Summer + Lilly Pulitzer.....some things just go together.

Ever since we lived near Palm Beach,

the land of Lilly Pulitzer,

I've been a fan.

Every year for Easter, I bought matching dresses 

for me and my 2 girls.

And now that one of my daughters hopes to work at Lilly this Fall,

we are once again in full Lilly mode:)

It's just HAPPY...and we like happy stuff! 

Lilly Pulitzer passed away last year,

but she left quite a "colorful" legacy with her beautiful designs.

And she was a fun lady, if the books are accurate, 

and I believe they were.

Speaking of books, if you like Lilly,

you simply must add these two books to your home. 

 Full of stories, fashion, family photos, anecdotes and recipes.......

they're awesome!

Here is an example of a few recipes.......

CHIPOTLE SLIDERS

This smokey mayo looks divine, but we can’t help wanting to add a little slice of avocado. You know how we are about pink and green!

1 cup mayonnaise

2 chipotles in adobe

1 tbsp adobe sauce

1/2 lime, juiced

salt and ground pepper

Sliders: 

1/2 to 1 pound ground chuck, 80/20

salt and ground pepper

cheese slices

mini burger buns

Grill and assemble sliders, serve with chipotle mayo, pickles and red onion slices.

_________________________________________________________

PINK LEMONADE

2 cups white sugar

9 cups water

2 cups fresh lemon juice

1 cup cranberry juice

In a large pitcher combine all. Stir to dissolve sugar.

See?????  Buy the Books! :)

Then there are her amazing fashions.

Fun, fresh, colorful, feminine, cool.......they're perfect for summer.

Or if you live in the south like I do, they're great year round.

 You just can't be grumpy when you wear cute, happy clothes like these:)

Yep, summer and Lilly just go together.
And as Lilly herself said,
"Wear PINK and make the BOYS Wink" :)
xoxo
Suzanne

Sisters, South Beach and Smooches. . . . .

have you heard of South Beach?

it's one of those places that goes by more of a nickname 

than the actual location.

south beach, SOBE. . . .

it is actually Miami Beach. . . .

or more correctly, SOUTH Miami Beach,

which explains the name "South Beach".

so, have you heard of it?

maybe you saw it in the movie

The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

Hysterical when it came out, and kinda/sorta true:)

South Beach has quite a reputation for being a FUN place,

Beautiful Beaches, cool refurbished art deco hotels. . . . .

and a crazy side.

yes, DEFINITELY a crazy side.

all too wild.

but parts are kinda cool and very pretty.

like the beach, and the boardwalk along the beach.

we were in south beach last Sunday, so here are a few pics. . . . .

GORGEOUS water!

lots of celebrities stop by south beach.

and where celebrities go,

the PAPARAZZI will be there also!

yep...there they are. . . .the paparazzi.

apparently some model was on the beach with her friend and let me tell you,

she didn't move a toe in the sand without them snapping away.

personally, i think they should've been snapping pics of my partner in crime,

Jordan.

we were in south beach for Taylorina 

to attend

an audition for Ballet Austin (Texas) 

that was held at Miami City Ballet.

fun times.

well for me and Jordan.

maybe not her.

she had to work:)

 probably more than the beauty of the shimmering turquoise Atlantic,

was the beauty i caught on my own iphone camera.

i went to the car because the meter was almost up and

Taylor was not yet out.

Jordan stayed at MCB to wait for her and show her where we were parked.

as they walked to the car, i caught a glimpse of them as sisters.

and it was so special.

they were walking, talking, laughing. . . . . .

being sisters.

and it was such a beautiful sight for me.

they have their moments.

oh yes!

but they truly love each other.

and that's all i could have ever hoped for, especially through these

teenage years.

yes, sisters are special.

i have three of my own.

 and i know how very blessed i am!

sisters.

they had their moments.

they STILL have their moments.

moments one of them just feel this need to drive the other one crazy.

on purpose.

gotta laugh sometimes, right?

now, i believe i mentioned "smooches" in the title of my blog post.

so here you go. . . .

hey sweet boy. . . . .i'd sign up for a smooch from you!:)

xoxoxo

Suzanne

Oranges.......

so i'm kinda hung up on all shades of orange this year.

and to take it a step further........

foods that are orange!

i've always said one of my favorite scents is that

of orange blossoms.

when I came to Florida as a kid,

i LOVED the scent of orange blossoms.

so much that when it came time for a souvenir,

i would choose orange blossom perfume 

in a little orange container

 and

orange gumballs packaged to look like a 

bag of oranges:)

and i THINK i used to eat these orange candies.

YIKES........not sure i could now:)

and my all time, all time, 

ALL TIME favorite cake was ORANGE cake!

my poor family.........

every single birthday was a big orange cake, complete with fluffy frosting

that i colored from time to time.

(one year it was light blue:)

if you haven't tried it,

do it!!!!!!

you'll LOVE it!

my favorite ice cream bar was a creamsicle.

that orange coating and creamy vanilla inside.........

summer on a stick if you ask me:)

here is a cake recipe using my favorite orange cake mix.......

ORANGE CREAMSICLE CAKE

Cake:

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) box Duncan Hines Orange Supreme cake mix
• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant vanilla OR cheesecake pudding mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 (3 ounce) box orange Jell-O
• 1 cup boiling water

Frosting:

• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon orange extract
• 1 (8 ounce) container thawed Cool Whip

1. Blend cake mix, instant pudding mix, eggs, water and oil and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake, following the chart located on the back of the Duncan Hines cake mix box. Cake is done when a toothpick insterted in center comes out clean.
2. While the cake is still hot, mix together orange Jell-O and one cup boiling water. When Jell-O is dissolved, poke holes in the cake with a straw or fork and pour hot Jell-O over cake. Let cake cool completely before frosting.

3. Frosting:

1. In a large bowl or mixer, beat instant vanilla pudding with 1 cup milk. Stir in the extracts. When the mixture becomes very thick, fold in the thawed Cool Whip. Spread frosting between layers and on top of cake. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.

Yum, Yum, YUM!!!!!!!

and remember those places in the mall that sold

Orange Julius drinks?

those were AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

and here is a little drink recipe to remind you of the 

good ol' days.

ORANGE CREAMSICLE DRINKS

Directions

 mix together in a blender:

8 oz diet orange soda
2 tbsp heavy whipping cream
ice cubes to thicken

Blend together, serve, enjoy. Frozen yummy treat, tastes like an orange creamsicle ice cream treat!!

If you want top with whipped cream, add more or less heavy cream to desired creaminess. 

now, don't you just love a good fruit dip?
well, thanks to Madiganmade,
here is her mom's
DREAMY ORANGE SUMMER FRUIT DIP
1 8 oz container whipped topping1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 6 oz container of frozen (concentrated) orange juice 
(may use unfrozen if preferred)

and finally,
my love of oranges ends with this useful tip.....

i can't actually verify this because,
wellllll......
i'd have to work out first, now wouldn't I? :)


have a good one.......
hugs, Suzanne

the dangers of living in the tropics...

actually, i believe south florida is the sub-tropics...

 but close enough:)

okay...but what's so dangerous,

other than tourists?  

heeheehee (couldn't resist)

 

well...you could come across one of these while you're out

walking the dog.

yes, i took that photo and yes...they do pop up every now and then

and get a bit too friendly.

 

then you have to worry about hurricanes, sunburns, SHARKS, jellyfish.

and flying beach umbrellas that hit you in the face and

require you to get stitches the day you have to go to a BALL!

 no CINDERELLA here!!

FUN stuff like that.

 

but today, i was thinking, there are a few OTHER dangers of living down here.

i was sitting out by the pool, 

 

playing fetch with Maui, my dog.

 

when i heard a noise and a suddenly BIG coconut

fell from a palm tree.

so what, right?

except it was BIG, solid and hard.

 okay, so it didn't hit me.

but look at the chair i was sitting in and how CLOSE it came.

 imagine telling them that in ER.

uhhh...my head busted open when a coconut fell on it.

the coconut didn't bust open...but my head did.

hahahaha...oh well. it didn't hit me.

but as you can see by where it landed,

it came pretty dang close!

WHEW!

and the last danger i want to share with you is this...

you've heard of key lime pie, right?

good...but it can actually be a bit TOO tangy and TOO sweet for me.

but still pretty darn good...if it's made right.

well, the new danger is THIS...

MANGO KEY LIME PIE.

 OH. YUMMMMM!

it is so good, CREAMY & mellow

with a hint of tang and plenty of mild sweet MANGO flavor.

a touch of CINNAMON in the graham cracker crust and HOLY COW!

delicious AND dangerous...

because you want to eat the WHOLE pie...

and gain 15 pounds instantly:)

it's been around awhile...

and i admit, folks in other states, like my Georgia friends,

enjoy this too.

but we're talking TROPICAL:)

here are a few recipes...

one using fresh mango puree and the other using 

Nellie and Joe's mango key lime juice.

 

Nellie and Jo's is sold at grocery stores and is the REAL deal...

they have some of the BEST pies in the keys!

so if you need to break up winter a bit, make one of these.

you'll feel just like you're in the tropics.

and you won't have to watch for falling coconuts!

 

 Nellie & Joe's Recipes from the Keys
Nellie's Favorite Mango Key Lime Pie
 One - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
    3 - egg yolks (whites not used)
    One - 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese
    1/2 cup - Nellie & Joe's Mango Key Lime Juice
    One - 9" chocolate pie shell

Combine milk, eggs and softened cream cheese. Add mango key lime juice and blend until smooth. Pour into pie shell and bake at 350° for 15 minutes.

Allow to stand 10 minutes before refrigerating. Just before serving, top with fresh whipped cream and slivers of fresh mango if desired.

 and one more...

 MANGO KEY LIME PIE   
1/4 c. lime juice
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 c. mango puree
2 egg whites
1 (9 inch) graham cracker crust

Thoroughly mix lime juice, condensed milk, egg yolks and mango puree. Beat egg whites with dash of salt to stiff peaks. Fold in mango mixture. Add to crust and chill until firm. 

 

 ENJOY!!!

Some Neighbors I can Live Without...

like this guy...

he acts like he owns the place or something!

okay, okay...

Florida...swamp...I guess he WAS here first.

but still...does he have to sunbathe across the street from me???

his skin's looking kind of rough anyway:)

so how are things in YOUR neighborhood???

Bringing Home the Beach...

so, you had an AMAZING spring break vacation

at the beach.

 well guess what...
it's our spring break too!

and we've managed to sneak in a few days at the beach...

every year, I hear families 

saying they don't want to go home, they LOVE the beach

they can't wait for summer...
like the mom on the towel near me, 

the one with the sunburn that will leave BAD tan lines

watching her kids play in the sand...

who just told her husband he needed to find a job in Florida
so they could move down. 
yeah...about that...

anyway, I'm no decorator and don't pretend to be.

I wouldn't even DREAM of trying to pull together some fussy, high end

look.  We're barefoot and casual all the way!

 but I do have a few ideas for you.

I know there are probably TONS of articles out there on this...

in fact, I've written a few things myself.

nothing terribly original...just common BEACH SENSE.

but since I'm hearing a lot of wishing and DREAMING going on about

life by the beach, let's do it again:)

sometimes we all need a refresher course, right?

and THIS time, if by chance I get ANY comments after being so lazy.
I will write back! The NEW me:)
 so lady with the sunburn, this is for YOU!

it's so EASY to decorate in that shabby, 
beach cottage way...

first up...clear the clutter.

think about it...beaches and the ocean are wide open spaces, 

stretching as far as the eye can see.

 the trick here is to keep it simple...relaxing...easy going.

beaches can be bare stretches of sand or layered with shells...

but it never feels cluttered.

 Next...color scheme.

it's really quite simple.
just sit back and think of what you see at the beach.

sandy beaches...fluffy clouds...foamy waves...pink shells...washed out driftwood...blue sky...

 and shades of aqua, seafoam, and turquoise.

 painting your house a DREAMY shade of white or cream makes a great canvas.

 accenting with any of the above colors will immediately bring the beach in.

 by the way, one thing I've learned since living in Florida for 16 years...

decorate how YOU want...not what the area or your friends think you should do.

sometimes I want a beachy feel, sometimes I want a FRENCH feel,

sometimes I want to feel as if I'm in a cabin in MAINE, complete with a moose motif:)

so if you live up north and everything is dark wood...it's only paint!

 go for it...add the little touches that say "beach" to you.
at the very least you'll be happy thinking

about your beach vacation!

moving on to furnishings...

this is where slipcovers RULE!

 just don't make my mistake and be sure to get the kind that you can rip off,

throw in the washer and bleach the heck out of them.

 i will ALWAYS have slipcovers...so comfy, so cozy, so casual...

all ways to describe a beach house.

the key is FABRIC...because it's the most comfy.

 linens, canvas, duck cloth, cotton.

and besides, what good Rachel Ashwell groupie would be without slipcovers?

wicker is a FABULOUS touch too.

 at any garage sale or thrift store, you can find a wicker chair or table.

take it home, spray paint it white/cream/aqua...whatever...and

VOILA...instant beach feel!

 if you have an old dark wood table...paint it white and chip it up a bit.

(although mixing woods is COOL too:)

floors...hardwood RULES!

a few throw rugs scattered is all you need for those

SANDY FEET.

 if you're not a fan of hardwood...
tile works too.
but in my personal opinion,
the contrast of wood...any shade...plays against the rest of the room
and keeps it cozy:)

accessorize with beach TREASURES...

a few sea shells, STARFISH, sand dollars...

scattered here and there, piled in a clear glass jar...

instant decor.

add in some SEA GLASS...so PRETTY!

driftwood pieces add a nice touch...but remember, no clutter:)

 coral, sea foam, FLOWERS and candles work too.

 a few faded, BEACHY throw pillows here and there will pull it together.

and don't forget a faded throw for naps after a long day at the beach!
***please remember to gently toss any LIVE sand dollars
and starfish back in the surf.  
if they're alive, they're not ready to leave their ocean home
and move into yours:)
besides...it's the law. SORRY:)

okay, when you think of days at the beach,

what scent comes to mind?
okay, forget the occasional fishy smell (haha)
maybe the scent that comes to mind is something CRISP, cool, breezy.
for me, it's the scent of suntan oil...COCONUT, lime, pineapple.
TROPICAL scents...yum!

 I have these through the house when I want to think of the beach.
a few other smells are not necessarily beach smells but
still remind me of living near the beach and they are
night blooming JASMINE and my all time favorite...
ORANGE BLOSSOMS!

 lastly, remember to display your beach photos.
make a photo book for your coffee table...

 pictures of days spent tossing beach balls,
searching for shells, walking on the beach,
building SAND CASTLES,
playing in the SURF,  making
MEMORIES!

that beach cottage look is casual and MISMATCHED all the way.
hmmm...mismatched...that must be why even I can do it:)

 to those spring breakers who spent their vacation
by the beach here in FLORIDA...
THANK YOU!

most of us do appreciate you and don't mind
sharing our beautiful beaches with you.
after all, it's because of YOU...
and the MONEY you spend down here...
that we don't pay local and state taxes...so come on down!
(HEE,HEE,HEE)
then go home and design your OWN beach cottage!

 XOXOXOXO
Suzanne