule and it has so much good outfit inspiration for Fall! 

Loving so many pieces in Miranda Kerr's new home line.

I am really into this necklace to wear with high-neck tops and dresses. 

Hydrangea are one of my favorite flowers and I love to have cut hydrangea in my home. A few weeks ago I shared the above image on instagram of two week old hydrangea and got questions on how I keep my hydrangea from wilting. 

I used to run into the same problem with wilting hydrangea a day or two after purchasing them and I would get so frustrated and annoyed. Over the years though, I have tried a lot of different methods to prevent cut hydrangea from wilting and the method below is the only one that has worked successfully for me. It involves soaking the stems in hot water for a bit to remove sap from the hydrangea stems 

1. First, trim the hydrangea stems at an angle

2. Then, split each hydrangea stem in four, cutting up the stem about 3-4 inches

3. Soak the split stems in hot water, around 140º/150º F, for 10-20 seconds

4. Add hydrangea to a vase with lots of water

5. Repeat every 3-5 days as necessary

With about a month left of summer, I want to share my most loved items this summer. These are the pieces I wore/used over and over again, using them multiple times a week if not everyday. They are the items that have become staples in my closet and home. 

COS Black Cotton Dress - I love the idea of elevated basics and this dress is just that. There are lot's of options for a swing cotton dress these days and the details on this one make it extra special. From the scoop back to the slight waist definition, it's the dress I keep throwing on. 

LarLiving Straw Tote - I picked up this tote at the beginning of summer thinking I'd use it for the farmer's market, but it quickly became the bag I used for everything. I love that it has both long and short straps and is big without being giant (I have the medium size).  

Target Sandals - These sandals are similar to the Birkenstock Eva sandal but at a better price point. They are easy to slip on and I wear them for everything from taking out the trash to running errands. They are also super comfy. 

Royal Copenhagen Mug - I have admired Royal Copenhagen dishes for years, so when I learned the modern day 2nd wedding anniversary gift was china, I told my husband I wanted a few pieces from the brand. One of those items was this set of mugs. I have been using them everyday for my morning tea and just love how they look. 

Milky Oolong Tea - I first tried this tea a few months back and quickly fell in love with it's velvety texture. It's been my go-to tea in the morning all summer long. 

It's been a HOT week! Summers in the Netherlands are generally mild, so most places do not have air conditioning. However, for the last week there have been record high temperatures (think 90º F), so our apartment has felt like a sauna. Today's the first day of lower temperatures, so I am looking forward to finally cooling down this weekend. Have a great weekend everyone! 

I found this article very interesting about why so many brands and retailers are struggling. 

These rolls look so good for a weekend breakfast. 

So happy for Steve Irwin's daughter, Bindi, and her husband, who shared they are expecting their first child due in 2021. 

The neutral palette of this LA home is so calming. 

Have you binge watched the new season of Selling Sunset yet? 

The new book, Finding Freedom, chronicling Harry and Meghan's relationship and break up from the royal family by two royal reporters was released this week. 

In other news, Harry and Meghan have settled down in Santa Barbara. 

Loving the details on this dress for Fall. 

It's that time when summer is beginning to come to close and fall is not to far off, and I love olive green for this time of year. It's a color that does not scream fall, but begins to give me the fall feelings. While I am usually used to wearing this color in jackets, it's just to hot for those right now. Instead, I am finding an olive green dress to be the perfect way to bring this color into my wardrobe right now and get myself mentally ready for the change of seasons. 

DRESS // HANDBAG // SANDALS // BELT // SUNGLASSES (OLD, SIMILAR)

It's heartbreaking to read and see all the damage from the explosion in Beirut this week. You can find ways to support those affected here. 

Fixer Upper was one of my favorite shows, so I am so excited Chip and Joanna are bringing it back on their new network!

If you are into floral prints and working out (or even just loungewear), you need to checkout the new Love Shack Fancy x Bandier collaboration. 

Elisabeth has so many great baking recipes and her newest recipe for snickerdoodle blondies looks so delicious. 

I came across this handbag brand on Instagram and can't get over how beautiful their wicker bags are! 

Wishing I could go to England to checkout these gardens at Windsor Castle.