Huffington Summer Favorites

Summer has arrived in Atlanta with alarming speed and strength, and we’re all left scratching our heads, wondering, “Did we even have a spring this year?” Although there are many parts of summer we don’t enjoy, mainly the heat and humidity (au revoir, Good Hair Days. Till we meet again in October), summertime brings about a carefree joi de vivre that allows us to relax and soak up the season. Spirits are high, tans are deep, flowers are blooming, and winter is a distant memory.

Allow us to share with you some of our Huffington summer favorites…

Ann

- I love hanging laundry outside to dry and the feel and smell of crisp linens.

- I love wearing white all summer long (see picture above as proof!).

- I love soaking up a little vitamin D and tanning my toes

- I love the sounds of birds in Atlanta, crickets in Provence, and the roar of the ocean in Maine.

- I love the smells of freshly cut grass, lavender, roses and honeysuckle.

- I love family reunions and lobster bakes in Maine.

- I love outdoor music concerts.

- I love the flavors of summer: Cavaillon melon, wild strawberries and juicy peaches.

- And of course, I love all of the above, on a beautiful terrace, with a glass of rose when the sun sets at 10 p.m.

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Meg

- The luxury of not having to wake up with an alarm at the crack of dawn is the ultimate summertime pleasure

- Our annual family trip to the pink sand beaches of Harbour Island in the Bahamas (you'll be hearing more about this, I promise!)

- Dozens and dozens of the most fragrant gardenias

- Daily dinners al fresco on our porch

(Alas, not our porch)

- Fireflies buzzing around in the early evening. As kids, didn’t we all spend hours trying to catch them in a jar?

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Linda

- There is nothing like sitting under a big straw hat in the summertime. It protects my face and hides me from view as I take a little( much needed) siesta in the sun!

- To me, summertime means long weekends at our lake house, at Lake Keowee, in South Carolina. We always have a house full of family and friends, swimming boating, BBQing and….

- Margaritas!!!! This libation, which can be enjoyed year round, does actually taste better in the summer. I love to blend fresh fruit juice, crushed ice, triple sec, Herradurra tequila, and a splash of Grand Marnier on top at the very end. This last little addition makes it oh so French, and oh so yummy!

- Like Meg, I also enjoy the lack of schedule. Sleeping in is a biggie, as are last minute adventures around Atlanta or beyond!

- Late afternoon thunderstorms are one of my favorite things about summer in Atlanta. The days get hot, and there is nothing better than watching a storm bubble up and hearing the rain nourishing the thirsty flowers!

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Sarah

- Nothing is as cool, crisp, or fresh as a mojito on a hot summer's day. I "save" these drinks for summertime & I'm always instantly transported somewhere tropical when I take my first sip.

- Like Meg, I love dining al fresco with friends. There's something about a long, leisurely dinner outside with good friends that feeds the soul like no other.

- Wearing all white, all the time. I absolutely love the simplicity of white, and in the South, lightweight, white linen clothing is essential for surviving the summer heat.

(photo via this is glamorous)

- A sun-kissed tan, although SPF is this fair girl's best friend so I make sure to tan slowly and safely.

- Family trips to the South Carolina coast, where we indulge in lots of laughs, Beaufort Stew, boiled peanuts, and pralines. Give me the murky Atlantic over the (formerly) white Gulf any day!

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Rachel

- In Atlanta, the heat seems to command the fashion philosophy less is always better. Linen is one way I've found to maintain some sense of style and not be sweltering! My sister just bought some wide-leg, high-waisted linen pants from Anthropologie that are so Katherine Hepburn! I love them.

- Summer is one of the best times for movies (second only to Oscar season), but summer is when the fun movies come out! Movies that you don't feel you have to judge on its merits; you can just enjoy it. This year the best summer movie looks like it will be Toy Story 3 (in 3-D of course). Pixar never disappoints!

- I can't wait for the summer sandals to come out every year. There is such a wonderful variety from espadrilles to gladiator to bejeweled. It combines my two favorite things about footwear: great fashion and no heel!

- To me summer is fruit season with all my favorites: strawberries, peaches, watermelon and cantaloupe. They make me think of whipped cream and the Fourth of July.

- Finally summer is filled with my favorite scents. When I drive down my street with the window open my car is filled with the smell of jasmine and honeysuckle. Then there is the smell of a summer rain and of freshly cut grass. There's almost nothing that smells better than summer.

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What are some of your “summer favorites”?

Tata!

HH