favorite things friday: coconuts ~ piña coladas and a plan for “escape”

With the humidity and triple digit heat, it’s feeling rather tropical here in the South.   My itinerary doesn’t list any Tahitian destinations anytime soon.  Instead of trying to beat the heat,  I thought I’d celebrate it with a few lush touches at home and nothing says island life to me like a coconut.   Yes,  I like pina coladas.   For those of you landlocked with me –  here are a few other things we’ll need to plan our escape.

Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil  is the official – albeit  taboo – scent of summer.   Drugstores still sell this.   Used as a scent and not as a sunblock, a few drops of this can unleash that carefree oceanside feeling even if you are stuck at your desk.

available at drugstores

Of course, to have that sunkissed look of  summer,   NARS Body Glow and Monoi Body Glow II  are essentials to achieving a subtle glow with a heavenly scent of gardenia and coconut.  NARS describes this as French Polynesian.  I say it sounds more Old South meets Tahiti.

NARS body glow, Sephora

In addition to the scent of the coconut,  I love the look of a coconut.  The rough grassy dark wood paired with crisp white is one of my favorite go-to looks for summer.    For at home entertaining,  I love  setting the table with these wooden serving pieces with a natural burlap table skirt and crisp white linens, mix in some tea lights for a little shimmer.

www.macys.com

As for dressing myself…

for day –  This little easy breezy dress from Calypso St Barth paired with long wooden beads, and kenneth jay lane bracelet for a little sparkle.

ruffle poet dress, calypso st. barth

Kenneth Jay Lane, Neiman Marcus

For a girls night out –  I might pair Calypso’s Dale Dress in White  with the coconut shell colored miu miu caged heels.

Dale Dress, Calypso St. Barth

miu miu, Neiman Marcus

And for a Junior League event or charity luncheon ( who says you can’t be a tropical lady?) – I absolutely adore this Haley Dress by Milly.   Pairing it with these wooden beads  in a style appropriatly called “Where we Ought to be”  from Elva Fields (one of my favorite new finds)

Haley Dress, www.millyny.com

Where We Ought To Be, Elva Fields

My sweet friends, if destinations are limited between down home and downtown for the next few weeks,  don’t despair, we can at least grab a little shimmer, scent, and coconut inspired fashion….maybe a pina colada or two… and dream of escape.

Cheers.