Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Happy long weekend, m'dears! I'm so ready to kick back and relax. Despite the not-so-hot weather forecast for the next few days, I'm thrilled to be hosting my sister and her husband for the weekend! They're driving their cute selves all the way up from Pennsylvania (hate that they're so far away) and I couldn't be more excited. We're hoping to do a bit of boating, fishing and lunch in Marblehead harbor tomorrow, most likely bundled up a bit. What are you all up to for Memorial Day? Hope you have something fun planned! xo

A few fun links to kick off summer...

Gorgeous inspiration for a summer happy hour.

A pretty pillow for the patio furniture.

Fish dish, adorable.

These two films from Joel Serrato are perfect.

Might whip up a big batch of this over the weekend.

I have a beach bag addition, this one is my latest lust.

*Photo via Pottery Barn

My Summer Beauty Essentials

I am SO looking forward to kicking off summer this weekend, and although our forecast is not what I'd wished for, I know we'll have those warm, 80 degree sunny days soon enough. During the summer, I'm all about an easy beauty routine. Freshly tanned skin just needs a bit of shimmer and a lot of moisture, throw on a breezy maxi dress and you're ready for anything. Inspired by this Hello Sunshine Card from Rifle Paper Co., I thought I'd share some of the essentials that get me through the summer and give me that beachy glow that I love.

Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess – I use a large face brush with this stuff, just a few swipes across the cheekbones, nose and forehead and I'm good to go!

Bobbi Brown Beach Collection – I am in love with the entire Bobbi Brown Beach collection, so much that I have the fragrance, oil and lotion. It really is the perfect beachy scent.

Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara – It's amazing what a bit of mascara can do. I'm not big on bold eyeshadows but prefer a shimmer, so a mascara that makes my eyes pop is a must. 

Australian Gold – Always in my beach bag. Best smelling SPF ever, I've used it for years. 

Bobbi Brown SPF Lip Balm – I'm very picky with lip balms and glosses. I find that most are too greasy or waxy, this one is just right.

Philosophy Here Comes the Sun – Although I don't burn easily, my face and nose are the first things to get pink. This face SPF isn't too oily, so it's perfect to protect my skin.

I'd love to hear what your summer beauty essentials are! xo

Champagne Grapefruit Mojito + Style Me Pretty Living

Hi lovelies! Hope y'all are having a nice little Tuesday. You've probably noticed that I've been sharing more entertaining inspiration for parties and events, recipes and cocktails, in addition to the paper pretties I love. I guess I never felt it was appropriate to share my love for entertaining, parties and stylish living on my blog, well, because I'd only ever talked about pretty paper and I felt those were the boundaries of my blog. I love the way my blog has grown and how I've learned from it. And I've realized that I fell in love with stationery, not solely because of my design background but because it's purpose surrounds a stylish soirée, wedding, event or just everyday stylish living. This is why I love my job at Style Me Pretty, all my loves are combined. It's funny how things happen backwards sometimes, isn't it? Well, it can be pretty wonderful if you ask me.

I've been sharing some of my recipes and cocktails over on SMP Living (as you may have seen in previous posts) and I couldn't be more excited. Most recently was one of my favorite spring/summertime drinks, the mojito. With a bit of a twist, grapefruit! I love to keep a big pot of mint on my porch in the spring and summertime. I learned last year that mint will take over a garden, so keeping it contained is the best thing you can do. If you've ever grown mint, you know that even in a container it goes craaazzzy but that's OK, because there are so many fun things you can do with mint... top off your ice cream with fresh fruit + mint, toss it in a Tabbouleh salad, or mix up a refreshing mojito! I favor the latter, of course. Head on over to SMP Living for the full recipe.

xo Melissa

Roasted Tomatillo Salsa + Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Aside from the Fourth of July, Cinco de Mayo is most definitely next in line for my favorite holiday/celebration. I love Mexican food, mostly because of the cheese. You can find me at Howling Wolf in Salem at least once a week—if you're local, try the chimichanga... to. die. for. And thanks to my Dad, Margaritas are my #1 go-to cocktail, so you see why my excitement for this holiday is what it is. I have a killer tomato salsa and guacamole recipes but this was my first time trying a salsa verde. Tomatillos have this awesome tangy flavor and when roasted... ¡Ay, caramba! are they delicious. So, if you're having a few friends over this weekend for margaritas and need a quick appetizer, head on over to the fabulous SMP Living for the recipe. Happy weekend and happy Cinco de Mayo amigos! xo

Recipe and photo by Yours Truly.

Paper to Party: Cinco de Mayo Style

In my opinion, a good party starts with paper and ends with paper. From the invitations to the thank you notes, paper is a key factor in the success of a good bash and also a great source of inspiration for the whole party planning process. Whether you're decorating a tablescape or trying to decide what you'll wear, pulling design elements from your stationery will give you a cohesive look throughout your soirée. So to kick off my new series, Paper to Party, (and because Cinco de Mayo is a great excuse for throwing a party!) I rounded up a few style essentials inspired by this Papel Picado Fiesta Invitation from Palm Papers. After all, choosing your party dress is one of the most important parts of the process!

Dress – Pulling from the text on the invitation, I chose a bright red/orange maxi dress, perfect for the weather this time of year. Top it with a jean jacket and scarf if you're heading out after the party.

Earrings – Nothing pairs better with lime green and orange than a bold bright blue. I've had these gorgeous Dayla Earrings in coral on my wish list for quite a while but the cobalt fits this look perfectly.

Nails – This is the perfect excuse to paint your nails blue! Butler Please from Essie will match your earrings and you'll be oh-so-coordinated.

Senorita Margarita – Practice your bar tending skills and memorize this margarita recipe in the shower with this 3 in 1 body wash from Philosophy. Bonus, these would make super cute party favors for the girls!

Bangle – Forget the watch, it's time to party! Toss on this chunky bangle and that wraps up the jewelry for your look.

Sandals – You'll probably be on your feet most of the night if you're the party host, so wear something comfortable but cute.

Straw Tote – OK this last one really has no purpose but it's so cute I had to add it. Day of, you'll be busy picking up last minute items for the party, so that's your excuse! This Tory Burch tote, though adorable, is a bit pricey. J.Crew has a similar tote here, I've had this one for a couple of years and I love it, it's sturdy and makes for a perfect beach bag in the summer.