Life is Good When You're Under the Sun

I've been running into Soludos all over the web and after visiting their website last night, am completely smitten. Their shoes are sweet, but the lifestyle and culture they have created around their brand is what really got me. They did such a great job, with their website alone, of creating this vibe of "life is good when you're under the sun", one that speaks loud and clear to me. 

Soludos is currently hosting a contest, Endless Summer, asking folks to submit photos that "capture those chill summer vibes we love so  much":

This right here to me is what makes a brand successful. Getting your people back in touch with what they love so much and involving them in the product is a win-win. Soludos is clearly trying to connect their shoes with those "chill summer vibes we love so much", and what better way than to put the challenge in the hands of the customer.

I had a little fun with the Endless Summer contest and submitted some of my own (right here on Shorely Chic!)

After all this, I think I'm pulling the trigger and purchasing these cuties: 

Do you have any favorites? 

If I could be any store...

No, I would not be Pottery Barn, even though I do love their end-of-season sales and find lots of inspiration from the photos in their catalog. I would be WISTERIA based out of Dallas, TX. I am so totally obsessed with everything about this company, most especially of course, their product line. Wisteria has such an eclectic and classy/elegant style seen through all of their lines, and in researching through their website and blog, it seems like an outstanding company to work for.

I hope you enjoy my favorite photos below from their website:

how cool is this picture?? LOVE it.

love this Italian mirror, how pretty it would look in an entry way!

I love a good shell shadowbox :)

so cute!! oyster candle-holder.

Coat hanger - I think I might want to try whipping one of those up!

There are no words...

Which store would you be??

Happy Inspiration Tuesday :)

Inspiration Tuesday - Clean Lines and Beachy Pastels

As my blog starts to take shape (somewhat), I am starting to see patterns forming on the themes I blog about on certain days of the week. I had a thought as I was lying in my bed this morning wide awake before I needed to be of course, I think I am going to have a theme for everyday of the week, well maybe not everyday because I don't see myself blogging everyday, but maybe four or five! Here is the schedule I am looking at as of right now:

Monday: Write about anything interesting I experienced over the weekend that is worth sharing, and any projects I completed in the past week

Tuesday: Inspiring photos I came across throughout the week online and in print

Wednesday: Follow the making of a certain object, instruct readers on how to create an item

Thursday: Write about a topic in decorative arts, i.e. milk glass, where it comes from, how it is used today, etc...because I have to put that Art History major to use :)

Not sure about Fridays yet, something short and sweet I am thinking!

Suggestions welcome!

Sooo to go along with Inspiration Tuesdays, I have chosen to post photos of decorated rooms by Tracey Rapisardi whose style is, "clean lines and beachy pastels, a mishmash of new and old furniture unified by color and fabric”.  Enjoy!

I am loving the white and blue stripes - I can't wait to try it on one of my pieces!

love that damask, so elegant!

Ahh, I could see mom making sandwiches in here with kids and family running in from the beach for lunch.

What I like about this room most is the combination of all the fun pieces like the mermaid print and natural shells in the corner shelf mixed with the elegant and formal.

love blue glass! Here is a piece I had in my shop, sold to my good friend Jules!

source

My Florida Vacations and Years of Inspiration :)

I have grown up visiting the beautiful East Coast of Florida, at first when I was a little one to the Sebastian/Cocoa Beach area where my grandma had a home, and eventually to Jupiter, where my parents purchased their second home. I love going there for the beach and the whole vibe of the tropical lifestyle -- so much outdoor recreation like beach-going, tanning (hehe), body-surfing, surfing, kite-boarding, fishing, water-skiing, etc... and then there are the beach shops, the surfers, the tropical seafood restaurants, the tiki bars, easy-going people, pina coladas, and the list goes on...BLISS!

Going to Florida is such a simple trip from Connecticut, a 2.5 hour plane ride so I do it as often as I can! My next trip down will be in December for a long weekend with five of my closest gal pals! That trip will be filled with beach, sun, long dinners, wine, and tiki bars - life is good!

I've included some photos below of my favorite destination!

Me and Bri a few years ago at the Jupiter Beach

Me and my Mama

I love Miss Trish of Capri! That's her adorable shop in Palm Beach.

A beautiful shell mirror in Palm Beach

Me and Lauren at the Breakers, Palm Beach

The beautiful lighthouse in Jup.

The prettiest sunset wedding in Naples, Florida last November!

My seat at the wedding - I love that shot!

Watching the sunset in Naples :)

I have so many wonderful memories of Florida and have my family to thank for taking me all these years! So much of Shorely Chic comes from the inspiration of my time spent there, and I look forward to many years of vacations and inspiration to come!