Color Obsession: Citrus & Lime

I find myself craving color right now, drawn to everything bright, sunny, and cheerful.

Maybe it’s because I was born in summer , but this my favorite time of year.  I find myself craving color right now, drawn to everything bright, sunny, and cheerful.  This is the season when I search for bold hues that make a big impact.  Lemon, lime, and other citrusy colors remind me of the warmth of the sun and are perfect for this season.  You see these colors in a lot of vintage fashion from the 1940s and 1950s, a time when people were adventurous in how they dressed.  You can definitely make a summer splash with Citrus and Lime!

Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design LLC Greenwich CT

  1.  Living room by Jeff Andrews Design.
  2. Imperial Gates – Green and Key Lime on Ivory Manila Hemp from Phillip Jeffries.
  3. Malibu Wrapped Coffee Table from Oomph.
  4. Cosy Light Fixture from Urban Electric.
  5. Overdyed Vintage Rug from Sacco Carpet.
  6. Pulling Down on Yellow, 2013. Gloss paint on aluminum. 49 x 49. By Natasha Law.
  7. Lime Alpaca from Sandra Jordan.
  8. Christian Louboutin Cap Toe Lucite Heels
  9. Swimsuit by Eres Paris.
  10. Bubbles and Lime Slices

 

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My Beach Essentials

This time of year, we spend so much time at the beach that it’s practically our home away from home.

This time of year, we spend so much time at the beach that it’s practically our home away from home.   I love the beach, and it’s always been a big part of my life.  In order to fully enjoy a day of sand and sun, there are certain essentials that I always have on hand for beach days.  Here’s my list of must-have items for lazy hours at the beach!

1.  A big, floppy hat!  This Scarf Top Floppy Hat from San Diego Hat Company is perfect.

scarf top floppy hat

2.  Sunscreen is always a staple.  I stick with the basics, like Hawaiian Tropic‘s SPF 30 Sheer Touch Lotion.

hawaiian tropic spf 30

3.  I can’t live without my Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses!

ray ban aviator

4.  A big, big beach towel like this one from Hermes.

hermes beach towel

5.  An amazing beach blanket.  I love this one from Steven Allen.  It’s great for both the beach and the home!

steven alan beach blanket

6.  Letarte is my first stop when hunting for the perfect bathing suit, like this Adjustable Bikini in Navy.

letarte bikini

7.  A great bag!  Mine is from Ralph Lauren‘s Rugby store, which sadly no longer exists.  This bag has traveled with me for years.

ralph lauren rugby bag

8.  We got these beach chairs from a local hardware store and they are perfect, with a mesh storage pocket and straps so you can carry them on your back.

beach chair9.  Blistex Deep Renewal:  A must before and after the sun.

deep renewal blistex

10.  Crinkle Shorts.  When you’ve had enough sun, throw these on with a white t-shirt and call it a day!

crinkle shorts

11.  Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, to rejuvenate your hair after a day in the sun.

moroccanoil intense hydrating mask12.  Tory Burch Flip Flops — another must!

tory burch flip flops13.  A cooler for snacks and drinks, preferably something light and portable like this one from LL Bean.

ll bean cooler

14.  A beach wagon is perfect for toting everything from your cooler and towels to the kids’ toys.  This Foldable Beach Wagon is easy to pull across the soft sand and carries up to 100 pounds.

beach wagon

What are your favorite beach essentials?

 

 

 

Container Gardening

With the start of the gardening season, I am looking forward to one of my favorite forms of gardening: container planting.

With the start of the gardening season, I am looking forward to one of my favorite forms of gardening: container planting. I love to plant flowers in containers, and when the seasons change I will plant containers to reflect the time of the year.

Summer is by far my favorite time to plant because there are so many different flower varieties to choose from and all are so vibrant with color.  It is an art to be able to create and design with plants, and the type of containers you choose to showcase your plants is almost as important as the flowers themselves.

Examples of container plantings in my garden.

First, you will need to decide if your pots will be placed in a sunny location, a shady spot, or where they’ll receive a mix of sun and shade.  The type of plants you use will depend on the amount of sun in each location.  There have been times that I have had to replace plants that did not last the season, either due to using incorrect plants, overcrowding, or, of course, the weather.

If you do not have any knowledge of plants, you will have to depend on your local garden shop. I have been fortunate to learn from a knowledgeable person for years who has taught me a great deal about plants and the planting of containers. There has to be symmetrical balance of the plants, and the size of the pot will determine the amount of plants used.

Annuals are plants most widely used for containers. I decide on a color palette and then choose the type of plants I will use.  Some of my favorite annuals to use are geraniums, calibrachoas, verbena, angelonia and bacopa.

An urn planted with Verbena, Angelonia, Geraniums,and Bacopa.

Rose Standard Topiary Trees and Bougainvillea Topiary Trees make a great focal point.   I will under plant them with an annual such as verbena or bacopa.  Another favorite option of mine is putting Dwarf Hydrangeas in containers.  They need a shadier area or else they will wilt.  After the season is over, you can transplant them in your garden.

Bougainvillea Topiary

I also like to do containers of mixed sedums, or a container of a creeping sedum.  They are quite interesting.  Boxwood Topiaries make a simple statement and, come winter, the Topiary looks great alone or under planted with greens.

My containers sit amongst my perennials and herbs as well as on ledges and walkways.  They are a menagerie of all shapes and sizes.  A lot of planning and work is involved in planning a container garden, but there is a satisfaction you get in knowing you have created something that is beautiful to behold all season!

Using a trestle in a container allows climbing plants to spread upward.

I hope you enjoy some of the containers I have done.  I am getting ready to start a new season and cannot wait!

Margaritas!

With the arrival of summer, many of us start planning summer parties, cook outs, or even lazy days relaxing by the pool, at the beach, or lounging in a shady back yard hammock. Scenes such as these aren’t complete without a colorful cocktail, and nothing fits the bill like a margarita.

With the arrival of summer, many of us start planning summer parties, cook outs, or even lazy days relaxing by the pool, at the beach, or lounging in a shady back yard hammock.  Scenes such as these aren’t complete without a colorful cocktail, and nothing fits the bill like a margarita.

The origin of the classic margarita remains something of a mystery.  Some sources claim it was created by a bartender in Mexico in 1941, while others say the first margarita hails from Galveston, Texas.  Another possibility is that Americans crossing the border for alcohol during Prohibition simply adapted a brandy-based drink called the Daisy by substituting tequila for the brandy.  It probably isn’t coincidence that margarita is the Spanish word for daisy.

Whatever its origins, the classic margarita’s combination of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice served up in a cocktail glass rimmed with salt has been an enduring favorite for more than just its flavor.  Perhaps more than any other drink, the margarita symbolizes everything we love about a hot summer day, whether you prefer them frozen, over ice, or straight up.

The classic margarita, instantly recognizable.

If you’re a margarita purist, sticking with the classic lime version might be your ideal.  But, creative bartenders and margarita lovers have adapted on the original to create all kinds of tempting flavors and colors.  I’m not talking about your typical frozen strawberry margarita!  Why not surprise your guests — or treat yourself — with one of these more unexpected margarita varieties?

Pink Grapefruit Margarita
Ginger Margarita
Strawberry Basil Margarita
Jalapeno Cucumber Margarita
Prickly Pear Margarita
Pomegranate Mint Margarita

Clicking on any of the delicious images above will take to you recipes for each margarita.  You can get creative with glassware and avoid using traditional margarita glasses for serving or lime slices for garnishing.  Take inspiration from the flavors and colors of each margarita and experiment with different salts and sugars for rimming the glasses.  Whether you make a single drink for yourself or a pitcher for guests, your efforts will certainly be appreciated!