Doesn’t this look like it was taken in Charleston? Nope, Notting Hill in London. I think it’s crazy that they get so much water and such mild temperatures that variations of tropical foliage can thrive. It was definitely one of the most surprising things I discovered in the United Kingdom! (I’ll have more photos up soon, along with an itinerary of what we did and a travel guide.) Plant life aside, happy weekend! We delightfully have no plans this weekend and are hoping to go on a few bike rides, work around the house, enjoy home-cooked meals, and maybe even break out the grill!

Weekend Links:

• It’s Kentucky Derby weekend! Here’s a ranking of this year’s horses based on name alone.
• Obviously, you’ll have to perfect your mint julep skills before Saturday. (And if you feel like throwing a last-minute soiree for the most exciting two minutes in sports, take a look at this guide.)
• Tory Burch’s favorite scent-related memories.
• Allie’s roundup of Nashville’s most Instagrammable spots makes me want to go back! (You can read my Nashville guide here.)
• I just ordered this dress to try. The shape is typically a flattering one for me, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. (I’ve lost 13 pounds since Thanksgiving, so I’m in this weird transitional period with some of my fitted items.)
• High school dress codes are unbelievably outdated and sexist.
• The story behind Madonna’s slip dress in “Like a Prayer.”
• If you don’t already have wanderlust, this list of the world’s most colorful places is sure to have you aching to book a flight.
• How many flowers go into a bottle of Chanel No. 5?
• The Boy Scouts of America will be dropping the word “boy” as they welcome girls to scouting next year. I was a Girl Scout from first through 12th grade, but I think it’s great that the Boy Scouts are forming a co-ed scouting opportunity.

Finds Under $50:

• This is the best deal I’ve found on a woven tote bag yet, and there’s free shipping through the end of today!
• Pair this beach dress with strappy sandals and you have a dinner-ready outfit on your next excursion. (Use code SUNNY for 40% off.)
• I bought this dress last week and I absolutely adore it. It reminds me of something you’d find at Anthro. (I’m going to have the ruffled sleeves removed.)
• We’ve had a lot of rain lately, making an umbrella my daily accessory! I love the preppy stripes on this one.
• This is such a cute little gingham top!

Earlier This Week:

• I’m back on a sartorial budget.
• April’s mini moments.
• Sharing the pros and cons of the Paravel backpack I used in London.

This week was an adventure on the home front. You may recall earlier this week when I mentioned that we reached out to our electrician for help with installing our bedroom ceiling fan because the existing electrical box didn’t look like it’d support the weight. As it turns out, we’re missing the required ground wire and installing an appropriate electrical box with a ground came to $320, which doesn’t include the cost of installing the fan and comes with some risk of damaging the drywall. So, I think we’re going to pivot and just go with a light fixture and a vintage-inspired tabletop fan on our dresser. It’s not at all what I wanted, but it’s much more cost effective. Plus, this is our first full summer in the house and there’s a chance we won’t even need a fan with our home’s air conditioning.

Then, as I mentioned on Instagram stories, we had four trees removed because they were all infected with emerald ash borer and were dying. It’s definitely a change! The trees were next to our house and offered a lot of shade in our bedroom and office, so it’s a lot more sunny in those rooms in the morning. On the downside, the fourth tree was next to our deck. I was originally pretty excited to get rid of that one since insects would randomly fall out of it while we’re cocktailing outside (ew), but I didn’t realize how much privacy it added. We’re looking at adding some lattice work to the deck to give ourselves a privacy wall from our neighbor. I’ll take photos and do an update on that as we spiff things up for summer. I’m hoping to get started on that project this weekend (or at least draft up plans and choose paint colors and furniture), along with cleaning up our yard, and possibly adding a flower bed next to the garage.

Weekend Links:

• A few months ago, Dave suggested that we plan a trip to Japan. It’s not exactly the cheapest place to fly to, so I’m not sure when we’ll actually go, but in the meantime I’m bookmarking travel tips and itineraries like this one for Osaka.
• These white and brass hoops are stunning.
• What you should really do with your tax return.
• Have you switched to the new Gmail yet? Here’s what you can expect.
• Add a lace detail to a pair of pumps with this easy DIY.
• Your burning cheese-related questions are answered! How long can you leave cheese sit out? And, can you just cut mold off cheese and still eat it?
• A comprehensive history of royal wedding gossip.
• Tips for saving money when you don’t have a lot of cash to spare.
• I’m really into these sandals.
• How your favorite retailers curate their playlists.

Finds Under $50:

• These resin earrings are great for work and weekend.
• Satin criss-cross sandals.
• Loving the pattern on this caftan dress.
• My favorite under-$50 dress now comes in navy!
• Still on the lookout for the perfect straw tote? How about this one?
• This tunic-style dress is adorable.

Earlier This Week:

• Wearing my new $32 jumpsuit.
• The chambray dress in this week’s “The Coveted” is topping my wish list.
• Everything I wore in London.

–
Let’s keep in touch!  Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’