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It's no secret that brunch is my favorite meal of the day and that restaurants that serve breakfast all day long have a special place in my heart. And what better way to enjoy brunch than on a backyard patio with a few of your best girlfriends? No backyard? No problem. With enough potted plants, and some fake turf if you are feeling extra festive, can turn any apartment balcony into a private garden.

Although a brunch-time event doesn't give the hostess as much time to prepare everything as opposed to a dinner party, a menu of everyone's favorite sweet and savory bites are sure to be a crowd pleaser. And if you are still hesitant about having enough time to decorate the table and fix a full meal, why not make it a potluck and ask everyone to bring their favorite dish (and swap recipes at the end of course)? If you are a hit-the-snooze-ten-times kind of person, I would suggest opting for a potluck. You'll thank yourself later.

If I were to throw an end-of-summer brunch my must haves would be: florals, a color palate of peaches, corals and greens, outdoor seating and slightly-uncoordinated dishes for an undone look (which really would simply mean I don't have a full set of matching dishes yet).

On the menu: cinnamon rolls, fruit and yogurt tart, BLT biscuit sliders, melon-mozzarella-prosciutto skewers, cold brew coffee and a juice bar.

As much as I love brunch, I love any excuse for unique paper goods, including invitations to coordinate with the event and to set the mood. Paperless Post is a great resource for unique invitations to add the finishing - or really the beginning - touch to any party!

I hope you're making the most of the long weekend and that it's filled with BBQs, lake time, lemonade, fireworks and your most patriotic outfit. Happy (early) birthday, America!

Fourth of July weekend marks the halfway point of summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Every summer I make a bucket list of things that I want to do before fall comes around but I somehow fall into the same routine of visits to the farmer's market, afternoons by the pool, dining on restaurant patios and nightly walks in the park. Not that I'm complaining. They don't call them the lazy days of summer for nothing. What all is on your summer bucket list? There's still time to check them all off! 

Spring has arrived! (even if according to the calendar, there are still a few more days of "winter", but that is neither here nor there.) And with the warmer temperatures, shedding layers of clothing, opting for sandals as my only footwear, and drinking an endless supply of passion tea lemondades, my mind always returns to Paris. 

I mean, April in Paris is so perfect they even wrote a song about it. Boquets of flowers sold at every corner market, a rainbow assortment of Laduree macarons, fields of lavender and colorful cafes are enough to make a girl swoon and book a one-way ticket. 

Whether stateside or abroad, a few of my favorite moments in spring are: 

1. Floral dresses for every day of the week

2. To match said floral dresses, fresh flowers at home

3. Eating breakfast on the patio

4. Beach trips

5. Roadside produce stands and homemade peach ice cream

Looking for a little inspiration to brighten up your midweek? From a brightly colored interior door and centuries old architecture to impulsive hair-color decisions and vintage typewriters, where do you draw your inspiration? 

I love putting together mood boards whenever I'm lacking ideas. They are typically the product of staring at a blank blogpost longer than 20 minutes once the panic sets in that I will no longer be able to form coherent sentences or  write anything of any meaning ever again. Truth be told, last week's Lifestyle Blogging Guide was a similar product born out of the empty time waiting for New Girl and Mindy Project to come on.

When the weather is seasonally terrible and more of your time is spent indoors than outdoors, how do keep the creative juices flowing? Because I'm sort of at a loss and there may be more and more sarcastic ramblings. But maybe that's ok.

Also, if anyone else is as type-obsessed as I am, how perfect is this ampersand? I could care less about the rest of the typeface, but this is perfection.

The sun is shining. All of my winter clothes are carefully tucked away in my spare closet. And now I'm left dreaming of getting comfortable in a little cabana tucked away by crystal clear waters, preferably miles away from shrieking children building sand castles and splashing in the waves. 

What is inspiring you right now?