Great Summer Gifts and Beach Tote Give-away!

Hooray for Summer!  Such a fun time of year for us in 
Newport Beach and Mammoth Lakes, California.
Here are some gifts to make you and/or your hostess smile.
How cute is this well-made bag from 
details like the stitching and checked liner???  
Our son has a summer job at the local store.
   You should have this to kick off your summer so keep reading.

You can find more cute tote bags from Etsy at Sixth Street Design School here.

A hostess gift is really nice when it is personalized.

These melamine trays are fun by the pool and there are lots of other cute patterns.
We gave these frosted plastic cups with the shell to our
friends for letting us stay in their Awesome Beach Penthouse.  
 Fine Stationary has some great personalized paper guest napkins.
You can also find a good selection at The Stationary Studio.
How about these pretty napkins for a colorful dinner outside?  Or…
I always love fresh dishtowels.
 My cousin, a recent house guest, gave us these delicious teas from Starbucks.
When I am at garage sales or flea markets, I look for silver spoons
… to wrap with tea or jam, like delicious French Bonne Maman,
 available at many grocery stores.  
Take a box of chocolates…especially if it is local brand that your host doesn’t have.  This box of
 See’s candies only looked like this for about 30 seconds after we opened it (thank you, Billy).
This pitcher from Anthropologie would be a sweet present to give filled with 
fresh lemons and a recipe card

NOW FOR THE FUN SUMMER GIVE-WAY
Not complicated, just
follow me via Facebook, email subscription 
or Google 
and tell me you are with a comment below…
for a chance to win this Vineyard Vines tote.

Make sure I have your email address.
Happy Summer everyone and 
thanks for reading!
PS.  If you get this on Facebook or email and do not know how to comment, click on the 
# COMMENTS  below and leave an anonymous message with your email address!
My sister said Mitt Romney is giving these away too…he copied me.
Participating in

White Wednesday @ Faded Charm

Serenity Saturday @ Serenity You

122 Comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    Love your blog, and of course the bag…. Love seeing my home away from home…. My Mom grew up on Balboa Island… Still have family in Newport…. Miss it!
    [email protected]
    XO… Julie

  2. I am in LOVE with this tote!!! love the details and the checkered lining fabric!!! I alos love your blog, found you from Emily Clark's blog… Just added you to my Google reader, so I can follow, and liked you on facebook too!!!
    my email: julieaspear AT gmail DOT com… thanks also for the links in this post for the fabric napkins and dishtowels. beautiful!!!
    thanks!!!
    Julie

  3. Hi! I follow on fb and email! Love the bag. But I really love your bathroom makeover. Gorgeous! Thanks 🙂

  4. I subscribe to you by email. love your blog 🙂

  5. I'm a Google follower–thanks for the chance. Pop over to Monkey Grass Hill. I'm doing a Novica giveaway.

  6. Faith B - Interiors Unique says:

    Love the totes!! I am a google follower for quite awhile.

  7. I have been reading your blog for some time, but just became a new follower

  8. I have been reading your blog for some time, but just became a new follower

  9. I follow on email and on facebook! Love your blog.

  10. Mary Ann….I am following you on Facebook, email, Google and everywhere. I wanted to thank you for your tip on Dorett Fabric in Fountain Valley. I found a beautiful Waverly print last summer for my master bedroom duvet. Love it! I am an OC girl now living in Temecula. If you ever out this way 🙂

  11. I subscribe by email to your blog!
    Love the bag! Wouldn't mind winning one from Mitt either!!! 🙂
    All the best!

  12. Anonymous says:

    I just became a subscriber. I love the tote. Thanks for the opportunity to enter to win!
    -Rachel

  13. Excellent information. Your site definitely explains essential concepts to its readers. Thanks for continuing to write such wonderful articles.

  14. Anonymous says:

    I just recently found your blog and spent one evening reading every one of them. Thanks for the great hostess gift ideas and chance for the giveaway!! Sue
    [email protected]

  15. Love the bag, won't it look great hanging on my arm during my cruise this fall 😉
    Following by email & can't wait!

  16. What a great idea to collect silver antique spoons to give away with gifts. Its a pretty touch to the gift. Your so creative! Great bag, perfect for summer.

  17. Faith B - Interiors Unique says:

    Love the colorful napkins!

  18. Anonymous says:

    Love the Vineyard bag!!! What a fun way to carry swimming gear! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful decorating ideas! Always read your e-mail first! Happy Summer!
    Jane
    [email protected]

  19. Thanks for sharing your clever and classic hostess gift ideas! (Oh my gosh, I just remembered I was invited for coffee in the morning, a tad late for anything monogrammed, but a towel or tea would be nice!) A google follower. 🙂

  20. I covet anything from vineyard vines…they do not have any stores here in Canada…I would love to win this beach bag too Cheers Frances

  21. Love Vineyard Vines! My dad lives in MV and I live in San Diego so I would get a ton of use out of this bag.

    Christie
    [email protected]

    1. PS – and am following you via Google Reader

  22. I'm a new follower. I found you via Cote de Texas.I love the frosted cups. What a great idea for sprucing up something so mundane.

    sunmumsie at yahoo.com

  23. I LOVE your blog! I follow on Google Reader and can't get enough of the classic/casual style, it fits me to a tee 🙂 And that beach tote is adorable!

  24. I I follow you on Facebook and have your blog on my FlipBoard on my iPad.
    Cherylt7atcoxdotnet

  25. So many fabulous ideas!! Bookmarking this post…and hellooooo you so had me at See's ( can literally devour the entire box…..)

  26. I follow you via email and google……I loved your gift ideas and would love to win the adorable beach bag….we are heading to the beach in a couple of weeks….it would come in really handy!!!!!!

    Andrea
    [email protected]

  27. Thanks for the neat giveaway. That beach bag would work well on the Atlantic coast. I could see me taking it out to Tybee.
    Thanks again, I follow on GFC. Ginger

  28. You had me at your name – classic, casual and home, three words I LOVE to describe my style. I became a follower a while ago. We have a beach condo in San Diego and I find lots of inspiration from your posts. Thank you! The beach bag is perfect!!

  29. I love your blog…it's the first one I look for in my Google Reader. Since you're only a little ways south of me…since I'm in Long Beach, I love visiting familiar sites on your blog and finding new ones!! Thank for the opportunity…
    Teri
    [email protected]

  30. Anonymous says:

    Love your blog, Mary Anne. I always look forward to an email from you!! Thanks for the fun bag giveaway 🙂
    Elizabeth
    [email protected]

  31. I happily follow you via Google, Mary Ann! Thanks for hosting this lovely giveaway and for all the wonderful hostess ideas! Love those pretty cloth napkins from Gracious Home.

  32. I follow you with GFC. Thanks for the giveaway.
    Lisa

  33. Love love love that vineyard vines beach bag! Madeline just sent them her resume to work at the one in Westport or Greenwich. I remember you mentioned that Tommy wanted to work there this summer…I guess everything worked out. Madeline is going to FI with her friends…I'll have to have her stalk him!! haha

    Love those monogrammed cups too! And what a great idea to add a silver spoon from a flea market to a jar of jam for a little hostess gift…you think of everything.

    xo
    annie

  34. I am a follower through email and GFC!! Thanks for sharing the awesome gift ideas and thanks for the giveaway! 🙂

  35. Hi Mary Anne oh yes I am a follower!! What a perfect Giveaway and I would use this lovely tote!! A lot!!

    Xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena
    Artist Series 2012

  36. Anonymous says:

    I grew up in Southern California and your blog makes me feel right at home! I love your home. It really is perfect.
    I follow you via email. Thanks for the chance to win a lovely giveaway!
    Sherene
    [email protected]

  37. Anonymous says:

    I love the beach bag! I follow you by email subscription and love your house and decorating style. Sharon
    [email protected]

  38. I love this tote! I follow via Google Reader.
    danibrooke42 at gmail dot com

  39. Hey Mary Ann, love that beach bag – beautiful colours! Also, Bonne Maman jam is the only jam I buy because it had the highest fruit percentage than any other jam on the shelf!!!

    Sharon
    xxxx

  40. Anonymous says:

    Love your blog! I am a follower on Facebook, which is how I found out about your give away! My husband & I just moved to San Diego from Chicago about a year ago, I would love to win this tote to take to the beach this summer! Thanks!
    [email protected]

  41. Anonymous says:

    Love your blog! I check it out all the time. We love Vineyard vines too! We liked you on facebook.

    Thanks,
    [email protected]

  42. Hi Mary Ann,
    This post was timely, we need a few hostess gift ideas for upcoming events. They all look like something I would like to have. The tote is great.
    I follow you already and will follow you on facebook as well.
    Karen
    [email protected]

  43. Wonderful summer items. I am a follower of your blog, and i enjoy it very much.Love the cute beach bag too. Would love to win it!!

  44. You know I follow you…everywhere! No, I'm not a stalker! You have found some pretty gifts that just about anyone would love to have. The fabric napkins are gorgeous!

  45. Anonymous says:

    Love this tote, and I live at the beach — Virginia Beach! Joni F. at [email protected]. I follow you on Facebook!

  46. Anonymous says:

    Hi Mary Ann,

    Love, Love this tote. Huge fan of the beach and your blog (follow you via email) I wish we had a Vineyard Vines in Canada … but sadly we don't 🙁

    Keep up the inspirational blog I love your ideas! Thanks!

  47. How CUTE is that bag?! I love it! What a fun giveaway (and thanks for all the gift ideas…sometimes I get stuck in a rut with that!)

    Follower on here and Facebook!
    More than the mulberries at gmail dot com

  48. LOVE getting your posts to my inbox! Thanks so much for such a fun, beautiful and inspirational blog!

  49. I follow on google! I hope I win, its a cute bag!

  50. Such fun gifts to take to the "hostess of the mostest", or to even give a little gift to myself! I follow you on Facebook and email! That way I never miss my favorite blog! The scotch mellows are one of my fav's too…but then I have many favorites! Having grown up with a See's candy store in town….they are truly the BEST chocolates!

  51. Beautiful things here MaryAnn. Love that Anthropologie pitcher, I've had my eye on it for quite awhile. Now following on fb!

  52. Good morning Mary Ann…great post as always! So many cute summer things! Love the beach bag…so fun and practical.

    Not only do I follow your blog, I am practically a stalker of your blog, checking in daily to see what's new!

    Have a great day…

  53. Mary Ann , I follow you on google and email. You are delightful! Thanks for the chance. XO

  54. Sonya Seyle says:

    I look forward to every new blog posting. I love your design style and am constantly inspired by your ideas. I subscribe by email. [email protected]
    P.S. love that bag

  55. Stephanie T says:

    What a great bag!!! I am in need of a new Beach Bag and this is a GREAT one!! I follow you on Facebook.
    [email protected]

  56. I like you on fb and subscribe by email!

    intheloop13 at gmail dot com

  57. HI!
    I just happened to stubble upon your blog, what super timing!!!
    I am your newest follower 🙂 LOVE that bag, but don't think I would "only" use it for the beach, too cute not to carry around 🙂

    Pick me, pick me! … ok, too obnoxious? sorry…

  58. Hi Mary Ann, I am always looking for good hostess gift ideas and these are excellent. Vineyard Vines bags are wonderful to use with all their pockets and the pretty lining, and I have started seeing them in college stores with the school colors and symbols! I am a happy follower on google and by email so I hope I have double the luck 🙂 ! Linda

  59. Such thoughtful ways to say thank you. The tote is adorable. I am a follower by email. Thanks for the chance to win.
    w beducian @ gmaildotcom

  60. Oh, my…that tote is too cute! I would love to have one…I'm an email follower. Thanks, Tina 🙂

    tinab158 at hotmail dot com

  61. Hi Mary Ann, I love this tote, too! I'll bet your son is attracting lots of female customers to the local Vineyard Vines. I'm going today to look for pretty napkins, so thanks for the inspiration and fun ideas. P.S. I've used pretty napkins before, layered diagonally over a flat rod, to make a sweet little valance in our beach house kitchen window. Maybe its time to update!

  62. Love the tote! I subscribe to your posts in email.

  63. Just found your blog and became a subscriber yesterday. I'm so enjoying your style and love these vineyard vines tote!

  64. Love that tote. Actually love anything Vinyard. I'm not a FB person, but I am a follower of your blog. Please put my name in the hat.
    Thanks.

  65. Hello,

    They just opened a Vinyard Vines near us…love going because we usually only get to visit once a year during our summer vacation. Cute tote…facebook follower.
    Thanks for sharing and love the Anthropologie pitcher too. Will check out.

    Have a great summer!
    Claudia

  66. Follow by Facebook and google.
    Mary Ann, this tote is a fabulous giveaway! Love Vineyard Vines.
    I love this post, and will go back and follow the links. Always great referrals, and we can never find too many great hostess gift ideas.
    Happy Saturday.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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