April favorites, can you believe April is already here? So crazy. April was a busy month and I found some new favorites that I am excited to share with you. A little home decor, fashion, treats, and more. Enjoy.
Personalized for me
How cute is this tea box that Bob made for me? I love my tea and a personalized tea box sitting on the counter I perfect. I created this design and he engraved using his laser machine. Personalized pieces are a great way to add a custom look to the home. My favorite teas are ready to go!
Another favorite home decor piece is from the Longaberger and Paint&Petals collaboration. This is the bunny basket with a custom-designed liner with bunny ears attached. It’s adorable as a bunny basket but I plan to use it all year long. I tucked the ears in and now I have a new basket to use. Add a plant or flowers for a spring look, place utensils in it to use as a serving piece, pop a bottle of wine in it, there are so many ways to use this basket.
FarmhouseFresh has been my go-to skincare line for a while now. I love a good micro derm but hate the rough abrasive feel of some of them. Timescape Micromazing face polish is incredible. In 2 minutes my face is smooth and polished without feeling like I scrubbed it with sandpaper.
Spring means that it is finally time to bring out all of the cute sandals. I love this pair from Palm Beach Sandals. This pair was designed and custom-made for me. You can create just about any design that you can imagine with Palm Beach Sandals. I have a pair with flamingoes on them too, so cute. This year, I think that I am going to do a monogrammed pair.
I love perfumes and have quite a collection of fragrances. When I find a local small business creating amazing scents, I must try them. Cayla Gray is a Scottsdale business and she creates so many unique scents. Water is my second purchase and it is a perfect scent for the warmer weather. I purchased Petals last year and it continues to be a go-to fragrance for spring and summer.
April, a little bit of everything. It’s that time of year to change up our decor, fashion, and beauty. I am ready for all things spring.
Until next week,
Carrie
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Happy August! August, can you believe it is here already? Summer always flies by. As much rain as we have had the weather has turned so hot. We enjoyed a quiet catching up on yard work. I have been in that redecorating mood and have been doing a little freshening up of our en suite bathroom, family room, and balcony, and created a few DIYs. I’ll share those next week. School will be starting soon, pumpkin spice will be everywhere, and pumpkins will be out! I love summer but always look forward to fall and the change of seasons. Yes, I have already been thinking about my fall decor, picking up a few new pieces, and making fall projects. My fall dining table is getting an entirely new design this year. I have been really into the more natural decor lately. The dining table is going to reflect that, and I’m excited to share it with you! Let’s get into things I am loving for August, everything from a new hobby, beauty products, and fashion.
Needlepoint. I have always been fascinated with needlepoint and always wanted to take it up. Lycette Designs is in Palm Beach, and I knew that would be the perfect place for a beginner to start. The store is beautiful, and I could have spent the entire day there. I did spend quite a long time just browsing. They were so helpful in answering all of my questions and making sure that I had everything I needed to start my first project. It’s a little polo shirt with an alligator on it, so cute! Needlepoint is very relaxing, but it will take some time to finish a project. I can’t wait to show you the finished project. I’m going to frame my first finished project!
Amika The Kure Shampoo and Conditioner. I have been using Olaplex for the last couple of years and was ready for a change. My hair gets a professional keratin treatment once a year so I am very careful with what products that I use in my hair. I use quite a few Amika products already and my hairdresser suggested that I try this shampoo and conditioner. I’m so glad she did. My hair feels soft and shiny, and I love the scent. Not too overpowering. If you are looking for a new line to try, I would suggest Amika.
The 5 Minute Journal. Journaling does not have to take so much time. I really like to start and end my day journaling. Journaling first thing in the morning is the perfect way to start the day off on a positive note, and journaling at night gives me time to reflect on the day and what went right, and what could have been better. The 5 Minute Journal is my favorite. There is a section to complete each morning and evening with a motivational quote too. I use this every day.
Proven Skincare. I am so excited to try this new skincare line formulated just for me. My skin has been so sensitive and reactive this summer, products that I have always used are now aggravating it. That tends to happen during the summer but not to this extreme. Ashley Brooke suggested this new, revolutionary skincare line, and I decided to give it a try. So far, so good. I’m only going to use this system for 30 days and I’ll let you know how it goes. Three products custom formulated for me. I filled out the 3-minute Skin Genome Quiz ( which even takes into account the environment you live in). Your data is analyzed and a dermatologist formulates your exact formula. Your formula will change every season and as your skincare needs change too. I think this is going to be a game-changer!
Palm Beach Sandals. I love Palm Beach Sandals and the ability to create your own custom-designed pair. Brittany held a private shopping event complete with mimosas and cupcakes for our group when I was in Palm Beach. There are so many options to choose from. It was so much fun picking and designing my pair with my friends. I settled on a light pink pair with a gold embroidered pineapple on them. They turned out perfect and look so cute with all of my summer dresses. My next pair is going to have my monogram on them, I just have to decide on the design.
There you have it, some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy this and maybe find a new product or two to try. Let me know if you do and if you have a product that you think I should try. I love trying new things.
Until next week,
Carrie
If you like this I invite you to enjoy a free guide to proper monogram etiquette here.
Carrie Kelly is an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters. She is available to assist you in creating a beautiful, personalized, and welcoming home, bridal planning, personalized jewelry, and accessories for yourself, and to help you select the perfect gift for every occasion. She is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle Blog.
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to spend a long weekend in Palm Beach. The Pink Retreat was canceled due to COVID, but a group of us decided to still go and have some fun. And fun we had. I knew a few of the ladies from the previous Pink Retreat and many through Facebook, so it was so nice to finally get together and meet in person. If you have never been to Palm Beach, I highly recommend it. There is so much to do.
I went a couple of days early. Home base was The Brazilian Court, an experience in itself. The staff was amazing, friendly, and answered any questions that I had. I booked my stay there for next year, too. The rooms were comfortable, extremely quiet, and spacious. I love that you get an actual key for your room. Honestly, you feel like you are in your own tropical retreat. The grounds are filled with little nooks to sit and relax. After checking in, I walked down to the famous Worth Avenue Tower on the beach. Bring comfortable shoes, Palm Beach is a great place to just walk and take in the atmosphere. I love exploring all of the little vias filled with shops, restaurants, and gardens. Taboo is always the place to go, so I stopped and had an early dinner. I was tired after a long day of travel and headed back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Going a couple of days early gave me a chance to explore and stop at a few places on my list. My morning started with a few hours of relaxing by the pool. The pool is so peaceful and secluded, I even met a sweet dog, Lilly. I really enjoy exploring on my own. Lycette was my first stop. I have always wanted to learn to needlepoint, and I knew that was the place to go for my first project. The ladies were lovely, and we found the perfect first piece for me. I made my usual stop by the local firehouse. This fire mom always checks out the local house. I kept on walking to The Breakers. The Breakers is absolutely stunning. Old World Palm Beach. I did a little shopping at the Lilly Pulitzer store there and enjoyed relaxing by the water. Palm Beach is one of those places that I feel very comfortable walking and exploring by myself. My night ended with dinner at Pizza al Fresco, and I even treated myself to a delicious dessert. I figured I deserved it, I logged about six miles that day and five the day before.
Friday morning was our first official Lilly get-together. We all met at the Lilly Pulitzer Worth Avenue store for a shopping event. It was so fun to see everyone, enjoy mimosas, and shop. This store is beautiful. Here, you can have a custom shift or bag done. I am having a custom crossbody bag made. I can’t wait to get it. Finn and Ruby will be in the design too. Of course, we all did a little more shopping. Worth Avenue is the place to shop in Palm Beach. Many of us headed over to The Chesterfield for Afternoon Tea. A lovely experience. The table was Lilly-inspired just for us. Our server was the sweetest, and we enjoyed tea, scones, lots of laughs, and way too many desserts. The Chesterfield is beautiful as well, very British-inspired. Luckily, my hotel was a block away so I headed back to relax. The lounge at The Brazilian Court is lovely, so I stayed there that evening. You just never know who you will meet in Palm Beach. I spent a fun evening chatting and making some new friends that I have stayed in touch with.
Saturday, I was free until that night’s group dinner. I decided to head back to the pool and relax. I spent most of the day there with a few other Lilly girls. Our group met at Carmine’s for dinner. They went above and beyond, even creating a special menu for our Lilly Getaway. Dinner was delicious. Of course, I had pasta. We had a little gift exchange and everyone enjoyed that. It was so nice to get to chat with other Lilly-loving ladies and their husbands. A few husbands joined us too. We were quite the sight of all of us in our Lilly taking pictures outside. The entire evening was lovely. My friends from the previous night were in the bar, so I stopped in there before heading to bed.
Sunday morning, we went to Batch for brunch. Wow, it was delicious. I had the cinnamon rolls and ate almost all of them. We were gifted the cutest wine glasses with our names on them in a Lilly-inspired design. Some of us headed to Palm Beach Sandals for a private shopping event. Thank you to Brittany for welcoming us into her beautiful shop. There were a few vendors and of course more champagne and treats. What is it about champagne that makes everything better? I ordered a pair of custom sandals. They are so cute. I picked a light pink with a gold pineapple. I’m going to order a pair of monogrammed ones next. We headed back to Worth Avenue for one last round of shopping at Lilly. Most of the ladies left on Sunday, and quite a few were local too. I stopped at Peter Millar and picked up a few things for Bob. I stopped at The Chesterfield and enjoyed dinner at the Leopard Lounge before heading back to The Brazilian Court. I got back just in time, a storm came rolling through.
Monday, it was time to pack and head home. I took one last walk around the grounds and Palm Beach. I love to travel, but it is always good to be home. Finn and Ruby missed their mom. Bob missed me too. I am looking forward to next year’s trip to Palm Beach and The Pink Retreat!
Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Senior Outfitter with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.
Until next week,
Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Senior Outfitter with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.
